Blood is Thicker than Friendship

by Stonershy

Rating: mature
Tags: Main 6, Gore, Zecora, Alternate Universe, Romance, Original Character, Cutie Mark Crusaders, Fluttershy, Adventure
Length: 221448

A forgotten chapter of Equestria's history is revisited, bringing about great change.

--This story is on hold because it is in dire need of a revision from the ground up, as I no longer want it to end the way I had originally planned--

When a strange book is found in the depths of the library's basement, a mysterious entity is released unto the unsuspecting population of Ponyville.

Shortly after this strange turn of events, Fluttershy finds comfort in a new friend who is not quite what she seems. Having loved and experienced heartbreak has left her in a near crippling state of depression that has distanced her from her friends, but is this new pony a remedy, or the source of more ailment? Just how far will Fluttershy go to know happiness again?

As everything spirals out of control, and Twilight Sparkle struggles to find a solution, she will learn that the answers she needs don't always come from books or teachers, and that there will come a time when the road must be walked without guidance.

Applejack must deal with loss and Rainbow Dash is forced to confront her past, while together they learn that there is more to a relationship than attraction and affection, and that love is anything but easy.

Pinkie Pie's upbeat outlook is cracked when her good humor is not enough to help her friends in their darkest times, and while Rarity has always acted with determination in all things, she realizes that not every decision made is necessarily the right one.

The girls are forced to leave their innocence behind as the bonds of their friendship are tested, and the sun sets on an era of peace. Dire conflict looms on the horizon.

Published 2012-01-17 17:21:01 UTC
Last updated 2014-02-03 01:01:16 UTC

Chapter 2 - A Social Unraveling

Chapter Two: A Social Unraveling

\/ /\ /\ \/

“Twilight Sparkle, you’ve performed well above expectations. I couldn’t have chosen a better protégé.”

Sunlight flooded the vast, open hall in columns that appeared almost tangible. Important looking ponies in fancy dresses and suits milled about, undoubtedly busy with whatever errands Princess Celestia had provided them with in the interest of keeping Equestria running smoothly.

But not me, Twilight happily reflected. My job is to spend all day with Princess Celestia and explain my findings.

Spike followed close behind the purple unicorn, carrying as many books as he could. Of course, that wasn’t nearly enough. Several attendants followed him as well, each one bearing saddle bags loaded with volume upon volume of literature that Twilight had written herself.

And she’s going to let me read each and every one to her!

Twilight could just squeal with glee.

“Oh, Twilight?”

“Yes, Princess Celestia?”

“I think there’s someone at the door.”

“Someone at the…?”

Twilight watched with horror as Celestia transformed from a majestic alicorn to her draconic familiar, Spike. The royal hall faded out as Twilight’s prestigious series of books vanished into the ether.

Reality slid into focus, an all too familiar reptilian face peering over the edge of the bed. Twilight groaned, mourning the abrupt end to her wonderful dream, rolling over with intent to try and pick up where she left off.

A loud, rapid banging sounded through the darkened library.

“Yep, they’re still at the door.”

The unicorn groaned again, sitting up, reluctantly leaving the warmth and comfort of her bed. It wasn’t even dawn. Stars still glimmered in the sky, a nearly full moon hanging just over the horizon.

“These ponies are crazy.”

The banging continued almost nonstop until Twilight finally flung the door open, sure that she must look like a complete mess to whoever stood outside. She had expected to see Pinkie Pie, but instead found herself face to face with Rainbow Dash. The rainbow maned pegasus looked as though she had just seen a ghost.

“Applebloom and Scootaloo got bitten by the thing that bit Applebloom last night!” Before Twilight could even begin a sentence, Rainbow continued. “They’re being moved to the clinic right now. Applejack told me to get you because you might have books about this kind of thing.”

“Wha- Wow… Okay give me a minute here. I only just reorganized today. Yesterday. Is it even tomorrow yet?”

Impatient and growing frustrated, Dash took to the air. “Whatever, just get any books you have on monsters and head to the doctor’s!”

With that, Twilight found herself with a rapidly shrinking silhouette of Rainbow Dash as the pegasus arced over the town and landed out of sight several blocks away.

“Okay, that’s just great…” She turned sluggishly, stumbling toward the book shelf as her brain attempted to process the sudden, frantic slurry of information. Twilight nearly dropped the book she was levitating when her thoughts finally clicked into place.

“Oh my gosh!”

Not ten seconds had passed before the knocking resumed.

No less clumsily, but with haste fueled by urgency and a bit of frustration, the unicorn made her way to the door again. And again, she found herself faced with Rainbow Dash. Something about this felt different, though.

“You didn’t even give me a chance to find any books, Rainbow Dash! This isn’t-”

“Yeah I know. Sorry for blowing up at you like that. I realized maybe you’d have better luck finding what you’re looking for if I came inside and helped you.”

Twilight tried to focus her eyes in the dim light of the candle floating beside her. Then it struck her, as she locked eyes with the blue pegasus. Immediately, Rainbow took a step back, her face cloaked with shadow.

“No, that’s alright, I’ve got everything under control here. You should make sure everyone arrives safely.” The unicorn attempted to take a step closer, levitating the candle between herself and Rainbow Dash. “What’s up with your eyes?”

“Nothing. Nothing at all.” The flickering light caught slivers of emerald in her irises. The pegasus took another step back, spreading her wings in silhouette. “You’re sure you don’t want me to come in?”

“Rainbow Dash?”

“Sorry I asked. I should get going.”

The pegasus flapped, but not at the ground. The first gust billowed around Twilight, snuffing out the candle and tossing her already bed messed hair. Only then did she lift off, streaking out into the night, passing the doctor’s office completely. A violent shudder passed through the unicorn, and she shut the door tightly against the darkness.

“Spike…” Twilight glanced up at the balcony, where the dragon waited with eyelids that were weighted with exhaustion. “Rainbow Dash has magenta eyes, right?”

“Huh? Oh, I think they're more like maroon eyes, I guess. Why?”

The unicorn glanced over at the book on her desk, illuminated by a single beam of moonlight. A shadow flickered briefly over the cover, causing Twilight to direct her attention to the window.

An emerald glow behind the glass, gone in the blink of an eye.

“Spike, you are not to let anyone in the library unless I give permission. Understand?”

“Okay…?” Twilight stomped a hoof, shooting a cold glare up at Spike. “Okay, okay! I understand!”

“I’m going to the doctor’s office now. When I come back, I want you to look me in the eyes, very closely. If my eyes are any color other than purple, do not let me inside.”

\/ /\ /\ \/

Fluttershy awoke with a gasp, drenched with cold sweat, glancing around frantically as she expected to see the creature standing over her again, leering with that jagged-fanged smile. Instead she was met with dawn, the walls of her bedroom painted a fiery orange as Celestia slowly brought the sun over the horizon. The last chirping crickets subsided as birds began their warm up routines for a day full of singing. She was alone. Her breast rose as she heaved a sigh, relieved, though still disturbed by the figure that had haunted her in her sleep. The pegasus reflected on her experience, trying to remember how the creature had entered her room, but found herself unable to do so. The creature’s departure marked the end of the nightmare. Fluttershy put a hoof to her forehead, groaning softly as she tried her hardest to forget what personal horrors she had dreamt up, until a thought suddenly struck her.

The windowsill. As quickly as she could manage, the pegasus rolled out of bed and drowsily carried herself to the wooden frame. Nothing. No red smudges, no trace of any passage through the space between the window itself and the frame which held it. Relief was nearly tangible now that there was no evidence of any sort to the coming and going of some monster. In the grass below, a few early birds did their best to snatch worms out of the ground, fluttering around one another in colorful arguments over pecking order. She decided to join them. Even trotting on the tips of her hooves, the floorboards creaked dryly under her weight.

I hope Mahara is having more pleasant dreams than I was, at least…

Sure enough, the red mare was still and tranquil under the covers, not even wiggling an ear as Fluttershy descended into the living room. She had intended to just head straight outside, but something about Maraha gave reason for pause. The pegasus took a few careful steps closer, trying to get a better look. There was nothing specifically different about Mahara, and yet, Fluttershy felt that her new friend looked absolutely ravishing. Her coat seemed to glisten in the low rays of filtered sunlight, her mane like a crimson river.

The pegasus shuddered.

I guess my barn door does swing that way, she realized while doing her best to quell a sudden flood of dirty thoughts.

She had fantasized in the past, but usually about handsome stallions, and never in the presence of any of them. Fluttershy only indulged even the tamest fantasies in complete privacy. Despite her best efforts, however, she could not hold back the wealth of imagined lewdness. Blushing with shame over her inability to keep her arousal in check and unable to spend another moment in the presence of her beautifully peaceful friend, the pegasus made for the door as quickly as she could.

I haven’t felt like that since… Memories of cold nights made warm by her stallion, sticky heat against her mattress, falling asleep in his strong embrace.

These were fond memories once. Now they were little more than painful reminders.

Outside, a thin mist clung to the treeline, slowly curling skyward as the rising sun baked moisture off the grass and leaves. No sooner had Fluttershy set hoof outdoors did the birds around the cottage immediately flock to her, greeting her with an array of cheerful songs. She smiled and nodded politely to each bird in turn, a few of them perching on her as she made her way down the path. Looking for a distraction, she decided a little exercise couldn’t hurt. An attempt at exercise, at least. She glanced back at the birds, motioning for them to take to the air as she lightly flapped her wings.

Using the downward slope of the hill to help, Fluttershy stepped into a canter, gradually building speed, doing her best to control her breathing as her heart began to pound. She had never been athletic, of course, and the exercise ended almost as swiftly as it had begun, the pegasus panting at the bottom of the hill. Midway through her climb back to the top, however, she noticed that the door had opened. Only then did she also notice that the birds had departed as well, watching from more distant branches. Heavy as she was, the sound of Mahara’s voice nearly made her take to the air.

“Sorry…” she nearly whispered upon noting Fluttershy’s startled expression. “I guess I snuck up on you again. I’ll try to work on that.”

The pegasus found herself smiling, a gesture that was warmly returned.

“You said you wanted to talk…” Mahara began, “About last night? Well, do you still want to?”

“I um… A lot of things have happened to me in the last few months. I’m pretty sure I mentioned it, but I didn’t used to be this fat…” The pegasus cringed slightly at her own words, but continued.

“And um… I feel like it’s made me kind of distant from a few of my friends, especially Rarity, who… I… Well, I used to think of her as my best and closest friend.” Slowly, Fluttershy trotted closer to her cottage, glancing back at Mahara momentarily. “And I know she meant well, trying to tell me to slim down, I really appreciated it and all… But…”

The pegasus stopped short of the doorway, leaning against the wall.

Fluttershy felt Mahara gently nuzzle the back of her neck, encouraging the pegasus to finish her thought. “I don’t think I can do it… I don’t want to disappoint anypony, but it’s really hard work. Rarity has offered to go on jogs with me and things like that but I just don’t have the stamina for it.”

“Well alright, how do you feel about it?”

“I’ve gotten… I mean, I’m getting used to being… um… soft… so it doesn’t bother me all that much like it did at first, usually... I don’t like to think that I’m giving up so much as accepting it and moving on, like what one of Twilight’s books told me to do… But I don’t think my other friends will see it that way.”

The pegasus bit her lip, lowering herself to the cool grass with a soft grunt, Mahara following her example.

“And um… Twilight’s books are really helping me keep my thoughts in line, so I’m not really worried about regressing back to where I was… It’s just...” She stopped until Mahara gave her another gentle nudge. “Getting like this has been a pretty big change for me, and I’m afraid I might have lost Rarity… Because I look different… I’m rambling though… Sorry…”

Mahara smiled and shook her head.

“Not at all. I’m a very good listener, I think.”

The pegasus smiled as well, nodding lightly.

“So um… The whole point of that was… Um… I can’t… That is… You and I… I don’t want this to be an act of desperation on my part… I’m worried that I’ll just be using you for the attention I haven’t really been getting from anyone else recently. I don’t want you to feel like you’re a replacement.”

“A replacement? For whom?”

“My um… My coltfriend…” The timid pegasus cast her gaze downward. “I… I’d rather not talk about that right now, though…”

“That’s fine. I understand.”

Fluttershy felt her face growing warm as continued to idly watch the grass, cheeks blushing brightly behind her yellow coat.

“And um… I’ve never had feelings for another mare… I mean, until now… So I um… I’m a little worried about that too… If I’m just overreacting or… If I really do feel this way about you… That’s what I’ve been um… trying to figure out.”

Silence filled the space between the two ponies, but Fluttershy felt as if a weight had been removed from her breast now that she had admitted her fears. She glanced briefly up at Mahara, only to find her gazing out over the countryside, as if deep in thought. Her emerald eyes turned toward the pegasus once again, another smile finding its way to Mahara’s lips. A spark of doubt flickered in the back of her mind, terrified for an instant that the red mare would laugh, or simply leave, but instead, she raised a hoof to the underside of Fluttershy’s muzzle, lifting her head as one would lift the blooming petals of a rose. The pegasus did not tremble this time.

“Well…” Mahara paused, then leaned in a bit closer, continuing in a gentle whisper. “I think I know a way to find out how you really feel…”

Now Fluttershy was trembling, but not with nervousness.

This was anticipation.

“Close your eyes…”

Without being told what to do next, Fluttershy pursed her lips as Mahara’s warmth drew nearer; near enough to feel, near enough to hear the soft exhale as their muzzles met tenderly. A gentle, sliding pressure against her coat; the feel hooves rubbing the side of her neck, gliding over the curve of her back. Her imagination was teeming with a blur of passionate fantasy and the sensory overload of reality. Her heart felt ready to burst, her breaths reduced to shallow gasps, wings spreading wide and fluttering compulsively as she let go of every reservation and every inhibition. She felt whole again for the first time in what seemed like an eternity.

This was her moment, and she intended to enjoy it as much as possible.

Even if it had felt like time was standing still, when Fluttershy withdrew from the embrace and opened her eyes, she realized that Celestia had certainly not stopped the sun just for her. Shadows receded gradually in the early light, the multitudes of rhythmic chirping increasing by leaps and bounds. As the excitement in her mind died down, she noticed that the birds continued to keep their distance, and the pegasus felt a twinge of sadness for her companion.

Did Mahara have friends back home, or was she as alone there as she is in Equestria? Well… Maybe not so alone anymore.

Fluttershy closed her eyes again with a feeling of euphoria, burying her face in the side of Mahara’s neck, admiring the softness of her coat.

“Before we feed the animals…” Mahara met her curious eyes, the pegasus lightly furrowing her brow. “I um… Not that it’s a problem or anything, you’re very beautiful!”

The red mare giggled and nosed her ear, warm with a hint of bashfulness.

“Sorry. I was wondering… You don’t have a cutie mark…Is that common where you’re from?” Those emerald eyes began to drift to the horizon, searching the soft glow for an answer. “I’m… I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have asked you that…”

“No, it’s alright. They say that a cutie mark is a symbol of something that you excel at above all things, so… I guess there just isn’t anything which makes me special.”

Fluttershy’s concern was amplified by this response, pouting her lips slightly.

“Now that can’t be true, you’re um…” She felt herself blushing again, suddenly feeling silly for being embarrassed in the presence of somepony who obviously cared about what she had to say.

“You’re very special… Well, I think you’re very special… There has to be something you do that makes you unique.” The red mare shrugged, grinning. “It’s never too late, you know. You might get it at any moment for doing something just right!”

“Maybe,” she mused. “That would be nice.”

“Pinkie would probably throw you a Cuteceanera the second she found out about you getting it. Actually, she would probably know as soon as it happened.” Mahara raised a brow. “She’s got a gift, that’s really all I can say. Oh…”

Angel peered out of the doorway at the pair, then, hesitantly, hopped right up to Mahara and held out his paw.

“Angel,” The pegasus began to inquire, “What are you...?”

For several tense moments, Mahara stared intensely at the rabbit, as if having a silent conversation, then lifted her hoof to his outstretched foreleg. Fluttershy watched in silence as they shook on some unspoken agreement. Afterwards, Angel hopped around to the pegasus and curled up beside her.

“I guess… He had to accept me on his own terms. He probably understands now that I’m not going to hurt you.”

Fluttershy cocked one brow, raising the other, glancing from Mahara to Angel and then back again.

“Is… Is there something you’re not telling me?”

A few uncomfortable seconds passed before Mahara shook her head.

“Nothing of consequence, anyway.” Fluttershy leaned closer, wordlessly pressing for an explanation. “I’ll explain all my quirks and secrets in good time. For the moment, you’ll just have to take my word for it.”

\/ /\ /\ \/

Breakfast, both for the animals and the pegasus, passed uneventfully, Mahara yet again declining any solid food. The birds and bunnies continued to avoid Mahara as well, Angel being the only exception since the mysterious truce. He kept a close watch over the red mare, of course, but didn’t seem to mind her presence or flee from her as he once had. Despite the strangeness of the sudden turn of events, Fluttershy was more or less pleased that Angel wasn’t vanishing for long stretches of time without warning. Also pleasing was Mahara’s willingness to accompany Fluttershy into Ponyville for a few hours before the party. Rarity may have been busy with orders, and Pinky would likely be busy preparing for the party, but she could at least introduce Mahara to Applejack, Rainbow Dash and Twilight.

A beautiful summer morning had matured into another perfect summer afternoon. The low hum of insects saturated a passing breeze, complimenting the rolling sea of leaves and the not so distant calls of countless birds. Fluttershy found herself distracted by several pegasi hovering around a single cloud, repeatedly bucking it without the desired effect. Mahara brought her back to reality with a half heard question, plodding along slowly beside her, worryingly pale compared to her vibrant appearance not more than a few hours ago. In the interest of making a good first impression, the red mare had bound the remains of her wings under bandages. The sight made Fluttershy rather sad, but she supposed it was a good idea.

“I’m sorry, my mind was wandering. Could you repeat that?”

“I said I hope Applebloom is doing better. I wouldn’t want anything bad to happen to her.”

Fluttershy’s thoughts snapped back to the bite marks on the filly’s neck, unable to shake the image of Mahara sneaking up on Applebloom and sinking her teeth into the filly’s artery. She was sure that it wasn’t Mahara herself, but the idea of another, smaller pony following without her knowing wasn’t out of the question.

“Oh, I’m sure she’s fine.” Fluttershy managed a smile as she spoke, still on edge about the whole thing. “Applejack and Big Macintosh probably kept a close eye on her.”

“Alright, that’s good. Is there anything I should know about your other friends before I meet them?”

The pegasus considered that for a moment, resting in the shade of a tree, for which Mahara seemed especially grateful.

“Better question,” Mahara stated. “Should we let any of them know that we’re-”

“No!” Fluttershy nearly clasped her hooves over her muzzle after the outburst, even if her voice had barely risen above a whisper. “Sorry… I mean, if you want to, um… I wouldn’t mind telling anypony…”

“Having second thoughts?” The red mare asked with a grin.

“It’s not that… It would just be so sudden. I would like to wait a little while… If um, if that’s okay with you.” The red mare nodded, following it with a little kiss on the cheek.

“Um…” Fluttershy did her best to collect herself. “Okay, the only pony I can really think to warn you about would be Pinkie, but you already met her. She’s just… She’s a little different, but a good friend all the same. Oh, and she likes pranks. You should… Um… I mean, be ready for anything, I guess.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

Sufficiently rested and satisfied with a few mouthfuls of granola, Fluttershy emerged from the cool shelter of foliage and returned to the road, Ponyville only a few minutes trot from where she had decided to take a break. Mahara seemed a bit less eager to continue, practically wilting in direct sunlight, what little color she had regained from her time in the shade immediately washing out of her. The pegasus watched with concern, but Mahara managed a comforting smile and pressed on.

“I heard that there’s something strange going on with the clouds,” Fluttershy heard somepony say, just a few steps ahead of her around the outskirts of town.

She did her best, and failed, at attempting not to eavesdrop.

“The weather team is looking into it, says there’s nothing to worry about, but still… How bizarre.”

“You know Rainbow Dash. The lot of them are probably just slacking off again.” The pair paused to nod in greeting to Fluttershy, then to stare at Mahara.

Their voices lowered considerably as the subject of conversation shifted, watching the pale red mare as she passed. “Must be the newcomer Pinkie is throwing that party for…”

“Are those bandages, you think?”

A pattern quickly emerged as Fluttershy led Mahara further into town. The majority of ponies that noticed her stopped what they were doing, either pausing mid conversation or setting aside whatever task they happened to be performing to silently watch or quietly chatter about the strange new mare accompanying the pegasus. Fluttershy was, at the very least, relieved that ponies weren’t retreating into their homes and locking their doors as the red mare drew nearer.

But then, she asked herself, how often had Zecora ventured into town before ponies had begun to avoid her on sight?

Mahara didn’t seem all that put off by being an object of curiosity, smiling here and nodding there as many eyes regarded her with uncertainty.

Not far from the library, Fluttershy decided a bit of pre-introduction briefing couldn’t hurt.

“Up ahead is where Twilight has been living since transferring from Canterlot to study friendship. She’s um… Very formal. At least at first. You seem to be too, though, so I think that you’ll get along with her just fine.”

Mahara nodded silently as they approached the door. Spike beat them to the punch.

“Hey there Fluttershy! Twilight isn’t in right now, she’s over at the doctor’s office with…” The dragon trailed off as he noticed Mahara standing just behind Fluttershy, trying her best to stay out of the sunlight.

His eyes quickly brightened.

“Well hey there! Now I understand why Pinkie was going to throw a welcoming party! But… It’s a get well party as well as a welcoming party now, I guess.” Suddenly forlorn, he added, “Was it supposed to be a surprise? I blew the surprise, didn’t I?”

Mahara took a few steps closer to the doorway, looking very pleased to be completely in the shade. The prospect of a get well party was now Fluttershy’s primary concern, however.

“Did somepony get hurt?” A dreadful epiphany struck her. “It isn’t Applebloom is it?”

Spike gave a slow nod, looking uncomfortable at the mention of her name.

“Oh no…” Fluttershy crossed her forelegs, worry on her brow. “How bad is she? She looked fine yesterday…”

“Well, doctors say she’ll be alright in a day or two but…” Spike glanced down at the floor, then back up at the pegasus. “She lost a lot of blood between what happened last night and the night before. I heard that Applejack had to give her a transfusion really early this morning just to keep her stable. Scootaloo got attacked by the same creature, but she didn’t lose nearly as much blood as Applebloom…”

Fluttershy looked back to Mahara, but the red mare appeared to be deep in thought.

“Weird thing about it is,” Spike continued, “From what I’ve been hearing, Scootaloo is really shaken up by the whole thing, but Applebloom… Well it almost sounded like she was in a trance. She apparently kept saying that she would see her new friend again soon. Poor girl must be delirious.”

“Goodness… Um, Mahara, if it’s okay with you, I’d like to head right over to the doctor’s office. I know Applebloom is safe for now but I should at least be there to make sure everyone else is okay.” Mahara’s gaze was now fixed on the door of the library, however.

Or, more specifically, what little she could see inside the library. Spike regarded her with suspicion, backing up a few steps. The timid pegasus looked into the library herself, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary. The only thing straight ahead of the red mare seemed to be one of Twilight Sparkle’s reading tables, a lone, closed book resting on its surface.

“Mahara?” Fluttershy passed into the red mare’s field of view, which seemed to bring her back to attention.

“Yes, sorry. I was elsewhere.” She grinned down at Spike, giving a slow, graceful bow, still gazing deep into the library behind him. “It’s been a pleasure.”

“Y-yeah…” With each passing moment, Spike looked increasingly uncomfortable. “I’ll see you around I guess…?”

Without a moment’s hesitation, the dragon slipped into the library and shut the door behind him.

“Mahara, are you feeling alright?” Fluttershy arched a brow as she gave the red mare a look of concern. “I um… I didn’t want to say anything on the way here but…”

The pegasus leaned a bit closer, surprised to see that the color was practically flowing back into Mahara’s flesh and coat the longer she remained out of direct sunlight.

“I have a skin condition,” she quickly stated, glancing down at the ground and shuffling a hoof. “I should have mentioned. I’m a bit light sensitive. It’s nothing to worry about though.” She gave a smile that the pegasus felt looked half hearted. “Really. Whenever you’re ready.”

“Oh… Um, okay.”

A skin condition didn’t quite explain the vacant look she had during the majority of the interaction with Spike, but then again, she may have just been thinking about Applebloom.

When the pegasus emerged from the shade of the library, she turned her attention back to her companion, watching closely as Mahara reluctantly left the sanctuary of foliage. The effect was practically immediate, color receding from her flesh the moment it felt the radiance of the sun, as if trying to cling to the shade, migrating to her underside while the rest of her became a sickly pale by comparison. For several steps, Mahara faltered, looking as though she might collapse. After she had heaved a deep breath, however, she motioned that she was ready to continue.

Unlike the day prior, where there had only been Applejack and Rainbow Dash milling around in front of the doctor’s office, a small crowd of ponies now congregated outside the humble clinic. Fluttershy wondered just how long they had all been there. It was still relatively early, so perhaps word was only just getting around. Mahara’s presence caused a chain reaction, a shockwave of turning heads that immediately quieted the noisy gathering. All eyes fell on the red mare, and Fluttershy felt as though she were a ghost beside her companion. The seconds passed with uncomfortable slowness until chatter gradually resumed, only a select few ponies still admiring or inspecting the novelty that was Mahara.

Getting through the crowd was easy enough. Everypony was more than happy to move aside for Fluttershy, and by extension, Mahara, who clung to Fluttershy like a shadow.

“I forgot to mention,” the red mare whispered just shy of the door. “I’m not all that fond of crowds.”

“I know the feeling… These are um… They’re good ponies. Just try not to think about it.” The pegasus held the door open, but Mahara stood fixed to the spot, looking around anxiously. “Aren’t you… Um, you don’t want to come inside?”

“I don’t like entering new places without permission.”

“Oh…” Fluttershy glanced into the doctor’s office, then back to Mahara. “Well, I’m sure you’re welcome here. I think it’s considered a public place.”

“You’re sure?”

“I’m um…” Fluttershy grinned just a bit at the strangeness of the situation.

The red mare was clearly uncomfortable outside, just about prancing in place as she waited for admittance into a building that was open to everypony in town.

“Yes, I’m sure. Now come inside. Um… Please?”

Without a moment further, Mahara slipped passed the pegasus and exhaled a deep sigh of relief.

\/ /\ /\ \/

Applejack had lost blood before. A pony doesn’t buck apple trees for as many seasons as she had without getting a few nasty cuts or gouges in the process. Even so, she still felt light headed from the transfer, lying in the bed next to Applebloom’s, keeping constant watch over the little filly for fear that the whole world might just try to cave in on her. Rainbow Dash stood nearby, but not as near as the blond maned mare would have liked. The blue pegasus glanced her way, brow knitted with a mixture of sad understanding and repressed longing, but they both had appearances to keep, especially with all of their friends present.

Well, all of their friends, except Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie.

On a moment’s notice, that changed as well. Behind the curtain, she could hear the timid pegasus speaking with another pony, and then to Twilight and Rarity. Everything felt a little fuzzy as she strained to hear them. Not that it would matter, because it seemed that gibberish was the topic of conversation.

“Yes, she shoe intone.” Fluttershy’s voice dropped to near inaudibility, clearly intending her next statement for the unicorns’ ears only. “Sheesh a lotto sly though.”

Twilight and Rarity giggled, but their greetings came across as little more than mumbles as they moved farther from the curtain.

With a groan, Applejack gave up on trying to eavesdrop, letting her head flop back against the pillow. Applebloom groaned as well, the first noise she had made in hours, and began to squirm, inching toward the edge of the bed. Nurse Tenderheart took notice and put a hoof to Applebloom’s shoulder, trying to keep her still. The others approached the curtain, several sets of hoofsteps signaling their proximity. It became easier to listen the closer they got.

“Well my dear, you certainly have an interesting choice in hairstyle.” Rarity’s voice was unmistakable. “I believe that look was popular in Manehattan not so long ago.”

“I wouldn’t know. I’m afraid I’ve never been there.” This was the voice of a stranger, her words spoken softly and calmly, but the confidence behind them was evident. “Ponyville seems nice so far, though.”

“Oh yes, it’s such a quaint little town, isn’t it?”

Dash glanced back at Applejack, then took a few steps closer to the curtain, peering through a divide at the group of ponies on the other side. Before she had a chance to retreat, the curtains emitted a soft glow and spread around their advance, and Rainbow Dash found herself on a collision course with four slowly trotting ponies. Twilight was the one to make impact, the blue pegasus emitting a soft ‘oof’ as the purple unicorn plowed right into Dash’s side. Rarity and Fluttershy looked on with concern, though Rarity’s concern melted away as she began to giggle as politely as she could.

In the rear of the group was a pony that Applejack couldn’t put a name to, which made a lot more sense when she realized that she had never met the red mare before. They made eye contact for a fleeting second, a brief flash of brilliant green, before the red pony was looking elsewhere, uninterested in the incident unfolding before her, or any of the other ponies in the room. That is, until her attention centered on Applebloom.

Cautiously taking her eyes off the stranger, Applejack directed her gaze toward her younger sister to find that the filly was now trembling violently. Applebloom fought viciously against the nurse at her side, one hoof outstretched toward the red mare at the edge of the curtain. She was babbling something unintelligible, almost moaning.

“Applebloom!” The orange mare rolled over slowly, her head swimming as she got to her hooves. The floor felt mushy, undulating under her. “What’s got inta you?! Calm yerself down!”

Big Macintosh nearly ripped the curtains off their rings as he charged into the enclosure, eyes wide with panic. “What in Celestia’s name-?!”

“She’s doin’ it again Mac! Get Redheart in here!”

“The nurse’s right behind me sis!” The red stallion crowded in next to Applejack, putting a hoof to the filly’s shoulder, trying to hold her down against the bed.

Applejack searched the room for any sign of the nurse’s approach, her vision blurred by the tears welling up in her eyes, but the expression of concern shared by her friends was obvious even through the emotional haze. She didn’t have to look to know that Rainbow Dash was right at her side, trying her best to calm the frenzied Applebloom. The red mare, however, stood out like a rotten apple. She retained her calm demeanor, watching silently as the filly nearly convulsed. Applejack felt revulsion growing in the pit of her stomach before Nurse Redheart’s arrival distracted her.

A syringe glimmered in the medical mare’s mouth, and with a precision jab, she injected a clear fluid into Applebloom’s neck. It must have been a tranquilizer judging by the way the fight left the filly almost immediately. Applejack, on the other hoof, had completely overcome the drawbacks of the transfusion, riding a wave of adrenaline from the sudden shock of Applebloom’s fit. She could feel her hairs standing on end, every sound coming in sharp and clear.

“Oh my…” Fluttershy whispered somewhere in the distance.

Twilight shared the sentiment. “I think… Maybe we should give them a little space.”

Applejack refused to take her eyes off of Applebloom, though her gaze occasionally drifted to Rainbow Dash for support, feeling relieved just to know that she was there. Behind her, she could hear the other ponies doing their best to ease the tension in the room now that the filly had fallen into much gentler spasms, breathlessly mouthing something in the red mare’s direction.

“We can visit my boutique if you like. My most recent clients canceled their order at the last minute, so I’ve found myself with quite a bit of free time.”

Even atta time like this, all that frou-frouey pony can think ‘bout is fashion.

“Oh! You know,I bet you could use a new dress! You never know when you might need a dress for a… Special occasion?”

Oh fer heaven’s sake…

“She already knows about the surprise party… I um… I warned her in advance.”

“Oh. Well, in that case, I’d just love to make you a dress for the party. Think of it as a welcoming gift.”

“Rainbow Dash,” Twilight called out. Applejack felt her heart sink as she braced for the following words. “Are you coming? We should probably give the Apple family some time to themselves.”

The blue pegasus looked up from Applebloom, then back down at Applejack.

“I’m sorry,” Dash whispered as tenderly as she could. “I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

Big Macintosh looked away in sympathetic discomfort as Applejack gave a subtle nod. “Do what you gotta do, sugarcube,” whispered the orange mare. “Ah’m a big girl, Ah’ll be alright...”

“Yeah, you’re right.” The blue pegasus responded. “I could go for stretching my legs anyway.”

Doing her best to hide her true feelings, Rainbow Dash gracefully floated into the air, her ears brushing the ceiling as she carried herself over the bed and landed with the others. Applejack watched forlornly out of the corner of her eye.

“I just remembered…” The timid yellow pegasus faltered, glancing around the room. “What I mean is; Spike told Mahara and I that Scootaloo had been bitten as well.”

Mahara, Applejack realized, must be the name of the red pony that arrived with Fluttershy. This was as good an introduction as any, and the orange mare was already harboring feelings of resentment against the newcomer. It would have to wait for another time, though, as the group was already making their way for the exit.

“Oh, that little pipsqueak went home hours ago.” Dash forced a grin, trying to maintain her composure. “She’ll probably be fine as long as she stays indoors, which shouldn’t be a problem after last night.”

The blue pegasus glanced back at the filly, and then her older sister, mouthing the words ‘Seeya later.’

“She seemed awfully mad at Applebloom about the whole thing, actually.” Twilight spoke in her usual, matter-of-fact way. “Scootaloo kept shooting her dirty looks and grumbling.”

They were getting farther away, well out of sight now and nearly to the door.

“Did um… Did either of them describe the creature that attacked them?”

Twilight responded to Fluttershy before Dash could get a word in. “Apparently, they both gave the same description as Applebloom had given the day before. Considering the strange happenings around Ponyville in the past few days, I think it’s safe to say we should organize a town meeting and inform everypony that there might be cause for alarm.”

“Yeah,” Dash muttered before being muffled by the closing of the front door. “What she said…”

\/ /\ /\ \/

“Soooo…” Rarity began, looking through the lengths of fabric at hoof, levitating them to Mahara’s side to compare them with the color of her coat.

The red mare had insisted on keeping herself wrapped with bandages, which Rarity understood completely. They were doing a fantastic job keeping her middle smooth and shapely, which would make fitting for the dress that much easier.

Maybe Fluttershy will start doing this as well, since she doesn’t seem to care about trying to slim down. She should really put more thought into her appearance, at least.

Sweetie Belle was in her room doing her homework, which meant that Rarity need not worry that the young unicorn would cause some sort of fabric related mishap.

The sooner that filly realizes that her silk is better sung than sewn, the less material I’ll have to scrap.

Rainbow Dash stood by the window, staring off into the distance, which the unicorn fashionista found to be completely typical of the blue pegasus.

A tomboy through and through. I can never tell what’s on her mind…

Twilight Sparkle attempted to read the fashion magazines spread out on the table before her, but appeared incapable of grasping the theories of style or the articles on the latest fashions that filled the pages.

The poor dear.

Fluttershy sat on a nearby couch, lightly nuzzling Opalescence, who soaked up the attention like a sponge. The couch groaned softly under the tubby pegasus every time she shifted her weight, which brought on a feeling of mild disgust in Rarity whenever it reached her ears. Seemingly aware of this, Fluttershy poured more attention onto the spoiled feline, doing her best to distract herself from what Rarity hoped was guilt.

I hope I’m not being resentful, Rarity mused to herself. I’ve tried to help her. Celestia knows how I’ve tried, but she just won’t put forth the effort. And she knows very well that the full figured look hasn’t been in for decades. Perhaps she just doesn’t care. Then again, she hated being a model, maybe she’s trying to hide from fame behind the extra weight. Or maybe this is a shot at me for pushing her into being a model in the first place! Oh but she wouldn’t hold a grudge, would she?

Rarity bit her lower lip, looking between sheets of black and white silk, both from the surplus caused by the canceled order. A smile found its way to her lips as they escaped her teeth.

“Thank you again,” the red mare said sweetly. “If I had a way of paying you I certainly would.”

“Oh, not at all my dear! This will practically pay for itself. What better way is there to advertise my dresses than by having ponies wear them?”

Mahara returned Rarity’s smile, lightly tapping the floor with a forehoof. “Still, thank you all the same.”

“Any friend of Fluttershy’s is a friend of mine.” She looked over to the timid pegasus and smiled as sincerely as she could.

Still looking rather uncomfortable, Fluttershy tried her best to do the same.

Rarity flatly added, in Fluttershy’s direction, “And I suppose I should let out your dress from the Gala sometime as well...”

The yellow pegasus immediately cast her gaze to the floor, but when Rarity returned her attention to Mahara, she found the red mare’s eyes had widened as though she were startled.

“Is something bothering you?”

Mahara looked, presumably, at Fluttershy, and then back to Rarity, lowering her brow slightly. “No, it’s nothing.”

“So what’s up with your name? It sounds kinda… Zebraish.” Rainbow Dash had decided to join the conversation at last.

In unison, both unicorns and the normally timid pegasus shouted, or in Fluttershy’s case, sternly said, “Dash!”

To the surprise of everypony present, Mahara began to laugh. Rainbow Dash joined her, Fluttershy giggling as quietly as she could, while Rarity and Twilight exchanged looks of confusion.

“I’m not from the land of the Zebra, I’m sorry to say. My name is just very...” She scanned the room, trying to find the word she was looking for. “Traditional, I guess. Maybe old fashioned is the better phrase.”

Rainbow Dash seemed to think about that for a moment. Rarity couldn’t find anything wrong with the name. Mahara sounded very exotic, rolling off the lips and tongue like some sort of foreign gem or delicacy. And then there were her eyes. The pale unicorn had almost tried to use her gem finding spell just to make sure the emerald pools of her irises weren’t actually real emeralds. Mahara had pupils like Opalescence on top of that, or maybe they were more like Spike’s. Rainbow Dash beat her to it.

“Are your eyes traditional too?” The blue pegasus smugly intoned, smirking afterwards.

“My eyes…” Mahara began, then seemed to lose herself in thought, a vacant stare coming over her.

Twilight Sparkle, having given up on the fashion magazines entirely, approached Rarity and Mahara with a hint of curiosity in her demeanor. Only later would Rarity realize that it had been suspicion.

“Your eyes are very unique, I have to say. I don’t think there are any documented instances of ponies with eyes like yours in any of the books I’ve read; not even a mention in medical journals or spellbooks. But here you are, a pony unlike any other in the written history of Equestria.”

Mahara had long since come back to reality, looking at Twilight in a way that made Rarity feel a twinge of discomfort, somewhere between unease and anxiety.

“I’m sure you’ve heard the rumors by now. Fluttershy was at the doctor’s office yesterday, and if she didn’t tell you, then surely you heard it while passing through town.”

“I’m afraid I’m at a loss.” The red mare glanced to Fluttershy, but Rarity couldn’t quite place her expression. “What point are you trying to make?”

“For the moment, I have no point to make. I just find it interesting that suddenly, not one, but two ponies appear in Ponyville that have eyes like yours.” Twilight had come within a few noses of Mahara now, but the red mare held her ground. “Admittedly, the filly that attacked Applebloom twice and Scootaloo only once has yet to be seen by anypony other than those two girls, so there isn’t any solid proof that they’re telling the truth. But last night, or maybe it was early this morning, the strangest thing happened to me.”

Mahara’s eyes narrowed by a hair, her lips pressed tightly together. Twilight Sparkle paced a few steps parallel to the red mare, and Rarity found herself wordlessly dividing her attention between them. Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy kept their distance, watching with silent apprehension.

The inquisition continued as the purple unicorn directed her next question to the blue pegasus.

“Rainbow Dash, where did you go after leaving me at the library last night?”

“Me? Uh… I went right back to Applejack and Big Macintosh. They had just arrived at the clinic with Applebloom and Scootaloo when they sent me over to get you.”

“And you never left them after that, until we decided to come here with Rarity?”

Sheepishly, Rarity interjected. “Dash, what were you doing with Applejack and Big Macintosh that late at night, exactly?”

Twilight shot her a glare that Rarity felt might turn her to stone. Rainbow Dash seemed relieved that the question had been avoided.

“I stayed with them all night,” the blue pegasus responded. “What’s your deal anyway? Why all these questions?”

“Because you visited me a second time that night, Rainbow Dash. Only I don’t think it was you. It looked like you, and it sounded like you, but there was something very peculiar about the pegasus on my doorstep.” Twilight took another step toward Mahara, Rarity backing slowly away from them both. “The Rainbow Dash I know would have just barged right in and started rifling through my bookshelves if she thought it would help her friends. The Rainbow Dash that visited me a second time last night wanted permission to enter the library. She didn’t state that expressly, but I could tell from the start that she wanted me to let her in, and more importantly, that she couldn’t enter until I had done so.”

Rainbow Dash widened her eyes a bit, opening her mouth to say something, silenced as Twilight raised a hoof in her direction. Fluttershy looked as though she wanted to run, or to hide, probably both. Sweetie Belle briefly peered into the room to see what all the fuss was about, then disappeared again just as quickly. Mahara was a statue, never once taking her eyes off of Twilight.

“Rarity welcomed us all into her boutique, which unfortunately voided the chance for me to test my theory, but I overheard your conversation outside the doctor’s office. If Fluttershy hadn’t invited you inside, I’m willing to wager that you would have remained at the front door. There’s polite, and then there’s just absurd.”

“You’ve called my phobia of new places to attention.” Her words were nearly hissed. “I’m sure your mentor must be so proud.”

“I should hope so, but now, I return to the point I have yet to make. You see, the bizarre politeness of this other Rainbow Dash wasn’t the only thing that struck me as off. Would you like to know what that other thing was, Mahara?”

“Please, by all means,” Mahara’s voice dropped to a near whisper. “Tell me.”

“It was her eyes. Rainbow Dash has had magenta eyes for as long as I’ve known her.”

“Maroon,” Rarity corrected, only to receive another stony glare.

“Rainbow Dash has had maroon eyes for as long as I’ve known her. She had maroon eyes when she visited me the first time, but the second time…”

A visible shudder passed through the red mare, her bandages coming to life as something writhed beneath them, settling into complete stillness again only moments later.

“The second time she visited me, her eyes were green. Not just green, but emerald green. That sounds very familiar, doesn’t it?”

Twilight Sparkle had begun a slow orbit, circling Mahara, who seemed to be watching her out of the corners of her eyes.

The purple unicorn edged closer, nearly pressing her forehead against Mahara’s. “You have nothing to say?”

“You are making me feel very unwelcome.” The red mare seemed to loosen up, tilting her head to the side. “If you didn’t want me to come here with your circle of friends, you could have told me so back at the doctor’s office.”

“The Apple family has been through enough over the last two days, and I didn’t want to subject them to this as well.”

“But mocking me for my shortcomings and equating me with whatever oddities you’ve been experiencing recently is perfectly alright?”

Twilight Sparkle seemed, for the first time since beginning her questioning spree, to be at a loss for words. Mahara smirked, then turned toward the door.

“Clearly my presence offends you. You have my sincerest apologies, and I’ll be leaving presently.” She glanced back at Twilight, narrowing her eyes. “But I have no intention of leaving the party being held in my name, so I ask that you try and curb your… Assumptive urges… Until the party has ended.”

The purple unicorn’s face flushed, a shade of embarrassment Rarity had very rarely seen in Twilight Sparkle. “No, you know what?” She glared at Mahara, practically growling her words. “You stay right here. I’ll be the one to leave since apparently I’m the one making an ass of myself. I’ll see you three later at Applebloom’s get-well party.”

Both Rarity and Fluttershy gasped while Rainbow Dash did her best to stifle a giggle. Without a word further, Twilight Sparkle stormed out of Carousel Boutique and into the afternoon haze.

Unable to control herself anymore, the blue pegasus began to laugh hysterically. “Did you hear that?! I don’t think I’ve ever heard her swear before!”

“Oh my… I guess um… I guess she didn’t get along with you as well as I thought she would, Mahara…” Blushing a bit herself, Fluttershy added, “I should have said something… That was so rude of her…”

“The only harm done was to my pride,” the red mare mused as she crossed the room. “No need to worry.”

Realizing she had dropped the lengths of silk some time ago, Rarity levitated the fabrics and set them on her sewing machine. “Well, this has been something of a bust; There isn’t nearly enough time left before the party as I’ll need to make you a proper dress. I’m so, so very sorry, my dear, both for the lack of attire and for Twilight Sparkle’s behavior.”

“Someone once told me that it’s better to know a pony for their true feelings than it is to only know a façade.” She smiled, seating herself beside Fluttershy, Opalescence immediately vacating the pegasus. “I should be thanking her for showing me how she really feels.”

“So hey…” Rainbow Dash cautiously began, “Does this mean we can all swear whenever we feel like it now or…?”

While Mahara grinned, Fluttershy and Rarity shouted “Dash!”

\/ /\ /\ \/

“Okie-Dokie-Loki, I thiiiink that’s everything!”

Pinkie Pie stood in the center of a fully, brightly decorated Sugarcube Corner, slowly surveying the room to make sure that every detail was absolutely perfect. A few ponies had already begun milling around the room, but the party couldn’t start until Fluttershy’s new friend had arrived. Applebloom would arrive at any moment with Applejack, though Big Macintosh had declined the invitation in favor of going back home to rest. The thought made her sad, so she went over the itinerary again to distract herself.

Streamers, check! Balloons, double check! Drinks, triple check! Baked goodies, so many checks!

Pinkie bounced in place, glancing from the open door to the steadily increasing number of guests. Seeing as it was a surprise party, the other guests were supposed to arrive before the guest of honor, otherwise they might accidentally spoil the surprise. Once everypony was present, she would release a pink balloon; the signal for Rarity, Twilight Sparkle and Rainbow Dash to bring the newcomer over. Fluttershy had been intentionally kept in the dark just in case she tried to spoil the surprise.

What a silly pegasus; scared of heights, scared of surprises, probably even scared of her own shadow! Oh well, it takes all kind of ponies to make things fun. There’s Applejack. Applebloom looks awfully silly. I hope the drugs they gave her wear off soon. I wouldn’t want her to miss her own get-well party. Aaaaand I think that’s everyone I invited! Let me just…

The pink pony grabbed a pink balloon from the floating bundle by the ribbon and dragged it outside with her teeth.

They should still be at Carousel Boutique. I’m sure Rainbow Dash will be able to spot this balloon from there. Oh, there’s Twilight. Wait a minute!

“Twilight?!” Free from her mouth, the balloon began to drift skyward, halted as Pinkie frantically fumbled the plastic ribbon back under her control. “You’re supposed to be with the others and that new girl!”

“The others are still with that new girl,” Twilight coldly replied, “So they should be along shortly. I’m here to visit Applebloom.”

“Oh! Okie-Dokie-” Twilight Sparkle had vanished through the doorway before she could finish. “Loki…”

I wonder what’s got her so flank flustered. Oh well, I just hope she doesn’t spread it around. Maybe she’ll cheer up once the party starts! Now where was I?

Pinkie wiggled her foreleg until the ribbon unwound itself, watching with a wide grin as it lazily floated into the air.

There it goes… It’s game time now! Oh… Hey, that’s weird. My chest feels fluttery, and my neck is itchy! It’s that new combo again! I wonder what it means! There go my ears too! Is this part of the combo? No… No I guess somepony is just going to need a bath. Which is going to happen first though? I guess I’ll just have to wait and see!

The pink mare cheerfully bounced through the doorway, sweeping the door closed with a hind hoof. Mrs. Cake went around turning off the lights and closing the curtains as Pinkie took up her hiding place beside the doorway, careful not to be in the path of the door when it opened. The absence of any sort of warning in the form of her Pinkie Sense allowed her to relax; there would be no door related mishaps. She leaned toward a nearby window, peering out from behind the curtain and into the street.

With so many ponies packed in here, Ponyville must seem like a ghost town! There’s barely anyone out there now. Oh! Oh, there they are! And this is Sugarcube corner, miss pony I don’t know your name yet. Why don’t you come inside? They have all kinds of tasty surprises in there! Come on, just a little closer... Almost here… Showtime!

Rearing up, grinning ear to ear, Pinkie was ready to surprise the cutie mark off the guest of honor, only, the first pony through the door wasn’t the guest of honor; it was Rainbow Dash. And then Rarity. And then Fluttershy, who turned and looked back out onto the street.

“Oh!” The timid pegasus began to blush. “I um… Sorry, I forgot. You can come in, everyone is welcome here.”

Fluttershy stood aside, and the barely familiar red mare poked her head into the dimly lit interior of Sugarcube Corner, her eyes practically glowing. None of that mattered, of course, because the guest of honor didn’t even notice Pinkie standing on her hind legs not more than a foreleg’s reach away. The timid yellow pegasus cringed preemptively.

“SURPRIIISE!” shouted everypony at once as the lights flashed to full brightness, though Pinkie was the loudest, regardless of her proximity.

Those green eyes got very wide very fast, the red mare crouching down, back arched almost like a cat, her back squirming violently under tightly wrapped bandages for several brief moments. Once those moments passed, though, she straightened back up, laughing.

“Okay yeah,” the red mare crooned. “I definitely wasn’t expecting that. Hi, uh… Everypony?”

Pinkie’s smile suddenly faded as she was stuck with a revelation. She had never even told the red mare her name. Introductions were clearly in order.

"Hiiiii! I'm Pinkie Pie but don’t think you know that because I never said it earlier when we met because I was all, I gotta go bye bye!” The pink mare paused only for a deep inhale while the guest of honor stood speechless. "And I really wanted to invite you to this party because you're new here but I thought it would be even better if it was a surprise party and now you're here and we can have fun! Woo-hoo!"

“I uh… Thanks! Thank you!”

“Don’t even think of mentioning it! Well it’s too late I guess but don’t mention it again, it’s my pleasure! What’s your name though? I told you my name already!”

“You most certainly did!” The red mare bowed her head in a respectful nod. “You may call me Mahara; pleased to make your acquaintance.”

Upon hearing the name of her guest, Pinkie immediately fell silent. Evidently feeling awkward about the pause, Mahara donned the widest grin she could.

“Hey, that sounds like a zebra name!” Rainbow Dash did her best to stop herself from laughing behind the red mare. “Are you a zebra? You don’t look like a zebra!”

With that, Dash fell into another fit of laughter. Pinkie Pie smiled, pleased with Rainbow Dash’s reaction, even if she didn’t understand what was so funny about the question.

“This isn’t the first time I’ve heard that today,” the red mare explained, grinning as she glanced back at the hysterical pegasus, then to Rarity and Fluttershy, both of whom seemed to be in high spirits. “But no, I’m sorry to say that I’m not a zebra.”

“Well that’s okay! I’ve only met one zebra before anyway. Huh…”

The pink mare leaned closer, her curly mop of a mane bobbing. Mahara attempted to back up a bit when she realized Pinkie Pie was investigating her bandages.

“What’s with all the wrapping? Did you wrap yourself up like a gift? Or did you get hurt or something?” Pinkie’s eyes widened dramatically as she gasped. “Oh no, that would be so terrible! Now the party has to be extra fun because it's a welcoming party and two get well parties all at once!"

“It’s nothing like that,” Fluttershy interjected, glancing down at the floor and shrinking back no sooner than she had finished speaking. “I mean, Mahara isn’t injured. It’s um…”

“It’s a long story and certainly not one fit for such a wonderful party.” Mahara regained what little ground she had lost upon Pinkie’s inspection. “I’ll tell you all later if you like, but as Fluttershy already knows, it’s a bit graphic…”

“Perhaps later,” The pale unicorn replied as she moved away from the doorway. “Though I’ll ask you to spare me the more worrying details if it’s, as you say, graphic.”

“Of course,” said Mahara, with a polite smile.

Rainbow Dash had long since recovered from her giggle fit, wiping a few tears from her eyes and departing from Mahara. Pinkie watched as the blue pegasus cut straight through the party, her sights apparently set on Applejack and her younger sister. Rarity and Fluttershy had begun to idly chat about what had happened to Applebloom and Scootaloo, and Rarity’s relief over Sweetie Belle’s safety. Mahara remained by the door, looking around the bustling room inquisitively.

"Okay, you let me know if you need aaaanything!” Pinkie had begun to bounce in place. “I'm gonna go make sure everyone's finding everything okay! Seeya later!"

Another perfect party! Everyone is laughing, and dancing, and eating the pastries I baked. Mmhmm! Hello Bonbon! Hello to you too! And you! Hiiii Ditzy! Yes, this is a new punch recipe I picked up! There’s just a teensy bit of whiskey in it! Apple whiskey! Applejack looks like she’s doing better too, that’s great! Wait, no, she’s upset again. What is Twilight doing upsetting her with all this grumpy talk? I can’t have this in my party, no ma’am!

Twilight had Applejack in one of the quieter corners of the room, both mares keeping their voices as low as they could.

“I know that I’m usually the one to try and see the good in these kinds of things, but I feel like I’m on the other side of it this time. Everypony really seems to like her, but the coincidences are just too big for me to overlook. Do we even know where she’s been staying?” Twilight didn’t even notice Pinkie Pie sneaking up on the two of them.

“Ah know how ya feel, Twi…” Applejack seemed to be more aware of Pinkie’s presence, but didn’t put much thought into it. “Ah don’t think any a ya’ll noticed it back at tha clinic, but that mare… Meraha? Somethin bout her just ain’t right. Ah can’t put mah hoof on it, but Ah don’t think Ah wanna get too friendly with her.”

“Hey now, that isn’t a nice thing to say about our new friend! Mahara is a nice girl from what I’ve seen so far. She’s even helping Fluttershy with housework and stuff while she’s staying there!”

Twilight Sparkle’s attention snapped to the pink mare. “She’s staying where?”

“At Fluttershy’s cottage, silly! What did you think I meant?”

The purple unicorn narrowed her eyes at Pinkie, who playfully returned the gesture with a grin, but instead of having a staring contest, Twilight disappeared into the crowd of dancing ponies. Around the same time, Rainbow Dash emerged from the grooving masses with a pair of drinks. The pegasus started a friendly nod, then remembered the tray between her teeth a few moments too late. The plastic cups fell to the floor, spilling their contents. The blue pegasus looked more upset with the tray than herself.

Mmmnope! There go my ears again. Guess it isn’t bath time for anypony just yet! I’ll just clean this up with a napkin. There, all better!

“Sugarcube, wadda ya’ll think of that new girl? Meha… Mehara? Ah feel like Ah ain’t pronouncin’ that right.”

“Ma-ha-ra,” replied Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash, though not quite in unison.

“Ma-ha-ra,” repeated Applejack. “Anyway, she don’t give ya any weird vibes er nothin’?”

“Besides the corny name, not really.” Dash started to turn in the direction of the refreshments, and then paused. “Actually, she got Twilight to swear! How great is that?!”

Applejack grinned while Pinkie quietly expressed her amazement at the allegations of Twilight Sparkle profanity.

The blue pegasus continued after abandoning her plans to get replacement drinks. “Twilight went totally off the handle at her though. She says I visited her a second time last night, but you know how that egghead has an overactive imagination.”

“Yeah, ah hear that.” Applejack turned to Pinkie, motioning out into the crowd. “Why don’tcha go make sure she ain’t rainin’ on nopony else’s parade.”

“Oookie-Dokie-Loki! Let me know if you need anything!”

Those two spend a whole lotta time together these days. I’m glad they’re finally getting over all that silly competition! They can both be the iron pony! Or maybe they’ll take turns. Oh well, they’ll figure it out. Hello again! Glad you like the punch! Not too much though, and I hope you’re not planning on flying for a few hours! Yes Lyra! I sure did bake that cake myself! No, just a pinch of hot sauce for a little extra kick! It does go nicely with the fudge doesn’t it? I just love this song, don’t you? Oh, there’s Mahara! Hi Mahara! What a silly pony, all wrapped up like a mummy. Maybe she really is a zebra and she’s hiding her stripes! No that’s silly, she’d have stripes everywhere, not just on her middle. She looks a little different though… When did she die her coat a lighter color? Oh, what is she looking at? Uh-oh! Twilight Sparkle is getting all grumpy with Fluttershy now! I hope I’m not too late!

The yellow pegasus was evidently trying to back up, but with her backside pressed to the wall, there simply wasn’t anywhere for her to go but down, so she crouched, doing everything in her power to make herself as small as possible. Twilight would not be so easily avoided, however.

“And you’re just letting her stay with you? Fluttershy, I know you like helping ponies, but you don’t know anything about that mare! What if she tried to hurt you?”

“But um… She… She didn’t hurt me, Twilight...” Her tiny voice faltered, trying her best to argue with the purple unicorn. “She’s… She’s really… Nice… I mean, I um… I like her… A lot… And um…”

“For all you know she could be dangerous! It’s one thing to make friends with somepony but to just let them stay with you without even really getting to know them first?” Twilight’s expression was all serious business, not at all fitting for a party. “You’re all the way out by the Everfree Forest, what if something bad happens to you?”

“N-nothing bad is going to happen, Twilight! You’ll just um… You’ll just have to trust me… Okay? Um… Please?”

Pinkie glanced back to where Mahara had been standing, only to find several other ponies in her place, the red mare nowhere to be seen. Twilight gave a grumble of defeat and stormed right past Pinkie Pie, then abruptly backed up until they were face to face.

“Pinkie, I have a special favor to ask you.”

Rarity had rejoined Fluttershy, a drink and a cupcake for herself, but apparently nothing for her friend. The pudgy yellow pegasus eyed the cupcake intensively. Twilight craned her head into Pinkie’s field of vision to recapture her attention.

“This is serious, Pinkie Pie!”

“Jeeze Louise, you’re the mayor of grouchville today! What kind of favor?”

“I know how much you love disguising yourself and spying on ponies. Well, I would like you to keep an eye on Fluttershy for me. Just to make sure she stays safe.”

Pinkie raised a brow, jaw hanging partially open as she considered the request.

“Please? Pinkie, I wouldn’t be asking you if I didn’t think this was important.”

“Okie-Dokie-Loki… But only for a day or two, okay? I’m sure Fluttershy wouldn’t like it if she knew I was spying on her.”

“That’s all I ask. Thank you, Pinkie.”

Twilight receded into the tipsy, laughing, whooping crowd of ponies, the music nearly inaudible over the ruckus of party goers.

Maaaaybe I should have tried the spiked punch on a smaller group first… Oh well, everypony is having a good time, so that’s the most important thing! Oh no, Twilight’s grumpiness is contagious after all! Fluttershy is upset now too! And so is Rarity! This won’t do at all! Fluttershy? Hey, cheer up now, this is a party! No? Okay… Oh, here comes Rarity.

“This is as much your fault as it is hers, you know.” Rarity’s expression and tone came across as haughty, possibly because of her stance, with her head and nose held high.

“Whadda ya mean by that? I didn’t say anything grumpy to Fluttershy!”

“She’s… Pinkie, dear, she’s practically a parade float. You and I both know that the metabolism of a pegasus is much more delicate than that of a unicorn or an earth pony, especially Fluttershy’s. She has never used her wings as often as a typical pegasus, and she barely exercised before she went into that bout of post breakup depression. But bringing her pastries to cheer her up when she was just laying around for days on end?”

The pale unicorn sighed, shaking her head slowly. “It’s as much my fault too, though. I should have said something sooner, before she could get this bad. What are we to do, Pinkie Pie? Seeing her like this breaks my heart.”

“Rarity! Fluttershy isn’t bad at all! She’s also not a parade float, silly, she’s a pegasus!” The pink mare fell silent as Rarity’s frustration mounted. “What’s a meta-balsam anyway?”

Rarity made a noise that amounted to a ‘hmph’ and then disappeared into the crowd as well.

That’s three friends who aren’t having a good time… Oh noooo am I coming down with the grumps too? Gotta stay positive… I’ll make sure everyone is having a good- Ooof! That’s okay, Berry Punch. Maybe you’ve had a little too much to drink though. Ditzy Doo, don’t try and fly insi- Please be more careful! Lyra! Bonbon! What are you- Ohmygosh don’t do that here! That cake is for everypony, don’t feed the whole thing to her! Hey, don’t- Daisy! Lilly! Rose! Don’t dance around on the table like that, you’re going to- Oh no! Look at this mess! Yes Mister Cake, I know this is getting a little out of hoof, I’m very sorry!

“Yer sorry?!” Applejack’s voice, even if it dripped with intoxication, cut right through the noise of the party, everypony suddenly falling silent. “An’ jus’ what do ya have ta be sorry fer, huh?! Did ya’ll do this ta mah lil Applebloom?!”

For a moment, Pinkie Pie thought the blond mare was addressing her, but then she spotted Mahara slowly backing away from Applejack and her younger sister, Rainbow Dash putting a hoof on Applejack’s shoulder to try and stop her.

The pale red mare glanced around nervously, the crowd pulling away from her as she continued to retreat. “If apologizing to your sister for her misfortune is something you frown upon-”

“Yer damn right Ah frown upon it! Ah don’t want you comin’ anywhere near Applebloom, understand?!”

“Leave her alone, sis…” With the party hushed, the red bowed filly was easily heard. “She didn’t mean nothin’ by it. She’s my…”

Mahara shook her head frantically, a motion which did not go un-noticed by anypony, and certainly not Twilight Sparkle or Applejack.

“She’s your friend, right Applebloom?” Twilight stepped forward, advancing with Applejack, but without the drunken swagger. “She’s been your friend for the last two nights now, hasn’t she?

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Mahara quickly stated, trying to back her way toward the door.

“Twi didn’ ask you.” Applejack said with a snort, turning her attention back to Applebloom. “This tha same mare ‘s been bitin’ ya?”

Pinkie held her breath for what felt like an eternity, Mahara staring intently at Applebloom, the little filly staring right back. Applebloom inhaled slowly, and was about to give an answer, but Fluttershy had apparently decided that things had gone too far.

“That’s enough!” The yellow pegasus stood between Mahara and her accusers, glaring at the latter. “This is no way to treat a pony! Mahara may be different, but she’s not a bad mare! I know it may be hard for you to see that, and I know that bad things have been happening recently, but I can tell you that Mahara is not the one responsible for any of them!”

Pinkie quickly looked back to Mahara, only to find that she was now staring down at the floor, her expression a mixture of distance and sadness. Fluttershy turned in time to see it herself, a bit of sorrow softening her expression as her fury began to subside.

“I should go,” the red mare stated, simply and softly.

“I’ll be joining you,” Fluttershy replied, shooting another angry look back at Twilight Sparkle and Applejack.

Only Applejack seemed to be ashamed of herself. Twilight scoffed, looking vacantly toward the window, while Applejack slowly turned and trotted toward Applebloom and Rainbow Dash. All eyes turned back toward Fluttershy as she gasped.

“Oh no,” whispered Mahara, her fragile words carrying across the room.

Berry Punch, now so drunk that she had decided to carry the entire punch bowl around with her, had evidently bumped into Mahara, spilling the contents of the bowl over the red mare. The drunk, overly protective parent mumbled incoherent apologies as Mahara looked over her bandages with wide eyed terror. Having taken the soaking hit directly, they began to come apart. Other ponies took notice as flimsy, soggy lengths of bandage fell away the red mare, collecting in a wet, tangled heap despite her efforts to keep them wrapped around her.

A wave of gasps and sounds of confusion broke the silence. The appendages sprouting from her back resembled wings, but on closer inspection, they were noticeably lacking in feathers, looking more like flesh folded in on itself in the shape of wings. Mahara turned in place, looking for a way to the door, but the crowd of drunken ponies surrounded her. The mumbled buzz intensified, ponies shoving each other aside to try and get a better look at the strange not-quite-wings attached where wings should normally grow.

“That ain’t natural…” stated Applejack from somewhere in the crowd.

“She’s not an earth pony, then?” someone asked through the rising commotion.

“She’s sure not a pegasus,” answered another pony.

Twilight stepped through the ring of onlookers, coldly staring down Mahara. Her horn began to glow.

“So what are you really, Mahara?” Twilight took another step closer, her horn glowing brighter. “And don’t think I didn’t notice what happened when you stepped into sunlight on the way to Rarity’s.”

Fluttershy was struggling somewhere in the crowd, trying to get to Mahara. “She has a skin condition!”

Mahara backed up against the crowd, some ponies stepping aside, others more interested in keeping the red mare in the circle, apparently finding empathy with Twilight’s prosecution.

“A skin condition that turns her white as a ghost the moment she steps outside? There’s more to this than you’re willing to tell her, isn’t there? What about your fangs? What about those things growing out of your back?”

“She was attacked by griffons!” Fluttershy had nearly shoved her way into the circle. “Leave her alone, Twilight!”

“Twilight, dear, Fluttershy is right.” Rarity was only barely visible through the crowd. “This is all a bit too dramatic…”

“So she’s a little weeeeird,” Pinkie Pie warbled, standing on her hind legs. “She just looks weirder than she acts is all! We’re all a little weird! Hey, I’ve got a song just for this!”

“Oh, Pinkie!” cried several ponies, including Twilight Sparkle and Rarity. “Don’t!”

The pink mare took a deep breath, grinning from ear to ear.

“Weeeeeeell some of us stay up too late with noses stuck in books;

"And some of us are way too into how we dress and look!

"Some of us are way too loud and maybe play too much;

"And some of us keep voices down and wouldn’t want to fuss!

"But maybe that’s the secret to what makes us such good friends;

"And being weird shouldn’t be feared cause that makes friendships end!

"So lend an ear and listen clear cause what I’m telling you

"Is something all of you should know and believe to be true!

"Weeeeee’re all a little weird round here but hey that’s nothing new!

"Don’t let those quirks and kinks you’ve got make yourself feel blue!”

Attention gradually shifted away from Pinkie, only to find that Mahara had vanished without a trace, save for the wet bandages still tangled on the floor. Fluttershy continued to push through the crowd, finding it easier as everypony realized that the object of curiosity had somehow left. Without pause, the yellow pegasus continued to make her way to the door.

“Where’d she go? Did she like my song?”

\/ /\ /\ \/

Chapter 3 - Predatory Behavior

Chapter Three: Predatory Behavior

\/ /\ /\ \/

Big Macintosh had gone straight back to Sweet Apple Acres after leaving the doctor’s office. The thought of a party after watching Applebloom have some kind of seizure, not once, but twice in the same day had brought his mind to much darker pastures. The sun was on its way to the horizon, but there were still a few hours to go before twilight by the time he finally pushed passed the front door of the Apple family’s humble dwelling. His mind lingered in the open doorway.

Should Ah have stayed with ‘em? He looked back down the path, Ponyville only faintly visible in the distance. AJ an Rainbow Dash are tough girls, but… Dammit… Ain’t much Ah can do ‘bout it now, ‘cept maybe meet em half way here…

The red stallion turned from the door and bucked it closed. A tremble ran down his spine as his thoughts drifted back to Applebloom.

Whatever the hell attacked mah lil’ sis; it comes round here again, Ahm gonna make damn sure it takes a long dirt nap.

While exceedingly uncommon in the ordinarily peaceful land of Equestria, firearms were certainly a reality. Big Macintosh happened to be the owner of one of them. On the highest shelf in his closet, locked away within its case, there rested a well polished double barreled shotgun. Macintosh had acquired it not long after watching his home and barn devoured by parasprites. The threat of diamond dogs, while very remote, was also a contributing factor in the purchase. He had not purchased it from another pony, however. Firearms of any sort, beyond fully fledged cannons, were entirely of griffon design. Such being the case, Big Macintosh had become the proud owner of a 12 gauge shotgun only as the result of a chance encounter with a griffon merchant passing through Equestria.

Admittedly, he could count the number of times he had actually fired it on his hooves, but he had been proficient enough blasting apples on a fallen tree at the time. Slowly, he looked over the weapon as it sat snugly in its opened case, a box of shells settled in a recession in the corner. Handling it was extremely awkward, given his lack of fingers, and he had found it necessary to remove the trigger guard in order to nudge the trigger with his forehoof. The only practical way to use it was to rear up, cradling it in his forelegs, effectively firing from the hip.

’s hurtin’ Applebloom. Mac placed a hoof on the stock, admiring the exotic instrument of destruction before him. Whatever it is, Ah gotta kill it ‘fore it can hurt her again. ‘fore it can hurt anypony again.

Macintosh shut and locked the case, sliding it under his bed rather than lifting it back to the closet shelf.

Feeling exhausted from a combination of sleeplessness and the stress of time spent bedside with Applebloom, Mac decided to rest his eyes, lying back on his bed while he waited for his sisters and Rainbow Dash to return home.

He felt as though he had only just closed his eyes when Wynona started barking furiously in the next room. The click of the front door brought him back to his hooves. Outside, he could see the sun dipping below the tree line, painting the sky a rich pink.

Guess Ah musta dozed off there…

“Anypony there?” The silence stretched on for several moments. “Hello?”

A familiar, scratchy, feminine voice replied. “Hey Mac. Just me.”

Rainbow Dash, apparently.

“Oh, alright… Where’s AJ an’ Applebloom?”

He could hear her coming down the hall, the sound of her hoofsteps getting louder the closer she got.

“They’ll be here soon. I’m just scouting ahead to make sure everything is safe. You find anything out of the ordinary?”

“Nope. Well… Ah kinda took a nap, actually. Never got ‘round to checkin’ the place fer… Whatever it is been causin’ all this trouble.”

She was right outside his door now. Big Macintosh had closed the door so that Granny Smith didn’t stumble in on him checking on his shotgun. Applejack was the only other pony that knew he had bought it, as well as where he kept it hidden and where he hid the key. Considering the circumstances, he decided it couldn’t hurt if Rainbow Dash knew as well.

“Yeah? Don’t worry about it. The party ended up going south anyway. Pinkie is a little upset about it, but, you know. Oh, and AJ is kinda drunk, just a heads up.” There was an awkward pause. “You uh… Mind if I come in?”

“Sure, Ah was fixin’ on showin’ ya somethin’ anyway. Ya can’t tell Granny Smith or Applebloom or anyone else ‘bout this though, okay?”

The door opened just enough to allow the blue pegasus to slip inside. Mac glanced back to the bed as Dash came up beside him. Something immediately felt wrong. Without turning his head, the red stallion did his best to get a look at Rainbow Dash, doing everything in his power to suppress the chills working their way through his body.

“What’s up? You’re bristling and stuff.”

Emerald green. He quickly averted his eyes, directing them back to the foot of his bed.

“Ahm jus’ on edge ‘s all. This whole thing ‘s jus’ givin’ me the jitters. Anyway, Ah betcha didn’t know Ah owned a gun, didja?”

“Woah, what? Where? When did you get a gun?”

Slowly, Big Macintosh pulled the case from under the bed. Dash stayed put, but he felt as if she were looking right through him, her presence sucking the warmth out of the room, trying to pull him in too.

“Well, ya remember when that bandit broke in an’ stole the profits from our harvest a few months back, dontcha? Got it not long after that.” Lying didn’t sit well with him, but he felt it a necessary evil given his situation. “A griffin decided ta take a rest from his travels here on the farm. Traded it fer food an’ water.”

He took a deep breath, trying to slow his heartbeat, trying to calm himself as he turned the key, nudged back the cover. Polished steel and maple stock glistened in soft glow of the setting sun. As he extended his hoof to the case again, intent on removing the shotgun, he felt a warm breath against the side of his neck, followed by something wet.

A tongue. A blue forehoof flipped the lid closed before he could touch the felt lining, shoving the case back under the bed.

“You don’t really think I’m that stupid, do you?”

The red stallion snorted. “What gave me away?”

“Do you mean your lie about the bandit or the way you were telegraphing your motives to me through your body language? I’m sorry to say that subtlety isn’t your strongsuit.”

“Eeyep…”

A short burst of laughter drifted from the mare’s lips to Macintosh’s ears. “And what gave me away, then?”

“Ah talked to Twilight this mornin’ when she came round the doctor’s office. Mentioned somethin’ ‘bout how there might be some connection ‘tween the creature behind the attacks an’ the color a her eyes. Right ‘bout now Ah’d say she’s onta somethin’.”

Despite the situation, Big Macintosh found himself grinning. “An’ Rainbow Dash may well be attached at tha hip to Applejack. Dash showin’ up here by herself ain’t exactly ordinary.”

He turned, as slowly as he could, to face the creature posing as the blue pegasus. His gaze was met with brilliant green irises and vertical slits for pupils. Twilight was definitely onto something.

“So what’re ya gonna do to me?”

“My original plan was to seduce you, but I guess I came at the wrong time.”

“Any time ya picked woulda been a bad time. Rainbow Dash ain’t mah mare.”

Macintosh shifted his weight to his fore hooves, twisting away from the imposter as his back end lifted into the air, hind legs drawing in for a strike. With a grunt, he bucked with all his might. A wet crack split the air as his hooves made contact with blue furred flesh, a dry gasp given in startled response. The imposter was thrown against the door with such force that it splintered, wooden fragments projecting from her sides like acupuncture needles.

“An ya’ll sure as hell ain’t Rainbow Dash.”

He had landed half the kick on her breast while the other hoof had struck her left shoulder, and though her flesh was visibly torn from impact, even though he had heard her bones crack, she was rolling back to her hooves, her eyes narrowed, ears drawn back. Rivulets of blood trickled slowly from her wounds, standing out against the soft blue of her coat.

“Yes, we’ve established that, I think.”

\/ /\ /\ \/

Ponies gradually filtered through the doorway as Fluttershy left Sugarcube Corner in her wake, the sound of drunken celebration continuing as feverishly outside as it had within the shop and home of the Cakes. Somewhere in the ruckus was Pinkie-Pie trying her best to calm everypony down, her shouts and pleads barely audible. The sun had begun flirting with the horizon, thick, rosy clouds drifting lazily through the skies over Ponyville. Several birds swooped passed the timid pegasus, bidding her goodnight on their way to their respective nests. They were specks in the distance before she could ask them if they had seen Mahara, though she knew that small animals of all sorts seemed to avoid the red mare like a plague.

The pegasus swiveled an ear at the sound of approaching hooves. Fluttershy turned to find Rarity not more than a few paces away. Already, she felt a sinking feeling, preparing for another round of thinly veiled insults. She cast her gaze downward, focusing on Rarity’s hooves.

“That was certainly one of her more interesting parties, though I think it’s for the best that it came to an end when it did, even if it was rather abrupt.” Rarity paused, glancing around the pegasus. “I don’t suppose you’ve caught up to Mahara?”

“No… I um… I’m worried that she may have left town after being embarrassed like that…”

“Poor dear… Well, I should hope she didn’t. After all, I never even got to finish her dress.” The purple maned unicorn tapped the ground with a forehoof. “Fluttershy, I… Well, maybe it will be better left unsaid until tomorrow. You are still interested in going to the spa with me, aren’t you?”

The sinking feeling inverted immediately, a feeling of optimism blooming in Fluttershy as she raised her head, looking Rarity in the eyes.

“Of course.” The timid pegasus smiled delicately. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

“I’ll admit I’ve been acting a bit brashly toward you as of late. I hadn’t really considered it until I watched Twilight Sparkle dig into Mahara, but… I’m sorry. I’m very sorry for the way I’ve been treating you.” She paused again, turning her gaze down the street, toward her shop. “You’ll forgive me for leaving it at that for the time being, I hope. I need to return home and take care of Sweetie Belle.”

Before Fluttershy could respond, she found herself between Rarity’s forelegs on the receiving end of a squeeze.

“Don’t stay out too late now. I’d hate to have to cancel our reservation!”

The pale unicorn parted ways with Fluttershy, vanishing around a bend, but Fluttershy felt a wave of happiness come over her. A warm tear rolled down her cheek. Her best friend, it would seem, didn’t hate her after all.

Of course she doesn’t hate me. The pegasus told herself. She’s been acting this way because she’s been worried about me. Even if being kind of mean was… Well… Mean, it was her way of showing her concern. That’s… That’s okay though. I understand and I forgive her! Maybe I’ll try jogging with her again. I’ll just tell her that I need to take it slow. She’ll understand that, won’t she?

Crickets filled the air with their dry song, replacing the chatter of birds, supplemented with the occasional shrill, distant cry of a bat or fox. The party had apparently dispersed, considering the quiet that had come over Ponyville. Fireflies floated dreamily through the air, blinking a shade of green that reminded her of the red mare’s eyes.

In Mahara’s absence, the pegasus took another look at Twilight Sparkle’s fanatical claims. The creature that had bitten Applebloom and Scootaloo, possibly the same creature that impersonated Rainbow Dash at the library, was reported to have eyes strikingly similar to Mahara’s.

But if the creature can impersonate other ponies, what would stop it from mimicking Mahara’s eyes to use her as a scapegoat?

There was also Mahara’s aversion to entering a new place without permission. Twilight had suggested this was also a quality of the creature. Fluttershy again found herself pondering the reverse. It would be so easy for some kind of intelligent monster to get everypony to single out Mahara based on her differences in behavior, especially considering how recently she had arrived.

But what about her fangs? More importantly, if Mahara is the one behind all this, why hasn’t she tried to hurt me yet? There is the possibility that Mahara is just using me… Maybe if she avoids hurting me, she thinks I’ll defend her, like I did earlier… The pegasus felt her blood run cold at that thought. What if she’s the monster after all and I defended her? What will everyone think of me then?

The buildings thinned out the closer the pegasus came to the edge of town. A soft glow of light flickered on a distant hill, just above the trees. Angel was waiting for her back home and Mahara as well, she hoped. In the last remaining rays of sunlight, the pegasus fell victim to mixed emotions, gleeful that Rarity had invited her to spend time at the spa while maintaining concern for her yet to be located companion.

A twig snapped underhoof, made her jump. Taking Rarity’s advice to heart, Fluttershy picked up the pace, trotting down the path just shy of a gallop. The shadows stretched for her, the mouth of darkness yawning wider as the sun became a sliver of light on the horizon. Something raced through the sky above, little more than a blur out of the corner of her eye.

Cautiously, Fluttershy slowed to a stop, scanning her surroundings for any sign of movement. She suddenly, strangely, found herself hoping that Mahara was the pony behind the attacks.

If it is her, maybe I can reason with her. If it isn’t her… Well, hopefully I can still reason with whatever it is… It hasn’t killed anypony… Yet…

The cottage lay just ahead, placid as always. With a soft tremble, the pegasus approached, putting a hoof to the door and pushing it open.

Replacing her anxiety was a sudden, overwhelming feeling of joy at the sight of the red mare sitting neatly on the couch.

“Are you… Um… I mean… I’m so sorry! I’m sorry about what happened!” Mahara’s eyes widened as Fluttershy swiftly crossed the room, coming to a stop with a hug. “I’m so glad you didn’t leave…”

“Why would I do that? Twilight has every right to be suspicious of me.”

The timid pegasus froze in place, then slowly retracted her forelegs. “She… She does?”

An icy chill found root in her chest, spreading through her body.

“I’m new, and it’s easiest to blame the newcomers whenever something goes wrong. She’s not behaving any differently than I would expect any pony to behave if they’re afraid.”

Fluttershy heaved a silent sigh of relief, her blood thawing. As carefully as she could, the pudgy pegasus lifted herself onto the couch to join her companion. She received a nuzzle for her effort.

“You um… You don’t understand, though.” continued Fluttershy. “Twilight is usually one of the more level headed ponies that I know of. There was this one time where everyone was afraid of this zebra, including me, and Twilight was the one to try and talk sense into all of us.”

The pegasus sighed, resting her head against the side of Mahara’s neck.

“But no one was being hurt when everypony was still afraid of Zecora… I guess that’s the big difference here.”

“Do you think she would stop being so aggressive toward me if Applebloom and Scootaloo weren’t being attacked?” The red mare’s voice seemed swollen with hope.

“I… Well, I hope so. She isn’t one to dislike a pony, or any creature, just based on appearance. She must really think you’re the one responsible if she’s acting this way… And I… Um…” The pegasus began to blush, lightly pawing Mahara’s breast with a forehoof. “I’ll admit, I thought… That is… A few times, I wondered if you were the one behind the attacks, too… And I’m sorry for thinking that…”

Fluttershy looked to find the red mare sad and distant, avoiding her gaze for several moments.

“It’s alright… No harm done in thinking. You didn’t act on your suspicions, at least.”

The pegasus nodded, nuzzling in close to deliver a little kiss. “Oh, I talked to Rarity before I came home…”

“The pale unicorn with the curly purple mane and the diamond marks, yes?”

Giggling softly, Fluttershy confirmed with another nod. “That’s Rarity. She wanted to go to the spa with me tomorrow. She um… She hasn’t wanted to do that in a while. It used to be a kind of weekly ritual we had, before um… Well, you know… Before I…”

“Ah… Yes, I noticed a bit of that while we spent time with her.” Mahara shifted, as if uncomfortable. “Now I’m the one who needs to apologize. I should have said something. I guess… That makes us even?”

“I guess… And I’m not mad at her or anything… I know she only does it because she cares… Anyway, she apologized to me about the way she’s been acting. At least, I think that’s what she apologized about. She wants to talk to me about it tomorrow.”

“That’s good. I hope everything works out between you and her. If you don’t mind my asking, though…” Fluttershy lifted her head, bring her gaze to meet Mahara’s. “How did you get like this?”

The pegasus blushed again, much more intensely this time. “I… Well… It’s… Okay, um… I guess I’ll start from the beginning.

“I told you that I’ve been in a relationship before… Well, that relationship was my first...” The pegasus took a deep breath, a slight tremble building as she continued. “His name was Lucky, but he liked it when I called him my Clover… And…”

She paused again, inhaling slowly through her nose. “I liked it when he called me his Butterfly… I um… I got to know him during last year’s Winter Wrap-Up. I had met him before, and I kind of got the feeling that he was interested in me, but I was always too shy to say anything. Well… That was the day I finally decided to speak up. He was almost a little startled that I was talking to him, but, well… One thing led to another, and we decided to try and spend more time together.

“Rarity was so excited about it, and so was everyone else. I think Twilight and Rarity were a little jealous that I got a coltfriend before either of them, but, they were happy for me just the same.” She laughed a little, closing her eyes.

“Pinkie wanted to throw a party, but I told her that she didn’t have to. Anyway… He and I, we went on a few dates, and then a few more… We started visiting each other a lot more often at home… Spending whole days together… Spending nights together looking up at the stars… Sometimes… Sometimes I… Um… I felt like I was going too slow for him, like he wanted more from me, but… My first kiss…”

Fluttershy laughed again as she lost herself in a memory, shifting a bit to get more comfortable. The red mare nudged her gently, bringing her back to reality, smiling as she met Mahara’s curious gaze.

“Sorry… Just, I was so awkward… I had never kissed anypony before. I kept asking if I was doing it right, and he just smiled, shook his head, and asked me to let him show me. That… That was when I knew I loved him. I decided then and there that he was the one for me. I know that sounds cliché, but… At the time, that was how I felt. The months went by… I got better at kissing…”

She paused, blushing slightly, then continued. “Part of me dreaded what was coming, but… I trusted Lucky. I really did. So, one starry night, while we were laying on the hill looking up at the night sky… He um… He decided to take our relationship to the next step. Maybe I wasn’t ready… Maybe I should have told him to wait… But I just couldn’t say no to those blue eyes of his. I was in love, and I told myself, this is what mares and stallions do when they’re in love…”

Mahara’s expression hardened, brow furrowing. “Did he… Force you?”

“No… Goodness no, he would never do that… As much as I was afraid, there was an even bigger part of me that wanted it. So… Um… I let him show me how it was done… I’m not going to lie, I liked it. I really liked it, but… Things changed after that. We made love a few more times, but it felt different, at least for me. Then um…”

The pegasus inhaled sharply, her voice beginning to waver. “He stopped seeing me as often… We didn’t go out on dates anymore… It felt like I was just there, waiting for when he wanted me around. And then one day, Rarity told me she saw him talking to another mare. Kissing another mare. I… I just didn’t understand.”

A few tears rolled down her cheeks as she struggled to keep herself from sobbing.

“I asked him, why, and he had this look, like I was a total stranger. He didn’t apologize… He just said, it was fun while it lasted, and… He… He left... Never looked back… He was done with me and that was all there was to it…”

A shuddered gasp escaped her throat, pressing in tightly to Mahara as the red mare wrapped her forelegs around the pegasus. Fluttershy had not finished her story, however.

Choking back the quiet sobs, she took a deep breath and continued.

“After that, I just stopped caring about… Everything. I barely made the effort to feed the birds, Angel had to feed the rabbits and the other animals himself… I just sat in bed all day, crying, watching the shadows on my wall... I thought maybe I had done something wrong, maybe it was my fault somehow… I wanted to understand why he had cheated on me… I loved him, even after what he had done, but… He just didn’t love me anymore, I guess… My friends would come by almost every day to try and cheer me up… Pinkie would bake cakes, Twilight would read to me, Applejack and Rainbow Dash would tell me stories about when they were younger, or their most recent adventures…

“Rarity, though… Poor Rarity… She practically moved in, trying to keep me company, asking me to go into town with her, or help her with dress designs… Seeing me like that, it really scared her, but… I just didn’t care anymore. I had finally come out of my shell, and what did I have to show for it? So, I just sat there, barely moving, staring at my wall, or shuffling around like a zombie when I made the effort to leave my bedroom… And that’s how things got even worse…

“A pegasus is supposed to fly around a lot and burn lots of energy, but… I’ve never really been a strong flier, so if I could walk to where I wanted to go, I would. That has never really been an issue before because I tended to eat light… But um… Once I stopped leaving my house… Not even getting out of bed some days… The weight started piling on really quickly… I noticed it, of course… But I was too miserable to really do anything about it until it was too late…

“At first, Rarity didn’t really say anything about it. Everypony’s weight goes up and down fairly often, so maybe she figured I would drop the extra weight once I was back to normal… When I didn’t, though, she started to um… She started looking at me differently. She understood that I was going through a rough time, but, after months of trying to help me, I could see that her patience was wearing thin… I could tell just in the way she started acting. She stopped visiting me as often… She started jogging every morning and would always ask if I wanted to join her… She convinced me one day to leave my house and go to the spa with her… That was the last time we went to the spa together…”

Now shaking noticably, Fluttershy’s voice began to waver again, closing her eyes tightly for a moment to fight back the tears and the echoes of past sadness. She felt a hoof slide along her back, finding the touch soothing enough for her to continue.

“Rarity did most of the talking, and… I just sat there, not saying much of anything. Then she um… She just glared at me, then she got up and left me there… I was stunned, too stunned to cry at first, because she had never done that to me before. Then I realized that it was happening again… First Lucky, and now Rarity… I followed her out, and she was toweling off, ready to just leave me at the spa. She said that unless I was willing to do something about my weight problem… Unless I was willing to actually let her help me… She wouldn’t be spending time with me anymore.

“I had started crying by then… That was when everything kind of clicked… I realized I was in danger of losing another pony that I really cared about, so I agreed to try and lose the weight, but… Well, you can see how that went. When we finally did go jogging together, I think I lasted for about fifteen minutes before I was done. I just gave up and went home… And Rarity went on without me.”

The pegasus paused, heaving a deep breath as a few more tears rolled from the corners of her eyes. Mahara opened her mouth to speak, but Fluttershy shook her head, exhaling slowly.

“Rarity never really stopped talking to me… I would still see her around town, but… Things were um… Things were different after that. She became distant, and at times, I think she has been cruel towards me on purpose… But what else could she do? She wanted… She tried to help me… And I failed her… I was still a little depressed for a while after that, but… What happened with Rarity was kind of a wakeup call. I didn’t want to lose anymore friends, so I started forcing myself to leave the house. It got easier over time, and… Eventually things kind of went back to the way they were… Excluding my friendship with Rarity…

“Instead of asking me to exercise, Twilight offered me a few books she had on weight management, and that helped me a lot. She never really stopped offering me books, though. She kept finding newer medical studies or books about overcoming depression, and every time she would see me, she would have saddle bags of books for me to take home, even if I only needed the first few she gave me. And… That’s pretty much the way things have been recently… I’m too heavy to fly now, and I don’t really have the endurance for exercise, so all I can hope to do is watch what I eat… I’m pretty good about that, usually. All of the books told me that starving myself is the worst thing I could do, so… I have little snacks every now and then…”

Without realizing it, the pegasus had fully leaned herself against Mahara, but the red mare supported her without a complaint. Mahara was mostly quiet, still rubbing Fluttershy’s back with a forehoof. Outside, a velvet blanket of darkness had fallen over the landscape. Stars twinkled against the milky black emptiness and the moon glowed softly just out of sight from the window frame.

After a few minutes, Mahara gently lifted the veil of silence. “For what it’s worth, I’m sorry about what happened, with Lucky and Rarity, but…” The ghost of a smile found its way to her lips. “You’re very fortunate to have such good friends, even if some of their efforts to help you hurt a bit in the process. Sometimes your friends do things for you that you never asked for to begin with… And… Sometimes love can be painful…”

The red mare’s expression became grave and distant, gazing out the window, the pale orb of the moon reflected in her eyes.

“Have you…” Fluttershy let her words fade, but found the resolve to continue her question. “Have you ever loved anyone?”

Mahara returned her attention to the pegasus. “Yes and no… It was a long time ago and my story, like yours, does not have a happy ending. I would prefer to tell it another time, if that’s alright with you.”

“I understand…” Taking a deep breath, Fluttershy prepared her next question. “Do um… Do you love… Me?”

“You’re very silly for asking a question like that. We just met the other day.” The red mare smiled, gently nibbling a yellow furred ear. “We’ll just have to see where this goes for now.”

The pegasus found relief in Mahara’s statement, smiling, nodding in agreement. Love was a four letter word with as much potency as an expletive, after all. All she could do for the moment was enjoy that moment.

Fluttershy lost track of time after that, closing her eyes, enjoying the warmth and the feel of her companion, listening to the beat of her heart and the swell of her lungs. Her thoughts drifted during that indeterminate span, imagining how life would be different with another pony around for the long term of things. More importantly, another mare. While not a subject of persecution, the idea and practice of same sex relationships was treated cautiously in Equestria. Lyra and Bonbon had made their love for one another publicly known not long after they had decided to be together, or so she had heard. While most ponies were supportive, there were ponies that viewed the pair in a different light afterwards. The idea that a stallion or mare may secretly harbor feelings for friends of the same gender made some ponies uncomfortable.

But I can’t blame them for that, she mused. If Rainbow Dash suddenly told me that she was attracted to me… Well, maybe I wouldn’t be so uncomfortable about it now, and she’s… Nice… Just, not my type…

Rarity was one of those ponies, unfortunately. Her faux pas with Prince Blue Blood had not made her any less determined to find a stallion to call her own. The idea of mares being with other mares and stallions being with other stallions seemed to confuse Rarity, possibly because of how unorthodox it was considering the otherwise mostly heterosexual population of Ponyville. The irony, in Fluttershy’s opinion, lay in the fact that both Photo Finish and Hoity Toity, ponies that Rarity had so badly wanted approval from, were clearly in favor of relationships with ponies of their own respective genders.

If there would be any dissent over Fluttershy’s mutual feelings for Mahara, it would come from Rarity. If the rumors about Applejack and Rainbow Dash were true, however, she could expect support from both of them. Or at least Rainbow Dash, considering Applejack’s apparent apprehension toward Mahara.

The red mare stirred softly, bringing the timid pegasus out of her thoughts.

“It’s getting late,” Mahara began. “If it’s alright with you, I’m going to get some sleep.”

An impulse to keep an eye on the red mare found purchase in her mind. With as much guilt as resolve, she decided that it was in everypony’s best interest that she make sure Mahara spent the night under her watch. At the very least, it would quell any doubt that her companion wasn’t the one responsible for the recent string of attacks.

“It… Um…” Fluttershy kicked herself, mentally. This was something that had to be done. “Is it alright… If I um… If we… I’d like to sleep with you, tonight…”

The pegasus could feel her face radiating fiercely, but Mahara simply quirked a brow.

“I thought we agreed to take this slow. That’s kind of inappropriate given what we just discussed, I think…”

Does she think that… I want to… The pegasus felt her breath catch in her throat. Oh! Oh goodness!

“No! Not that I… Um… You’re very… Just want to… Sleep next to you… If um… If that’s alright…”

“Yes, it’s more than alright.” Mahara smiled, nuzzling Fluttershy between the ears before slipping over the edge of the couch. “Just sleeping next to me, then.”

The pegasus, still blushing, followed the red mare to the mattress. Angel turned off the lights for them, then went off to bed himself. As she lay there, wrapped in a gentle embrace, she smiled and rested her head against Mahara’s breast. A steady heartbeat lulled her to sleep.

\/ /\ /\ \/

Rainbow Dash was sober enough to see Applejack and Applebloom home without any assistance, and Pinkie Pie had set to work trailing Fluttershy not long after she had successfully dealt with the remaining drunken partygoers. This left left Twilight Sparkle with little more to do than return to the library and defend the book that she assumed the creature had every intention of obtaining. And if the creature wanted it so badly, then Twilight had every intention of learning why. Preparations needed to be made beforehoof, however.

Directly overhead, dark clouds blotted out the evening sky, while the horizon appeared mostly clear. While leaving Sugarcube Corner, Pinkie Pie had likened them to floating cotton candy, to which Rainbow Dash replied that Pinkie was so random. Twilight had more pressing issues on her mind.

“Spike?” she called at the door of the library. “Spike, I’m coming in now…”

“Okay Twilight!” the dragon shouted from within.

Sighing, she unlocked the door and stepped inside.

The unicorn was pleased to find the library as she had left it, locking the door behind her. Everything was in proper order, all her notes were carefully filed, and the book sat ominously on her table.

She heard Spike from the kitchen.

“Twilight! I… Rats, I forgot what I was going to tell you. It was something important, I think. Maybe it was about Owlowiscious.” The pint sized dragon peered out around the corner. “You know he killed another mouse today? Don’t tell Fluttershy, though. I don’t think she would like to hear that.”

“You were supposed to check my eyes before I came inside, remember? Is that what you forgot?”

The sound of a clattering pan rung out from the kitchen doorway. “Oh! Sorry, it slipped my mind. Won’t happen again, I promise! That’s not what I was going to tell you though. I’m pretty sure it was about Owlowiscious…”

Through gritted teeth, Twilight shouted, “Spike!”

The dragon cringed slightly, abandoning whatever he was doing in the kitchen to give the unicorn his full attention.

Rubbing the side of her head with a forehoof, she started again. “Sorry, sorry… Owlowiscious is an owl. That’s just what owls do. Asking him not to hunt would be like asking you not to eat gems.”

The shock on Spike’s face brought a smile to hers. “Not that I would ever ask that of you.”

“Oh, phew… Okay… Thinking… Oh! Fluttershy did stop by today, before the whole mouse thing. She was looking for you and I told her you were at Redheart’s clinic.”

“I still need to get those quills from her,” Twilight remarked as she floated a piece of parchment out of a stack.

“She had a friend with her too.” Twilight dropped the parchment and a bottle of ink while Spike continued, oblivious. “She seemed nice at first, but the longer I looked at her… You know that twisty feeling you get in your stomach when you eat something you shouldn’t?”

“You didn’t invite her in, did you?!”

“What? No, of course not! She gave me the creeps.” Spike shuddered before continuing. “Also you told me not to let anyone in without your permission. Ha! See, I did remember! I just forgot that I remembered is all.”

For the first time in what may have been one of the longest days of Twilight’s life, second only to her first day in Ponyville, the unicorn felt as though she could relax. She thought back on that.

Has it only been one day? No, three… I just barely slept for two days… Three days, and two fillies have already had to get medical attention because my curiosity got the better of me…

Even if she could relax, the unicorn had lost any real desire to do so. Every moment she didn’t spend toward resolving the situation at hoof was a moment another pony might be injured. The attacks hadn’t been particularly violent, but Twilight was certain that wouldn’t last.

Sighing softly, Twilight took a seat, propping herself up on her knees. An overwhelming sensation of exhaustion came without warning, her eyelids growing heavy. Spike had come to her side sometime after she had entered her hazy stupor. The feel of his claw against her side helped shake it off.

“Twilight, you’re not looking too good. You should really get some sleep.”

The unicorn gave a sleepy smile. “What would I do without you, Spike?”

“Write your own letters?”

“Oh, you know what I mean” she giggled, shaking her head. “Since you’re such an excellent assistant, though, how about you help me with one more letter before we go to bed?”

The dragon went rigid, struck with an epiphany. “That’s what I was trying to remember! The Princess responded to your letter!”

Twilight felt her second wind come with news of a reply. Spike hastily retrieved the scroll, only to have the unicorn snatch it from his grasp and zip it to herself via magic before the dragon could deliver it by claw.

“Sorry,” she mumbled as she opened the seal.

“To my faithful student, Twilight Sparkle,

“I should begin by saying that I’m very sorry for having taken so long to respond. It would appear that the weather around Equestria has been acting strangely for the past few days, and so I’ve been very busy with the pegasi of Cloudsdale in an effort to find a solution to the situation. We’re making progress, if a bit slowly. I’m giving a great deal of consideration into recruiting you for the task force we’ve assembled in response to the issue, as I’m almost certain that a unicorn of your skill and potential could comprehend cloud focused magic in no time.

“As for your own cause of distress, I can only suggest that you stay vigilant. It’s true that concealment spells can be used to hide objects in places that should not normally be large or sound enough to contain them, such as within a book. Unfortunately, if you’re unsure of what you’re dealing with, there isn’t much that I can do to help. As long as no pony is being harmed, perhaps your worry is for nothing. As you put it yourself, it may have been your imagination.”

Twilight set the letter down, then glanced across the room. The book was inanimate, dead weight resting on the table, but she could feel it beckoning, sucking the life and warmth out of the space around it. Spike watched with concern and curiosity as she got to her hooves and crossed the room, never once taking her eyes off of it.

“It’s forbidden knowledge, Spike. An apple laced with poison.”

“Twilight?” The dragon followed slowly in her wake, brow furrowing as his concerned turned to fear with her words.

“I should never have opened this book, but now that I have… I’m going to have to open it again if I want to have any chance at ending this nightmare.”

The unicorn froze in place, eyes wide as a memory flashed in her subconscious like lightning, then vanished again before she could comprehend it. She reared up, both forehoves on her face as she gritted her teeth, a breath away from screaming with frustration. Again, Twilight felt her draconic familiar’s touch, releasing the sides of her head and returning to all fours.

“Twilight, please, I know you feel responsible for what’s happening but you’re not going to be helping anyone if you keep doing this to yourself.” Spike turned his gaze to the floor, where he evidently found the words he needed to continue. “It’s already getting late. Get plenty of rest, and tomorrow, we can attack this thing together. Okay?”

She responded first with a hug, cradling the dragon with a foreleg, and then with gentle words.

“Okay Spike. You’re right. If we’re going to beat this monster, I need to be at my best.”

The book continued to beckon, but Twilight found it much easier to ignore. She indulged one last look before following Spike up the stairs. Her hooves felt so heavy, and her bed couldn’t have looked more inviting. The dragon was still climbing into his bed as Twilight gracelessly flopped down, letting out little more than a grunt.

“We have a lot of things… to do tomorrow, Spike…” the unicorn mumbled. “Zecora might… know more… reply to… princess… read…”

And for the first time in a long time, Twilight was fast asleep before Spike had even touched his pillow.

\/ /\ /\ \/

Everypony slept peacefully that night. Everypony except for Pinkie Pie. Ever watchful, covered from head to hoof in leaves and sticks, she kept an eye on Fluttershy as she was asked. Excluding a few tosses and turns from either mare, neither Fluttershy nor Mahara left the bed. The sight of the red mare wrapping her forelegs around Fluttershy in her sleep was almost too cute for Pinkie to handle. Almost.

That pegasus must be like a big teddy bear, all soft and squishy. I wish I was in there. Well, maybe not. Mahara probably wouldn’t like that. I’m glad she and Fluttershy are such close friends already, though. I wish I had a friend like that. Well, maybe not exactly like that. Kissing another mare would be weiiiird! Kissing a stallion would be just as weird though! All those tongues rolling around and mushing against each other. But, maybe it’s more like a super secret hoofshake that you only do with your absolute closest friends. I’m kinda jealous now, actually! I wish I had somepony to do super secret tongueshakes with! Somepony to hug when I’m asleep! Maybe I should get on that. I wonder if there’s a way to throw a party about wanting to have a super best friend to tongueshake and sleep hug.

A cool wind blew by, chilling the pink mare and rustling her disguise. A warm bed was more than appealing, but, as with all favors she agreed to, she had Pinkie Pie sworn that she would make sure she did what was asked of her. But, Pinkie reasoned that if Fluttershy was asleep, she could at least rest her eyes for a few minutes. It wasn’t until she was letting her eyelids droop that the pink pony realized just how tired she really was.

Pinkie’s bedroom was full of gifts and balloons.

And I, Pinkie Pie, will throw the greatest party Equestria- No, the whole world, has ever seen! A party fit for a king! Or a queen! Or both Princesses! A party that will never end!

She spoke into a mirror.

That will show you. You’ll never have any reason to doubt my friends ever again after I throw that party. I’ll have so many friends, and the friends I had before will love me even more afterwards!

Her reflection glared back.

Yes, I see you in there. I’m sick of you putting all those mean, nasty thoughts in my head. You have no place in my parties, or in my life! I’m going to get rid of you, just you wait and see!

The mirror cracked.

Everything was bathed in a soft, pale glow when Pinkie finally opened her eyes again. The moon hung bright and full in the sky, illuminating the countryside for miles around. A few bats swirled over a nearby pond, but the air was still and silent otherwise.

Despite having fallen asleep with her face pressed against the glass, it wasn’t until Pinkie remembered that she was wearing a disguise that she also remembered she was supposed to be watching Fluttershy. Peeling herself off the glass, she was met with her reflection. Her other reflection.

Ha! Ha! Ha! You’re. Not. Real.

With a huff of satisfaction, the mane of her reflection sprung back to its usual curly nature. There was still a squishy pegasus to check on. Despite having fallen asleep against the window pane for possibly hours, she made no hesitation to press up against it again. Pinkie scanned the room for any sign of disturbances or changes that didn’t coincide with her memory before nodding off. Of course, Fluttershy hadn’t moved an inch. On the other hoof, Mahara was nowhere to be seen.

A chill ran down Pinkie’s spine, reminding her how badly she wanted to be back home and in bed. Without warning, as her Pinkie Sense was wont to be, a combo came in clear and strong. The side of her neck felt as though two particularly large mosquitoes had decided to leave their nastiest bites, while her chest felt as though it had become host to a swarm of butterflies.

There’s that combo again! It’s really strong now, too! What does it mean?! Am I going to get bitten by something? Oh! Maybe that monster is going to bite me! Oh no! I’m outside and it’s dark out and- I have to get somewhere safe! I hope I can laugh it away. Maybe. Maybe I can! Maybe I can distract it with a joke and sneak away while it’s laughing. I hope it likes jokes. Oh! What was that?! I heard something moving! Was it outside? Wait, I’m wearing a disguise. It probably won’t even notice me. But… What if the monster goes after Fluttershy and Mahara?! What if it’s in there right now?!

Something moved behind the glass again, causing her pink coat to bristle with anxiety. A pair of bright green eyes suddenly slid into view. The scream working its way up Pinkie’s throat petered out before it could reach her lips when she realized it was Mahara on the other side of the window, staring back at her with increasingly narrowed eyes.

Grinning widely, Pinkie waved.

Mahara tugged a cord dangling to her left and drew the curtains closed.

Pheeeew. It’s not the monster, it’s just Mahara. I guess that’s what the new combo means, too! Somepony is about to close the curtains in my face!

No less motivated to do as she was asked, Pinkie Pie made her way around the cottage, checking each window she could reach, only to find that the red mare had gone and pulled the curtains on every single one.

“Fine!” she shouted at the front door. “I’m just going to sit here and stand guard then. Twilight asked me to make sure Fluttershy stays safe, and that’s what I’m gonna do!”

To her surprise, the door opened. A soft green glow was visible at eye level.

“Please stop shouting. Anyway, you’re welcome to stand guard inside if you want. Just… You should probably leave before Fluttershy wakes up. I don’t think she would be thrilled about spontaneous sleepovers.”

No sooner had Mahara opened the door did Pinkie scramble inside. For the briefest of moments, Pinkie was startled by the appearance of Mahara’s finger like appendages, fanned out from her back as if they were wings. The longer she looked, however, the more her shock became curiosity.

“Okie-Dokie-Loki,” she whispered. “Mahara, some of the other pony folk may think you’re a bad apple, but you know what? You’re alright.”

The red mare leaned against the wall, rubbing her eye with one of the long, fleshy limbs sprouting from her back. She smiled, tiredly.

“Thank you, Pinkie Pie. I’m sorry for ruining your party. It was very nice until… Well, you know.”

“Oh no no no, not at all. If you had stayed I would have got a bath going for you and everything. Totally not your fault. It was silly of me to think that putting a bit of whiskey in the punch would be a good way to help everyone relax.”

Pinkie sighed, looking over at the peacefully slumbering pegasus. “It just made everyone act dopey, but I figured it would have been the good kind of dopey and not the let’s lynch the new mare kind of dopey.”

“Oh well. I’m going back to bed. Remember, you should get going before she wakes up.”

“Mmhmm, I will.”

Very quietly, the pink mare climbed onto the couch, curling up and resting her head on a pillow. Mahara gave her a half conscious glance, then closed her eyes, cuddling back up to Fluttershy.

Secret tongueshakes and sleep hugs would be nice…

\/ /\ /\ \/

“Why are there leaves and twigs all over the room?”

Fluttershy glanced back and forth between Mahara and the trail of loose foliage and sticks that now cluttered the floor from the front door to the couch. The red mare had been in the process of sweeping them up when she was awoken by the choir of hungry birds outside.

“Angel.” Mahara pointed a hoof at the rabbit. “Angel did it. I’m just cleaning it up.”

Outraged, Angel began to thump his foot, making all kinds of obscene gestures at Mahara before wordlessly pleading his innocence to Fluttershy.

“Oh… Oh my… Angel, you know you’re not supposed to bring branches inside unless we’re gathering materials for bird nests. Please wait for me to help you next time.”

With a silent but exasperated sigh, the rabbit threw his forepaws into the air and vanished into the next room, glaring at Mahara every step of the way.

“I’ll watch the cabin while you’re out,” the red mare mused as she finished tidying up. “And feed the animals as well. I’ve helped you enough that I think I can handle it myself.”

With a soft grunt, Fluttershy rolled onto her belly, inching her way to the edge of the bed with her forelegs. “Are you sure? You don’t have to. It’s not your responsibility. But I… Um… Thank you. You’ve done so much for me already. I really appreciate it.”

“And you’ve given me a beautiful home to share with you, not to mention… Well, let’s just say we’re even and stop keeping track of the favors. Isn’t that what couples do?”

Fluttershy felt a warmth, but not in her cheeks. It came from within. She smiled, letting her head rest on her outstretched forelegs, basking in the serenity of the moment.

“Yes… I… I guess it is.”

The pegasus lazily followed Mahara with her eyes as she returned the broom to its rightful place, then ensnared a few bags of bird seed and heaved them over her back. Through the window, which had a strange smear in the lower left pane, she could see birds taking to the air in droves. Fluttershy had never really noticed it before, but Mahara hugged the outside of the cottage as tightly as she could while she spread bird feed over the path out front. Mahara also spent a great deal less time feeding the birds than the pegasus would have had she done it herself.

Fluttershy could spend hours singing and playing with the animals. Mahara dumped the contents of the feed sacks and was done with it.

Well, as long as they’re getting fed, she thought as the red mare nudged the door open and deposited the empty bags by the entrance.

Only then did it occur to her just how pale Mahara looked. Rays of sunlight were filtering into the cottage, but nowhere near enough to drain the color from her to such a degree, even with her skin condition. Mahara had looked like this before, the first day she spent alone at the cottage. The red mare’s words reflected in her mind’s eye, planting fresh seeds of doubt.

I had a snack while you were away, she had said. But Fluttershy had never seen her actually eat anything. Her diet seemed to consist entirely of fluids.

Sleeping next to Mahara had failed to prove anything other than the fact that the red mare could silently slip out of bed to do some housekeeping.

I’m a light, light sleeper… And if she could do that without waking me up, what else could she do?

“Are you alright, Fluttershy? Did you sleep well?”

Her nightmare flashed before her eyes. She was a light sleeper, and the creature had known this, visiting her in her sleep, keeping her there until morning.

Mahara had looked so beautiful that morning… Applebloom and Scootaloo were attacked the night before…

Is there something you’re not telling me?

Twilight has every right to be suspicious of me.

“Fluttershy?” The red mare nuzzled the side of Fluttershy’s neck. She felt her skin crawl.

“I’m alright. I might head into town a bit earlier than I thought, if um… If that’s okay with you.”

Mahara had settled on the bed, kneeling across from the pegasus, lightly nudging the back and side of Fluttershy’s neck with her nose. When she pulled back, Fluttershy read her expression as concerned. Perhaps even hurt.

I don’t want it to be true. I don’t want Mahara to be a monster. Maybe that’s what’s keeping me from seeing what Twilight is seeing. I can understand why. I’m coming to the same conclusions myself… But… Mahara isn’t a bad pony. She has had every opportunity to hurt me, and she hasn’t. I don’t think she would ever hurt me.

She said she would protect me. Maybe even from herself?

Slowly, Fluttershy slipped her hooves over the side of the mattress, crossing the room. Her appetite was the last thing on her mind for the moment. The flock had gathered outside, hopping and fluttering about as they ate their fill of seeds. The pegasus paused in the doorway, looking back at Mahara.

“We need to have a talk when I get back.”

“What about?”

“I… I think you know.”

She closed the door behind her and heaved a weary sigh.

Dark clouds gathered overhead, rolling clumsily into one another. The weather team had given up on trying to control them, falling into argument instead.

Fluttershy could faintly hear Rainbow Dash shouting amongst them.

Sweet Apple Acres was a bit of a hike from door to door, but Fluttershy felt as though she would have more than enough time to check up on Applebloom before her appointment at the spa, provided it didn’t rain.

\/ /\ /\ \/

A thick swath of homemade bandages held tightly to the side of Zecora’s neck.

Where she was bitten, Twilight assumed.

“She visited me the other day, and drank my blood, I am sorry to say…”

A pile of burning welcome masks had greeted Twilight Sparkle when she approached Zecora’s hut. The smoke curled slowly toward the forest canopy, leaves swaying around the hot air rising off the crackling flames. She had smelled the smoke before even catching sight of Zecora’s dwelling, assuming it was the result of the zebra’s cooking. Instead, she found the striped mare tossing her exotic masks onto a roaring inferno.

“And she was disguised as me?”

Zecora had nearly thrust a sharpened stick into Twilight’s throat when the unicorn first approached, relenting when she looked Twilight in the eyes.

“Your form, indeed, was what she took, but foolish am I for being mistook.” The zebra paused, possibly reflecting on her encounter. “The Child of Darkness depends on lies, but truth may be found within its eyes.”

Twilight watched the paint curl and bubble away from charred wood, licked by dancing flames. “Why do you call the creature a Child of Darkness?”

“It would seem the stories untold by pony-folk are those which bear the most warning…” Zecora’s sudden break in rhyme shocked Twilight momentarily. “Perhaps ponies simply wished to forget, and allowed the tale to fall into the shadow of its more famous sister. Were it still a part of your traditions, I believe that we would not be facing this darkness once again.”

The purple unicorn opened her mouth to question Zecora, but the zebra smiled, beating her to it. “What I am about to tell you will be spoken plainly, so that there are no misunderstandings.” Her smile faded. “This situation is much more dire than wandering through a patch of poison-joke, and it will require more than a simple bath to remedy it.”

The zebra heaved her final mask into the pyre, then rested on her haunches. She beckoned with a forehoof for Twilight to join her. Before Twilight could seat herself, Zecora leaned toward the fire, grabbing a stick by her teeth, the free end crowded with glowing embers. With grace and speed, the striped mare began to weave and jerk her head, chanting under her breath, using the smoke rising from the end of the stick as a means for calligraphy.

“I shall tell the tale to you as it was once told to me, so many seasons ago…”

The smoke remained, hanging in the air like a ghost.

This must be zebra magic…

Fascinated, Twilight gracelessly flopped down on her side to watch.

“We call them Children of Darkness because they are creatures which dwell in shadow. They fear the persecution of the sun, and so they prefer to perform their evils when Celestia’s eye is not upon them. There is… Another reason for the name, and also another name for the creature of which we speak.”

The smoke swirled, ghostly white lines stretching and bending into the form of an alicorn, accompanied by a written language Twilight didn’t recognize.

“They are also known as Children of Nightmare by my kind, for they are her creation. In her desperation to prevail against Celestia, Nightmare Moon transformed innocent ponies into lesser forms of herself. Beings that could survive the darkness which she brought with her.”

The smoke swirled again, showing unicorns, pegasi and earth ponies bowing before Nightmare Moon.

The memory Twilight had failed to grasp the night before suddenly came in clear as day.

It was the eyes.

It was always the eyes. Mahara had eyes like Nightmare Moon. It was so obvious now that she felt like smacking herself. She returned all attention to Zecora as the zebra continued.

“But Nightmare Moon made them intentionally flawed, for fear that they too might rise against her. The sisters draw their power from the heavens themselves, but these transformed ponies could neither contain nor control such a force. Instead, they must draw their power from other ponies. As you have seen, they do so by drinking blood untainted by the evil magic of Nightmare Moon.”

The zebra paused, staring at her drawing of Nightmare before driving her hoof through it, making it vanish in a swirl of smoke.

“How can I stop her...? Them?”

Zecora’s grave expression softened briefly as she began to rhyme again.

“It is good fortune that today you have come, it is not too late that something can be done…” She paused, snickering to herself. “Apologies, habits such as this are difficult to curb. The Children of Darkness draw their strength from blood untainted, but like Nightmare Moon herself, they are not invincible. To destroy one completely, you must either drain them of their blood, or mortally wound them in direct sunlight, preferably both.

“To wound a Child as you would a moral pony is to invite them to rise again, and so you must exercise caution when attempting to remove one such creature from their cursed existence. Celestia’s sun will be your greatest ally, as sunlight is their most notable weakness. Images of the sun and its Princess will serve as effective tools for warding off the Children of Darkness as well.”

The smoke dissipated completely, and Zecora rose to her hooves. An expression came over the zebra that struck Twilight as one of embarrassment.

“But now, my friend, I fear I must ask, if I am to assist you in such a task; my home is no longer safe to me, as my masks bid welcome before I could decree. You said that your library has not been invaded, and this is news which leaves me elated. May I endeavor to stay there until this crisis has reached a successful standstill?”

A moment passed before Twilight realized what was being asked of her. The unicorn’s expression immediately brightened.

“Of course you can, Zecora.” The zebra smiled, turning toward her hut as Twilight followed her. “If this thing attacked you once already, I don’t want you getting attacked again. And I could certainly use the extra help organizing a way to deal with this situation. You clearly know a lot more about this than anyone else. Your help will be invaluable.”

From the doorway, Twilight watched Zecora loading her possessions into an enormous trunk. The trunk never seemed to get full, however. Bottles and vials clinked softly as she lowered them in, one at a time. A thought occurred to the unicorn.

“I need to write back to Princess Celestia. I had planned on responding after talking with you on the oft chance that you would know more about the creature we’ll be dealing with.”

“What little I know is what has been passed down. You will learn much more from the one bearing the crown.” The striped mare lowered a foreleg-full of ingredients into the trunk, then another.

Zecora looked up from the trunk, bringing the ornate lid down with a click. “I am troubled, however, by your finding of the book. So many centuries where no one else thought to look…”

“I know what you mean… Well, hopefully, we can put all this behind us soon.” The unicorn paused, looking at the trunk, and then Zecora. “How do you plan on moving that, exactly?”

It was easily three times the size of the zebra.

“My lack of a horn, my dear friend, does not mean my magic cannot contend.”

The striped mare placed a hoof in the center of a likeness of her glyph mark, painted onto the surface of the trunk, and closed her eyes, chanting. The purple glow swirled out from her hoof, tracing the outlines of the marking, illuminating the intricately painted patterns on all four sides of the wooden vessel.

The trunk lurched.

With wide eyes, Twilight watched the trunk tilt to one side, then the other, finally lifting itself off the ground. Not by a spell of levitation, however. Dozens of ghost-like legs sprouted from the wood itself, supporting the trunk, occasionally shifting or bending as they awaited instruction. Taking notice of the unicorn’s shock and awe, Zecora grinned.

“Unless you would prefer to use your own four hooves,” The striped mare leaped onto the lid of the trunk, settling on her haunches but supporting herself proudly. “I think you‘ll be pleased with the speed this trunk moves.”

Nodding slowly, still dumbfounded, Twilight pulled herself up beside the zebra.

In her native tongue, Zecora belted out a command to the enchanted trunk. It lurched again, then crawled out of the hut with incredible haste, the unicorn nearly tumbling backwards at the sudden motion.

After several minutes of whipping through the Everfree forest at a frenzied pace, Twilight finally found her voice. “Can… Can you teach me how to use this kind of magic?”

“While I find it worrying, Twilight Sparkle,” Zecora laughed, “Your thirst for knowledge is most admirable.”

The unicorn’s eyes widened as a thought struck her. “Zecora, you know where Fluttershy’s cottage is, right?” The zebra gave a nod, already giving the command for the trunk to change its destination.

Let’s settle this right now if we can…

\/ /\ /\ \/

This stinks… I want to go outside… Owlowiscious gets to be outside… He’s not even awake out there; he’s just sleeping on a branch! So not fair!

Spike propped himself up by his elbows as he gazed out onto the street, watching ponies go about their daily business. Ditzy Doo drifted passed the window, pausing to wave cheerfully at the dragon. He knew it wasn’t an act of antagonism, but still felt a bit of spite welling up within. Of course, Spike had little interest in the errands of the citizens of Ponyville, with one exception. The only exception that kept him at the window, hopeful that she would pass by.

Oh! There she is!

The pint sized dragon felt weightless, his heart thumping with excitement as he caught sight of the most beautiful mare in Equestria. With a dreamy gaze, he traced the regal purple curls of her hair, admired the snow-furred curves of her flanks, bathed in the tranquil blue of her eyes. Lady Rarity was completely oblivious to the dragon watching her from behind glass, of course.

I wish she would notice me… Please notice me… Wave, or smile, or something… Anything!

Accustomed to disappointment as the result of being ignored by the sole object of his affection, Spike merely sighed as Rarity passed the window in ignorance. She had a wide brimmed hat on, complimented by a light jacket, apparently expecting a downpour.

The dragon slipped into a daydream, imagining himself as the one of the spa employees, gently trailing his claws through her coat, massaging her with utmost care. Rarity grinned back at him, whispering something that made him blush. The other employees left the room as the pale unicorn rolled onto her back, silken mane falling away from her face in glossy ringlets. Slowly, she batted her eyelids, sliding a forehoof from her throat to…

Spike came out of the fantasy with a pleasant shudder, before realizing that he was biting the windowsill. The marks left by his teeth disrupted the polished surface. Several other similar depressions pockmarked the wood as well.

Twilight is going to notice if I keep that up… Maybe I can blame Owlowiscious.

He scowled at the owl again. The library was in pristine condition, all the books were organized; there was simply nothing to do inside. With Twilight Sparkle’s study on friendship interrupted, the dragon had found himself with surprisingly little work to keep himself occupied.

Nothing to do but daydream and wait for Twilight to come home. Well… Maybe I could practice my penmanship.

A thought occurred to the dragon as he made his way to the table. He would try writing down one of his fantasies. Not to show anyone, but merely for the satisfaction of having it on paper. Just to make sure no one would see, Spike glanced around the room. Satisfied with the vacancy, he dipped the quill in an ink well and then put it to parchment.

“Spike the Brave kicked down the front door of the dark castle, bolts of lightning flashing behind him. Before him was the grand hall of a once opulent castle, reduced to little more than a glorified kennel now that it was occupied by throngs of flea bitten diamond dogs. They raised their weapons, nervously looking at one another. Even lowly mutts such as themselves had heard the legends of the dragon warrior.

“Release Lady Rarity at once, vile curs, or I shall be forced to slay the lot of you!”

“We would die before surrendering her to the likes of you!” spat the leader of the dogs.

Spike the Brave drew his sword, forged in the most sacred of dragon kilns. “So be it!”

“The dragon charged fearlessly into battle, untouchable as his sword stained crimson, splitting and slicing his way through the ranks of the diamond dog army. The remaining dogs cowered after watching their comrades fall, throwing down their weapons and dropping to their knees, begging for their lives. As merciful as he was brave, the dragon warrior spared them, making them swear an oath never to harm another pony so long as they lived.

“Death before dishonor!” shouted their leader, charging Spike the Brave with a dagger the moment he turned his back.

“Without so much as looking, the dragon warrior twisted away and swung, splitting the dog right down the middle.

“How could we lose?” the dog’s leader gurgled, blood running from the thin red line that stretched from head to groin.

“Because you are a coward,” growled Spike, stepping away from the diamond dog as he erupted in a spray of crimson gore, his halves falling wetly to either side.

“The dogs hastily opened the cage in which they had imprisoned Lady Rarity, standing aside as she stepped into the open. Her eyes glimmered with blissful tears as she gazed at her savior, galloping up to him and embracing him with her forelegs.

“What can I ever do to repay you?” Lady Rarity asked between”

A sudden knocking caused Spike to throw the quill across the room. Frantically, Spike curled up the parchment, sealing it with a red ribbon by sheer force of habit. The knock repeated, followed this time with a voice that stopped the dragon dead in his tracks, heart in his throat.

“Spike?” Rarity inquired from beyond the door. “Spike, is Twilight Sparkle at home presently?”

The dragon left the scroll on the table, practically floating to the door. Just talking to her was more than he could have hoped for on a day like this.

“Sorry Rarity, she’s visiting Zecora. I’m not sure when she’ll be getting back.”

There were several moments of silence before Rarity said another word.

“Oh, well, that’s quite alright dear, I actually wanted to talk to you instead.”

She wants to talk to me? Oh my gosh… I hope my spines look okay! What is she going to talk to me about? Maybe she wants me to help her find gems again, or clean up around her shop, or…

“I have a favor I need to ask of you, if that isn’t too presumptions of me. I know that Twilight has you guarding the library, but I just realized I have no one to watch Sweetie Belle while I’m at the spa. I don’t suppose you could-”

“Oh absolutely! I’ll be out in two shakes of a dragon’s tail!”

Spike opened the door to find Rarity facing away from him, getting an eyeful of her backside instead. His eyes lingered on her delicate curves, the soft pink under her tail.

“Yes, well, let’s be off then, shall we?”

The dragon closed and locked the door behind him before realizing that Rarity was now without her outfit. Of course, it was very much like her to change clothes several times throughout the day in the interest of testing the latest fashions, but the sky was still very much overcast. A pegasus zipped by, the backdraft carrying news papers and bits of trash.

“No you listen, asshole!” Rainbow Dash shouted, evidently giving chase as she tore through the streets.

The two of them curved back into the sky, vanishing into the clouds.

“Good heavens…” The pale unicorn raised a forehoof to her muzzle. “She should really watch her mouth, so un-ladylike… Oh well. Come along, my dear.”

“Okay.” Spike mumbled, followed in her wake, mesmerized by the sway of her rump.

For the briefest of instants when the dragon’s gaze was not transfixed on the pale unicorn’s hindquarters, he wondered why Rarity was wearing sun glasses. The sun was completely hidden behind the clouds. Occasionally, she would glance back at him to make sure he was still following, flashing the smallest hint of a smile. Spike could feel himself melt each time.

Carousel Boutique came into view not long after they had set out. Another pony stopped Rarity a few buildings from her shop, however.

“Didn’t I just see you at The Feedbag?” The smell of food drifted out of Lyra’s saddle bags.

“Oh, yes, I suppose you did. I realized that I needed someone to watch Sweetie Belle while I’m away.” Rarity smiled, but it looked forced. Lyra didn’t seem to notice.

The pudgy, mint coated unicorn snickered a bit. “For a girl your size, you’re pretty quick with your food!”

“Haste is often a necessity. I do have appointments to keep. On that note…” She smiled again, nodded, and turned back toward the boutique.

“So you just want me to watch over your sister? You don’t want me to clean or anything?” The dragon looked up at her hopefully as she opened the door, a bell jingling softly beside the frame. “I’ll do anything for you, Lady Rarity- I mean Rarity! Just Rarity!”

Once Spike had followed her in, the pale unicorn smiled, kneeling down to eye level with him. “I feel like I should be asking you if there’s anything you’d like in return. I half expected you wouldn’t come.”

Spike tried to hide his face as he began to blush. He had dreamed about this moment countless times, telling himself he would be suave should the situation actually occur. Instead, he was behaving like a foal on the receiving end of a love note.

“Rarity… I… I’ve wanted to tell you this for a while…”

“Oh? I’m listening, Spike.”

Several moments passed as Spike mentally prepared himself for what he was about to say. He heaved a deep breath, looking Rarity in the eyes. Sunglasses. Looking through her sunglasses into her eyes.

“Okay… Here goes. Rarity, you’re the most beautiful mare I’ve ever laid eyes on. I… I don’t know if this is what love feels like or what, but every time I see you, I just go to pieces!” He chuckled nervously as the unicorn pursed her lips, possibly with curiosity. “I don’t expect you to feel the same way toward me, we’re not even the same kind of animal, but… That’s it, I guess.”

The dragon cast his gaze to the floor, fidgeting nervously as he braced for the worst, half expecting her to laugh.

“You’re a very brave little dragon, Spike. Not just anyone could confess something like that to the person they admire so deeply.” He felt her warmth against his chin, lifting his head with a silken furred foreleg. “I don’t want you to tell anyone about this, alright? What I’m about to do is not to be mentioned again, even to me. This is your moment, and you should cherish it for yourself.”

Before Spike could ask what she meant, what she was going to do, he felt her lips against his. His limbs turned to butter, eyes closed against a flood of emotion as his dream came true. Only part of his dream, but more than he could have ever hoped for.

And just like that, the kiss ended. He stood there, swaying, lightheaded as he tried to return to reality. Out of the corner of his eye, for an instant, he thought he saw Sweetie Belle, gone in the blink of an eye.

Did she hear that? Was she watching?

“Now, remember what I said. I have to go, and Sweetie Belle is your responsibility until I return. Feel free to nibble on a few gems as well, just… Don’t eat my whole stock, dear.”

She turned toward the door, looking back at the dragon one more time, flashing a smile that filled his chest with butterflies. The door closed gently behind her. Wasting no time to make good on the pale unicorn’s offer, Spike tossed a nearby ruby into his toothy maw, grinning with satisfaction.

\/ /\ /\ \/

The skies churned angrily in the distance. A few flashes of lightning bridged mountains, their peaks swallowed up in dark, puffy clouds. Applejack sat on the front porch, leaning against a support beam, watching the clouds anxiously. Occasionally, she would lift a pair of binoculars to her eyes, scanning the skyline for sign of her pegasus.

“Dash said it ain’t a storm they planned…” She set the binoculars down, looking across the porch to her brother. “Whole damn kingdoms got weather problems alla the sudden, an we’re right in the middle of it.”

Nearby, Big Macintosh rested in a chair, occasionally raising a forehoof to the collection of gauze held fast against the side of his neck. Only the faintest pink hinted to the puncture marks now concealed by the bandages. While he seemed concerned about the growing storm over Ponyville, his thoughts were probably elsewhere.

“Eeyep… Ah jus hope they get it under control ‘fore ‘s time ta harvest…”

The blond mare nodded, turning her attention to Macintosh. “How’re ya feelin’, big guy?”

“Still sore ‘bout tha whole thing… Mind an’ body… Really figured Ah hadda chance, ya know?” He heaved a deep sigh, then chuckled, nervously. “What’re we gonna do, sis? Is it even safe here anymore?”

“Ah dunno Mac…” Applejack looked to the stormy horizon, brow heavy with worry. “Ah jus’ don’t know…”

Having heard enough, Applebloom stepped away from the screen door, trotting slowly back to her room. Even though Big Magintosh had been bitten the previous night, just before Applebloom and her sister arrived, the unfairness of it all made her blood boil.

How could she visit mah brother an’ not me? Ah thought she was mah friend…

Wynona had been barking viciously just outside of Mac’s door when they stepped inside. Applejack bristled up and told her sister to wait while she checked it out, but as soon as the blond mare looked away, Applebloom bolted down the hallway ahead of her, opening the door first.

An she just stared at me… Like she was sad, like she was afraid.

Big Macintosh whispered for help, pinned to the ground, struggling weakly. Thick rivers of crimson bubbled up from the wounds in his neck, pouring over his flesh and coat without the presence of a mouth to drink it in. Applejack stood behind her younger sister, frozen with terror.

An she said, Ah’m sorry, an’ then she jus’ vanished, turned inta mist…

Applebloom came out of her thoughts, gazing forlornly on the spot where she had first met her mysterious friend. They spent hours together that night, playing in the orchard until the sun was about to rise. She brushed the side of her neck with a forehoof, feeling the circular scabs marring the smoothness of her coat.

A crack of thunder made the filly cringe. Following that was a bit of muffled laughter.

Applebloom poked her head into the hallway, looking down to the screen door. Applejack was talking to somepony, but definitely not Big Macintosh.

“Oh my…” Came a timid voice just out of sight. “And you didn’t even try to go to the clinic?”

“Naw, Ah’m tougher ‘en that.” The pride in Macintosh’s voice quickly deflated. “But uh… Ah guess Ah ain’t tough enough ta take down one o’ them monsters…”

“Well um… I’m very glad that you’re safe, but I um… That is, if it’s alright with both of you, I’d like to talk to Applebloom. A-Alone…”

Several seconds of silence passed, during which Applejack leaned closer to who Applebloom assumed was Fluttershy. Evidently, she passed inspection.

“Alright…” The blond mare said cautiously. “Be gentle, though. Mac an Ah still think she’s actin’ a li’l strange.”

The screen door swung open, Fluttershy stepping into view. “Thank you both. I won’t be long.” She smiled almost bashfully. “Rarity wanted to go to the spa with me today.”

“Good fer you! Ah’m glad ta hear it. ‘Bout time that snooty mare came down ta earth.” Applejack snickered before adding “A li’l extra meat on yer bones ain’t tha end a tha world.”

Now that she really was blushing, Fluttershy gave a meek nod and made her way down the hall. A few beads of sweat rolled down the shy mare’s forehead, her right flank brushing the wall occasionally as she moved.

“Howdy, Fluttershy,” the filly said with a wave.

Applebloom assumed the timid pegasus had simply failed to notice her, but to her surprise, she motioned for the filly to step into her room.

Once inside, Fluttershy closed the door behind her.

“I need to know,” the pegasus began before Applebloom could get a word in. “Is Mahara the creature going around biting everyone? She hasn’t killed anypony, but what she’s doing is wrong. I want to help her if I can, so that she doesn’t have to keep doing what she’s doing, but first, I need to know…”

The seriousness of Fluttershy’s expression, stance and words caught Applebloom completely off guard. She had heard of this side of the normally timid pegasus from Applejack, but never thought she would see it herself, much less be on the receiving end. Intimidated did not begin to describe the sinking feeling she was experiencing.

“Please…” Fluttershy added, possibly aware of the fear she was inspiring.

“Ah… Ah don’t know…” The filly tried to look away, but found herself rooted to the spot. Paralyzed.

The Stare! She’s usin’ her Stare!

Fluttershy persisted, glaring now. “Tell. Me.”

“Ah don’t know fer sure!” There was mumbling beyond the door, accompanied by approaching hoofsteps. “Ah jus’ get this feelin’… Same feelin’ Ah got when Ah was with Seafare, an when Ah saw Rainbow Dash on toppa Big Macintosh. Seafare never said she was Mahara, an Mahara don’t seem to want anything to do with me, but… Ah… Ah jus’…”

The filly paused, a few tears welling up in her eyes. “Don’t tell her Ah said nothin’, okay? Ah don’t want her ta be mad at me…”

“It’ll be our little secret.” Fluttershy whispered. “Pinkie Pie swear.”

Thunder rumbled again outside, making the pegasus flinch. The door opened behind her. Rain began to batter the roof, cascading over the sides in a clear, continuous sheet.

“Oh no… Um… I’m sorry but I really need to be going.”

Applejack’s eyes went wide. “Yer not thinkin’ of goin’ to tha spa in this, are ya? Hon, Ah know ya ain’t spent time with Rarity inna while, but you should really wait it out!”

Fluttershy was already pushing passed her, making for the front door. “I can’t stay. I’m very sorry but this is important to me!”

The Apple sisters followed the pegasus, but she was not to be deterred.

Fluttershy vanished into the rain, a blur of yellow and pink in a sea of grey.

A voice from seemingly nowhere broke the rain saturated silence. “Aw man, am I gonna hafta get wet too?”

Applebloom and Applejack exchanged looks of confusion, glancing around.

“Did you…” Applejack stopped, staring out into the rain. A pink blur zipped into the distance. “Was that Pinkie Pie?”

\/ /\ /\ \/

Chapter 4 - Coming to Terms

Chapter Four: Coming to Terms

\/ /\ /\ \/

“I’m not so sure about this… I’m pretty sure we’re supposed to stay indoors as much as possible until the whole monster thing blows over. That’s what sis told me anyway.” Sweetie Belle glanced back at her bedroom door, fearing that Spike might barge in at any moment and foil the plan before it even got off the ground. “But… If you really, really think that this will help Applebloom, then count me in.”

Looking up at her friend, Scootaloo snorted, rearing up and placing her forehooves on the wall before her. “Well of course it’ll help Applebloom! Everyone thinks that the monster put some kind of spell over her, right?” The curly maned filly nodded. “Okay, so, if we catch the monster, or even better, if we defeat the monster, then we can make it turn her back to normal!”

Sweetie Belle looked back at her door again, lowering her voice. “Yeah but, how do you know for sure that this will even work? And what if we don’t find the monster that put Applebloom under a spell?”

A dull flash sparked the clouds, a not so distant crash of thunder rolling in. Not more than a few days ago, the weather had been bright and sunny, typical of the summer weather patterns. In those few days, however, it had gotten progressively gloomier.

“We can sit around doing nothing or we can try to help her; that’s how I see it. And if a cockatrice can undo turning a pony to stone, getting this monster to make Applebloom stop acting crazy should be a walk in the park. Besides, if we pull this off, you and I might get monster hunter cutie marks! How cool would that be?” The orange pegasus filly dropped back to all fours, grinning up at Sweetie.

“That would be pretty cool… But… We’re just kids. How are we going to do this? There’s only four of us…”

“Five! Thorry I’m late!” Twist trotted into view, nearly weighed down by the bags at her sides. “Are you thure we’re gonna need all thith thuff?”

“This is an adventure, right?” Snips began to rummage through the supplies without warning, to which Twist raised a brow. “So we need food, water, and ponchos in case it rains. You… You forgot the ponchos?”

“Nobody thaid anything about ponchoth!”

Snips’ jaw hung slack for a moment. He glanced back at Snails, who shrugged, and then back to the filly with a curly red mop of a mane. “Have you looked at the sky lately? Of course we need ponchos!”

“Twist,” Scootaloo flatly stated, “The ponchos were higher on the list than the food. Come on, seriously.”

“What litht?! Nopony gave me a litht!”

Sweetie Belle frowned as the group fell to bickering. “Okay, enough! There are a few ponchos lying around up here. We’ll have to share them I guess. If you all keep shouting though, somepony might hear us, so shhh.”

“Yeah Twist, stop shouting.”

The red maned filly scowled at Snips, then turned her attention to Sweetie Belle.

“We’ll be waiting right here.” Scootaloo looked to the young ponies surrounding her before continuing. “Grab what you can and let’s get going.”

Sweetie Belle nodded and stepped away from the window, treading as lightly as possible across her room. She had a rain jacket of her own, but she figured that the others would just have to make do with one or two of Rarity’s own rain outfits, of which there were many. The door creaked seemingly louder than normal as it moved on its hinges, the young unicorn cringing as she finally stepped into the hall. She peered into the main room of the building, where Rarity usually did all her work, and froze in her tracks.

Spike was looking right at her.

Only, he wasn’t. He had fallen fast asleep on a pile of half eaten gems, his lips moving slowly in his sleep, kissing the air. Sweetie heaved a sigh of relief and continued down the hall, nudging the door to Rarity’s room in the hope that the door was unlocked. She reflected very briefly on what she had seen; her older sister kissing a dragon, a very young dragon at that, and then her older sister just looked up, smiling as she locked eyes with Sweetie Belle. The entire situation struck her as bizarre, but she wasn’t about to ask Spike or Rarity to explain what she had seen.

The hundreds of dresses lining Rarity’s closet brought her back to the task at hoof. Theres more dresses in this closet than there are out front… I don’t see why she doesn’t try selling some of these. Oh well.

After a minute of searching, she located several rain coats, each uniquely designed and decorated. Not long after that, she was carrying the two which she figured Rarity would miss the least past the doorway to the shop floor. Another flash outside, followed by a crack so loud, the floor nearly shook. On cue, rain began to pelt the windows.

Outside, Snips began to shout a string of words that Sweetie Belle was largely unfamiliar with, barely muffled by the walls or the rain.

Spike stirred in his sleep, his claws idly rubbing his middle, and then a little lower.

“Lady Rarity…” he mumbled, “Are you sure…?”

Sweetie gawked in confusion as she watched the dragon and then decided that it would probably be best if she stopped watching.

Making my friends wait in the rain any longer than they have to wouldn’t be very nice. She could hear them more clearly as she approached her window.

The argument between Snips and Twist continued at full tilt. “I hope you don’t kith your mother with that mouth, that’th all I’m thaying!” It had apparently changed topics.

Scootaloo had raised herself against the wall again, as if reaching for the windowsill with her forehooves. “You okay, Sweetie Belle? You look a little-”

“I’m fine. Sorry that it took me so long. I thought Spike might have woken up.” She held the ponchos in a bundle over the edge of the sill. “Catch!” she shouted after letting go.

After the others had donned their ponchos to the best of their abilities, and Scootaloo had helped Sweetie Belle climb down from her window, the group set off in the rain, making for the edge of town with as much haste as they could gather in the quickly thickening mud. Twist and Snips continued to argue, and occasionally Scootaloo would join in to tip the favor one way or the other, seeming content to watch so long as the aggression wasn’t directed at her. Sweetie had decided not to bother trying to mediate after her attempts had lost their novelty and were simply ignored. Besides herself, Snails seemed to be the only one among them who was giving the task at hoof any thought.

Curious, Sweetie Belle attempted to start a conversation.

“You’ve been awfully quiet all this time. Are you scared or something?”

“Not really…” The gold coated colt replied. He paused for a moment, then added, “I mean, I’ll worry about that when the time comes. No sense in getting worked up when there’s nothing to get worked up over, eh?”

“That makes sense, I guess. So uh…” The filly looked around, her gaze sweeping over Snips, covered by half of the coat covering Snails, then Twist and Scootaloo, sharing the other coat. “Do we know where we’re going, or are we just looking around?”

“Did you forget the map too?!” Snips shouted, nearly hopping out from under the coat.

Sweetie Belle did her best to ignore them, listening instead to Snails as he explained. “And if no one sees anypony around town with weird looking eyes during the day usually, that means the monster is staying somewhere out of town, but going in when the sun goes down. So that’s where we’re going, eh? Out of town.”

The Everfree Forest loomed just over the next hill. A dense cloud of birds drifted away from the trees with a symphony of alarmed chirping and fluttering wings, and as Sweetie Belle watched in awe, they seemed to drift slowly closer to the group of ponies. Suddenly, an enormous figure exploded from the edge of the forest, twigs and leaves clinging to the massive form for several moments after breaking from the foliage. While not on a collision course with the young ponies, it was passing near enough that it might notice them unless evasive actions were taken.

“Get down!” Scootaloo shouted softly, pulling Twist with her as she dropped to the wet grass under her.

The curly maned unicorn followed her example, as did Snips and Snails, watching the lumbering form closely as it sped by. A few moments passed before Scootaloo raised her head to get a better look.

“Is that… Twilight Sparkle… And Zecora? What are they riding?”

“Where are they heading?” Sweetie Belle whispered.

“Fluttershy’s cabin, maybe? Looks like they’re going in that direction…” Scootaloo turned away from the rapidly shrinking silhouette of the unicorn and the zebra, narrowing her eyes at Sweetie Belle. “You don’t think Zecora and Twilight… Nah.”

“Nah what? I don’t understand.”

“No, it was a stupid idea. Don’t worry about it.” The orange pegasus slowly scanned her surroundings, which Sweetie guessed was to make sure the coast was clear. “Let’s keep moving.”

\/ /\ /\ \/

Rain fell in sheets as the ground trembled with nearly every burst of thunder. The wind tore at the trees which lined the road back to Ponyville, branches swaying until they snapped clean off their respective trunks. The pegasus whimpered as lightning struck a nearby tree, splitting it down the middle and lighting it ablaze. Her mane hung heavy with rain water, her coat soaked through, mud steadily building up on her hooves. She pressed on, however, fighting the wind and doing her best to sidestep windswept debris. Applejack was right in every respect; the safe thing to do would have been to wait out the storm, but Fluttershy was determined to be with Rarity. The pegasus feared that failing to meet Rarity could be the final straw in the breaking of their friendship, and if braving a storm meant keeping Rarity as a friend, she was prepared to do so.

Overhead, a familiar blue pegasus zipped through the air, just barely visible through the rain. Fluttershy assumed that the intensity of the storm must have forced Rainbow Dash and the rest of the weather team into submission. Considering the poor visibility, Fluttershy wasn’t all that surprised that Dash didn’t seem to notice her, heading straight for the orchard which she had left not long ago. Another nearby flash of lightning nearly brought the timid pegasus to a halt, but she forced herself to keep moving. At the very least, the rain was refreshing, cooling her down as she pushed herself onward, panting. She realized that this was the most exercise she had done since running all the way home from Redhoof’s clinic.

Rarity would be proud, she told herself, trying to think up a distraction from the gut wrenching anxiety which the storm had instilled in her.

With her sights set on the slowly approaching Ponyville, she let her thoughts wander in search of solace. She dug up happy memories, only to find that they reminded her of darker times. Thinking of the spa made her think of the day Rarity tried to leave her there. Thinking of the day Rarity tried to leave her at the spa reminded her of the following days she spent alone in her bedroom, curled up and weeping on her bed, as she had been doing for months prior. For the week or so following Fluttershy’s final visit to the spa, Pinkie Pie had attempted to assume Rarity’s place at her side, doubling her efforts to cheer up the pegasus. While she had once again been inconsolable after that final visit, she very swiftly returned to her senses with the combined realization that in misery, Fluttershy had pushed her best friend away, and that her other friends still cared enough to help.

The pegasus was aware that Rarity may have tried to visit after her second breakdown, at least once. Fluttershy had heard the pale unicorn’s voice in her cottage not long before but she had been able to overcome the more crippling aspects of depression. At that time, however, she had still been too ashamed to bring herself to meet Rarity. It also occurred to her that the nature of her visit may not have been entirely pleasant. The few words she had heard from the pale unicorn were argumentative. Twilight and Applejack responded similarly, and Rarity left immediately afterwards, slamming the door on her way out.

Whether she had come to apologize or to twist the knife remained a mystery.

The edge of the tree line was in sight, Ponyville just a few minutes beyond that. I can make it, she convinced herself, ignoring the ache in her legs and the burning in her chest.

The streets were empty of all but only the most determined ponies, either by choice or by job. Ditzy trudged through the wind and rain, stopping at every mailbox to deliver the mail to what was hopefully the correct address. She smiled as she noticed Fluttershy coming her way.

Even at a shout, she was just barely audible over the onslaught of wind, rain and thunder. “Heck of a storm we’re having today, huh?! I hope Princess Celestia gets everything all figured out soon; I can’t fly in this and making my rounds on hoof is taking forever!”

“That’s… Nice…!” Fluttershy huffed in response, fighting the urge to slow her pace.

The grey pegasus shrugged, smiled and went back to her deliveries.

Fluttershy could see the spa. With a renewed burst of strength, she pressed on at full speed, galloping heavily down the muddy street. Her weight shifted awkwardly as she rushed toward her destination, trying to throw her balance, but she resisted, coming to a stop only after barging through the front entrance of the building. She stood there, chest heaving as she gasped for air, a puddle of mud and water spreading around her. The spa attendants froze in their tracks, looking at the soaked and muddied pegasus as if she were a fire, or a swarm of parasprites.

Rarity gasped softly, drawing Fluttershy’s attention. The pale unicorn was in the process of putting her hat back on, her coat already buttoned up. With a smile, she hung her hat back on the peg and started to unbutton her coat for presumably the second time.

“I was worried you weren’t going to come, dear, especially not in weather like this! Well, if you were that determined to make it here,” She looked to Aloe. “Cancel my appointment cancelation. We would like the full service package as originally discussed.”

“Of course,” the soft pink mare replied. “Right this way.”

With the novelty of Fluttershy’s disheveled appearance effectively faded, Lotus and Aloe smiled warmly, gesturing to the curtain which led deeper into the spa. Rarity had referred to it as a silken portal into paradise. While the pegasus might not have put it in such grandiose terms, she had to agree. Excluding the most recent and painful experience tied to the building, the majority of the other memories which greeted the pegasus were very pleasant, almost dreamlike.

The steam room would ordinarily be the first stop on their trip through the spa, but considering that Fluttershy was filthy for the most part, Rarity insisted that she be cleaned up. The pegasus considered the irony of that, seeing that she would be taking a mud bath with Rarity in the very near future. As warm, soapy water swirled around her slick fur of her yellow coat, the pale unicorn cleared her throat, craning her neck over the edge of the bath so as not to be heard by the nearby attendants.

“As I began to say yesterday, I realized at the party that the way I’ve been treating you recently… I’ve been… I wanted to…” The pale unicorn hesitated, glancing around as she tried to form a coherent sentence. Fluttershy tilted her head as she watched, unsure if the unicorn was working up to an apology or a justification for her actions. After about a minute of stumbling, Rarity snorted, closed her eyes and pressed on.

“There’s really no other way to say it; Fluttershy, I’ve been a bitch. A right haughty bitch.” Fluttershy gasped softly, but Rarity shook her head, intent on finishing her thought. “Mistreating you has been, without a doubt, the worst mistake I’ve made in my lifetime… Probably the worst I’ll ever make. I thought that, by trying to help you the way I was, or by being abrasive when no one else would, to try and… Well, bully you into losing weight, that I was being generous.”

Rarity opened her eyes, sorrow pooling in the azure pools of her irises, brimming in the corners of her eyes as tears. “I was wrong. I was horribly wrong, and I wish I had realized it sooner. The generous thing to do would have been to give you as much time as you needed to return to your senses. I got so caught up in trying to help you that I guess I lost my patience, when all you really needed was time and support.”

The unicorn paused, looking away for a moment, biting her lower lip. “I know that just telling you that I’m sorry may not sound like much, but…” Rarity met Fluttershy’s gaze with a look of shame, offering her apology as humbly and delicately as she could. “I really and truly mean it, and I hope that, in time, you can forgive me. You’re my best friend, and… It hasn’t really been the same without you.”

Fluttershy’s vision became misty, sniffling softly as a tender smile found its way across her lips. “Oh… Rarity, of course I forgive you… I’m sorry for shutting you out like that… For shutting everypony out. I just didn’t know what to do. It felt like my whole world had come crashing down.”

The drain gurgled softly under the bath, a whirling spiral working its way to the clouded surface of the water. Rarity smiled, reaching over the edge of the bath to hug the wet pegasus.

The pale unicorn shook her head slowly. “It’s quite alright, dear. You have nothing to apologize for. I’ve been down that road myself, and I’m fortunate to have handled it as well as I did. Blueblood had the decency to show me what a complete ass he was up front, at least, so I suppose that helped soften the blow. Would you like to talk about it, perhaps?”
“It’s um… It’s still a sore subject with me…”

“I understand. Let’s talk about something else, then. I’m sure we have plenty to catch up on.”

A dull hiss accompanied the slowly rising steam as Lotus tipped a ladle full of water over heated rocks. In minutes, a thick, humid cloud filled the small wooden sauna. Fluttershy had almost been reluctant to enter, suffering a momentary flashback, but Rarity waited patiently until the pegasus was ready to continue. They entered together, taking their familiar seats as the steam rolled gently against the floor. Rarity had requested as much privacy as possible for this appointment, as evidenced by the blue pony’s departure once the steam was thick enough to do its job. While not entirely necessary, considering that the largest hurdle had already been cleared, Fluttershy was still grateful for the gesture.

Rarity must have been determined to make this work, she thought to herself, smiling as the pale unicorn gave a happy sigh. Would she have been this determined if I hadn’t come today?

“So…” Rarity flashed a little grin, leaning forward. “Why don’t you tell me a little about this new friend of yours?”

The pegasus had put Mahara entirely out of her mind to focus on Rarity, but at her mention, a sudden rush of emotion filled her thoughts. As much as she wanted to dwell in the positives, all she could think about was her growing suspicion. Aware of her growing apprehension, mostly due to the frown and the distant look spread across Fluttershy’s face, Rarity cleared her throat again.

The pale unicorn began to address her. “If you’d rather talk about something else, that’s fi-”

“I… I’m telling you this because you’re my best friend, and because I trust you…” Rarity fell completely silent as Fluttershy took a deep breath, her cheeks beginning to flush. “Um… Okay… Here goes… I… I like Mahara.”

“Well of course you do, dear. I thought you were friends.”

“I mean I like her… I kissed her yesterday like her.” Rarity arched a brow, pursing her lips with what could either be curiosity or conviction. “It um… It just kind of happened… When I look at her… When I hear her voice… I feel like I felt when I was with Lucky. It’s the strangest thing… From the first night I met her, I just felt this attraction to her…”

“When did you…?”

“I don’t really know… She’s the only mare I’ve ever had feelings like that for. I still like stallions… At least I think I still like stallions, but…”

Rarity slowly began to smile, gently placing her forehoof on Fluttershy’s. “You don’t need to explain yourself… I’m happy for you. I may not understand it completely myself, but, if being in a relationship with her is what makes you happy, then by all means, you should pursue it.”

“I… Um…” The pegasus smiled, blushing. “Thank you. There’s um… There might be a problem, though. I… That is, she… I think she might be the monster that has been attacking everyone…” Rarity’s eyes widened, but Fluttershy continued before she could say anything. “Now I don’t know that for sure, and I’d like to think that it’s just my imagination, but… There are a lot of coincidences, and they’re starting to add up, whether I want them to or not… It’s just so hard for me to see it… Mahara is such a nice pony. She’s always helpful, she always listens when I need to talk about things, she’s been nothing but polite to all of you… But… It could all just be an act that I’ve swallowed all too willingly…”

The pair sat in silence for a minute or so, not quite making eye contact, listening to the low sizzle of water boiling off the rocks. Fluttershy wondered if perhaps she had said too much, idly following the purple curls of Rarity’s mane.

“That… Is certainly a troubling predicament…” Rarity bit her lip, glancing to the side briefly. “Have you told anypony else? What do you feel you should do?”

“No, you’re the first pony I’ve told… And… I’m going to talk to her about it… There um… She told me that she had secrets she wasn’t ready to share… Maybe this is what she meant…?”

“Maybe… I’d like to come with you when you decide to confront her. Just in case…”

“I don’t… That is… Thank you for offering, but… This is something I should do alone. I don’t think she’ll hurt me. I… I don’t think she wants to hurt anypony…”

Rarity gave a slow nod, pursing her lips again in a concerned pout. “Whatever you do, dear, be careful.”

In the few months since her last visit, the area of the spa reserved for massages and related body work had changed relatively little. The plants which decorated the room had grown a few inches, perhaps, and some of the bottles lining the shelves had moved or been replaced, but the appearance was fundamentally the same. Fluttershy paused to consider why she found the static nature of the spa an oddity, only to realize that it was because she herself had changed so drastically. She had been too distracted during her previous visit to notice, but now that her mind was much less burdened, it was rather shocking. If Lotus or Aloe felt the same way in regards to her, they certainly weren’t showing it.

Carefully, the pegasus climbed the steps to the raised platform on which she would receive her massage. What had once been a request on behalf of Rarity had now become incorporated into her visits; a pair of pillows were brought out for the pale unicorn no sooner than she had settled down. Even if she couldn’t see with a thick green beauty mask smeared over her face, or cucumbers in her eyes, Rarity probably knew the interior of the spa like the underside of her hoof. The familiarity of it all brought Fluttershy a much needed feeling of calm. Since the presence of the spa twins and their hired help was a necessity at this stage of the treatment, the conversation had taken a much lighter tone.

“And can you believe the audacity of them all, canceling their order like that after waiting for me to buy all the materials? I’ve requested that they reimburse me for the costs but they haven’t replied. If I didn’t have to stay home and keep Sweetie Belle out of trouble, I swear, I would march right up to Canterlot, knock on Octavia’s door and wring her little neck as soon as she opened up!” Rarity huffed several times, her masseuse coming to a complete stop, looking down at Rarity, and then at Fluttershy and Lotus.

As the pegasus tried to think of a way to respond, distracted by how good it felt to get a proper massage, she glanced through a nearby window. The sound of the rain outside had melted into little more than white noise, but now that she was watching the droplets splash and roll down the glass, the soft drumming of the rain resurfaced.

“I hope you plan on waiting until the weather improves, at least,” Fluttershy replied, smiling timidly.

“Hmm?” Rarity turned to face her, still completely blinded by the green spread and the cucumbers. “Oh, yes, of course. I’m still amazed that you actually made it here, quite frankly. It looks absolutely horrid out there. I’m not even sure how I’ll make it home without undoing all the hard work they’ve done!”

Fluttershy could practically see the bit signs in Lotus and Quake’s eyes. “Well, I didn’t come from home. I was at Sweet Apple Acres checking up on Applebloom. It’s about the same distance, though.” She paused, biting her lip. “And um… Big Macintosh was attacked yesterday evening as well…”

The cucumber slices fell away from Rarity’s face as her brow shifted, to which Aloe responded by retrieving a fresh pair. “Oh my… Is he…?”

“Oh, yes, he’s fine now, but…” The pegasus paused, groaning under her breath as Lotus worked a stress knot out of her back. “It’s almost hard to imagine, someone as big and strong as him getting attacked like that. He seemed a little embarrassed about it, actually.”

“Well I don’t really blame him. Think of it this way; until now, only fillies have been attacked, and then suddenly the strongest stallion in town is added to that list as well.” She held perfectly still as a fresh pair of cucumbers were applied to her face. “It would almost be as if my dresses were suddenly listed with Sweetie Belle’s… creations.”

“I… I guess that makes sense… I just hope this stops soon…”

For the second time that day, Fluttershy was completely covered in mud. Not just covered, but submerged to the neck in the stuff, idly shifting her weight from hoof to hoof as the mud gave a weak attempt to pull her down. Rarity, who was wrapped up in kelp and looking completely ridiculous as always, had explained the significance of both the kelp and the mud, but the pegasus had forgotten exactly what it was that made them so important to their spa ritual. Though the beauty mask had been wiped away, Rarity’s eyes were still hidden behind a pair of cucumber slices.

The things she goes through to stay beautiful… Fluttershy giggled softly.

“I’m completely serious, dear! I shunned the idea at first, but really, there are a lot of full figured ponies in Equestria. Maybe not so much around here with the exception of Lyra, Mrs. Cake and yourself, but Manehattan? Filliydelphia?” The pale unicorn grinned, clearly getting excited, slowly prancing in the mud. “An entire market I hadn’t even considered, and I would have the very best model for it right from the start!”

The thought struck Fluttershy as both novel and worryingly nostalgic. Memories of her brief run with Photo Finish came to mind, giving her cold hooves on the idea. On the other hoof, the thought of having outfits that not only fit but were tailored just for her was certainly a pleasant one, and she had greatly enjoyed helping Rarity make dresses. Fluttershy hoped that modeling in public would be out of the question. Rarity could have all the fame and attention, and that would be just fine with her.

“Well… I…”

“Don’t dismiss it right away, dear. Just, give it a little time, think about it, and let me know when you’ve made your decision.” Rarity lifted a hoof out of the mud, waving it around slightly. “I would have to get in contact with a few ponies anyway before we would even begin to get started on this project, but I think I’ve made enough headway into the world of high fashion that they’ll trust my inspiration when it shines.”

“Rarity, I would be more than happy to help you. Just, no um… no cameras, okay?”

“Oh heavens no. I would never do that to you again. You will be the inspiration, but not the poster child, as it were.” Rarity smiled, taking a few steps closer to Fluttershy, bumping into the rim of the bath. “If you do ever feel like some time in the spotlight, though, never hesitate to ask.”

“Thank you. I’ll keep that in mind.”

Outside, the downpour had softened to a light drizzle, a few ponies taking advantage of the waning storm to quickly go about their daily errands. A few distant rumbles of thunder served as a reminder that the storm had not passed entirely, however. In fact, from what Fluttershy could see from the windows, the cloud cover was as thick as ever, though sunlight filtered in through several gaps in long, illuminant fingers. Though her bathrobe was perhaps a bit too tight, the pegasus gave a happy sigh as she stepped out of the shallow pool she had been soaking her hooves in, glancing over to Rarity; the unicorn looked similarly relaxed, smiling fondly back at Fluttershy.

“I really missed this. Not that I didn’t come here on my own, but, it’s not really the same when I’m by myself. Actually, I did cancel a few spa appointments during our little sabbatical.” The unicorn paused, looking thoughtfully out the window.

“Really? Why um… Why did you do that, if you don’t mind my asking?”

“Twilight said that I should find something to do to keep myself occupied while I was trying to help you get well again, or I might get depressed myself. I’m not entirely certain how we came upon the subject, but she told me that archery was once the sport of nobility.” She grinned. “It takes very precise and controlled magic to thread an arrow, she said, and even more so to hit a target. Well… I’ve been practicing a lot more now that it’s warmer…”

“Oh my… You’re not… You’re not shooting animals, are you?”

“Goodness no. Of course not. You know me better than that, you silly girl.”

The pegasus smiled. “Sorry. I’d like to watch sometime… If that’s okay with you, of course.”

“Absolutely. It does get a bit lonely out there.”

By the time the pair had shed their bathrobes and approached the exit, the rain had ceased entirely, pillars of sunlight stretching down to Ponyville like spotlights from Celestia herself. Rarity smiled, hugging Fluttershy tightly, a gesture which the pegasus warmly returned. If felt as though a great burden had been lifted, knowing that her best friend was still her best friend.

“Same time next week?” Rarity asked with an air of hopefulness in her voice.

“Of course.” The pegasus said, smiling. “I wouldn’t miss it for anything.”

\/ /\ /\ \/

A long puddle marked Rainbow Dash’s path through the Apple family farmhouse, from the front door to the bathroom. Big Macintosh had begrudgingly agreed to mop it up so that Applejack could spend a moment of privacy with her; a moment of privacy involving a bath. The pegasus was thankful that the tub was large enough for them both, but then, Mac used it as well so it had to be big. The blond mare smiled across the soapy water, but Dash had other things on her mind, only half acknowledging her. Apparently concerned, Applejack raised her voice.

“Yer still worried ‘bout them clouds, huh sugarcube?”

“Hmm?” Dash focused in on Applejack. “It’s… Yes and no. I mean, we can figure it out eventually, and it’s not like the clouds are completely impervious, they’re just stubborn. Unusually stubborn. It’s almost like there’s something holding them in place. Princess Celestia and her team are still looking into it, but they all agree the source of the problem is definitely magical.”

Dash turned her attention to the window, watching droplets splash harmlessly against the window pane before rolling down the glass. Applejack was silent, probably waiting for her to say more.

“She told us that Cloudsdale has completely shut down weather production. Every able bodied pegasus is being tasked with trying to contain this mess until we find a solution.”

Applejack drifted a little closer, and Dash could feel the blond mare’s hooves against her flanks beneath the bubble clouded surface. The touch made her feel warm, suppressing a gentle, pleasant shudder.

“Well that don’t sound too bad. Ya’ll got a princess workin’ alongside ya, so it ain’t gonna be long till ya sort this mess out.”

“Yeah… I know…” The blue pegasus heaved a sigh, then locked eyes with Applejack, trying to think of the best way to phrase what she was about to say, her expression heavy with worry. “AJ, I think ponies are starting to figure us out. What you and I are. One of the pegasi I was working with today, trying to beat back the storm over Ponyville… He made a joke about me playing in your orchard or eating your fruit, something dumb like that, and I kinda snapped at him, ended up chasing him through the streets at one point.”

The blond mare snickered, resting a bit of her weight against Rainbow Dash, gently kissing her on the breast. Just having Applejack nearby was a source of relief to her, lifting a hoof out of the water to rub the back of Applejack’s neck.

“Sugarcube, we both knew that ponies were gonna find out sooner er later. An’, ta be honest, ‘sides maybe Rarity, Ah don’t think anyponys gonna mind.” She went quiet for a moment, then let out a little laugh, explaining before Dash could inquire. “Hell, Ah’m pretty sure Twi has’a crush on Princess Celestia, tha way she’s talkin’ ‘bout her an’ tryin’ ta impress her all tha time.”

“I’m pretty sure her first love is and always will be books. That girl is never gonna get laid.” They laughed, and then fell into a comfortable silence, embracing one another and listening to the rhythmic pattering of rain against the roof. “So what are we gonna do then? Cut our losses and let everyone know?”

“Dash, sugarcube, you can do whatever yer comfortable with. Ah support yer decision one hundred percent.” The pegasus squeezed with her other foreleg, holding her close. “Oh, by tha way, did Mac show ya his lil’ griffon toy yet? Probably ain’t tha best weather ta learn how to use it, but he was mighty set on teachin’ ya.”

Dash loosened her grip, looking down at the blond mare, mouth bent with confusion. “Griffon toy?”

“Yeah. ‘s like a cannon, but smaller. Well… Kinda. Don’t shoot cannonballs er fireworks; ya load these lil’ cylinders inta tha barrels. Ah shot it once but Ah’m no good at it. He said maybe you’d have better luck since you can fly.” The pegasus felt Applejack’s hooves moving along her back, cradling her. She realized after a few seconds that the blond mare was imitating how the griffon toy was held.

“Gotta use both forelegs ta handle tha thing.”

“Sucks that I’m not a unicorn then. They could do it hooves free.”

“Huh… Ah bet they could.”

The drain gurgled around soapy water and the day’s grime. As Applejack had intended, Rainbow Dash felt very relaxed, smiling as she looked at the blond mare from beside the tub as she finished drying herself off. Her thoughts still lingered on how to handle telling their friends about their relationship. She followed Applejack out into the hall, passing by Applebloom’s bedroom. The filly stood by her window, looking out into the rain. It had lessened, but was still falling fairly heavily.

That poor kid… Seeing her like this is way too weird. I hope she gets better soon… She stepped away from the doorway, closing the gap that had formed in her brief pause. Not just for Applebloom either… This is hurting Applejack too. She’s strong, but... Everypony has their limits.

“Say, didja see Fluttershy on yer way here? She left right before ya got home. Strangest thing happened when she left, too. Right after she stepped inta the rain, Ah swore Ah heard Pinkie Pie.”

As Applejack set herself down on her bed, Dash gave her a look of concern. “Are you hearing things again, AJ? Maybe you need more sleep.”

“Maybe… Ah know Ah’ll feel a lot better when that Mahara girl gets a hint and leaves town.”

Dash stayed at the foot of the bed, trying to process everything she had seen and heard over the past few days. “Alright. If you and Twilight think that Mahara is bad news, I’m going to trust in that. I’m not going to be a jerk to her or anything, but I’ll keep a closer eye on her and let you know if I see anything suspicious.” She grinned, crawling onto the blanket to join Applejack. “Just because Fluttershy says she’s alright doesn’t mean she’s alright. I mean, you remember how she handled the whole parasprite thing.”

“Ah just hope she ain’t in over her head.” Dash nodded slowly as Applejack rested a hoof on her folded wing. “Fluttershy don’t always see things fer what they really are…”

\/ /\ /\ \/

At some point, all five of the young ponies had stopped paying attention to where they were going. Only when Scootaloo realized that they had gotten thoroughly lost sis Snips and Twist had stop arguing. The rain had stopped, which didn’t mean much since the leaves were still dripping with collected rainwater, and the cloud cover had become slightly less dense, but the few rays of sunlight that occasionally swept over the trees failed to pierce the gloom of the Everfree forest. Twist sniffled softly, her eyes beginning to water. The last thing Scootaloo needed was a sobbing filly on top of everything else.

“It’s okay,” the orange pegasus calmly stated. “Sweetie Belle and I have been in here before with Applebloom. Nothing to be afraid of. Just a big forest.”

“A big forest full of all kinds of dangerous critters! Snails and I found that Ursa Minor in here, remember?”

“Oh…” After a moment Sweetie Belle added, “Yeah and Spike found that dragon too.”

Scootaloo sighed. “And the cockatrice… Okay, so there are some dangerous, magical creatures living in the Everfree forest, but, as long as we’re careful and we stick together, we should be fine, right?”

Snips and Snails looked at one another and shrugged, and Sweetie Belle tried to force a smile. Twist continued to sob quietly. Scootaloo sat down, trying to think of a way out of being lost. If she could fly, it would just be a matter of getting above the canopy and checking the surrounding areas.

That’s what Rainbow Dash would do, she told herself.

She buzzed her wings several times, but to no avail. “This sucks! What are we gonna do?!”

“Why don’t we follow our tracks?” Sweetie Belle looked down at her hooves, frowning as she noticed the mud clinging to them. “I mean we haven’t been walking in circles or we would have been retracing our tracks by now.”

That seemed to comfort Twist, her soft weeping settling into a heavy breaths.

“We could just keep moving, eh?” Snails stepped forward as he said this, pointing ahead of himself. “We’ve come this far, maybe if we go a little deeper we’ll find the monster. And besides, you can only go halfway into a forest.”

Scootaloo cocked her head. “What does that even mean?”

“Do I actually understand something none of you do, for once?” The colt grinned, first at Snips, then at everyone else. “Okay, it’s like this; once you’re in the middle of a forest, that’s pretty much halfway from any side of it. So if we’re in the middle of the forest, and we keep moving in a straight line, we’ll come out the other side eventually.”

“Okay, hold on…” Sweetie Belle furrowed her brow.

“Wow… Snails that’s…” Scootaloo grinned, shaking her head. “Okay, let’s keep moving forward then. Anywhere is better than here, especially once the sun goes down.”

“If the forest isn’t perfectly equal on all its edges, then you’re not always going to have the same distance from the center to the edge.” Sweetie Belle drew an egg-like oval in the mud, then pointed to it. “See?”

“We’re not here for geometry lessons,” Snips snipped. “Now let’s get going before the sun goes down.”

Scootaloo nodded and took the lead, checking back to make sure everyone was following. Twist stayed in the rear, gradually getting wet and looking much less eager to be on the adventure, but probably too afraid to head home on her own. Snips and Snails were in the middle, talking amongst themselves about how they planned to catch the monster, their plans entirely outlandish and impossible. Sweetie Belle trotted about even pace with the orange pegasus, carefully surveying the surrounding forest.

“You look pretty tense,” Scootaloo commented.

“Well this is the forest where we almost got turned to stone. I’m just being cautious.” Sweetie’s brow elevated as she turned her attention to the pegasus. “Also we’re hunting for a monster, why aren’t you tense?”

“I dunno, actually. I guess It’s just exciting to me. We’re going on an adventure, like-”

“Like your idol?”

“She’s not my idol! She’s just… Really cool.” Scootaloo could feel herself blushing, looking away from the cotton candy maned unicorn as she tried to regain her composure. “Anyway, that’s beside the point. This is exciting! Well, aside from getting lost. It’s like a calm before the storm kind of feeling.”

“It already rained, Scootaloo.” Sweetie Belle resumed her careful sweep of the surrounding forest as the orange pegasus heaved a sigh. “I think I get what you’re saying though. Maybe.”

“Maybe is better than nothing. Oh, hey, what’s that up ahead?”

The trees seemed to thin out ahead of them, a bit of light filtering in through the gaps. At first, Scootaloo figured that, like Snails had suggested, they had come out the other side of Everfree forest, but as they drew nearer, she realized it was just a clearing. Not just a clearing, either. There was some sort of body of water occupying the open space. The air had a humid, musty smell about it, and though the sky was visible through the opening in the trees, it had a brownish tint to it.

Twist said what Scootaloo was thinking. “A bog? In the middle of the foretht?”

“Looks more like a swamp, really,” replied Snails.

Snips trotted ahead, peering out beyond the tree line. “What’s the difference?”

“I dunno.” Snails shrugged, joining him. “I guess they’re the same thing, eh?”

Twist looked to Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle, still looking distressed. “Well, now what do we do?”

“We keep looking… I guess? This whole plan kinda hinged on the monster finding us and then we would go from there.” Scootaloo sat down, leaning against a tree. “You were right, Sweetie Belle, this idea wasn’t so hot after all.”

The unicorn filly sat next to Scootaloo and smiled. “Hey, don’t give up just yet. If you’re right, when we do catch the monster, we’ll be helping Applebloom. That’s worth at least trying.”

The orange pegasus returned the smile, nodding. “Thanks. Alright, yeah, we just keep looking then. Monsters are gross, right? Why not hide out in a swamp when they’re not hurting ponies?”

“Do we have to? I want to go home and the bog ith really groth looking…” The red maned filly pranced about in place, eyes narrowed behind her glasses.

“You can go home whenever you want, Twist.” Snips grinned back at her. “I’m sure all the nasty monsters in this forest would just love a snack.”

Scootaloo arched a brow as she got to her hooves. “Snips, you’re being kind of a dick.”

“Don’t you thtart too, Thcotaloo! It’th like everyone hath a filthy mouth all the thudden!”

“Hey, what’s a dick?” Sweetie Belle looked over the stunned expressions of everypony present. “What? Is it something bad?”

Scootaloo snickered and made her way to the edge of the bog as Sweetie Belle persisted with the question until Twist explained it to her. Her reaction got a laugh from everyone, but after that, an eerie quiet settled over the group. The orange pegasus thought about raising her voice on multiple occasions, but something about the place gave her the urge to stay silent. It wasn’t necessarily creepy, because it was brighter there than it was in the forest, and it wasn’t dead quiet either because of all the frogs croaking and splashing around.

Looking to the others, she found their expressions similarly heavy with worry. Sweetie Belle wasn’t necessarily looking as worried as everyone else, Scootaloo included, but she was on her way there.

The orange pegasus couldn’t bear it any longer. “I’m getting seriously weirded out. Does anypony else feel like…”

“Like we’re being watched?” Twist looked around nervously, continuing in a near whisper. “Yeth, I’m getting that thame feeling…”

The others nodded before Scootaloo added, “All in favor of bailing and heading back to Ponyville?”

The decision was unanimous. They turned and quickly retraced their steps, rapidly nearing the tree line. A stagnant odor outpaced them, however, thick enough that it rolled over the muddy ground in a fog like cloud. Several long shadows unfolded over their path, covering them in the process. Scootaloo didn’t have to look back to know what it was.

“Shit Shit Shit!” Snips broke into a gallop around the same time as Snails, but Twist was faster than them both, leaping over a bush and disappearing into the forest. “Wait damn it! Wait for us!”

Scootaloo was about to yell for Sweetie Belle to start running, but as a vicious roar shook the ground, the unicorn filly was off like a shot.

\/ /\ /\ \/

Fluttershy had nearly forgotten what it felt like to feel so overwhelmingly happy. The weather appeared to reflect her mood, clouds gradually receding, more and more sunlight pouring down on Ponyville. Though she was a fair distance from town, looking back, she could see it come alive again, as busy as it would have been on any normal day. Perhaps even busier, considering that the storm had caused major delays in most ponies’ schedules. For the moment, however, that did not include the pegasus. She had not a care in the world, singing along with the birds that gathered around her as she made her way home.

Provided that her talk with Mahara went just as smoothly as her meeting with Rarity, Fluttershy was sure that everything would be just fine. It’s all just a misunderstanding, she told herself as she cleared the trees, approaching the hill on which her cottage sat. I’ll have a nice, long chat with Mahara about all this, and ask her to answer me as honestly as she can, then we’ll talk to Twilight and sort this whole mess out.

The pegasus slowed down as she reached the foot of the hill, considering what would happen if the red mare was responsible. Even if she did bite Applebloom, and Scootaloo, and Big Macintosh… She didn’t seriously injure any of them… And… Maybe she had a good reason…? Why am I even considering this? She… She bit several ponies… What should I say? How can I even help her?

Her focus shifted the moment she got a good look at her cottage. From the foot of the hill, she could see that the window to the right of her front door had been shattered. At first, the pegasus thought it was just damage from the storm, but as Fluttershy drew nearer, a sharp pain stung the bottom of her hoof. She yelped, jumping back, lifting the hoof to examine the cause. Instead of a stinger, a piece of glass.

Did the window shatter outwards?

She looked over the ground carefully, taking slow and cautious steps with her uninjured hooves. Reaching the front door, she noticed that the window to the left had been opened. A chill passed through her, making her delay in entering. Fluttershy had heard of break-ins before, but had no memory of one occurring in Ponyville. Biting her lip, she leaned toward the shattered window. The jagged edges of glass were tinted red in multiple places with what she could only imagine was blood. The pegasus recoiled, debated running back to town, and then strengthened her resolve.

“Mahara? Are um… Are you in there? What happened?”

Silence greeted her. The pegasus felt her blood running cold.

With a deep breath, she nudged the door open just enough for her to see inside. All the curtains were drawn save for the ones for the window which had been broken. As she opened the door wider, she spotted them on the floor; ripped off the wall presumably by whatever had broken the window. A sinking feeling had long since welled up inside her, bordering on panic and terror as she stepped inside her home. She was drawn to the broken window again, able to get much closer since the majority of the shards littered her front lawn. In several places, black and white hairs were stuck to the reddish smears.

Did something… Jump through my window? Fluttershy glanced behind her as a something clattered in the kitchen. Maybe an animal just got startled by the storm and jumped out through the window in a panic? I’ll need to find the poor thing... Pull out the glass and stitch it up… And… Where is Mahara? Did she decide to go out on her own?

She took a few steps deeper into the room, then froze as she spotted something on the floor.

In the light pouring in from her opened and broken windows, a thick pool of blood glimmered softly, casting a crimson tinted reflection. A knife sat in the center of the pool, its handle sticking straight up. She realized that there were several other knives scattered around and in the pool as well. The pegasus cringed, wishing to shrink herself down and hide. The blood had come from something in dire need of her help, however, and realizing this, fleeing ceased to be an option altogether.

“H-hello? Whoever… Whatever you are… Are… Are you in here? Mahara? Angel? Please… Please let me know you’re safe!”

Trembling, the pegasus reached for a lamp, bathing the room in light as it began to glow. Illuminated, she took in the full scope of the carnage.

A light trail of blood ran from a few paces outside the kitchen to the crimson pool, where the knives overlapped the edge, discounting the single knife seemingly stuck in the floor. Fluttershy was still uncertain if the source of the blood was a pony or an animal, but she had a feeling that it had come from the former. Mahara remained the most likely candidate, but the pegasus was also uncertain of which side of the knife the red mare had been on. There was a second trail; bloody hoofprints that started at the edge of the pool and seemed to lead into the kitchen.

Somepony had walked right through the puddle.

Please, not Mahara…

Approaching the kitchen, Fluttershy realized that while whatever had broken her window was likely long gone, the same pony responsible for the hoofprints might still be in her house. She found herself hoping that it was the victim and not the pony responsible for the violence. Her skin crawled, heart racing as she braced for whatever horrors awaited her just beyond the doorway.

Anypony but her…

Instead, she was met with an empty kitchen and a few more wet hoofprints. A piece of paper sat folded on the counter.

Before Fluttershy could examine the paper, a creak from behind made her jump, the pegasus pulling a one-eighty in the air. Angel threw up his forelegs, waving them around. The cupboard door was open just a hair, evidently where the bunny had been hiding.

“Oh, Angel! Are you alright? What… What happened?” Fluttershy’s eyes widened as the rabbit hopped onto the counter, pulled a butter knife out of a drawer and began to pantomime stabbing. “Oh my goodness… Is everypony… Did anypony… Die?”

Angel shrugged, looking uncomfortable just thinking about it.

“Was it… Was it Mahara? Is she the one who got stabbed, or… Did… Did she do the s-stabbing?”

The rabbit gritted his teeth with his brow furrowed, shrugging again, then pointed to the note, lifting it off the counter and holding it out to her.

“Did she leave this for me?” Angel nodded, waving it at her with urgency.

The corner of the paper was stained red, but had since dried. A few smaller drops had struck the paper in various other places as well. Fluttershy looked nervously to Angel, then unfolded it and began to read.

“I’m sorry about your cottage, first of all. I plan to make that up to you, but there are more pressing issues that I need to attend to first. At the top of that list of issues is my apology to you.

“I’m sorry.

“I’m very, very sorry for lying to you about nearly everything. You’ve been patient and understanding, and I would have loved to explain myself to you when you arrived home today. But, since I have been stripped of that opportunity, you deserve at least a glimpse at the truth until I can tell all myself.

“You were right.

“You were right, Twilight Sparkle was right, and Applejack was right. I have only myself to blame for the aggression my presence is generating, and I don’t want to put you at risk. Time is against me now more than ever, so forgive me for being so brief.

“For the time being, and until I’ve taken care of a few essential things, this is goodbye.”

Fluttershy stood there for several minutes, staring down at the bloody note. There it was, written plainly for her. A glimpse at the truth, as Mahara called it; the beginning of a confession.

Gritting her teeth, the pegasus let the note fall.

I trusted you...

She slammed her hoof against the counter, remembering the shard of glass only after it was ground deeper into her cut. She glared at the bloody shard, then ripped it out of her hoof with her teeth, spitting it into the sink. The pegasus took deep, slow breaths through her nose as she watched her blood spill out of the cut.

\/ /\ /\ \/

“I’m fairly sure if we intrude that we would be extremely rude.”

Twilight Sparkle persisted, trying the front door again only to find it as locked as it had been the first time. Zecora pondered the futility of a second attempt as she made her way to a window beside the front door. It slid open without issue. The zebra gave Twilight a cheery, slightly sarcastic smile, then gracefully crawled through.

The curtains she had passed through in slipping over the windowsill were light, but thick enough to keep the room blanketed in darkness. The fact that the sky had opened up with a fearsome downpour was not contributing to illumination either. Zecora spread her stance cautiously, poised to strike at a moment’s notice. Twilight tumbled in clumsily behind her, but the zebra held her concentration, her gaze sweeping the room for movement or potential threats. After several careful scans, she eased up marginally.

“I had expected to find at least one of them home, but it would seem for the moment that we are alone.” She paused, taking a few steps further into Fluttershy’s empty cottage. “Well, now we are here, my friend. What is it that you intend?”

“This was kind of spur of the moment on my part, Zecora. I kind of assumed we would find Mahara here and confront her, or try and convince Fluttershy now that I have your support to back up my theories.”

The zebra glanced back at her, narrowing her eyes slightly. “By confront you mean kill? Was that your will?”

“If we can find a nonviolent solution to this, I would prefer pursuing that avenue instead.”

Zecora turned, taking a step closer to Twilight, who watched her nervously.

“But if the creature insists on a fight, will you assist me in taking its life?”

Twilight shuddered, glancing to the side. “I… I’m not sure if I can… I had planned more on telling Mahara that she should stop what she’s doing, and that we would be informing Princess Celestia of her actions.” Zecora raised a brow, coming a few steps closer. “I had hoped she would just surrender. And… What about Fluttershy?”

“She would sooner kill you than surrender herself. Thus far, we are lucky she has relied on stealth. That she has refused to harm Fluttershy is a mystery to me…” The zebra turned away, venturing deeper into the darkened cottage. “She is nothing more than a monster in pony form, you see. We will all sleep safer the sooner we kill her.”

“What happens if we don’t kill her?” Twilight’s hoofsteps came slowly, following Zecora at a distance.

“Then Equestria is likely to see dark times indeed… Do you still doubt that this must be done with speed?”

“I understand, it’s just, we’re breaking into Fluttershy’s house and all.” Twilight offered as she continued on ahead, pausing in the doorway to the kitchen. “Maybe I should have thought this through.”

Zecora checked her surroundings again, shaking her head. “We do this not without just cause. We commit one wrong to prevent worse loss.” It occurred to her that Twilight was still situated behind her, despite having just watched her move forward.

The purple unicorn’s eyes went wide with fear as their gazes met. “I… I didn’t say that… That isn’t me!”

Zecora turned, finding herself at point blank range with a pair of glowing green eyes.

“Boo.”

The zebra curved like a whip, bringing a forehoof against the side of the green eyed pony’s face with a wet sounding crunch. She narrowly dodged as the pony lunged at her, a glint of metal showing through the low lighting. The figure approached, very slowly, illuminated for the blink of an eye as lightning flashed.

Mahara in the flesh; thick rivers of blood flowed from between her lips and down her neck.

“I deserved that, sure.” She took a few steps closer, eyes burning through the darkness. “Taking a swing at you was reflexive after you broke my jaw, though, so don’t hold that against me.”

“Your time in this world is at an end. Your existence, today, I aim to expend.”

Zecora took another step back as Mahara continued to advance. “I’d rather do this Twilight’s way, I’m afraid. If you really, really want to spill my blood, though, I’m going to make you cover my losses personally, and if I do that, I’m not making any promises that you’ll survive.”

Another flash revealed the array of knives held tightly in her fleshy coils, fanned out around her body like peacock feathers.

“D-did you hear us talking, then?” Twilight swallowed heavily enough for it to be audible, and without looking at her, Zecora could guess that she was backing up toward the window.

“I did. And I don’t intend on killing anypony, but your friend here is going to make that very difficult if you don’t rein her in.” She stopped her advance, holding the knives defensively. The zebra paced before her, glaring.

“You will surrender yourself to Princess Celestia, then?”

“No. I’ve been imprisoned long enough, I think. And if Celestia is ready to forgive Luna for what she did, then I think she should consider doing the same for me.” She lowered her knives, smiling. “I can be different this time. I didn’t know how to control it then, but… This time, it will be different. Tell her that.”

Twilight and Mahara locked eyes, the purple unicorn frozen to the spot. The opening was clear. Zecora rushed in, leaping over the wall of knives and flesh, burying a hoof in the side of the red mare’s neck. There was a sound somewhere between a pop and a crack as the mare tilted her head in the direction of the blow, dropping all her knives and falling limply to the floor. Twilight gasped in the corner, but the zebra could not be distracted.

She grabbed one of the knives off the floor, holding it between her forehooves, and aimed it down at the base of Mahara’s skull. Green eyes rolled up at her, narrowed, fangs bared.

“Will. You. STOP!” Her voice echoed, as though many were speaking as one.

The zebra felt a pressure on her hind legs, her torso. She had been ensnared, but her forelegs remained momentarily free. With a near feral cry, she mustered all her strength and drove the knife home, plunging it through red coated flesh and feeling it stick in the floor on the other side of the creature’s neck. Mahara’s blood spattered against the floor like water from a broken pipe. Green eyes exploded to red, and then grew distant, as did the rest of the room, glass clinging to Zecora’s body as she was thrown through a window. An unnatural howl reverberated through her body as a red mist followed her through the window like a cloud of parasprites.

Engage the beast… How foolish was I? Is this truly how I am to die?

Zecora knew that she had failed her kind, the ponies of Equestria, and every living thing on the planet. Somehow that seemed even worse than her swiftly approaching death.

As the mist enveloped the zebra, a sensation like thousands of tiny needles burrowing into her through her pores wiped her mind with a wave of pain, intensifying by the moment. It held her there, several noses above the ground, her blood starting to run as the mist began to peel away her flesh in thin strips. Zecora could feel the hatred, the lust for blood, knowing that in seconds she would be torn apart, consumed by it right down to her marrow.

Twilight’s voice sounded so distant. “Mahara! You don’t have to do this! Please!”

And the peeling slowed.

Zecora felt her body drop a few noses, still cradled in the humid, suffocating, paralyzing mist that Mahara had dissolved into. Somehow, she could feel it considering her as it hesitated. With a low, disembodied growl, the bloodied zebra was released, tumbling into the wet grass like a broken doll. The mist condensed back into a pony, glaring at down at Zecora with eyes that faded back to green.

“I want to prove you wrong, so remember this moment…” Mahara growled, looming over her so that the red mare blocked her view of the sky. “I have spared your life, even though you felt justified in trying to end mine. But, I will not show the same compassion should we come to blows again.” With that, she disappeared into the trees.

For what felt like an eternity, the zebra lay on her back, gazing up at the distant sky as rain fell from the clouds like tears. She could feel a number of gashes spread out over her body, some worse than others, some still jutting with shards of glass. Hundreds of smaller, longer cuts marred her flesh like red stripes. The rain felt soothing against her wounds, washing away freshly flowing blood.

“Zecora!” Her body ached as she craned her neck in the direction of Twilight’s voice. “Oh my gosh! Zecora, are you…?!”

“Wounded, yes, but not fatally. I have healing potions in the form of tea. But I think it best that we take our leave, lest the monster decide to rethink my reprieve.”

The world rolled and shifted as the zebra got to her hooves, droplets of blood splashing the ground under her as she made her way back uphill. Twilight followed at her side, never taking her eyes off of Zecora, which she assumed was for fear that she might collapse. Her injuries, save for the shards of glass sticking out of her in several places, were largely superficial. Had Twilight hesitated even a moment longer, however, it would be a much different story. She shuddered, putting the thought out of her mind.

This time I was not prepared… Zecora glanced at the window as she lifted herself onto the lid of her chest. Next time, it is the monster who should be scared…

\/ /\ /\ \/

Regardless of what Zecora had repeatedly told her, Twilight Sparkle was almost positive that the zebra looked faint, as if she would lose consciousness at any given moment. Still, she maintained control over her enchanted trunk, drawing all kinds of strange looks as they thundered into town on what was otherwise a piece of luggage supported by dozens of ghostly legs. However, Twilight had neither the time to explain the trunk, nor why Zecora was bleeding. The zebra gave one last command, and the legs skidded to a halt, dropping the chest roughly in front of the library.

The trip from Fluttershy’s cottage to the library had been much more dry than the trip from Zecora’s hut to Fluttershy’s cottage, and for the break in the rain, Twilight was thankful. She hopped off the lid, bounding up the steps, and knocked on the door several times. She received no response.

“Spike! I’d like to come in! Hint hint!” She glanced back, the zebra lingering by her belongings and ignoring the growing crowd, most likely gathering the materials she would need to heal herself. “Spike you’re being very irresponsible! This is serious!”

Twilight waited another minute before unlocking the door herself and stepping into the library. The interior was dim, specks of dust filtered through rays of sunlight let in by the windows. Still not a peep from Spike. No stirring of any sort, not even the scrape and click of his claws against the floor. The library was completely still, and without Spike’s usual, friendly greeting, it felt eerily vacant.

“This isn’t funny anymore, Spike! We have an emergency and I need to send Princess Celestia a letter as soon as possible!” No response.

Maybe he’s asleep? But why would he be? It’s not that late in the day…

There was one last thing she could try to get him to respond. “Spiiike, Rarity is here! She says she wants to see you!” The silence continued, and her frustration mounted. “Wet, sloppy make-outs with Rarity, Spike! Come on!”

“Spike is still very young…” The zebra commented in passing, carrying a homemade looking satchel toward the kitchen. “Do you not feel you are jumping the gun?”

The purple unicorn was too irritated with and increasingly worried about Spike to respond to Zecora’s sly remark, looking around nervously as she tried to imagine why he had failed to reply.

Evidently sensing Twilight’s distress, the zebra smiled and shook her head. “My good friend, do not fear. Surely he is very near.”

“This couldn’t be happening at a worse time. I… I need to write my thoughts down while they’re still fresh and organized. Where’s my quill…?”

“Should I search for him as you write? My unfamiliarity with your home may well bring him to light.”

Twilight was only half listening, nodding and waving her hoof at Zecora as she grasped her quill with her magic, dipping it in an ink well. The zebra disappeared into the kitchen, no doubt the source of softly clattering cups as she prepared her medicinal tea.

“Dear Princess Celestia,

“Understand that when you receive this letter, there has already been a considerable delay, as Spike had gone missing. I probably should have written back to you immediately after your last letter, but I assumed that knowing more about what we may be facing was the more rational course of action. In short, there is a dangerous, potentially deadly creature lurking around Ponyville. It commonly assumes the form of a red earth pony mare, and calls itself Mahara. I am almost positive that this creature can change its form, so the fact that it frequently manifests as a female is potentially a ruse.

“So far, I have observed the following personally:

“-The creature cannot enter a building without permission from the owner. Once permission has been granted, however, the creature may come and go as it pleases.
-The creature is affected by direct sunlight, and quite possibly weakened to a large degree.
-Potential evidence to support my shape shifting theory: it would seem that the creature cannot change the color of its eyes while assuming another form, as all ponies exhibiting the signs associated with the Mahara entity, including an imitation of Rainbow Dash, have had green eyes.
-The creature can dissolve itself and travel as a red mist of some sort.
-The creature is able to withstand injuries that would prove fatal to a normal pony.

“I had waited to ask Zecora, a zebra friend of mine, if she knew anything more about the creature we are faced with. She has provided me with a wealth of information, and a good deal of it coincides with my own observations. However, you should know that, according to the zebra folklore which Zecora recounted to me, the creature has some sort of direct connection with Nightmare Moon. I am aware that Nightmare Moon has been defeated, but as a precaution, I advise that you either directly address Princess Luna with this issue or place her under surveillance until there is proof for or against her involvement with the presence of this creature.

“The creature addressed me personally when we attempted to confront it not long before writing this letter. It expressed that it had no interest in killing anypony, but became extremely violent when provoked by Zecora. I pleaded with it to reconsider its actions, however, and it left us peacefully. It also suggested an interest in audience with you to discuss terms of some sort regarding its freedom. Lastly… These are not my words, but she, that is, the monster itself, asked me to convey this message to you:

“’I can be different this time. I didn’t know how to control it then, but [sic] this time, it will be different.’

“I’m not entirely sure what to make of this myself, nor am I able to discern the motive of the creature. Your immediate correspondence is desired as I am not entirely certain what course of action should be taken, if any at all. I do however plan on holding a meeting tomorrow to inform the citizens of Ponyville that there is a very real threat in this so called Mahara.

“Again, please respond as soon as possible.

“Your faithful student,
“Twilight Sparkle”

Twilight had assumed that writing the letter would make her feel better, but without Spike to send it, she was reminded of his apparent absence and only felt worse. The library was pristine, so it wasn’t as if the creature had forced it’s way in somehow, and Twilight knew that Spike was smart enough not to let it inside, especially after receiving the order from her to restrict access to the library. However, with no way to tell where he was or whether or not he was safe, her mind was quickly becoming a blur of panic. She rolled up the parchment, sealed it and calmly set it on the desk, then stumbled away from her seat as the anxiety took hold.

“Zecora, what if he ran away again?! I shouldn’t be have been so hard on him… He’s just a baby dragon…” She fell to her knees, her fear so intense that a wave of nausea rolled over her. “He’s like a brother to me, Zecora… I hope he’s okay, wherever he is…”

The zebra leaned out from the kitchen, regarding Twilight with wide and confused eyes. “Twilight Sparkle, calm yourself. In this state you will be no help. If he is like a brother, as you say, then surely you will see him before the end of this day.”

Sniffling just a bit, the unicorn nodded, getting back to her hooves. “Yes, you’re right. I need to think about this rationally… Where do you think we should start looking for him? Do you think he went to the Everfree forest? Or maybe we should just wait here and hope he comes back home?”

Before Zecora could answer, there was a tiny knock at the door. A few seconds passed before Spike’s muffled voice drifted into the room.

“Hey, I uh…” There was a pause, the embarrassment in his voice carrying very well through the door. “I kinda locked myself out, Twilight.”

Narrowing her eyes, Twilight looked back at Zecora. “Do you think maybe he’s just careless?”

Zecora smiled, shaking her head again. “A moment ago, did you not lament that perhaps your words were too harshly spent?” She dipped back into the kitchen to finish preparing what Twilight assumed was her tea.

The unicorn sighed softly in agreement, making her way to the door, floating her key along beside her. Spike smiled up at her as she opened the door, waving. Outside, the sun was just beginning to get familiar with the horizon, long past noon, but not quite dusk.

“Sorry about that. Rarity came by and asked me to watch Sweetie Belle while she spent some time at the spa. I kinda lost my key somewhere between then and now.” He shuffled his foot a bit, looking down. “And I know I was supposed to watch the library, but I figured as long as I locked up when I left, everything would be fine.”

“It’s alright, Spike. I was just worried because I didn’t know where you were.”

“Yeah, I probably should have left a note…” The dragon twiddled his fingers, looking down, and then peering up at her. “You’re not gonna make me sleep outside or something are you? For leaving without leaving some kind of note or for losing my key?”

“What? Spike, quit being weird and get in here.”

No sooner had the words left her lips did Twilight feel a sudden surge of paranoia come over her. Spike crossed the threshold of the library as though nothing were out of the ordinary, stopping when he saw Zecora standing by the kitchen. The unicorn glued her eyes to the pint sized dragon, shutting and locking the door behind him.

“Oh hey! Zecora is visiting?” Spike gave a little wave, grinning widely. “Hi Zecora!”

The zebra smiled, nodding in greeting, then turned her attention to Twilight, once again taking note of the unicorn’s troubled expression. She had finished her preparing tea by this point, looking to be in much better shape as the healing magic visibly mended her wounds with every sip.

“Yes… Zecora will be staying with us since the monster attacked her at her home. I’d like to have a word with her in private, though.” Making sure she was out of Spike’s line of sight, she frantically pointed to the kitchen.

“Oh, don’t mind me then!” The dragon looked around the room, seating himself at the writing desk.

The zebra watched Twilight as the unicorn crossed the room, tilting her head in confusion, following her into the kitchen all the same. Once inside, the unicorn looked around the corner to make sure Spike was still seated and out of earshot. She motioned for Zecora to move closer, craning her head forward so that she could speak at a whisper.

“Zecora, I think I just let Mahara in.” The zebra’s eyes shot wide open, glancing to the doorway. “How do we make sure it’s really Spike and not an imposter?”

“If you are in possession of an image of Celestia’s sun, presenting it to Spike will show us what must be done.” The zebra looked around the room before fixing her gaze on the doorway again. “My friend, we must make haste. Every second in conference is a second we waste.”

“Okay. I have a pendant like that lying around that should work. What… What do we do if it’s the monster?”

“The sun maintains its grip on the land. If the creature has trespassed, we make our stand. This is not something I can do alone, so this time do not hesitate when its cover is blown.”

Twilight nodded, and the pair of them reentered the foyer, diverging to either side of Spike as they crossed the room. A thought occurred to the unicorn before she reached the sun pennant, however. She raised a hoof, and Zecora slowed to a stop.

“Hey Spike?” The dragon looked back at her, smiling. “I have a letter I need sent to Princess Celestia. It’s on the desk there.”

“Oh? Right now?”

Zecora narrowed her eyes, shaking her head subtly, but Twilight persisted. “Yes, right now. It’s right in front of you.”

“Uh…” The dragon glanced down at the desk, then back at Twilight. “Are you sure you shouldn’t look it over a bit more first? I mean, you read that book again, right? Maybe you want to make sure all your notes are correct?”

Twilight began to move again, eyes locked with Spike as she made her way to a shelf holding a picture of Celestia and a necklace. The necklace was a gift from the princess herself, but now its importance to the unicorn extended beyond sentimentality. She wrapped it in her levitation magic and slipped it around her neck, a charm in the shape of the sun dangling from the chain.

“I never read the book, Spike. You would know that if you weren’t a monster in disguise.”

“Okay, you got me. I figured I would try to take the offensive this time.” The imposter turned to Zecora, narrowing its eyes. “And you, remember what I said. I meant it. Don’t give me a reason to show you just how much.”

“A threat from the beast, how very cute.” The zebra spat in its direction, glaring. “With the sun to aid us, you’ll find me resolute.”

“As much as you seem inclined to barbarism, I would still like to try and settle this with diplomacy.”

Twilight stomped as she stepped forward. “What have you done with Spike?!”

“Spike? Oh, he’s perfectly fine, I guess. He’s probably still at Rarity’s.” The imposter snickered. “Let’s return to the task at hoof, however. You have something that is rightfully mine. If you return it to me, I will leave without a display of aggression. You seem to have hidden it, however, or else I would have taken it and left while the two of you were plotting against me in the kitchen.”

“Property is what you seek? Twilight, of what does this monster speak?”

“The book. Of course you want the book. It’s the key to sealing you up again, isn’t it?”

The monster in Spike’s image stepped away from the desk, slowly approaching Twilight as Zecora kept a constant distance behind it. Mid stride, as it left the golden rays of the low hanging sun, it exploded into a fine red mist, reforming as the red mare Twilight Sparkle had grown to despise.

Mahara came to a stop several paces from the unicorn, tendrils of flesh twisted around themselves, folded against her back like a bed of snakes. She looked back at Zecora, snorting softly before returning her focus to Twilight.

“The fact that this particular book is the object in which I was imprisoned is irrelevant. I could have just as easily been sealed away within the moon. I could have just as easily been slain, at that, but your mentor seems to favor longer, more thought provoking punishments. Nightmare Moon, or Luna, if you prefer; she seethed in her lunar cell, plotting revenge. I, on the other hoof, looked inward, focusing on the hows and whys of my incarceration instead of what I planned to do when I was free.”

Twilight and Zecora slowly circled around Mahara as she tried to get them both in her sight, but they maintained their distance, keeping her between them. “Are you trying to tell us that you’re reformed? Was that the point of your message to Princess Celestia?” The unicorn skirted along the shelves as Mahara tried to get her back to the wall.

“It may be hard to swallow from where you stand, but I’ve come a long way to reach this point. I apologize for losing my temper back at Fluttershy’s cottage, but it’s difficult to maintain my composure when someone is trying to murder me. You understand, I hope. To that end, I’m sorry for what I did to the fillies, Applebloom especially…”

“And what did you do to her, exactly?”

“What I very nearly did to Fluttershy. Something that I had no need to do, and I regret it entirely. Really, if the two of you will kindly stand where I can see you,” she glared back at Zecora, then quickly returned her attention to Twilight. “I’ll gladly explain everything. But first, I need the book. Please. That’s all I want, and then you two can beat the hell out of me if it will make you feel better.”

Twilight considered that, glancing to the drawer where she had hidden the book in question. Mahara traced her gaze to the spot and smiled, turning toward it. Before the red mare could reach the desk in question, however, the unicorn pulled the drawer open with her magic, swiftly levitating the book to her side.

“I don’t have any reason to trust you, Mahara.” The unicorn floated the book behind her as Mahara turned toward her, brow furrowing. “Deception seems to be your favorite card to play whenever somepony has something you want. For all I know, you have no intention of discussing much of anything with Princess Celestia, and once you have the book, you’ll use it to further whatever schemes you have in mind.”

“Considering that I could have easily turned to violence, a few harmless lies seemed to me like the more rational option.” The red mare took several steps forward, stopping when Twilight lifted her sun pendant.

“A few harmless lies?! You’re using those lies to drink blood from innocent ponies! While impersonating their friends, at that!”

“I never said I was proud of my actions… You think I like lying to everypony I meet? You think I like the fact that I need to drink a pint of blood every day just to survive?! You have no idea what this is like! I never asked for this! If I had known what I would become, what other ponies, even my own family would think of me, I would have told Luna that I… I would rather she just let me die…” Mahara fell silent, looking out the window for a minute as Twilight held her breath, ready to use her magic if necessary. “But… You know what they say… Misery loves company.”

“What are you trying to accomplish, then?”

“What anypony, any living thing tries to accomplish, really. I want to live, free of persecution, if possible. I don’t want to be the thing that goes bump in the night anymore.”

“If what you say is not more lies,” The zebra circled around to Twilight, looking first to the unicorn, then back to the red mare, “To behave as you were would be unwise.”

“I don’t have a choice… You think ponies will just let me drink their blood if I ask nicely? That’s a real laugh. If I don’t drink fresh blood on a regular basis, I’ll die. I don’t have the time to get ponies to trust me enough to become my personal blood donors.”

“Well…” Twilight began, lowering the pendant. “Why don’t you wait here until I contact Princess Celestia? Maybe we can help you. I’m sure she-”

“I’m sure she’ll put me right back where I was. This isn’t as simple as turning me back into a cute little filly, Twilight. This spell only goes one way, and my very existence is a reminder that Luna tried to betray her.” She began to advance again, slowly, carefully putting one hoof in front of the other. “I’m not ready to see her. Not yet… There are things I need to do first, and at the top of that list is getting my book back.”

“Why is it so important to you? Why would you risk coming here in broad daylight to get it back?”

The red mare froze in her tracks, glancing to the side. “It’s… It’s my diary. The only remaining record of my life. Do you even know how a sealing spell works? You have to bind the victim to something that is emotionally significant to them. For Luna, obviously the moon would be the object of choice, but for me… She could have sealed me in the moon with Luna, but isolation is part of punishment, isn’t it? She had to use something that contained my emotions, all the fear and anxiety I was experiencing…”

“And how am I supposed to believe any of this, Mahara? All you’ve done until now is lie. What proof do I have that this is any different?” The room suddenly became dark. Twilight looked to the window as clouds obscured the sun. “You have only yourself to blame for the situation you’re in.”

“If this as far as diplomacy will take me, then I see now that force is the only option after all. Remember that I tried to settle this peacefully. You have forced my hoof.” The cords of flesh against the red mare’s back began to unwind, stretching out around her.

“You are a monster that cannot speak truth.” Zecora lowered herself, ready to strike. “You, yourself, have forced your own hoof!”

The zebra launched herself at Mahara just as Twilight reached out for the red mare with her magic, but Zecora simply passed through her as she evaporated into a red mist, weaving around the unicorn’s attempted restraining spell and swirling toward her. Eyes wide, Twilight stumbled out of the way, just in time to watch Mahara engulf the book with her intangible form. As the unicorn levitated her pendant toward the mist, it receded slightly, but maintained its grasp on the book, pulling with a force equal to that of Twilight’s magic.

Out of the corner of her eye, Twilight saw Zecora opening a small pouch and dipping her snout into it. Seconds later, the zebra was blowing a golden powder from her lips. It billowed out like a cloud, and the red mist swirled frantically to avoid it. The unicorn felt it in her nose as she inhaled a moment too late, her concentration breaking as she sneezed. Book in tow, the mist flooded the other side of the room, solidifying back into a mare.

With the book held in her mouth, Mahara wordlessly glared at them, her tendrils intertwining and then spreading not as individuals, but as enormous, bat-like wings. With a single stroke, she propelled herself backwards through the window, quickly becoming a blurry silhouette on the horizon.

Several minutes passed in silence as Twilight attempted plan her next course of action. In that time, the sky began to clear once more, sunlight washing over Ponyville. The first words to her lips had little to do with either of those things, however.

“What was that just now? The powder trick, I mean?”

“If you should you find that your magic does not meet your needs, know that the creature is averse to sunflowers and their seeds.” The zebra trotted into the kitchen, retrieving a dried sunflower head from within.

“Sunflower seeds?” The unicorn raised a brow. “You’re kidding.”

Zecora smiled, dropping a mouthful of sunflower seeds into an empty pouch. “Would it be less strange were she averse to garlic instead? Believe me my friend, the sunflower dust is the reason she fled.” The zebra dropped the pouch, twisting her hoof on top of it, pulverizing the dried seeds within.

“Zecora, I need to find Spike. Princess Celestia needs to get that letter as soon as possible. Will you stay here and guard the library for me while I go out and look for him?” The unicorn began a trot to the door, looking back at Zecora as she awaited a reply.

“Of course I will, be safe, my friend. But on the creature’s words I would not depend. Thus far no creature has been maimed, and I pray for Spike’s sake that has not changed.”

“Me too… Well, if she said she got him to go to Carousel Boutique, that’s the first place I’m going to look. If he comes home before I do, though, have him send the letter.” Twilight paused at the door, looking down at the lock, and then the broken window behind her. “If Mahara comes back… Please don’t try to fight her. Stall her if anything. Your life is more important.”

“Twilight, I appreciate your concern, and from these encounters I have learned. But should find I have the advantage; know that creature will find me more than she can manage.”

Twilight hesitated, her key floating beside the lock, but the zebra gave her a nod of encouragement, then shouted a command in her native language. As Twilight opened the door, the chest outside came to life once again, somehow squeezing through the doorway and scuttling up to Zecora. Smirking, the unicorn stepped out into the early evening, an orange glow just barely settling on the horizon as the sun prepared for its descent. She turned her gaze in the direction Mahara had flown, feeling dread at the prospect of the coming night.

She’s not going to be happy when she realizes that isn’t really her book... I just hope this doesn’t mean something even worse for the rest of us…

\/ /\ /\ \/

Chapter 6 - In All Honesty

Chapter Six: In All Honesty

\/ /\ /\ \/

“She’s stable, for now.” Redheart looked up from her work, smeared with blood from her face to her forehooves. “If you had been just a minute later, I don’t think I would have been able to save her.”

Rainbow Dash gave a slow, solemn nod, still trembling softly as she lay beside Applejack.

The tranquility of Whitetail Woods had been replaced with various degrees of weeping and frightened shouting. The cyan pegasus considered herself beyond fortunate that Nurse Redheart had grabbed medical supplies from the clinic before evacuating. The pegasus choked back a whimper as she imagined what would have happened if the medical pony had lacked such foresight. Redheart gave Applejack’s freshly covered wound one last inspection before stepping away from the pair to deal with other injuries.

They were far from alone, but to Dash, everypony else might as well be miles away. All she could do was watch the slow, steady motion of Applejack’s breast as she lay on her back, or stare at the pink stained bandages where Applejack’s left hock used to be. Leafy shadows and blotches of sunlight floated lazily across the blond mare’s unconscious form as the surrounding trees swayed in the breeze. The sky had cleared not long after Dash had arrived, but the shining sun and chirping birds contrasted the emotional storm brewing within the residents of Ponyville.

Rainbow Dash curled up against her unconscious love, fighting and failing to contain her sobs.

If only I had been faster… Why wasn’t I faster? Why couldn’t the damn hydra have bitten my leg off instead?

Applejack stirred, eyelids fluttering, and the pegasus felt her heart fill with hope. Instead of opening her eyes, the blond mare weakly lashed out with a bandaged forehoof, going still again after her foreleg fell limply back to her side.

“You get em’, AJ…” whispered Rainbow, “Don’t you ever stop fighting…”

A sad smile found its way to her lips, gently resting an ear against Applejack’s chest, listening to her heartbeat.

She’s alive. Even if she’s been maimed, even if I wasn’t fast enough, even if that fucking hydra is destroying the rest of Ponyville right now, she’s… She’s alive… But… What about…

Only then did Rainbow Dash realize that she had abandoned her friends in the heat of battle. An entirely new paranoia swept over her as she imagined the consequences of her actions, the potential destruction and death that her departure may have caused.

What will AJ think of me if… If I let everypony else die… Just to save her? Would she… Could she still love me? What if she had wanted me to leave her so that I could keep fighting? The troubled pegasus looked to Applejack, but found no relief in her vacant expression. Please don’t be mad at me, AJ… I… I did this because I love you… You’re more than just a friend… They don’t know that… I don’t expect them to understand… Several tears splashed against Applejack’s neck as the pegasus leaned closer to her face. But you mean more to me than anything… If saving your life means I had to be disloyal to everypony else, then that’s the way it’s gonna have to be… I just… I hope you can forgive me, for choosing you over them…

She was about to start weeping anew when a shout brought her out of her mournful trance. A small group of ponies had just penetrated the tree line, doing their best to get everypony’s attention.

“The hydra is dead! It’s safe to return home!” A cheer went up from those in earshot, other ponies wandering closer to try and understand the cause for commotion as the stallion continued to shout. “Spread the word! The hydra is dead!”

The pegasus looked to her unconscious companion, then back to the steadily gathering crowd. “AJ, I’ll be right back…”

The onslaught of questions melted into a jarring buzz of interrupted sentences and barely understandable fragments, but the general focus seemed to be who and how. The overwhelmed stallion recoiled a few steps from the gathering ponies, then began to stomp until they had quieted down.

“Okay, okay everypony, I don’t know who else has been eaten, or what property was destroyed.” The stallion looked around at the growing number of faces, barely making eye contact with Dash in his pause. “All I know is that the hydra is as dead as can be, and that monster Twilight Sparkle was telling us about is the one that killed it. I didn’t see it myself, I was in my basement, but I came up when everything went quiet, and that’s what everypony seemed to be saying.”

The chatter started right up again as Dash hovered just above the crowd. She found it hard to believe that the mare responsible for the recent string of attacks had actually done something beneficial for Ponyville. Ponies had died, and Applejack would never fully recover from her injury. Hearing that Mahara had stepped in only after irreparable damage had been done filled her with more rage than relief. At least half of the crowd shared her sentiments, but there seemed to be just as many ponies singing the red mare’s praises. The stallion went on his way as the crowd began to bicker, leaving Dash uncertain of the next course of action. A fair number of ponies broke off from the larger group, talking amongst themselves as they took to the road leading home.

Is it even safe to move Applejack? She… She lost a lot of blood… Maybe… No, definitely… I need to find Redheart and ask her what to do.

An orange pegasus filly approached Rainbow Dash as she began her search. The cyan pegasus barely noticed her until she realized she was being followed.

“Hey, kid, have you seen Redheart around?”

“N-no… But… I… I need to talk to you…”

Dash glanced back at the filly, recognizing her after a moment as Scootaloo. “Not right now, kid. I’ve got more important things to take care of right now.”

“Please, I don’t know who else to talk to!”

“It’s going to have to wait, okay?! My marefriend almost died a little while ago!” Dash froze in the air as she realized what she had blurted out. Scootaloo seemed similarly shocked. “Yes! My marefriend! I love Applejack and I don’t care who knows it anymore! Now will you please leave me alone?!”

The filly sniffled and ran off, but Dash couldn’t be bothered. She spotted the nurse wrapping bandages around a mare’s torso. As she got closer, she realized that Bonbon was one of the ponies who had been trampled in the chaos.

“I don’t suppose you’ve seen Lyra around? I-” The cream colored mare gasped in pain as she tried to sit up, causing Redheart to put a hoof to her shoulder. “Sorry, I know you told me not to move like that.” Bonbon eased herself back to the ground, turning her attention back to Rainbow. “I lost her in the commotion. If you see her, tell her I’m okay, would you?”

“If I see her, sure.” The pegasus turned her attention to Redheart, who had her snout in a medicine bag. “Is it safe to move Applejack? I mean, with her injury and all?”

Redheart lifted her head out of the bag, a roll of medical tape in her teeth. She shifted her weight to her hind legs, dropping the tape into her forehooves.

“Moving her to my clinic is definitely better than tending to her out here.” The nurse tugged at the roll until she had torn off a strip. “I’ll go with you when you bring her there, but after that, I’m going to need you to help move other patients. Can you handle that?”

“Definitely. How soon do we start?”

\/ /\ /\ \/

Sadness was not an alien emotion to Pinkie Pie. However, the frequency with which she felt true sorrow was very low. It was a sensation she had not truly experienced since attempting to help Fluttershy overcome her depression. In some ways, the circumstances with which she now felt herself gripped with sadness were identical. Rarity had given up on trying to console Fluttershy, and the pegasus wept quietly as she kept a slow, mournful pace alongside the cart. Whenever Pinkie glanced back at her, she found Fluttershy’s gaze fixed on the body of her fallen friend. Her hair wavered, threatening to go limp.

It must be like… Waiting for someone to wake up, even though you know that they’re going to be asleep forever… Poor Fluttershy… Maybe a song will cheer her up! Maybe… Maybe not right now… I’d need to think up the words anyway. I… I want to be positive! I really do! But… I can’t… Would that even be right? I was so happy after watching Mahara defeat that nasty hydra, but… I… I didn’t expect her to die… I didn’t expect anypony to die! I know it’s silly, but it feels like nobody ever died before today, and now… We’re up to our necks in it, trying not to drown…

Angel stood just outside the cottage, watching the three of them from the top of the hill. When he cringed, Pinkie guessed it was because of the cart. Fluttershy had plucked a sheet right off of somepony’s laundry line before leaving town, draping it over Mahara’s body to stop the sun from cooking her, or at least what Pinkie assumed was the sun cooking her. Shortly before being covered, she had seen the red mare’s flesh seared where it had been exposed to direct sunlight. The sight made her think back to sun burns and times when she had ruined baked goods before becoming skilled in the kitchen.

The sun isn’t an oven, though… And I haven’t sizzled up when I get cuts or scrapes outside… Maybe it’s because she’s a monster. Was a monster… A really nice monster that made Fluttershy happy… Maybe monsters aren’t supposed to come out during the day? That makes sense, I think. Mahara sure is brave, then, visiting us when she knew one little accident might have her smoking like a chimney. Well… She was brave… I don’t think she can be brave anymore… A few strands of pink hair fell against the side of her face. No no! Stay positive, Pinkie! Your friends need you to stay positive! I need me to stay positive! I… I can plan a party to help take everyone’s mind off of this! Yeah! That will work, right?

Fluttershy unhitched Pinkie from the cart when they reached her front door. Rarity opened her mouth to say something, but Fluttershy just shook her head, pointing back toward town, never once looking up at them.

“I… I need to be alone…” The pegasus shuddered, a half choked sob dying on her lips. “Th-thank you for walking home with me, b-but… I jus-just want to be alone, o-okay?”

Rarity took a step toward Fluttershy, but the pegasus only pointed again, her forehoof shaking.

“I’ll b-be alright… I just w-want to… to…” Fluttershy met Rarity’s concerned gaze with a look that made Pinkie’s heart feel like breaking. “Please… J-just for today…”

“Very well, dear… But, I’ll be back first thing tomorrow.” The unicorn wavered, as if unsure that she should leave. “Please don’t do anything rash…”

“I’ve u-used up all my suicidal urges for a good long while,” Fluttershy forced a smile, but her pain bled right through the expression. “Don’t you w-worry about me.”

“Pinkie Pie, let’s head back to town, shall we?”

“Yeah…” Pinkie nodded, keeping her eyes on her weeping friend. “I hope you feel better soon, Fluttershy.”

The pegasus gave Pinkie a strange, distant look, and it felt as though Fluttershy were looking right through her. She immediately regretted saying anything at all.

“Sorry,” she whispered, turning toward Rarity and following her down the path.

Only when they were well away from the cottage did Rarity attempt to start a conversation.

“I was just putting the finishing touches on her dress last night. Pity that she’ll never get to see it completed…”

“Well…” The opportunity to be positive surfaced. It was much easier without Fluttershy’s weeping to dampen her thoughts. “She doesn’t have to see it to wear it! I mean, even though she’s a monster and she’s all dead, that doesn’t mean she won’t have a funeral, right? I’ve never planned a funeral reception party before! This will be a challenge!”

Rarity cocked her head, watching as Pinkie regained the slightest bit of the spring in her step. “I don’t believe that a funeral reception is the same sort of party as, say, a birthday party.”

“Well of course not! It’s not a party that celebrates one measly birthday! It’s a party that celebrates a pony’s entire life! How is that not a good reason to plan the biggest, best party possible?” The unicorn appeared increasingly disturbed as she noted the wide grin plastered across Pinkie’s face. Pinkie continued anyway. “I know that, when I die, I want everyone to celebrate! I want it to be a huuuuge party, and I want everyone to be invited! That way, no one will be sad that I’m dead, because they’ll be too busy celebrating!”

“Yes, well… I suppose focusing on happy memories is better than becoming consumed with grief… I would think that it’s easier said than done, however.” Carousel Boutique came into view, and Rarity began to diverge from the bouncing pink mare. “You’re quite welcome to come with me when I go to check up on Fluttershy in the morning. You certainly have a better grasp on being positive than I.”

“Seeya later then… Oh! Good work with that hydra, too!”

The unicorn grinned back at Pinkie as she pushed open her door. “Oh, hardly dear. I missed my mark as often as I hit it. Thank you just the same. Take care!”

Pinkie bounced in place as she waited for the door to shut, but as soon as she heard the click, the pink mare whipped around and began a mad dash back to Fluttershy’s cottage.

I promised to Twilight, after all! Even if she’s mourning and the monster is dead, I need to make sure nothing bad happens to her! I mean… She wouldn’t hurt herself because she’s really sad, right? But then, she’s not really the same Fluttershy anymore, is she? She’s been through so much this year. She still talks like the Fluttershy I know, but… She’s different now. I can’t blame her, either. I’m sure I’d be different too if I went through all that. I wonder if she’d be happier if she were still with Lucky… If he hadn’t gone and had tongueshakes with some other mare… You know, I’ve never tried talking to him. I should give that a shot and see if I can learn anything that might help Fluttershy! I bet she’d really like that! It might help her take her mind off of Mahara! Okay, slow down, you can’t spy on her if she knows you’re here.

Pinkie got as low to the ground as she could, crawling along the outside of Fluttershy’s cottage. She could hear the pegasus inside, still crying, but she sounded tired now. Her being in the living room, not to mention all the curtains being drawn, meant that the downstairs windows were right out. The bedroom window seemed like a viable option.

It’s gonna be a jump, but I think I can manage it! Just need something to give me a boost! Uhhhh… Oh! This tree here! Okay, easy now… Bend it back… Just a little more! Aaaaaand… Ha-ha! Ooof! Okay, quiet down now. You’re on the roof. Just gotta… Nudge this window open… There! I’m in! Okay Pinkie, quiet as you can! This is a sneaking mission! European Extreme: Game over if discovered! Getting closer… I can see her! This is far enough then. Just gotta stay out of sight and make sure nothing bad happens to her. Angel might be a problem, but he’s busy trying to calm her down for now. Maybe I can bribe him if he sees me. Ooh, what’s she doing?

Through the stairway banister, Pinkie watched as the pegasus got up from Mahara’s lifeless side and made her way over to a cabinet by the front door. She returned to the red mare with an enormous bag. As soon as Fluttershy had set it down, she began to remove all kinds of surgical supplies from within, laying them out in front of Mahara. The pegasus was completely silent as she went to work, save for a few quiet sniffles.

What is she going to do with those scissors…? Oh! Oh gosh, she’s cutting off those tentacle things! Well, two of them anyway. And she’s cutting them open? What, is she making a coat? Wait… Wait no, I get it! She’s patching up the hole that the hydra left in Mahara’s tummy! Well… Her whole torso, really. That thing nearly bit her in half… Yeah, she’s sewing the skin into place over the bite. Well that’s nice of you, Fluttershy, fixing up your friend like that. But… I don’t think that’s going to make her come back to life… Maybe that isn’t the point. Maybe she just wants Mahara to look pretty when they bury her. Wouldn’t make sense to have her in a coffin with all her guts hanging out…

The pegasus sat back when she had finished, looking over the post-mortem skin graft. The red mare lay on her back, a peaceful smile on her unmoving lips. The distant chirping of birds and the low rustle of leaves filled the room; it was a beautiful, sunny day outside.

Fluttershy had stopped crying, but Pinkie could see the strain.

I wish there were some way for me to make this better… But… I can’t… I can’t help you… Does that make me a bad friend?

She felt a tear roll down the side of her face.

I’m so sorry, Fluttershy…

Her pink curls went limp, swaying gently as she looked on in silence.

\/ /\ /\ \/

“Part of me felt like I would never fall in love again, after what happened.” Her gaze drifted tiredly over Mahara’s tranquil face. “So much for that, Fluttershy, you’re going to be a single mare for the rest of your life. And… And then you came along… I’m not even sure what it was that first night. It almost felt forced, but… I didn’t care. After knowing what it was like to be in love, and then losing it… I just wanted something to fill the void. Does that mean I’ve just been using you?”

Angel sat beside the pegasus, watching her with a face full of anxiety as Fluttershy held a one sided conversation with a corpse. A few minutes passed before she continued.

“I suppose I should be asking you if you’ve been using me, though. I know that you need to drink blood now, but… You never even tried to drink mine.” A flock of birds swirled outside the window, beckoning the pegasus to join them. The temptation wasn’t even there. “That night… Were you going to? Were you about to bite me, and then you stopped? Why?”

The numbness she had experienced upon realizing that Mahara had passed on was slowly beginning to wear off. A shallow wave of sensation came over her. She was exhausted, she was hungry, her head ached, and her right rear hoof throbbed where she had stepped on the blade of a knife. The bleeding from her shoulder had slowed to trickle, the edges of the stab wound slowly scabbing over.

I should probably disinfect this and cover it…

Fluttershy took a white rag from the medical supplies, dousing a corner with alcohol. Very carefully, the pegasus brought the rag to her shoulder, disrupting the coagulation process. Her blood began to run, welling up in the pinpricks of her capillaries, pooling together into a single rivulet. Her eyes traced the slowly rolling path down her foreleg, holding that leg horizontally to stop the motion. Mahara remained motionless as the pegasus looked from her blood to the red mare and back again.

This isn’t a fairy tale, Fluttershy… But… There’s no harm in dreaming…

“I don’t care if you were really a monster… I don’t even care that you lied about being a monster… You shared something with me…”

She brought her mouth to the crimson stream, gathering it up with her tongue, spreading it over her lips.

“I would have gladly shared something with you in return…”

Fluttershy leaned forward, nose to nose with Mahara, eyes to eyelids and curly lashes.

“All you had to do was ask…”

The red mare’s lips were cold against her own, made sticky with a bloody kiss.

“So, this is goodbye…”

Before the pegasus could even pull away, she felt a shudder. Not her own, but from the lifeless form before her. She wrote it off as her imagination, until she felt it again. Fluttershy uttered a dry scream, stumbling back, looking Mahara over as the red mare began to twitch.

The blood on Mahara’s lips had vanished. Her breast came to life with a sharp, sudden gasp. Her eyelids fluttered. Just as suddenly as she had begun to convulse, she became still once again.

A full minute passed as Fluttershy watched, wide eyed and speechless, trembling with shock and fear. Angel stood defensively between the pegasus and the earth pony. Slowly, Mahara turned her head toward Fluttershy, looking as surprised to see the pegasus as the pegasus was to see her.

“Hey…” Mahara’s brow relaxed, and she gave a tired smile. “The two of you look like you’ve seen a ghost…”

Fluttershy sputtered, trying to organize her thoughts. “I- What- You- How?! I don’t understand!” She glanced down to Angel, who seemed similarly confused, offering up a shrug.

“I was dead, and now I’m not.” The red mare rolled onto her side, wincing slightly. “That’s pretty cut and dry if you ask me.”

“But…” The pegasus was lost for words, her mouth agape. “How?”

“Your blood, Fluttershy.” The red mare brought a hoof to her lips, smiling. “You’re the reason I’m alive right now. I suppose that makes us even.”

“Am I… Is… Is this a dream?” The pegasus tightly closed her eyes, brow furrowing, blinking several times when she opened them again. “Is this really happening? How can this be real? I… I watched you… die…”

“While there are some major drawbacks to being like me, the rules of life and death are a little more flexible.”

While witnessing Mahara come back from the dead was initially stunning, the shock of seeing Mahara alive again quickly began to wear off. Fluttershy flung her forearms around the red mare’s neck, hugging her tightly as a few happy tears streamed down her cheeks. The pegasus saw Angel in the corner of her vision, smiling back at her; he gave a single nod, then made his way to the kitchen.

“I was so scared!” Her voice and her happy sobs were muffled as she buried her face in the side of Mahara’s neck. “I… I thought I’d never see you again!”

The pegasus felt a hoof against the back of her neck, gently stroking. “I know… And I’m sorry about that, but there wasn’t much I could do until you gave me some of your blood.”

Fluttershy shuddered, her happiness not quite crashing, but suddenly plummeting as she remembered all the unanswered questions that had been brimming on the tip of her tongue.

“So… Um… About that… Why didn’t… That is… You…” The pegasus pulled back, looking Mahara in the eyes. “You kept it a secret… From me… Why?”

The red mare looked away, her hoof falling back to the floor. “I was afraid you would look at me differently… That it would change what was developing between us…” She brought her gaze back to Fluttershy’s, a sad smile on her lips. “Of course, with me galloping around after sundown, sucking everypony’s blood, it was only a matter of time until things went wrong…”

“I… I need to know the truth… All of it… I talked to Rarity before the hydra attacked, and she um… She said you would explain things…” The pegasus held her gaze, trying to dig up the confidence she needed to continue.

“Yes, that was part of our agreement… What would you like to talk about?”

“The very first night we met… You um…” She hesitated for several seconds. “You told me a lot of things… I’m guessing most of those things weren’t true.”

The red mare heaved a sigh, slowly rolling onto her hooves, but remaining on the floor. “The first night, when we had just met, I presented myself in a way that I felt would guarantee getting behind your defenses. The bandages, the story about being an orphan and about the griffons attacking my wings… all fabrication designed specifically to make you open up to me.”

The pegasus gave a slow nod, waiting for more.

“I’m not an orphan, and I never had wings to begin with. These things growing out of my back; I can make them come and go as I please. I keep them for convenience most of the time. At the party, I could have easily just absorbed them back into my body, but playing victim gave me just a bit more of an edge with you, on top of the fact that you would question me later if they were suddenly gone.”

“How much of this was just an act, then?” The pegasus glanced away, a bitter sadness welling up inside her. “Did you only pretend to be interested in me?”

“The kiss we shared that morning... The fondness I felt spending time with you… That was all genuine.” Fluttershy felt Mahara’s forehoof against the side of her face, half brushing, half tilting her head back toward the red mare. “I hid all my dark secrets from you because I didn’t want you to be afraid of me. I assumed that lying to you was better than you knowing the truth…”

“Rarity told me that you need blood to survive. You couldn’t have tried to explain that to me? I would have been a little uncomfortable at first, but I wouldn’t have turned you away! You…” Fluttershy leaned forward, glaring. “You almost killed Applebloom! How could you think that was better than just telling me the truth?!”

Mahara froze, her expression softening, her gaze becoming distant. “I… Applebloom and I… Spending time with her reminded me of what my life was like, before Luna, before all the changes… I thought, what if she could stay like that forever?”

“What do you mean?”

The red mare’s gaze swept the room, making eye contact with Fluttershy for a few fleeting moments. “I don’t age, Fluttershy. I look exactly the same now as I did back then. I can change my appearance, of course, but my true self isn’t a day older than when I became what I am now. I told Applebloom that she could be like me… Stay a filly for as long as she wanted, and… She seemed to like the idea. The same night I met you, I met her. I hypnotized her, just a little bit, but…”

Mahara closed her eyes, her brow furrowing. “Younger ponies are a lot more susceptible to hypnotic suggestion… Even that little bit of hypnosis may have made her a little crazy… She was friendly enough before I messed around with her emotions, so doing that just amplified what she already felt, even if she didn’t know she felt it…

“So… The following night, she invited Scootaloo to the clubhouse as I had requested. I was going to teach her how to feed, just to be sure that she really wanted to go through with it… Well, I paralyzed Scootaloo, and then I started to feed from her when Applebloom bit the other side of her neck. I wasn’t expecting her to do that, so I stopped. Then Applebloom started saying how she didn’t want me biting anyone but her.”

The red mare took a deep breath, a small tremor running through her. “I could still taste and smell Scootaloo’s blood, see the look of terror on her face as she looked back at me. I started having second thoughts. I didn’t have much of a choice when this happened to me, and… I realized that she was too young to really think it through…

“Applebloom kept insisting, though, so… I bit her… And I lost control. She just kept telling me to bite harder, and… I couldn’t stop drinking.”

Mahara opened her eyes, but was unable or unwilling to meet the pegasus’s gaze. “I didn’t stop until she passed out.”

The silence stretched on for an uncomfortable length of time as Fluttershy struggled to find the words she wanted. Her gaze drifted over the darkened room, searching for the right phrasing. A gentle breeze came in through the broken window, bringing the smell of grass and lightly blowing her mane.

“Is… Is that um… What you were going to do to me?” She tilted her head to the side, meeting Mahara’s reluctant eyes. “You were going to feed off of me? Turn me into a creature like yourself?”

“I never wanted to turn you into... This… Never once did that cross my mind. I did come very close to drinking your blood, though… And…” The red mare glanced away again, desperately trying to avoid eye contact with Fluttershy. “That night, the stirring in your chest? Or that dreamy feeling you got every time you looked into my eyes?”

“So you did hypnotize me…”

“Only a little!” Mahara fell silent for a moment after her outburst. “I… I wasn’t sure how much time I would have… I wanted to make the most of it while I could, and then at the last minute, I got cold hooves and decided to let this run its course without any further supernatural influence. The effect of hypnosis on adults is much more subtle and much less enduring. By the following morning, you were probably only feeling lingering effects.”

“It… It felt real, though… Are you telling me that you planted those feelings in my mind?”

“Not in the least. The emotions you experienced were all your own. I only intensified them. You are the one who decided whether or not they were worth exploring.” The red mare gently put her forehoof on Fluttershy’s, withdrawing it as the pegasus narrowed her eyes. “The morning we kissed? That was all you… Whatever you felt for me then is no less real than what you feel for me now.”

Fluttershy cocked an eyebrow, giving that some thought as she carefully judged Mahara’s expression. The red mare attempted a timid smile, leaning in to nuzzle the pegasus, but Fluttershy shifted away from the attempted gesture. On top of all the confusion and sadness in her heart, she could feel anger slowly bubbling to the surface.

“I… I’m upset… I’m upset that you didn’t even try to explain all this sooner… And I’m still not entirely sure if I can even trust you…” The red mare shrank back, looking down at the floor, but Fluttershy continued uninterrupted. “How can I, after what you’ve done? You lied to my face! You’ve been lying to me since you came here!”

“I know… I know that what I’ve done is wrong…” Mahara slowly looked up, meeting the pegasus’s angry glare. “And that’s why I brought something back here while you were in town. Proof that you can trust me.”

Fluttershy did a quick visual sweep of the room, looking for anything new or out of place. “What do you mean by that?” Her search came up empty. “You… You brought me something?”

“I hid it under the couch cushion.” The red mare lifted a forehoof off the floor, pointing to the furniture behind Fluttershy.

The pegasus glanced behind her, eyes narrowed with uncertainty. “Hid what?”

“See for yourself.”

Fluttershy turned to the couch, lifting up the cushion with a forehoof. She was greeted to the sight of a single book. She looked back at Mahara, who simply smiled and nodded. Carefully, the pegasus removed the book from the couch, turning it over in her hooves. The stitch work on the cover was atrocious. It was extremely dirty, on top of that.

“I don’t understand.”

“Really?” The red mare’s eyes widened, brows elevated. “Somehow I thought Twilight would have been a lot more vocal about possessing the key to sealing me up again.”

“How is this the key to… Why does that matter? I don’t want to put you back wherever you were!”

“You’re missing the point… I’m giving you the option. I’m letting you decide where we go from here. After everything you’ve been through, before and after me, I think you deserve that much.”

Fluttershy looked down at the book again, sliding a hoof along the binding.

“What is it?”

“My diary.”

“Your…” She looked up, discomfort finding its way into her expression in the form of an anxious frown. “Where um… Where was… I mean… Where did you get this?”

“I snuck into the library right after Twilight and Zecora left for the meeting. They tried to rub sunflower seeds on the door and windows, but…” The red mare grinned, waving a forehoof dismissively. “I found a way in through a mouse hole.”

“Where were you when the hydra attacked the town?”

“I… I thought that everypony would be able to handle it without me… So when I saw the hydra on the edge of town, before it started eating ponies... I just ignored it and came back here.”

“You just ignored it?”

“It’s been a long time since I’ve been around. I assumed maybe Ponyville would be prepared for an attack like that, being so close to the edge of the Everfree forest.” Mahara looked down at her forehooves, ears splayed. “I hadn’t expected you to involve yourself so directly, though… When I got back to town, and I saw you jumping out of the window; that’s when I darkened the sky enough to transform. Even if you hadn’t cut yourself or stumbled, I still would have intervened when I did… I had no idea…”

Fluttershy’s lips parted with disbelief, eyes narrowed with scrutiny. “But… How could you? You just…”

The red mare squirmed uncomfortably, avoiding her furious stare.

“That monster killed three ponies, Mahara!” Fluttershy thumped the floor with a forehoof, wings unfolding. “Applejack is lucky to have gotten away at all! You should have stepped in much sooner if you knew that you could help!”

“Would you have wanted me to destroy the hydra before it had drawn innocent blood? Would the inhabitants of Ponyville have cared if I had spared three of their own with a display of my true nature?” She met Fluttershy’s look of outrage with a stare of her own. “Even if I had jumped in and saved the day before the hydra could cross the river, they would still look at me with disgust.”

The pegasus shook her head vigorously as she got to her hooves, glaring down at Mahara. “You don’t know that! They’re good ponies! They could have learned to accept you for what you are! They still can!”

“If there’s one thing I’ve learned, Fluttershy, it’s that ponies are stubborn. They were when my age matched my appearance, and they haven’t changed one bit since then. And…” The red mare looked away again, hesitating. “There is a more urgent issue we need to address, I’m afraid.”

“Don’t try and change the subject!”

“Fluttershy…” Mahara reached out, brushing a forehoof against the pegasus’s hind leg. “This concerns you…”

The red mare slowly traced the countour of Fluttershy’s leg, and the pegasus’s gaze followed, sparing a few quick glances to Mahara in the process. Her forehoof came to a stop along the freshly scabbed gash in the back of Fluttershy’s rear hoof. Mahara looked up, slowly, sadly. Fluttershy recognized the worry in the red mare’s expression, a nervous chill running down her back.

“I wanted it to be your decision, whether or not you would follow me where I go from here, but fate has not been so kind to us…”

“Wha… What are you telling me, Mahara?”

“You haven’t realized it yet, but… You’re already undergoing the changes. It won’t be long before you’re just like me…”

\/ /\ /\ \/

Rainbow Dash stood out against the blinding white glare like an angel. A hydra loomed behind her, thousands of heads undulating, writhing, eyes glowing green with unholy fire. Applejack cocked her foreleg back, then released an earth shattering strike. The hydra resonated from the blow, shrieking as it dissolved. The blond mare fell back into darkness, Rainbow and the inviting glow surrounding her growing increasingly distant, and then vanishing entirely.

“Don’t you ever stop fighting…”

“Sugarcube?! Is that you?” Applejack stumbled around in the darkness, the ground wet and cold against her hooves. She shivered in the frigid void. “Where are you?! Ah… Ah can’t see! ‘s too dark!”

She brushed against something abrasive; tree bark. It felt sickly and distorted as she reached out to touch it. A light pulsed overhead, illuminating her surroundings in short bursts. The trees surrounding her were dead and warped, stretching their gnarled limbs toward her, but forever out of reach.

The earth trembled beneath her, and then she couldn’t feel it any more. Applejack was flying, but without wings. She felt forelegs around her breast, holding her tightly. The darkness of her vision was replaced with a blur of moving colors. She tried to turn her head, but couldn’t find the strength. Her left hind leg felt numb and alien.

“Just hold on a little longer…”

“Ah ain’t got nothin’ ta hold onto… Ah’m scared, Dash… Everythin’s changin’ so fast…” The colors began to fade, replaced with an empty, quiet darkness once again. “Ah don’t wanna lose you! Please don’t go!”

Applejack felt herself falling, slowing, stopping. Something soft cushioned her. A gentle glow illuminated the puffy edge. It occurred to her that she was laying on a cloud. She crawled to meet the light, and found herself staring down at Sweet Apple Acres.

It was fall. Two ponies galloped side by side down the rows of the orchard, shaking the leaves from the trees. Their laughter drifted to her ears.

This… This was the day when she…

“All I’m saying is; if I was with you girls when that hydra started chasing you, I would have taken care of it lickety-split!” Rainbow Dash grinned, holding her head proudly. “No doubt about it!”

“’s that a fact?” Applejack rolled her eyes, shooting the pegasus a grin of her own. “Well hot shot, next time we see that hydra, ah’ll show ya how we do things down on tha farm!”

“You’re gonna bore it to death talking about your family history? Puh-lease!”

“Ah was thinkin’ somethin’more like this!” Applejack heaved herself sideways, colliding with the cyan pegasus and sending her stumbling, causing her to fall behind. “Wassa matter? Ain’t you supposta be tha fastest pegasus in Equestria?!”

The blond mare laughed over her shoulder, downgrading to a giggle as Rainbow Dash spread her wings and attempted to close the gap between them.

“Oh you think you’re funny, huh?!”

“Sugarcube, Ah’m a riot!” Applejack pushed herself, galloping as fast as she could, but the pegasus was catching up with every powerful stroke of her wings.

Their chase had taken them down the last row of the orchard, back toward the enormous pile of leaves in the center. Big Macintosh had been raking, but was nowhere to be seen. Applejack glanced back, gleeful and panicked to see that Rainbow Dash was only a nose or two behind her, and in the blink of an eye, not even that.

“Gotcha!”

Dash tackled Applejack into the leaves with a rush of dry crushing and a fit of laughter. Applejack lay on her back, still giggling, breast heaving as she caught her breath. The pegasus lay on top of her, smiling back, but a shyness in her expression gave rise to mild confusion.

“Somethin’ wrong, Dash?”

Rainbow looked away, starting to blush. “Nah… It-it’s nothing.”

Applejack sat up, leaning a bit closer. “Hey now, ya know you can talk ta me ‘bout perty much anythin’!”

“I’m just…” The pegasus gave Applejack a reluctant glance, quickly looking away again as her blush intensified. “What if this is something… Something that I can’t talk to you about?”

“Horseapples, ‘twas a figure a speech!” The blond mare put a hoof on Rainbow’s shoulder, rubbing gently. “Anythin’ ya need ta talk about, Ah’m ready ta listen.”

“I… I dunno…” The cyan pegasus tried to hide her face behind a forehoof. “I don’t want you to get mad at me…”

“Well ya gotta tell me now!” Applejack smiled, still rubbing Dash’s shoulder. The pegasus’s bit her lower lip, eyes darting nervously. “Ah won’t get mad, Ah promise. Whatever it is, Ah’m sure you’ll feel better once ya git it off yer chest.”

“Okay… Here goes… AJ… I… I like… I have a crush on…” The pegasus stopped, her face less cyan and more beet red.

“Big Macintosh? Ah knew it!” Applejack giggled, nodding. “Ah figured that was tha reason you were spendin’ so much time round tha farm!”

“N-no! Applejack… I… I think I like you!”

Oh no… Here it comes…

Applejack went quiet, looking at Rainbow Dash as her jaw gradually went slack. Her hoof had frozen on the pegasus’s shoulder.

“You… You have a crush on… Me?” The pegasus nodded, wide eyed and trembling. Applejack recoiled. “What the hell, Dash?!”

A rush of light and warmth erased the pegasus and the orchard, replaced with blurry, porous white tiles. A dull beep sounded off in a steady rhythm to Applejack’s left. Her entire body ached, and a searing pain began to shoot through her left leg. She lifted her forehooves to her eyes, finding them wrapped in bandages. With the exception of the agony and the wrappings, the entire setting came across as very familiar to the blond mare.

Ah’m in Redheart’s clinic… But last thing Ah remember… Rainbow Dash was carryin’ me away from… Where’s Dash? Did she go back ta fight that thing?! Please, please don’t be that crazy… You don’t always have ta be tha bravest one, Dash… ‘s okay ta be scared sometimes…

The blond mare turned her head as she looked around the room. An antique looking device sat on a cart to her left, steadily beeping, and connected to her by a series of wires. A red pouch hung from a small metal pole, also connected to her, but by a thin plastic tube. A powder blue curtain hung behind that, likely separating her from another patient in another bed. She could faintly hear Redheart and Tenderheart somewhere in the distance, possibly in another room. When the blond mare looked right, her heart did a backflip. Dash lay beside her in the bed, curled up and sleeping soundly.

Applejack smiled, reaching out to brush the back of her neck. Ah shoulda known better… Ah’m sorry ah doubted you, Dashie… Ah know it must’a been hard fer you… Ah hope everyone else is okay, an’ Ah hope they understand… But thank you fer stayin’ with me…

Applejack flopped back against the bed as a wave of dizziness came over her, but she refused to look away from Rainbow Dash, even as her eyelids grew heavy with sleep.

\/ /\ /\ \/

Dear Princess Celestia,

A lot of things have happened since I tried and failed to get my last message to you, all of which involve the monster which I wrote to you about the other day. I regret not informing you sooner, but I assumed that learning more about the situation before asking for your assistance was the appropriate course of action.

I realize now that I was horribly wrong to do so.

In the time between the message I sent then and this message that will (hopefully) reach you today, know that several ponies around town have been attacked by the monster, who I now know to identify as Mahara. She has expressed interest in and awareness of you, but has made it abundantly clear that she does not yet desire an audience with you. I’m unsure of what to make of her desires, and while she is most certainly dangerous, it would seem that I do not fully understand her motives.

Through treachery, and after several attempts, she has managed to gain access to the library and stolen the book that she was sealed within until I accidentally released her. Today, however, a hydra found its way to Ponyville. After a short period of conflict in which we suffered three casualties and many more sustained injuries, including my friend Applejack, it was not us, but Mahara who dealt the final blow. She demonstrated a dark and lethal form of magic which until today I have never seen. She could have easily turned that destructive force on Ponyville and its residents, but she has refrained from doing so.

I expressed this already to most of the town, but I do not believe that she is entirely evil. While she explained that it is necessary for her to drink the blood of others, she has not committed any wanton or unprovoked acts of violence. In my previous letter, which I will also send as a matter of documentation, I noted that Zecora, another friend of mine of zebra origin, identified Mahara as a Child of Darkness, or a Child of Nightmare. While I am not suggesting Luna’s direct involvement in the events that have taken place here, I advise that you exercise caution, as Nightmare Moon is, according to Zecora, the direct source of Mahara and her kind.

While it would appear that she died from the injuries she sustained defeating the hydra, I cannot be entirely sure that she was alive to begin with. When I last saw Mahara, Fluttershy was carrying her remains to her cottage, where she had been staying since being released. I’m unsure of what has become of her since. I hope that you will know more now that I have given a name and a face to this creature.

I’m going to send this as soon as Spike returns to the library. Please respond as soon as possible.

Your faithful student,
Twilight Sparkle

The soft glow of Twilight’s horn faded as she set her quill back in the ink well. Once again, the library was a complete mess. There was no doubt in Twilight’s mind that Mahara had come and gone while everypony was at the meeting. An Egghead’s Guide to Running lay on the desk with a note pinned to the front cover. Two words, written in what Twilight hoped was red ink.

Nice try.

Twilight assumed that Mahara had realized the true nature of the book she had taken not long after flying off into the night. The fact that the red mare had not returned upon making that discovery was likely her way of proving that she wanted to avoid confrontation. The unicorn had to admit, for a monster, Mahara was very civil. Messy, but civil.

Her thoughts began to wander as she waited for Spike.

Zecora is another issue altogether. The fact that she had stabbed Fluttershy in trying to get to Mahara still came across as shocking every time she replayed the scene in her mind. Zecora expressed the urgency of her actions, claiming Mahara to be a threat of top priority, but from what I’ve seen, Mahara was more than willing to reason and be reasoned with. If anything, Zecora has shown herself to be more violent than Mahara.

Fluttershy was determined to keep at bay the the ponies and zebra that were prepared to do do further harm to Mahara, even if she had already passed away. Very infrequently have I seen determination of that magnitude in her. It seemed strange to Twilight that in just a few days, she had become so close with Mahara. On the other hoof, Twilight had only known Fluttershy and the others for all of one day when they had confronted Nightmare Moon. Time is just a variable as far as relationships are concerned, I guess.

It’s comforting to know that Rarity and Fluttershy have mended their friendship, as far as I can tell, but it’s strange to watch Pinkie Pie hovering around Fluttershy knowing that I had instructed her to do so. Then again, Pinkie Pie had shown the most interest in making Fluttershy well again, second only to Rarity until Rarity decided to give up. Twilight wondered if Pinkie’s persistence may have done more harm than good. Maybe sometimes a pony did need time alone. Come to think of it, maybe Pinkie has just been lonely, as well.

Since Rainbow Dash has been spending the majority of her time exclusively with Applejack, it makes sense for Pinkie to try and adopt a new best friend. Oh gosh, Applejack! I hope she’s alright… Twilight felt a twinge of guilt about finding Applejack last in her line of thoughts considering that the blond mare had sustained what would undoubtedly be a life changing injury. Well, as long as Dash is with her, I’m sure Applejack will be fine.

Their friendship seemed to encompass something greater than what Twilight was familiar with. She had intended to ask them about it in hopes of learning something worthy of a letter to the princess.

A small, familiar knocking brought her back to reality. Moments later, the door unlocked and opened just enough for Spike to peer inside.

“Oh jeeze…” The dragon stepped inside, backing up against the door to close it. “Twilight I’m really sorry. I should never have left the library like that.”

“We’ll worry about that later.” The unicorn waved Spike closer, levitating a sealed letter off of the desk, along with the one she had just finished writing. “Get over here and send these. Princess Celestia needs to know what’s happening.”

“I’m on it!”

The dragon scurried across the room, coming to a stop infront of Twilight. He took a deep breath, releasing with a bright green flame that doused both letters as they floated in the unicorn’s field of levitation. An enormous surge of relief came from watching the letters disappear with a burst of magical fire. Twilight sighed softly, smiling down at her draconic familiar, gently rubbing his spines with a forehoof.

“The princess will know what to do. I’m sure of it.”

Spike nodded in agreement, idly shuffling his feet as they awaited a response. A silent, awkward few minutes passed before his eyes widened, following the expression with a belch of fire that produced a sealed roll of parchment. Twilight immediately snatched it out of the air with her magic, yanking off the ribbon. The unicorn’s eyes darted across the page, brow furrowing in the process.

“Well?” Spike stood on the tips of his claws, as though that would give him a better look.

“To my faithful student, Twilight Sparkle,

“I’ll be arriving in town square within the hour, along with a detachment of the royal guard. Be prepared to meet me there so that you may guide me to the residence of Fluttershy. While I understand why you have waited this long to update me on the situation, this is a matter that must be handled immediately.

“P.S. I don’t know why you’re choosing this moment to have me critique your narrative, but your choice of characters is interesting, to say the least. Your plot structure could also use work. Do Spike and Rarity know that you’re writing about them?”

Twilight looked up from the letter, brow cocked, eyes narrowed. “What does that last part mean?”

Spike didn’t answer, but immediately went red in the face. “Twilight, I’m gonna go lie down for a while, if that’s alright with you.”

\/ /\ /\ \/

“I’m… I’m going to turn into a… a…” The pegasus looked down at her trembling forehooves, as if she might find the answer written across them. The room spun as she fought to remain standing. “How is that possible?!”

“To become a creature like myself, my blood must enter your body and come into contact with your blood.”

“There was blood everywhere!” Fluttershy looked up with an angry, frightened glare. “How do you know that I’m changing?!”

“I can sense it. Your heartbeat is the biggest tell: stronger, more efficient.” Fluttershy shook her head, trying to convince herself otherwise as Mahara continued. “And also, even if we were quite literally standing in the remains of the hydra, you were standing right over me with an open wound in your hoof as I was bleeding out.” The pegasus briefly felt Mahara’s forehoof on her own. Fluttershy was too stunned to pull away. “I’m sorry. I didn’t want this to happen, but… In direct sunlight, there was nothing I could do.”

“There has to be a cure! I…” Mahara shook her head slowly, sadly. “I was going to help you! I was going to make you better!” The pegasus doubled over, pounding her hoof against the floor. “There has to be a way to fix this!”

“If there were a remedy for this curse, do you really think I would still be the way I am? Celestia… She tried everything. It wasn’t until she realized that I could not be cured that she decided an alternative solution was needed.” Mahara glanced to the side, her stare becoming vacant. “Of course… that only made things worse for me, in retrospect…”

Fluttershy swallowed, her vision blurring with tears. After a few minutes she lifted her head and whispered, “W-What’s going to happen to me?”

“As we speak, my blood is becoming your blood.” Mahara reached for her own hind leg, tracing the limb to her hip, and then following the contour of her abdomen. “Black magic is consuming the blood in your veins, familiarizing itself with your body, and becoming a part of you. Were my blood introduced to your body in, say, your neck or around your breast, the change would take considerably less time. As it is now, you likely have until sundown before the conversion is complete. The only thing that could cause the conversion to progress even more slowly is if my blood were in aerosol form when it came into contact with an open wound. Obviously, that was not the case.”

“I’m scared… I… I don’t want to hurt anypony…” Fluttershy hesitated, the words stumbling over her lips. “I… I d-don’t want to be like you!”

The red mare offered a sad smile, offering the underside of her forehoof. “You don’t have to be like me. You have a luxury that I did not. You have friends, and ponies that care about you. From what I’ve seen, there’s no doubt that they’ll be willing to help you.”

Fluttershy heaved a shuddering gasp, blinking away a few anxious tears. “Maybe… Maybe you’re right…” Another uncomfortable minute passed before she asked, “Will it hurt?”

“No. But as you get closer and closer to the end of the conversion, you’ll begin to feel numb and thirsty. When that happens, it will be absolutely necessary for you to feed. If you don’t…” Mahara looked briefly to the floor, meeting Fluttershy’s gaze with concern on her frowning lips. “You’re not as experienced as I am. It’s likely that you’ll lose control. I’d like to avoid that at all costs.”

The pegasus nodded, feeling defeated, as though she were hearing her death sentence read aloud. “And… What are you going to do?”

“I’m going to be with you every step of the way. This is my fault, and I’m going to make sure you stay safe while you’re adjusting. And beyond that, if you still want me around...”

The pegasus nodded, letting the tranquility of late afternoon overtake the conversation. Mahara remained on the floor, waiting patiently for Fluttershy to organize her thoughts. Fluttershy’s silent demeanor was contrasted by the jumble of fear, anger and confusion within, conflicted over her next course of action, if she should take any sort of action at all. She looked around the room, following the moving shadows that yawned inward from the windowsill, cast by the gently swaying trees outside. On top of the very real possibility that she would be drinking the blood of other ponies in the near future, just looking at the red mare made her emotions twist in all sorts of uncomfortable ways.

Mahara lied to me… But… She did it because she didn’t want me to be afraid… Or so she says. And now she’s telling me the truth… The whole, awful truth… I want to be angry. I want to tell her to leave me alone, but… She saved my life. She could have let me die today, but she didn’t… Even though it’s her fault that I’m going to… change… she’s going to keep me safe and help me adjust? I’m terrified… I haven’t been more terrified of anything in my entire life… But knowing that she’s going to be there for me… She… she cares about me. In her own weird and complicated way, she cares about me. Do I still care about her, though?

The red mare looked up at Fluttershy as she made a soft sound, attempting to speak and giving up just as quickly. Mahara reached out for the pegasus, silently pleading for her to speak her mind.

“The things that you’ve done, they’re um… There’s really no way around it, they’re inexcusable, but… Mahara, I… I feel crazy for this … I think I want to… I want to try this again… Give you another chance.”

Mahara seemed genuinely shocked. “Why?” she asked with a brow arched.

“I was defending your body when you died today. I was ready to give my life to keep Zecora and a whole angry mob from desecrating you. It felt right to me then and it still feels right to me now. There was no fluttering heart, there was no dreamlike feeling. That was a decision I made of my own free will.”

Fluttershy leaned forward, looking deep into Mahara’s eyes.

“I… I like spending time with you, even if we’re just talking. You were right when you told me that it was too soon to say if this is love or not, and now I understand why… But… I’m not going to give up on this just yet, and I want to find out what this is and where it will take us. I want to know the real you.”

Mahara held the pegasus’s gaze. “This hasn’t been an act. You already know the real me.”

“I want… What I mean is; I’d like you to tell me the truth, like I did for you… About where you come from, about what happened to you. The real you. That’s um… I’d like that.”

The red mare nodded slowly. “Of course.”

“And…” Fluttershy knelt down, nearly touching noses with the Mahara. “Maybe it’s just a little exciting to know that the mare I have feelings for can take down a hydra.”

Mahara grinned, seemingly bashful as she glanced to the side. “Well, not to brag, but…”

As they exchanged laughs, the pegasus felt a bit of her anxiety subside. A very small, drop-in-the-bucket bit, but a bit all the same. It felt stange for her to laugh, considering everything she had been through and everything she had learned before that moment, but that small, brief spark of joy brought her a welcomed sense of relief. Sighing softly and making an effort not to think about what lay ahead, she set herself back down beside Mahara. The red mare looked as though she were about to speak, lips parting, tongue hovering for syllables that never came. Fluttershy cocked her head.

“There is… One more thing I need to ask of you. I lost a lot of blood today. Practically all of it. If I don’t drink soon, I’m going to die again, and if I’m going to be of any use to you when it comes time for you to take your first drink…” Mahara looked away, biting her lower lip. “I’m going to need to feed from you now, before the blood in your veins is entirely consumed with black magic.”

“Oh… Um…” Her attempt at putting the thought of transforming out of her mind collapsed immediately. “Well, I guess this will be um… This will be a good way to show me how um… Demonstrate how to…” The pegasus paused before saying “Feed…” at a near inaudible whisper.

Their eyes met again. “I’ll be honest; this is going to pinch a bit. Just a little bit, though. I’ll take it nice and slow.”

Angel came through the kitchen doorway at that moment, looking over the pair of them and freezing on the spot as the pegasus offered up the side of her neck to Mahara.

“It’s okay. I um…” The pegasus swallowed heavily as she tried to work up the nerve. As she reassured Angel, she closed her eyes. “I need to learn… And she needs this too… Everything is going to be just fine.”

Just keep telling yourself that, Fluttershy. Just keep telling yourself what she said when she was saving you from the hydra.

Everything is going to be fine.

Everything is going to be fine.

Everything is going to be- Oh! Oh goodness!

She flinched slightly as she felt the earth pony’s touch, her eyes snapping open. A red furred forehoof slid along her back, guiding her closer, the fanged mare wordlessly instructing her to roll onto her side. Mahara’s flesh felt almost cold against her own, but considering that she was flirting with death, that wasn’t so surprising. The stitches holding the red mare’s insides inside felt alien, standing out against the smoothness of her coat as the pegasus settled. The feel of Mahara’s breath against her neck triggered deja vu. Fluttershy shuddered. Mahara paused.

“No, it’s… It’s okay. I want to help you while I still can.”

“Do you want me to warn you before I bite down?”

Fluttershy nodded, feeling her mane brush against Mahara’s. Angel came closer, watching nervously from behind the couch as the pegasus felt lips against her neck. They parted slowly, the softness replaced with four sharp points pressing gently into her skin.

“Okay,” the red mare whispered around a mouthful of pegasus.

She cringed, but felt nothing beyond a tingling pressure over a very vague sense of pain. She had been pricked with thorns and needles that hurt more than having Mahara sink fangs into her flesh. Fluttershy felt the red mare wrap her forelegs around the pegasus’s shoulders, squeezing gently, giving a soft snort of an exhale. She had been unsure of what to expect, but the fact that she was enjoying the sensation took her completely by surprise. A delicate, half formed sound rolled up from her throat, ears folding back as she closed her eyes.

Once more, Fluttershy shuddered.

She could feel her blood flowing out through the holes in her flesh, lapped up by the slow rolling of Mahara’s tongue, suckling all the while. The blood couldn’t pool, nor could it run down her neck. Fluttershy reached back, caressing the side of Mahara’s face. She couldn’t see it, but she could feel the red mare’s lips curling into a smile. The suction imploded. A single stream of blood tickled the side of her neck as it rolled with the flow of gravity. Warmth returned to Mahara, growing more intense with every swallow.

Fluttershy lost track of time. The room began to spin.

The red mare pulled away with a sharp inhale.

Wow… That was… Oh…

She felt cloth against the side of her neck. Mahara was covering the wound.

“You’ll want to keep pressure on that until the blood begins to clot. Well, you’re familiar with medicine. You know how this works.”

As she turned toward the sound of Mahara’s voice, Fluttershy felt incredibly light headed. The red mare had already gotten to her hooves, examining the stitches holding strips of flesh to her middle as she made her way to the darkest corner of the room.

“Well,” the red mare looked up from herself, smiling at Fluttershy. “I appreciate the gesture, but this won’t be necessary.”

Mahara brought her teeth to the lines of pink stained thread and bit down. In one smooth motion, she ripped it out of herself, doing the same with the second set of stitches. The skin graft fell away, revealing a strange mesh of glistening strands. Muscle and skin spanned the wound almost like spiderwebs, becoming denser as they were joined by similar strands of tissue. The organs that hung free from her middle were swallowed up again by her body cavity. In less than a minute, what had been a fatal wound was gone without a trace, her coat quickly regrowing across freshly mended hide.

Fluttershy was, for a small stretch of time, speechless. “Just um… Just like that? All better?”

“Mm-hmm.” Mahara smiled, returning to the middle of the room. “I’m very, very durable. And when I’m not, I can usually patch myself up again. It has to be dark enough and I have to have enough fresh blood, though.”

“That sounds very um… Very convenient.” The pegasus tried to get to her hooves, but the floor shifted under her, and she slumped forward. “What do we do now, though?”

“I suggest you get some rest while you can. I can help you go to sleep if you’d like.”

“Does that involve turning into a… whatever that was, and looming over me?”

Mahara clenched her teeth, looking down at the floor. “I’m really sorry about that.”

“How many times did you um… How often did you do that to me?”

“How many times have you fallen asleep since meeting me?” Fluttershy furrowed her brow, but Mahara continued before she could get a word in. “Yes, terrible, I know. The only reason I changed my form is because you started to wake up. I didn’t want you to recognize me. A diamond dog was the first thing that popped into my mind, so, that’s what I turned into.”

“You didn’t want me waking up in the middle of the night and coming to check on you, I guess?”

“Essentially… Then you would have questions, and I would have to lie even more… It seemed more practical to just put you in a deeper sleep.”

The pegasus sighed, rubbing a forehoof against her forehead. “Mahara… Well, there’s not really much I can do about it now… When will… Um… How long until I start to… Change…”

“You’re not going to suddenly transform, if that’s what you’re imagining. In all honesty, you started to change the moment my blood entered your body.” The red mare knelt beside Fluttershy, examining the bite marks in her neck. “But, my drinking your blood has certainly accelerated the process to a degree. I could taste a bit of… me… in you, while I was drinking. And now, there’s less blood in your body for the magical reaction to consume, which means it will move on to saturating your flesh just a bit sooner.”

“So… I suppose getting some rest is better than um… Waiting around for it to finish… Doing whatever it um… Does…” Still lightheaded, the pegasus rolled onto her side as she tried to stand again. She giggled tiredly. “Will… Um… Will you be joining me?”

“I don’t sleep,” Mahara flatly replied.

“You… You don’t um… Sleep?”

The red mare sighed. “No,I don’t. I haven’t slept in a very, very long time. Trust me, sleep while you still can.”

\/ /\ /\ \/

There was no royal chariot for this visit.

Through her telescope, Twilight followed Princess Celestia and about sixteen armored pegasi as they tore through the open air between Cloudsdale and Ponyville. The princess was shouting back to them as they held formation behind her. At that moment, Twilight wished that she had learned how to read lips.

“Alright Spike, she’s on her way. Let’s head out to meet her.”

“Twilight, is it okay if I sit this one out? I uh… I really don’t feel safe with this whole plan. What if Mahara tries to fight Princess Celestia?” Spike held the sides of his head, and then ran his claws over his spines. “I don’t want you to get hurt!”

“I’ll be fine.” Twilight placed a forehoof on Spike’s shoulder. “I know you’re nervous, but the princess will be able to handle anything Mahara can throw at her. I’m sure of it.”

The unicorn pulled herself away from the telescope, glancing around the room. “I won’t force you to come along, though. Keep an eye on the library until I return. And ask Zecora to wait here if she stops by. I need to have a talk with her.”

Twilight was already halfway down the stairs as Spike agreed to her requests. The library was once again occupied by a maze of stacked books, some of which swayed as the purple mare slipped between them. Leaving her precious books in such a state was agonizing, but there were much higher priorities to be attended to. The moment she caught a glimpse of her saddlebag, she wrapped it in the soft glow of her levitation. It felt light across her back, but then, she had only bothered packing sunflower heads and several bags’ worth of crushed sunflower seeds.

Spike waved from the second floor as Twilight took one last look around the library. She nodded to him before she stepped out into the haze of late afternoon. The streets were nearly empty. Ponyville seemed to be giving its best impression of a ghost town. Considering the chaos that had played out in town square just a few hours prior, however, that was understandable. As a mare and stallion dressed in black passed by, she realized that many ponies were likely mourning. Twilight’s thoughts gravitated to Applejack, and a chill rolled down her spine.

Am I a bad friend? Should I have tried to find out if she’s alright as soon as the hydra was taken care of? There were so many things on my mind… I had responsibilities… But… Should Applejack have been more important?

Twilight set out from her doorstep, determined to check on Applejack as soon as Princess Celestia released her from her duties. The guilt remained, however.

My friends are important, but… The safety of Equestria should come first... Right? Maybe the princess will have a better answer.

The unicorn became lost in her internal conflict as she followed the road to the town square. After a short walk, the rows of quaint houses and shops fell away, replaced with an open space meant for public gathering, but that had so recently been a battleground. There were several ponies working on clearing the remains of the hydra, and a slightly larger group watching from a respectful distance. Twilight watched idly as some of the exposed ribs began to glow, twisting from side to side until they were wrenched free from the carcass. It occurred to her that there were several ponies inside the hydra’s corpse as well. Two of those ponies emerged, their tools and the ponies themselves completely soaked with blood. Her stomach turned. She followed the glowing bones to the unicorn manipulating them.

Rarity seemed to be leading the effort.

Rarity?!

Twilight snapped to attention, her jaw dropping as she watched her fashionista friend carefully examining the hydra bones drifting in her magical grasp. A mound of bones was piled to her left, while folded lengths of hydra scale sat to her right. Rarity set most of the ribs down in the pile with the rest, placing the more damaged ones in a heap of fractured bone, torn flesh and damaged scale. As the glow of her levitation faded, the pale unicorn looked up at the approaching Twilight and smiled.

“Have you come to help us with salvaging, dear?”

“Sal- What? What are you going to do with all of this? This is horrific!”

“Twilight, it would be appalling to waste all these resources. Do you know how valuable the bones and scales of a hydra are?” Twilight continued to gawk, but Rarity just brushed her mane from her eyes, grinning. “I don’t have much use for the bones, myself, but think of all the dresses I can make with hydra scales! If you’re wearing something made of hydra scales, you may as well be wearing a suit of armor, and they’re absolutely gorgeous when they’re properly polished, on top of that!”

“Oh gosh… This… This is too much. Look, Princess Celestia will be here soon. Is there any way you could, I dunno, try and speed this up a bit?” Twilight rolled her forehoof, then waved off toward the edge of town. “Maybe move it somewhere else where she won’t see it?”

“The princess? Good heavens, this won’t do at all.” Rarity quickly scanned her surroundings. The pale unicorn set her sights in the direction of her shop. “Do you think you could move it to my boutique from here?”

Without a word in response, Twilight wrapped the mutilated body of the hydra in her levitation and heaved it across the square. Even at a distance, the meaty sound it made as she dropped it made her gag. The ponies that had been picking through the remains made their way to the new worksite, but Rarity stayed put. The hydra’s blood had soaked into the earth, leaving a nearly black pit of mud. Together, the unicorns looked over the stain left by the battle.

“Aloe was a close friend of mine.” Twilight turned toward her, nodding slowly. “We met through her spa business, but in the last few years, I had come to enjoy her company even when she wasn’t working her rejuvenating magic on my body.” The pale unicorn inhaled slowly, the softest whimper held under her breath. “She would want us to make the most of this. I’m going to donate whatever profits I make off of the hydra’s remains to rebuilding Ponyville. We all are.”

The purple unicorn raised a hoof to Rarity’s back. “I understand. I’m sorry for judging you.”

Rarity smiled, blinking away any trace of brimming tears. “Oh no, not at all dear. You’re from Canterlot. What we’re doing must seem absolutely barbaric. The least we can do to honor the lives lost today is to make sure that the creature responsible is put to good use.” The pale unicorn took a few steps forward, pausing to look back at Twilight. Rarity’s gaze was distant, looking less at Twilight and more at the space around her.

“I wish that she had stepped in sooner.” Twilight attempted to question, but Rarity shook her head. “I wish that we hadn’t lost any ponies today. She was afraid, though, Twilight. She was afraid she would do more harm than good. She’s been afraid since she got here. Can you imagine what it must be like to wield that sort of power?”

“Are you saying she was afraid of the responsibilities that go along with it?”

“Perhaps… But I think, more than that, she’s afraid of being alone.” Rarity directed her focus to town hall. “I could hear her as I was coming down the stairs. She didn’t want Fluttershy to be afraid of her, Twilight. She wanted Fluttershy to close her eyes, to hide herself from the truth.” The pale unicorn turned her gaze skyward. “Your guest has arrived. I’ll leave you to her.”

Twilight watched as Rarity left without saying anything further, trotting off toward the crumpled hydra in front of her shop. The not so distant sound of feathers against air turned her attention to the sky. Princess Celestia flew at the head of the formation, her presence made even more formidable by the armored guards to either side of her.

The princess was adorned in armor as well, regal even when looking out at the world from beneath a helmet. Celestia’s armor was more intricately designed than that of her guards: platemail covered the back and sides of her neck reaching all the way back to the base of her tail, while chainmail spanned her throat and underside. The breast plate fully covered her front, more chainmail protecting the gaps necessary for articulated joint motion, as her fore and hind legs were fully enclosed. From the ground, Twilight saw that her armor was adorned with a crest in the shape of the sun.

In one smooth motion, Celestia and all sixteen of her guards touched down a few trots from where Twilight stood. Immediately, a crowd began to gather. The guards took up defensive positions around the princess, and then around Twilight as well. A glimmer in their wings caught her eye. All of them, the princess included, had thin strips of serrated metal dispersed through their feathers. The scholarly unicorn mare noticed a strap clinging low on Celestia’s neck. An enormous metal sheath bobbed against her back with every movement she made, a jewel encrusted handle projecting from one end. Similarly, the guards were strapped with bladed weapons, although much smaller than Celestia’s.

Twilight knelt down as the princess lifted her head, looking around the square and the many ponies bowing before her, her armor not so much clattering as pleasantly chiming with her motions. After a few moments, she turned to Twilight and smiled. “Hello Twilight. I understand that you’re having a bit of monster trouble. Let’s attend to that, shall we?”

“Princess Celestia, I already mentioned this in my letter, but I’m fairly certain that she died of her injuries shortly after defeating the hydra. It…” The purple unicorn rose to her hooves, cringing as she recalled the scene. “It tore her open. I could see inside of her.”

The princess took a few steps forward, her guards adjusting their positions accordingly. “I’m afraid that more extensive measures are needed to ensure that she doesn’t pose any further threat to Equestria. We’ll worry about that when the time is right, however.” The princess turned her attention to the crowd, slowly scanning the many faces bobbing to try and get a better look at her.

“Today, you have been witness to a tragedy. Good ponies lost their lives to the threat you faced, but you overcame the fear and despair, and you are all stronger because of it. You have my deepest condolences, and I will be taking the time to visit the families of the hydra’s victims before my business in Ponyville is concluded. However,” she paused, glancing back at Twilight until the unicorn came to her side. “There is a matter that requires my immediate attention. You have my word that as soon as the issue is resolved, I will begin preparations for a relief effort.”

Celestia passed Twilight, and the procession began a slow trot across the square. “I recall that the monster is staying with your friend Fluttershy? It doesn’t surprise me that she has gotten herself wrapped up in all of this, I’m afraid.”

Twilight tilted her head marginally, giving the princess her full attention. “Why is that?”

“One does not bear the Element of Kindness if they are selective about whom they extend that kindness to.” Celestia held her head high, occasionally glancing down at Twilight without turning her head. “But, I’m sure that she is otherwise innocent. I doubt that she’s intentionally harboring a threat to our kingdom.”

The purple unicorn mare nodded, but her imagination began to fabricate the wildest scenarios. All kinds of what ifs began to fill her mind. “What if she does know what Mahara is?” she finally asked, barely at a whisper. The possibility that her questions might hold truth gave her chills. “What if she knows what Mahara has been doing?”

The guards at the rear of the group were working hard to dispel the crowd of curious ponies, stating that the matter was of utmost importance and could not be interrupted by civilians. They were passing through the last row of houses when Twilight had made her delicate inquiry, and the crowd had all but dispersed, realizing that Celestia was off limits.

The regal alicorn was silent for almost a minute, during which time Twilight could feel her heart sinking. After the uncomfortable lull in conversation, Celestia regarded the purple unicorn, a sadness in her expression.

“If she has been willingly sheltering this creature, I’m sorry to say that there will be consequences.” Celestia turned back to the road ahead, scanning the tree line as they put Ponyville behind them. “The last time this monster was among us, Equestria nearly crumbled. She is an agent of Nightmare Moon and must be dealt with accordingly.” The princess sighed softly. “If she knew that her guest was really a monster, she had better have a very good reason for letting that monster stay with her.”

“I understand…” Twilight cast her gaze downward, watching her forehooves and the ground slowly rolling by beneath them. “How will you punish her?”

“That all depends… Offering her a place to stay is one thing, but if she let the monster drink her blood, or… I shudder to think about it, but if your friend allowed the monster to make her into a monster too… There is no place in my kingdom for such a creature to exist.”

Twilight felt her heart ache.

Had she known on the night of the party? Was she playing along with Mahara to keep her secret safe? Is there another reason that she brought Mahara back to her cottage? Princess Celestia said more extensive measures were needed, so… Does that mean Fluttershy could have revived Mahara?

Fluttershy’s cottage was as peaceful as ever; the surrounding trees swayed gently, birds chattering excitedly and darting from branch to branch. Like a scar, the broken window served as a reminder to the previous day’s encounter.

“Can I… Can I talk to her first, Princess?”

“Yes, I suppose so. I know she is your friend, but please try and keep it brief. This is a matter of public security.”

Twilight nodded, breaking away from the group and climbing the hill herself. As every step brought her closer to the door, a feeling of dread built up within, unsure of what she would find inside. She put her hoof on the doorknob and hesitsted, looking back down at Celestia and her entourage. The princess nodded, instilling a small degree of confidence in Twilight. The unicorn nodded back, took a deep breath, and opened the door.

\/ /\ /\ \/

A book slowly opened infront of Fluttershy, suspended by an unseen force. She could hear the songs of hundreds of birds calling her away, pleading that she ignore the book and return to them.

The pegasus looked at the page to which the book had opened. It was blank.

Somewhere around her, perhaps even from the book itself, Mahara’s voice reached her ears. Words began to appear on the page as the red mare spoke.

It feels almost like you’re dreaming, but you have no concept of a physical presence. You’re just there, disembodied, floating in the darkness. Now imagine that after what seems like a lifetime of floating in the abyss, you see a glow in the distance. You focus on that glow, and it starts to get brighter. Then you realize that there are things moving inside of it.

A swirl of color revealed itself to Fluttershy, just behind the book; churning, almost seeming to reach out to her.

The glow is alive; absolutely teeming with living, breathing, moving creatures. You’re estatic. You think that you won’t have to spend eternity by yourself. You immerse yourself in the glow, let it swallow you up.

And then you realize that you’re still alone.

The glow faded, replaced with a moving image. Fluttershy stood on the edge of the windowsill, glaring down at the hydra. The scene fractured into symertical shards. While each shard showed the pegasus, they were all in some way different. In some of the shards, she lost her nerve, while in others, she jumped out of the window.

What you’re seeing is… It’s like a kaleidoscope. But every fragment of what you see is a branch; a choice that was made any number of ways. There are seemingly infinite choices, an unfathomable number of realities unfolding endlessly before you. It’s too much to concentrate on. You can’t control what you see. You catch glimpses. Moments. Anything you can.

The shards continued to fracture, growing smaller and harder to see. She lost count. Her eyes began to burn.

The longer you watch any given possibility, though... It becomes painful after a while, like staring into the sun...

The shards vanished, replaced with a fragmented view of the moon.

At first, I tried to look for Luna. Sometimes I would see a reality where she defeated her sister, and forced the world to live in darkness.

A snowy field, glowing with moonlight.

It’s a miserable existence. I wouldn’t wish that on anyone.

There were possible realities where they’ve killed one another, and the sun and moon move on their own. You may think that an impossibility, but I’ve seen it.

A tall, white building with a sigil of the sun at the very top of its bell tower.

It’s… interesting. Religion is much easier to found when the deity of choice is no longer walking amongst the living.

That’s irrelevant, though. While I much preferred the worlds where everyone made peace and lived happily ever after, the realities where Luna was punished for her actions seemed to be more frequently occurring. It was a bit painful to watch, knowing what had become of her, but I’ve got to give Celestia credit; a thousand years of peace is quite the accomplishment.

The moon came into view again, a dark silhouette of Nightmare against the pale white sphere.

And would you believe that when Nightmare Moon finally escaped, my dearest friend Luna free at last, I was horrified.

She had learned nothing. She wanted to repeat history.

Six ponies stood before Nightmare Moon. Fluttershy immediately realized what she was witnessing. The image fractured as Twilight attempted to harness the Elements of Harmony.

I think that was the first time I saw you. Sometimes you and your friends would fail. Sometimes Twilight would be so cold that she wouldn’t even befriend any of you before her moment of truth, and she would face Luna alone. That’s beside the point, though. It’s a lot harder to go back than it is to go forward, so, I tried to find you whenever I could.

She looked out at herself, the world around her shifting and twisting, and the pegasus along with it. A great deal of it she recognized. Snapshots from her past.

I would catch glimpses of you as you lived your life. Sometimes as a filly, sometimes as you pranced around anxiously because you were being dragged along on adventures, sometimes as you lay sleeping, safe and sound in your bed. I’ll admit that I was a little infatuated with you. Well, more than a little.

The images of herself became unfamiliar. Older. Thinner. Heavier. Regal. Scarred. Her hair in different styles and different colors.

Right before Twilight let me out, as I followed as many of your winding paths as I could, I started seeing the strangest things. Some of those things I wish I could strike from my memory.

Bleeding. Crying. Screaming. Laughing.

I can’t decide if it’s worse to watch you bring about the end of the world or die at the hooves of your friends.

Burning. Killing. Writhing. Dying.

And then sometimes I’d see you doing unspeakable things to those same friends, but… Well maybe I rooted for you a little bit when that would happen.

The onslaught came to a halt in a blood spattered kitchen. An expression of psychotic pleasure across lips rusted with blood and pupils retracted to pin points. The pegasus held a scalpel between her teeth, standing over a mutilated body.

Still, terrible.

The image faded, replaced with a lonely road and a red mare sitting beneath a tree. Fluttershy approached from the forest. The scene fractured.

I wanted to meet you, at least once. I was fortunate enough to be given much more than that. I had been unprepared for the possibilities of this reality, however. Right from the start, it became apparent to me that in this existence, some very nasty things had happened to you. I set my fantasies aside and I decided to try and help. I hope that I haven’t been a burden to you in the process, but I know that isn’t true... And I’m sorry for that. It’s complicated, though.

The world flattened, trees becoming props against a painted backdrop.

I guess the simplest way to explain this is that you, and everyone living in this reality, are like performers on a stage, and I’m just wandering onto the set.

The red pony and yellow pegasus stopped talking, turning to look back at her, cocking their heads.

Now that I’m here though, the script has been rewritten, and I have my own part to play even if I haven’t been given time to rehearse. I don’t know what will happen from here. I’ve seen realities where I’m released much, much sooner than this and it usually doesn’t end well for me and the individuals that get involved.

The book closed.

I’m hoping this will be different.

\/ /\ /\ \/

Rarity casually stepped into her shop, glanced around the darkened room, and took about two and a half steps further before the hydra scales she was levitating fell to the floor with a wet slap.

“Mahara?!” Rarity made an effort to recollect herself, clearing her throat. The red mare was just barely visible. “Goodness, you gave me quite a start. I… I thought you had passed on. What are you doing here? How are you here at all, in fact?”

Rarity felt Sweetie Belle bump into her left flank. “What’s wrong?” the filly inquired. “Who are you talking to? Oh! Who’s that?”

“Sweetie, I’d like you to go to your room and stay there until I tell you otherwise.” The sternness in the pale unicorn’s voice apparently quelled any further questions. Sweetie Belle did not move, however. “Okay?”

“Okay, okay…” The filly stumbled through the darkness, trying to get a good look at Mahara in passing. The click of her closing door echoed through the shop.

Mahara stood before a couch, looking apologetic as she kept her gaze low. “Sorry for startling you. The hows and whys of me being here are kind of a long story, but if you really want to know, I’ll indulge you later.” The red mare met Rarity’s curious gaze as the unicorn drew nearer. Mahara took a deep breath and looked away again. It occurred to Rarity that she had something more to say. “I know you just helped me out yesterday, but… I’m going to need to ask you for another favor.”

The pale unicorn’s interest immediately fell as flat as her expression. “Oh, this again. I’m afraid that I am not a blood bank, dear. Why don’t you try asking Flutter…” The rest of her sentence died on the tip of her tongue.

Fluttershy lay across the couch, occasionally twitching. While her eyes were closed, the frequent wrinkling of her brow and twisting of her mouth made it obvious that the slumber was not a pleasant one. Rarity looked to Mahara, and then back to the pegasus. Something about her friend gave the pale unicorn a sudden chill.

“It’s not for you this time,” she lifted her head slowly, but kept her eyes glued to Fluttershy. “Is it?”

“I’m afraid it isn’t. When Fluttershy was standing over me… She had an open wound that came in contact with my blood, and… Well… That’s all it takes…”

The needles in Rarity’s shop began to dance, the curtains flung open to let sunlight pour over the room. Mahara recoiled, covering her eyes with her forehooves, and then froze.

“Was this really an accident? Or are you lying to me, Mahara?” The pale unicorn’s horn glowed gently, holding hundreds of various needles to the red mare’s body. The largest two, intended for knitting, hovered an eyelash from Mahara’s pupils. “Because if you are, so help me I’m going to break the third term of our agreement.”

“Killing me won’t undo what has been done.” Mahara met Rarity’s icy stare. “If it were that simple, I would have already handled this business myself. So, no, I’m not lying to you.”

The needles receeded, a few red beads welling up across Mahara’s coat. “And while I admire your aggression, direct sunlight is what you’re after. Perforating me while I’m behind glass will just make me… Irritable. Now, time is short, so can we please focus on the task at hoof?”

Rarity nodded, swiftly stepping around Mahara to get a better look at her fitfully sleeping friend.

The pegasus was drenched with sweat, tossing and turning as her eyelids flickered, seemingly on the verge of waking up. Rarity could see the fresh scabs in the side of her neck, still glistening with diminishing moisture. Her chest heaved irregularly, breath coming in fits.

I shouldn’t have left you at your cottage…

“Is she in pain?” Rarity lifted a hoof to Fluttershy’s forehead. No fever.

“No pain. It’s working through the last roots of her nervous system now. She’s nearly saturated with the same magic that keeps me…” Mahara paused for an uncomfortable few seconds. “As I am.”

I should have insisted…

“Will she still be Fluttershy?” The unicorn looked back at Mahara, trying to reign in her skepticism.

“As Fluttershy as can be,” Mahara nodded, “I assure you.”

But this had already started the moment her blood entered your body, hadn’t it?

The unicorn put an ear to Fluttershy’s chest, listening closely to the frantic noise within. “When do you think she’ll wake up?”

“When are you ready to give blood? No pressure, but the longer you wait, the worse this will be for her.”

Rarity sighed. “There’s no time like the present…” She lifted her hair with her magic, tying it back into a bun. “Shall I just let her bite me anywhere, or…?”

“This will be her first time, so I’d say it might be best to let her tap into the same artery I punctured last night.” Mahara held up a foreleg for emphasis, motioning along the back of it with her muzzle.

“Well, this wouldn’t be the first time I’ve re-opened an old wound for her.” The unicorn took a deep breath, attempting to compose herself. Organizing her thoughts proved to be a daunting task.

If Mahara thinks she's just going to use me as a blood bank and then traipse off into the night to teach Fluttershy how to be a monster, she's got another thing coming! I'm going to- I don't know what I’m going to do… Tell Twilight and Celestia? What can I do without making this situation even worse? At the very least, I'm certainly not going to just sit by quietly while this happens!

The unicorn scowled at Mahara, who didn’t seem to notice.

The list of problems this mare has caused just keeps growing! It seems like everything she does has some kind of negative backlash. I’ll have a word with Fluttershy once the blood donor issue has been resolved. Something needs to be done, even if I don’t know what that something is. Clearly somepony needs to keep Mahara out of trouble since she can’t be trusted to do so herself. But… What about Fluttershy? How is she going to handle such a drastic change? The poor dear, she just can’t catch a break… Well, Fluttershy, don’t you worry. I’ll be here for you this time. I promise.

The red mare tilted her head as Rarity nodded to herself.

Oh, right…

“I’m ready. Do… Whatever it is that needs doing.”

Mahara nodded, leaning closer to Fluttershy. The red mare intended her words to be whispered, but Rarity could faintly hear them; “Like the mosquito, a butterfly must also drink nectar.”

Mosquitoes drink blood… Not… Oh.

There was a soft gasp before Fluttershy began to stir. She blinked several times, then rolled over, burying her face in the cushion.

“Too bright…” Her voice was tired, strained. “I… I can’t see…”

“Light sensitivity,” Mahara offered. “If you would…?” She waved a forehoof at the curtains.

Rarity nodded, reaching out for the curtains with her magic and drawing them closed. She noted that the sun was just beginning to flirt with the horizon before it vanished behind fine silk. The pegasus peered out from the cushion as the room was cast into near darkness once again. The glow in her eyes was faint, but a delicate cyan radiated from her irises. Her pupils weren’t quite slits, but they were certainly on their way there. She sat up slowly, looking first to Mahara, who nodded as if to an unspoken question before stepping away.

Slowly, Fluttershy surveyed her surroundings, occasionally looking down at her forehooves. Rarity couldn’t be certain, but something in her expression registered as excitement. Her eyelids descended as she fixed her gaze on the unicorn.

“Um… H-hello, Rarity…” The pegasus shuddered, looking down at the floor, and then to Mahara. “We’re… We’re at Carousel Boutique? How long have I been asleep?”

The fact that Fluttershy was surprised to wake up in her shop brought a touch of confusion to the forefront of the unicorn’s thoughts. She glanced between the two of them, following their conversation as she waited patiently in the dark.

“We had some unexpected company, and considering the circumstances, I felt it best to avoid confrontation and move you here.” Mahara slowly approached the unicorn mare as she spoke. “You’ve been asleep for a little over two hours now.”

Yes, I suppose that makes sense… Princess Celestia was on her way out to Fluttershy’s cabin. Mahara moved her while she was asleep, though? Did anyone in town notice?

“Is um… Is it time for me to… What I mean is… Do you think I should…” Fluttershy winced as she whispered, “drink?”

“You tell me… How are you feeling?”

“Very tired… My um… My hooves and ears are a little tingly… Like… Like I’ve been out in the cold for too long.” The pegasus looked down at her forehooves again, rolling her fetlocks. “Is that um… Is that what I’m supposed to feel like?”

“You can wait a little while longer if you’d like, but my advice is to feed now and get it out of the way.” Mahara stood side by side with Rarity, briefly making eye contact before returning her attention to Fluttershy. “Have your fangs grown in yet?”

The pegasus looked down again, her jaw tilting to one side, then the other. “I… I think so…”

“Alright…” Mahara stepped away from the unicorn, crossing the room, nearly vanishing into the shadows. “This isn’t something I can hold your hoof through. I’ll be watching to make sure it doesn’t get out of control, but this is between you and Rarity now.”

The emerald glow of her eyes bobbed for an instant. A nod. Rarity returned the gesture and slowly approached her trembling friend. Fluttershy scarcely looked up at her, trying to hide behind her mane as the soft cyan of her eyes shimmered across pink locks.

Rarity giggled softly as she set herself down beside the pegasus. Fluttershy’s gaze followed her. “Isn’t this supposed to be the other way around?”

“What do you mean?”

“You’re the one biting me.” She offered a delicate smile, trying to reassure the winged mare. “I’m not going to be doing much beyond sitting here and playing donor.”

“I… That’s just it, Rarity. I don’t want to hurt you… You’re my friend…” She paused, swallowing. “I mean… Mahara bit me earlier… And I kinda liked… Um… It wasn’t so bad. But…”

Rarity ran a hoof along Fluttershy’s back, feeling a bit of the tension disperse at her touch. “I’m sure you’ll do just fine, dear. Now be a good girl and show me that smile of yours.”

Fluttershy slowly, reluctantly, held up her muzzle, lips just barely pursed. “Wider…” The pegasus’s brow furrowed as she spread her lips a bit more. The very points of four new teeth were just barely visible. “This is for your own good, dear… Please be brave, for me at least.” The pegasus nodded, displaying her teeth.

By that point, Rarity’s eyes had adjusted enough that vision wasn’t much of an issue. As she carefully inspected Fluttershy’s new fangs, Fluttershy gradually shrank away. The unicorn cocked her brow.

“Okay, Okay… Um…” Fluttershy slid off the couch. Rarity followed, taking a step closer. “I um… Where do you… want me to… bite you?”

The pale mare glanced briefly to the emerald glow in the darkness, recalling their earlier conversation. “I believe she has already done the hard part for you.” Gracefully, she lifted and turned her foreleg, exposing the small, circular scabs to her friend. “Just follow her example.”

Fluttershy shifted away, looking down at the floor once again. Before Rarity could levy more encouragement, however, she heaved a deep sigh and turned back toward the unicorn. “I’m ready… I think… I…” Her voice trailed into an unintelligible squeak as the unicorn extended her foreleg. Rarity grinned, shaking her head. “Sorry… Okay… Here goes…”

Out of the corner of her eye, Rarity saw Opalescence perch on the arm of the couch, watching with disinterest. The warmth of Fluttershy’s breath against her coat brought her attention back to the pegasus. She was caught between looking at the scabs, lowering her muzzle to them, and then drawing back to examine them again.

“I… I can’t believe I’m actually about to do this…”

“It’s alright. Please remember that time is of the essence, however.”

“I know… Sorry…”

Fluttershy took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and slathered her tongue over Rarity’s flesh. The unicorn scowled. Mahara had been a bit more elegant. She maintained her composure as Fluttershy gasped softly, pursing her lips to the spot, giving a gentle shudder as she worked up the nerve. The points of her fangs found purchase in the hardened dots of coagulated blood. Fluttershy paused, glancing up from Rarity’s foreleg. The unicorn simply cocked her head, brows arched. The pegasus closed her eyes and resigned herself to the task at hoof.

A sharpness bore down on her flesh, accompanied by the piercing sensation she had felt the night before. Fluttershy was not nearly as refined as Mahara had been, but that much was expected. Her fangs jerked slightly in the incisions, sending a short spike of pain through the unicorn’s limb. Something warm rolled down the side of her foreleg. Rarity looked down just in time to see and hear a single drop of blood spatter against her floor. The urge to groan was present, but she kept quiet. Fluttershy suckled clumsily, and Rarity could see stray rivulets of blood trickling from the corners of her lips. The perfect white of her coat took a tint of pink around shallow streams of blood, crimson droplets glimmering as they caught what little light managed to slip into the room.

With every swallow, the pegasus seemed to become more confident. Her lips pressed more tightly, and her tongue rolled across the flesh between them. Fluttershy began to pant softly through her nose. Her ear flicked, and then her tail followed suit. Her wings unfolded, ruffling slightly. The unicorn detected movement in the darkness; Mahara took a few cautious steps toward the pair, but Rarity shook her head and the motion halted. A muffled groan found its way to her ears.

“Fluttershy…” The pegasus continued to feed, another shudder passing through her. “Fluttershy.” Rarity’s brow knitted with concern. Mahara took a few steps closer, but stopped as the unicorn made eye contact.

“Fluttershy.”

The pegasus opened her eyes, a fierce glow backlighting her mane. Her pupils had completed their transformation, dialating horizontally as she looked up at Rarity.

“You’re getting blood all over my coat, dear.”

With Rarity’s foreleg still in her mouth, the pegasus mumbled apologetically.

\/ /\ /\ \/

“I was not expecting to see you here…” Zecora slowly pushed herself away from the wall, staggering across Fluttershy’s living room. “For I am not myself, I fear…”

Zecora began to salivate. She could hear the steady, rhythmic contraction of Twilight’s heart, growing faster with every step the zebra took. She could smell the blood pulsing through Twilight’s body. She cast her gaze to the floor, trying to stop herself from fixating on the unicorn.

“Zecora? What are you doing here? Where’s Mahara? Or Fluttershy?” The unicorn paused, her silhouette leaning forward. “Is… is something wrong?”

“I should have expected she’d spread her curse… To be left alive was ultimately worse…” She struggled to restrain herself, visibly shaking out of a mixture of unrelenting thirst and the knowledge that each step she took brought her closer to tearing open Twilight’s throat. The glare of light behind the purple mare nearly blinded her.

“I don’t understand… What’s happening?” Zecora’s head and neck shuddred as she fought to keep herself from looking up. The battle was quickly lost. Twilight recoiled, eyes widening with shock. “Oh my gosh… Your eyes!”

“My soul has been defiled and stained. This monster is inside me now; run before it becomes unchained.”

“I… We can help you! Celestia is right outside! She must know how to fix this!” Twilight took a cautious step forward, into the darkened cottage. “Mahara had to have been lying! There has to be a way to reverse this!”

“Twilight, my friend… I am losing control…” Zecora felt a trail of drool slip over her lower lip. Every inch of her body cried out for blood in a singular, endless plea. Her vision began to cloud red, the unicorn replaced with a white hot, vaguely pony shaped glow. “Please…! Run…! Now is… no time… to be a foal!”

The world melted away to a red haze, leaving only a searing imprint of Twilight. The zebra groaned, whipping her head to the side as her jaw snapped open, strings of saliva stretching across her fangs as she dragged herself closer with decreasing resistance.

“Run… Twilight…”

She could sense the fear in the unicorn’s voice, even if her words were reduced to an unintelligible static. Twilight’s white glow shifted against the crimson sea, turning to run. Zecora let out a shrill cry, launching after her. She felt heavy as she passed through the doorway, the sudden wash of sunset nearly knocking the wind out of her. A larger gathering of glowing forms began to stir at the base of the hill. The thought of more blood sent a shiver of excitement down the zebra’s spine. She perceived shouting. Half of them took to the air, the largest among them standing its ground.

Somewhere, under the screaming desire for sustenance, she realized that she was chasing Twilight right to Celestia and her guards. Her jaw clenched against her desire to speak. Her words were nearly lost in the fog of lust filling her mind. Only two gargled syllables found the way to her lips.

“Kill…! Me…!”

As she charged the princess and her entourage, one of the guards swooped toward her, the cold steel of a sword clenched between his teeth. Though Zecora couldn’t understand Celestia’s words, something in the alicorn’s voice sounded hesitant. She crouched mid stride, propelling herself through the air, weaving around the blade as the guard slashed at her. Zecora felt the feathers of his left wing against one forehoof, cocking back the other. His muffled cry of pain rang through her ears as she splintered the bone, bending his wing back with a wet snap. The guard’s momentum carried, dragging the zebra along with him as he plowed into the grass. Her fangs sheered through his flesh, then his artery. Celestia cried out amidst the overwhelming static as the heat of his blood gushed against Zecora’s tongue and down her throat, inside and out. Her skin tingled as her coat soaked through, white stripes stained with gore. Her next plea escaped amid a groan of delight.

“Please…!”

Two guards rushed her from either side, shouting unintelligibly. Celestia was a statue amongst the others, evidently stunned. The zebra left her first victim on the grass, convulsing from shock as the life bled out of him. One slipped by, a line of pain etched across her cheek as she rolled a second too late. Zecora hissed as her blood percolated in the wound, red burned bubbling black as it rolled down the side of her face. The blade which the fallen guard had carried bore an insignia of the sun. It burned her tongue and lips as she clasped it between her teeth. She met the next charge halfway, metal clashing against metal, grinding as she tried to swing her hind legs toward the pegasus’s underside. His silhouette pulsed as he pumped his wings backwards, skimming her flank with the shimmering razors spread throughout his feathers. The stallion whinneyed as her rear hooves made contact with his belly.

There is nothing left of me in this shell… End this and free me from this hell…

Zecora jerked forward, knocking the sword from his teeth, twisting her neck back to drive her stolen blade through the underside of his jaw, leaving it jutting just below his cheek bone. Her forelegs intertwined, riding his body to the ground as she tore him open, feeding ravenously. Her chin dripped with crimson droplets, canvassed from her face to her breast. She felt a magical embrace around her body, attempting to hold her in place. She didn’t have to look to know that the glow was Celestia’s. She didn’t have to look to know that the other guard had closed in behind her, either. She could hear him. Smell him. Feel him. The zebra twisted, sharpened steel hovering hair lengths from her flesh. The pegasus drifted a few fatal inches after his failed strike, but before she could reach for him, he began to drift away. Around the searing white silhouette of his body, a radiant glow, which he struggled against.

The world rolled under Zecora’s hooves as she floated away from the ground. More shouting, this time in Twilight’s voice, miles away. The guards had circled defensively around Twilight and the princess, melding into a single fluorescent figure. Those not tasked with protection circled the zebra, watching her closely as the princess held her in the air. She could feel her faculties slowly returning as fresh blood coursed through her, the screaming in her mind slowly dying down. Her body feebly continued to resist the will to surrender, gnashing impulsively, even though the guards were out of reach. Color slowly pooled under her eyelids as the red haze subsided. The static thinned out until she could make out distinct words.

As the sun dipped below the tree line, it became easier for Zecora to see. She was completely surrounded, but the guards made no further effort to attack. “Why do you all hesitate?!” Knowing that in less than a minute, she had murdered two ponies, the return of her vision brought only a gruesome reminder of what she had done. “Kill me now before it’s too late!”

Celestia boldly stepped out from her circle of guards. Zecora expected the princess to attack, but instead, her gaze slowly passed over the pegsus lying dead on the grass, focusing on the zebra’s first victim moments later. The striped mare could hear the weakened, strained throbbing of his heart, slowing with every pulse. Celestia’s eyes widened, and she moved swiftly to his side as he clutched a glistening red hoof to his torn throat.

His voice was less that a whisper, but in her altered state, the zebra could hear his dying words clearly. She wanted nothing more than to trade her life for his as he forced out his words. “W-wasn’t... strong... enough… so sorry...”

Celestia smiled, giving a single, subtle shake of her head. Even at a distance, the princess radiated with compassion. She knelt down, putting her face to his. “Kick-Off,” Celestia said softly. “You and Stormy Skies... You have stood up to a threat unlike any seen in the lifetime of anypony, save myself. You fought bravely, braver than anypony could be expected to fight in the face of such terror. In all my years to come, I shall never forget either of you.” Celestia slowly leaned forward to plant a kiss atop Kick-Off’s forelock. “You have performed your duty admirably, and I thank you for your service.” The alicorn lifted her head gracefully, still looking into his eyes, her gaze unwavering. “You’ve earned your rest.”

Zecora heard his desperate heart grow calm. “Thank... you... my...” The last word died with him, becoming a rustle in his throat as his heart finally went still.

Celestia closed her eyes, took several slow deep breaths. Though her eyes glistened as she opened them again, it was all the time she could allow herself to mourn. She stood up, a glow from her magic forming on the hilt of her sword as she unsheathed it. With long strides, she stepped past the guards circling the zebra. “Have you chosen to betray your kind, Zecora?” Celestia continued forward, the enormous broadsword poised in her field of levitation. “Or is this the result of treachery?”

“This was not a choice I willingly made... But for my weakness, I know a price must be paid.” The fight was becoming easier as her body soaked up the blood. With strain, she lowered her head, bowing to the princess as she hovered above the ground, exposing the back of her neck. “Destroy me before I can do further harm… The rage has subsided… I am disarmed…”

An eternity passed as Zecora awaited her end, staring down at the grass. Instead of metal rending her flesh, she felt ropes. Her first thought was a noose, but looking up, she realized they had bound her by the neck, four guards pulling tightly to keep her in place as her weight settled back on her hooves.

“There is indeed a toll to be levied,” The princess took another step forward, her presence nearly sucking the life out of Zecora, completely sapping her strength “but your life is not the payment I desire. The threat we face is, as I’m sure you’re quite aware, one that will not be easily quelled. If you truly desire that I take your life… While I am not exactly eager to spill innocent blood, I will grant your request so that you may die with honor and dignity. I ask you however; will you postpone your death wish and aid us in bringing the mare responsible to justice?”

Zecora snorted, barely able to meet princess’s gaze. She could feel her skin crawling, trying to escape however it could. Her blood churned sluggishly, trying to avoid the capillaries nearest to Celestia. Every nerve in her body told her to run, but she resisted. The alicorn smiled, not out of spite, but in a sad, compassionate way as she craned her neck down to reach eye level with the zebra. Slowly, the striped mare nodded. Celestia extended her foreleg and rested her hoof gently on Zecora’s shoulder. It burned.

“You have my undying gratitude. I am certain that you will be quite useful to-”

Where Celsetia’s hoof touched Zecora, her flesh began to smolder.

\/ /\ /\ \/

Chapter 7 - Evasive Action

Chapter Seven: Evasive Action

\/ /\ /\ \/

Pinkie Pie sat in awe as she tried to reflect on everything she had just witnessed.

So Fluttershy is like Mahara now? Does that mean she’ll get all sizzly if she gets a scrape out in the sun?! Nuh-uh! I won’t let that happen! I’ll make sure you’re safe wherever you go, Fluttershy! And so will she! Yeah! That’s… Huh… Why am I mad all the sudden about that? Mahara is a really cool friend! And she’s Fluttershy’s super best-I’m-gonna-give-you-tongue… There it is again… Come on Pinkie, what’s the deal here?! You just watched Mahara totally come back to life and Fluttershy is really really happy about that! Well, she is now anyway. She hasn’t gotten that mad in a while. It’s like she’s on one of those emotional rollercoasters. Am I on one too? All the sudden, every time I think about the two of them together I get all… cranky pie… I’m sure it’s nothing. Wait, what are they saying down there?

Fluttershy swayed for several moments as she held eye contact with Mahara, her eyelids weighing heavily as her ears splayed. Her lips moved, but she made no sound. The red mare was whispering something, but Pinkie Pie couldn’t quite understand the hushed fragments of words from the top of the stairs. In the darkness of the cottage, however, she could easily see the ghostly flicker of Mahara’s eyes. The glowing intensity was so great that green flames seemed to dance against her face. And then, just like that, Fluttershy tipped onto her side, her head flopping against a pillow. Mahara stayed at her side, running a hoof along the side of her neck, pausing when she brushed the fresh scabs in her coat. Pinkie was about to leave when the red mare turned her head, looking straight at her from the living room.

Oh jeeze she spotted me! Gotta get outta here! I… What the… I can’t move!

The pink earth pony was frozen to the spot; a half formed sound catching in her throat, but failing to produce any actual words. As her neck began to itch, she felt a fluttering in her chest. Mahara stood slowly, holding Pinkie’s gaze, crossing the room to the staircase. Angel spotted Pinkie moments later, tilting his head at her as the red mare ascended. Mahara stopped just shy of the landing, crouching against the steps, eyes level with the blue eyed mare.

“It’s rude to enter without permission, you know.” Mahara propped her head up with her forehooves, smiling. “But, I know that you’re only here because you care about Fluttershy, so I will allow it. I’m guessing you saw everything that just transpired down there, and you have questions. Is that a fair assumption?”

Pinkie nodded rapidly, the curls of her mane bobbing with the motion. The fact that her mane was curly or bobbing at all took her by surprise. She had been so excited to see Mahara alive and Fluttershy happy that she completely failed to notice the retuning buoyancy of her hair. The red mare’s voice brought her back to attention.

“Well, ask away, I suppose.”

Mahara raised a brow as the pink mare took a deep breath. “That was so cool when you killed the hydra how did you even do that and I mean I was really sad when you didn’t get up after that but now you’re totally fine,” Mahara’s pupils shrank as she leaned away from the bubbling mare, “and I’m so glad to see you again because Fluttershy has been so happy since meeting you but she’s going to need to drink blood now and I don’t know how Twilight or anypony else is going to feel about that and I’m a little worried now I guess!”

The red mare blinked, the fiery glow of her eyes completely dissipating. “Okay… Well, as long as I keep a close watch over Fluttershy and walk her through the adjustments, she should be fine. Twilight and the others might be an issue, though… How do you feel about all this?”

“She’s still gonna be Fluttershy, right?” Mahara nodded briefly, and Pinkie donned a wide grin. “So what if she needs to bite a few ponies every now and then?! Heck, I’ll let her bite me all she wants!”

“Well I’m very relieved to hear-”

“What was that part about not sleeping, though? You really don’t sleep? Like, ever? And neither will she?”

Mahara glanced to the side, her brow knitting. “Unfortunately, no. Once her transformation is-”

“Unfortunately?! Do you know how cool that is?!” Mahara receeded again, watching Pinkie with visible concern. “Think about it! Parties that never, ever have to end because nopony gets tired! All the baking I can get done! All the pranks I can plan!”

The red mare shook her head, frowning. “This really isn’t something that should be taken lightly, Pinkie. The consequences of this sort of life outweigh the-”

“Maybe the Princess and Twilight and Zecora are all mean and sour toward you, but I’m an Element bearer! So is Fluttershy! We’re practically her right hoof mares! Well, two of them anyway! I bet if we have a talk with them then we can get everything straightened out and you and Fluttershy won’t have to worry about a thing!”

Mahara sighed, resting her face in a forehoof. “Pinkie… The very last thing I want you to do is tell Celestia or Twilight that you’re willing to help us. It won’t end well for you, regardless of your status as a hero.” She turned her gaze upward again. “Please, trust me, it’s for your own good.”

“Fiiiine. I can keep a secret.” Pinkie got to her hooves as Angel scurried passed her. The sound of a shutting window rang out from behind. “So what are ya gonna do now? Want me to hang out here until it’s time for her to drink?”

“That would be very convenient, actually. I wanted to ask you as soon as you arrived but…” The red mare glanced to Fluttershy as she turned back down the stairs. “I needed to give her my full attention at the time.”

Pinkie followed, again passed by Angel as he slid down the railing. Mahara settled on a pillow behind Fluttershy, watching in silence as the pegasus squirmed for a few moments. Pinkie rested on the rug, trying her hardest to stay quiet as she admired Fluttershy’s tranquil form.

“So you put her in a trance?” she whispered at last.

“More or less.” Mahara stroked the pegasus’s mane, brushing a few stray pink locks from her face. Pinkie felt her stomach tie into a knot as she watched, but she stayed quiet. “She was having a hard time sleeping, so she agreed that it would be a good idea if I helped her along.”

Nodding quietly, the pink mare went back to silent observation. Mahara did not, however.

“I’ve been meaning to ask you… I know that all of you care for her, but the way you look after Fluttershy… This isn’t just because Twilight asked a favor of you, is it?”

At the end of the red mare’s inquiry, her ears perked and swiveled. She quickly got to her hooves, looking around frantically for something that wasn’t there. Pinkie giggled at the display, but found herself with a maw full of red furred forehoof when she tried to give her answer. Mahara shook her head, a tendril hovering to her pursed lips.

“Shhhh...”

Why is she telling me to shhhh? Fluttershy is in a trance, she’s not exactly going to wake up if I make a sound. Oh, but maybe that’s not why! Maybe she hears something! Oh, she’s moving now. Where is she going?

The red mare skittered across the floor like an insect, disappearing into the kitchen. Pinkie leaned to the side in time to watch Mahara peer through a window, ducking down again and just as quickly crawling back into the living room. She blinked as the red mare kept crawling right to her, nearly knocking her over as Mahara put her muzzle to Pinkie’s ear.

“We have to leave, right now. At the very least, I need to get Fluttershy somewhere safe.” Wide eyed, Mahara glanced over her shoulder at the kitchen again. Her whispering tickled, but Pinkie remained attentive. “Someone’s coming, and if it’s who I think it is… I hate to ask this of you, but can you stay behind and try to distract them? If it gets out of hoof, don’t hesitate to run. Your safety comes first.”

Out of the corner of her eye, Pinkie could see Angel standing in the space between them, one long ear turned up toward the whispered conversation. Mahara looked down at him and smiled, giving a nod. “Angel has volunteered his assistance as well. Remember, if things take a turn for the worst, the two of you are to flee.”

Pinkie nodded. She glanced down at Angel as he did the same. Without anything further, Mahara coiled the sleeping pegasus in her noodle like appendages and held Fluttershy tightly against her back, then galloped toward and leaped out of the broken window without making a sound. Pinkie rushed to the windowsill just in time to watch Mahara jump into the stream near the cottage, completely submerging herself, only keeping Fluttershy’s muzzle above the water. The urge to giggle was too much for Pinkie to contain.

No sooner had her brief giggle fit concluded, however, she began to feel nervous excitement, manifesting in a sensation like butterflies in her breast. The side of her neck began to itch.

Was that my Pinkie sense just now? A fluttery chest and an itchy neck? Last time I got itchy neck, Mahara was involved. Mahara just went for a swim with Fluttershy, though, and... she said somepony was coming?

The combo struck her again, filling her with a sense of dread. The pink mare glanced down as she felt a paw against her hind leg. When she turned, she found herself faced with an empty room. Angel pointed frantically in front of her.

For a moment, Pinkie assumed that Angel was pointing to Mahara’s journal, which lay on the rug not far from where they stood, but he seemed to be pointing higher than that.

“At what do you laugh, Pinkie Pie?”

Zecora’s voice emanated from empty space, sounding less than a few noses away, and Pinkie felt her blood run cold. The air seemed to ripple, drawing back to reveal a striped muzzle. The zebra’s eyes glowed a faint turquoise as they emerged from nothing; her pupils were just beginning to take the form of slits.

“On your humor I can always rely.”

Oh my gosh! Mahara must have been talking about Zecora! When did she turn into one of those things, though?! How is she even doing what she’s doing right now?! Jeeze that’s creepy! She asked you a question… Uh… Come on Pinkie, think! What’s funny about a broken window? Oh!

“It panes me to say this, but I think she’s going to need someone to fix that! Get it? Panes?”

Zecora tilted her head, looking to the window, and then back to the pink mare who was smiling as broadly as she could. “Not as funny as what I had in mind, but for humoring me, you are still kind.”

“Zecora, have you looked in a mirror lately?” Pinkie lowered her head a bit, gazing up into the soft glow. “I don’t really know how to say this, but-”

“I am painfully aware of my fate, dear friend.” The zebra looked away, her head bobbing in the air as she passed into the darker side of the room. “She has cursed me, there’s no need to pretend.”

“Are you thirsty? I can help you with that, you know!” Pinkie bounced into the shadows, following the swaying glow of her eyes. “I’m chock full of blood and I’m barely using it!”

“No Pinkie, this is not your burden to bear.” Pinkie felt a hoof against her breast, pushing her back. Zecora vanished once again as a soft rustling drifted to the pink mare’s ears. This time, the zebra’s entire body came into view, a cloak of some sort hanging from her teeth, falling into a heap on the floor. “Leave this place before my restraint starts to tear.”

“What are you gonna do then?” Angel pulled on her foreleg, pointing to the door when she glanced down at him. She nodded, slowly backing away. “Why did you come here?”

“I assume you came here in search of Fluttershy?” Pinkie nodded rapidly. “I came here to destroy, that is no lie.” The zebra leaned against a wall, looking down at the floor. “My intent was to take Mahara to the grave with me, and Fluttershy too, if necessary… So here I shall wait until they return. There’s no hope for me now, in hell I shall burn.”

Jeeze… Fluttershy handled this a lot less dramatically… Zecora isn’t the joking type, though… I better see if I can catch up to Mahara. Maybe she can help! Oh but… Mahara ran away because of Zecora… And Zecora came here to… Oh no. What am I gonna do?!

“Zecora, you don’t have to-”

The zebra shook her head, eyes narrowing.

"Okay, look! I don't want you to do anything coo-coo-crazy so just sit tight. I've got to go, but I can't say where because I don't actually know where I’m going, and I’ve got to talk to someone who I do know who to talk to but I can't tell you because I promised not to say, so stay here while I go somewhere and talk to someone. Can you do that?"

“There is nothing left for me to say.” Zecora’s glowing stare was cold and vacant. Pinkie wasn’t even sure that the zebra was looking at her anymore. “Leave me now and remember this day.”

Saddened, Pinkie Pie turned from the zebra and stepped out into the late afternoon sun. Angel shut the door behind her and slowly shook his head. The pink mare glanced to the stream, but there was no sign of either pony in the water.

Great… No Mahara, no Fluttershy, but plenty of creepy crazy Zecora in the cottage behind me… If I can find Mahara... She’s gotta know what to do. Alright Pinkie sense, don’t fail me now!

With a stoic expression, she nodded down at Angel, and together they started down the road to Ponyville.

\/ /\ /\ \/

So this is it, then. She doesn’t feel the same way. I blew it.

Rainbow Dash sat in her bedroom, staring out her window. The rest of the weather team had begun the first snow of winter without her. Most of it was imported from Cloudsdale, but she spotted several clearly custom designs in the blanket of drifting white.

And she didn’t care.

The other pegasi could handle it without her. She remembered a time when bringing in the first snow of the season was a joyful activity, one of the few jobs that she was actually eager to perform, but with her mood so bitter, she decided it would be better to just use a sick day.

Her thoughts drifted briefly to Fluttershy. The cyan pegasus was glad that she hadn’t taken rejection so hard as to end up like her friend; she couldn’t really see the point of locking herself in her home and becoming reclusive. However, the pain she felt was certainly affecting her in other ways. Since the unintended confrontation with Applejack, she had been visiting Fluttershy less and less. Dash was at a loss as far as offering support.

What would I say? Oh, your first coltfriend ever cheated on you and dumped you when you confronted him. Well, the first pony I ever tried to share my feelings with told me to take a hike because she didn’t swing that way. I can’t even get my own problems sorted out, how can possibly I help you?

The pegasus fell back against her bed, covering her eyes with her hooves. They were still sore from crying, but the tears had become less about sadness and more about spite. After bearing her heart and soul to the mare she had come to so deeply admire, she received nothing but confusion and aggression. She had seen Applejack since that day, but had nothing to say to her.

As her hooves slid away, her eyes fell upon a poster of Spitfire on her ceiling. Where she could once fantasize for hours about the leader of the Wonderbolts, now the sight only made her feel hollow.

I’m never going to have a chance with Spitfire. And really, I’m okay with that. What do I even have in common with her? She’s famous, and wealthy, and I’m just somepony that can do a neat trick. Applejack, though… she’s… Why did I think that was a good idea? Why didn’t I just keep my mouth shut? She probably hates me now. She probably thinks I was only friends with her because I had a crush on her! Ugh, I’m so stupid!

Dash rolled over, burying her face in a pillow made of clouds. She knew it wasn’t the end of the world. She knew there were plenty of other mares out there. The problem was that none of them were Applejack. The pillow suddenly dissolved, her bed vanishing from under her, replaced with the puffy outline of her front door. She stood in her living room, slowly turning the handle after enduring five minutes of knocking.

The blond mare stood in the doorway, her expression stern, and yet concerned. Dash felt faint at the sight of her, the surprise of seeing her multiplied by the fact that she was standing on the clouds themselves.

“How did you get up-“

“Twilight’s balloon.” The dirigible in question hovered by the edge of the cloud.

“How are you standing on-“

“Twilight’s magic.” Still dumbfounded, Dash nodded, trying to organize her thoughts.

In the process of organizing, she was struck with an odd sensation, as though the words had been spoken before, even though she couldn’t remember where or when.

“Why are…” She paused, expecting Applejack to interrupt again, but the orange mare stayed silent. As the shock wore off, a tremble ran through her. She narrowed her eyes, speaking low and slowly. “Why are you here, Applejack?”

“Ta be totally honest with ya, Ah ain’t perfectly sure mahself… Now, before ya go gettin’ all emotional on me, jus’… just hear me out…” She took a deep breath, looking down and crossing her forelegs. “You’ve been avoidin’ me, an’ Ah don’t blame ya fer that, but… Dash, Ah owe ya an apology. Ah baited ya inta tellin’ me somethin’ I weren’t ready nor expectin’ ta hear. An’ tha way Ah reacted weren’t nowhere near appropriate, neither. Ah’m right sorry ‘bout… Well, ‘bout tha whole thing. Ah made a real ass a’ myself, an… an Ah guess Ah’m here cause Ah don’t wantcha ta hate me fer it…”

They stood in silence, a few snowflakes curling in on the wind. They clung to Applejack’s mane and coat like tiny white flowers.

“Ah know everypony’s real busy tryin’ ta get Fluttershy ta come to her senses, but… Well, Ah know this is mah fault, an’ it ain’t tha same withoutcha… So, Ah’m sorry…”

“You’re sorry?”

“Ah’m sorry.”

Another few uncomfortable minutes passed before the pegasus shifted her weight and managed a reply.

“Why? Why did you flip out on me like that?” She glared, snorting and stomping. “I told you how I really felt and you just spat in my face! How could you do that to me?!”

“Dash, Ah…” The earth pony looked down at her hooves. “It ain’t like Ah didn’t know that some mares like other mares, an’ that don’t bother me, neither. Some folks jus’ have different tastes, Ah guess… It’s jus’… Ya surprised me, Dash! Ah never figured ya felt that way ‘bout me! Lookin’ back now, Ah can kinda see it more clearly, but at tha time, it was a total shock.” She closed her eyes. “Ah… Ah didn’t know how to react. Ah started thinkin’ crazy, like maybe our friendship weren’t real or somethin’… Like you were jus’ usin’ me ta ride me side saddle, an Ah’m sorry fer that… Now Ah know it’s tha complete opposite…”

Applejack stepped forward, into the warmth of Rainbow Dash’s home. The snow in her mane and coat melted to glistening droplets. The cyan pegasus stood there, jaw agape, as she tried to grapple with the rush of emotions that Applejack’s apology carried. She was still furious, but she could feel her defenses weakening. After another minute of silence, Rainbow Dash found the words she was looking for.

“Yeah?” Dash snorted, looking away in an attempt to stay indifferent. “Is that the only reason you came up here? To apologize and explain yourself?”

Applejack milled around awkwardly, stepping from hoof to hoof as though walking in place.

“Well… No… It ain’t tha only reason…” A subtle blush lit up the orange mare’s cheeks. “Ah… Ah been doin’ a whole lotta thinkin’ an talkin’ ta a few folks… Private like, mind you, so don’t getcher tail in a knot. Ah ain’t told none a’ our friends ‘bout whatcha told me. Anyway… Ah been talkin’ an… tha one thing Ah learned… what was most common with tha folks Ah talked with… Havin’ someone special… Bein’ in love… ‘s like havin’ a best friend, ‘cept ‘s more than that... Ah understand that now.”

Rainbow Dash nodded slowly, trying to suppress the fluttering in her heart as Applejack took another step forward, bashfully looking up at the cyan pegasus. The sudden development was almost too much for her to bear. It was getting harder and harder to stay angry at the orange mare, but at the same time, she was relieved by that.

“What Ah’ Ah was tryin’ ta say is… If that’s whatcha want, if ya really trust me that much that ya want our friendship to go a step further…” Her blush had become almost radiant. She slid her forehoof in a slow circle on the floor, ears splaying. “Ah've been thinkin' about you, ya know, tryin' to think about ya... like that.. like as more'n a friend... Ah… Ah ain’t makin’ no promises, understand? This ain’t somethin’ Ah’ve done before, an if it were anypony other than you, Ah wouldn’t give it any thought… but… fer you, Dash… If ya still wanna be with me… If ya wanna forgive me fer bein’ stupid…”

“Applejack… I…” Rainbow felt her lower lip tremble, the dam holding back her emotions finally crumbling. “Yes!” Applejack spread her forelegs, smiling as Dash lunged forward, embracing one another as the pegasus shuddered, fighting back the tears. “And I’m sorry too! I just needed to tell you and I… I didn’t mean to…” She sniffled, her eyes growing damp as she lost that fight.

“Ya don’t gotta apologize fer nothin’, Dash.” She could feel Applejack’s hooves against her back, rubbing in slow, gentle circles, holding her tightly. “Don’t gotta apologize fer nothin’ at all. Ah’m jus’ glad ta have ya back.”

She buried her face in the side of Applejack’s neck, slowly calming, holding onto the earth pony as though her life depended on it. When she finally looked up, her wall melted away, replaced with the evening sky. The sun slowly dipped over the horizon, painting the clouds a myriad of beautiful colors. They were huddled together under a blanket on the Apple family’s front porch. Their breath formed puffy clouds in the air as it curled away from them.

Big Macintosh had taken the news fairly well, even though he didn’t fully understand. Applejack had requested that he keep it to himself, which he agreed to, on the condition that Rainbow help out around the farm, especially during harvest.

“Ah mean, it ain’t a huge deal, Ah guess, but Ah just don’t want nopony askin’ all kinds a’ questions, ya know?”

“No, I totally get it. I don’t really want anypony finding out either. But… you’re not… ashamed, are you?” The cyan mare felt a squeeze, followed by a gentle nuzzle between her ears.

“Naw… You ain’t nothin’ ta be ashamed of. Ah… Ah guess Ah jus’ ain’t ready ta tell anypony. Gimmie’ time ta get used ta this.”

“Is this that different from dating a stallion?”

“In little ways, yes, but that don’t mean Ah love ya any less. Ah jus’ wanna take it nice ‘an slow.”

The earth pony snickered a bit. Dash looked back at her out of the corner of her eye. “Okay, ya gotta understand… ‘fore this, mah family would try an’ set me up with other stallions. They were nice an’ all, usually, but Ah guess you could say Ah jus’ wasn’t interested. ‘s one thing ta get ta know somepony over time an’ come ta realize ya got feelin’s fer ‘em, but to jus’ have a stallion plopped down for me ta suddenly date… It rarely lasted. Ah think tha longest one lasted fer a month. You an’ me have already passed that, Ah think.”

“Yeah, just about.” Dash heaved a happy sigh, leaning back against Applejack, feeling her forehooves gently rub over her sides.

“How come ya… What made ya fall fer me, Dash?”

Rainbow laughed a little, smiling back at Applejack. “Well uh... You’re really pretty, for starters…”

“Aw, yer jus’ sayin that...”

“No, really! You’re... you’re a fox!”

Applejack cocked a brow. “Ah’m a what now? What the hay does that mean?”

The pegasus froze up for a moment, “I... don’t actually... Okay let’s back up. What I mean is, I always thought that you were attractive, but I never really... I never really thought of you as a mare I wanted to be with when we first met. I guess I just kinda took it for granted; grass grows, the sun shines, and Applejack’s gorgeous.”

“Well... Ah never really thought a’ mahself as a looker, ta tell tha truth... That ain’t all, is it?”

“It’s totally not just your looks. You don’t have your head in the clouds... You don’t walk away from a challenge... You put everything you’ve got into you your work… You’re a beautiful pony, inside and out. Back before that Iron Pony competition, I just looked at you like... Well, like competition. After that, though… That’s when I started to admire you.”

She felt the orange mare nod, her hooves slowing, just cradling now. Dash rested her forehooves on top of them, smiling.

“And... you’re some things that I’m just not. I could never spend as much time working as you do. I’d go crazy. Your dedication, and your... your spirit… You’re just really... really awesome. Inspiring, even. So, once I started to feel this way… I just watched, and I waited, hoping for a sign, that maybe you’d make the first move… I was going to keep waiting that day, in the leaves, but… Well…”

“Ah’m glad ya told me. If Ah could go back, Ah’d drag it outta you all over again.” Applejack snickered. “Not so much yellin’ though.”

Rainbow Dash turned back toward the sunset, the glowing rim of the sun descending behind the mountains. She sat in silence for some time, enjoying the warmth and feel of the earth pony behind her, until a thought occurred.

“I don’t think I ever said thank you, you know.”

Applejack leaned forward. “Thank you fer what, sugarcube?”

“For giving me a chance.”

“Ya don’t gotta thank me. ‘s one a’ tha best decisions Ah’ve ever made. An really, ah should be thankin’ you…”

The pegasus turned over, her muzzle meeting the side of Applejack’s neck, planting a gentle kiss. The orange mare tilted her head to the side, her eyes half closed as their gazes met. Dash could feel her heart pounding excitedly as Applejack closed her eyes and pursed her lips. The pegasus did the same. She could hardly catch her breath. The room was unbearably hot. Every inch of her body felt sticky. She stared up at the ceiling, squirming in the afterglow of what was likely one of the most blissful experiences of her life.

Applejack gave a happy little gasp beside her, laughing to herself as she held a forehoof to her orange furred breast. Dash glanced to the window, noting all the condensation that had gathered on the glass. Winter Wrap-Up was scheduled in less than five hours, and neither of them had been doing any sleeping.

“So what do you think of being a filly-fooler, by the way?” Dash grinned, still panting softly, gently nudging the orange mare with her knee. “Not so bad after all, right?”

“Ah never said Ah was expectin’ anythin’ bad!” The earth pony rolled over, smiling. “Ya gotta slow down a little fer me. Ah ain’t used ta this, ya know.”

“Slow down? Maybe we haven’t met. My name is Rainbow Dash!”

The orange mare snickered, shaking her head. “Ah hate ta break this to ya, Dashie, but speed ain’t everythin’!”

Something warm spread across the bed by her hind legs. Confused, the pegasus glanced down. Her eyes went wide with horror; Applejack was missing her left leg from the hock down. Her blood was spattering over the sheets. She seemed completely oblivious to her injury, smiling warmly at Dash.

“I… I wasn’t fast enough though…”

The orange mare’s pupils narrowed, her body trembling.

“No,” Applejack whispered, “you weren’t.”

With a gasp, Rainbow Dash bolted upright. Applejack’s foreleg slid limply off of her and onto the sheets. She squirmed in her sleep, mumbled something. A dull beeping and a powder blue curtain reminded her that they were still in the clinic. Slouching forward, the pegasus put a hoof to her forehead and took a deep breath. Her heartbeat steadied. Her weary eyes focused on a clock. It was long past noon, approaching the evening. Applejack’s crippling injury was no less real than it had been when she received it.

The bandages had been changed, and Redheart had done everything in her power to improve the farmer’s condition, but there was nothing she could do to replace or mend a mutilated leg.

Dash sat there for what felt like an eternity, taking in the pristine bandages wrapping the stump of Applejack’s left hock. Part of her wanted to believe that she was still having a nightmare. The hydra had never attacked, and not a single pony had been killed or injured. She would wake up in Applejack’s embrace, and everything would be fine. The pegasus swallowed a sob, not wanting to wake her injured lover.

I just… I wish there were something I could do… Some way to take it back… You don’t deserve this. She traced Applejack’s contour from her wounded leg to her face, inching closer to the sleeping earth pony as she lay beside her. But I know you would be strong for me, so I’m going to do the same for you. We’re going to get through this. I’m going to be here for you, and I’m never going to leave your side.

\/ /\ /\ \/

“Is that a new friend for Gummy?”

“Nope! I’m looking after him for Fluttershy, I guess!” Pinkie Pie looked down at Angel, and the rabbit offered a shrug. “I’m sure he’ll get along with Gummy just fine, though. I was looking for a friend of mine, but I can’t find her anywhere… Did anything happen while I was out?”

“Well, we’re all still a little shaken up, but it’s been very quiet otherwise. Actually, that’s not entirely true. Princess Celestia and a whole bunch of her guards arrived in town just before you came home, and that caused quite a fuss. They headed off toward the Everfree Forest, and that was the last I heard of them. I think your friend Ms. Sparkle was with them.”

Mrs. Cake paused, looking almost pained. “Also… Carrot and I just found out about Davenport not too long ago. He’s taking it very hard, so try not to upset him.” She looked down at the counter, taking a deep breath, releasing it as a quiet sigh.

The cyan mare brightened up as she made eye contact again. “Oh, and somepony stopped by not too long ago. I told her we were closed, but she said she was looking for you, so I said she could wait here. I forget what she said her name was…” Mrs. Cake glanced into Sugarcube Corner’s dining area, nodding to herself. “Anyway, she’s in there.”

“Oh! That’s great! Thank you! I’ll bring her upstairs right away.” Pinkie returned Mrs. Cake’s smile before she bounced into the other room.

Angel followed a short distance behind her, looking around curiously all the while.

Well this turned out alright, then! If there’s anypony that can help Zecora more than Mahara, it’s probably Princess Celestia and Twilight! I can’t wait to tell Mahara the good news! Wait… That’s not Mahara. That’s…

A white unicorn with shocks of blue hair hunched over a table, tapping out a rhythm on the surface with a forehoof. She nodded in time with the rhythm, seemingly oblivious to the approaching pony.

Oh… Oh well. I could use a friend right now, and I did invite her here, so I may as well be a good host while I’m waiting for Mahara to turn up! That, and this is just too perfect to pass up! Okay, little miss DJ, I’m gonna get you this time! I’m not the queen of pranks for nothing! I’m the queen of pranks because I’m the best prankster around!

Pinkie grinned, tip-hoofing across the room. Standing just behind the unicorn, she reared up, taking a deep, silent breath.

“You do know that my career pretty much revolves around my ability to hear, right?” Vinyl Scratch looked back at Pinkie, and even with the goggles obscuring her eyes, her little smile made the smugness of her expression obvious. “Gotta try harder than that, kiddo.”

Pinkie exhaled, dropping back to the floor like a deflating balloon. Frustration and humility mixed as she playfully kicked the unicorn’s chair. “You’re so hard to sneak up on! Oh well. Sorry I’m late. I had to keep a promise I made to a friend.” The earth pony paused. “On top of already being late because of that big dumb hydra!”

“Yeah, that was pretty crazy… Does that kind of thing happen often around here?” Scratch tilted her chair back, swiveling around to face Pinkie. “I mean, I’m not exactly a stranger to these parts but I’ve never seen anything like that happen while I’m in the area.”

“Well there was this one time when a cute little baby Ursa Minor lumbered into town, but that ended a lot less violently…” The pink mare frowned, memories of the battle and subsequent casualties still fresh in her mind. “I don’t think Ponyville has ever seen anything like this before. At least not while I’ve been living here. Thanks for helping out, by the way. I’m not sure Twilight could have handled that on her own.”

“Hey, I was just arriving with my gear and a box full of records when I saw that thing swaggering around a few blocks away.” Scratch brushed some of her mane out of her face and shrugged. “What kind of friend would I be if I got back in the carriage and just high tailed it back to Manehattan?” Her lips pursed as she held up a hoof, shaking it a bit. “What you did with those ice skates, though? Totally sick! You fuckin’ rock!”

Pinkie snickered, glancing back toward the counter and kitchen. “Thanks! We should probably head upstairs though. The Cakes have started a swear jar and I don’t want to toss any more bits into it.”

Vinyl nodded, sliding out of her chair and levitating an enormous duffle bag that protruded at odd angles in several spots. Pinkie smiled down at Angel, and then at Scratch, leading the way through the bakery and up the stairs to her room. The pink mare had amassed every instrument she could find at Vinyl’s request, assembling them into one gigantic contraption. Hundreds of egg cartons clung to the walls by coils of tape. Gummy protruded from the mouth of a tuba, staring off into space. Angel eyed him cautiously, staying close to Pinkie Pie.

The pink mare looked back at Vinyl as a muffled clunk signaled the landing of her bag. “Yeah, just set up wherever you think you’ll get the best quality. I’ve gotta remember how to climb into this thing!”

Gummy tumbled out of the tuba, bouncing across a few bongos and landing in front of Angel. The rabbit bristled, darting toward and then hiding behind Vinyl, who looked up from her equipment bag in confusion.

“Aw, don’t be afraid! Gummy don’t got no teeth!” Pinkie grinned widely at the tiny alligator, to which the alligator responded by doing the same, displaying bright pink gums. “See?” Gummy snapped at her, his toothless maw clamping down harmlessly on her muzzle, eliciting a giggle from the pink mare.

Angel peered out from behind the unicorn, brow furrowed and frowning. “Yeah, I’m not sure if alligators are supposed to not have teeth.” Vinyl lifted a long black pole from the bag with her magic, screwing an enormous microphone onto the end. “Maybe you should get that checked out?”

A few loud crashes filled the room as Pinkie made several failed attempts to crawl through the maze of musical equipment, grunting under her breath. “I dunno! I- Oof! I asked Fluttershy to take a look at him once and she said he was in perfect health, even without his teeth!” The pink mare tripped with a twang of guitar strings, her muzzle nearly getting stuck in the mouth of a trombone. “She’s the animal expert around here, so that was good enough for me!”

“Hey, isn’t… Fluttershy is the pegasus with the pink mane, right?” Pinkie froze, glancing back at Scratch as best she could with her head between an array of trumpets. “How is she holding up?”

“She’s doing just fine!” Pinkie backed out of the musical labyrinth, putting a forehoof to her chin in thought.

I hope Fluttershy is fine, anyway… I mean, Mahara has gotta be taking good care of her, right? Mahara really cares about her. Course, when I was taking care of her, I never got her into all kinds of trouble! And… and how come she never looked at me like that? I took a whole month off from work to make sure she wasn’t alone! I mean, I’m not saying she’s a little miss ungrateful pants, but hey, I was there first! I just… Urghhh!

Pinkie pounded a drum with her forehoof, heaving a sigh afterwards.

Okay… Okay, calm down, Pinkie. You watched them give each other crazy wet tongueshakes and you didn’t think anything of it at the time, so why is it making you so angry now? Are you jealous because she got hot to trot for Mahara? That never bothered you before. But you didn’t realize how serious it was before, either… Oh, sorry, I was thinking about something. What did you ask me?

“I said, are you sure? Losing a friend has gotta be-”

“I’m sure! Two hundred and thirty six percent absolutely sure that she’s doing fine!” Her eyes casually scanned the plethroa of instruments, locating the chair at the very heart of the construction. “Hey Scratch, what do you know about tongue shakes?”

“What do I know about… What?”

“You know. Two poines put their mouths together and rub tongues. Is that a thing you like to do with friends?”

“Kissing? You’re talking about kissing, right?” Pinkie glanced back at Vinyl Scratch, finding the white horned mare’s jaw agape. “Pinkie, you’re not trying to tell me something, are you? I don’t know what you’ve heard, but you’re gonna have to get me really drunk if you want us to-”

“No no, that’s not…” The pink pony rubbed a hoof against her face. “I’m not talking about you and me! I mean, if you had a friend who would cook for you and sing with you and a friend who would give you sleep hugs and tongue shakes, which would you rather spend time with?”

“Okay, I think I understand. Love is a crazy thing, Pink. I know it sucks when it seems like everypony’s got that special somepony but you and that you can feel left out when a friend gets all lovey-dovey and leaves you on the sidelines. Nopony wants to be in that kinda deal, but they’re not doing it to hurt you.”

“Yeah, I know… Anyway, are ya all set up? I think I remember how to get in there now.”

A boom microphone hovered a few pony lengths from the contraption. There was a recording device and an audio adjuster at Vinyl’s disposal as well. The unicorn adjusted several dials with one hoof, holding the left speaker of her headphones to her ear with the other.

“Yep, ready on this end.” Vinyl set down her headphones, brow weighing heavily against her goggles. “You’re totally sure you don’t wanna talk about this some more, though? I mean, a lot of shit went down today, and it sounds like you’ve got a lot of stuff on your mind… I guess I’m trying to say that I’m here for you if you need me.”

“Scratch, I know you mean well…” Pinkie looked over her shoulder, trying to force a smile. “And I’m really happy that you wanna make me feel better, honest! But… It’s complicated. A lot more complicated than I’m comfortable talking about. I hope you understand. Right now…” Her smile became genuine. “I just wanna make some music!”

Still grinning, though much more wildly, the pink mare crouched low against the floor, and then sprang into the air, turning mid flight so that her hooves touched the ceiling. She rebounded, aiming for an opening in the very center of her device visible only from above. She landed gracefully in the chair, bowing to her guest through the network of pipes and pulleys. Speechless, Vinyl could only stomp her forehooves appreciatively.

“Hot damn!”

Pinkie bowed, grinning, feeling along the levers and switches with her hooves. “Are you ready?!”

“We’re recording! Hit it!”

For all of two minutes, Sugarcube Corner shook with the combined equivalent of an orchestral wind and procession section. At the tail end of those two minutes, Mr. Cake burst into Pinkie’s room, his shouting drowned out by a drum solo.

“Pinkamena Dianne Pie, what in Celestia’s name do you think you’re doing?!”

An oboe made a sad, deflated noise as the pink mare stopped blowing. “I’m…” she cringed a bit as she caught a glimpse of the furious expression on the stallion’s face, “making music?”

Mr. Cake stepped passed Vinyl, who seemed to be trying not to draw any attention to herself. “Today, of all days? Pinkie, what are you thinking?!”

“Oh!” She sat up straight, grinning nervously. “Well, see, Vinyl Scratch and I met a year ago and sometimes I help her make music by playing for her, so she can sample what I play and mix it into a song! She said she wanted me to build something like what I used to lure the parasprites with, so-”

“Ponyville is in mourning, Pinkie! We lost three good ponies today! Davenport was a close friend ours and your racket is really not helping me deal with this right now!”

Pinkie felt her curls starting to straighten out. “I… I’m sorry…”

“No, no it’s okay Pinkie…” Mr. Cake sighed, subtly shaking his head. “I’m sorry for yelling at you. I think it would be best if you took your friend somewhere else for a few hours, though.” He turned away, trotting back out of the room without shutting the door behind him.

“Welp…” The unicorn began to unplug her equipment, coiling and levitating wires back into her bag.

“Pretty much… Sorry about that, Scratch.” Pinkie slumped forward, accidentally causing a kick drum to pound. She clenched her jaw, eyes darting to the door.

“Nah, it’s alright. I should have said something. That, or I shouldn’t have set up my equipment.” The puffy black cylinder of her boom microphone floated into the duffel bag, followed by the sound of a zipper. “Well, my carriage isn’t going to swing around until sundown. Any bright ideas, or should I just wander around town until then?”

“Whaaaaat? What kind of hostess would I be if I let my friend wander around by herself?” Pinkie slowly and carefully climbed out of the music maker, stretching her legs once she was out in the open again. “How about I introduce you to a friend of mine? She’s great, you’ll love her! She’s actually the reason I have… Hey, where’s Gummy?” Paranoia wormed its way into the pink mare. “Where’s Angel?!”

“Chill. Look.” Vinyl pointed to the corner of the room.

Angel held several cards in his paws, sitting in front of an overturned basket. On the other side of the basket, Gummy had cards of his own, holding them with his mouth.

“Oh.” Pinkie donned a grin, bouncing in place. “Okay, well, let’s get going then!”

Scratch nodded, following the pink mare to the door until Pinkie froze mid air, floating back to the floor and tip-hooving down the stairs. Mrs. Cake nodded to them as they passed through the kitchen, busy with baking. The pink mare snatched a fresh muffin off the counter and kept moving. Once outside, and after closing the front door as gently as she could manage, Pinkie’s breast swelled as she inhaled.

Scratch swiveled around, ears perked. “Did you just gasp? What’s up?”

“Oh, nothing!” The pink mare flashed a cheery smile. “I was just holding my breath.”

“What, just now?” Pinkie could imagine the unicorn squinting behind her goggles. “Why?”

“No, when we were leaving, silly! I’m trying to practice not making any noise! You never know who might be listening.”

\/ /\ /\ \/

Seeing Zecora bound like an animal was painful for Twilight, but considering what she had just witnessed, part of her found it entirely appropriate. She wanted to be angry with the zebra. She wanted to hate the zebra, in fact, but above all else was an overwhelming sense of pity. Zecora’s expression was stoic, but the unicorn could see the redness of her eyes, and the damp trails in her fur were obvious when she could bear to look. Twilight had never seen Zecora cry before. She knew full well that the zebra must have shed tears in the past, but something about actually witnessing it was haunting. They made eye contact, holding each other’s gaze for several tense seconds. The unicorn pulled herself away, focusing on the orange sky.

Twilight knew that it wasn’t Zecora’s fault, but she needed somepony or something to pin the blame on. Mahara was a viable option, but as far as anyone knew, she was still dead. The uncertainty was infuriating. The fact that they had found Mahara’s journal lying out in the open when they searched Fluttershy’s cabin seemed proof enough that the red mare was dead.

After going through so much effort to get it from the library, she wouldn’t have just left it behind.

Beneath her mixed feelings about Zecora and her musings about the fate of Mahara, there was a sense of desperation, or even helplessness. She glanced back, past Zecora and the guards surrounding her to the pegasus at the back of the group. The cart that had been used to transport Mahara’s body was now being used to carry the two fallen guards. For the second time that day, she had watched lives come to an end, and she had been too stunned or slow to do anything to prevent it. It seemed that all she could do was watch, powerless in the face of death. Rage began to supersede all other emotions at the unfairness of it all.

Maybe the princess can help me put some of this in perspective.

“Princess Celestia?”

The regal alicorn turned toward Twilight, giving her full attention. “Yes, Twilight?”

“Princess, I’ve seen a lot of troubling things today… I… I think this is the first time I’ve ever seen ponies… I’ve never seen anypony… die… before today.” Celestia nodded slowly. “How do you deal with death? I’m sure that you must have a way of reassuring yourself that they died for a good cause, or something like that.”

The princess hesitated, starting and stopping several times, her lips moving without any actual words behind them. “Princess Celestia? Is something wrong?”

“Twilight… How do you see me? And be honest. I… I don’t really need a student right now.” She lowered her head, a sad smile on her muzzle. “Right now… I need a friend.”

“Princess?” Celestia nodded, her smile fading. Twilight had never seen the princess behave so timidly. She was almost too shocked to form a response. “I… Well, I look up to you. I trust you more than anypony else. I have deep admiration for your magical skill and your ability to lead. But…” Celestia tilted her head as the unicorn tried to find the appropriate phrasing. “I’ve been meaning to ask you… Why did you wait so long before intervening at Fluttershy’s cottage?”

“A lot of ponies, and probably a lot of other creatures, see me as a goddess. While it’s true that I wield immense power and my lifespan is very extensive…” Celestia paused, her gaze drifting low, not quite looking the unicorn in the eyes. “Twilight, at the end of the day, I’m just another pony. If Mahara had been the one to burst out of that cottage, I would have been prepared for that. Instead, we were confronted with Zecora. I… I just froze, Twilight. I panicked.”

The princess took a deep breath, closing her eyes. “To see that Zecora had fallen victim to the same magic that nearly destroyed my kingdom so long ago… It was absolutely horrifying. Mahara is just one mare, but her magic… It spreads, like an infection. I could see my kingdom in bloody chaos again, hunting my own subjects for fear of contamination…” Celestia shuddered violently, her brow knitting with intensity.

“Two ponies are dead because I didn’t act swiftly enough...” She opened her eyes again, glistening with the ghosts of tears. “And what if I had killed Zecora outright? Would that have made me any less guilty of letting an innocent life come to an end? Are the lives of two ponies worth the life of one zebra?”

Twilight glanced back at the zebra in question as she gave that some thought. No matter how she looked at it, Zecora was now very much responsible for two murders, at least physically. The striped mare made a fleeting moment of eye contact before casting her gaze downward.

Celestia may feel guilty for failing to stop the carnage, but what about Zecora? Does she even want me to feel pity or sympathy for her? She was begging for death… She… she wanted Celestia to put her out of her misery… Even if she agreed to help us track down Mahara, is it right to keep her alive when the guilt and shame are making her suffer? It’s already enough that we don’t know what’s become of Fluttershy, but… I can’t bear to think about losing Zecora too!

“Princess Celestia…”

“Twilight, spare me the formalities for now, if you will…”

“Sorry. Celestia, I don’t think the lives of ponies, or any other creatures that can think and feel, should ever be weighed against one another.” The regal alicorn pursed her lips in consideration while Twilight finished her thought. “That said, while you failed to act quickly enough to save two lives at the cottage, think of the destruction Zecora may have caused if she had wandered back into Ponyville… if those guards hadn’t given their lives trying to protect us, and her thirst had gone unquenched…”

“Do you see now why Mahara and her kind pose such a threat to us? Mahara is not by nature an evil pony. In fact, as you saw, under the right circumstances she can be very noble.” The princess furrowed her brow, her expression darkening. “But the very principal of the magic which courses through her veins… Twilight, unrestrained, as we saw with Zecora… The risk of innocent bloodshed is too high. You may think it cruel of me to want to seal her up again, even if she has shown compassion and bravery when it was needed most, but she cannot stay here. I refuse to put my subjects in such peril.”

Twilight nodded. “I understand. So will everyone else, I think.”

I hope, she thought to herself.

“Even though the decisions you have to make are difficult, I can say with confidence that we trust your judgment, and we are grateful for your leadership.” The unicorn felt conflicted over her last sentence. The words felt hollow and formal. Celestia looked toward Ponyville as they slowly drew nearer, her expression vacant. “And… I believe in you, Celestia. I really do.”

“Thank you, Twilight.” The alicorn glanced back at her student, a warm smile across her lips. It vanished the instant that a dry gasp drifted through the air.

Twilight turned to find that the entire procession had come to a stop. One of the guards was pulling viciously on his rope, causing it to bite into Zecora’s flesh, undoubtedly choking her. The other guards looked at one another, still tightly holding their ropes. The zebra offered no resistance, eyes closed as her body was repeatedly tugged in the direction of the malicious, armored pegasus. Celestia stepped past the unicorn, head held high.

“Cloud Burst! What is the meaning of this?!”

“Your highness; with all due respect, we should be putting this abomination in the ground, not dragging her along with us!” The pegasus coiled another loop of rope around his hoof, pulling tighter. “You should have let me finish her! She killed two of our own! Don’t try and tell me that you don’t want her dead! We all know about you and Kick-”

The princess was at his throat before he could finish, her horn pressing firmly against his windpipe. A line of damp fur ran from the corner of her eye to the underside of her jaw.

“The last thing I will tolerate today is deliberate disobeyal of orders.” Celestia spoke lowly and through gritted teeth, her horn shimmering against his flesh. “My relationship with Kick-Off is irrelevant, and the fact that you are soiling their memory with this act of outright cruelty in their names is nothing short of disgusting. I can say without question that this goes against every ideal which they held dear. Now, you will stand down this instant, or I will make you stand down. Are we clear?”

Cloud Burst nodded, wide eyed and wordless. When the princess withdrew, he held a hoof to his throat, breast heaving.

“Zecora has been tainted by the darkness of our enemy, but make no mistake: she is still our ally, and you will all treat her with the respect and dignity she deserves. I know that none of you have experienced actual combat before, nor have you suffered the loss of your brothers and sisters in arms, but I will not tolerate another instance of such disgraceful behavior. Consider yourselves warned that should you disobey this order, you will be stripped of your rank and punished further as is deemed appropriate.”

Slowly, the procession began to move again under an uncomfortable silence. A sudden thought struck the unicorn as she looked toward the silhouette of town hall.

Twilight Sparkle… defending an unholy abomination… Twilight parted her lips as she remembered Mahara’s words. She would be disappointed, I think…

With some effort, she managed to raise her voice.

“Prin-” the alicorn glanced curiously back at her. “Celestia, after Mahara defeated the hydra, Zecora, and a whole mob of ponies wanted to finish her off. I talked them down, because I thought it was the right thing to do, but she said that you would be disappointed to know that I had protected her when she was vulnerable.”

Twilight cast a quick glance back at Zecora, finding the zebra’s ears perked, but still avoiding eye contact. She returned her attention to the princess. “Did she mean you would be disappointed because I defended a creature like her, or because I was defending her at all?”

“Quite the opposite, I’m very proud of you.” She donned a gentle smile, leaning closer to Twilight as they passed the first row of houses. “You did what you thought was right, even when others felt you were wrong, and that is the most important thing.”

“Why would she say that, then?”

Celestia arched a brow. “She would prefer that I were a tyrant, I’m sure. It would make her look better in the long run.”

Another stretch of silence fell between them as they moved down the street. Curiosity got the better of the purple unicorn.

“Were they close to you, Celestia? The two guards…” Twilight stopped. It felt wrong to call them only by their profession in death. The princess looked down at her without turning her head. “I mean…”

A half formed sound escaped her as she realized that she couldn't remember their names.

They died protecting us… And I don’t even know what their names are… What kind of pony am I?

The injustice of it crushed her.

“Stormy Skies and Kick-Off…” She sighed, but Twilight couldn’t tell if it was fond or mournful. “As princess, the ponies whom I see and speak with the most are the castle staff, and also my guards. Those two…" she stopped, looking toward the orange glow of the horizon. "I’m so very old, Twilight, and I have lost many a good friend, but that does not make this the slightest bit easier to bear.” Twilight couldn’t read her expression. “I’ll miss them dearly, and the world is less without them.”

"Do you think, when we have a moment, you could tell me about them?"

Celestia smiled down at Twilight. "I think I'd like that."

A guard that Twilight had yet to put a name to softly cleared his throat. The unicorn and the alicorn turned their attention to him. “My apologies for interrupting, your highness, but what is our next course of action? We have not accomplished our primary objective. Do we begin our search?”

“As much as I’d like to extend the day to aid us, I cannot stop the sun for one pony.” Celestia paused in an intersection, Sugarcube Corner situated behind her. The sky burned a bright orange as the sun slowly descended behind the mountains. “We will resume operations in the morning. I’m fairly certain that by now, we’ve lost the element of surprise, so the best we can hope to do is learn about Fluttershy’s last location, since she was not at her cottage, according to Zecora.”

“Pinkie Pie was there before me.” Zecora’s voice maintained its powerful presence, even as she kept her eyes on the ground. “I am the one who told her to flee. Rarity accompanied Fluttershy home as well. If our query hides with her, swift action will tell.”

A few ponies were beginning to peer curiously from of their windows and doors. Zecora closed her eyes, a visible shudder passing through her.

“As much as I hate to admit it, Zecora is right.” Twilight folded back her ears, nervously tapping the ground with a forehoof. “Considering the circumstances, Pinkie and Rarity should be considered as potentially involved until we can find evidence otherwise.”

Twilight felt a hoof on her shoulder. She turned to see that it was Celestia’s.

“I know how painful it is to find reason to doubt your friends, but even bearers of the Elements can be misled if the influence is strong enough. I’m sure you remember that lesson quite well.” Celestia’s words were soft and compassionate, almost whispered. “But don’t lose hope. We still aren’t even sure that Fluttershy has done anything wrong, much less Rarity or Pinkie Pie.” The unicorn nodded slowly, and Celestia turned her attention to her entourage.

“Well everypony, as luck would have it, we’ve already arrived at our first destination. I doubt that I need to remind you to exercise discretion. We are acting on suspicion, and until we find probable cause, no force of any kind will be tolerated. Twilight, Nimbus Chaser and Sleet will accompany me. The rest of you, stand guard and be alert.”

For several moments, paranoia struck fear into Twilight’s heart. Déjà vu of approaching Fluttershy’s cottage, only to find a transformed Zecora within, made her stomach turn. She swayed, nearly tumbling to the ground. Again, she felt Celestia’s hoof, steadying her.

“Just relax. Everything is going to be fine.”

The unicorn swallowed, leading the way up the stairs and hesitantly knocking on the door.

\/ /\ /\ \/

“Well we’re closed, obviously.” Rarity glanced anxiously to the door as she whispered in Mahara’s ear. “I don’t know who it could be.”

Fluttershy watched as Rarity paced on the other side of the shop, speaking as lowly as she could. That didn’t matter anymore, though. The pegasus could hear just about everything: the wet sound as Rarity swallowed, the panicked beating of the unicorn’s heart, Sweetie Belle humming to herself in her bedroom, the sound of fluttering wings outside, the hooves on cobblestone just outside the window, even the slow, calculated, near silent breathing of Mahara.

There were two muffled heartbeats right on the other side of the door. Both were fairly excited, but one was louder, perhaps larger than the other. She could faintly hear even more in the distance, one of them standing out against all the others. It sounded a great deal like Mahara’s. She shuddered uncomfortably as she realized that it sounded a great deal like her own, as well. The pegasus winced as another burst of knocking crashed through the shop, drowning out the quiet uproar. She whimpered softly, putting her forehooves over her ears as she buried her face in the couch again.

I just want the noise to stop… It’s too much…

The constant, rhythmic booming pounded away at her composure. She curled up as tightly as she could, but she couldn’t keep the sound out.

“We’ll slip out the back if it’s Celestia.” The sound of Mahara’s delicate steps drew nearer, until she felt the warmth of Mahara’s breath and the softness of her muzzle against the back of her neck. “On your hooves. There’s no time to be skittish.”

Fluttershy looked up from the cushion as the knocking resumed, this time accompanied by a voice.

“Rarity,” called Twilight, “this is a matter of royal urgency!”

“Are you sure your friend is at home?” Celestia’s voice was unmistakable. “Perhaps she’s helping others sort through what they salvaged.”

Mahara and Rarity exchanged nervous glances.

“Head west, to Manehattan. I’ll take a train tomorrow morning. A friend of mine has a loft there where we can stay. Try and stay out of trouble until then.” The red mare nodded, and Fluttershy slipped off the couch, following them as they quietly crossed the room.

They paused in the hallway. “No matter what they say,” Mahara warned, “you didn’t see us since this morning and you pricked yourself sewing. If she finds out that you helped us in any way…”

“You’ve made the repercussions I’ll face quite clear, Mahara.” The unicorn turned toward the door, heaving a deep sigh and holding her head proudly. “Good luck,” she whispered as she parted with them, trotting much more loudly toward the front door. “Yes yes. I’m coming, dear! No need to shout!”

The red mare led her down the hall and up the stairs, to Rarity’s room. The pair silently slipped in and shut the door behind them. Fluttershy was relieved to find that the sun had dipped low enough on the horizon that its blinding light had been reduced to an orange glow. She could hear Rarity, Twilight and Celestia talking below, but her mind was so cluttered with questions and concerns that she couldn’t devote the attention necessary actually listen. The pegasus knew that the world hadn’t somehow gotten brighter or louder between when she fell into a hypnosis induced trance and when she was brought out of it. Still the intensity of light and sound she now experienced was, at times, painfully overwhelming. Attempting to adjust to, or at least come to terms with the sensory overload was at the forefront of her thoughts.

Mahara immediately went to the window, then stopped and grabbed a mirror off of Rarity’s vanity table with a tendril. Crouching just beneath the sill, the red mare held up the mirror and angled it toward the window. Fluttershy realized a moment later that she was using it to see who was outside.

“Everypony I didn’t want to run into is here, from the looks of it…” Mahara stepped away from the window and set the mirror back down on the table. “Twilight, Zecora, a slew of guards and Princess Celestia herself… So here’s what’s going to happen now. I’m going to distract them so you can get away. As soon as I open the-”

“Hi Twilight! Whatcha doin?” Fluttershy looked to Mahara, and then crawled toward the opposite window as the red mare waved her hoof in that direction. Pinkie Pie continued to babble at street level. “Is the princess here for a party? Oh! Hi Zecora! I was worried about you, but I’m glad to see that you’re with Twilight and Celestia now! Did you ever find Fluttershy or Mahara? Actually, I know you’re kinda mad at them and all but I really think you should reconsider! All of you!”

Mahara joined her, the red mare putting her hooves to the bottom of the window and opening it as slowly as she could. She pointed outside once it was open, and the pegasus climbed through the frame, stepping out onto the ledge circling the second floor of the boutique. The red mare followed, then came to an abrupt stop as she gazed skyward. Fluttershy also froze in a moment of terror when she noticed several guards circling high above the boutique. However, as they descended toward the other side of the building, it became obvious that they were focusing entirely on Pinkie Pie. Her excited shouts carried across the open.

“Pinkie, this is a serious matter we’re dealing with right now.” The frustration in Twilight’s voice was becoming more evident with every word. “Also we need to ask you about-”

“Twilight, please listen to me! And the rest of you as well!” Fluttershy felt both fearful for her friend, and simultaneously thankful for the risk Pinkie was taking in distracting their would-be pursuers. “It might sound a little crazy, but Mahara isn’t a bad pony!”

Mahara lowered her flank over the side of the ledge, against the roof of the building. Fluttershy watched her for a moment, and then did the same. Her body trembled as she looked down at the ground, seemingly miles below them. When she had jumped from town hall, she was being driven by anger strong enough to overcome fear. Now, she was left to face her phobia, looking to the red earth pony next to her for support.

“Perhaps we should listen to what Pinkie has to say,” Rarity added.

“Pinkie Pie, I know that you’ve seen and heard quite a lot from her, but I ask that you believe me when I say that her presence in our kingdom will bring much more harm than good.” The pegasus felt a twang of guilt as she listened to Celestia. “If you know anything regarding the whereabouts of Fluttershy or Mahara, please, do not withhold any information.”

Together, they let go of the ledge, sliding down the roof and dropping to the grass.

That… That wasn’t so bad…

She hadn’t quite noticed it while inside, but after effortlessly making a landing that would have been difficult -even painful- back when she wasn’t so heavy, Fluttershy felt alien in her own body. She took a moment to ponder that, looking up to the roof, and then at herself. Her appearance hadn’t changed, and yet, she felt lighter. Or perhaps she was just stronger. She came back to reality as Mahara nudged her, motioning to the bushes.

“Well, as I was saying before Pinkie arrived, I’m afraid I’ve been busy processing the hydra scales I salvaged. I haven’t seen Mahara since this morning. I was under the impression that she had passed on, as well...” The red mare held back a branch, allowing Fluttershy to silently slip into the bush. “You mentioned Fluttershy, though. Are you now also looking for her?”

There was a touch of sadness in the princess’s voice as she replied. “Unfortunately, we cannot be sure of her innocence until we locate her. We have been to her cottage and found it empty. Zecora informed us that Pinkie Pie was there looking for Fluttershy when she arrived.”

“The beast and her follower had come and gone.” The pegasus shuddered as she followed Mahara through the brush. “But, I am confident that they cannot hide for long.”

While part of her wanted to stay and listen to the conversation, a much larger part of her wanted to run as far from Ponyville as she could. Fortunately for that majority, that seemed to be exactly Mahara’s plan. As soon as Carousel Boutique was partially obscured by a hill and a few trees, the red mare looked back at her, tilted her head toward the Everfree forest, and broke into a full gallop. While Fluttershy dreaded the thought of running, she found herself speeding up with relative ease. Her hooves pounded the earth, her mane and tail tossed by the breeze, and never once did she find herself short of breath. It wasn’t long before they were crossing the road to Fillydelphia, Sweet Apple Acres lying not far beyond that. Dusk had settled over Equestria by that point, the sun now little more than a fading afterglow. A few stars twinkled in the deep purple sky.

Fluttershy slowed to a trot as they passed through the first few rows of apple trees. The red mare looked back at her, brow cocked, and then circled around to approach her.

“I um… I think you should talk to Applebloom… before we go.”

“Haven’t I done enough to her already?” Mahara looked over her shoulder, snorting softly. “Why should I talk to her again?”

“Why?” The pegasus felt her jaw go slack with disbelief. “Mahara! You owe her an apology!” She stomped, brow furrowed.

“I guess you’re right…” The red mare sighed, turning toward the silhouette of the farm house. Every window was illuminated.

A horrible realization struck Fluttershy as they drew nearer. She had never learned of Applejack’s fate. For all she knew, the Apple family might be in the process of mourning.

Somepony would have said something. It’s been hours since the attack. Rarity would have told me if Applejack… She would have heard gossip… Something! Anything! Oh… I hope she’s alright…

At that moment, she resented Mahara for putting her in such a situation. The pegasus wasn’t even sure who had died in the attack. The very real possibility that ponies she had known might have become casualties, Applejack included, was almost enough to make her break down and cry. She wanted to stop, to try and make sense of everything that had happened, but the circumstances pressed her onward. With some effort, she was able to push her frenzied thoughts into submission by focusing on the present.

Winona was making a racket within the Apple homestead. Big Macintosh slowly moved down the hall, a dry click resonating under the unrelenting barking. Mahara skirted along the wall, pausing under a window as a shadow crept along the grass. Fluttershy flattened against the wall as a pair of metal cylinders inched out of the open window, followed by a red, masculine muzzle. Big Macintosh’s eyes swept across the darkness, the contours of his face illuminated by early twilight, and for once the pegasus was glad that he failed to notice her. Before meeting Lucky, he had been the stallion of her dreams; strong, dependable, noble, and certainly not the sort to cheat. She was almost sad to watch him vanish back into the house.

They rounded the corner, coming to a stop under Applebloom’s window. Mahara hesitated, looking up, then to Shy, and then over her shoulder at the rows of apple trees stretching into the hills behind her. A ladder lay in the grass not far from where they stood. They didn’t quite stand in silence, because the orchard was absolutely teeming with the screeching of crickets and the buzzing of insects, not to mention the rolling waves of rustling leaves. Just the same, Mahara stood there without saying a word for several minutes. Finally, she closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and lifted the ladder, propping it up against the side of the house. She swiftly ascended, peering into the warmth and uncomfortable brightness of the filly’s room.

Immediately, the sound of small hooves scrambling against the floor reached Fluttershy’s ears. “Ah was beginnin’ to think Ah’d never see ya again.” Even at a whisper, the excitement in Applebloom’s voice was nearly tangible. “Didja’ change yer mind? Are ya gonna make me into a Night Child or whatever it was ya called yerself?”

“A Child of Darkness, and no… That’s not why I’m here.” Mahara impulsively glanced back at Fluttershy, the pegasus nodding up at her. Her whispered voice wavered slightly. “I’m… I’m sorry. I’m sorry that I made you offers and promises that I really had no right to make.” The pegasus cleared her throat, and Mahara cringed. “Also I hypnotized you. That wasn’t really appropriate.”

“Ah don’t care if ya hypnotized me. Ya showed me things Ah didn’t even realize about mahself. Like, Ah thought mah sis was just weird fer hangin’ around with Rainbow Dash by herself all the time, but ah get it now. Ah feel the same way ‘bout you.”

Fluttershy’s eyes widened. As those words soaked in, she understood why Mahara had been so reluctant to visit Applebloom.

The red mare’s words replayed in her mind. Doing that just amplified what she already felt, even if she didn’t know she felt it…

“You’re still just a filly. You have your whole life to explore your feelings and find love. Don’t make your decision now, especially not because of me.” She glanced back down at Fluttershy, hind legs shifting uncomfortably on the wooden bars.

“An’ what do ya keep lookin’-” Applebloom popped her head out of the window frame, setting her sights on Fluttershy. The pegasus looked around anxiously, backing up. “Oh. It’s ‘cause a her, ain’t it? Ya don’t wanna be with me cause Ah’m so young.” The filly had stopped whispering, her voice rising with anger as tears glistened in the corners of her eyes. “Ah thought you were different, Seafare. Ah thought ya didn’t care ‘bout how old Ah was! But Ah guess Ah’m jus’ too young fer you, like Ah’m too young fer everythin’ else!”

Mahara slid down the ladder, teeth clenched, tilting her head in the direction of the orchard. The heavy thump of Macintosh’s hooves came crashing up the stairs and down the hall. Applebloom turned to look back into her room as the sound of what could only be a door getting kicked open rang out through the night. Without needing any encouragement, Fluttershy was off like a shot, Mac’s furious shouting only giving her a greater need to run as fast as she could. She could hear Applebloom shouting as well, but it sounded more like pleading than rage. Mahara galloped at her side, eyes forward, ears folded back. A tree to Fluttershy’s right erupted with splinters as they entered the groves, and a sound like thunder split the air behind them.

The pegasus stumbled as a searing pain licked at her right flank. She tried to ignore it, counting the rows of trees as they blurred past on either side, but the pain was quickly occupying her every thought. When she looked back, she found her right flank in bloody tatters, several deep gashes in the flesh just over the joint. Fluttershy tried to swallow, but her mouth had dried up the instant she realized she was wounded. Her limbs locked up and she fell forward, tumbling onto her side. Mahara skidded to a stop, rounding a tree and kneeling beside her in the cloud of dust. Macintosh was still shouting, the sound of his voice gradually getting closer.

“Okay…” the red mare whispered, putting her face to Fluttershy’s, holding her gaze. “Lesson two. Imagine the wound. Imagine it as best you can.”

Considering that the pain was keeping her from thinking about anything else, it was fairly easy for her to do so. She formed a mental image of her bloodied flank, focusing on the bleeding holes in her flesh.

“Now, remember what I did back in your cottage? How strings of muscle and skin reached across the bite that the hydra took out of me, and sort of wove together?”

The pegasus nodded. The sound of hooves was fast approaching. She tried to look, but Mahara put her hooves to the sides of Fluttershy’s face, forcing her to look into the red mare’s eyes.

“Focus on your blood. Not the cuts, not the pain. I want you to focus on your blood, and I want you to imagine it stretching across the wound, like lengths of thread. Focus as hard as you can on that image. Believe in it. Make it a reality.”

“What, there’s two a you now?! Don’t matter, put’cher hooves where Ah can see ‘em!” Mahara froze. Fluttershy whimpered. “No funny business or Ah’m gonna blow yer fuckin’ heads off!”

“Keep focusing,” the red mare whispered. “And I apologize in advance.”

“What are you-”

“The princess is looking for us, you know. If you bring us to her alive, I’m pretty sure you’ll be handsomely rewarded.” Mahara turned away before the pegasus could finish her question, her body obscuring most of Mac’s. “But do you really want to hurt Fluttershy?”

“Yer gonna try an’ seduce me again, huh? Ya didn’t learn yer lesson last time? Ah know that ain’t Fluttershy.”

“Ah, but that’s where you’re wrong.” Mahara slowly lifted a hoof to what Fluttershy assumed was her mane, and the surrounding trees took on a flickering green tint. “I know you wouldn’t want to hurt one of your sister’s best friends, so why don’t you put down the gun and we’ll negotiate.”

The stallion reared up, towering over Mahara. “Ya’ll make me sick.” His forehooves cradled a pair of gleaming metal cylinders set in a wooden frame, level with the red mare’s forehead. The green glow of her eyes danced in her warped reflection.

Neither pony moved an inch.

“How is your leg?” Mahara asked after an uncomfortable eternity, remaining perfectly still as she spoke.

Fluttershy had completely forgotten about her wound. As she looked back at her flank, she realized that her wound had forgotten her as well. There were still streaks of dried blood in her fur, but the injury itself had vanished without a trace. The pegasus could feel something under her skin, however. She pressed into her flank with a forehoof, feeling several small objects in her flesh.

“I… I think I’m okay. There’s um… there’s things… inside me….”

“I’ll teach you how to heal yourself more thoroughly later.” Macintosh remained still as a statue, but Mahara shifted her weight, keeping her head turned toward the stallion. “That’s going to have to do for now, though. Can you stand?”

Shakily, the pegasus got to her hooves. The spot was still sore, but the pain was fading fast. She nodded, then realizing that Mahara wasn’t going to turn around, whispered, “Yes. I can stand.”

“Good. Now, do you think you can run?”

“I um…” She stretched her leg, swinging over the ground several times. “I think I can run.”

“Get going, then. I’ll catch up.”

The urge to question Mahara was strong, but she was learning to trust the red mare again. She started off into the darkness, hesitating after several paces and turning around.

“Please, please be careful. And…” She took a cautious step toward the pair, head low. “Don’t hurt him. He’s just trying to protect Applebloom…”

“I promise that I won’t hurt him. He and I are going to have a little chat. I owe him an explanation, I guess. Now get moving. Time isn’t exactly on our side.”

Fluttershy managed to pull herself away from them, focusing on the next hill as her destination. Another bang tore through the sounds of the night no more than a minute after she had started running. She flinched, but she kept moving, galloping as fast as she could.

\/ /\ /\ \/

Ah feel… funny… ‘an not funny ha-ha… Oooh… Why’s everythin’ so bright… Why can’t Ah feel… Ah can’t really feel anythin’… Hold on… What in tarnation is wrong with mah leg?

Applejack lifted a foreleg, finding it behaving more like a noodle than a proper limb. Her senses were fuzzy at best. She could see ponies moving around her, and hear muffled voices, but nothing seemed to be sliding into focus. Her entire body was numb in the same way that a hoof might feel when it fell asleep, but the numbness in her left leg was different. She tried to move her left hoof, but it felt like there was nothing to move.

A wave of paranoia washed over her, bringing a bit of clarity with it.

“She’s been in and out since I brought her here. Redheart said she was in good enough condition to give her pain medication, so she’s been a little on the loopy side on the few occasions when she’s come around before.”

Rainbow Dash’s voice was unmistakable. The dull pressure on her breast was the result of a cyan forehoof, gently sliding along her body. Other figures began to slide into focus behind her.

Twilight Sparkle, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, and a fourth face that, while familiar, took several moments to recognize all stood out against the powder blue curtain circling the bed.

“I would like to commemorate her bravery. She is exemplary to all of pony kind for the sacrifice she made today.”

Princess… Celestia? What’s she doin’ here? ‘An where’s Fluttershy?

“Well it looks like she’s awake now! Is there anypony home in there or what?” Pinkie leaned forward, over the edge of the bed, her blurry grin sparking just a bit of relief in the wounded earth pony.

“She’s most certainly in there, dear, but she’s sedated right now.” Rarity kept a respectful distance, caught between watching Pinkie and making eye contact with Applejack. “I doubt she can really make sense of what we’re saying.”

“Ah can...” Everypony gasped, going completely silent. Dash leaned closer, smiling, but with an expression visibly burdened by concern. “Ah can understand ya’ll jus’ fine… Ah feel a mite off ‘s all… Ya didn’t have ta put me in tha damn clinic.”

“Does she know?” Twilight looked to the cyan pegasus, biting her lower lip. “I read that sometimes after going into shock, an injured pony might not remember-”

Rainbow Dash lifted a hoof, silencing her. “Applejack, what do you remember about fighting the hydra?”

“Besides being totally rad,” Pinkie chimed in, immediately hushed by Rarity and Twilight. “Sorry.”

“Ah… Ah remember…”

The orange earth pony replayed the battle in her mind; the blood, the screaming, the slashing and stabbing, the feeling of sailing through the air and the crunch that resonated through her on impacting the hydra’s skull.

The last thing she could recall before her memories became too fuzzy to properly recount was the hydra biting her leg and shaking her around. She couldn’t feel the leg that the hydra had bitten, numbed or otherwise. She made an effort to sit up, but the drugs in her system and the pegasus leaning over her prevented it.

Without needing to see the injury, her paranoia was immediately validated.

“No…”

“Now just calm down… You’re gonna be alright. Redheart has been taking great care of you and you’re expected to make a full recovery.” The cyan pegasus immediately looked away, as did all the other ponies in the room. “Well… Not… Uh… Not a full, full recovery…”

Applejack tried to speak, but there were no words. A half choked sound passed between her lips as she looked to the foot of the bed, taking in what remained of her left leg with her own two eyes.

“I’m sorry…” whispered Rainbow Dash, her voice beginning to waver. “I’m so, so sorry…”

The earth pony’s vision had already begun to cloud with tears, but this was her breaking point. She fell back against the bed, gasping as her fur quickly dampened with the runoff from her eyes. Her chest heaved as she sobbed uncontrollably, bandaged forehooves at her eyes, shaking her head as though denial might somehow undo the damage.

Rainbow Dash had already wrapped her forelegs around the earth pony, holding Applejack tightly as she thrashed weakly against the bed, the pegasus’s muzzle against the side of her neck. “You’re gonna be okay…”

“Ah ain’t gonna be o’ fuckin’ kay! T-that damn hydra took mah… mah…” The orange mare squeezed her eyes shut, screaming in despair and fury.

“I know it’s scary.” The soft scratchiness of Dash’s voice was joined by the warmth of her breath against Applejack’s ear. “But you’re gonna be okay… I’m here for you. We’re all here for you.”

She felt more hooves against her numbed body, opening her eyes to find the others hugging her tightly. Celestia looked on in silence, but her delicate smile spoke volumes. She turned away from the group, a pair of her guards following. In the wake of the princess, her earlier thought resurfaced.

“Where’s Fluttershy?” The combined grip of everypony but Dash was lessened by her question. They exchanged worried looks. “She ain’t here? Is she alright?”

“We don’t know…” Twilight let go completely, taking a step back from the bed. “Pinkie Pie and Rarity were the last ponies to see her today. After the hydra was defeated, they walked her back home, and… That was the last anypony saw of her… Princess Celestia and I searched her cottage, but she’s just… gone…”

Pinkie Pie and Rarity followed Twilight’s example, but Dash remained at her side, holding her close, gently rocking the earth pony in her embrace. She tried to focus on the pegasus, Rainbow’s touch and presence making her loss somewhat bearable.

“I’m told that there was no sign of a struggle, so you needn’t perform any heroics,” Rarity paused, then quietly added, “not that you’re in any condition to gallop off into the countryside looking for her…”

The pink mare nodded. “Yeah, she’s probably just off in a quiet place somewhere! You know how she is. Then again, after what she went through, I’d probably wanna disappear for a little while too!”

“Ah feel like ya’ll ain’t tellin’ me tha whole story…”

“Please, Applejack, just worry about yourself for now, okay?” Dash’s face shifted into her field of view, obscuring the rest of the room. A few damp trails of fur had crossed over her cheeks, slowly drying. “You and me are going to sit this one out.”

“Ah reckon ya told ‘em ‘bout… us?”

“Yeah… But you were right, they’re fine with it. Even Rarity, actually. I guess she had a similar conversation with Fluttershy not too long ago.” The cyan pegasus snickered, nuzzling closer. “Never pegged her for the filly-fooling type…”

“Go figure…” Applejack managed the smallest grin, which seemed to make Rainbow Dash immeasurably happy. “So ya’ll have no idea where she is?”

The cyan pegasus’s cheer immediately vanished. “We’re all gonna go out and look for her tomorrow. Well, they’re gonna go out and look for her, anyway. They’ll have Celestia’s guards to help them search from the sky, so they don’t need me. You need me, I’m staying.”

“Dash, ya don’t have ta…”

“I do. I want to.” She kissed the orange mare on the nose, her smile returning. “I love you, Applejack.”

Somewhere in the room, Pinkie Pie began to coo, her gentle Awwwww making the orange mare feel awkward. She was thankful when Rarity and Twilight said their goodbyes and instructed Pinkie Pie to do the same, the sound of their hooves growing faint, punctuated by a closing door.

Applejack held Rainbow Dash’s gaze, staring deep into the maroon pools of her eyes, the corners still wet with tears. “What do we do now, sugarcube?”

“We do this one day at a time, and we take it nice and slow.”

\/ /\ /\ \/

The moon’s pale glow softly illuminated the countryside by degrees. Fluttershy had left Sweet Apple Acres behind her, slowly navigating the edge of the Everfree forest. Rationality told her that it should have been just barely bright enough to see, and yet, she could focus on the fine details of tree bark or the swaying of individual leaves and blades of grass in the evening breeze. All around her was the sound of movement. Tiny paws scurried across the underbrush, unseen creatures exchanging unintelligible chattering, an endless number of small, rapid heartbeats. These animals were entirely feral, their language completely dissociated from the friendly and gentle creatures she cared for. A worrying thought struck her as she made eye contact with an owl.

What if… what if, because I’m… a monster… the birds… or any of the other animals don’t want to be my friends anymore? They didn’t want anything to do with Mahara. Will they hate me too? The pegasus bit her lower lip, eyes darting as she noticed motion in the corners of her vision. How can this be happening to me? I… I want to tell myself it’s all a bad dream but… Ugh! I don’t know who I should even blame for this! I mean… I know she didn’t do this to me on purpose, but she should have told me the truth! She should have trusted me! And I… I shouldn’t have trusted her… If she hadn’t come into my life... I would still be lonely, but at least I would be safe! That night, I should have just told her to… to…

A mouse scampered into the open several paces ahead of her. The owl from moments before swooped down, catching the mouse in its talons and carrying it off into the night. Her lower lip trembled as its panicked squeaks faded into the distance. The pegasus shut her eyes tightly, trying to dive back into her thoughts.

I just want my life to go back to the way it used to be… I just want to be happy… Is that so much to ask? I don’t want to have to run and hide… Everything is happening so fast that I… I don’t know what to do! I feel like I keep making mistakes, even if I haven’t done anything wrong. It feels like I’m freefalling… I’m so scared…

The sound of snapping twigs cut into her thoughts. She flinched, shivering, expecting to see anything from Big Macintosh to Celestia to the hydra she had condemned to death come back for revenge.

In the very back of her mind, she wondered when she had started to fear the ponies she once admired.

“I didn’t mean to startle you.” Mahara stepped through the brush, green glowing softly. “And I’m sorry for taking so long.”

Several emotions immediately welled up inside her, anger, joy and sadness competing for the right to expression. She settled on a timid smile, feeling awkward about being happy to see her. “It’s um… It’s alright. I heard another bang… Are you okay? What happened?”

“There was another shell chambered. I removed the temptation.”

“You… Did you hurt him?”

“I didn’t break my promise.” The red mare grinned, giving her a sideways glance. “Though that makes two trees with buckshot in them, I suppose.” Her grin faded as she approached Fluttershy. “And on that note, we should probably get the metal out of your flank.”

The pegasus nodded. She wanted to ask more about Big Macintosh, but she settled for looking around the dirt and grass at her hooves. “Should I lie down?”

“If that would be more comfortable for you.”

Fluttershy nodded again, settling in a soft patch of grass under a tree. Mahara followed. Before the red mare could join her, a coyote emerged from the brush, watching them closely. The pegasus recoiled and uttered a frightened squeak, but found Mahara giggling quietly when she made frantic eye contact.

“When you can see and hear everything that hides in shadow, what evil lurks in darkness?” Mahara ran a hoof along the back of Fluttershy’s neck, smiling. With a rustle, the coyote vanished into the night. “There is no reason to fear the dark. Let it embrace and protect you.”

“O-okay… I’m… um… I’m not used to this…” She sniffled, looking down at the moonlit grass. “Any of this. The drinking blood, or running, or getting injured… I don’t know how much more I can take… I just want to stop, or at least slow down.”

“We can stop or slow down for as long as you like when we get to Manehattan. For right now though, I need you to be strong.” Fluttershy felt the red mare’s forelegs around her neck, hugging her tightly. “Just for a little while longer.”

She’s caused me a lot of trouble, but… She does care. That has to mean something, right?

She relaxed, just enough to feel a bit of relief, managing a fragile smile as she looked back at Mahara. “I’ll try. So… How do I go about doing...” The pegasus circled her forehoof over her right flank, “…This.”

“Alright. So you have an understanding of very basic healing, but to get that buckshot out of you, we’re going to have to move on to lesson three.” The red mare’s back rippled, going still again in the blink of an eye. “Rudimentary transformation is almost like stretching.”

She turned away, allowing the pegasus to see her body in profile.

“You focus on the area of your body you want to change, and then imagine how you want to change it.”

Fluttershy watched in awe when Mahara’s flesh began to distort, as though a pair of tiny forelegs were pushing against her skin. Where she had cut into the red mare’s tendrils earlier, a fresh pair now curled and flexed in the mottled, moon cast shadow. The pegasus tilted her head as the coils of Mahara’s flesh began to intertwine, pressing tightly together in two groups until they were indistinguishable from one another. They folded against themselves, unfolding with a leathery membrane spanning from the base to the tips.

“And for my last act…”

Mahara’s bat like wings folded, clutching against her body as a visible shudder ran from head to tail. A fine red dust was carried away from her by the breeze, but it wasn’t until the red mare was no longer red that Fluttershy realized what she was witnessing. Mahara was shedding her entire coat, replacing it with fur the color of a peach. Her mane and tail began to frizz as well, red hairs giving way to soft curls of lavender. When her wings unfolded, the membrane had been replaced with delicate looking feathers. Smiling, Mahara gave her wings a few flaps, lifting several noses off the ground before landing quietly.

“Tadaaaa!”

The peach pegasus, formerly a red mare, gave a deep bow, grinning. With the exception of her eyes, she looked completely different. She was even a few noses shorter than she had been before the transformation.

“Mahara… What um…” The freshly transformed pegasus took a few steps closer, listening attentively. “What do you really look like? When you’re not transformed, I mean. When you were a red earth pony, was that really you? What you looked like before… um… you know… You promised me and I um… It looks like it’s so easy for you to do that…”

“I know it must be hard to believe me after everything I’ve put you through, but yes, sans the things growing out of my back, and my hairstyle, the red mare you met on the road one fine summer evening is the same red mare that found herself in a world of trouble once upon a time.”

Mahara knelt beside Fluttershy, leaning in for a gentle nuzzle. Fluttershy accepted the gesture half begrudgingly, but also half enjoying it, feeling herself calming, if only marginally. “I’m sorry. I know that you promised.”

“You have every right to be apprehensive. I’ve royally mucked things up for you, but I’m going to make everything better. Just wait and see. For now, focus on the metal in your flank.” She nodded toward the flank in question. “If pushing doesn’t work, try to imagine pulling it out.”

“Will you tell me about what your life used to be like?”

Mahara raised a brow. “Right now?” The yellow pegasus nodded. “It would be a book in its own right, I’m afraid. A chapter, at the very least.” Fluttershy gave a snort, brow furrowing. “Alright, how about when we get moving again? Manehattan is pretty far from here, if I’m remembering correctly.”

With a grin, she nodded her agreement, then turned her attention to her flank. “I thought you said you’d never been to Manehattan. That um… that’s what you told Rarity… Was that a lie?”

“Yes and no… I’ve seen it plenty of times, but physically, I’ve never set hoof there. Well… I haven’t, but at the same time, I’ve seen instances where I have…” She rolled her forehoof in the air, ears folding back. “It’s complicated. Anyway, concentrate.”

Despite her best efforts to imagine pulling the buckshot out of her flank, she kept finding herself distracted. The sound of shaking foliage and the constant chatter of animals and insects was a formidable distraction. The sound of her own heartbeat made her uneasy. She looked up from her flank, and back into Mahara’s eyes.

“Is there a way to make it so that I can’t hear everything? Like um… turning down the volume a little, maybe?”

“It’s something that you’ll learn how to control over time, I think. I know that isn’t exactly helpful…”

“Not really, no…” She sighed, turning her attention back to the spot that felt out of place. Her gaze fell to her mane, admiring the soft cyan glow from her eyes as it washed against her silken hair. “Is there a way to make my eyes stop glowing? It probably makes us easy to spot in complete darkness.”

“Yes, actually. It involves transformation though, so you might not be able to do it right away.”

Fluttershy gave a nod, closing her eyes. When she had been shot, it was easy to focus because the pain was so intense. Her mind continued to wander after several failed attempts at controlling her thoughts. The pegasus held her breath until her face went red as she tried to imagine physically shove the metal out of her body. When that proved fruitless, she imagined pulling instead.

Make an incision… Remove with tweezers… Close the wound…

Small beads of metal shifted within her, flesh parting around the steady movement. It was an uncomfortable sensation, not quite painful, but as far from pleasant as she cared to be. Her brow wrinkled as she tried to hold her concentration. The tweezers in her imagination slipped, and the lead lost momentum. She tilted her head forward, lips pursed, craning her neck toward her flank. The buckshot regained momentum, rising to the surface of her skin. When something rolled off of her, she opened her eyes expecting to see blood. Instead, she was greeted with the sight of a glistening metal sphere. Three more were half embedded in her flesh, coming loose as she brushed a hoof over them. They rolled harmlessly down her leg, landing in the grass.

“I… I did it…”

“You most certainly did. I was a little worried that you might not be able to handle it on your first try, but you did an excellent job.” Fluttershy glanced to Mahara, the former red mare’s smile bringing her comfort. “But, we really need to get going. We’re going to have to do most of our traveling at night.”

Fluttershy nodded, getting to her hooves. “I um… I could barely see earlier… I don’t remember daylight being so bright. Can I adjust my vision, maybe?”

“One of the things that I haven’t figured out how to do is adjust my vision…” Mahara took a few steps deeper into the forest, waiting patiently for Fluttershy to follow. “But maybe it’s possible.”

“How do you deal with it, then?”

“I don’t. I’m effectively blind whenever I’m exposed to sunlight.” She smiled, flicking her tail. “But when you can hear so well, it more or less balances out.”

The yellow pegasus sighed softly, trotting beside Mahara as they passed between the trees. The pair moved quietly until a colony of bats fluttered by overhead, swirling off into the night sky. Mahara began to snicker. Fluttershy arched a brow in response, looking at her quizzically, but refraining from asking why. The peach pegasus answered her unasked question anyway.

“We’re both geared for flight, but we’re traveling on hoof instead. I think it’s ironic.”

“Well… I’m um… I’m too… heavy to fly…” Fluttershy began to blush, looking down in shame with splaying ears. “I tried flying earlier, when I jumped from the top floor of town hall, but all I could manage was to slow my fall. I know that I’m stronger now, but that won’t… What I mean is, I don’t think my wings can carry me, even if I have the strength…”

“Well you’re half right. A full body transformation is definitely too advanced for you right now, so making you lighter is out of the question. Your wings can’t carry you.” The timid pegasus wimpered to herself. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Mahara had slowed, and looked up at her out of confusion. “What you need to do is modify them so that they can. Think about it this way; larger birds have a larger wingspan. Celestia too. Her wings are enormous for reasons beyond aesthetics.”

The thought had occurred to her at one point, while feeding a flock of geese that had stopped to rest, but she had completely forgotten about it. Fluttershy had never taken pride in her ability to fly, unlike most pegasi, but upon realizing that she might be able to take to the air again, her spirits began to soar. Mahara smiled when she noticed the suddenly cheerful expression which the timid pegasus had adopted.

“So… transforming my wings is um…” She glanced back as she unfolded her wings, ruffling her feathers with a few gentle strokes, remaining firmly planted on the ground. “Transforming my wings is like… stretching?”

“Yes and no. The tendrils that I had before were just muscle, nerves and skin. A lot like a tongue, actually. When I turned them into wings, I also grew the appropriate bone structure to give them support.” Mahara spread her wings, stepping into profile and coming to a stop. “If your memory of wing anatomy is a little rusty, I can show you how mine are set up.”

Fluttershy stopped to wonder how exactly Mahara would show her the bone structure of her wings, cringing as she imagined the peach pegasus peeling back her skin. “No, that’s um… I remember. How do you know all of this, though?”

“When you’ve spent as much time being a voyeur as I have… It’s surprising how much you can learn watching fragments of other lives.”

“Will this hurt?”

Mahara frowned. “A little. You have to break down existing bones to grow new ones, or at least fracture them. The good news is that the magic in our blood is amazing when it comes to recycling resources. If you have the raw materials in your system, you can transform into just about anything.”

Fluttershy swallowed nervously. “I’ll… I’ll work on it while we’re moving.” Mahara nodded, and they pressed deeper.

The peering yellow eyes that would have made her tremble with fear were much less intimidating when she saw that they belonged to raccoons, possums, foxes and rabbits. Their feral nature still made her uneasy, as they often fell to savagely chasing one another once they had lost interest in Fluttershy and her companion. The coyote that had startled her earlier looked up from a fresh kill, muzzle wet and glistening. She shuddered, seeing herself standing over Rarity.

“Will you tell me about your past now?” Mahara looked back at her, one ear cocked. “Please? I… I need something to take my mind off of... everything, I guess.”

“Alright… Where do I even start?”

Fluttershy watched attentively as Mahara took a deep breath, the soft green glow of her eyes vanishing behind her eyelids.

\/ /\ /\ \/

Seeing Pinkie Pie without hearing Pinkie Pie was a novelty that Rarity wasn’t entirely certain that she liked. Even a pony as cheerful and positive as Pinkie was clearly feeling the stress of recent events. The quiet was welcomed, but it seemed so out of character for the pink earth pony that she was almost inclined to tell her to start making noise.

Almost.

Rarity glanced out the window and into the early night, watching the last armored pegasus disappearing into the softly glowing silhouette Ponyville. Pinkie couldn’t seem to keep her attention focused on anything in the room, her eyes darting, her hooves rubbing together.

The sight of their mutual friend sobbing as she fully realized how life changing her injury would be was an image that continued to haunt the pale unicorn. The lull in their conversation had only allowed her to relive the moment.

“Well…” Rarity softly began, “even though she’ll never quite be the same, Applejack is still alive. That counts for something, doesn’t it?”

“Yeah… I can’t even imagine that. It’d be weird if I could only count to three!” Pinkie flashed a fake looking smile, avoiding eye contact. “Still, I hope she can handle this alright… Maybe I’ll bake her a cake, or… Maybe I’ll write her a song! She likes songs, right?”

“I believe so…” Rarity sighed quietly, resting her head on a forehoof. “I saw your friend Vinyl Scratch during the fight. Why was she in Ponyville, anyway? What were you doing before you wandered into our little gathering?”

“I was hanging out with her! We were going to do a recording session, buuuut Mr. Cake wasn’t in the best of moods because his friend was one of the ponies that the hydra gobbled up… So we went to visit Ditzy Doo instead.”

“Your mail mare friend, yes?”

“Yep! She and I didn’t exactly get off to a great start, but we’re pretty good friends now, I think. She and Scratch got along just fine, and she even let Scratch record her playing xylophone!” Pinkie’s ears splayed slightly. “She’s still a little shy about her eye, though… I think she still gets all self conscious with ponies she’s just met. Oh and… I heard about Aloe… I’m really sorry. Do you need a hug, maybe?”

“I’m… coming to terms with it… I’ll take a rain check on the hug, but thank you for asking, dear.”

The pink mare nodded, and an awkward silence settled over the room. After several minutes, the sound of clattering and Sweetie Belle’s voice broke the tension.

“So…” Rarity leaned forward in her seat. “You haven’t seen Fluttershy or Mahara, then?”

The pink mare grinned widely, nervously, whipping her head back and forth in a motion that Rarity assumed meant no. Evidently she still needed to clarify. “Nope! Haven’t seen hair or hide or hoof of either of them! No ma’am! How about you?” She immediately resumed fidgeting.

“I haven’t seen them either, I’m afraid…” Rarity had lost track of the number of times she had checked the window, finding the darkened view of the world beyond the glass completely vacant. “I’m fairly certain that I already know the answer to this question, but Pinkie Pie… Can you keep a secret?”

Pinkie nodded in the same jittery fashion. “Uh-huh! I’m the master of secrets! What about you? I know you can be kinda gossipy! No offense.”

“None taken… And I assure you, my dear, what I’m about to tell you is for your ears only.” Rarity took a deep breath, giving the window one more look. She leaned a little farther forward, so that she could speak at a whisper. “Fluttershy and Mahara were here, but I told them to run when Twilight and Celestia arrived. Also I let both of them drink my blood.” She held up her foreleg, pointing to the freshly reformed scabs.

“I ran back to the cottage after I walked here with you and I saw everything.” Rarity wasn’t sure if she had ever heard Pinkie whisper before. In fact, Pinkie seemed to be even more paranoid than she was, frequently looking over her shoulder. “Mahara heard Zecora coming I guess because she grabbed Fluttershy and jumped out the window. What are we gonna do? Celestia is looking for them and I don’t know where they are and Mahara told me that if I tell her that I saw her or helped her that I would get in a whole lot of trouble. I don’t wanna get in trouble, Rarity. I don’t want anypony to get in trouble.”

The pale mare shook her head. “Nor do I. It would seem that we’re both very much involved in this mess, however, so if we want to continue not being in trouble, we’re going to need to do a little planning. Now, I offered to let them stay at a loft rented by a friend of mine in Manehattan, but obviously I need to be there if they’re going to make any use of it.”

“Oh!” Pinkie brightened up, starting to grin again. “I haven’t been to Manehattan since-”

“I’m sorry to say that you cannot accompany me, Pinkie Pie. It’s bad enough that I’m going to vanish when they’re expecting me to help search for Fluttershy, and… I’ll most likely be missing Aloe’s funeral… but if both of us were to suddenly disappear, that would raise even more suspicion.” The pink mare nodded slowly, sinking back into her chair. “I need someone to keep an eye on Twilight and the princess for me while I’m away. I think you’re the best pony for the job.”

Pinkie’s grin tightened into a pout, crossing her forelegs. “But I promised Twilight that I’d keep Fluttershy safe. I mean I know she and Mahara are joined at the flank now but Mahara isn’t exactly the queen of making good decisions.”

“Then I believe a trade is in order. I’ll make sure Mahara doesn’t do anything foalish while she’s assisting Fluttershy, and you make sure that nopony figures out that the three of us have traveled to Manehattan. If you can, try to lead the search party astray. Make a game out of it if you like. Whatever you do, just try and keep them away from Manehattan, alright?”

“Alright, that does sound kinda fun actually.” She nodded, then immediately perked up again. “What about Sweetie Belle?”

“Sweetie Belle should be quite alright without me. She’s been staying here while our parents are out of town on one of their many vacations…” Rarity sighed softly. “But they should be returning tomorrow, so you need not worry about her.” A fluffy white cat padded into the room and Rarity added to her thought. “If you could take care of Opalescence for me, though, I would be most appreciative. I’ll only be gone for a few days, I think.”

Pinkie tilted her head, her lips twisted with confusion. “Huh… I thought that Sweetie Belle lived with…”

“Sweetie Belle doesn’t live with me, dear, you know that.” Rarity arched a brow. “You look as though this is something you just learned.”

“She’s here so much that I guess I forgot!” The pink mare giggled and shrugged. “Yeah, I don’t mind looking after your kitty. I just hope the Cakes aren’t allergic to cats.”

“I should hope not. Perhaps it would be better if you just came here to feed her and keep her company.” Her horn glowed softly, a key floating out of a nearby purse, hovering in front of the earth pony. “This is a key to the boutique. I’ll write some instructions for you on feeding Opalescence and leave them in the kitchen. Now, I’m going to go pack. I’ll be leaving by train tomorrow morning.” The unicorn turned toward the hallway. “I trust you can see yourself out?”

“Mmhmm! But uh…” Rarity stopped, looking back at Pinkie. “Do you think this is all going to work out? I mean, Mahara is cool and all but if she’s gotta go I guess she’s gotta go… I don’t know what I’ll do if Fluttershy has to go too, though…”

“Neither do I… Let’s hope we don’t have to find out.”

\/ /\ /\ \/

“My name was supposed to be Scarlet Petal.”

Fluttershy nodded, keeping pace with Mahara. The cool shadows of branches yawned across the path before them like fissures. Through the foliage, moonlit mountains loomed over the forest, already much closer then they had been a few hours ago. Her wings were sore from multiple failed attempts to alter them, but every so often, she would spread them as wide as she could, and then try to spread them even wider. Changing something was apparently much more complicated than fixing something.

“That’s what my mother told me, anyway. She and my father supposedly got into a huge argument about what to name me. As members of the royal court, my father believed that my name should be one word, and that it should be regal. He was willing to compromise for Scarlet, but my mother refused to part with Petal, seeing that the family trade was gardening, and my name should reflect such. After about a week of arguing, they consulted a reference book on flowers.

“My name, Mahara, is the name of a very rare, now likely extinct flower that was once native to the kingdom of the Zebra. The flower itself resembles a rose, but its thorns are much sharper, and more importantly, they’re hollow. The Mahara flower has white petals until someone or something pricks themselves on those thorns, at which point the flower draws blood. Once it has drawn blood, the petals turn red, and it is ready to pollinate.

“I don’t believe in fate, but a coincidence on that scale makes it hard to dismiss. While I was sealed away, I tried to look back to see if there were other outcomes to their argument, but I could never focus enough to find out. Perhaps that’s for the best.

“Discounting the prestige surrounding my family, my life was fairly ordinary. Under the loving care of my parents, the royal garden was supposedly a wonder of the world, but to me, it was a just a place to play and learn. I spent my early days pulling beetles off of leaves and learning how to nurture plants of all kinds. I spent almost all of my time there, preferring the songs of birds to the rhymes of other fillies.

“But…”

Mahara slowed, her wings unfolding slightly. Fluttershy cocked her head, watching with curiosity, eager to hear more. In that moment, she stretched her wings, imagining them growing larger, envisioning the necessary changes to bone and tissue structure. She felt them cramp, and whimpered with defeat.

“There was one pony that caught my attention. I didn’t start seeing her until I was older, when I would go around in the early morning with my father to feed and water the garden. The first time I saw her, there was a light mist hanging over the grass and swirling off the leaves. The moon was just vanishing over the horizon, the sun little more than a gentle glow on the opposite end of the sky, and the last stars were bidding their twinkling farewells. She stood out against the fog like a statue of obsidian, with her ethereal mane flowing out behind her. I was in awe, and yet, I was too shy to look this magnificent mare in the eyes as she passed us by, silent as a ghost.

“That’s Princess Luna, my father told me when I finally asked about her. She’s very fond of the garden. I bet she likes to watch the sunrise from here while she’s finished guiding the moon for the evening.

“I had a beautiful name to put to the beautiful mare, and knowing that she was one of the most important ponies in the kingdom and that someday the garden she loved would become my responsibility… I began to take the family trade very seriously after that. I suppose I wanted to impress her, or at least ensure that her favorite place remained special to her.

“The royal garden was massive, but my mother and father managed it all by themselves somehow. I still didn’t have my cutie mark, but I was determined to learn and help them however I could in hopes of attaining their level of skill. My father said that I was still too young to do anything more than watch and learn, but my mother admired my spirit, and gave me a small, vacant plot where they had planned to grow roses.”

“Earth ponies are supposed to be adept at trades involving plants, but for two years, nothing bloomed in that plot. I spent all of my free time trying to change the acidity of the soil and ensure there were enough minerals and enough water, or that there were no parasites that were mysteriously robbing my rose bush of the ability to bloom. My mother told me to keep trying, but I could see that my inability to produce proper roses was troubling to my father. I began to lose hope.

“It was another misty morning on the day that my luck finally changed. Before my father had the cart loaded up, I checked on my plot, and found that somepony was already there. My heart skipped a beat when I realized that Princess Luna was standing beside my failure of a rose bush. She noticed me and smiled, slowly passing through the mist.

“We admit that, for a time, we were concerned that thou did’st lack the skill of thine parents, but now, she said as she looked back at the bush, we can see quite clearly that thou has’t great potential.”

Fluttershy started to giggle, at which point Mahara paused, giving her a grinning, sideways glance. “I’m sorry. It’s just… She didn’t say all this in her royal Canterlot voice, did she? The first time I heard her speak like that, it was terrifying.” The timid pegasus blushed, looking down. “It still is, a little bit.”

“Goodness no. Maybe she was being considerate, or maybe she only used that voice for crowds, but she spoke to me at a tolerable volume.”

Fluttershy nodded, and Mahara turned her attention forward, continuing her story.

“Anyway, I was confused, so I asked her what she meant. She merely smiled, spread her wings, and gave one single flap. The mist yawned away from us, revealing the white roses which had been previously hidden.

“We anticipate great things from thee, and we are confident that thou shalt not disappoint. The talent runs in thy blood.

“And with nothing further but a smile, she left on an air of grace, returning to the palace. I was speechless. She had complimented my work. I was so stunned that I didn’t even notice that I had finally gotten my cutie mark, but my father was quick to bring it to my attention when I had rejoined him.”

“But I haven’t seen your cutie mark,” Fluttershy quietly stated. “What happened to it?”

“As you well know, one cannot simply magic a cutie mark into being. In addition to my eyes, I cannot change the mark on my flanks into whatever I desire. However, it is possible to hide a cutie mark, at least with this sort of transformative magic. I’ve just been keeping it concealed all this time.”

“May I um… May I see it?”

Mahara nodded, her flanks shuddering and going still again in the blink of an eye. A black line was the first shape to fade in against the peach of her coat, topped off by white ovals that overlapped one another. The line became more defined, resembling a stem as small black thorns curled away from it, and the ovals took on the shapes of petals. When the transformation had ceased, a single white rose adorned her flanks.

“It’s very pretty…” The pegasus leaned closer in admiration. “I don’t see why you would want to hide that from anypony.”

“I figured that I would be able to remain undetected for just a bit longer if ponies couldn’t identify me by my mark… I’m sorry that I didn’t show you sooner…”

“I understand. You didn’t want me to see it and then ask where it went if we were in public. ” Fluttershy shook her head with a short, quiet laugh. “You really made things complicated for yourself, you know…”

“Yes, well… I didn’t realize that I could have been upfront about it with you… And I’m still not entirely sure that being honest would have gone as smoothly as you say.”

“You would have had to spend a little time talking me into it, but really, I don’t think I would have told you no. And…” A pleasant chill ran down Fluttershy’s spine, her feathers ruffling impulsively. “After feeling how gentle you were the first time… I would have been much more willing the next time.”

The peach pegasus glanced back at her, a timid smile on her lips, slowing down until she was moving at the same pace, side by side with Fluttershy.

“Do you think I’m a bad pony?” Mahara’s voice was so small that the yellow pegasus scarcely recognized it. “I honestly expected you to seal me back up after you accidentally brought me back to life. I was prepared to accept your punishment. I would have showed you the ritual and everything...”

The blinking green lights of several fireflies hovered lazily around them.

“We all make mistakes. It’s unfortunate that the mistakes you made had very um… very severe consequences, but… I don’t think you’re a bad pony. It was silly of you to try and hide who and what you really are, but I understand why you did what you did. You didn’t want to scare me. You thought that if I knew the truth, I would reject you. I just… I wish you had trusted me, like I trusted you.”

“Do you still trust me?”

“I’m trying to… but I’m angry about how things have come to pass. Everything could have been so much different if you had just opened up to me like I opened up to you… You did save my life, though… And you’ve been doing your best to keep me safe since then… I just want you to try and think things through more carefully before you act, and to stop lying. Your lying is what got us into this mess to begin with.”

“I know… For you, I’ll try.”

“Not just for me. For both of us.”

Mahara nodded in agreement. “For both of us, then. And… I’m sorry.”

“For what?”

“For everything. I should have just stayed away from you.”

Yes… Yes, you should have… Everything that has happened is your fault… So why do I still have these feelings for you? I thought Rarity hated me, I was still coming out of depression… I was desperate and lonely. I needed something then, but now…

What’s holding me to you now? Fear? I’m not afraid of turning myself in to Celestia, I’m only running because you want me to run… Do I just want to avoid hurting your feelings, even if it inconveniences me? It can’t be that simple… I’ve never wanted another mare before I met you. I don’t think I want another mare, either, so what is it about you that I can’t get away from? Is this what I wanted, but I didn’t realize that I wanted it? Something dangerous? Something unpredictable?

“No… No, I’m glad that I met you…” Fluttershy answered after an uncomfortable silence. “I just haven’t quite figured out why…”

\/ /\ /\ \/

Chapter 8 - In the Right Direction

Chapter Eight: In the Right Direction

\/ /\ /\ \/

Once again, Twilight Sparkle found herself looking down at the dirty, faded cover of the book she discovered in the library’s basement. She felt Déjà vu didn’t quite sum up what she was experiencing. When the book had been novel and mysterious, she had been apprehensive about reading it. Knowing to whom it belonged and what filled the pages did nothing to ease her discomfort. She looked back at Princess Celestia, the alicorn regarded her with an air of expectancy.

“How did it even end up down there?”

Celestia arched her brows, briefly glancing to ceiling. “Before my final confrontation with Luna, Mahara came to me in the interest of finding a cure for those whom my sister had tainted with darkness. She had brought her diary along with her, in the hopes that her personal record of the changes she experienced and her observations about her new way of life would provide insight into a remedy, but…”

The princess sighed, looking away from Twilight and down at the floor.

“The experiments and her proximity to me were too much for her to bear. She lost herself in a lust for blood, much like Zecora had lost herself earlier today. I didn’t want to kill her, so I cast a sealing spell on her in hopes of being able to imprison her and find a cure later, but her physical presence… The magic flowing through her must have resisted, and she remained, maddened and blood thirsty. Only recently have I realized that the sealing spell hadn’t failed. Instead of imprisoning her entire form, as it had with my sister, it only bound her soul to her diary, preventing her from truly leaving this world when I...”

Twilight nodded, but the alicorn’s expression had become distant and vacant. She approached slowly.

“She tore through a room full of ponies before I…” Celestia paused, a tremble running through her. “Before I could…”

The unicorn rested a hoof on Celestia’s back. “It’s not your fault. You did what you had to do.”

“In all my life, Twilight, I have only personally ended a few lives, and each of their faces still haunt me to this day…” The princess shook herself off, breathing deeply. “Not long after that, my sister mounted an assault on our camp, demanding that we release Mahara. I assume Mahara hadn’t bothered telling Luna or any of Luna’s other followers that she had willingly come to me.”

Celestia crossed the library to Twilight’s reading desk, eyes on the ancient book occupying its surface. The unicorn followed in silence, listening attentively.

“I told Luna what happened, I gave her the diary, and… she left without a word. I’m not actually certain what she did with the diary or how it came to end up in the basement, as that was the last I had ever seen of it until now. We don’t exactly discuss what happened in those days, she and I…”

A soft glow enveloped the diary, its cover gently lifting away from the yellowed pages. The princess exhaled slowly before returning her attention to Twilight.

“I can’t force you to read it, but I feel that you owe it to her to understand. She is an immediate danger to everypony in Equestria, and she must be dealt with accordingly…” Celestia glanced away briefly, meeting Twilight’s gaze again after a tense moment. “But, she is still deserving of our sympathy. She is not an evil pony. This is not a path she walks by any fault of her own.”

Twilight briefly thought back to Celestia’s arrival, her brow knitting with questions. “When you first came here, though, you kept referring to her as a creature and a monster. I haven’t heard you call her that since we left Fluttershy’s cottage.”

“When I got your letter, Twilight, I was afraid and confused. Imagine hearing that somepony you thought you had murdered, somepony you had mourned for ages after the fact was suddenly alive and breathing again. What’s more, that pony can cause unthinkable damage just by spreading the magic in her blood to other ponies.” Celestia narrowed her eyes, shifting her forehooves. “Her last memory of me is… I was afraid that she might still harbor resentment for my failure after all this time, and a small part of me was afraid that she might lose control, as she had before.”

Celestia paused to take a slow, deep breath. “I wanted to put this to rest before it had a chance to get out of control, so what you heard was my attempt to objectify the situation, but seeing Zecora transformed… It showed me that it’s already too late for that, and more importantly, I was reminded that Mahara is still a pony, just like us. She is not an agent of Nightmare Moon any more than I am, and I feel awful for having said that about her.”

Slowly, Twilight traced the edges of the open book before her. The writing on the pages was identical to the writing on the note Mahara had left her. This time, when Celestia stepped away from the table, the unicorn did not follow. The first twenty or so pages were fairly irrelevant as far as Twilight was concerned. She paused briefly to admire a few sketches of flowers, reading the notes accompanying them. Mahara had been very scholarly regarding her future in gardening. She continued to skim until she found something that actually resembled a personal entry.

“The coming morrow is the day to which I’ve been greatly anticipating. I have come of age and proven myself to mother and father, and so, the responsibility of tending the royal gardens will fall on my shoulders. I cannot help but feel a touch of anxiety under my excitement, however. It will be my work that is judged and, hopefully, admired by the ponies of Equestria and visitors from abroad, but truthfully, I am not worried about them so much as I’m worried about appeasing the Princess.

“I’ve not often seen her in the gardens as of late, and on the few occasions when I have seen her, she hasn’t seemed…

“I would give anything to see Princess Luna smile. She has a beautiful smile, and I miss seeing her happy.

“With luck, my gardening prowess will impress her, and bring her the joy I so fondly remember. And also, perhaps this is too presumptuous of me, but this is for mine own eyes, so… I hope that, perhaps, Princess Luna will become closer to me. I deeply admire her, but more than that, I feel… I feel a sense of longing for her. I know that I shouldn’t, she is royalty, after all, but… She is more beautiful than any flower I could ever hope to grow.

“Perhaps someday I shall tell her how I feel. Perhaps, if I am allowed to hope, she will share my feelings. But, I do not expect this of her. Tis’ but a fantasy, and I am surely not that important to her.

“Tis’ a pleasant fantasy just the same.”

A small illustration of Princess Luna’s cutie mark occupied the lower corner of the page. She spent a moment looking it over before moving on. The entries became more easily identifiable as Mahara’s writing fell into a pattern. Most of them detailed her plans for the garden or her thoughts on the well-being of her mother and father. Floral sketches and a few dried, pressed flower petals clung to some of the pages, with corresponding notes in the margins.

There was no mention of any sorts of friends; only Luna or her dedication to practice and study of gardening. It all seemed familiar somehow, and the realization made Twilight uncomfortable. She tried to bury the feeling by concentrating on reading, picking up after an intricate diagram of a flower head.

“They’re both taking to retiring quite well, I should think. Tis’ hardly retirement of course, as they still tend to the garden by choice, but the majority of the work, and certainly the responsibility, fall to me now. I’ve seen the Princess more oft’ of late. The garden is without peer, and her mood seems to be improving. I’m unsure if mother and father ever attempted actual friendship with her, but…

“I’m feeling daring, and I have heard that she does not have many a friend. That is at least one common ground between us, because neither do I. While that is by my choice, I can’t help but notice that she seems very much alone.

“She needn’t be.

“Oh, but this is already far overstepping my boundaries! I’m flushed just thinking about it! I barely even know her. Is it disrespectful to think of the Princess like this? I should hope not. My feelings for her are of utmost sincerity.

“But, as we are, this will just have to remain a fantasy. At least, dare I dream, for now.”

Another illustration resided under the entry: A dark silhouette of an alicorn against a sliver of a moon, the surrounding paper scribbled black.

Twilight looked up from the book and swept the room. Nimbus Chaser, as she had learned to call him, was idly scanning the contents of one of her many book shelves, and Sleet was in the process of following Spike into the kitchen. Celestia was nowhere to be seen. She could hear the princess speaking, however. She was in the basement. Zecora’s voice followed.

A private discussion. I should probably leave them to it…

Feeling her legs begin to tire, Twilight leaned against her desk. Behind her, she could hear Spike, evidently done with his fridge raid, asking Sleet if he needed help finding anything. She looked to the door as a female guard that she hadn’t put a name to stepped into the library, smiling, she assumed, at Nimbus. The conversations blended together as she shut them out, returning her focus to the diary.

“For all her age and responsibility, once you get to know her, Princess Luna is a very warm and thoughtful pony. I can understand that most other ponies are intimidated by her, but really, she desires what anyone desires; companionship.

“Most ponies sleep through her beautiful, starry nights, or worse, they fear the darkness that she brings. She has guards and servants like Princess Celestia, but… Well, that isn’t quite the same, is it? No one goes out of their way to get to know her. I’m one of very few ponies that have actually tried to befriend her. When she talks about it, I can see how it distresses her.

“Luna just wants friends. She wants the same kind of adoration that her older sister gets.

“And… I feel I can give that to her.

“I don’t want to startle or overwhelm her, so for now, I shall wait. I have plenty of time to wait. I enjoy being her friend, I really do, but I feel like we could have something more. Is that selfish of me?

“I just want my Princess to be happy. A flower can only bring so much joy, and much like the flower itself, it doesn't last. You can press and dry a flower petal, but does that same beauty of a flower in bloom remain when flattened? I can be more than that. Perhaps not eternal, like her, but…

“Well, this is all just me getting ahead of myself. I’m not even sure if Luna feels that way about me.

“Soon, though. So very soon, I’ll find out how you feel. And, if fortune truly favors the bold…

“You won’t have to be alone anymore.”

As the weathered pages turned, they crinkled softly, delicate with age. As Twilight read deeper, there were fewer entries about gardening, and more entries about the princess- even a few poems. The illustrations became increasingly complex as well. They began to mingle; illustrations of Luna walking through misty groves, or pausing to smell and admire flowers. She stopped when she came to a sketch that filled a full page: an image of Luna looking over her shoulder, her wings partially unfolded. The image gave her an impression of intimacy.

The unicorn blushed, glancing at the room behind her for fear that somepony might be looking as well. When she returned to the diary, she averted her gaze to the entry on the adjacent page.

“This is it.

“I feel confident that Luna and I have become close enough that…

“I’m ready. I’m ready to tell her how I feel, and I think she is ready as well.

“I say this because I can see that she is comfortable with me. I’ve been waking up earlier or staying up later to spend time with her for a good year or so now. The garden has suffered a bit, but really, she doesn’t seem to mind.

“She told me the other day that she doesn’t come for the flowers anymore.

“Oh, be still my heart! Can it be true? Does she know how I feel? Does she feel the same? She asked me if I’d like to spend the evening with her sometime. I said yes. I’m going to find out, finally, if this is all just an illusion I’ve deceived myself into believing, or…

“Words can hardly describe it! Please let it be so! There is nothing in all of Equestria, all the world, even, that I could want more than you! Give me this chance, my Princess, and I will make sure that you do not regret it. There is nothing I wouldn’t do for you.

“On a less joyous note, my mother and father have noticed the slight decline in the quality of the garden, but what is a chewed leaf or two? Surely this is more important! I haven’t told them of my intentions, of course. They would likely tell me that it is a futile effort, but I’ve come this far.

“Tis’ time to find out for myself.”

The next complete entry was very brief. A few discolored spots were scattered across the page. Twilight bit her lower lip as she guessed what they were.

“She said that she was sorry, that she was flattered, that she wished she could reciprocate my feelings, but that there could not be love between us.

“‘It would be inappropriate for us to share that kind of relationship,’ she said.

“Not ‘We don’t feel the same way.’ Not ‘We are sorry for giving you that impression.’

“It would be ‘inappropriate.’

“I hadn’t wanted to admit it, but I was right. Twas foalish of me to think that a princess could show affection to a pony as lowly as a gardener.

“I don’t care anymore. Let me rot like dead vegetation. There is nothing left for me in this garden.”

Following the entry, several pages were torn out. A few stray letters adorned the scraps that remained of the margins. The lines were dark, almost etched. Twilight heaved a deep sigh, closing her eyes as she took a step back from the desk, intent on letting her emotions settle. She opened her eyes to find a soft shadow had fallen across the desk.

“We do not choose whom it is that we fall in love with.” Celestia’s voice startled Twilight so greatly that she nearly stumbled as she half turned toward the princess. “Just as we do not choose the kind of ponies we become as we grow and learn. We can decide to act or not act, but we are the result of our surroundings, the sum of our experiences. We can convince ourselves to behave differently, tell ourselves that we do or do not love another pony, but there will always be a lingering trace.”

Twilight looked to the regal alicorn, but Celestia was focusing on the diary, turning to another, later entry.

“It’s unfortunate, then, that sometimes the ones we trust the most are the ones that lead us astray… That the mare Mahara fell in love with, my own sister, would use her feelings against her. I try to tell myself that Luna wasn’t well when she did this to her, and to others, but even after all this time, her actions… I have a hard time forgiving her. I was not the only pony she betrayed when she donned the façade of Nightmare Moon.”

“Is this why Mahara didn’t try to go straight to Luna when I freed her?”

Celestia nodded slowly. “Yes, but only partly the reason. This was only the beginning, you see… Mahara was always looking for a way into Luna’s heart, but the rejection crushed her, and made her vulnerable. When next they met, out of desperation, and the hope that she could get what she so desired, Mahara agreed to something that she did not fully understand.”

With brows knitted, Twilight nervously glanced to the diary, and then back to Celestia. “What did she agree to?”

The alicorn motioned to the page she had opened to. “Read for yourself…”

At first, it seemed there was nothing out of the ordinary about the way the entry was written. There were no tear stains or angry scratches on the pages. There were also no sketches. Considering the emotional storm Mahara had endured, the sudden calmness of the page began to weigh on Twilight’s nerves. She took a deep breath as she began to read.

“I saw her again today, the first time in months. Would you believe that my heart could still beat for her?

“At the insistence and prodding of my parents, I have resumed my duties as a gardener, but there’s no passion in it for me anymore. I’ve just been doing it because it is what I’m supposed to do.

“I suppose that’s better than nothing.

“Tis’ how we crossed paths early this morning, before the sun had risen. I wasn’t looking for her, either. She came to me in the mist, like she used to, but…

“She was different. Darker. Taller, perhaps. Her voice and her eyes weren’t as I remember, either. When she smiled at me, her smile was different too… The moment I laid eyes on her, though, I knew right away.

“I was content to continue my gardening, but she walked right up behind me, close enough to whisper.

“’Are you not happy to see us,’ she asked. And I was. I was very happy to see her, but at the same time, something about the way she had changed filled me with terror. I had never been afraid of her before. I told her so and she just laughed, walking around until we were face to face.

“’You have nothing to fear,’ she told me. ‘We come to you with an offer, in fact. We want you to be with us. The first, and the closest.’ I asked her what she meant, and she leaned closer, still smiling. ‘As we were, we could not be with you, but now, things have changed. We have changed. And soon, we will change the world. We want you by our side when that happens.’

“I could barely manage a nod. I could barely breathe, at that. ‘But if you are to survive with us, in our new world… If you are to share our love… First, you must change.’

“This was the chance I had always wanted. How could I say no? I smiled, and I said yes. She smiled, and she kissed me.

“I had fantasized about that moment for years, written poems about the tender embrace of my Princess, and yet… This was nothing like what I had envisioned. It was cold and aggressive. When the embrace ended, I felt… different.

“Before I could ask, she said ‘We have much work to do, but we will be with you again soon.” And she left with nary a word further, soaring off into the starry sky.

“I completed my morning rounds, but it wasn’t until I returned home that I realized the sun had not yet risen. Ponies began to fill the streets as they came to the same realization, looking to the inky sky, waiting for a sunrise that, even as I write this, has never come.

“I have begun to feel very thirsty, but no amount of milk, juice or water will quench my thirst…

“In the back of my mind, I fear that perhaps I have made a mistake. Worse, I fear that Luna is somehow involved in this. She said that she would soon see me again. I am certain that she shall clear away my confusion and suspicion when she does.”

With a shudder, Twilight stepped away from her desk, shakily making her way to her reading couch. She looked back to find Celestia closing the diary, resting her regal hoof on the cover. After a few moments, the alicorn quietly headed toward the basement. She paused before descending, as if aware that Twilight was watching her.

“She didn’t deserve this fate, Twilight, but fate can be cruel.” Celestia met Twilight’s gaze, smiling sadly. “I just hope that wherever she is now, she’s happy. Even though she cannot stay here, for the time being, she at least deserves that much.”

“You say that as though you’re sure that Mahara is still alive.”

“The fact that her diary was just lying in the open is proof enough that she’s anything but dead. If you ask me…” Celestia’s fragile smile fractured, vanishing under a more somber expression. “Mahara left it behind on purpose.”

\/ /\ /\ \/

For a pegasus with a fear of heights, Fluttershy hadn’t realized just how much she had missed flying.

Her mane and tail flowed out behind her, shimmering softly in the moonlight, the wind ruffling her feathers as her wings beat against the open air. They were larger now, her wingspan a full three times wider than it had been, with long, fine plumage fanning out against the wind as she cast a distant, sweeping shadow over the trees below.

And she was laughing.

The transformation had been painful for her, forcing her bones to break, and then re-grow, but she had nearly forgotten the pain. In its place, a joy she hadn’t experienced in a very long time. Ahead of her, Mahara was slowly descending, hooves skimming over the clouds, cutting small trenches in their puffy mass. On an impulse fueled by the thrill of returning to the sky, Fluttershy tucked her wings against herself, rolling into a dive. The wind whistled through her ears as she closed in on Mahara, unfolding her wings again with a loud flap as the rushing air hit her feathers. The winged peach mare glanced back at her, meeting Fluttershy’s gleeful expression with one of her own.

“Are you…” Mahara slowed slightly, allowing herself to drift closer. “Are you alright?”

“Oh, yes! I’m absolutely alright!” Realizing that she had shouted, Fluttershy began to blush. “Why um… Why do you ask?”

“You’re crying.”

In all her excitement, and with the wind whipping against her, Fluttershy hadn’t noticed the dampness around her eyes. With the tears brought to her attention, she slowed, but continued to fly. Mahara turned completely, backstroking with her wings as she hovered a few noses in front of the timid pegasus.

“I’m… It’s okay. They’re um… They’re happy tears.” She smiled, nodding, Mahara doing the same. “I always took flying for granted, and well… I was never a strong flyer before, but… I think I understand it now, why Rainbow Dash loves it so much… It’s… I’m free. Completely free…” There was a short span of silence, underscored by the quiet rustling of feathers. “Thank you,” she whispered at last, inching closer.

They came together, eyes softly closed, lips gently pressing. They descended into the puffy white banks below, the clouds held them as they held one another. Fluttershy felt her doubts and frustrations dissolve, at least for that seemingly endless moment. Even after the kiss had ended, they maintained the embrace, gazing deep into one another’s eyes. Her mind buzzed with an indecipherable blur of excited, half formed notions, her emotions running rampant. Above everything else, standing out against the internal confusion, she felt safe. She knew that Mahara would never let any harm come her way, so long as there was breath in her lungs.

The clouds shifted, blotting out the moon just long enough for her to notice a distant glow on the horizon. Mahara turned toward that glow, a curious grin on her lips when she returned her gaze to Fluttershy. They came to an agreement without saying a word, and a playful chase ensuing the moment their embrace ended. The lead was shared, traded each time Fluttershy caught up to Mahara, or Mahara to Fluttershy, weaving through the clouds, rolling around one another in the air, laughing all the while.

Manehattan was little more than a gathering of bright lights, but they were quickly covering the distance, seeming just a bit closer each time Fluttershy emerged from the puffy haze. Below, the forests slowly thinned out, replaced with tilled fields, lush crops, and the occasional farm house, windows illuminated and long plumes of smoke curling from the chimneys. Beyond that, she spotted a small town no larger than Ponyville, though much less quaint by comparison. In a few minutes, that too was far behind them. Silhouettes of the city’s skyline slowly came into focus, surrounded by a vast stretch of smaller buildings that, at such a distance, were reduced to a glittering grey blur.

While Mahara had been in the lead, Fluttershy realized that she had begun to follow train tracks. A river carved through the landscape, with a bridge holding the two sides together like a single stitch. A short distance ahead of them, a train chugged through the night, its whistle echoing through the moonlit sky.

Mahara slowed, matching her pace with Fluttershy. “Should we hitch a ride?” She motioned to the train, smiling. “If you’re tired, I figure we can rest on the roof, maybe nibble one of the passengers…”

“Oh, goodness no… They’re probably um…” Fluttershy bit her lip, forgetting how sharp her fangs were. “It would be rude to… I um… while they’re sleeping… I’d… rather not. If that’s okay with you, that is.”

“As you wish.” Mahara fell a pony length behind, her left wing dusting Fluttershy’s flank in passing. “We will need to feed shortly after we arrive, however. I’m afraid we won’t have the luxury of choice at that point, since Rarity won’t be arriving until morning.”

An owl called out to her, looking curiously up at the pair. I wonder, Fluttershy thought to herself.

“Mahara, why can’t we just drink blood from…” She glanced back at her companion, finding Mahara’s brow cocked, a trace of a grin on her lips. “Well, from creatures that aren’t ponies? Does it have to be ponies?”

“For the most part, the only blood that the magic can draw strength from, the only blood that can keep us alive, has to come from ponies, or a creature that is similar to a pony. Blood from zebras and donkeys provide nourishment nearly equivalent to pony blood. Blood from deer, cows, buffalo, griffons or dogs, while acceptable, is much less so.” Mahara nodded, Fluttershy assumed, to herself. “Generally, the farther a creature is from an equine, the less nourishment we can gather from its blood. If we could effectively consume reptilian blood, for example, I would have been greatly strengthened by defeating the hydra.”

The timid pegasus nodded. “Alright, I understand… It’s just… I was really hoping that um… That maybe there was some other way.”

Mahara caught up to her, offering her a gentle nuzzle. “I know that this is all a little scary for you-”

“It’s not even that anymore. I…” Fluttershy could feel a blush slowly burning her cheeks as she thought back to feeding from Rarity. “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but… I like it. I really like it. The taste, and the biting, and…” She caught a sly grin from Mahara after giving off a light shudder. “But when I started drinking, I couldn’t stop. I just drifted off… lost in the feeling. I don’t want to hurt anyone, and how often do I need to feed, anyway?”

“You’ll learn how to control your urges with practice, and depending on how much magic you’re using, you may be able to get away with feeding once every two days… though that may be pushing it. I’d say once a day, to be safe.” Mahara snickered quietly. “As long as you’re not vigorously transforming or getting torn open and shot on a regular basis, a few swallows is really all you’ll need.”

As Mahara smiled, she could feel some of her anxiety lifting. “That’s… I guess that’s not so bad. I just don’t want to have to bother Rarity with my… Well… It shouldn’t fall entirely on her. That wouldn’t be fair.”

“Manehatten is an enormous city. I’m certain that we’ll find plenty of willing sources of fresh blood." Mahara looked down, lips pursing. “Speaking of which…”

Fluttershy followed her example, finding the open countryside replaced with what, at first, appeared to be the edge of another small town. This town didn’t seem to end, however. It just spread out farther and wider ahead of them. She spotted the train slowly winding through the brick and cobblestone, a maze of streets and alleys on either side. Before she could trace the path to its destination, her vision was obscured with the puffy white blanket of a cloud. Mahara's laughter reached her ears, slowly pulling ahead and then quickly fading to silence.

When Fluttershy emerged from the condensation, she understood why.

The Manehattan skyline stood proudly against the night sky, a pony-made mountain of glass, stone, and metal, interlaced with streets that glowed like rivers of light. Neon hugged the street corners and perched on rooftops, their soft buzz nearly drowned out by the murmur of activity. Wagons rumbled through intersections, while chariots soared from one end of the city to the other. The sidewalks positively squirmed with ponies of all sorts, going about their business even at such a late hour. All of this, surrounded with smaller, multi story buildings for at least a mile on every side.

It took several moments for Fluttershy to realize she had stopped breathing, gasping quietly as her eyes continued to roam the cityscape. Mahara fluttered beside her in a similar state of shock.

“It’s much different, seeing it in person…” Mahara nearly whispered after several minutes.

“I’ve been here before but… Well, I’ve never seen it from the air, or at night. It’s…” She smiled, drifting a bit closer to Mahara. “It’s really something…”

Fluttershy felt a forehoof around her middle, squeezing gently. Mahara spoke softly, a slight waver to her words. “I know I said that we need to feed but… Can we stay here just a little longer? I just…” She swallowed, a tremble running through her. “I just need a moment.”

“We can take as much time as you need.” She returned the embrace, holding Mahara close. “I don’t mind at all.”

\/ /\ /\ \/

Manehattan was as impressive from the ground as it was from the air, as far as Fluttershy was concerned. Tacks Square almost seemed to have an aura, the radiant glow of neon advertisements and street lamps completely overpowering the combined presence of the moon and stars. Ponies of all sizes and types bustled around her, floating overhead or moving about on hoof, oblivious to the world around them as they went on their way. Fluttershy spotted more than a few zebras in the crowd as well, and they seemed as preoccupied as the ponies that shared the streets with them. It felt strange to her that, despite such a high volume of activity, she was being completely ignored. The oddity was as comforting as it was curious. Gradually, she was adjusting to the increased volume as well. The countless drum of heartbeats melted together into a singular, steady buzz.

Slowly scanning her surroundings, she wondered, So where do we go from here?

She turned to Mahara, finding her companion busy with a map. They had landed in one of the brightest spots in the city, drawn by the sound and movement, and found themselves standing in the center of a massive six way intersection, but only the two diagonal streets seemed to get any activity from carriages or wagons. Occasionally, a chariot touched down to load or unload passengers. Tacks Square was lined with brightly lit shops on all sides, and many of the ponies she observed were carrying bags adorned with corresponding logos. She spotted a mare wearing one of Rarity’s more recent designs, and felt a swell of joy as she was reminded that her friend would be with them by the following morning. She turned as she felt a tap on the shoulder.

“So I just realized that Rarity never told us where to meet her.”

Fluttershy’s ears splayed as she had the same realization. “Well, um… Maybe if we go to the train station and wait for her?” Mahara cocked her head, and the timid pegasus looked down. “Just… just a thought.”

“Not a bad idea.” She felt Mahara nuzzle the back of her neck, slowly bringing up her gaze. “Before we do that, though… Well, you know what I’m going to say.”

“Yes, I know… Who… How are we… Anypony at all?” Fluttershy looked over the moving crowd, faces almost blurring together as they pushed passed one another. “There are so many. How do we know who to ask?”

“Well, the plan was to offer money for blood, so we want somepony who looks desperate. Like… a bum, or a street performer.” Mahara quickly glanced around, pausing several times in the process. “And there appears to be a selection of both, so we pick the healthiest of the lot, take care of our needs, and then find somewhere to wait until morning.”

“O-okay… But um… Mahara…” The green eyed mare cocked a brow as Fluttershy struggled to find the words she wanted. “We… I didn’t bring any money with me, and you… How are we going to pay them?”

“Oh. That’s simple. We’re not.” She flashed a toothy grin, to which Fluttershy cast a scowl. “What?”

“That’s awful! You can’t just lie to somepony like that!”

“Fine…” Mahara rolled her eyes, stepping past Fluttershy. “We’ll make some other arrangement then. If you ask me, though, this will just complicate things.”

Her expression softened as she followed Mahara. “It’s the right thing to do, so if that complicates things, then it will be worth it.”

“If you say so…” The peach pegasus glanced back at her, and then started searching the crowd as they passed through it. “So it looks like we have a musician, a juggler… I think that’s a pegasus painted gold? A living statue maybe? No… Look how many bits they’re raking in… Oh!” Mahara stopped, a grin spreading across her lips. “Bingo.”

Fluttershy tilted her head, attempting to trace her gaze. She found herself looking at a dirty light blue mare sitting on an equally dirty spread of cardboard. It took her a moment to realize that the mare was a unicorn, since her mane was such a mess. The mane in question had an almost frost color to it; a blue so de-saturated that it was nearly white. As they came closer, she stirred, looking up at them with one eye open. Fluttershy recoiled slightly as the smell of alcohol hit her, but Mahara seemed unphased.

“You know, for a sign that says Magic Performance, you don’t seem very magical.” The unicorn narrowed one eye at Mahara’s words, opening the other just as wide. “Or are you just on a break right now?”

“I’ll have you know that I was one of the greatest traveling magicians in all of Equestria! I mean-” She slowly rolled to her hooves, knocking over an empty bottle. “I am the greatest traveling magician in all of Equestria! Prepare to be amazed!”

A feeling of déjà-vu quickly swept over Fluttershy as she watched the unicorn mare right herself, swaying for a moment on her hooves. Is that… No, it can’t be… She looked into the mare’s eyes as she glared at Mahara. Can it?

Her horn began to glow, then spit out brightly colored sparks that floated through the air, swirling into the shape of a star, then of a magic wand. The wand, Fluttershy realized, was the same as her cutie mark.

“Oh my…”

The pedestrian traffic hardly stopped to look, save for a single zebra wearing a shirt reading I and Manehattan, with a bright red heart in between. Even he seemed to lose interest after a minute or two, rejoining the flow of the crowd. Mahara, on the other hoof, began to stomp and cheer. The unicorn was absolutely ecstatic about that.

“I trust there is no further doubt in my abilities?” She beamed, holding her head proudly. “Or would you like further demonstration?”

“Absolutely!” No sooner had Mahara said this did she glance back to Fluttershy, her excitement briefly cracking into a grin, visibly fighting not to laugh.

“Mahara…” Fluttershy took a few steps closer, frowning as she watched the mare warm up for another light show. “This is really mean…”

“Is it? Look how happy she is.” She began to stomp and shout again as the performer imitated a fireworks display with her magic. “I’m just telling her what she wants to hear. Besides,” Mahara said, nodding toward the performing unicorn, “this is actually a rather good show.”

The lights faded as the mare began to sway again, staggering forward a few steps. “O-oh, sorry… I haven’t eaten much today, and powerful as I am, I’m a bit exhausted. You understand, I trust.” She cleared her throat as she steadied herself, looking to Mahara, then Fluttershy, and back again. “I don’t suppose you’d like to… ahem… extend some generosity for my little show?”

“How about dinner, actually.” Fluttershy’s eyes widened as she looked to Mahara, finding the unicorn’s jaw agape looking back to her. “On us, of course.”

“Woah, really? I mean, yes, of course! The Great and Powerful Trixie would be honored to grace you with her presence.”

Mahara smiled, nodding, while Fluttershy looked down and shook her head.

\/ /\ /\ \/

How can it be this much busier inside than it is outside? The noise was so intense; she could hardly hear herself think. I knew this city was big, but this is almost too much for me to get my head around!

Fluttershy took in her surroundings, finding the room absolutely packed despite its size. At the far end, opposite the door they came in from, a wide stage with a zebra, singing in her exotic tongue and dancing along to the rhythm. Several musicians were set up with bongos, a guitar, and some wind instruments on stage left, complimenting her voice with an equally exotic sounding beat.

Close to the stage, she set her eyes on a very lavishly dressed griffon surrounded by at least a dozen mares, all eagerly chatting with him. She could have sworn that she saw a buffalo out on the street shortly before entering the restaurant, as well. Manehattan was certainly no Ponyville, and not just in terms of size. There seemed to be a much broader spectrum of diversity amongst its inhabitants, as opposed to a single zebra that lived outside of town. Fluttershy found that comforting in a way. This city doesn’t care who or what you are, she mused. Rarity was right to send us out this way.

Mahara and Trixie burst out laughing, drawing Fluttershy’s attention back to the table. After a bit of shape shifting and trickery, Mahara had been able to get them in by impersonating a very wealthy looking stallion who entered shortly before they did. Fluttershy was grateful that Mahara had at least had the decency to shape shift in an alley where nopony could see her. She had also declared, while in disguise, that anything they bought would be put on his tab. Once that business was concluded, Mahara had ducked into a bathroom and resumed her pegasus form, returning to find that Trixie was making full use of the menu’s list of alcohols. In the hour since they sat down at the table, she had achieved a bright blush and a slur.

While their intentions and the fact that they were eating on someone else’s bits still made Fluttershy feel somewhat guilty, Trixie was undoubtedly having a wonderful time. The timid pegasus even cracked a smile as Trixie began to thump the table.

“An’ then they brough’ the fuckin’ thin’ back to me like “Oh Trixie vanisch the Ursa!” Can you believe tha’? Ssstupid fuckin’ colts! Nobody takes me serious as a magick-an ‘nymore ‘cause a them! I hafta’-” Trixie hiccupped, nearly knocking over her drink. “Hafta make money by-”

“You know what, Trixie? I think you’re alright anyway!” Mahara had decided to drink a few glasses of wine herself, and it was certainly showing. “Twilight Sparkle can go kiss between Celestia’s flanks, you’re a fantastic magician!”

A waiter begrudgingly approached the table, ignoring the inebriated laughter of the unicorn and pegasus, directing his attention to Fluttershy. “Will you be having anything else this evening, Madame, or will the salad be all?”

Fluttershy had only picked at a few greens, the rest of the salad largely untouched. Despite having barely eaten anything since morning, she simply lacked the appetite. She nodded lightly, giving a smile. “That will be all, thank you.”

“No no, wait! A bottle of wine! We’d like another bottle of wine!” Trixie nodded as fast as she could, nearly falling out of her chair. “To go, though. We’d like it to go.” Mahara locked eyes with the timid pegasus, motioning to the front door.

The waiter arched a brow and turned away. “I’ll inform Sir Bags of your total, then. Please wait here.”

Once the waiter was a few tables away, Mahara mumbled, “That’s our cue…” She put her wing around Trixie, guiding the stumbling unicorn out of her chair and toward the front of the restaurant.

Fluttershy followed hesitantly, glancing over her shoulder every few steps. Trixie snagged a bottle of wine off an unattended table, nearly smashing it as her levitation faltered. The three of them had just set hoof outside when a roar cut through the commotion of the restaurant, silencing it completely.

“Oh my gosh!” Fluttershy squeaked, spinning around, spotting two formal looking stallions flanking an older looking unicorn with a monocle.

Mahara galloped forward a few steps, nearly sending the drunken unicorn sprawling. “Let’s go! Let’s goooo!”

“What’sh the rush, huh?! I didn’ even wanna leave yet!” Trixie started galloping to the best of her ability, knocking an elderly mare over in the process.

“Yes well, we didn’t want to occupy that table for the entire night, did we?”

“I sshure did!”

A shout caught up to them from behind, and Fluttershy looked back to see several more stallions in suits chasing them. Thankfully, none of them were pegasi.

“Mahara,” Fluttershy whimpered, “did your plan have any parts about what to do if we’re being chased?!”

Trixie tried to look back, tumbling in the process. “Why are we bein’ chased?” she moaned as Fluttershy helped lift her onto Mahara’s back.

“Because Mahara has very flimsy morals!” Fluttershy glared at Mahara as she spoke, causing the green eyed mare to splay her ears with a nervous smirk. “That’s why!”

“How about we take a left?” Mahara skidded briefly, Trixie nearly sliding off her back, as she resumed her gallop ninety degrees in another direction, shooting down a narrow alley.

Fluttershy managed a wide turn, her flank scraping the bricks of the corner as she poured on the speed. Mahara had already reached the end of the passage, glancing back as she hooked right. The pounding of her hooves echoed ahead, overlapping Fluttershy’s as she slowly reclaimed lost ground. Several paces later, she had sight of Mahara again, but the peach coated mare had come to a stop. She cradled Trixie in her forelegs now, the unicorn squirming slightly as Mahara spread her wings and took to the air. Fluttershy followed her lead, nearly skimming the roof as they flew as low as they could.

The police are probably looking for us now... She sighed, closing the gap between them. “Mahara, why can’t you stay out of trouble?”

“So some rich stallion you’ve never met is a few insignificant bits less wealthy. I think that, in the name of charity, my actions are justified.” She looked over her shoulder, smiling. “Isn’t that right, Trixie?”

Trixie belched wetly in response, followed by an unintelligible mumble. Somehow, she had managed to keep the bottle of wine with her and was now cradling it, gnawing feebly on the cork. Mahara giggled softly to herself, and Fluttershy had a fairly good idea why.

“Are you thinking the same thing that I’m thinking?”

“About our friend and her little wine bottle? If it’s about the amusing little parallel, then yes.” Mahara smiled, turning her attention to Fluttershy. “And you were right, by the way. Even if doing things your way made this a little more complicated-”

“My way?” The heavyset pegasus huffed. “I didn’t tell you to steal from anyone!”

“Aaand even if you feel that my methods are a little skewed. You were right. Trixie has had a run of bad luck, more than her fair share, and I feel like we did the right thing.”

“Alright… I… As long as your heart is in the right place.” She smiled, thinking back to the restaurant. “It definitely felt good to see her happy.”

The rustle of leaves caught Fluttershy’s attention. The buildings of Manehattan had fallen behind, and yet, they were still present on either side. She could see more of them ahead as well. Immediately, she realized what they were flying over.

“Concho Park...” Mahara glanced back at her, tilting her head. “Can we um… Can we stop here? Like, stop flying, put Trixie down and stay a while? Please?”

“Hmm? I don’t see why not.”

They circled as they descended, touching down on an outcrop of rocks a few paces from a cobblestone path. The timid pegasus smiled, breathing deeply now that the air smelled of grass and trees. Out of the corner of her eye, she watched as Mahara made an effort to get Trixie on her own hooves, but the unicorn gracelessly dismounted into a mumbling heap, still clutching the bottle of wine with a foreleg. Unable to resist, Fluttershy snickered quietly, coming a bit closer.

After a few moments of checking her surroundings, Mahara lowered herself to the rocky ground beside Trixie. After straightening out her posture, she gently brushed Trixie’s mane away from the side of her neck.

“Wait.” Fluttershy lifted her hoof, causing Mahara to look up from Trixie. “I… I don’t want to just take this from her. We should ask her first.”

“Fluttershy, look at her. She’s…” Mahara sighed softly, leaning away. “Go ahead. A few minutes more won’t be the death of us.”

Trixie burbled something incoherent, eyes crossed, a dumb grin on her face, and Fluttershy had to force back a giggle. “Now Trixie, Mahara and I… Well, we… paid…” Mahara looked away, lips twisted as the she tried not to grin. “We paid for your dinner and your um… your alcohol because we… We need to ask something of you, and you have every right to say no, but we would really, really appreciate it so much if you would cooperate."

Slowly becoming lucid again, Trixie managed to mutter, “Ssso whadda’ ya want from me, then?”

Fluttershy looked up at Mahara, and then back to Trixie again. “Mahara and I are… We need to… There’s really no easy way to say this.” She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “Mahara and I need to drink blood to survive, so… If you’d let us drink some of your-”

“Pfff, tha’s all? Go right ahead. I thought-” Trixie jolted clumsily as she hiccupped. “I thought you were gonna make me do somethin’ weiiiird. This ‘s a lot less humil-ating than…” She trailed off into mumble territory, her sentence falling apart.

“Well, you heard the mare.” Mahara leaned forward, baring her fangs.

“But…”

“Fluttershy, please.” The green eyed pegasus stroked the side of Trixie’s neck. “We’re not going to take much from her; just enough to sustain us until Rarity arrives. She gave you her permission, so what more do you need?”

“I… Alright. You’re right…” Fluttershy knelt down opposite Mahara, focusing on the steadily thumping rhythm in the back of her mind. Trixie’s heartbeat was easy to discern from hers, or Mahara’s.

A thought occurred, a brief recollection of their close call in the Boutique. There was an unusual heartbeat outside, with Twilight, Zecora, Celestia, and all her guards. Did she… She didn’t turn some other pony into a creature like herself, did she? Fluttershy watched as Mahara bit down on Trixie’s neck, rubbing the other side with her hoof as if to keep the unicorn calm. But how would there be another one of us unless she...

Mahara gave a happy little gasp, licking the blood from her lips as she pressed a hoof to the bite marks she had made. “Your turn, my dear.”

\/ /\ /\ \/

Slipping out of Ponyville had been much easier than expected, but then, Rarity knew that nopony had been expecting her to slip out. Dressed as humbly as she could manage, and acting as inconspicuously as her pride would allow, the fashionista had boarded an early morning train bound for Manehattan with what she considered a modest amount of luggage. The sun was just starting to peer over the horizon as her train pulled into Paddock Station, the dawn sky beautifully distorted by the concourse ceiling’s glass paned arches. Rarity stepped onto the platform, spying the small hill of her luggage to the left. She took another step and froze.

Three haggard looking ponies sat on the bench before her, two of them wearing very poorly crafted disguises that seemed to be made of mane clippings, feathers and twigs. Pasted to the columns on either side of them were identical posters that read Wanted for Petty Theft. Beneath that, the sketches of three mares, one of which she immediately recognized as Fluttershy, another sparking faint recognition. At the bottom of the poster: If you see or know of the whereabouts of these three ponies, please inform an officer of the law immediately. A 500 Bit reward will be given for assistance that leads to a successful arrest.

Rarity buried her face in her forehoof. “Oh for heaven’s sake…”

“H-hello Rarity…” Fluttershy spoke from beneath a fake mustache the same color as her mane, sitting in the middle of the trio. “We um… Mahara and I… It’s a long-”

“Wait a minute! I remember you!” Rarity cocked a brow, finding something very familiar about the unicorn pointing at her. “You’re one of her friends!”

“I beg your pardon?” She glanced back to Fluttershy, hoping for an explanation.

“She um…” The poorly disguised pegasus fidgeted. “She means Twilight.”

“How does she know that I’m-” Rarity leaned closer, examining the glaring mare across from her. “Aren’t you the magician that came to Ponyville? The same magician that lied about defeating an Ursa Major?” Rarity’s expression hardened, eyes narrowed. “The same magician that did unspeakable things to my mane?!”

“The Great and Powerful Trixie merely showed you that you were no match for her!” Trixie held her head high, sneering. “Your humiliation was nopony’s fault but your own!”

The third pony, an earth stallion sitting opposite Trixie, had been shifting about on the bench for the entire exchange. No sooner had Trixie begun to shout did he fall off the bench in a fit of laughter. A pair of radiant green eyes darted back and forth between Rarity and her verbal adversary as he cackled.

“Mahara, I presume?” Rarity gave Trixie one last icy stare before giving the stallion her full attention. “I thought we agreed that you were to refrain from disguising yourself. Are we breaking promises now? Or are you just showing off your abilities to any has been magician you come across?”

“Has been?!” Trixie snorted.

Hearing Mahara speak with a male’s voice gave Rarity all sorts of unpleasant sensations. “Considering that Fluttershy and I are trying to avoid detection, I assumed that making myself less easy to identify would be the best course of action. Trixie has been very understanding.” The stallion cleared his throat as he got back to his hooves, glancing over at Fluttershy and Trixie. “Of course, there was a bit of a setback…”

“A bit of a setback, Mahara? Is that what you would call having wanted posters with Fluttershy’s face on them posted all around the city?” Rarity’s glare was all for Mahara now. The stallion shrank back slightly. “Fluttershy, I’d like a word with you, alone.”

Fluttershy looked down at the floor, quietly slipping off the bench. Rarity started toward her luggage, looking back to make sure Fluttershy was following, and Mahara quickly averted his gaze as Rarity made eye contact. The pegasus nervously tapped the floor with a forehoof as Rarity took a deep breath, watching her suitcases and boxes loaded onto a cart as she tried to organize her thoughts.

Finding that impossible, she muttered, “Just… Tell me your side of the story. And be honest, dear. I’m not angry with you, I just want to know what happened.”

“Well um… You see… Mahara and I needed to… feed… before you were supposed to arrive, so…” She peered up, brow knitting with anxiety. “So we found Trixie in Tacks Square, and Mahara thought it would be easy to get blood from her since she looked… desperate… But I told her that it wouldn’t be right to just drink from her without giving her something in return, so um…” The pegasus looked back to the floor, dragging her forehoof in a circle. “So Mahara impersonated somepony and basically got us all a free meal, but then that pony found out so we had to run…”

“While that is admirable in a twisted sort of way, that’s still unacceptable. You tried to talk sense into her, I assume?”

“Well… I did at first, but I um… Well… I kinda agreed with her. I mean… I felt just awful about using someone else’s bits, but… Trixie did need it more, so…”

“Fluttershy…”

“I know… Mahara means well, she really does, she just doesn’t think inside the rules. A-also… I um…” Fluttershy’s ears began to splay as she went back to tapping the floor. “After Mahara and I were done drinking, she wanted to leave as soon as Trixie’s neck had scabbed up, but I told her that wouldn’t be the right thing to do, so I… I...”

“Fluttershy?”

“I told her that she could stay in your friend’s apartment with us! I know that it wasn’t my decision to make and I’m really, really sorry, but I couldn’t just leave her out on the street.” She looked up, pleading with her bright blue eyes. “Please don’t turn her away, Rarity. She really needs a place to stay. She looks like she’s been sleeping in an alley, and I think she said something about eating pinecones.”

Okay, Rarity thought, she just did what she thought was right, even if that sad excuse for a magician is a rotten mare that desecrated my beautiful mane! The washing and conditioning I had to do! Disgraceful! Oh, right.

“Yes, she may stay with us, but for goodness sake, please don’t invite any more riffraff. Sapphire was kind enough to offer usage of her Manehattan home to me, and I absolutely will not allow you to turn it into a homeless shelter.”

Fluttershy nodded meekly as a homely looking mare trotted up to them, informing Rarity that they were ready to move her belongings.

“Well, go round them up then. I’ll go call a carriage.” The pegasus nodded, turning away. “You all look simply dreadful, by the way,” Rarity called after her. “What happened?”

Looking back, Fluttershy paused. “Well… You see… Trixie was really drunk when we um… drank, so… we got really drunk too. My head still hurts a little.”

Rarity felt a grin creep across her lips. The last of her luggage was loaded onto a cart. “Of course. Well, I’ll meet you outside then.”

The interior of the station was very lavishly decorated, looking even more beautiful as narrow streaks of sunlight slowly cut through the shadows that draped the walls. Slowly, she followed the attendant across the platform, crowding into an elevator with her luggage. The elevator ascended and opened up to a fairly crowded floor, but her view of the ceiling and the orange and purple sky beyond were completely unobstructed. She was almost hesitant to leave the soft commotion and open space of the concourse, following the attendant to the front door. Rarity spotted Fluttershy and Trixie in the crowd behind her, recognizing Mahara by association with the other two.

She stepped outside to find the first rays of morning were washing over the city, smiling as she looked up and down the street. A carriage pulled up to the curb as Rarity continued to follow.

Canterlot may be more sophisticated, sheidly mused, but I must give credit where credit is due; there is something very charming about this city.

Glancing back, she found that they had caught up, Trixie in the lead, followed by Mahara, with Fluttershy stumbling along in the rear, eyes squeezed shut. While Trixie looked less than pleased to be at Rarity’s whim, she had stopped glaring at the fashionable unicorn, favoring a scowl. Fluttershy, on the other hoof, kept bumping into Mahara from behind, which Mahara seemed to find absolutely hilarious judging by his laughter.

Or is it her laughter. Rarity groaned quietly as she realized that she had been identifying Mahara as a he, and at the same time, she questioned if that was even inappropriate given the context.

Fluttershy tried to take another step, nearly tripping over Mahara’s hind legs. “A-are we there?”

“Yes, we’re there.” Mahara reached back to nuzzle her. “I know it’s bright, but the sooner you get used to keeping your eyes open in daylight, the less conspicuous you’ll be.”

“Okay, I’ll try…”

Trixie stepped out in front of them, locking eyes with Rarity. “The Great and Powerful Trixie hopes that your lodgings are suitable for a magician of her caliber.” Rarity began to seethe again, and grinning, Trixie climbed into the carriage.

“Ow!” Fluttershy’s eyes snapped shut as she shook her head. “I… I can’t do this right now. I’m sorry.”

Mahara smiled, rubbing the pegasus’ back. “It’s quite alright. We’ll go as slow as you need. Mind the steps now.” Fluttershy shakily ascended into the carriage, guided by Mahara. Rarity followed them as the last of her luggage was strapped down.

The ride to the apartment was to be fairly brief, considering that traffic was light so early in the morning. Fluttershy made several more attempts to open her eyes while in transit, each of them ending with flinching and whimpering. Trixie sat beside Rarity, occasionally making eye contact, quickly looking away afterwards. Rarity tried to distract herself from the awkward semi-silence by watching the passing buildings.

These pedestrians, she thought, could stand to be more fashionable. Perhaps I’ll design some morning attire? Or maybe a stylish jogging piece? Or something that says ‘I may just be walking my dog but that doesn’t mean I can’t be chic.’

Smiling, Rarity returned her attention to her fellow passengers, finding Mahara’s mouth opened toward Trixie, her tongue sliding over her fangs.

The magician nodded. “I see…”

“What are-”

“Not that the Great and Powerful Trixie is worried about being shown up again, but… are all of your friends experts in transformation magic?” Mahara closed her mouth into a wide grin, while Fluttershy looked swiftly to the floor. “I had no idea that non-unicorns could even do this sort of thing. I’m… Quite frankly, I’m impressed. Just a little.”

“Experts in transformation magic?” Mahara’s grin vanished as Rarity gave her a flat stare. “And what else, pray tell, did our mutual friend divulge to the Great and Powerful Trixie before I arrived?”

Trixie donned a pleasant smile, evidently missing the hint of sarcasm in Rarity’s voice. “Well, if I’m correctly remembering what Fluttershy told me last night, they need blood to survive. I thought that was kind of strange, and probably a cover up for a fetish, but I didn’t really think about it too much until this morning when I sobered up. After I watched Mahara do her shape shifting trick in the train station, she told me that their magic is replenished by drinking blood.” Mahara nodded, and Trixie looked between the three of them as she continued.

“From the sound of things, instead of using a horn as a focal point, they’re using their blood, harnessing their very life force as a form of magic.” She leaned back in her chair, brows arched. “Pretty intense stuff, but if you ask me, it’s a small price to pay for that kind of power. And I mean, there’s not a huge risk since they can probably just switch it off when they don’t need it, right?”

“Well…” Mahara glanced out the window, tapping a forehoof against the frame. “There’s a lot more to it than that…”

“Oh?” Trixie leaned forward, lips curled into a sly grin. “The Great and Powerful Trixie is eager to learn your secrets! Well, not desperately eager, but, you know.”

“I um…” Everyone in the carriage turned toward Fluttershy as she spoke up, the timid pegasus briefly attempting to hide her face behind her forehooves. “I think that Mahara should explain this a bit more thoroughly when we arrive… if that’s okay with her.”

Fluttershy smiled as she received a unanimous nod in agreement.

\/ /\ /\ \/

Oh, that’s weird. Two? Wait! That’s right, I just forgot about Angel! Pinkie Pie yawned softly as she looked to the foot of her bed, an animal curled up on either side of her. No wonder Fluttershy has so many fuzzy friends; they make for great hoof warmers while you’re sleeping! Don’t you wish you were warm blooded, Gummy? It’s okay, I’m plenty warm enough for the both of us! Oh, you don’t have to wake up yet Angel, I’m just gonna go see what everypony is up to before I make plans for today.

Without so much as nudging either of them, she slipped out of bed, hopping toward the bathroom. She said good morning to her toothbrush and her comb, and then made her way to the window over her tub. A rope ladder dangled just above the frame. Pinkie doubled back when she realized that she had forgotten her handy telescope. A minute later, telescope slung around her neck by a strap, she had climbed to the highest point of Sugarcube Corner.

Now let’s see… Pinkie extended the telescope, aiming it at the library. Twilight is still fast asleep. Good for her, she’s been waaaay too stressed out lately! Oh, Celestia is out on the balcony for sunrise. A few guards doing morning stretches. Spike eating a bowl of gems. Nothing interesting here… She swung around toward Carousel Boutique, only to remember that Rarity wasn’t there. Looks like Sweetie Belle is still hanging around though. Well, she’s old enough I guess. And I’m sure she can do a better job taking care of Opal than I can! I’ll check in on them later just to make sure. Oh! I should probably make sure Fluttershy’s animals are getting taken care of! Applejack sure can’t do it since…

Pinkie aimed the telescope at the clinic, finding Applejack in Rainbow Dash’s forelegs, fluttering several noses off the ground. Hey, that’s Big Macintosh and Applebloom, too! Wait, what’s wrong with Applebloom? Oh… It looks like she’s been crying a whole bunch… Well, that’s one surprise party on the list of things to do then. Rainbow Dash gave a nod before zipping off toward the edge of town with Applejack. And there they go. Looks like they’re heading out to the farm. One surprise party and one get well party. Wow, I feel like I just did that a few days ago! Wait, I did just do that a few days ago! Hold on, where are Applebloom and Big Macintosh going? Oh jeeze, who’s eye is that?!

“Are you spying on ponies without me? What gives?”

Oh! Pinkie opened her other eye, finding herself face to face with a blond maned, grey coated pegasus.

“Hi Ditzy!”

“Hellooo!”

Pinkie smiled, folding up her telescope. “Are you taking a break?”

“You could say that. There’s not a whole lot of mail to deliver today, and, you know, a hydra just tore through town yesterday. Rain nor sleet nor snow, though, so here I am.” Ditzy touched down beside Pinkie, poking around in her mail bag. “Either way, the lack of postage is kinda bad news for me. I have to make extra sure that I’m putting these where they’re supposed to go. Boss lady wasn’t too thrilled about the complaints she got last month.”

“I’m sure you’ll do just fine!”

“You always say that.” Ditzy smiled, shaking her head. “So what’s on the agenda, fearless leader?”

Pinkie waved her hoof to the two distant ponies moving toward the library. “A surprise party for Applebloom and a get well party for Applejack.”

“Didn’t you just-”

“Yeah I know! It feels like forever ago though.” She grinned, waggling her brows. “Weird, huh?”

Ditzy shrugged. “A little.” A few moments of silence passed before she continued, her smile fading. “I guess the funeral services for Aloe, Davenport and Coconut are all going to be at the same place and time, so that ponies that were friends with more than one of them don’t have to go to more than one wake, or something. I’m going to stop in and pay my respects, figured I’d let you know in case you wanted to do the same.”

“Yeah…” Pinkie tapped the roof, glancing to the side. “I’ll be there, thanks for the heads up.”

“Anyway, are you gonna help out with the Fluttershy search and rescue today?”

“Search and rescue?!” Pinkie’s jaw hung slack.

“Yeah, I heard that the monster that killed the hydra stole her up and now nopony knows where she is!” Ditzy looked down at her hooves. “I sure hope she’s alright…”

“She’s just fine!” The blond pegasus blinked, taking a step back at Pinkie’s outburst. “I mean, I’m sure she’s just fine. I met Mahara myself, and I doubt Fluttershy is in any danger. I hope not at least…”

“I also heard that Fluttershy may have turned into a monster herself… Isn’t that awful?”

“Yeah, I heard that too… Can’t believe everything you hear, though!” She forced herself to laugh, convincingly enough that Ditzy joined in.

“Ah, yeah, you’re probably right. Still, we should at least make sure she’s safe. She’s… She’s been through a lot.”

Yeah, but she never opened up to me, even after I spent so much time trying to help her… Hmm? Oh, gosh, did I say that out loud? “No, it’s nothing!” Pinkie donned a wide grin, avoiding eye contact. “Hey, let’s talk about something else!”

“Okay… Well, my pen pal hasn’t written back to me yet, but I’ve got a good feeling I’ll hear from him soon!” The pegasus smiled, briefly closing her eyes. “He always takes a little while to get back to me, but he always does get back to me.”

You sound like you’ve got something on your mind too! Oh, you have to get back to work? That’s okay, I’ll see you later! Thanks, good luck to you too! Search and rescue… Hmph! Where were we? Pinkie unfolded her telescope, tracing the street until she found Big Macintosh and his youngest sister. The library, huh? The Apple family never struck me as the book readin’ type… Not there for books, then… Talking to the guards… Oh, maybe they’re there for Celestia! On the balcony, Celestia turned toward the door, disappearing into the library, reappearing before Macintosh and Applebloom moments later. I knew it! Aw man, but what are they saying?! Gotta get closer!

Pinkie slipped over the side of the roof, swinging back into her bathroom by the rope ladder, sliding right through her room on her bathroom rug. Angel blinked as she waved in passing. Once she cleared the doorway, she tore down the stairs.

Mr. Cake was apparently on his way up to meet her. “Pinkie, I’m sorry about-”

“It’s fine! I don’t have time to talk though!” She pushed past him, waving to a surprised looking Mrs. Cake as she flung the front door open. “Gotta go help my friends!” She slammed the door behind her, galloping down the street toward the library.

Ditzy grinned as Pinkie sped toward her. “We meet again! Come to be my assistant?” She thumped a mailbox with her forehoof.

Pinkie vaulted over the postal mare. “Can’t right now! Gotta keep a promise maybe!”

“Oh! Alright, catch you later!”

She skidded to a halt just shy of the clearing around the library, situating herself in an alley behind a collection of trash cans. The frizzy maned mare closed her eyes and wiggled her ears, trying to listen in. Big Macintosh’s voice carried strongly.

“…an Mahara kept tryin’ to convince me that the mare Ah shot in the flank was Fluttershy, but Ah figured it was jus’ another trick. Ah was gonna shoot her too, cause she looked like she was gonna try somethin’, but she paralyzed me with some kinda stare, told Fluttershy to git goin’. An… Then she told me she was sorry fer what she did to me an’ Applebloom. Told me Fluttershy was showing her that she was wrong about things, that she wished she coulda’ done things differently, and that she admired mah bravery. Wanted me to tell Zecora that the punishment didn’ fit the crime, an’ she was sorry ‘bout that too.”

Big Macintosh paused for several moments. “Last thing she said, ‘fore takin’ mah shotgun ‘an emptyin’ the other barrel into a tree… She said that it ain’t Fluttershy’s fault, an’ that she don’t want you to do to Fluttershy what ya did to her. She said she wants you ta give her a chance to make this right, fer Fluttershy’s sake. An’ that was it. She pushed me over an’ galloped off after that.”

Celestia’s voice was unmistakable, as was the compassion in her words. “You have my utmost gratitude for confiding in me, and I’m sorry that you’ve been asked to play messenger. Will you and Applebloom be alright?”

“Eeyup. Well, Ah’m doin’ alright, but li’l sis’ here is a li’l blue ‘bout the whole thing. She an’ Ah are gonna have a chat when we get home.”

“Can ya…” Applebloom piped up, stopping short. “Can ya let Zecora know that Ah hope she’s okay? Ah wanna see her later iff’n she’s feelin’ up fer it.”

“Of course.” Pinkie could practically feel the radiance of Celestia’s smile. “Before you depart, however, I have a question of my own. Did you see which way they were heading?”

“Looked to me like they were makin’ fer the Everfree forest. Ah guess if yer gonna look fer her, that would be the best place to start.”

“Again, thank you both. You’ve done a great service to all of Equestria this morning.”

“Mah pleasure, princess.”

Okay, nopony is going to Manehattan yet! That’s good! I better keep a close eye on everyone though, juuust in case. Should probably go with them when they go on their little wild pegasus chase too. Oh! Pinkie looked up at the stallion standing over her, the confusion in his expression making her giggle.

Sorry! I’ll get out of your way!

\/ /\ /\ \/

The walk back to Sweet Apple Acres was a quiet one, just like the walk to Ponyville. Occasionally, Big Macintosh would make eye contact with his younger sister, or clear his throat, but Applebloom seemed completely distant otherwise. Considering that they were about to discuss what had happened between her and Mahara, however, her silence wasn’t entirely unexpected. The sun continued its climb, a little more than an hour shy of noon by the time the farmhouse came into view. The sky had remained mostly clear, a light breeze swaying leafy branches and carrying the smell of hay. Granny Smith nodded from her rocking chair as they passed.
All the way up to Applebloom’s room, the stairs and floorboards creaked under hoof. Not surprisingly, the door to Applejack’s room was closed, a softly muffled conversation unfolding within.

“Yer not mad at me, are ya?” Applebloom asked at last, glancing back at her brother as she stood in her doorway.

Big Macintosh shook his head. “Ah ain’t mad. Ah promise. Ah just want ya to tell me what happened.”

She gave a skittish nod, looking down at the floor as she slowly made her way to her bed. Macintosh followed, trying to mentally prepare himself for what she might tell him. From what he had overheard running up to Applebloom’s room the previous evening, he already had vague ideas of what she had in store for him.

An’ here Ah was hopin’ AJ would be the one to tell her ‘bout the birds an’ the bees… He sat down beside her, springs groaning under the unfamiliar weight of the stallion. Can’t expect AJ to talk to her now, though. Poor sis… Shouldn’t have let her go through with it…

Applebloom mumbled something, bringing him back to reality. She quickly looked down at the floor, taking a deep breath. “Okay... A few nights ago, a girl came ta visit me. Right away, Ah knew she was different from anypony Ah had met before, but… Ah weren’t scared of her. Ah looked inta her eyes, an’ Ah saw a filly that was sad, an’ lonely, an’ afraid. She told me her name was Seafare. Ah know her real name is Mahara now, but…”

There was a moment of eye contact, Macintosh silently nodding encouragement.

“After Ah found out, Ah kept hopin’ that maybe Seafare was the real her, an’ Mahara was jus’ a disguise. When Ah was with her the first night, playin’ in the orchard, under the stars… Ah ain’t never felt like that ‘bout another pony before… ‘specially not a mare. It was somethin’ special, an’ Ah never wanted it ta stop.”

The filly shifted, looking up at her brother a bit more frequently. “The second time Ah was with her, Scootaloo was there too, an’ somethin’ else happened that Ah never felt before. When Seafare was bitin’ Scootaloo, Ah… Ah felt like Ah weren’t special ta her anymore.”

She rubbed her forehooves together, lips pursing.

“Ah was jealous, Ah guess… Ah got real mad, an’…” She paused, ears lowering slightly. “Things got outta hoof… Ah saw Seafare the next day as Mahara, an’ Ah wanted ta talk ta her more than anything, ask her if she still had feelin’s fer me… But Ah wasn’t strong enough. Ah could barely put the words together. When Ah saw her later, well… Ah jus’ made things worse when Ah tried ta defend her. Ah was afraid Ah might never see her again, after that…”

As Big Macintosh shifted his weight to get more comfortable, Applebloom stopped, brow furrowed as she looked up at him. “Sorry, keep goin’.”

“When she came here last night, Ah… Ah felt like my heart might up an’ stop. Ah was so happy ta see her, an’ Ah thought maybe she had come ta take me with her, but… Fluttershy was with her, an’ suddenly everythin’ kinda clicked.” The filly closed her eyes, swallowing. Ah don’t wanna cry anymore, she had told him that morning. “Ah thought then that it was ‘cause Ah was too young fer her, even though she came ta me as a filly, but now… Ah see that Ah made it all up in mah head. It was jus’ me the whole time, tryin’ ta hold onto somethin’ that weren’t real. She didn’t feel the same way ‘bout me. Ah don’t think she ever did…”

A soft whimper escaped her throat as she began to sniffle, head bobbing in fits. Macintosh reached out for her, wrapping a foreleg around her, holding her close as she began to spill tears. “Yer gonna be okay,” he whispered. “Yer not gonna feel this way forever.”

“But it ain’t fair!” She thrashed, half bucking the mattress with her hind leg. “Why would she promise ta take me with her if she was just gonna be with that fat daisy picker, huh?! Ah hate her! Ah hate ‘em both!” She kicked again and again until Macintosh started to pat her back.

“Now jus’ calm down, Applebloom. Ah know yer upset but wreckin’ yer bed ain’t gonna make things right.” The fight gradually left Applebloom, until she was quietly sobbing into his side. He heaved a gentle sigh. “An’ Ah know it ain’t fair. Believe me. Ah don’t think Ah know a single pony that ain’t sat where yer sittin’ now at some point or another… figuratively, o’ course.”

The filly turned up toward him, a few tears still streaming through her fur. Macintosh smiled, his forehoof sliding up to the back of her head. “One summer, when Ah was a colt not much older than you, Ah met a girl that Ah thought Ah could spend all of forever with. We played out in the fields every day when we were done with our chores, and sometimes we’d even sneak out to our tree-house an’ spend all night tellin’ stories an’ catchin’ fireflies. Ah thought she was really somethin’ special.”

His smile faded, gazing out the window. “Then one day round the start of fall, she weren’t where we normally met. She weren’t at the tree-house neither. When I went to her family’s farm… There was another colt there, bigger than me. She told me that he was her buckfriend, an’ that he had always been her buckfriend. That he was just away with his family to help with harvest. One thing lead to another and… Ah ended up gettin’ throttled by that colt.

“Mah point is, Ah know yer upset, but ya gotta let go of yer anger.” He turned back to Applebloom, forehoof resting on her shoulder. “Ain’t gonna hurt nopony more than yerself if ya dwell in it. Ah ain’t tellin’ ya that it ain’t gonna hurt fer a while, but yer gonna move on, an’ yer gonna find someone that loves you in return.”

Applebloom sniffled a bit more, catching her breath, but she managed a nod. “Now Ah’m gonna go see how AJ is doing, but if ya need to talk a little more, Ah’ll be here.”

The mattress let out another squeal as he slipped over the side, heading for the door. “Mac?” she called after him. The stallion glanced back, head tilted. “Thank you. Ah… Well Ah don’t feel great, but…”

“Don’t gotta thank me, sis.” Big Macintosh smiled, nodding to her before stepping out into the hallway. To his surprise, he found himself nose to nose with Rainbow Dash. “Is uh… ‘s everythin’ alright?”

The winged mare snorted, lifting off the floor and fluttering down the hall, drifting over the stairs. Now what was that all about? Applejack’s door was ajar. Taking a deep breath, he entered her room.

\/ /\ /\ \/

Somewhere between coming off the path to the Apple family’s farm and seeing the farmhouse, Scootaloo had completely lost her nerve. After spending all night and most of the morning working up the courage to confront Rainbow Dash and tell her what she had done, the actuality of it all completely stole her will to continue. When she had seen Applebloom and Big Macintosh leaving town, for a good few minutes, she wanted to ask if she could go with them, and possibly discuss her intentions on the way. Ultimately, she decided that might have been taking a step too far. The Apple family had been just about at the epicenter of the recent crisis afflicting Ponyville, and Scootaloo was already having enough trouble just trying to bring herself to bother Dash.

The winged filly stopped short when she noticed Granny Smith on the front porch. Noon had come and gone in the time it took her to get herself together and actually make the trip, and the old mare gazed pleasantly over the orchard before her. What little she could see of it, anyway. Scootaloo took a deep breath, then another, shaking herself off.

Okay… She pranced in place, feathers ruffled with anxiety. You can do this. You’re not even talking to Rainbow Dash yet. You’re just gonna ask Granny Smith if she’s seen her. Real simple.

The old mare turned toward her when she was within speaking distance, smiling.

“Well hello there dearie. Come to see Applebloom?”

“I uh…” She glanced down, sliding her forehoof through the dirt. “Not exactly.” Keep it together Scoots, this is important! The filly straightened up, taking another deep breath. “I’m… I’m here to see Rainbow Dash. Do you know where she is?”

“Oh, she’s out in the barn I think. Probably had an argument with my granddaughter, the poor dear.” Granny Smith let out a dry laugh. “She’s got her work cut out for her if she’s going to try and date Applejack. We Apples can be stubborn as mules sometimes.”

Scootaloo widened her eyes, ears perked. “You… you know?”

“Dearie, I knew from the first time Rainbow Dash spent the night. I may be old, but I know a pair of lovers when I see one.” She leaned forward, grinning. “Now you run along. I’m sure she could use some cheering up.”

Nodding, Scootaloo turned toward the barn, approaching slowly; as though the ground might erupt beneath her should she move too swiftly. One of the enormous doors had been flung open. She peered around the one left closed, her gaze sweeping over the interior. Sunlight filtered through cracks in the woodwork, slowly drifting dust illuminated in slender columns. The smell of hay was overpowering, an occasional creaking of wood or squeaking from the weathervane on the roof the only sounds to penetrate the stillness of the room.

After several moments of letting her gaze wander, she found Dash seated in the rafters. The older pegasus failed to notice her, even as she took several cautious steps into the barn. Dash had a bottle between her forehooves, occasionally tilting it back and swallowing several gulps in a row. She wore a scowl, nostrils flaring with the occasional snort. Scootaloo had only the vaguest of notions as to what could be in that bottle, but everything about the situation filled her with dread. She nearly turned back, intent on trying again later, but she paused in thought.

What would Rainbow Dash do if she were in my situation? Would she give up because she felt afraid? Scootaloo shook her head. No she wouldn’t. She would do what she had to do.

“Rainbow Dash, I-” The cyan mare twitched, shooting a glare down at her. “Sorry, I… I didn’t mean to startle you. I just… I really need to talk to you.”

“Do you know what it’s like to fall short?” There was something different about Dash’s voice. She dropped the bottle into the pile of hay below, slowly rolling off her haunches. “Do you know what it’s like when your best just isn’t good enough, and someone else has to deal with the consequences?”

“Rainbow Dash, what are you saying?” Scootaloo took a few steps closer, trying to smile. “Everypony thinks you’re awesome! Your best is better than pretty much everyone else’s!”

“Yeah, great. I’m awesome. You know what that amounts to when I couldn’t keep the one pony I love, more than anything else, out of harm’s way?” She dropped off the rafters, landing heavily on the hay scattered floor. “A big fucking zero. When it really, really counted, when I absolutely could not fuck up because Applejack was depending on me to pull her out, I just wasn’t good enough.” Dash took a step toward her, swaying. “If that thing hadn’t bitten through her leg… thrown her free…”

A stifled noise welled up in her throat as she took another step, stumbling. When she looked up, Scootaloo could see the tears rolling from the corners of her eyes. “She almost died yesterday! Because of me!”

“She’s alive because of you, Rainbow Dash!” Scootaloo advanced, trembling but determined. “If you hadn’t brought her to Redheart as fast as you did-”

“Her whole life is fucking ruined now! This farm was everything to her! She can’t work with one hind leg!” Dash was just a few noses from her now, visibly shaking. “And it’s- All! My! Fault!”

“It’s not your fault, Rainbow! You did everything you could! It’s…” Scootaloo swallowed, a wave of nausea rolling over her. Don’t you dare chicken out! Say it! “It’s my fault, not yours!”

Dash’s jaw went slack, the cyan mare leaning forward. “What.”

“It’s true! The only reason the hydra even came to Ponyville is because I got a few ponies together, and we went looking for Mahara in the Everfree forest. We got lost, and we ended up in Froggy Bottom Bog, and a hydra started chasing us…” Scootaloo took a deep breath, staring Dash in the eyes. “I told everypony to split up, and the hydra ended up chasing Twist, so we were able to get away, but then it followed her home. It’s not your fault, Rainbow Dash. The hydra only attacked because of me. I’m sorry.”

Dash went completely still, unblinking. “What.”

“The hydra attack was my fault. I’m sor-”

“Sorry?! You’re sorry?!” The heat of Dash’s breath swept over her face as the raging mare loomed over her.“Three ponies died today because of that monster! More than that are injured, Ponyville is a fucking mess, and… you’reSORRY?!”

“Yes! I’m sorry! I... I know I made a mistake, but there has to be something I can do to make this right!”

“You can’t fix this! Applejack’s life is… Applejack is…” Dash turned away, as though she were wincing. “You… You need to leave, right now.”

“Just let me try! Something! Anything! Plea-”

For several seconds, Scootaloo forgot where she was. The barn spun around her, blurred with swirling colors. She felt hay against the side of her face, and the room continued to spin. A dull pressure mounted in her left cheek, warmth spreading through the inside of her mouth, rolling over her tongue. The pressure quickly became pain. Scootaloo realized she was tasting blood. Her eyes watered, rolling frantically, coming to a stop on Rainbow Dash. The cyan mare staggered back, wearing an expression of horror.

“Oh… No… No. Scootaloo, I’m sorry. I’m so sorry!” She fell forward, lifting the filly into her forelegs. “Say something! Please!”

Her memory resurfaced, playing back the lost moment. A look of unrivaled fury darkening Rainbow’s complexion. A quick jerk of the forehoof, the back of it crashing against the left side of her face. There were no words to describe the feeling in the pit of Scootaloo’s stomach. She wrenched herself free of her idol’s embrace, watching her blood spatter against the floor as she staggered toward the exit. Dash called out after her. Pleading. Begging.

She didn’t care.

The rush of sunlight blinded her, but she kept going, running, past the front porch, ignoring the concerned shouts of Applebloom and Granny Smith. The world was next to mute, save for the pounding in her temples and the frenzied beat of her heart. She ran until her body refused to go another step, collapsing at the foot of a tree. Scootaloo hadn’t been paying attention to her direction, but she was fairly certain that she was clear of the orchard. Looking around, through the stinging salt water in her eyes, she could see a few houses over the next hill. Her cheek continued to throb, but the blood loss had slowed considerably. She spat reddish pink at the base of the tree, her tongue gingerly tracing the left side of her mouth.

“Hey…” Scootaloo whipped around. Pinkie Pie stood several paces away, ears splayed and head low. “Are you alright there? Do you need to talk maybe?”

Scootaloo made several attempts to reply, wanting to tell her no, or go away, but the words just wouldn’t come. Pinkie edged closer, cautious, like she had been earlier. There was no rage in the filly, just a feeling that made her want to curl up and die. Pinkie gently settled beside her, brow heavy with concern.

“How about just a hug, then?” She spread her forelegs, wearing a delicate smile.

Whimpering, Scootaloo threw her forelegs around her, burying her face in Pinkie’s shoulder as she shuddered and gasped.

“You’re gonna be okay, Scootaloo.” Pinkie’s voice was little more than a whisper.

The feel of forehooves sliding over her back was soothing. She slipped a little lower, an ear to Pinkie’s breast, listening to the steady beat of her heart. There was something so natural, so familiar about it all, even if she had never hugged Pinkie before. She felt safe.

“Everything is gonna be a-okay.”

In that warm, gentle embrace, she knew Pinkie Pie was right.

\/ /\ /\ \/

Zecora had been hesitant to attend the funeral service, but she went along at Twilight’s insistence. She was still on a leash, tethered to the guards on either side of her, both watching her closely. The attendees didn’t seem to pay her much attention, much to her relief, and while the ritual was unfamiliar to her, she realized that the lack of bodies made it largely symbolic. The two guards she had slain were sent back to Canterlot almost immediately after the dust had settled, the evening prior. The zebra custom for dealing with the dead centered around cremation and the scattering of ashes, but to her understanding, ponies buried the remains of their loved ones. The thought of allowing them to be picked at by worms and insects made her shudder.

The gathering for the service had consisted of nearly the entire town, and quite a few ponies from other parts of Equestria. An hour had passed since the service concluded, however, only a small number of ponies actually volunteered to aid in the search, excluding the guards. Many of the residents of Ponyville were still in shock from the attack, or mourning their loss. Zecora didn’t blame them, and a small part of her was grateful that there would be fewer to witness her in such a state. At the same time, she felt the shame and humiliation were deserved.

Twilight Sparkle and Spike were present, a constant at Celestia’s side, and she could hear Pinkie Pie chattering with her friend, the post mare. The Apples and Rainbow Dash weren’t there, but that was to be expected. Rarity’s absence was not. From Zecora’s understanding, Rarity was close friends with Aloe, but she was nowhere to be seen at the service. Rarity continued to go unaccounted for as they pressed into the Everfree forest, and suspicion was quickly mounting.

Several pegasi swept by overhead, brief flashes of color through gaps in the leaves, the occasional shout breaking the semi-tranquility of the forest. The light of late afternoon gathered in shallow pools through the few breaks in the canopy, but the perpetual gloom of the forest was a source of awkward comfort for the zebra. Mentally, she was haunted by what she had done as a result of her transformation, but physically, she felt no different than she had the day before. Her hearing was sharper, as was her vision, and so far as she could tell, nothing else had been altered. Her thoughts circled around Mahara’s message.

The punishment didn’t fit the crime.

Zecora tried to focus back on the task at hoof, reflecting on the briefing Celestia had given her. She would be able to hear Mahara and Fluttershy’s heartbeats very clearly, according to the princess, and while she could hear the heartbeats of everyone present for the search, nothing stood out in particular. The previous evening, however, she had heard something unusual within Carousel Boutique. A steady pounding in stereo. She had dismissed it as her imagination at the time, but she felt more and more as though ignoring it had been a mistake. In her mind, Rarity’s involvement in the situation was becoming increasingly likely.

A familiar voice brought her back to reality.

“Zecora?”

The zebra looked to her left, not quite face to face with Pinkie Pie. The guard on the corresponding side eyed Pinkie anxiously. “If you intend to spread your cheer, you’ll find no luck with me, I fear.”

“No, I know that, I just wanted to know if you’re doing okay.” Pinkie moved a few noses closer, a lack of spring in her step. “I shouldn’t have left you alone at Fluttershy’s cabin like that. I know you were just trying to keep me safe, and I’m really thankful and all, but I also know I coulda helped you and I feel like this is kinda my fault… I wanted to tell you that I’m sorry.”

“You have not yourself to blame… but I thank you just the same.”

Pinkie nodded, trying to force a gentle smile. “Are you okay, though?”

“These hooves still belong to me, that much I can plainly see, and my mind remains sane and sound, despite the rage in which I drowned.” Zecora stopped walking, her escort pausing a step after her. “You may think that this sounds strange, but I expected greater change…”

Pinkie tried to take another step closer, but the guard on the right snorted, stomping his hoof. The guard on the left shook her head, giving Zecora an almost apologetic glance. Pinkie’s smile faded, but Zecora held up her hoof. “You’ve done more than enough, Pinkie Pie. I can’t thank you enough for giving a try.”

“… and Sweetie Belle said that she hasn’t seen Rarity since last night…” The distress in Twilight’s voice caught her attention. “You don’t really think that she… Why is this happening? I feel like I don’t know who to trust anymore!”

Zecora swiveled an ear toward the conversation as Pinkie leaned in their direction.

“Far be it of me to tell you to lose faith in your friends, but we have considerable proof now that Fluttershy has become like Mahara, and…” Celestia paused for several moments. “I find Rarity’s disappearance troubling, to say the least.”

“I know… Just… I can’t… I don’t want to believe that she would willingly betray you like this! Either of them!” A stomp carried through the air, her voice cracking. “They’re good ponies! They’re my friends!”

Pinkie eagerly nodded along, even though she wasn’t a part of the conversation.

“Yeah! I mean, uh… Princess?” Spike, who had been unusually quiet the whole time, finally voiced his concerns. “You don’t really think that Lady Rarity would do something bad on purpose, do you? Maybe she was tricked! Or maybe Mahara ponynapped her!”

“Sometimes, it isn’t until we’re threatened that we show the world who we really are. I know that you’re both upset, but understand that if Rarity has decided to help Fluttershy, it’s because she fears for her friend. She is not going against my wishes just to spite me.”

“But you’re trying to protect us!” Twilight stomped again, snorting quietly. “You’re trying to keep us all safe! Why would either of them help Mahara if they know that?”

“Do you think they’ll see it that way?” Celestia replied sadly. “A necessary evil is still an evil, regardless of necessity.”

Pinkie pranced in place as her tail suddenly jolted, as though hit with a bolt of lightning, and a third voice interrupted their conversation. “Did ya’ll say you were lookin’ fer Rarity?”

“Not Hayseed…” she heard Pinkie groan.

Twilight started to say something, but she was immediately cut off. “Cause when Ah came here this mornin’ fer tha funeral, Ah saw her pokin’ round the train station! Heard her buyin’ a one way ticket ta Canterlot!”

The guards on either side of Zecora perked up as she turned toward Celestia and Twilight, and a very homely looking stallion she was unfamiliar with. Looking directly at the princess made her eyes hurt. As she glanced away, she saw Pinkie looking around anxiously. The zebra arched a brow, but continued to listen.

“Canterlot?” Celestia lowered her head, looking the stallion in the eyes. “You’re certain?”

He nodded excitedly. “Mmhmm! Ah know Miss Rarity’s voice when Ah hear it! An’ Ah heard it clear as a bell!”

“Canterlot?” Twilight echoed. “Why would she go to Canterlot? I know her clients are important to her, but…”

Pinkie pulled ahead of them, covering the ground between Zecora and Twilight in several bouncing strides. The unicorn cocked a brow at the approaching earth pony, leaning back as Pinkie got right in her face.

“Okay, don’t be mad at me, because Rarity made me Pinkie-promise not to tell anypony, but she said she had to go to Canterlot to meet with someone,” Twilight’s eyes widened, Celestia lifted her head, looking off into the distance, “and she didn’t say who, but she said ‘them’ and ‘they’ a few times so she’s meeting more than one pony there and she said she was leaving really really early in the morning so that nopony would know where she was going and…”

Twilight leaned closer, the princess glancing back down at her. “That’s all I know! I’m so sorry that I didn’t say anything sooner, but I was hoping maybe it was something else and she just really really needed to get to Canterlot!”

“Mahara and Fluttershy are in Canterlot then…” Celestia’s horn flashed brightly, shooting a single, massive spark high into the air. Within a minute, all the guards had reconvened, falling into rank and standing at attention.

“If what we’ve just learned is accurate, our primary and secondary objectives have made their way to our capital. If we act swiftly, it may be possible to apprehend them before there is any further bloodshed or infection. Additionally, a unicorn by the name of Rarity, bearer of the Element of Generosity, is to be detained for questioning should the opportunity present itself.”

The princess had begun to pace in front of her guards, wings fully extended. They stood motionless, eyes forward. “I doubt I need to remind you of the danger our primary and secondary objectives present, but I will say it again for clarity’s sake; you are not, by any means, to engage either of them without heavy or magical support. If possible, I would prefer that I be alerted or present before any action is taken. However, I will not force any of you to risk your lives, so I present you with an ultimatum. Those of you who wish to aid in the capture of the threats to our kingdom, you are more than welcome to accompany me back to Canterlot.

“But those of you who would rather sit this one out, there is no shame in knowing your limits. On the contrary, I ask that those of you who would stay behind to help the citizens of Ponyville with reconstruction. You will be as much a service to your fellow ponies by aiding them when they are in need as you would be in protecting them.” She came to a stop in the center, her gaze sweeping over them. “I’ll be returning to Canterlot in the next hour. You have until then to make your decision. That is all.”

The guards nodded not quite in unison, some of them taking to the air, others talking to one another as they walked back toward Ponyville. Celestia turned to Twilight, regarding her as she took a quiet breath.

“Twilight Sparkle, you have already been through so much, so I won’t be disappointed if you desire to wash your hooves of this whole affair,” the ghost of a smile graced the princesses’ lips, “but I would very much appreciate your company in these troubling times.”

Twilight gave a deep nod. “Of course, Celestia.”

Celestia lowered her head, smiling much more brightly at Spike. “And if we have any good news about Rarity, you will be the first to know.” The dragon nodded several times, but there was anxiety in his grin. “And Pinkie Pie, thank you for sharing your information. You may well have saved countless lives.”

Pinkie gave an awkward looking smile, trotting off to rejoin the nearby mail mare. Celestia turned toward Zecora next, her brow furrowing as she maintained a few ponies distance. The zebra figured that the way her flesh had sizzled from Celestia’s touch was probably still fresh in her memory.

“I hate to ask you for your continued assistance, Zecora, but your help will be absolutely essential in apprehending Mahara. Will you rise to the task once again?”

“It is my intent to see this through.” The zebra nodded, forcing herself to look Celestia in the eyes. “My loyalty belongs solely to you.”

“As always, you have my eternal gratitude. Also…” Her horn began to glow, the coupling of Zecora’s collar coming undone, sliding away from her neck. “This will not be necessary, and I’m sorry for making you wear it. I just ask that you remain within sight of at least two guards at all times, and inform us when you feel the need to drink.”

“Of that and more, you have my word.” Zecora put a hoof to her neck, rubbing where the collar had been. “My thanks as well, this is preferred.”

“Yes…” Celestia looked away. “Again, my apologies for-”

“Princess, there’s no need to explain. My last desire is to pass blame.”

Celestia flashed a smile as she turned toward Twilight. “Then I owe you my thanks just the same. We’ll be leaving for Canterlot in an hour. Make whatever preparations you deem necessary for the trip.”

Twilight, Spike and Celestia made their way back toward town, discussing the possibility of Rarity and Fluttershy’s involvement, leaving Zecora with the pair of guards selected to escort her. She started to follow them when she noticed the guard she had come to know as Cloud Burst. In his hooves, he held a roll of stained parchment, occasionally looking up at Pinkie and her friend as they slowly weaved through the trees, in no real hurry to return. His expression struck her as somber, leaning against a tree and completely oblivious to the world around him. He shifted his weight, as if he were about to start trotting, but remained at the tree, retracing his gaze.

As Zecora took a few steps closer, she realized he was looking at Pinkie’s friend, and not Pinkie, and that the parchment was stained with blood. Cloud Burst was holding the same roll of parchment she had seen him taking off of Stormy Skies’ body the night before. A chill ran down her spine as she put the pieces together.

“This shouldn’t be your responsibility…” Cloud Burst looked over his shoulder as she spoke, eyes wide. “It’s my fault; you should leave it to me.”

\/ /\ /\ \/

Apartment was a poor choice of words to describe Sapphire Shores’ Manehattan residence. What greeted Fluttershy at the very top of an ornate high rise was more like the text book definition of a penthouse. The front door opened up into a kitchen, a line of counters and cabinets keeping it divided from an enormous main room. It had been a little too bright for her at first, but once Rarity took care of the blinds, she was able to truly appreciate the lavishly decorated interior.

A crystalline chandelier studded with sapphires hung from the center of the ceiling, an intricately engraved table resting beneath it, flanked by a few chairs and a couch. Numerous works of art hung from the walls. Only a few of them had any resemblance to Sapphire Shores herself, the rest bearing likenesses of famous singers and musicians both past and present. As she was informed by Rarity, the enormous bay windows spanning the opposite wall of the room looked out over Manehattan Harbor, with a good view of the Statue of Harmony. The kitchen itself was no less embellished, finely polished blue marble counter tops and silver trimmed handles shining proudly.

Beyond the kitchen, four smaller rooms branched off to the left and right from the living room. Each of the three bedrooms had its own bathroom, according to Rarity. Also according to Rarity, there was a small recording studio that was absolutely off limits.

Trixie wasted no time in claiming a room on the left for her own, the sound of a running shower and a few puffs of steam drifting out from the room in question. Rarity was still busy telling a reluctant doorman where she wanted her things when Trixie emerged several minutes later, looking much cleaner and happier than she had been when Mahara had picked her out of the crowd. Rarity declared that she would be sleeping in Sapphire’s room, the bedroom on the right, next to the recording studio, and her luggage was deposited accordingly. Fluttershy hadn’t even considered where she wanted to sleep before the choice was made for her, but Mahara just smiled, nuzzled the side of her neck, and together they explored the bedroom they would be sharing.

Thankfully, the bay window of their bedroom would not receive any direct sunlight until sundown. Fluttershy drew the blinds preemptively. Mahara was already inspecting the bed when she turned around, forehooves sinking into the mattress as she bounced forward several times, grinning.

“Is um… Is something wrong with the bed?”

Mahara looked up at her, ears wiggling. When she spoke, it was her normal voice, and not that of a stallion. “Nothing at all, actually. It’s a very lovely bed as far as I can tell.” A shudder ran through her as her form became more feminine, the familiar red of her coat and mane returning.

The bed was easily twice as big as the one she had back at home. She had a hard time trying to mentally fit it in her bedroom. A painting of a landscape hung above it, displaying cloudy snow covered mountain tops and a mostly frosted pine forest below. On either side of the bed, identical night stands with identical lamps. The wall opposite the door led into the bathroom, and also housed a walk in closet. After completing her short tour, Fluttershy rolled onto the bed and heaved a happy sigh.

“Hmm?” Mahara settled in beside her, tail against her leg. Seeing Mahara as herself gave Fluttershy a euphoric feeling, as though she hadn’t seen the red mare in ages.

“I was really afraid for a while… that I would change, in a bad way... and I… Well, I did change, but not in the way I was afraid I would. If anything, I feel like I’ve changed in a good way, really.” She rolled over, brushing Mahara’s mane out of her eyes. “And while I’m still scared about what’s going to happen to us, I’m starting to think that maybe things might just work out after all.” Fluttershy grinned slyly. “As long as you stay out of trouble, that is.”

“Yes yes, of course…”

Mahara returned the grin, inching a bit closer, closing her eyes. Fluttershy followed her lead, a shiver running through her as their lips met.

“Ahem.” The pair jumped, glancing to the door. Rarity leaned against the doorframe with her forelegs crossed. “I do believe a discussion was in order? Or do you need more time to yourselves after your little late night crime spree?”

The discussion itself was fairly one sided. Mahara did most of the talking, and Trixie did most of the listening, her expression changing every so often. She seemed more interested than anything, even after learning that Mahara’s peculiarities were a direct result of Nightmare Moon’s influence. The news that the condition was irreversible and constant seemed to trouble her, however, as did the explanation of Celestia’s desire to remove Mahara, and any being like her, from Equestria.

“So,” Mahara began, looking from Fluttershy to Trixie, “if you want to back out now-”

“The Great and Powerful Trixie politely declines your offer to back out. If providing you with blood allows her to maintain such a wonderful residence, it is a small price to pay for her continued service.” Trixie’s proud grin faded. “Also, I’m kind of on the wrong side of the law now, thanks to that free meal, so it’s not like I have any place to go.”

Rarity groaned. Fluttershy beamed. Mahara seemed amused with the situation in general.

“The Great and Powerful Trixie does have one question, though.”

“Of course.” Mahara nodded, rolling her forehoof. “Ask away, then.”

“Why not go to Luna and try to get amnesty?” Mahara narrowed her eyes as Trixie looked over the three of them. “I mean, she’s a princess, right? She should have some say in the matter.”

“I refuse to go to Luna for anything.” The red mare snorted, looking away. “The last thing I want is her help.”

Fluttershy reached for her, brow knitted. “Mahara, we should at least consider-”

“It’s not an option. Not for me.” The timid pegasus let her hoof drop, at which Mahara’s expression softened. “Sorry… I’d really just rather not get her involved.”

A few minutes of awkward silence fell over the room, during which Fluttershy cuddled up to the red mare, bringing a gentle smile to her lips. The silence concluded as Rarity cleared her throat, rising to her hooves.

“I suppose that concludes the discussion, then. Thank you very much for explaining the situation to Trixie, and to me as well.” Rarity rounded the couch, smiling. “But if I recall, there’s a dress with your name on it that needs some finishing touches, so if you wouldn’t mind…”

“Oh, I uh…” Mahara found herself floating through the air, wrapped in the glow of Rarity’s magic and drifting toward Rarity’s room. “I guess I don’t mind?”

“Good.” Rarity shut the door behind her, opening it up again a moment later. “And Fluttershy, I would just love for you to help me with a bit of dress making later!”

“Oh yes! We haven’t done that in forever!” Fluttershy lowered her head, looking around sheepishly after her outburst.

Rarity smiled before shutting the door again. This time it stayed closed, a muffled conversation reaching her ears from the couch. Trixie didn’t seem to be paying attention, instead admiring the chandelier. The magician blinked as a shout came through the wall, barely muffled at all. Fluttershy didn’t have to guess to figure out that Rarity was reprimanding Mahara for the previous night’s charitable shenanigans. They briefly made eye contact.

“Soooo…” Trixie kicked her hind legs, ears tilting forward, and Fluttershy quickly looked down at the floor; she hadn’t noticed it was a wood floor. A minute passed before Trixie said anything else. “If The Great and Powerful Trixie is going to be staying here, I should probably slip over to my apartment and grab a few things.”

Her gaze went from the floor to Trixie in the blink of an eye. “Your what?”

“My apartment, to grab a few things. My emergency savings, mostly.”

Fluttershy felt her jaw going slack. “Apartment?”

“Yeah.” Trixie slipped off the couch, resting a hoof on the table. “What’s the big deal about that?”

“I thought you were… you looked like… eating pinecones and…” Trixie arched a brow as Fluttershy sputtered. “Destitute! We thought you were destitute!”

“Have you seen my apartment?! I am destitute!”

“You had an empty bottle of whiskey!” Fluttershy leaned forward, pointing and waving her forehoof. “You were filthy and sitting on cardboard and said you ate pinecones!”

“Yeah? So I like to have a little drink every so often! It was way past noon! Where’s the harm in that?! Also I never said I ate pinecones, I said the food I had been eating was like eating pinecones.”

“Okay um… fine…” Fluttershy settled back against the couch, snorting quietly. “But why were you all grimy then?”

“Well, I rake in a little more if I look desperate. The Great and Powerful Trixie is a performer, don’t you know.” She flashed a grin, giving a little bow. Fluttershy was not amused. “Look, I don’t make as much as I did as a traveling performer, so I try to make some extra bits on the side doing street performances. It’s not the most dignified thing in the world, so, you know, it helps to look the part.”

Fluttershy sighed, covering her eyes with her hooves. “Alright… So I shouldn’t have just assumed that you were homeless, but you should have said something sooner.”

“The Great and Powerful Trixie does not look a gift pony in the mouth.” Fluttershy let her hooves slip off her face, glaring out at the magician. “Okay, okay yes, that was underhooved of me. Please don’t kick me out, though. I’m kind of wanted now because of that stunt Mahara pulled, and if I stay at home, the police will probably come looking for me.” Trixie began to prance in place. “I hope they haven’t been through my place already… It’s bad enough that my wagon got trashed…”

“Well, it’s um… it’s not really up to me. You should probably talk to Rarity.”

Trixie shook her head furiously, leaning over the table when her head came to a stop. “No no no no! I’m definitely not telling her. Let her think I’m homeless for all I care.” She sighed, settling back on the floor. “I pretty much am at this point, anyway, since I can’t stay at my apartment and I can’t do my normal performances.”

“I won’t tell her… but…” Fluttershy tilted her head. “Normal performances?”

“Ugh…” Trixie paced in silence for several moments, then turned toward the confused, winged mare. “Okay, you really, really can’t tell Rarity, but I’m…” The magician bit her lip, squeezing her eyes shut. “I do magic shows for foals’ birthdays.” She exhaled, eyes opening. “There, I said it. Laugh if you want, I know it’s pathetic.”

“Well that isn’t-”

“I have to dress up as a clown too,” she added flatly.

“Oh…” Several tense seconds passed before a faint giggle came to Fluttershy’s lips. “Sorry. Well, at least you have a job.”

“Had… If I try to book a gig now, they’ll probably lead me away in chains. Some birthday that would be.” Trixie sighed again, turning toward the door. “Anyway, I’ll be back in a while.”

“O-okay.” Fluttershy nodded, watching as Trixie headed for the door. “We’ll be here, I guess.”

A few minutes passed between the front door closing and Rarity’s door opening. Fluttershy gasped as Mahara stumbled out, a knitting needle stuck in her forehead.

“So I’m going to do a better job of keeping you out of trouble.” The needle tumbled away from her, clattering to the floor. “Also Rarity would like your opinion on the frills she wants to use on my dress.”

Nodding, the timid pegasus crossed the room. Mahara remained by the doorway.

“Hey, where’s Trixie?”

“It’s a funny story, really…” Fluttershy smiled, nuzzling the red mare as she passed. “I’ll tell you later.”

\/ /\ /\ \/

“I knew that even if no one was expecting me to travel, somepony as fabulous as myself would draw attention no matter how dressed down I was.” Rarity grinned, looking over a strip of silk. “Naturally, I had to do a little scheming.”

Fluttershy nodded along as Rarity leaned closer to Mahara. Rather than make an improvised dummy, the red mare had offered herself for use in the design process. The occasional pin pricks didn’t seem to bother her, either. For the most part, Mahara seemed to be looking out the window, admiring the hazy Manehattan skyline as the sun slowly bathed it in orange light, bidding goodnight to the city. Sunset and sunrise, Fluttershy had discovered, were within the range of light her vision could tolerate, though she did have to squint slightly. Looking directly at or around the sun was out of the question, however. She briefly wondered just how the red mare could withstand so much physical strain without any display of anguish.

“I purchased a one way ticket to Canterlot, but I boarded a train to Manehattan. Being the charmer that I am,” she batted her eyelids, “I was able to talk my way into staying on the train when a conductor came around.”

“Very clever,” Mahara mused.

Rarity took a step back, looking over the rough draft of the dress pinned to her volunteer. Fluttershy took a step closer, prepared to give a second opinion. The outfit itself was very sleek, adhering closely to Mahara’s form without giving an impression of restriction. The interior was lined with silk, the exterior a soft, emerald felt. A pair of slim white stripes ran up the sleeves and terminated at the elastic of the waist. A strip of measuring tape symbolized the zipper that would span from the collar to the waistband. Fluttershy tried to imagine wearing it herself, but couldn’t mentally close the zipper.

“It’s um…” The pegasus looked between Mahara and Rarity. “It’s a track suit, right?”

“That’s what I was going for. This is supposed to be a more practical, utilitarian design.” Rarity turned toward her, brow arched. “Or is it too simplistic?”

“The Great and Powerful Trixie thinks it should be more extravagant!” They turned toward the door, where the frosty maned mare was peering in through a crack. “She sees no bells, no whistles! How can one dazzle in such a lackluster piece?”

“No one asked you!” Rarity spat, the door glowing as she slammed it. She gave a satisfied grin at Trixie’s surprised yelp. “Oh… But maybe she’s right. Will my usual clients even buy something this… common?”

“If they’re looking for something to wear when they’re just planning to go out for a jog, or run a few small errands, I don’t see why they wouldn’t want one.” Fluttershy smiled, circling around to Mahara’s front. “You have quite a reputation, after all. I’m sure ponies would buy almost anything you put your name on.”

Rarity frowned. “I’m sure you meant that well, but…”

“Oh, no, I… I didn’t mean-”

“I shouldn’t be designing something to wear, though. It should be the thing to wear.” The pins and needles drifted away from Mahara, various fabrics following soon after. Fluttershy sighed softly, hanging her head. “Speaking of plans and reputations, though, what exactly are you two going to do about your situation?”

“To be honest,” Mahara replied, “my plan was to disappear into the woodwork. I figured we would spend a few days here, then hop on a trading boat or something and travel to another country, maybe even another continent.”

The fashionista arched her brow again. “Your plan hinges on Celestia losing interest?”

“Well when you put it like that…” Mahara stepped off the suitcase they had been using as a pedestal. “There isn’t really any better way to do it, though. The only other options are kind of morbid and violent, so I’m not exactly eager to…”

Sapphire’s bed creaked as Fluttershy settled on the edge, quickly averting her gaze as Mahara and Rarity glanced toward her. “Sorry,” she whispered.

“It’s her or us,” she continued, “and honestly, I’d rather not find out which side would come out of it alive.” Mahara took a few steps closer to the window, standing out against the darkening cityscape. “If we stay out of her way for long enough, show her that we aren’t a threat, then maybe, just maybe, Celestia will let us go.”

“And Zecora?” Rarity calmly inquired.

Fluttershy sat up, ears perked. “Zecora?”

Rarity quickly glanced back and forth between them. Her eyes narrowed into a glare as she centered on Mahara. “You didn’t tell her about Zecora, did you?”

The red mare turned slowly, avoiding Fluttershy’s troubled gaze. “I was going to get around to it…”

“Well, there’s no time like the present.” Rarity stood her ground as Mahara crossed the room again, approaching Fluttershy. “Really, I shouldn’t have to-”

Fluttershy held up a forehoof, lowering her head slightly to look Mahara in the eyes. “The unexpected company you mentioned when we were in Rarity’s boutique…” The red mare sat down beside the bed. “You were talking about Zecora, weren’t you?”

“Yes.” Mahara held her gaze, unwavering, unblinking.

“She was what I heard outside of the boutique, with Celestia and Twilight?”

“Yes.” She was a statue, her mouth acting as her only moving part, but Fluttershy could sense the anxiety building up beneath the surface.

“Was it an accident, like with me?”

Mahara’s expression cracked for a split second, a tremble running through her.

“No…” she whispered.

“Why, then?” Fluttershy asked quietly, calmly. She felt more concern than anger, and an urge to understand Mahara’s actions. “You know what this is like better than anypony. Why would you do this to her?”

“Before I wrote you that note…” Mahara exhaled slowly, eyes still locked with Fluttershy’s. “Twilight and Zecora came to the cottage, looking for clues or something, and, well, I tried to ward them off. Zecora put up a fight. She wanted to kill me, and it wasn’t the sad, defeated urge to end my life that I saw in Celestia. Zecora saw me as an enemy. A monster to be slain. There was anger, hatred in her eyes. It’s my fault; I took blood from her through trickery…

“But in that moment, she and I were locked in… to the death; I was in no state of mind to let her take my life. I threw her out your window, and I could have let it end there, but I followed her…” She swallowed, but her face remained a mask of tranquility. “I had tried to reason with them, tried to tell them that I didn’t want to come to violence, and she jumped at my throat the first chance she got. She would have finished the job if she could have. I thought, why should I show her the mercy and compassion she would deny me?

“I was so angry… I actually meant to kill her... I meant to strip her away until there was nothing left, but I heard Twilight calling out to me, begging me to reconsider… and I realized that I was being the very monster they expected me to be. It was too late to turn back, so I faced a choice… I could leave her to share in my fate, or finish what I had started and spare her my curse. Part of me felt that letting her experience, first hand, what it’s like to be like me…” She blinked as her eyes began to water.

“Letting her live as the very thing she despised, that would be a fitting punishment…”

“Punishment?” Fluttershy whispered, voice trembling. “You wanted to punish her?”

“Yes!” Mahara cried, her calm completely shattering. She shut her eyes against her tears as she heaved a shuddering gasp. “But how could I even think that?! No one deserves this!” She put her head between her forehooves, violently shaking her head as she whipped back and forth, gasping between sobs.

“I couldn’t! I couldn’t just kill her like that! I shouldn’t have let my anger get the better of me! I shouldn’t have done this to her! I wish I could take it back!”

Her eyes snapped open, desperately trying to hold Fluttershy’s gaze as she wept.

“I wish I could take everything back!” she screamed, eyes wide and frantic, “I’m sorry! I’m sorry I did this to you!”

Mahara felt like an ember in her embrace, still shaking as Fluttershy cradled her in her forelegs, gently rubbing her back. She could feel her lips moving, whispering I’m sorry into the side of her neck.

“It’s okay,” she whispered. “I forgive you.”

The words had formed on an impulse, but when she stopped to think about them, she found they still held truth. She was undeniably upset with Mahara, but the frustration was a holdover from finding out about what the red mare had done to Zecora and the fact that she hadn’t brought it up on her own. The tears, the regret; there was no doubt in Fluttershy’s mind that they were genuine. Her forgiveness was no less genuine. She closed her eyes, rocking with Mahara as her cries became more tranquil.

A few minutes passed before she joined Fluttershy on the bed, curling up silently beside her. She turned toward the soft sound of hooves, Rarity approaching as though walking on thin ice.

“Shall I retire elsewhere?” the pale unicorn asked. “Not to intrude on this tender moment, but…”

Mahara shook her head. “I didn’t mean to cause a commotion. I’ll let you get back to work.” Fluttershy put a hoof to her back, gently halting her. “Or I could stay and help you both with redesigning, I guess?”

“Yes,” Fluttershy replied, looking to Rarity. “We would like that very much, if that’s okay with you.”

Rarity heaved a quiet sigh and nodded.

\/ /\ /\ \/

I should probably check on Mahara… It’s been a while since she…

Rarity yawned softly, teetering toward the design sheets scattered across Sapphire’s desk. Even though Mahara had stayed at Fluttershy’s insistence, Rarity had done the majority of her rough designs on her own, only occasionally asking the timid pegasus for her opinion. Eventually, after a few quiet hours at her side, Mahara had excused herself and never returned. The longer it felt that she had been gone, the more she began to worry. With no view of a clock and all the light washing back against the night sky, obscuring the moon and the stars, she had completely lost track of time, only adding to her anxiety.

Another low exhale of exhaustion rolled up from the wavering fashionista. Fluttershy circled around the back of Rarity’s chair as she blinked sluggishly, squinting her eyes after the fact.

“Um…” Rarity’s lips parted as Fluttershy spoke, turning toward her with a completely blank expression. “If it’s alright… I’m going to… I’d like to…”

“No need to fuss dear… I was just about to turn in for the evening myself.” Rarity gave another tired series of blinks, putting her forehooves on the desk. “I had wanted to get a bit more done, but,” she interrupted herself with a yawn, “I suppose I can resume in the morning. Goodnight then.”

The unicorn slowly rolled out of her chair, seeming less than half awake as she crossed the room. A beauty mask floated out of one of her many bags, the strap dragging across the floor as it followed her into bed. She slipped it over her eyes and immediately after collapsed, unceremoniously, into bed. Though mildly startled by the display, Fluttershy stifled a giggle, quietly shutting the door behind her.

Beyond the doorway, her gaze was immediately drawn to the soft glow bleeding in through the windows. Someone had opened the curtains, exposing the twinkling Manehattan cityscape just on the other side of the glass. Trixie had vacated the living room hours ago, by her guess. At a glance, she saw that the door of the room Trixie had chosen was closed, but her door remained open. Mahara’s heartbeat sounded faint, but close. She turned her attention back to the window, tilting her head as she realized something seemed out of place.

A tree? She took a few steps closer as she inspected the scenery beyond the window. A pair of trees stood against the ambient light of the city, framing the spot-lit Statue of Harmony as it proudly stood watch over the harbor. How could a tree get all the way…? As she drew nearer to the windows, she noticed that a pair of handles protruded from their center, each belonging to a rectangle finely etched into the glass. But the curtains had concealed more than just a doorway.

Gently, she pushed one of them open, stepping out into the cool night air greeted by the distant smell of smoking chimneys and the nearby smell of flowers. Sapphire Shores didn’t just live in a penthouse; she lived in a penthouse with a very lush garden. A raised wooden walkway slithered through gently swaying grass, dividing the garden in two, with a rainbow of petals woven into the rolling green. In Sapphire’s absence, her garden had grown wild and untamed. Vegetation spilled over onto the cobblestone surrounding the garden, a few sprouts projecting from gaps between the stones of the bordering walkway.

Closer to the middle of the garden, the trees had begun to intertwine above the walkway. She recognized them as oak trees after a moment of examination, admiring the way their branches had twisted together to form a natural archway. A bit of moss had begun to gather on their trunks, spreading up into their branches. Whether it was the result of magic, careful gardening or simply chance, the overall effect brought a smile to her lips. As she gingerly walked down the path, she closed in on the source of the slow, steady pounding. She found Mahara sitting at the foot of the left tree, looking out over a world blanketed with a glowing black sky.

Fluttershy briefly thought back to the moment they met, how she had been ready to just keep walking. Mahara turned toward her, a soft emerald glow radiating against the darkness. The grass felt comfortable against her haunches, smiling fondly as she sat down beside the red mare. A fragile eternity passed as she looked into Mahara’s eyes, the sound of wind in the leaves reminding her of home. She had been ready to just keep walking, but even after everything she had been through, she was glad she didn’t.

“How um… Are you feeling alright? I was worried… when you didn’t come back.”

“I’ve made a lot of mistakes in my life, and the vast majority of them are irreversible. I don’t want you to look at me like that…” Mahara looked down at her forehooves, exhaling softly. “Like a mistake that you can’t fix.”

“I don’t think of you like a mistake. Not at all. In fact…”

Mahara flashed a smile, tilting her head out of the way as the winged mare nuzzled the side of her neck.

“You were right,” Fluttershy whispered, “about what you did that first night. It took me this long to realize that… I shouldn’t be afraid of everything, and I should just enjoy the time I have while I still have it... and… Well, thank you for showing me that.”

Without saying anything, the softness of Mahara’s gaze told her the feeling was mutual. She felt hooves under her wings, gently unfolding them, sliding along her feathers. She closed her eyes. Her wingspan was so enormous now; she imagined she could wrap Mahara in them. Her feathers ruffled, a soft tingle cascading down her back as she felt lips on her skin, as delicate as a butterfly. She felt a hint of sharpness behind the kisses, each nibble bringing her to a soft gasp. Blushing, eyes half open, Fluttershy leaned toward the mare that had brought her to that point, forgetting about the world in a kiss.

Explicit Material

They lay under the tree until the warm glow of sunrise ignited the horizon. With Mahara next to her, Fluttershy greeted the coming day with open eyes, watching everything slowly wash out, until she could only see her hooves, and her immediate surroundings.

“I just remembered, I said I would tell you about Trixie.”

Mahara raised a brow, barely visible in a sea of intense light. “Oh?”

“She um… She tricked us. She’s not actually poor or homeless.” She squinted, leaning closer to the red pony.

“Ha, really now? That’s commendable, I never would have guessed.” The grass rustled softly as Mahara shifted her weight. “Shall we head in and see about breakfast?”

“Can we stay out here for a little while longer?”

She nodded, settling back against Fluttershy, kissing her on the forehead. “Of course.”

\/ /\ /\ \/

Chapter 9 - One Last Hurrah

Chapter Nine: One Last Hurrah

\/ /\ /\ \/

“You did what?!”

Rainbow Dash cringed as Applejack continued to gawk in disbelief. A quick glance around the room offered no comfort, despite being one of Dash’s favorite places. Because of what Rainbow had done the previous evening, she had exiled herself from the farm, spending the night alone in the clouds for the first time in months. Dreading the moment when she would tell Applejack that she had struck a filly in the mouth out of frenzied and misdirected anger, Rainbow Dash had avoided the farmhouse for most of the morning and eaten her breakfast in town. She had seen more than a few familiar faces, reluctantly exchanging greetings, but received no word on the results of the previous day’s search. That is, until she ran into Pinkie Pie, just before returning to Sweet Apple Acres.

Now Rainbow felt as though her presence were polluting that most sacred of bedrooms. The late morning sun illuminated the room, a soft glow reflecting beautifully over the blond cascade of Applejack’s mane. The shame pulled Rainbow’s gaze to the floor, watching as a few more of her tears splashed against it.

After a full minute of silence, the earth pony spoke up. “Why, Dash? Why would ya do that?”

“Because she-” Rainbow choked on her words, shaking her head. “She said it was her fault! She’s the reason that the hydra attacked Ponyville! She’s the reason you lost your leg!”

“Damnit Dash, Ah already told ya; it ain’t nopony’s fault but mine that Ah got mah leg bit off! Ah knew what Ah was gettin’ into when Ah came up with that plan, an’ ain’t nopony forced me ta do it!” The pegasus glanced up to find a look of concern where she had expected one of anger. “Ya can’t keep blamin’ yerself, an’ ya certainly can’t go around blamin’ a filly. Now c’mere.”

Obediently, Rainbow approached the side of the bed, keeping her gaze downcast. She felt bandaged forehooves on the back of her neck, gently pulling her closer.

“You’re not mad at me?” Dash whispered, trembling.

“Ah’m disappointed, but Ah understand… Now Ah ain’t sayin’ what ya did was okay by any means, an’ you gotta make things right with Scootaloo, but…”

She felt those same hooves slowly lifting her head, until their eyes met. “You need to let this go. Ah know yer scared. Ah am too, but ya can’t keep this inside you, or it’ll break you like a sick tree in a storm. Life throws all kinds ‘a twists an’ turns at us, but we’re stronger for it if we can make tha’ best of things. The only way we can start doin’ that is by lettin’ go an’ accepting things fer what they are.”

“Accepting things for what they are…” Rainbow repeated as she closed her eyes. “And what are things right now?”

“Well... For starters, how’s everypony else doin’? They ain’t worryin’ bout me too much, Ah hope.”

“I… I’m not really sure… Pinkie might be stopping in to cheer you up later, but other than that…” Rainbow flapped her wings, lifting herself into bed beside Applejack. “Twilight left with Celestia last night, and Fluttershy-”

The blond mare sighed. “Still no luck findin’ her?”

“Worse,” she answered, shaking her head. “Pinkie told me that Rarity is gone now, too. Didn’t even show up for the funeral service.”

“Neither did we,” Applejack hastily replied. “That don’t mean nothin’.”

“Yeah, but Aloe was one of her close friends... I think she skipped town. Nopony has seen a trace of her. Pinkie also told me that Celestia and Twilight left for Canterlot pretty much a little while after the search started. I’m betting Mahara has Fluttershy there, trying to hide right where Celestia wouldn’t think to look, and Rarity is going there to-”

“Goin’ there ta rescue Fluttershy? Attagirl! Ah’d be right there with her if…” Applejack trailed off as she looked Dash in the eyes, bringing Rainbow out of her distant stare. “What’s wrong, Sugarcube?”

“I wanna believe that she’s gonna to try and rescue Fluttershy, but…” Dash shook her head. “I don’t know, AJ. Everything is all screwed up these days…”

“Well, Ah hope they catch Mahara.” The earth pony looked to the foot of the bed, snorting. “Ah hope they make sure she can’t hurt another pony ever again.” Rainbow Dash nodded, resting her head against Applejack’s breast. The earth pony’s heart was pounding.

“But you know what,” Applejack spat, her gaze narrowing into a glare. “Ah jus’ realized, Ah been looking at this all wrong... This whole thing has that two bit bitch written all over it! An’ not jus’ Fluttershy an’ Rarity goin’ missin’! Scootaloo an’ the others only went inta the Everfree forest ‘cause they were lookin’ fer Mahara!” She turned her furious stare on the pegasus. Her chest heaved, her face beet red, a few hot tears streaming from her eyes.

“Ah was wrong, Dash, it’s her fault! None of this woulda happened if she never showed up ‘round here! Ah did what Ah had to do ta protect mah family! Ah ain’t ta blame fer puttin’ mah neck on tha line! An’ it ain’t Scootaloo’s fault, an’ it sure as hell isn’t your fault neither!”

Some of the fire left Applejack’s eyes as Rainbow returned a fearful stare. Like a tree on the last few chops of an axe, the blond mare collapsed against her pillow, shuddering as she wept quietly. All the pegasus could do was embrace her and hold her as tightly as she could.

The silence stretched on until Applejack’s soft whimpers subsided, and she decided to speak again.

“What happened to us, Dash?” Rainbow looked up, but Applejack was looking out the window, drying her eyes with a bandaged hoof. “We all use’ta be so close. There weren’t a problem we couldn’t solve together. Now look at us…”

“It’s not all bad,” Rainbow whispered. “We still have each other.”

Applejack smiled, seemingly just about to answer when the bedroom door suddenly swung open. Rainbow jolted, her eyes finding Big Macintosh when she turned to look. Despite his sudden entrance, he immediately closed his eyes and backed out of the room.

“Sorry,” he called from the hallway. “Didn’t mean to interrupt ya’ll.”

The slightest blush lit up Applejack’s cheeks, but she just gave a weak laugh and shook her head. “Hell, Ah jus’ missed an appointment with death a day ago, Mac... The doc told me ta take it easy, remember?”

“Hah, yeah… Still, I shoulda knocked.” Macintosh trotted back into the room, looking more than a little embarrassed himself.

Rainbow sat up, resting her back against the headboard. “So, what’s up, big guy?”

“Ya’ll ain’t seen Applebloom around, have ya? Ah checked on her before Ah went to bed last night an’…” He looked down at his forehooves for a moment, shuffling nervously. “Well, Ah ain’t seen her since!”

“I…” Rainbow paused as she glanced to Applejack, finding the earth pony’s expression occupied with quickly mounting concern. “I didn’t sleep on the farm last night… What about you, AJ?”

“Applebloom talked to me yesterday, a little while after sundown. She said that maybe Zecora would have some kinda potion to help me grow back mah leg…” Applejack smiled sadly, shaking her head. Big Macintosh looked between them with visible impatience, tapping a forehoof on the floor as he listened.

“Ah told her that was a mite foalish, but you know how she is once she’s got an idea in there. Anyway, she’s probably just at Zecora’s hut.”

“Yeah,” Rainbow nodded, “but Zecora left town with Twilight and the princess. And Zecora hasn’t even been staying at her hut the last few days. She’d been staying with Twilight.” The blond pony arched her brows. “Does Applebloom know that?”

“Ah sure as hell didn’t know that! Well, maybe she’s just around town, then! Mahara ain’t in Ponyville anymore, right? An’ Applebloom said she was done with her, anyway! She can’t be too far!”

Applejack shifted around, looking as though she were going to try and get out of bed. Rainbow put a hoof on her shoulder, halting the effort. “Easy… Mac and I will find her.”

“Ah hate this…” she stated bitterly.

There was a helplessness in the blond mare’s eyes that made Rainbow feel a twinge of guilt. The same kind of helplessness she’d seen just before her love was snatched between the jaws of a hydra. Clearly having heard enough, Big Macintosh stepped out of the room and galloped down the stairs, the front door slamming a few moments later. Rainbow Dash remained, however, rubbing her hooves over Applejack’s forelegs. The blond mare looked up at her with a face full of worry, a slight tremble running through her.

“Are you gonna be okay here by yourself?”

“Ah reckon so... Ah ain’t paralyzed, jus’ one hoof short, an’ Ah know you’ll bring her home safe.” Her delicate smile brought reassurance to Rainbow. They kissed briefly, after which the earth pony pointed to the door. “Now fer heaven’s sake, git goin’ an’ find mah lil’ sister!”

\/ /\ /\ \/

The excitement Twilight Sparkle might have felt as she visited the more private quarters of the royal palace was severely dampened by the sense of dread invading her every thought. At the end of a corridor decorated and lit as if to imitate the night sky, an enormous pair of doors rested in their frame, adorned with a carving of the moon. A pair of guards stood on either side of that door, watching attentively as they drew nearer. As if sensing the unicorn’s anxiety, Celestia glanced back at her, tilting her head and offering a smile.

“We’re only going to ask her a few questions, Twilight. There’s nothing to worry about.”

Twilight looked between the two armored pegasi following closely behind Celestia. “What about the guards?” The princess was not dressed in armor herself, but the pegasi remained fully covered.

“Just a precaution, of course.” The alicorn smiled again, but Twilight felt her heart sink deeper with every step. She dared not even imagine what would happen if they discovered Luna was involved in some way. “We’re here to speak with Luna,” Celestia informed the black, bat winged pegasi standing at attention before her. They nodded, maintaining their posts.

A loud click sounded from the other side of the doors. Celestia and her escorts paused, the princess looking to them, each nodding in turn. She turned toward Twilight and motioned for her to come closer, cleared her throat, and took a deep breath. Only when the unicorn had hesitantly come to her side did Celestia push the heavy-looking doors open with her magic, a loud, dry creak resonating through the otherwise empty hall.

Together, they stepped through the threshold into darkness.

At least, it appeared to be complete darkness at first. Twilight’s eyes slowly adjusted to the near-absence of light, and as they did, she began to notice the soft glow coming from seemingly all around her. Faint, distant points of light completely circled them, highlighting the silhouettes of Celestia and her guards. It occurred to the unicorn that the room had no actual walls, and she was immediately reminded of the domed ceiling of a planetarium. Her gaze drifted across various constellations, eventually settling on the softly glowing sphere of the moon. She realized moments later that the moon in the display was occupying the same space as the sun.

“Hello sister,” came a voice from somewhere in the chamber, dripping with playful sarcasm. “And to what do I owe this pleasure?”

“Luna, there is a matter that requires immediate discussion.” The finer details of Celestia’s face slowly came into focus as Twilight’s eyes continued to adjust. “I regret that I have not informed you of the current situation sooner, but anxiety got the better of me, and I acted without first consulting you.”

Princess Luna emerged from the surrounding darkness as she stepped forward, regarding her sister curiously. Her gaze casually drifted over the guards before settling on Twilight for several moments. The unicorn quickly averted her gaze, looking down at the barely visible floor until Luna began to speak.

“And what seems to be the trouble, dear sister?” Twilight looked up in time to catch a sly grin across Luna’s lips, the alicorn motioning toward her. “Surely it’s nothing that you and your star pupil cannot resolve on your own.”

“I had hoped that it would be, but that hasn’t been the case.”

Luna took another step forward, still smiling. “And how might I be of service?”

“Mahara has been released, although perhaps resurrected is the better word.” Luna froze in place, her grin vanishing. Celestia continued. “She has already infected at least one of my subjects with her black magic, with a very possible, but as-of-yet unconfirmed second infection. Her location is currently unknown, which means the possibility of additional corruption is very high. We have reason to believe that she may be in Canterlot, however.”

“Yes…” Luna replied, after a short stretch of silence. She looked away, brow furrowing. “That is very concerning indeed…”

Both princesses held their ground. “Were you aware of this turn of events prior to this conversation?”

“I’m afraid not, or I would have informed you immediately. How is it that she is alive again?”

“It would appear that when I attempted to seal her within her diary, while her physical form resisted the spell, her soul was bound to it.” Celestia glanced down at the unicorn before continuing. “It was Twilight that discovered the diary in the Ponyville library’s basement, and evidently Mahara was able to influence the book itself to draw blood from her so that she might escape.”

Twilight managed a feeble nod, making another few seconds of eye contact with Luna. Gone was the grandeur from moon princess’s expression, however. She almost appeared hurt at the news.

“That brings me to my next question.” Celestia took a step forward, narrowing her eyes at her sister. “How did Mahara’s diary end up in the basement of a library, Luna?”

“I… I’m not certain as to how, sister. I had nothing to do with-” Luna shrank away as Celestia leaned forward. “I’m telling the truth, sister! I had no involvement with this!”

Twilight lifted her head, stepping around to lock eyes with the sun princess. “Celestia, Mahara’s diary wasn’t just lying around in the basement. There was an accident moving things around the day before I found it. Spike knocked down a section of the wall, and I decided to explore the passage that had been revealed. The passage itself wasn’t the result of any pony excavation, but the roots themselves, and I practically had to pry the diary out of them to get a look at it.” Celestia eased back, and Luna seemed greatly relieved.

“What I’m saying is… it doesn’t seem like anypony intended for me to find the diary. I only found it by chance. I’m sorry that I didn’t mention this sooner…”

“It has been so long,” Luna began, “I had forgotten that I had buried Mahara’s diary in the same soil that Ponyville has been built on.”

Celestia arched a brow. “You buried it?”

“You did not provide me with a body to bury, so I buried her diary in her place.” The black alicorn hung her head low, ears splayed. “Sister, I had no idea…”

“Nor did I. Those were troubled times, and I have already forgiven you, dearest Luna.” The white alicorn smiled sadly, lifting a hoof to Luna’s breast, letting it return to the floor when Luna looked up at her. “We can talk about this more later, if you’d like, but for the moment, we must discuss an appropriate course of action with which to deal with her and the ponies she has corrupted.”

Luna nodded slightly, giving Celestia her full attention. The flowing, nebulous form of her mane blended almost seamlessly with the illusion of the starry night surrounding them. As Twilight took a few steps back, she realized that the stars visible in Luna’s mane moved in accordance with the direction from which she looked at them, like an astrologically correct portal into the night sky.

“And what is it that you intend, sister?”

“While I hold no ill will against the ponies that have been tainted with black magic, because there is no way to cure them of their affliction, I am afraid that they cannot remain among my-” Celestia shifted her weight, briefly glancing up at the ceiling. “Our subjects. The risk of unnecessary bloodshed is simply too high.”

“How, exactly, do you propose that these individuals are…” The smaller alicorn hesitated. “Removed… from our kingdom?”

“At first, I had thought it appropriate to seal them away, but…” Luna’s eyes went wide at the mention of sealing, but she settled after Celestia raised a forehoof. “But these ponies, Mahara included, have done nothing deserving of so harsh a punishment… of their own volition, anyway.”

“Something...” Luna seemed to hesitate, lips drawn tightly, “tragic... has already occurred, I assume?”

Celestia took a deep breath, closing her eyes for a moment. “A zebra by the name of Zecora, living on the outskirts of Ponyville; friends with Twilight in fact. Mahara infected her, and she went without blood until she was consumed with a lust for it. She killed two members of my guard and came very close to killing a third.” Luna nodded slowly, her expression grave as she remained silent. “Zecora has expressed an urge to be executed for her actions, even though I have given her a sincere pardon. She tells me that the memories are unbearable and that she cannot live with what she has done.”

For roughly a minute, Luna was speechless. “Will you grant her request?”

“I have no desire to stain my hooves with blood, especially from so noble a mare… but she has agreed to help us track down Mahara on the grounds that she will be put out of her misery when Mahara is no longer a threat. Unless she changes her mind, I am honor bound to uphold the agreement, and to deny her… Well, I fear she may take her own life if I am unable to take it for her.”

“How very sad…” Luna looked down at her hooves as Celestia gave a slow nod. After a few moments, she asked, “What of Mahara?”

“Ending her life once was traumatic enough for me… While perhaps I had at one point thought it appropriate to seal her away in her diary once again, now…” Celestia shook her head. “After you had been sealed within the moon, Luna, there were so many ponies left in your wake, both uninfected supporters and those willingly or unwillingly changed into creatures of the night. Some of them wanted to keep fighting, others accepted defeat and turned themselves over, and still more went into hiding, realizing what was likely to come.”

The sun princess stepped away from her sister, the sound of her hooves echoing through the immense chamber. Luna turned, following at her side, while the guards remained by the door. Twilight trailed behind them, letting her gaze wander as she listened in.

Luna’s voice held the slightest tremble, almost fearful. “What did you do, Sister?”

“Some of them were treasonous, while others were simply caught up in the chaos and found themselves in over their heads, but… all of them presented a threat. I couldn’t bear to have them all executed. I had already seen more than enough carnage in the turmoil leading up to your banishment. I…”

Celestia stopped abruptly, turning her head toward Luna. “I banished them. I sent them very, very far from here, to a place which they would have no chance of escaping. I sent a small army to ensure order was upheld as well, but… that was a very, very long time ago. I want to believe that, all these centuries later, they have reached a point of peace, but…”

“I’ve never read about this before…” Both princesses looked back at Twilight when she raised her voice, approaching them slowly. “How is it that so much of this was unrecorded?”

“You’ll find that often in recorded history, some things receive greater focus than others. In this case, the absence of the sun was worth greater mention in the eyes of historians than the appearance and disappearance of strange, nocturnal ponies, and as far as most historians are concerned, the conflict was solely between Luna and myself, handled swiftly and cleanly. The truth, as you now understand, was far less pleasant.”

Twilight glanced between the regal sisters, gauging their expressions. “How is it, then, that Zecora knew about ponies like Mahara?”

“While my subjects didn’t take the time to document the scattered stories of a new type of pony, the subjects of the zebra tribes were not so quick to dismiss them. What remains of that history exists in the form of zebra folklore, as you heard from Zecora…”

Celestia looked away for a moment, sliding her hoof in a circle. “And while it is possible that, despite my best efforts, some of the tainted ponies may have escaped beyond the borders of Equestria, I have received no word of any incidents for hundreds and hundreds of years.”

“Wait, what about…” The unicorn looked to Luna, tilting her head. “What about your personal guards? Like the ones standing outside. They have eyes like Mahara, and bat wings.”

The moon princess smiled. “Nothing more than an enchantment of their armor, mostly for aesthetics’ sake. The eyes, however, serve a practical purpose. Being able to see in the dark would naturally be essential to serving me.” She returned her focus to Celestia, her brow knitted. “You intend to banish Mahara, then? You’re going to send her somewhere that may not even be safe?”

“I know it sounds cruel, but it’s a much better alternative to death, or undeath within the confines of a book. And depending on the state we find Fluttershy in…” The white alicorn’s gaze nervously swept over Twilight. “Well, Mahara won’t be going there alone, at the very least.”

It’s really happening… A dry gasp choked its way out of Twilight, her breast tightening at those words.
I’m really going to lose her!

“One of the element bearers?” Luna asked. “The quiet one?”

The room began to spin, Celestia’s voice becoming distant. “Yes… And if it becomes necessary, Rarity as well.” The sun princess looked to Twilight, her brow shooting up. “I know this is very troubling for you but- Twilight? Twilight?!”

The unicorn felt her legs give out from under her, the pale shilouette of princess Celestia lost under a blanket of darkness.

Her vision returned under a soft haze, with the sun shining brightly overhead. Her five closest friends smiled back at her, and at one another, laughing, lounging, and telling stories. Clouds began to roll across the horizon, a strong wind blowing across the field. Applejack and Rainbow Dash embraced one another, kissed deeply, then the pair got to their hooves, waved, and slowly walked away from the group.

Wait, she called after them, Pinkie Pie echoing her sentiments. The pink pony shrugged after a moment and returned her attention to the group. Everyone but Twilight kept laughing. Applejack and Rainbow Dash only focused on each other, ignoring everyone else as they crossed the field, until finally vanishing from view.

Heavy storm clouds churned overhead, rumbling as they blotted out most of the sky. The sun continued to shine through a break in the clouds, directly overhead. Shouting brought her attention back to her remaining friends. Rarity and Fluttershy stood on opposite sides of the picnic blanket, with Rarity spitting harsh words at her closest friend, crying tears of anger. Now sobbing hysterically, Fluttershy slowly turned away and began to cross the field.

Please don’t go, Twilight cried. Pinkie Pie looked at her from the other side of the blanket, then turned her gaze to Fluttershy, attempting to follow, asking her to return. Before Pinkie could even lay a hoof on her, Rarity ran to Fluttershy’s side, hugging her tightly around the neck. As they began to smile, a formless red mist swirled around them both and whisked them away.

Pinkie sighed softly, returning to the blanket and settling across from Twilight. She was trying to smile, but Twilight could see how hard it had become for her.

What did we do wrong? Pinkie asked, her curls starting to straighten out. Did they get bored of us? Is there anything we can do to bring them back? Or are we just bad friends?

I… I don’t know, Pinkie… Rain began to fall in sheets, soaking everything around the unicorn. A single column of sunlight protected her. Pinkie looked skyward, her hair completely limp. Twilight did the same, finding herself staring up at Celestia.

The princess slowly descended, landing in front of Twilight, smiling her gentle, regal smile. The unicorn felt her weight slowly lifting, drifting into the air with Celestia as she began to ascend. Her elation was extinguished as she looked down at the blanket again. Pinkie was nowhere to be seen.

Nothing lasts forever, the princess whispered.

And just like that, Twilight Sparkle was completely alone.

\/ /\ /\ \/

Won’t she be surprised to see me! Ah bet this’ll cheer her right up!

Were this her first time seeing Canterlot, Applebloom might have gasped or stood in awe. Instead, she looked around the Canterlot Central Station courtyard with a wide grin, taking a deep breath of fresh air. Everything about the situation was exciting to the young mare. She had gone into the Everfree forest on her own plenty of times, but never to another town, and certainly not to another city without some kind of adult or chaperone.

After finding Zecora’s hut completely abandoned, she had returned to Ponyville, where she quickly found out why Zecora had left town and where she had gone. The regular morning run to Canterlot had just pulled in as she trotted past the station. One particularly large suitcase lay partially open next to a pile of several others. A bunch of blankets lay within; nothing that she figured anypony would miss too badly, and there wasn’t another pony in sight. Applebloom’s decision was an easy one.

Over the constantly moving heads of the crowd around her, the castle stood proudly in the center of the city, illuminated by the sun’s gentle rays. She was, at least, vaguely familiar with the way to the royal palace, thanks in part to her fair share of fieldtrips to Equestria’s capital. Applebloom spent a moment reflecting on those fieldtrips, most of them largely uneventful. It had been at least two and a half years since the trip that ended in Discord’s release. If anything, that was a point of concern for her.

Almost three years, an’ still no cutie mark… Mah birthday is comin’ up, too… Ah’m gonna be-

A bell began to toll not far from where she stood, drawing her gaze to the enormous face of a clock tower.

Shucks, ain’t even noon yet. Ah’m sure they don’t even know Ah’m gone! She smiled as a few ponies looked down at her, brows arched and mouths askew with curiosity. She waved, then rejoined the flow of the crowd. Still, Ah ain’t got time ta go sight seein’.

Several blocks of looking into shop windows and crossing busy streets made her realize that traveling to the castle on hoof was going to take longer than she had expected. A cluttered cart waited patiently at an intersection, hitched to what appeared to be a pony wearing the armor of the royal guard. As quietly as she could, Applebloom crawled in, laying flat against the bed moments before it began to rumble with motion. Smiling, she rolled onto her back, watching the buildings pass on either side. Every time she felt the cart come to a stop, she peered over the side, finding herself closer to her destination.

Not wanting to press her luck, she slipped out of the cart about a block from the gates, cautiously trotting up to the enormous wall surrounding the perimeter. The castle itself was a bit higher up on the mountain, but there was plenty of foliage to take cover in as she approached. She checked to make sure no one was watching her, rubbing her hooves together as she prepared to scale the wall.

“And as you can see, ahead of us is the royal palace.” Applebloom turned toward the voice, finding a large group of poines led by a very friendly looking mare. “Now, I will remind you again to stay with the tour group and refrain from bucking, licking, nudging, biting, levitating, touching or otherwise disturbing anything behind ropes within the castle. Photos are permissible.”

The filly looked between the wall and the tour group several times, then scurried over to join them. None of them even seemed to notice.

The walk up to the castle was agonizingly slow with the tour guide frequently pausing to point out important trees and statues or recite history, most of it she had already learned from field trips. The second they had crossed the moat and entered the castle, Applebloom split from the group, slipping under a velvet rope and into the hallway it barred. She completely lost track of time after that, sneaking through side passages, peering into rooms, and avoiding guards as they patrolled the corridors. All things considered, it wasn’t that difficult, but then they probably weren’t expecting an intrusion, much less from a filly.

Occasionally, Applebloom would emerge back into one of the main halls, catch sight of the tour group, and quickly vanish back into areas that were supposed to be off limits. In the distance, the clock tower tolled, informing her of the arrival of noon. She began to lose hope; the castle was much too large for one filly to search every inch of it. As she leaned against a wall, sighing softly, her ear swiveled in the direction of a conversation.

“…not sure it’s safe to keep her here, especially not so close to the princess’s bedroom. Can’t we build a stable or something for her?”

“She’s friends with that Twilight Sparkle girl-”

“Oh, isn’t she-”

“Yeah, the princess’s star pupil… and all of the sudden, Celestia herself seems to admire her too, so that’s a big no.”

Applebloom leaned around the corner, setting her eyes on a pair of guards; one male, the other female, both earth ponies. They were completely absorbed in their chat, slowly moving down the hall. Staying as low to the floor as she could, the filly began to follow them.

“But yeah,” she continued, “didn’t Celestia just tell us how dangerous they are the day before?” The female guard had her helmet balanced on her nose, occasionally jerking whenever it threatened to fall. She was the reason for their snail pace. “Why are we even keeping her alive?”

“I know. You can tell how bad she wants to be put out of her misery, too. What a shame…” The stallion sighed, shaking his head. “Such beautiful stripes…”

The mare turned toward him, grinning. Applebloom darted behind a vase. “Didn’t figure you for the zebra-chasing type. I never really got into much interspecies stuff, myself.”

“Wait, what? Aren’t you dating a griffon?”

A soft clattering sound reached Applebloom’s ears. As she glanced across the rim of the vase, she saw that they had come to a complete stop and that the mare had dropped her helmet, blushing rather intensely.

“Much. I said I didn’t get into much interspecies stuff.”

“Oh really?” He leaned toward her, brow cocked. “Zebras and ponies are almost the same kind of equine. They can have foals together. A griffon is like, a cat… bird… thing… they have two different kinds of claws, sharp beaks... barbed-”

“Yeah, well...!” She sputtered several times, beet red in the face. The stallion was visibly fighting to keep himself from laughing. “Don’t you have some stripes to go gawk at?!”

Applebloom held her breath as the mare stormed right past her, vanishing around the corner. The stallion laughed until he cried as he made his way down the hall. She resumed her stalking, staying several pony-lengths behind him for fear that he might look back and spot her. Eventually, she followed him to a much larger, slightly more populated hallway. Ponies in professional looking attire passed by ponies in armor and ponies carrying cleaning supplies. She hesitated behind a trash bin as he traveled further and further across the hall, fearing she might lose him. To her surprise, he stopped at a door on the other side, nodding to the pair of guards on either side of it. She strained to listen as they started to speak.

“…been pretty quiet all day, mostly,” said the unicorn stallion to the left. “Asked for a few ingredients a little while ago. Celestia said it was safe to give her whatever she requested, so we rounded them up for her.”

“I thought we weren’t supposed to regard her as a prisioner,” said the guard she had followed.

“We’re not. She’s holed herself in there on her own.” The stocky unicorn shrugged. “She said she doesn’t want to come out unless Twilight Sparkle or Princess Celestia asks for her personally.”

The filly ducked into a doorway as she pondered how to reach the room without being seen. She had no doubt that she would find Zecora within, but getting there was going to be more than a challenge. She peered out again, all three guards staying put as they continued to talk amongst themselves.

If Ah could jus’ get to tha other side of the hallway…

Applebloom froze as a soft rattling came from behind her. She whipped around just in time to see a pony in a maid’s outfit round the corner. Thinking fast, she flattened against a depression in the wall, striking a pose and holding her breath as the pony passed, pulling cart loaded with cleaning supplies. The lowest shelf of the cart was surrounded by a partially opened curtain, vacant, and large enough for her to hide in.

Bingo.

Half stepping, half rolling, she slipped onto the shelf, drawing the curtain, curling up tightly and praying no one noticed her. To her relief, she wasn’t yanked out and dragged out of the castle. She peered out through a gap in the curtain, then rolled back out of the cart as it passed an open door on the other side of the hall. Once inside, she scanned her surroundings, hiding behind a tapestry to narrowly avoiding being spotted by another maid. The maid slowly trotted back out of the room, likely finished dusting, and closed the door behind her. The filly heaved a sigh of relief and made her way to the enormous window.

Just as she had hoped, the window opened onto a balcony, with identical balconies on either side, flush to the curved exterior of the castle. The window opened with little difficulty, but a strong gust of wind made her flinch, blowing her mane into her eyes. Carefully, she closed the window behind her, stepping up to the railing. Staring into the gap between the balcony on which she stood and the balcony of Zecora’s room, she felt a nervous chill run down her back. Far below, ponies went about their business in the castle courtyard. A few unintelligible shouts found their way up to her, but she ignored them and braced her forehooves against the rail.

Here goes…

She pushed herself up with her forehooves, jumping onto the railing with her hinds, and then coiled like a spring as she touched the railing, launching onto the adjacent balcony. She teetered in place where she landed, letting out her breath in a giggle. Looking down on the way had been been a mistake. With a dizzy grin, she turned toward Zecora’s window.

The zebra was occupied, holding her door ajar and peering through the crack. Applebloom quietly snuck into the room, crouching down behind the bed and listening in. “I’m feeling very strange indeed…” she softly stated, sounding almost apologetic. “I feel it must be time to feed.”

“We’ll make the arrangements immediately,” came a response from the voice of the stocky unicorn.

She heard the door click, followed by the sound of hooves against the floor, slowly approaching the bed.

“I’m not sure why you’ve ignored my request, but to your presence I fear I must protest.” Applebloom was so startled by the address that she locked up. A few clumsy syllables made their way past her lips as she felt herself gripped with anxiety.

“I do not care what you have to say!” She recognized the fear and anger in Zecora’s voice. “I just want you to go away!”

“Zecora, it’s me!” The zebra staggered back when Applebloom peered at her from across the bed. Remembering that there were guards outside, she lowered her voice. “Ah didn’t mean ta sneak in an’ startle you. Well, Ah did mean ta sneak in, but- Well, you know what Ah mean. Ah never got to talk to ya before ya left, so Ah figured Ah’d visit you here, an’, well, howdy.”

Applebloom gave the biggest smile she could, and for about a minute, Zecora was speechless. Eventually, the smallest trace of a smile found its way across her lips. She took a few steps closer, lightly shaking her head.

“I’m very happy to see you, Applebloom, but you should not be here in this room.” Her smile vanished as she looked away, stopping several paces from the bed. “I’m… not quite myself anymore, you see… I fear it’s not safe to be here with me…”

“Ah don’t understand…” The filly stepped out from behind the bed, slowly trotting toward her friend. “Yer not yerself? What do you mean?”

As Zecora looked her in the eyes, displaying the slits of her pupils and the soft turquoise glow, Applebloom understood exactly what the zebra meant.

“How?” she whispered.

“Like you, I am a victim of her treachery… To be spared was her plan, as you can see. For the moment, I am in control, but should I unhinge…” Zecora turned away again, looking down at the floor. After a moment, she shook her head. “It’s too costly a toll.”

“What…” The filly hesitated, fearing what the answer might bring. “What kinda toll?”

Zecora continued to stare at the floor. "This thirst is a beast in a flimsy cage, and none are safe from its endless rage. I've brought two lives to a painful end. The next could very well be you, my friend… I cannot risk that, nor live with what I've done. My life must end for the sake of everyone.” She closed her eyes as she took a deep breath, trembling. “I know this may be hard to hear… but I'm already gone… please, just say goodbye, my dear."

A blanket of near silence fell over the room, neither mare moving from where they stood. The news that Zecora had committed murder was difficult for her to swallow, but Applebloom could feel the pain radiating from her at the mention of what she had done. Instead of fear, she felt only concern.

“No,” Applebloom managed at last. “Ah ain’t leavin’, an’ Ah sure ain’t sayin’ goodbye.”

The zebra lifted her head, narrowing her teary eyes. “Applebloom, this is no joke. I meant every word I spoke.”

“An’ Ah mean that Ah ain’t jus’ gonna forget about you an’ move on, Zecora!” She tried to move closer, but for every step forward she took, Zecora took a step back. Applebloom stopped only when Zecora had her haunches to the door. “Ah mean, you didn’t mean ta kill ‘em, right?”

“Their dying breaths fill me with grief…” She shook her head slowly, eyes squeezed shut. “From this guilt, there is no relief! I’d trade my life for theirs without hesitation, so my death will be justice, and just compensation.”

“No… Zecora, you may have her blood in ya now, but you ain’t a monster. Ah can see that plain as day from where Ah’m standin’.” Zecora continued to shake her head, her tears silently rolling down her muzzle. “Whatever happened weren’t yer fault. It was an accident. Diein’ ain’t gonna fix anything; jus’ make a whole lotta ponies feel a whole lot worse.”

Applebloom took a deep breath and a slow, cautious step forward.

“Please,” Applebloom whispered, wrapping her forelegs around the zebra’s neck. “Ah’m already all bent outta’ shape ‘bout Mahara an’ what Ah did to Scootaloo. Ah don’t know what Ah’m gonna do if Ah lose you, too…”

Slowly, Zecora opened her eyes, blinking away a few more tears as her fragile smile returned.

“For one so young, you’ve become quite wise… I’ll give it more thought, perhaps compromise…” She returned the embrace, hugging Applebloom tightly. The doorknob began to glow. “But if you won’t leave, then it’s best you hide. This part of the castle you shouldn’t-”

“Yeah, we know you have someone else in there,” interrupted the stocky unicorn. “You’re a not a prisoner, and if you wanted to see her this badly, you could have just asked.”

“Oh…” they said in unison.

Applebloom sighed, Zecora mumbling something in her native tongue as she stepped away from the door. Half a dozen guards peered into the room when the door opened, displaying various degrees of confusion, amusement, or mild irritation.

“She’s not supposed to be here?” asked a pegasus mare, pointing at Applebloom. “I saw her sneaking around earlier and I thought she was one of the Kinder-Guardians practicing infiltration tactics or something.”

“I thought the captain said we were supposed to call them Junior Shieldsters…”

An uneasy silence swept the excitement out of the room, and as Applebloom’s gaze swept over the faces present, she found half of the guards down casting their gaze, the others shooting a dark glare in Zecora’s direction. The zebra winced before looking down at the floor herself.

After several silent, tense seconds, one of the guards mumbled, “So I guess this means nopony liked my Foal Phalanx suggestion?”

As the small crowd of guards began to snicker, Zecora loudly cleared her throat. “This will not sound rude, I think, but I believe I stated my need to drink?”

“Right! Right, Shining Dawn should be back any moment now.” The crowd slowly dissipated as the stocky unicorn looked down the hall. “There she is. What about your uh… guest there?”

Applebloom and Zecora exchanged glances. “She may remain if she so desires, but please send her home before the day expires.”

The filly beamed, wiggling her ears. Another smile broke across Zecora’s lips, muted slightly when a mare entered the room. She carried a tray with a napkin, a salt shaker, and a large bowl in the center. Zecora cast a nervous glance at Applebloom, but the filly just smiled and nodded, trotting over to the bed and settling on the end, looking out the window as she waited for the zebra to finish.

\/ /\ /\ \/

Once their thirst had been slaked, Rarity insisted that Mahara and Fluttershy go out and have fun. The only condition was that the fun in question be legal and not likely to draw unwanted attention. Trixie declined their offer to accompany them on their outing, much preferring to lounge around Sapphire Shores’ lavish penthouse. Rarity stated that she was determined to get some work done, and similarly declined. Instead, she provided them with new clothes and a purse full of bits to spend, and then shooed them out the door.

A bright, sunny afternoon greeted them the moment they set hoof outside, but with adequate covering, the mostly cloudless sky was hardly a bother. It felt a bit strange to look out at the world from behind sunglasses, but as far as Fluttershy was concerned, it was a much better alternative to near-blindness. With no plans for any sort of dark magic, the necessity to draw fresh blood was minimal, at the most, and the dresses, hats, and sunglasses all but eliminated the need for any actual disguise.

Despite its state of perpetual sleeplessness, Manehattan was much more active during the day. Music carried on the gentle breeze, complimented by the occasional flock of birds or busy pegasi, and every shop seemed to be open for business. Tack’s Square was first on their itinerary, with the park listed as one of the things to visit before sundown, both for its gardens and its wildlife.

Mahara pranced about beside her as they moved through the constantly flowing crowd on the street, grinning from ear to ear as she took in the sights and sounds and smells of the city. Fluttershy smiled and giggled softly as she caught an excited glance from the red mare. She hadn’t felt so relaxed or so eager to enjoy herself in an uncomfortably long time. Mahara clearly felt the same.

It also felt nice to wear something that fit properly. Fluttershy had yet to really get a grasp on shape shifting, and considering that it meant pain and the expenditure of blood, she was less than enthusiastic to try and slim herself down right away. To her relief, Rarity had been very understanding and more than happy to modify a dress for the pegasus with the resources at her disposal. The hemming in back hung down to her ankles, bearing print resembling ivy, with the sleeves reaching all the way to her fetlocks, and blue sash tied snugly around her middle to hold the outfit together.

It wasn’t anything too flashy, the pegasus always favoring modesty over grandeur, and it resembled her dress from the Gala to a degree, though shorter, more casual, and more concealing. Most importantly, it flowed well with her figure, and she had to admit that it made her feel pretty good. Almost confident.

Almost.

Even though they blended near-seamlessly with the crowd, her sunglasses and hat provided something of a comforting barrier. Where Fluttershy’s sun hat resembled something made of woven grass, its wide brim dotted with the occasional fake flower, Mahara’s very nearly resembled a bonnet, adorned with a large white bow.

As much as she loved what Rarity had come up with on short notice, she was having a hard time keeping her eyes off of the red mare gleefully exploring the city with her, and she found herself fixated on her companion as they waited at a crossing. The idea of Mahara wearing something that Rarity described as “dark” and “mysterious”was at first a point of doubt, but actually seeing her in the short, puffy, black dress with bows and frilly white lace trimming was oddly appropriate. In the place of sleeves, she wore near-shoulder length gloves with white lace curling along the border.

The pegasus looked away from Mahara as they slowed with the traffic, a large crowd gathered out in front of a building, its enormous bay windows facing Tack’s Square. An unintelligible murmur came from within, interrupted by a loud bang, which was followed by a roar of applause. The red mare’s eyes just about sparkled as she motioned for Fluttershy to follow her inside.

A short line, at least a dozen more bangs, another round of thunderous applause, and two tickets later, they stood in an enormous foyer ringed with two levels of mezzanines. Despite the room’s size, it was nearly packed from wall to wall with ponies. More than a dozen pegasi littered the air, attempting to get some breathing room as they watched intently. What everypony was watching, however, remained a mystery. Mahara tapped her shoulder and flicked her tail against Fluttershy’s lips, making a chomping motion. Snickering, Fluttershy bit down on Mahara's tail as instructed, letting the red mare lead her through the crowd.

“…this little baby here— manufactured by Mouser— is much more compact, as you can see.” Fluttershy caught a glimpse of the speaker, realizing that the voice was coming from a griffon. “Instead of a revolving cylinder, it uses a spring loaded box magazine. I understand that you non-magical, hooved-types might have a little trouble getting those tiny bullets into those tiny chambers, but I assure you, a magazine is much more convenient than individually loading each round before you’re ready to fire.”

Finally, Mahara and Fluttershy had pushed close enough to get a good view. He wore his plumage up, almost like the points and comb of a rooster, though interrupted slightly by a pair of ear muffs. His feathers were a reddish beige, the tips tinted a soft pomegranate. As seemed to be the trend in Manehattan, he was fully clothed, wearing a dress shirt the color of cream and pants the same color as his highlights. A matching vest and a hat were slung over a chair not far from him.

The griffon stood in what almost appeared to be a transparent box of some kind, surrounded by several short crates and a wall of sand bags. The interior was scuffed and streaked in multiple places. On the other end of the box were multiple stands with various smashed and un-smashed fruit and pottery. Behind that was a very opaque, very wet-looking wall of some thick substance. Clay came to mind. He held up a small, blocky object with a metal cylinder jutting from one end, displaying it for his audience.

His gaze swept proudly over the crowd as he grinned around his beak. “So, how about a demonstration?” The noise of the crowd was near-deafening, and Fluttershy cringed as the commotion reverberated in her sensitive ears. “Alright then! And, as before, remember that I’m a trained professional!”

The griffon raised the object over his head, then narrowed his eyes and exhaled as he leveled it, seeming to look across it at the other side of the box. The first flash and subsequent crack were such a surprise that Fluttershy didn’t even react, confused more than anything. A melon on the far end exploded in that same instant, pulp spattering the floor. Every ear splitting crack that followed made her whimper. Mahara turned, her brow furrowed, and started to push back through the crowd. Fluttershy followed.

Another cheer went up behind them. “So in case you weren’t counting,” he shouted, barely audible over the commotion, “that was ten shots! Four more than the Weston revolver we showcased last year! The Mouser pistol should be available for consumers by fall, but today, one of you lucky folks will-”

“Are you alright?” Fluttershy looked up, noting the worry in Mahara’s expression.

“Loud…” the pegasus mumbled. “Very loud, and a little scary…” She glanced back at her right flank, biting her lower lip. “Also, it reminded me of the other night. And the hydra…”

Mahara nodded. “I know what you mean. Let’s look at another exhibit.”

“Exhibit?” The red mare pointed up at an enormous banner Fluttershy had failed to notice upon entering. It read, in stylized letters, Thirty-Seventh Annual Manehattan Innovations Expo. “Oh. Okay.” She smiled, nuzzling Mahara on the back of the neck as they pressed through the crowd.

Much to their mutual relief, the other panels at the expo were showcasing much less destructive inventions. Most of them were amusingly novel. One particularly distressed mare had to explain to her audience several times that her contraption wasn’t just a box that made beeping noises then you tapped its metal lever. Mahara seemed to have a hard time believing otherwise, but it made perfect sense to Fluttershy; it reminded her of the way birds communicated through chirps.

Closer to the center of the foyer, a crowd had formed that rivaled the one gathered around the firearms exhibit. At the heart of it, they found something resembling a wagon that emitted a steady chug and thick, black plume of smoke. A team of pegasi slowly circled over the rattling, smoke-spewing pipe, guiding the puffy black cloud out through an open skylight. The wheels of the carriage seemed to turn on their own, even though there were no ponies pulling it. Fluttershy realized moments later that it sat atop an enormous, moving conveyor belt. There was a counter attached to the belt, the number steadily climbing, with Miles written above it in bright red letters. The conveyor belt had no motor, however.

“Do you think it’s magic?” she asked, leaning closer to Mahara.

“Do you think it’s magic, she says!” Fluttershy staggered back as she realized a stallion had come between Mahara and herself. “Did you hear that?!”

“Magic?!” questioned an almost identical voice from the other side of the carriage. “Hah! Hardly!”

Mahara peered around the side of the first stallion, looking as confused as Fluttershy felt. The stallion in question grinned down at her with bright green eyes, bearing a full, red mustache. His horn pushed against the rim of his cheap-looking, blue top hat. The blue and white suit and black bow tie he wore looked to be of equally poor quality. Moments later, he was joined by a second unicorn stallion, completely indistinguishable from the first except that he lacked a mustache. Mahara made an attempt to step around them, halted when they both raised their forelegs toward the carriage.

“Once upon a time, our very first design, that one ran on magic.”

“But not all of you have horns to cast it too, and that, my dear, is tragic.”

The crowd drew in closer, swallowing Mahara up. “Wait, Fluttershy,” she called out frantically as the pegasus lost sight of her. “What’s happening?!”

“They're... it's...” Fluttershy arched a brow, her skepticism fading into a grin. “Oh, just watch and see...”

“Why travel by air, if you haven’t got a pair of wings to take you skyward?”

“Take a look around, we’re all here on the ground, shouldn’t transit be less awkward?”

“So my brother and I, we decided to try and make something more convenient!”

“Give us an ear, we’ll make it quite clear, and we’re sure you’ll be in agreement!”

Fluttershy nodded along eagerly, and, resting their hooves on her withers, they slowly walked her closer to the carriage.

“Let’s start with our names— He’s Flim, I’m Flam, and in case you didn’t hear, we’re brothers!”

“We used to make cider, but that didn’t stick, though we’ve stuck to helping others!”

“No magic required, nor will you get tired; our invention is easy to use!”

“Unless you’re a foal, you can see it burns coal; light her up and you’re ready to cruise!”

The brothers reared up, a foreleg around each other’s back, singing in unison. “And together we take another step forward, the fruits of progress well within our reach! There’s no reason to fear what awaits us tomorrow, embrace healthy change, of that we beseech!”

A stallion chimed in from somewhere in the crowd. “Is its movement restricted? Can its path be predicted? You’re making a claim that’s quite bold!”

A horned mare pranced around the carriage, grinning widely. “I’d sure like to try one! How soon can I buy one? This thing sounds so convenient, I'm sold!”

“Well, unlike a train, the whole world’s your domain; drive it wherever you like!”

“It sure beats walking, and we’re not just talking; you’ll be glad once you’ve cut out the hike!”

“While you can’t buy it here, never you fear, ‘cause we’ve got a contract in writing!”

“They’ll soon be in production, and it’s our fair deduction, they’ll sell at a price that’s inviting!”

An older, winged stallion stepped around the side of the carriage, eyebrow raised. “Not to rain on your parade, but some of us are paid for pulling the wagons and carts.”

A filly on somepony’s back added, “That smoke smells kinda funny, and won’t repairs cost money? It just looks like there’s so many parts!”

“Well, perhaps we should mention it’s not our intention to put anypony out of work.”

“Quite the opposite, sir, our new plant should stir all kinds of fresh jobs as a perk.”

“Smell’s no issue outside. You can inhale with pride. We can certainly promise you that.”

“But if that’s every question, that concludes this fine session, and we're thrilled to have had this great chat!”

Smiling, Fluttershy joined in. “Well it sounds to me, if you don’t mind my saying, this invention of yours has potential conveying! I can’t see a downside, if you’ve spoken truth, and I’m really quite glad that I stopped by this booth!”

The voices of the crowd rose as one, everyone singing in harmony. “And together we take another step forward, the fruits of progress well within our reach! There’s no reason to fear what awaits us tomorrow, embrace healthy change, of that we beseech!”

Mahara emerged from the crowd, breast heaving as she wrapped her foreleg around Fluttershy’s neck and gently tugged. “While that’s all well and good, come with me if you would, for I fear this affair took a turn for the strange…” The singing stopped as everyone looked to the red mare. “Don’t you all gawk at me because I don’t share your glee; improvised singing in public?! How deranged!” She paused, seeming to think her words over as several ponies in the crowd began to snicker. “Wait…”

Fluttershy giggled softly as she stepped away from the carriage with Mahara, leaving the singing crowd behind as they picked up from the chorus.

“And together we take another step forward, the fruits of progress well within our reach! There’s no reason to fear what awaits us tomorrow, embrace healthy change, of that we beseech!”

The pegasus continued to hum the tune as they walked through the foyer, stopping when Mahara abruptly put her hooves on a support beam, nearly pinning her. Her shock wore off as she looked her companion in the eyes.

“What was that back there?”

Fluttershy arched a brow, smiling. “What was what?”

“That whole…” Mahara rolled her hoof in the air, one ear cocked. “Song… thing. Am I the only pony here who found that strange?”

She shook her head, giggling again. “Mahara, I think you’re acting just a little bit silly. Besides, I think singing is fun.” This time, when Fluttershy smiled, the red mare relaxed with a long sigh. She leaned in to nuzzle Mahara on the cheek. “Do you want to go somewhere else?”

Mahara nodded, flatly replying with, “Please.”

\/ /\ /\ \/

“Jeeze you guys are getting big!” Pinkie Pie grinned as she leaned over a wall of blocks, Pound grinning right back at her. “I swear, you two are sprouting up overnight!”

“Can you take us out to the park, maybe?” Pumpkin asked as she trotted past, levitating a small doll with her. “Please?”

Pound lifted his head as he nodded, nearly nose-to-nose with Pinkie. “Pleeeease?”

“Maaaaaybe… It’s gonna be dark in a few hours.” Pinkie snickered as she leaned back, then around the doorframe, glancing down the hall. “Let me ask your momma!” The sound of tumbling blocks and laughter followed her out of the room. “And you have to put away your toys first!”

With the normally busy kitchen at a standstill, Pinkie let her thoughts fill the silence.

This is the second day in a row that we haven’t gotten much business. I mean, I know we did a whole bunch of baking for the funeral service, but that was all charity work! ‘cause I mean, come on, it’s a funeral! Mr. Cake said it didn’t count, anyway.

She came down the stairs, looking across the nearly vacant café. There they are, drinking coffee. They don’t seem too down about it, even if they both love baking. I guess everyone just needs a break every once in a while. Oh, and there’s Lyra and Bonbon, right on schedule. No, I’ve got this! You two just relax!

“So, what’ll it be today?” she asked cheerfully, a quill at the ready in the corner of her mouth.

“Weeeeell,” Bonbon began, grinning at her marefriend, “to start with…”

As long as these two are regulars, or at least Lyra, anyway, we’re never going to have to worry about not making any money! Gosh, where does she even put this all stuff? Oh? Is that all? Alright, give me a minute to get that together. I don’t want you to chomp it all down while you’re standing at the counter!

Carefully, Pinkie balanced various baked goods on her body, stacking some of them as she went down the list. And a slice of cake… A little pie… And half a dozen scones… A quiche… Some other stuff… I think that’s everything! That will be thirty-eight bits, please! Thank you! By the way, you’re looking much better, Bonbon! Oh I’m sure you’ll be ready to take the bandages off any day now! Do you two need help carrying all this over? No? Alright, enjoy!

The frizzy maned pony hopped over the counter and back into the café. Mrs. Cake nodded along as her husband spoke.

“…seemed like a novel little trinket at the time, but I never thought I would actually have to fire it… Hmm?”

The Cakes looked up at her as she bobbed beside their table. “I hope I’m not interrupting anything, but Pound and Pumpkin wanted me to take them to the park! How about it?”

“Oh…” Cup Cake looked across the table at her husband, biting her lower lip. “Not that I don’t trust you, dearie, but I’m not sure I’m comfortable with the twins going outside… Not so soon after… Well, after a hydra attacked the town, and that pony snatcher still on the loose. I can’t believe we threw her a welcoming party… Honestly, I’m having enough trouble as it is just sending them off to school in the morning.”

“It’s okay, I understand.” She hugged Mrs. Cake tightly, nodding. “You’re gonna have to tell them though! Since I’m not taking them anywhere, I’m going out solo!”

“Be careful out there, Pinkie,” Carrot called after her. She paused at the door, glancing back at him. His grave expression made her frown. “I used to think it was safe here, but these past few days… The world is changing, and I don’t think it’s for the better.”

She closed the door quietly behind her, but the motion opened a floodgate of concerns. Everypony’s been pretty down, but I don’t really blame them. Gotta think of a way to cheer them all up! A regular party isn’t going to cut it. No, I need to think of something big! Oh! Hey Ditzy! Ditzy?

The blond pegasus glanced up at her with her good eye, giving a half hearted smile. “Hey, sorry. I’ve just got a lot on my mind. A-lot-more-than-usual a lot. Here’s uh…” She dipped into her bag for a moment. “Here’s your mail.”

Almost every single letter was addressed to Carrot or Cup Cake, the exception being a single letter for Pinkie Pie. The pink mare looked up, furrowing her brow.

“Is this about your pen pal?” she asked gently.

“It’s about a lot of things… My pen pal, he’s... he’s just part of it. I have all these questions, and barely one, single answer. I’m just…” She looked up at Pinkie before glancing away again. “I’m confused more than anything. I remember when it was easy to tell what was good and what was bad. Everything is so blurry now, I’m not sure how to feel, or if I should even feel anything at all.”

Pinkie took a step closer, offering a fragile smile. “You should always feel something.”

“I do feel something… I just…” Ditzy pawed at the ground, her ears splayed. “Ever have something that just eats at you, but there’s nothing you can really do about it? And… you want to tell everypony you run into, hoping that maybe if you spread it around it’ll be less sharp, but at the same time, you just can’t?” Her expression silently begged for understanding. Pinkie nodded in earnest; she knew exactly how that felt. “Sorry, I should go. It’s my stuff, I shouldn’t... I should go.”

“It’s okay, really! I asked!” She began to follow the grey pegasus. “You’re sure you have to go? Do you want me to come with you?”

“Not now. Later. Maybe. Like I said, it’s my stuff, and I need to think it through more… put it in order. Besides,” she gave her mail bags a shake, “got lots of work to do.”

Ditzy took another step into the street, then stopped sharply, turned, and wrapped her forelegs around Pinkie’s neck, giving her a squeeze. “Don’t worry about me. Everything will turn out alright, right? I mean, it just usually does,” she said with a smile that didn’t quite match the glistening in her eyes. “It always used to…”

The pink mare smiled, sincere and sad all at once, closing her eyes as they embraced. “I’ll be here when you need me.”

A lonely feeling accompanied Pinkie as she traveled through town. The uncomfortable silence gave rise to more uncomfortable thoughts.

No Ditzy, no Fluttershy, no Rarity, no Twilight… I still need to pay Applejack and Rainbow Dash a visit but… Well, they were keeping to themselves even before we all found out about them being together. I didn’t really want to admit it, but it felt a little weird hanging out with them sometimes. Kinda like trying to hang out with Dash when her griffon friend was around, except nopony was being a jerk! Oh well. I hope I don’t get side tracked this time when I do try to stop by Sweet Apple. Actually, I wonder how… Hold on a minute…

Pinkie looked back, spying a lone, leafy bush resting in the middle of the road. That wasn’t there a second ago… What the hay? Is someone trying to surprise me?!

“Don’t you know who I am?!” she shouted, grinning, advancing on the tiny, out-of-place bush. “I’m the Queen of Pranks!”

Pinkie pounced, poking her head into the foliage, but there was no one inside. Confused, her gaze swept over the branches, coming to a stop on the ground. A piece of paper greeted her; a note reading Look up!

“Huh…?” She yanked her head free of the bush, looking skyward just in time for a water balloon to smoosh against her face.

Okay, she mused as the balloon burst, soaking her. That was pretty good.

She wiped away the excess water and shreds of rubber, only to find herself face to face with Scootaloo. The filly’s lip looked much better, and she practically grinned from ear to ear before she burst out laughing. Pinkie had just started to join in when she noticed that the young pegasus wasn’t touching the ground. As her eyes centered in on Scootaloo’s wings, she found them moving in a smooth rhythm, the soft sound of feathers against air reaching her ears. She beamed proudly, and with the exception of her laughter, remained mostly silent.

“Wait a minute,” Pinkie began, eyes wide and mouth agape. “Are you-”

“I sure am! It just kinda clicked yesterday!” The filly glanced back at her steadily beating wings, still bearing a wide grin. “I always thought flying was like, something you did by flapping your wings really fast, so I was always bummed out because buzzing my wings didn’t get me off the ground.” She turned in the air, almost as if she were doing a pirouette. “Then yesterday, after you walked me home, I got to thinking; maybe it’s a slower, more graceful motion. Less like a hummingbird and more like a swan or something, you know?! Watching you bounce is what gave me the idea, really!”

“Oh, wow! Scootaloo, you’ve been working at getting this right forever! I’m so impressed! I-” Pinkie started to hop in place, ears tilted forward as her awe turned to excitement. “Oh my gosh, we should throw a party!”

Blushing, Scootaloo fluttered a little closer to the ground. “Really? You think so?”

“Totally! This is exactly what everypony needs, and I can’t think of a better reason to celebrate! I’m gonna go back to Sugarcube Corner and get everything ready, and you go spread the word, okay?” The filly giggled as she nodded bashfully in agreement. “Great! Tell your guests to meet up at my place in about an hour!”

As she hopped home on a long, swift arc, it occurred to her that she could try to invite the Apples and Rainbow Dash, effectively baking every cake with one oven. Oh, but… Dash is the reason Scootaloo’s lip was all busted up yesterday… Maaaan, there goes that idea. I’ll just have to throw Applejack a get well party later, I guess. Ohhh, I just love the way that bell sounds. Yep, I’m back already! Why? Change of plans, Mr. and Mrs. Cake! Scootaloo just learned how to fly! Yeah, I know! I’m going to throw a party for her up in my room! No, I learned my lesson. No alcohol this time! She’s just a filly anyway! Sheesh! Oh, hey, another customer! Don’t you lift a hoof, I’ve got this one, too!

The pegasus stallion waiting by the register wasn’t a regular. She hadn’t even seen him in town before. “Heeeeello, Sir!” Pinkie leaned over the counter, wearing her salespony smile. “And what can I do for you today?”

“Hey there! A buttered croissant and some coffee would really hit the spot. I just flew in from Manehattan, and boy, are my wings tired!” He ruffled his pumpkin colored feathers a little, grinning back at her with brilliant hazel eyes under a trimmed mane of deeper orange.

Pinkie stifled a giggle. It was a terrible joke, and she loved it. “Oh yeah? I have some friends out there! Did you have a good time?”

She listened in as she got his order together. “I had a great time! While I was vacationing there, though, the weirdest thing happened. Big scene in the restauraunt I was eating at, and then the next morning, I see this wanted poster. Took me a minute to realize it, but one of these mares here used to be a model.” He fished a large scroll of parchment out of his bag and held it up for her to see. “Kinda sad, really. She was quite the looker before she put on so much weight!”

The sound of shattering porcelain rang through Sugarcube Corner. Pinkie stared across the counter at a poster with Fluttershy’s face on it. She traced his foreleg with her eyes, down his side to the bags slung across his back. The flap bore an insignia of the royal guard.

Oh shit.

His surprise turning to confusion, the pegasus quickly glanced between the poster and Pinkie several times before stowing it in his bag again. “Yeesh. I mean yeah, she’s a porker, but she’s not that bad looking! Hey, do you need help with that back there?”

“No no no no!” Pinkie shook her head rapidly, waving her hooves. “I’m okay! Sorry about that, Mister! Let me just get another cup!” Her mind began to race as she watched fresh coffee swirl in its pot.

Okay, Pinkie Pie, he’s a member of the royal guard, and he has a wanted poster with Fluttershy on it. Stay calm, you’ve got this! Oh gosh what am I gonna do?! Huh?!

“I uh… I said that usually the coffee is supposed to stay inside the cup, you know, for drinking.” He leaned toward her, an ear cocked and a brow raised. “Are you feeling okay? You don’t look so good all the sudden. Was it the pun? Man, it’s always the puns!”

“Oh! No, actually! I mean it was an awful pun, but I thought it was cute!” His concern immediately melted into a smile. “Let me just wipe this off a little… Here! Okay! One scone and one cup of coffee!”

The pegasus looked down at the plate, then back up at Pinkie. “I… You know what, a scone is totally fine too. Sooooo, do you live around here, by any chance?”

“Yes!” she shouted, slamming her hooves down on the counter. The Cakes jumped and looked over at her in unison. “I do live around here! How about you?! I bet you live in Canterlot, huh?!”

“Actually, yeah! I uh…” He shifted his weight, followed by the soft sound of his hoof tapping the floor. “It doesn’t take too long to fly from Canterlot to here so… Maybe you’d like to get something to eat later? Not here, of course, you work here! But, you know!”

Pinkie turned away from the counter, nearly galloping into the kitchen. “Nope! Sorry! Not today! Got plans!”

“Oh…” he called after her. “Okay, well, don’t you want me to pay for this, at least?!”

He’s going to eat that, drink that, fly back home— I mean, he probably doesn’t live in the castle! That would be crazy! But when he reports back to duty, he’ll probably start talking about the wanted poster, they’ll ask to see it, and— What now?!

“Pinkie Pie, what’s gotten into you?” Mrs. Cake peered into the kitchen, concern weighing on her brow. She could hear Mr. Cake apologizing over the ka-ching of the opening register. “Calm down and talk to us about it. Whatever it is, I’m sure it’s not that big of a deal.”

Okay. Deep breath. What if he never gets home? He never goes back to Canterlot, he can’t tell the other guards, and that will buy them some more time in Manehattan.

Smiling, Pinkie nodded. “You’re right. Sorry about that. Just, I’m throwing that party and I’m not sure if we have any ribbon! Please tell me we have ribbon! I need a whole lot of it!”

She spent the next twelve minutes and thirty-five seconds with her eye to a crack in the floorboards, watching the off duty guard enjoy his scone and his coffee from the room above him. With a smile and a thank you, he got up from his seat and made his way to the front door. Pinkie propped open a window and slipped out onto the roof. He moved with no real hurry, wearing a bright smile, nodding to ponies in passing. A warm, fuzzy feeling started to build up inside her, very nearly dragging her into a daydream. She shook it off as he spread his wings and took to the air.

Showtime…

The rooftops of Ponyville blurred under her outstretched hooves, replaced by the branches of trees as the pegasus drifted away from town in the general direction of Canterlot. The space between them decreased in leaps and bounds, the wind tugging at her curly mane and tail as she continued to build speed. In the distance, the whistle of an arriving train. The stallion glanced back just in time to catch a glimpse of her mid-pounce, with barely any time to do a spit take. He dropped like a rock when she made contact, binding him up with ribbon as they plummeted.

They hit the top of a pine tree with an oof, fragrant needles bristling against her coat. “Wha-”

“I’m really, really, really sorry!” She already had him cocooned in festive ribbon and slung across her back.

“Now hold on a minute here!” He struggled, flopping against her as she hopped from higher branches to lower ones. “Look, I think you’re a very pretty girl, but shouldn’t you at least let me take you out to dinner first?!”

“I know you really wanna go home and stuff, but I can’t let you do that right now, okay?” She glanced back at him, her ears slightly splayed. “That mare on your wanted poster? I made a Pinkie-promise to keep her safe, so I can’t let you tell any of your royal guard friends, and definitely not Princess Celesta.”

“A Pinkie-promise?” He gradually stopped struggling as she passed between the trees, approaching the edge of Ponyville.

“Yep! My name is Pinkamina Diane Pie, but you can just call me Pinkie!”

“Pinkie, huh? I should have guessed. How original.” He released a sighing chuckle. “You know, if you wanted to keep me from going home so badly, you could have just let me take you out on a date.”

A bit of a blush crept across her cheeks. “Oh… Well I- I didn’t- Hey, what about you? What’s your name?” She glanced back again, trying not to look embarassed.

“Cirrus. Drifting Cirrus…” He trailed off as she sprang onto a roof in a single bound. “So… What are you going to do with me, exactly?”

“I dunno, I hadn’t thought that far ahead! Do you like parties?!”

\/ /\ /\ \/

Well, this got off to an awkward start, but... Scootaloo grinned as she hovered over the ponies crowded into Pinkie Pie’s bedroom, the tips of her wings brushing the ceiling. Leave it to Pinkie to throw a great party!

A balloon drifted past her, drawing her attention to ponies below.

“Well?” Applebloom grinned up at her, pointing excitedly. “Ain’tcha gonna throw it back?”

At one point, the young pegasus might have given chase, but she had quite literally been flying since she woke up that morning. Her wings were starting to ache, her steady hover becoming more of a moth-like waver. She followed the balloon to the floor, sighing with exhaustion as her wings finally stopped moving, folding stiffly against her sides. Applebloom slipped through the crowd, smiling as she made eye contact.

“You feelin’ okay, Scootaloo?” she asked, stopping a few noses in front of the pegasus.

“Yeah, just tired.” Scootaloo offered a grin. “I think I’m all flown out for the day.”

Applebloom’s smile vanished, then returned just as quickly. “Oh! That’s okay! Do ya wanna do somethin’ else?”

“I kinda just wanna relax, to be honest.” The pegasus trurned her attention toward the enormous cake on a table in the middle of the room, decorated with clouds and feathers made of icing. “I haven’t even eaten any cake yet.”

“Cake is cool, too!”

Scootaloo arched a brow. “Yeah... Don’t take this the wrong way, but you’re kind of weirding me out a little. You’re not still, you know...” She lifted a hoof to the side of her head, rolling it slowly. “Are you sure that you’re feeling okay?”

“Sorry,” The bow-clad filly mumbled, some of the wind leaving her sails. “Ah’m jus’ a lil’ excited fer you is all. An’ uh...” She glanced away for a moment, pawing at the floor. “Scootaloo, Ah’m really, really sorry ‘bout what happened in the tree fort. I shouldn’t have tricked ya like that, an’ Ah wish Ah’d apologized sooner.”

“Applebloom...” A gentle smile came to Scootaloo’s lips as she took a step closer. “It’s alright. I was never mad at you, and I know you weren’t really right in the head when that happened. Actually...” The pegasus looked down at the floor, ears splaying. “I feel like I should be apologizing to you. It’s kinda my fault the hydra came to town and—Yeah...”

She felt a hoof on her back, lifting her head to meet Applebloom’s compassionate gaze. “Ya’ll couldn’t have known, an ya ain’t ta blame fer what happened ta Applejack... So, we’re still cool?”

Scootaloo reared up, wrapping her forelegs around Applebloom’s neck. “We never stopped being cool.”

“Thanks,” she heard Applebloom whisper. The earth pony filly pulled away a moment later, grinning from ear to ear. “Now, enough of this mooshy lovey-dovey stuff! Let’s eat some darn cake!”

With a grin and a nod, they set out for the mountain of frosting and pastry, but seeing Sweetie Belle sitting all by herself called for a detour. A sad party guest was some sort of anomaly, considering that Pinkie Pie was the host. And yet, Pinkie was nowhere to be seen. Sweetie slowly looked up at them after they came to a stop, doing her best to smile.

“C’mon now, it’s not a party if you’re not having fun.” Scootaloo sat down next to her, resting a hoof on her back. “Is this about your sister?”

The unicorn filly laughed sadly, almost painfully. “Is it that obvious?”

“Sweetie Belle, Ah’m sure Rarity is jus’ fine. Ah know Applejack might say that she’s a hoity-toity softy—” Applebloom bit her tongue as Sweetie donned a frown, Scootaloo rapidly shaking her head. “Er... What Ah’m tryin’ ta say is, Rarity is one smart mare. Ah’m sure she’s doin’ jus’ fine.”

“That’s not what I’m worried about, though...” The unicorn shook her head, looking down at the floor again. “It’s the things ponies are saying about her.”

Scootaloo sat up straight, ears foward. “Who? Diamond Tiara? Silver Spoon? Don’t listen to any of those stuck up bitches.” Applebloom arched a brow, but the pegasus carried on. “And besides, in case you didn’t notice, I only invited our friends. That means neither of them are here.” Sweetie Belle met her gaze, a glimmer of hope in her eyes. “Everything is gonna be alright. I promise.”

“I’ll believe it when I see it,” Sweetie replied with a laugh. “You’re right, though. I’m sorry for being a downer. I know Rarity would never do those things.” The unicorn got to her hooves, smiling, and joined them on their journey to acquire cake.

Several more requests for aerial feats were made as she approached the center of the room. It felt strange for Scootaloo to actually turn down chances to show off an ability she had spent years trying to master. They had just started taking bites out of their respective slices of cake when Sweetie Belle perked up, apparently having an epiphany.

“How come Rainbow Dash isn’t here?” She turned toward Scootaloo, tilting her head. “Didn’t you invite her?”

The pegasus was speechless, her mind suddenly flooded with formerly fond memories turned sour by the violence she had endured the day before. Sweetie Belle leaned closer, lips still puckered with confusion. There was a fleeting moment of eye contact with Applebloom, her ears wilting in silent recognition as she looked away. A wall of pink came between Scootaloo and her friends.

“Rainbow Dash couldn’t make it! Bummer, right?!” Pinkie Pie glanced back at Scootaloo, looking as hurt as the filly felt. The wrinkles of concern in Pinkie’s brow vanished the moment she turned her attention back to the others. “Hey, isn’t school almost out for the summer, though?! I bet you’re all super excited about that!”

“Oh, hey! She’s right!” Applebloom bobbed excitedly, her plate of cake nearly slipping out of her hooves. “Another week or two and we’re done!”

Scootaloo followed Pinkie with her eyes as the earth pony happily bounced back to the corner occupied by her bed.

“Hey,” the pegasus said as she got to her hooves. “I’ll be right back. And before you ask, yes, I’m fine.”

The bed occupying the corner was itself occupied, not just by Pinkie, but by a pumpkin orange pegasus stallion. He started laughing as Pinkie finished telling him something, leaning in to take a bite of cake as she offered it to him. Scootaloo still didn’t know his name, and he was still bound in ribbon.

The stallion was the reason her party got off to an awkward start. When she had arrived with all her guests, she opened Pinkie’s bedroom door to find him tied up and squirming on his back. Just as Scootaloo had started to turn and close the door, assuming she had interrupted something, Pinkie skidded across the floor and informed them all that he had simply lost a game. From across the room, he agreed, and knowing Pinkie Pie, nopony really questioned it.

“...is actually a lot simpler than you think, if you ask me.” Pinkie nodded along, hanging on his every word. “I mean, I would get jealous too if the mare I had feelings for just got swept out from under me.”

The pink mare cocked a brow and smiled, looking confused and happy all at once. “Feelings? Like, what kind of feelings?”

Scootaloo had just started to turn back when the stallion noticed her. “Oh, hey fly-girl!

“Hey hey,” Pinkie beamed. “Having a good time?”

“Totally!” The pegasus filly nodded. “This cake is great! And thank you for setting everything up so quick.”

“Psh, I’m the party queen! This is my thing!” She smiled over at the stallion beside her, then back to Scootaloo. “But, I’m really happy you’re having a good time! Can’t think of a better reason to throw a party! Well, unless Applebloom and Sweetie Belle start flying, too, or something. That would be a pretty good reason!”

The stallion leaned toward her, nearly falling over in the process. “Yeah, I can’t even tell you how long it took me to get my head around the whole flying thing. Once you get it down though, it’s like... well, flying!” Pinkie snorted out a giggle, bringing him a big, toothy grin. “Anyway, Pinkie here was just telling me about her relationship troubles. Doesn’t surprise me that a pretty girl like her would wind up with a tangled web or two. And just my luck that the mare I get the hots for is a filly fooler!”

“Whaaaat?!” Pinkie waved her hoof dismissively. “I don’t have any tangled webs! I’m a pony, not a spider! Wait...” She tilted her head again. “Did you say—”

“You’re really gonna make me come out and say it, huh? You’ve been talking about your friend since I got here. You’re in love with her, you silly girl!”

“No, I’m... I...” Pinkie eyes widened even more than usual, going from pink to red in seconds. Her jaw dropped as a squeaking sound escaped her throat.

“Yeah, I know,” the stallion replied. “I was shocked too.”

“Pinkie, you okay?” Scootaloo asked gently. The blushing mare had yet to move.

“What?” asked the bound stallion, helping himself to rest of the cake on Pinkie’s plate. “Was it something I said?”

\/ /\ /\ \/

From noon until dusk, Canterlot ground to a halt under heavy lockdowns. With Celestia personally overseeing the operation, Twilight, Zecora, and every available member of the royal guard searched the city twice over, block by block. However, an entire day of searching high and low in Canterlot yielded not one single clue as to the locations of Mahara, Fluttershy, or Rarity. Celestia offered a public apology for the inconveniences, and they all returned to the castle less confident than when they had set out. Luna was the exception. With the setting of the sun and Applebloom on a train back to Ponyville, the moon princess made a suggestion. While initially reluctant, Zecora eventually agreed.

The zebra reflected on her decision as she looked back at herself in the mirror, the depth of her own glowing eyes slowly drawing her in. She could see Celestia, Luna, Twilight, and several others behind her, all watching intently, anxiously, a few murmured conversations staving off complete silence.

“I know I asked you earlier, Twilight, how are you feeling?” The sight of Celestia stung Zecora’s eyes, even as a reflection.

“A little tired.” The scholarly unicorn offered a smile. “But I think that’s more from trotting around the city for most of the day and less from being stressed out.”

“Yes… Again, I’m very sorry for that. I should have chosen my words more carefully. I know how much your friends mean to you.”

Twilight’s smile faded. “No, it’s alright. I understand what’s at stake, and it would be selfish of me to put myself before the safety of the entire kingdom.”

“Do not lose hope, Twilight. None of your concerns are set in stone as of yet.” As Luna spoke, she took a few steps closer to Zecora. A strange feeling of comfort came over the zebra, as it had earlier with such close proximity to the moon princess. “Now, let’s attend to the matter at hoof.”

“Yes, I feel I am ready to begin. To start the process…” Zecora glanced away from the mirror, her eyes meeting Luna’s. “I must look within?”

“Every pony imbued with the curse I devised has several inherent abilities.” Even though Luna was looking directly at her, she felt as though Luna was looking right through her. “As I’m sure you’ve realized, shape shifting and hypnosis are among those abilities. Earlier, you mentioned being able to draw blood out of parchment, even though it had dried. Control over blood that has severed its ties to its vessel, or control over your own blood, is also an ability available each and every one of the ponies I have cursed, directly or indirectly.”

Luna turned her gaze to the mirror, slowly trotting around to Zecora’s other side. “Ponies I have not directly cursed, however… Ponies that have had the curse spread to them by blood; they have an ability I had not intended. Are you familiar with the term clairvoyance?”

“I recall learning this from my mother… You mean to see through the eyes of another?”

“Precisely. It can be induced by another pony, but you can induce it much more easily yourself. All you need is focus.” As if anticipating a question, Luna glanced back, she assumed, at Celestia. “I would have mentioned all of this sooner, but this is an ability you may only take advantage of once the sun has set, and before the sun has risen.”

“Yes, of course.” Zecora refrained from looking as Celestia replied.

“When you’re ready, look yourself in the eyes and concentrate solely on Mahara. Do not try to control the process once it begins; merely allow it to guide you.”

Zecora nodded, turning her focus to her reflection. In the mirror, she watched Luna recede, joining the group behind her. Celestia’s presence continued to make her skin crawl. She had a strong desire to flee, but at several paces away, the zebra found she could compose herself if she really tried. The longer she stared into her own eyes, the easier it became to ignore the rest of the room. A soft haze filled the corners of her vision. Her pupils slowly dilated, her entire reflection seeming to reach out for her, coming closer. Her irises burned brightly as everything else became a faded blur. Numbness swept over her. As her irises began to overlap, movement registered in the void between them, becoming clearer by the moment. Zecora shuddered as she descended through what felt like a tunnel, coming closer and closer to the motion on the other end. Once completely overlapped, her irises faded.

An overweight pegasus smiled back at her with glowing blue eyes, nodding. She didn’t have to guess to realize that she was seeing what Mahara could see. They appeared to be seated on a couch. A curtain hung across the wall behind Fluttershy, undoubtedly covering a window. Rarity trotted by, the sound of her hooves against the floor slightly distorted. Mahara’s gaze briefly followed her, then returned to Fluttershy, occasionally drifting, following the flow of her mane or the curves of her figure.

“Well, it sounds like the two of you had a simply wonderful day.” Rarity’s voice circled slowly, distant and slightly muffled as she continued. “I’m happy to say that I got quite a bit of work done while you were out. Our guest did absolutely nothing, as you might expect.”

Mahara’s gaze swept the room. “Where is she, anyway?”

“Probably sleeping,” Rarity mused with an air of bitterness.

Mahara’s laughter sounded alien to her, but then, Zecora knew that she was the one actually doing the invading. Stranger still was the inability to control where she was looking. Mahara was still entirely in control of her own eyes. Fluttershy glanced in the direction Rarity had gone, and Mahara followed her lead, setting her sights on a doorway.

“What do you see?” Luna’s voice echoed in her ear, fading in and out as it overlapped everything she could hear through Mahara.

“I’m in a room with Fluttershy.” Her own voice carried clear as crystal. “Rarity is definitely their ally.”

“Has Rarity allowed them to spread the curse to her?”

“Thankfully, it is not as we expected. At this time, she appears uninfected. Fluttershy, on the other hoof… There are at least two cursed mares under their roof…”

Luna spoke over a soft, pained, and distant whimper. “And their location? Do you see any buildings or landmarks of any sort?”

“There may be a window near, but the curtain is drawn. Perhaps they will reveal as their conversation goes on.”

Rarity emerged from the doorway with multiple garments slung over her back, two others floating on either side of her. Fluttershy gave a soft coo of admiration.

“I don’t have much of an eye for fashion, but for what it’s worth,” a red forehoof slipped into her field of view, pointing toward the clothing toting unicorn, “those look fantastic.”

“Well, I should hope so, my dear! One of these is for you, after all!” With that, one of the two floating dresses drifted toward Mahara, the other traveling to Fluttershy in the corner of her vision. Rarity smiled as she looked toward the pegasus. “And one for you as well, of course. I used the same measurements from the dress you wore today. I do hope that’s alright.”

“Oh, absolutely! Rarity this-” Mahra’s gaze shifted away from the elegant looking dress before her, focusing on Fluttershy’s dress, then Fluttershy herself. Zecora thought that the pegasus looked to be bordering on tears. “I don’t know what to say!”

Mahara looked toward the sound of approaching hooves. Smiling, Rarity stood beside the couch, looking over the dress with her winged friend. “A thank you would be nice.”

Fluttershy flung her forelegs around the unicorn, nuzzling into her breast. “Thank you so much! It’s beautiful!”

“What about the rest of them?” Mahara asked, looking over the many dresses draped over Rarity’s back.

“Yes, I’d love to see those as well, if that’s alright with you, I mean.” The pegasus released Rarity, settling back on the couch. “Are they part of the urban line you were working on?”

“Actually, they’re not. When I had finished making new dresses for you and Mahara, well… I made one for myself next…” The rest of the dresses came to life, spreading out before her. Of the five of them, the one in the middle complimented Rarity’s eyes, coat and mane. Zecora quickly realized for whom the other four dresses were made. “And I just felt so inspired, so I kept going.”

“Rarity, these are all so amazing…” Fluttershy’s pleasant awe rode her brows and her wide eyes in the corner of Mahara’s vision. “But… How are you going to give them to…”

The unicorn gave a sad smile, shaking her head. “Perhaps I’ll use them as bargaining chips when I return to Ponyville without you. At the very least, I know Pinkie will be happy with hers…”

“I’m sorry that I dragged you into this.” Mahara leaned forward, reaching out for her. Rarity shook her head again.

“I came here of my own decision. You can’t be blamed for my actions.” All seven of the dresses lined up and returned to Rarity’s back as she turned away. She paused in the doorway, glancing back, and the hint of guilt Zecora noticed on Rarity’s knitted brow was validated as the unicorn spoke. “So, while there’s nothing I can do to help Aloe now, I can still help you, Fluttershy. That’s what counts.”

Silence settled over the room after Rarity disappeared through the door. Mahara looked to Fluttershy, and the pegasus returned her gaze, a timid smile slowly returning to her lips. She shifted closer, laying across the couch and resting her head on Mahara’s flank. A red forehoof glided through the glossy, pink river of her mane. Seconds later, a yawn made Fluttershy jump. Mahara’s vision focused in on an icy blue unicorn with a frost-colored mane, her face and mark unfamiliar to the zebra.

“The Great and Powerful Trixie would like to thank you all for refraining from waking her. She had a very nice sleep, and feels like she could take on the world.” The unicorn rubbed her eyes, blinking slowly as she looked around the room, smiling as she looked to Mahara. “What did she miss while she was out?”

“There is a fourth pony whom I can see. She calls herself ‘Great and Powerful Trixie’.”

“Wait a minute,” Twilight’s voice sounded distant, “I think I remember her. What is she doing with them?”

Celestia began to respond as Trixie nodded along. Zecora mentally kicked herself as she realized the commotion in the background was interrupting the audio reception of her clairvoyance.

“Is she one of them?” Luna asked, hushing the rest of the room. Mahara had already finished speaking, however, and Trixie was mid laugh.

“Mahara and Fluttershy are the only ones cursed.” A pair of bite marks stood out against the blue of Trixie’s coat. “But clearly their guests help them with their thirst. And I ask that you all please refrain from making noise. It disrupts the balance in which I am poised.”

Fluttershy’s voice gradually faded back into her perception as the others quieted down. “...one exhibit, though... What was it called?”

“Uh...” The view of the room tilted, Fluttershy looking back at Mahara expectantly. “The Mouser exhibit, I guess.”

The pegasus nodded. “The Mouser exhibit was kinda scary... but the griffon showcasing it seemed nice enough.”

“Sounds like a pretty good time for the most part! Of course, Trixie very much enjoyed just lounging around all day.” Mahara’s eyes followed the unicorn as she rounded the couch, settling on the chair to her left. “So, what are you girls up to now?”

“Rarity just finished showing us the dresses she made today.” There was a quick glance in Fluttershy’s direction, the pegasus sitting upright again as she spoke.

“Did she make Trixie anything? Trixie loves getting gifts!”

“Well no, she um-”

“The Talented and Generous Raritydidn’t feel like the Great and Powerful Trixie needed any gifts, sorry.” Mahara had already begun to snicker, glancing between Rarity in the doorway and the increasingly indignant Trixie. “Besides, you’re already staying here free of charge. I should think that is gift enough, wouldn’t you agree?”

“You- Trixie feels that-” She snorted, settling back in her chair. “Fine.”

“And while I didn’t make anything for you, I did notice the hat and cape I saw you wearing around this morning were in dreadful need of some work.” Rarity smiled as she levitated a magician’s hat and matching cape across the room. Trixie’s expression immediately lit up with delight. “And what are the magic words?”

“Oh, these look fantastic! Even better than when I bought them! I gotta try them on!” She looked to Rarity and paused. “Oh, right. Uh, thanks. Like, a lot.”

Mahara, and by extension, Zecora, caught a glimpse of the grin on Rarity’s lips as she seated herself. “You’ve very welcome.” The fashionista made sweeping eye contact with her and with Fluttershy. “I assume the two of you will be departing shortly to enjoy the night life?”

“I figured we would just relax for tonight. We had a busy day, after all.” Fluttershy nodded out of the corner of her eye. “Although… If the two of you are willing…” She turned to the pegasus. “Would you be interested in some more lessons?”

“Lessons?” Fluttershy echoed. “Oh! Well, if you’d like. Why do we need them, though?”

Mahara grinned, slowly getting up from the couch. “Because tonight, I’d like to teach you about hypnosis. Naturally, we’ll need some volunteers.”

“Oh, sure,” said Trixie. “Count Trixie in.”

“I don’t mind, I suppose. What is it, exactly, that you need us to do?” Rarity gracefully got to her hooves, taking a few steps toward Mahara.

“You don’t really need to do much of anything. Just relax and make eye contact when we ask you to.” She turned her attention toward Fluttershy, moving toward her. “We’re on lesson four now, right?”

The pegasus cocked an ear. “I think so? I’m sorry, I haven’t been keeping track.”

“Quite alright. Anyway, hypnosis. To hypnotize or otherwise influence somepony, you have to make eye contact, like I’m doing with you right now.” Fluttershy nodded. As she continued, a green haze filled the corners of her vision. “Unless you’re putting that pony into a trance, like a deep sleep, you usually have to maintain eye contact. When Big Macintosh was chasing us, for example.”

“When Big Macintosh was what?” interjected Rarity. Mahara kept her gaze locked with Fluttershy’s.

“It was nothing, water under the bridge. So when he was chasing us, I made eye contact and forced his body to lock up without lifting a hoof or saying a word. It’s all in the eyes. You make eye contact, and you impose your will. For instance, try moving right now.” Mahara was silent for a moment, as if waiting for some kind of response. “Can’t do it, can you?”

She looked away, toward Rarity and Trixie, and Fluttershy gasped softly. The pegasus was fluttering her wings and lightly cantering in place when Mahara looked back at her. “I could feel you putting more effort into it after I asked. If the pony you’re hypnotizing is particularly strong-willed, you may not be able to influence them, or they may be able to overcome you once you’ve started. Making a pony do something, as in, a physical or verbal action, works the same way, from my experience. However, it’s much, much harder to make someone perform an action against their will than it is to restrain them.”

“So, now it’s your turn. I’m going to wiggle my ears. I want you to make me stop.”

“Oh… O-okay.” Fluttershy closed her eyes for a moment. “It’s all in the eyes…” she whispered to herself. When her eyes snapped open, they glowed intensely, almost appearing to give off a blue flame. “Like this?” A minute of silence passed before she closed her eyes again, the glow vanishing behind her eyelids.

Mahara’s vision bobbed as the sound of stomping carried through the room. “Wonderful! On your first try, no less! Did you feel the resistance once you had me under your control?” Fluttershy nodded, smiling bashfully. “Well, clearly you’re already showing an understanding of the basics. Let’s try something a bit more advanced. To influence a pony’s emotions is much like putting them in a trance, but you don’t need a trigger phrase to bring them out of it. The same concept applies, though. It’s like making them dream while they’re still awake, if that makes sense. Make eye contact, and concentrate on how you want them to feel. Keep in mind that it’s easier to manipulate feelings that already exist than it is to insert new ones.”

She turned her gaze toward the fashionista. “Rarity, if you would…”

“This will be temporary, of course?” Rarity looked between the two of them, a brow raised.

“Of course.” Mahara took a few steps closer to Fluttershy before turning to face Rarity. “Are you ready?” Rarity nodded. “Alright, Fluttershy, show us what you can do.”

Several seconds of silence passed, during which neither Fluttershy nor Rarity moved an inch. The pegasus closed her eyes, ears splaying. Rarity looked around the room.

“Am I supposed to be feel-” She fell immediately silent as Fluttershy opened her eyes, irises glowing fiercely, projecting a ghostly blue flame.

“Oh, wow…” Trixie mumbled.

“If it isn’t too much trouble,” Fluttershy stated softly, “I would like you to follow my instructions. Do you understand?”

“Yes,” Rarity replied, calmly.

“Please come here.” Rarity did as asked, waiting patiently in front of the pegasus. “Very good. There is a vase on the table to your right, only, it isn’t a vase. You believe that it is a diamond. You will continue to believe that it is a diamond until I say that’s rather silly, don’t you think. Do you understand?”

“Yes,” she repeated.

“Good.”

Fluttershy closed her eyes, and Rarity shuddered, glancing around curiously. The unicorn froze as she set her sights on the table. Rarity looked back at them, then at the table again, taking a few cautious steps toward it.

“This… This wasn’t here before, was it?! Good heavens, where did this come from?!” Rarity knelt down, leaning across the table and eyeing the vase very closely. “How magnificent… I knew Sapphire was rich, but…”

Fluttershy tilted her head, her grin starting to show. “What do you see, Rarity?” Trixie had already started laughing, and from the sound of things, Mahara was having a hard time keeping her snickering in check.

“Why, it’s a diamond! A beautiful diamond! Don’t you all see it, too? Wait… Is… Is this the hypnosis?” Rarity’s expression bore concern as she glanced back at them. “This is the hypnosis, isn’t it?”

“That’s rather silly,” Fluttershy mused, grinning, “don’t you think?”

“What do you…” Rarity looked back at the table, then heaved a low groan. “Why does everyone make me see diamonds?”

“This has happened before?” asked Trixie and Mahara.

“We’ve agreed not to talk about it,” replied Fluttershy and Rarity.

Laughter filled the room, until her vision clouded with tears. She closed her eyes to wipe them away, and after a moment, Zecora found herself looking at her own reflection again. Very beirfly, she assumed that her clairvoyance had ended, but the reflection vanished a moment later, replaced with a view of a smiling, bowing Fluttershy.

“In all seriousness, I’m very impressed, to say the least!” Mahara put a hoof on Fluttershy’s shoulder, rubbing gently. “You’re demonstrating quite a talent for this! You just decided to go ahead and induce a trance?”

“Well... It just felt natural, really. I’ve always had a knack for… this, I guess. Before, it was just persuasion more than anything, but now…” The pegasus blushed, looking over at Rarity. “I’m very sorry for doing that to you. It wasn’t very nice.”

“Quite alright, dear. The only harm done was to my pride.”

Mahara snickered a little, surveying the room. “Anyway, if you want to practice or experiment some more, and these two are willing, I think you should go for it.”

Laughing, Trixie stepped forward. “Yeah, do Trixie next!”

Fluttershy continued to test her hypnosis well into the night, stopping only when Rarity and Trixie informed them that they needed to get some rest. Left alone, the pegasus gave Mahara a soft, longing look, slowly approaching with her tail held high. A feeling of discomfort swept over Zecora as she watched the pegasus part her lips, Mahara’s eyelids descending slowly. She found herself back in the royal castle, staring into a mirror, but she could still hear them as they kissed. The zebra tried to pull away, and just like that, she felt herself returning to her own body, her connection to Mahara severed.

“Well?” Luna questioned, standing over her.

“I’d like to stop for now, if that’s alright…” She shook her head, feeling disoriented as the numbness slowly receeded. “We’ll try again tomorrow night.”

A short series of questions followed, and Zecora answered each to the best of her ability given the limited information she was able to gather. Not long after that, the group dissipated for the evening, a pair of guards escorting the zebra back to her room. A feeling of disappointment accompanied her. Hours of observation had yielded barely anything useful. Barely twelve paces down the hall, the pair began to chatter. Her efforts to tune them out proved mostly futile.

“What's got your tail in a knot?” asked the tall unicorn mare to her left. “You’ve been griping all day."

The earth pony stallion to her right gave his partner a half glance. "I wanted this week off so I could go the Innovations Expo. They have stuff there that you can't buy without leaving Equestria."

"So you couldn't go shopping.” She shrugged, rolling her eyes. “So what?"

"They were supposed to be putting out a new Mouser pistol."

Mouser. Zecora's ears perked up. Fluttershy had mentioned that name to her friends.

"I know guns may not seem like seem like a big deal for you unicorns,” he continued, “but I have family right next to Everfree and they're all earth ponies. It'd give me some peace of mind if-"

"Where was this exhibition event?!" Zecora all but shouted. "Think quickly, this is most urgent!"

"Ah...” The stallion gave the unicorn a nervous look, swallowing. “Well the Manehattan Innovations Expo is held in Manehatten."

Zecora pulled away from them, galloping down the hall as fast as she could manage. Even as the guards called after her, she refused to slow down. There could be no detour, no stopping to explain. She had reclaimed her purpose.

\/ /\ /\ \/

Good heavens, what now?

Rarity peeled away her sleep mask as another burst of banging rang through the penthouse. The world was a blurred, rolling mess as she made her way out of her room on wobbling legs. The pounding was coming from the front door. She could hear hushed voices on the other side.

“What should we do?”

The pale unicorn nearly jumped out of her skin as Mahara’s voice reached her ears. She whipped her head around, face to face with the red mare, Fluttershy standing just a few paces behind her. They wore varying degrees of worry.

“Well, have you any idea who it might be?” Rarity rubbed her eyes, a shiver passing through her. “Perhaps it’s nothing to worry-”

“This is the Manehattan Police,” thundered a gruff-sounding stallion. “Open up this instant!”

“Oh, bother… Where is Trixie?”

“I’ll go get her,” answered Fluttershy, already halfway across the room.

“We know somepony’s in there! Open this door!”

“It’s very impolite to disrupt a lady’s beauty sleep, my dear officer!” The unicorn pointed toward the rear window with a hind leg. “On top of that, you simply must allow me to ready myself before I’ll let you and your lot inside!”

“We’ve received numerous tips that you’ve been harboring fugitives of the law! We would like to take a look around! This is looking worse and worse for you the longer you stall!”

There was a brief tapping on her withers. Rarity turned to find Fluttershy at the window with Trixie slung over her back. Mahara was mid trot, looking back at her all the while. She nodded and pointed at the door again, opening it with her magic. Fluttershy hesitated, taking a few steps toward her. The pegasus halted when Rarity shook her head, pointing one last time.

“I’ll be alright,” she mouthed. Much more loudly, she shouted, “and I must say I find these allegations completely ridiculous! I’ll be having a word with your supervisor!”

Mustering all her pride and courage, Rarity returned her attention to the front door, waiting several moments after hearing the click of the door to the balcony garden before drawing the curtains. With her head held high and wearing her most haughty sneer, she opened the front door. Several stallions of various color and type, all wearing police uniforms, stared back at her. She leaned against the doorframe and cocked a brow.

“After all that, you have nothing to say to me? Didn’t you want to go through my things a minute ago? Or have you lost your nerve?” The stallion at the head of the group grunted and pushed past her, the rest following. “That’s what I thought. You have my permission to check whatever you like, since I doubt you have a warrant.”

Once inside the penthouse, the officers spread out, looking in cabinets and under furniture first, tapping on the walls and the floor every so often. Rarity followed the stallion she had been speaking with, assuming him to be the one in charge.

“And just whom is it that you’re looking for, exactly?”

“Three mares; one a unicorn, the other two pegasi. Of the two pegasi, one is heavyset. They wouldn’t happen to be friends of yours, would they?”

The officer unrolled a wanted poster, an illustration of Fluttershy’s chubby, startled face staring back at her. “No, I can’t say I know who any of these mares are. The one in the middle though, didn’t she used to be a model?” Rarity froze as one of them pulled the curtains open, sunlight flooding the room. The garden appeared to be vacant, much to her relief.

“You know, me and the boys were talking about that.” He glanced back at her as he pushed open the door to Sapphire’s bedroom. “She was in that Hearth Warming pageant one year, and that was her last official public appearance. Quite a shame that she’s come to this.”

He paused after taking a few steps into the room, undoubtedly looking at the row of mostly burned candles on the windowsill, and the pictures she had taken with Aloe behind them.

“My friend passed away recently,” she explained. “I wasn’t able to attend her funeral so I’ve been trying to say prayers for her before I sleep every night. It’s not much, but…”

“My condolences, Miss,” he said with a tip of his hat.

Rarity sat on the corner of the bed as the officer continued to nose around the room. She found herself looking over the spread of pictures, reliving the memories. The guilt remained, even though she knew Aloe’s death wasn’t her fault, or anypony’s fault, for that matter. A voice from the living room disrupted her chain of thought.

“…certainly is interesting…” He stepped away from the door and took a few steps toward her. “Now, Miss, we know this penthouse belongs to Sapphire Shores, and the receptionist in the lobby told us that Miss Shores gave you her permission to use the place, but…” Rarity looked up at him, her brow arching again. “Have you just been sleeping in all of these beds, or have you been having company?”

“I admit to having a few… gentleman callers the other night, and the maid hasn’t been around yet to tidy up the place, the lazy thing. A bit of promiscuity isn’t a crime, as far as I can recall.” She pouted her lower lip, batting her eyelashes.

“No, Miss, but it’s just that the receptionist, several other residents, and the cleaning staff all confirmed and identified your guests as the same two girls from the poster…” His brow began to furrow, the corners of his mouth weighted into a frown. “So, either they’re all lying, or something in your story doesn’t add up.”

“How petty of them, to say such scandalous things about me!” Rarity closed her eyes and turned up her nose. “Jealousy! Jealous of how a girl from Ponyville could become so successful and have such famous friends!”

She peered out of one eye as another officer stepped into the room, holding a star spangled hat and a business card. “The Great and Powerful Trixie, huh? I suppose these belong to one of your gentlemen callers?”

“Yes, well…” Both officers advanced cautiously, blocking her way to the door. “Some of them have rather… exotic fantasies, and…”

The stallion in the back reached for his shackles. “Put your hooves where we can see them, ma’am!”

“Oh, and I so hoped we'd be able to do this the civilized way…”

Rarity sprung off the bed just as they lunged, grabbing several spools of thread with her magic. The thread unraveled, looped and coiled, snaring the lead officer and tying his hooves together. He toppled over on the bed, struggling against the bindings. She prepared to repeat her performance on the second officer as he took a swing at her with a billy club. Sidestepping, she threaded several needles with a flick of her horn. Smiling, she sewed the sleeves and legs of his uniform together, then tied the two of them together with a bow, leaving them both squirming and shouting.

In the few seconds that had passed since engaging the officers present, a pegasus and a unicorn had rushed to the door. A bright flash cast their shadows against the wall, but they ignored it and charged. The pegasus was easy prey, flying right into her silken web and squirming as he crashed to the floor. The unicorn, on the other hoof, was able to push the threads apart with his magic. Similarly, he was able to grab the pegasus’s billy club with his magic and take another swing at her. Rarity narrowly dodged that time, feeling it skim her mane and tip of her ear as she leaned out of the way. At the end of the swing, she was able to bind it, tying it tightly into the tangle of thread that had more or less filled the room.

“Now see here, I don’t want to fight you, but Celestia help me I will if you don’t back down!” She tried to tie him up again, but he pushed the threads out of the way, taking another step closer. “I mean it!”

The shuffling of hooves rolled in behind him, two figures moving around in the mess behind him. Without taking his eyes off of her, he fought to untie the officers she had already dealt with. Without warning, a glowing vase pushed through the web and came down on his head with a loud smash. He wavered for a moment, and then fell heavily to the floor.

“Not exactly a diamond, but it got the job done!” Rarity wasn’t ashamed to admit to herself that the sound of Trixie’s voice was a huge relief. “How are you doing in there?”

With her magic, the fashionista slowly cleared a path. “I’ve been better. What about the rest of them?”

“The Great and Powerful Trixie put her smoke and mirrors to good use. They’re all out cold.” The magician smiled as they made eye contact. “But Trixie feels we should probably clear out of here, and not though the front door.”

“Actually…” Mahara mused from the living room.

Rarity’s ears splayed as she listened in. Oooooh this is a horrible idea…

Several minutes later, Mahara, disguised as the head officer, lead the three of them through the lobby in chains. Mahara didn’t need much convincing to agree to carry a suitcase containing all the dresses she had put together for them. Rarity had no problem forcing fake tears, and in truth, the entire situation was humiliating enough that they were half-honest. The whimpering and sobbing behind her, however, was stealing her fire. She glanced back at Trixie, at the way her lower lip trembled as she practically gushed, and resolved to try and go more dramatic. She adopted a sway and a gasping cry, allowing a bit of resistance to build up between her and Mahara.

“I’m too pretty to go to jail!” she wailed. “Please don’t make me go! I’m sorry!”

The imposter stallion, along with everypony in the lobby, stopped to stare if they hadn’t stopped already. She flicked Trixie in the nose with her tail as Mahara shook her head and started pulling again.

Heavy grey clouds rolled overhead, blotting out the sun. Rarity hadn’t noticed them inside, their sudden appearance striking her as odd. Several passersby seemed to share her opinion, paying more attention to the sudden cloud cover than the group of ponies being led in chains. A police wagon waited by the curb. The stallions hitched to it snorted as Mahara approached.

“Where’s Brass and Copper?” one of them asked. “And Lock?”

“They’re securing the crime scene. We only got two of the girls from the poster, but,” she looked back at Rarity, then behind her. “We got the girl that was hiding them there.”

“Okay, but what about the suit case on your back?”

“Oh! Evidence!” One of the stallions cocked his head at that.

“Yeah, sure, just load them in and let’s get going.”

Rarity climbed in without any difficulty, as did Trixie, but she watched as Mahara helped Fluttershy feel her way into the wagon. It took her a moment to remember that the pair of them were nearly blind in sunlight. Mahara followed, closing the door behind her and shedding her disguise, her form returning to its normal, female appearance. The red mare knocked on the front panel.

“Alright,” she called with the officer’s voice. “We’re all secure. Get a move on.”

Trixie leaned forward as Rarity levitated the key to their shackles around the cabin. “And the plan is?”

“Once Fluttershy gets loose, she and I jump onto their backs, we hypnotize them, and we have them take us to the train station.” Mahara fished a pair of sunglasses out of the police uniform and gave them to the pegasus.

“Y-you want me to um…” Fluttershy looked down at the floor. “Jump onto one of them? I don’t think that’s such a good idea.”

After a moment, Mahara sighed. “Okay. What if I just unhitch them?” Rarity nodded, Trixie and Fluttershy doing the same as the red mare looked around the cabin. “Alright then, let’s do this.”

As the wagon rattled down the street, Mahara pushed the door open and put her forehooves on the roof, lifting herself up and out of sight. Rarity followed the sound of her hooves as she moved around above them, Fluttershy turning toward the sound of movement as it reached the front of the cabin. While Rarity had expected the unhitching to be fairly silent, instead, the sound of splintering wood rang through the air, followed by whinnies of surprise. The wagon immediately began to slow down.

“Alright girls,” shouted Mahara, “that’s your cue!”

Without warning, Trixie hurled herself out of the still moving wagon. Rarity looked to Fluttershy, the pegasus returning her wide eyed shock. Fluttershy took a deep breath, stepped up to the banging door, and leapt out with a flap of her enormous wings.

The fashionista held the door open with her magic, looking over the lip at the blurred cobblestone speeding by below her. “Mahara?! I don’t suppose you could carry me?! …Mahara?” She glanced down the street, all three of them stomping and shouting for her to jump, appearing smaller by the moment. “I used to make dresses…”

Rarity closed her eyes, leaned over the edge, and let gravity take over. Mid tumble, she tucked her limbs into her body as tightly as she could, attempting to put her head between her forelegs. The first impact knocked the breath out of her, pain shooting through her body as she hit the cobblestone with such force that she bounced. The second impact was no less brutal, but she was thankful under the blanket of agony that she didn’t rebound. Her body attempted to resist as she unfolded herself, every inch of her seeming to ache. She made an effort to stand, but her right foreleg gave out from under her, a fresher wave of searing anguish shooting through her. Delirious, Rarity managed a smile as her friends tried to help her up.

“Are the dresses okay?” she whispered.

Mahara nodded, motioning to the suitcase on her back. “I’ve got them right here. Can you walk?”

“I… I think her leg might be broken…” Fluttershy looked up from the unicorn’s leg, biting her lower lip. “Badly sprained, at the very least. It looks like she hit her head pretty hard, too.”

“Fuck it, Trixie’s got this.” Rarity watched as a glow enveloped her, lifting her onto Trixie’s back. “Now let’s go! I’m not going back to jail!”

Giggling, her head still spinning, Rarity mumbled, “Back? As in, you’ve been to prison before? Oh, you ruffian!”

“Trixie really hopes this isn’t permanent.”

A sea of ponies gave them awkward glances, or stopped to stare outright as they shoved their way down the busy street. Suddenly, the majority of the pedestrians looked skyward. Rarity craned her sore neck to see what had everypony’s attention, spying a bright red flare drifting high over the city, standing out against the overcast sky. She traced its trail back to about where they had abandoned the carriage. Her shock began to fade, replaced by a splitting headache.

“I think they’re onto us…”

Trixie looked back, Fluttershy doing the same. Their panic showed through gritted teeth and arched brows. “So, are we just going to gallop into the train station or what?” The magician nearly dropped Rarity as she shoved a news vendor aside. “Mahara?!”

“Thinking! Hold on!”

A pair of pegasi in police uniforms swept by overhead, shouting to one another before circling back around. They maintained their altitude, slowing to a near hover several stories above them.

“Okay! Fluttershy, you’re with me! Trixie, you try and lose them before you take Rarity to the station!”

Mahara clenched her jaw as a pair of enormous bat wings just about erupted from her back, unfolding to their full span, the membranes billowing like sails against the wind. She nodded to Fluttershy, and together they launched from the sidewalk. Rarity watched them swooping and diving at the airborne police for several moments before Trixie rounded a corner. After what felt like a minute had passed, Mahara and Fluttershy streaked through the air, several large, grey creatures following them.

“Ffffuck,” Trixie hissed back at her. “They’re sending gargoyles!”

No sooner had the words left her lips than did an enormous stone figure crash down in the center of the street, leering back at Rarity with glowing yellow eyes. It resembled a cross between a pony and a pig, but with goat horns, talons in front, cloven hooves in back, and the wings of a bat. Pedestrian traffic came to a complete standstill. It began to advance just as Trixie pushed her way into an alley, galloping at full speed and frantically babbling something about “the big house”. Rarity watched as, behind them, the gargoyle made an effort to give chase, shoving several paces deep into the narrow alley before it was halted by its sheer size. The dust of pulverized bricks swirled around it as it snarled and tried to crawl after them.

Ahead of them, the dimmed light of day and the motion of the street came closer and closer.

“Okay, I think we’re in the clear,” Trixie whispered as they re-entered the flow of the sidewalk. “We just have to keep a low-”

A red and grey blur slammed into the back of a cart carrying furniture, fragments and splinters scattering into the surrounding area. Some ponies ran screaming, while others were frozen to the spot, watching in awe. Mahara emerged from the wreckage, bloodied but grinning, a few black wisps of smoke drifting off of her open wounds as a ray of sunlight swept over her. With the claws that protruded from the wrist of her wings, she lifted a stone head out of the broken furniture. Still grinning, she reared back and smashed it against her forehead.

“Wow,” Trixie said to nopony in particular. “That thing wasn’t alive, was it?”

Gawking herself, Rarity looked between Mahara and the magician. “What? No, I don’t believe so. They’re constructs or something like that. A stone statue, an animation spell, and voila.”

“Oh, right. Trixie knew that, of course…”

“Shouldn’t you two be going somewhere?” the red mare asked as she took to the air again. She hesitated, however, hovering close enough to give Rarity the suitcase. “Actually, change of plans. Don’t wait for us at the station. You two get on the first train to Ponyville that you can while we keep them busy. I’ll let Fluttershy know about the change when I catch up to her.”

With that, she zipped off into the sky again, two more gargoyles giving chase. The crowd kept its distance after Mahara had departed, eyeing both unicorns and the suitcase on Rarity’s back. Trixie looked around, flashed a nervous grin, and quietly carried Rarity to the corner.

“Okay, we’ve seriously gotta lose all the attention here,” she whispered as the traffic parted around them. Shouting echoed down the street. “Come oooon, give us a break!”

Though her head was still pounding and her right foreleg definitely felt as though there were something out of place, Rarity regained her senses as Trixie pushed her way down the street, skimming the road at times to avoid street vendors and seemingly impenetrable crowds. She could hear the police in the distance, occasionally joined by the shouts of bystanders directing them toward herself and Trixie. Much to her relief, the voices began to fade into the background, their trail going cold as Trixie navigated narrow alleys and took advantage of unguarded back doors to go right through shops.

After at least half an hour of winding through the streets, Paddock Station came into view. Trixie waited patiently as Rarity eased herself onto the sidewalk, keeping her weight off of her injured foreleg. With the suitcase handle in her mouth, the magician lead the way, moving at a pace slow enough for Rarity to limp alongside her. Several officers stood by a police wagon at the corner, accompanied by a small group of hound dogs. Rarity held her breath as she passed them, one of the hounds perking up and sniffing around excitedly. She heaved a sigh of relief when it lifted its leg and began licking its own crotch.

As they moved with the flow of the crowd, Trixie lifted a hoof in the direction of the ticket kiosk. “You did bring money for tickets, right?”

Rarity snorted, pulled her purse out of the suitcase, and purchased a pair of one-way fares to Ponyville. “We don’t have much time; let’s get down to the concourse.”

The train hissed impatiently as Rarity hobbled down the stairs, unloading passengers and luggage from one end while a line of ponies began to shuffle in at the other.

Seconds after stepping onto the train, she heard a conductor cry, “Last call for Ponyville! All aboard!”

They settled into their seats, giving each other a nod and a bit of a smile, sharing in what the fashionista felt was unspoken but mutual respect. Trixie’s smile faded within a moment, however.

“Do you think they’re okay?”

Rarity smiled a little wider. “I watched Mahara destroy a hydra. I don’t think a few gargoyles and ponies in uniform will give them too much trouble.”

“I know she says it’s a curse and everything,” Trixie said with arched brows, “but really, if all you have to do is bite a pony every now and then, that whole package seems pretty damn cool.”

“All the dress making I could get done if I never had to sleep… Or never growing old… Or being able to look however I like at just about the drop of a hat…” Rarity looked down at her swollen foreleg, and then out the window as the train began to chug down the track. “Or being able to shrug off physical inconveniences... I’d be lying if I said I’ve not given it a little consideration. But… I think it’s best we not lose sight of what is real and what is fantasy… A fantasy has never hurt anypony, at any rate.”

Trixie nodded, closing her eyes and curling up in her seat.

Closing her own eyes, she mused, for a washed up, two bit magician, you’re not such a bad pony after all.

\/ /\ /\ \/

It wasn’t uncommon for Rarity to go on trips for one reason or another. It wasn’t uncommon for their parents to leave on spur-of-the-moment vacations, at that, but the nature of Rarity’s disappearance was what made Sweetie Belle anxious. At school, the day before, Diamond Tiara had asked her how it felt to be related to a criminal. She ran home crying. Saturday morning had come and gone, and she hadn’t even bothered visiting her friends, despite the fact that she told her parents that was what she was what she had planned for the day.

Her parents didn’t know what to think about Rarity’s actions, either, and that just made her feel worse.

A distant bell tolled an hour past noon, and Sweetie Belle sighed, bored and lonely, as she looked out her window. She knew it wasn’t actually her window, but Rarity’s, since she didn’t actually live in the boutique. At the same time, this was the room she always stayed in when she visited, and she felt like Rarity had practically designated it as hers. Without her older sister around, however, the building just felt empty, and she felt like an intruder.

Opalescence swirled around her hind legs, tickling lightly and making half-formed meows.

“You know it’s not time for you to eat yet, silly.” She smiled down at the cat, only to find herself reminded of her sister again. “Do you miss her too? I mean, I know you’re a cat and everything, but… But I’m talking to my sister’s cat…”

The young mare leaned back against the windowsill and resigned herself to daydream and watch the steady bustle of activity in town. At the very least, three days after the hydra attack, things were starting to return to normal.

Normal, she thought to herself, following the path of the town’s resident mail pegasus. Were things ever normal in Ponyville? There was always some kind of adventure to go on or some kind of charade unfolding, but nothing like this… At least, if things happened on this level when I was younger, I didn’t notice them.

Sweetie Belle’s thoughts were scattered when Opal jumped onto the sill, rubbing against the side of her face. She smiled and ran a hoof along the feline’s back. Just as she reached the base of Opal’s tail, the cat perked up, eyes wide. Sweetie turned toward the sound of a key jiggling in a lock, echoing through the vacant shop floor. Immediately following was the sound of the front door opening, accompanied by the jingle of a bell.

“Oh, wow, yeah, this is pretty cool! And you run it all by yourself?”

The muffled, unfamiliar voice made her tense up, quietly stepping away from the window and peering out into the front room. She froze when a second figure emerged, recognizing her before she even said a word.

“Oh yes, it’s quite nice, really! I make up my own schedule, decide which clients to take and which to decline…” Rarity smiled at the unicorn looking around the boutique, setting a single suitcase by the door. “It can get a little stressful with large orders, but for the most part, it’s my dream come true.”

“Rarity!” Sweetie cried, galloping across the room.

“Sweetie Belle?!” The filly lost sight of her sister’s look of shock, rearing up and hugging her tightly. The embrace was returned without hesitation. “What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be at Mother and Father’s?”

“I dunno, I just felt like coming here. Everyone was really worried about you, especially Mom and Dad.” Sweetie pulled back, looking up at her older sister. “Ponies are saying that you’re some kind of criminal or traitor or something… That you ran off to Canterlot with Fluttershy and the monster that killed the hydra. But, now you’re home, so you can tell them that you didn’t do any of that!”

She let go, settling back on all fours. “Who’s your friend, by the way? And where did you go? How come you didn’t tell anypony but Pinkie?”

“My friend?” Rarity glanced to the frost blue unicorn beside her, the unicorn in question smiling and shrugging. “Her name is Trixie. Trixie, this is my younger sister, Sweetie Belle.”

Trixie gave an overly dramatic bow, foreleg sweeping to one side. “The Great and Powerful Trixie is pleased to make your acquaintance.”

Sweetie Belle stifled a giggle, looking back to Rarity.

“As for where I was, I just needed to get away for a few days. I got a few dresses done while I was gone, and I… I made a new friend, I suppose.” She smiled and nodded. “So, it was a pleasant vacation, all in all. Aside from my being accused of sedition, I trust things have calmed down since I left?”

Sweetie Belle returned the nod. “Pretty much… Scootaloo got her lip busted the other day, but she won’t say who did it...” She looked around for a moment, tapping a hoof against the floor. “Oh! And she finally figured out flying! How could I forget that?! Pinkie threw her a really great party yesterday to celebrate! Applebloom was there, and she looked like she was doing a lot better. She says Applejack is recovering, too, so that’s good.”

“That sounds wonderful for the most part. I’d actually planned on visiting Pinkie shortly. You’re more than welcome to come with me, if you like.” Rarity looked between them, wearing a gentle smile. “Both of you. Let me just unpack and say hello to Opalescence first.”

Rarity trotted out of the room, a slight limp in her step, the sound of her hooves fading as she climbed the stairs. Sweetie Belle sat down on the couch, curiously looking Trixie over as the frost colored unicorn explored the dimly lit shop.

“So, what do you do?”

Trixie looked up from a dress rack, ears perked. “Trixie is a magician. One of the best, in fact!” A grin slowly curled across her lips. “Of course, she only performs for royalty and those who can afford her talents, so, if you’ve never heard of her-”

“Oh! No, I remember now! You were performing in town one day, a few years back!” Trixie’s grin immediately vanished, her brow flattening against her eyes. “Hey, how come you speak in the third person?”

“Why does your sister speak with a fake accent?”

The filly giggled, bobbing against the arm of the couch. “I know, right?! Mom and Dad don’t sound anything like her!”

“Mom and Dad don’t sound anything like whom?” Rarity inquired as she stepped into the room.

“Nopony,” she said in unison with Trixie.

Rarity cocked a brow. “Very well, then. Let’s visit Pinkie Pie, shall we?”

Sweetie Belle followed the pair of older unicorns, listening in as they discussed spells and strategies for publicity. Their conversation dropped off as they approached Sugarcube corner. A large crowd had gathered, and above them hovered several pegasi outfitted in the armor of the royal guard. Without saying a word, Rarity started pushing her way through the gathering. Trixie glanced back at her as if hoping for an explanation; when she received nothing but a shrug from Sweetie, she began to worm her way into the crowd as well.

The last thing Sweetie Belle expected to see, once she had finally squeezed close enough to see the source of the commotion, was Pinkie Pie being led out of the bakery by the royal guard. The pink pony hung her head as she slowly descended the front steps of her home, her mane and tail hanging limp. Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, and Twilight Sparkle followed a short distance behind her. Their expressions were difficult for her to place, though they all gave her the impression of disappointment. The Cakes appeared in the doorway after Celestia and her entourage, Cup, Pumpkin and Pound all crying as they watched. Carrot looked on in silence, his expression vacant.

She realized a moment later that Scootaloo and Ditzy were at Pinkie’s side, joined by a much larger pegasus stallion that she recognized from the party, all three of them seemingly torn between trying to comfort her and trying to talk to Celestia. The entire procession came to a halt when Twilight looked her way. Sweetie Belle glanced behind herself before realizing Twilight was actually looking at Rarity. Almost immediately, Pinkie reared up, the guards surrounding her jumping back in surprise.

“They know!” she shouted, waving her forehooves. “They know! Get outta here!”

“And go where?” Rarity calmly replied, stepping forward after the crowd cleared from around her. “We’ve done our part, Pinkie. All we can do now is hope they get somewhere safe.”

Twilight narrowed her eyes as she moved aggressively toward Rarity. “Somewhere safe? Like Manehattan? We wouldn’t have even found out about their little vacation if Celestia hadn’t received a bulletin from the Manehattan Police Department! Now, I can understand telling a lie or two, even if you’re putting them before every single pony in Equestria, but,” she glanced back at Pinkie and the winged stallion beside her, “kidnapping somepony?! Even if he says it’s not a big deal, that doesn’t change the fact that you actually went that far!”

She returned her furious stare to Rarity. “And you! Assaulting officers of the law?! And, apparently, Big Macintosh shot Fluttershy two nights ago?! I don’t know what’s gotten into all of you, but we all need to have a very, very long talk about all of this! This whole thing has gotten completely out of control! We don’t even know where Zecora is now! Who knows what shenanigans she could be getting up to as we speak!”

Huffing, Twilight paused for a moment, scanning the crowd behind Rarity. “And don’t think you’re just going to slink away from this, Trixie! You’re just as guilty of attacking police officers as she is!” She began to point, stabbing at the air with her hoof. “Yes, I see you there! Come here!”

Sweetie Belle watched Trixie hesitate, the surrounding ponies slowly backing away from her. “The Great and Power-”

“No. Stop. Just stop. You’re not talking your way out of this, now come here. You too, Rarity. You’re all going to wait for us at the castle, and we’re going to Manehattan to try and put a stop to all of this craziness.” She turned and stomped back to Celestia’s side, snorting quietly as she looked over her shoulder.

Luna nodded, trotting toward the pair of chariots waiting for them on the other side of the street. “Well said, Twilight Sparkle.”

Celestia lifted her head as she looked around the crowd. “Once again, you have my apologies for disrupting the peace. I know that you have all been through quite a lot in the last few days, and it is not my intention to continuously stir up additional cause for alarm. You have my word, fair citizens of Ponyville, that we will have this issue resolved and see peace restored across Equestria before dawn tomorrow. That is all.”

After the chariots and their escort gracefully sailed off into the sky, one bound for Manehattan, the other for Canterlot, the crowd quickly disintegrated. Mrs. Cake ushered her foals back into the house, gently tugging on Carrot’s mane until he followed, too. A few minutes later, only Scootaloo, Ditzy, the pegasus stallion, and Sweetie Belle remained. Scootaloo sniffled softly as Sweetie approached, sitting down beside her. Ditzy joined them, a muffled whimper escaping her throat.

Something in the back of Sweetie’s mind told her that she should be crying too, but somehow, she wasn’t. She couldn’t.

“I’m sorry,” the stallion whispered, taking to the air a minute later.

“It’s funny,” Sweetie Belle said aloud, though more to herself than either of them. “I was just thinking how things looked like they were starting to go back to normal.”

“Things will never go back to normal,” Scootaloo mumbled through gasps.

The unicorn filly closed her eyes. “I guess you’re right…”

\/ /\ /\ \/

The air was completely saturated with light and sound, so much so that it was nearly overwhelming. A few days ago, it would have been, but in that time, Fluttershy had adjusted to her more sensitive hearing in leaps and bounds. Slowly, she followed Mahara through the laughing, screaming crowd, taking in the sights as they made their way down the boardwalk. She couldn’t remember the last time she had been to an amusement park. While the novelty of the experience sparked excitement in her, it wasn’t enough to overshadow the real reason they were there. The Poney Island amusement park was a stone’s throw from Bucklyn’s massive shipyard. In less than two hours, a freighter would dock there, and together they would stow away and leave Equestria behind. For that reason, her smile was stitched with anxiety.

Mahara gently nudged her, pointing toward a cotton candy stand. She nodded, and, a minute later, was sitting on a bench and nibbling at an enormous tuft of sugar. The red mare declined the offer when Fluttershy held it toward her, apparently more interested in scanning the crowd. The other reason for their being at the park was to feed, preferably more than once, according to her companion. A twinge of guilt mingled with her eagerness to taste blood. She stopped pulling at the cloud of sugar, and looking up at the faintly glowing night sky, her thoughts began to wander. Another nudge roused her. Mahara wore a look of concern.

“I never got to say goodbye.” Fluttershy turned toward her, looking down at Mahara’s mouth and throat more than her eyes. “I never got to tell my friends how much I love them, how much I miss them… I never even got to say goodbye to Angel.” She took a deep breath, shuddering.

Mahara pressed closer, a foreleg wrapped around her. “I never got to say goodbye, either… but you’re lucky. Do you know why?” Fluttershy glanced up at her, finding a smile spread across the red mare’s lips. “You don’t need to say goodbye. This isn’t the end, Fluttershy. Not by a long shot. I know for a fact that they love you as much as you love them, and they’ll be waiting for you when you return. I… I don’t know when that will be, because once we get on that boat, it’s going to take us very far away. I won’t lie; it may be years from now, but I can tell you for certain that you’ll see all your friends again someday.”

The pegasus blinked away a few tears, feeling some of the weight lifting off of her heart, and she began to smile. “Do you really mean that?”

“Every word. I may not know where, when, or how, but I promise you, you’ll be with them again.” She leaned forward, kissing Fluttershy on the nose. “Now come on, we have a whole park to enjoy and not much time to enjoy it!”

The world became a blur of flashing lights and faces screaming with wild delight, broken up by brief moments of stillness as they waited in line for the next ride. Fluttershy’s heart raced, thrilled, terrified, and ecstatic all at once as she looked out over the tallest hill of a roller coaster, tightly squeezing Mahara’s hoof and squealing with frightened glee when the car roared down the track. Her legs were still shaking as she rode a wooden unicorn on the merry go round, both she and Mahara staying far away from the wooden alicorn bearing the likeness of Celestia. To Mahara’s disappointment, understanding, and mild amusement, Fluttershy politely declined the chance to take part in the bungee jumping attraction.

Not long after taking two turns at the bumper cars, Fluttershy idly ran her tongue over her fangs. Her mouth and throat felt dry, even as she nursed a bottle of sparkling cider. She cast a timid glance toward Mahara, swallowing, and Mahara grinned.

“I know that look,” she whispered. “I think it’s about time we dealt with our peculiar needs, don’t you?”

“Y-yes… If you want to, I mean…” Fluttershy felt her cheeks starting to burn, trying to look away and escape Mahara’s lewd, sideways glance. “Where, though?”

“Somewhere private… Somewhere secluded, where we’re not likely to be interrupted…” Mahara’s grin flattened as she pursed her lips, giving the question serious thought. The pegasus fluttered her wings and pointed when she found the answer. “Oh…” Mahara mused as she followed Fluttershy’s hoof. “Yes, that will do nicely… I hope you’re not planning on asking for donors while we’re waiting in line.”

Fluttershy bit her lip, tail flicking involuntarily. “I um… I think we can afford to be assertive this time, since we’re on a tight schedule and all…”

“Goodness, Fluttershy, that’s absolutely depraved…” She blushed even brighter as the red mare gave her a big, fang-filled grin. “I love it!”

The Tunnel of Love was so dimly lit that anypony not gifted with the ability to see in the dark would have a hard time seeing more than a few noses in front of them. On top of that, the swan shaped boats moved with enough distance between them that privacy was just about guarantied.

A shiver ran through the pegasus as she waited in line, fighting to keep her wings folded against her sides. She occasionally glanced around until she spotted Mahara. The red mare carried a stack of napkins as she slipped into line beside her. Dozens of couples milled before and behind them, some of them already trading saliva and breathy panting. The pounding of hearts came to the forefront of her hearing, bringing the promise of so much fresh blood. Fluttershy eagerly tapped a hoof against the floor of the boat as they were seated; salivating by the time they had started moving. Mahara inhaled slowly as they slipped into near darkness, sprouting wings, her eyes glowing softly behind her mane.

Without speaking a word, they lifted off from the boat, watching as it slowly floated away from them. When the next boat drifted under them, they descended in complete silence and landed on either side of the pair of earth stallions who were lost in a passionate kiss. They tapped on their prey in unison, meeting looks of confusion with burning stares, locking them into a state of passive tranquility. Without hesitation, Fluttershy sank her fangs into her limp stallion’s neck, drawing thick rivers of blood, groaning as the taste rolled over her tongue. Swallow by swallow, she felt bliss washing over her, filling her every nerve with a buzzing rush.

The sound of the park echoed in from the end of the tunnel, signaling an end to the first course. She pulled away from the stallion, giggling softly as she noted his dumbfounded grin, and put the finishing touches on her trance.

“You and your coltfriend bit each other a little too hard during the ride. I want you to hold this napkin to your bite until you hear the words are you alright. Do you understand?” The stallion nodded slowly, pressing the offered napkin to the bleeding fang marks in the side of his neck. “Good. Mahara?”

“All set on this end.” She sat back from the stallion she had been suckling, offering him a napkin, which he held to the side of his neck. “Ready for more?”

Fluttershy was already nodding before Mahara had even finished speaking. “Absolutely!”

The pegasus clasped her hooves over her mouth as she realized that she had shouted. Mahara laughed, and Fluttershy joined in as they fluttered into the air, flying back to the entrance of the ride and waiting.

Three passes later, Fluttershy gave a moan of satisfaction, belching wetly as she licked the corners of her lips. The warmth of her meal slowly spread through her body, leaving her feeling both comfortably sluggish and empowered. She could feel the strength pulsing through her, fresh blood mingling with her own, her every sense functioning at its peak. The sensation was nearly disorienting. She could just about hear the paint slowly peeling from the submerged sides of the boat. Mahara nudged her, grinning smugly, decadently, her breath a bouquet of the blood she had drawn from various mares and stallions. Even the gentle pressure of a hoof against her belly lit her skin on fire.

“One more,” she whispered, almost clumsily propelling herself back into the air on leathery wings.

“Oh no, I couldn’t.” Fluttershy smiled drunkenly, following her anyway.

“Just this one, and then we’ll call it quits. Come here…”

Before Mahara had even pursed her lips to the side of Fluttershy’s neck, she knew what was going to happen. Her breath caught in her throat upon contact, giving a shrill whine when her lover pierced the side of her neck; the exact same spot Mahara had pierced the first time she let the red mare feed from her.

“Yes…” she whispered, feeling the rolling pressure, the sharp tingling of fangs in her flesh, the warmth of her own blood.

Driven by instinct, she craned her neck, pushing her lips to Mahara’s skin, spreading them until her fangs started to divot over her pulsing artery. She pushed through, lapping slowly around lips sealed to her flesh, drawing out a steady crimson stream, swallowing hungrily. Mid swallow, Mahara pulled away, pushing Fluttershy’s muzzle up with her hoof. Their glistening lips met, dripping, spattering down her breast as her tongue rolled, and panting through her nose. Their blood mingled between them, settling in her belly like fire.

“Okay, okay,” Mahara finally mumbled against the pegasus’s mouth. “As much as I want to-” She was briefly silenced as Fluttershy pushed in for one last kiss. “This isn’t the time or the place.”

Heart still hammering in her breast, Fluttershy nodded, exclaiming with a soft, happy sigh. Together, they vacated the tunnel through a maintenance passage, casually trotting away from the crowd that had gathered as a result of the sudden outbreak of pony biting.

An enormous ferris wheel loomed over the other end of the park. Not too far behind that, according to Mahara, was the Bucklyn harbor.

“Why don’t we ride it?” Fluttershy smiled as she took a few steps forward, Mahara following. “From up there, we’ll be able to see the boat when it comes in, right?”

“Alright, sure! We’ve got some time to kill before it’s due in, anyway.”

While the line for the ride wasn’t terribly long, it was just long enough for the blood drinking high to wind down. She knew that her senses hadn’t degraded at all, but without the razor edge that fresh blood provided, they felt somewhat dulled. The drumming of beating hearts was almost completely faded under the music and chatter surrounding her. It was as close to what she once considered normal as she had felt in days, and, somehow, it just made her feel vulnerable.

The car rocked gently as they stepped into it, and then again as, car by car, the rest of the passengers were seated. A steady hum filled the air as the motor went from starts and stops to full motion, supplemented by the creak of metal, and the occasional laugh or shout from one of the other riders. On one side, the Manehattan skyline glowed like a mountain of embers. On the other, the ocean stretched out as far as she could see, moonlight shimmering across the surface. Fluttershy smiled as she looked out over the world below, wrapping a foreleg around Mahara, holding her tightly. They sat in silence as the wheel revolved, but as their car started to rise again, the red mare jolted. The pegasus glanced up at her with confusion and concern. Mahara was pointing. She followed the outstretched hoof, scanning the horizon.

She spotted it when they reached the highest point. In the distance, a beacon of light. Thick black smoke billowed out behind it.

“That’s our ride,” Mahara whispered.

There was no fear left, no uncertainty clouding her judgment. Her new life would begin the moment she set hoof on that distant freighter, and knowing that she would see her friends again someday, she finally felt excited about it. Still smiling, she glanced up at Mahara.

Tight lips and a knitted brow greeted her. The red mare’s gaze swept the interior of the car, her ears twitching and swiveling. Her apparent worry spread to Fluttershy.

“Mahara? What’s wrong?”

Wide-eyed panic manifested in her expression. “Can’t you hear that?”

The pegasus looked around the car, ears perked, rubbing Mahara’s sides as her breast began to rapidly rise and fall. She could hear Mahara’s unusual heartbeat, nearly identical to her own, and the sound of all the other living, breathing ponies on the ride with them.

“Fluttershy, please tell me I’m imaging it!”

Then she heard it. A heartbeat, similar to theirs, so very close, and slowly getting closer as their car continued to descend.

Mahara stood slowly, moving to the other side of the car, looking through the screen to the other side of the ferris wheel. On the roof of the car across from them, there stood a lone, hooded figure, staring back at them with turquoise eyes that pierced the darkness. Before the name even rolled off of Mahara’s tongue, Fluttershy knew who had found them.

“Zecora…”

\/ /\ /\ \/

Chapter 10 - Nowhere to Run

Chapter Ten: Nowhere to Run

\/ /\ /\ \/

A metallic creak raked through the air as the ferris wheel groaned to a stop, drowning out the commotion on the ground. Several spotlights swept over the steel spider-web of the ferris wheel’s infrastructure before centering on one specific car, and the zebra standing on top of it.

“Please remain calm and stay put,” somepony on a megaphone politely requested. “Someone will be up to assist you shortly.”

Zecora ignored all of this, eyes locked with the mare in the car directly across from her. The pony in question dissolved into a fine red mist, seeping out through the wire screen window of the car and condensing on the roof into the mare she had come to so bitterly despise. Some of the spotlights swung to the other side of the wheel, illuminating Mahara as she stood her ground.

“And what is this I see?” Zecora shouted across the open. “Do you not wish to flee?!”

Mahara’s voice echoed back, carrying a trace of frustration. “I’m getting tired of running, Zecora! We’re going to leave Equestria tonight, and you’ll never have to worry about either of us again!”

“You know full well that I cannot let you go! Princess Luna taught me a trick that I don’t think you know!” The zebra took a step forward, muzzle low, meeting Mahara’s distant, glowing gaze with a glare. “Through your eyes, so much clarity did you bring! I saw it all, and heard everything! Wherever you go, I will follow you! There’s no place to hide! You are through!”

A brief silence preceded Mahara’s words. “Come with us, then! You’re one of us! We don’t have to be enemies!”

“From this fight,” Zecora spat, “I will not be dissuaded! To your tricks, I am already jaded!”

A stomp echoed to her. “Well, Fluttershy hasn’t done anything wrong! Will you let her go, at least?!”

Zecora glanced to the car’s window, spotting Fluttershy pressed to the grate. “I am not here for Fluttershy; this is just between you and I! She will be dealt with as the princesses see fit, but for now, I intend to test your grit!”

Mahara remained silent, widening her stance, lowering herself as long, thick masses of flesh reached out of her back. Fluttershy’s voice was distant and pleading, but her words were too soft to reach Zecora’s ears.

“She’s not giving me a choice,” the red mare responded bluntly, before returning her attention to Zecora.

The zebra pulled off her cloak, revealing her harness with all its pouches, and brushed her hoof over the sheathed knife strapped to her opposite foreleg. The handle of her knife felt cold against her teeth as she drew it from its sheath with a dry grind. She inhaled sharply as she slid the blade over her shoulder, carving a thin, bleeding line in her flesh. As she exhaled, she centered her focus on her fresh wound. Instead of rolling down, the droplets drifted away from her, straightening into longer, pointed forms.

“This duel between us is long overdue, and there has been enough talk!” Zecora closed her eyes, feeling the blood solidify in her magical grasp. Her eyes snapped open. “Have at you!”

A chorus of whistles cut through the air as she shot her crimson bolts in unison. She could feel them make contact, digging and twisting into Mahara’s flesh before dissolving back into liquid shortly after impact. The red mare’s shrill, startled cry was just icing on the cake. Fluttershy called out again, to Zecora this time, but Zecora ignored her.

“Just a taste of the agony you have caused me!” As she had predicted, Mahara erupted into a swirling, nebulous mist, and rushed toward her. Zecora reached back, pulling one of the pouches off of her harness. “I’ll make sure you suffer to the same degree!”

Holding the pouch by the string that tied it closed, she whipped her head toward Mahara as the red mare came into range, undoing the knot. The pouch opened, releasing a cloud of fine, golden dust. Mahara didn’t have enough time to change course. In the blink of an eye, the mist condensed back into a pony. Even in that split second, Zecora caught the look of shock on the red mare’s face as she became tangible. Mahara hit the car head first, loudly tumbled across the roof, and slid limply over the side, dropping into the amusement park below. Zecora leapt after her.

Splintered wood and a semi scattered crowd greeted her on the ground. Half of them were staring at her, the other half staring at the remains of a peanut stand. Zecora stood her ground, waiting patiently for Mahara to rise. She had just about propped herself up with her forehooves before a gout of crimson gushed violently from her lips. Several jagged wooden fragments projected from her stomach. Through narrowed eyes, she glared back at Zecora, wiping her lips.

“What the hell is wrong with you? I try to reason with you… I try to resolve things peacefully… and you respond with violence?” Mahara shook herself off, wooden shards falling away, her wounds closing almost immediately. “Why? I defy you to give me a good reason for this… savagery!”

“I don’t care how sorry you are for the things you’ve done. That’s no excuse; your every action has hurt someone. Even before staining my soul, you were well on your way to digging a hole.” Mahara began to shake her head, silently objecting. Zecora turned her gaze downward, focusing on the blood slowly seeping into the wood. “Feeding from fillies? Did you think that was decent? And I’m sure you recall visiting me; that was so very recent!”

“So you’re just keeping tally of my sins, then? Is that it?” The red mare took a step forward, her tendrils thrashing violently. “You think you have the right to come and collect?!”

“When you refused to help during the hydra attack, was it fear for your safety, or petty payback?” Zecora narrowed her eyes as she met Mahara’s glare, boldly taking a step closer. “Applejack and the others’ insults did scald, but were they so cruel that you wanted them mauled? Did you even care when you watched those ponies die? Go ahead; tell me you have a good reason why.” She let her gaze sweep over the crowd; the hundreds of faces looking on in morbid fascination. “And if that weren’t enough, your curse drove me to kill. My hooves, and my fangs, have caused blood to spill.”

Mahara’s lips parted, eyes wide with shock. The zebra snorted. “Oh, you may not have meant it, but the fact hasn’t changed. Your deception, your carelessness, is completely deranged. I dismiss your intentions; you’re too great a threat. My name, and your guilt, you shall never forget.”

A full minute of deafening silence followed. When Mahara finally stirred, she straightened up with her head held high, but remained completely still otherwise. Her eyes, however, began to burn; a ghostly green flame licking at the air. Zecora could feel Mahara in the back of her mind, trying to force her to lie down, to turn and leave. The zebra narrowed her eyes, clenching her jaw as she resisted. The corners of Mahara’s mouth began to tense, lips pulling tightly as she began to tremble. Her mental grasp constricted, trying to crush every defiant thought within Zecora’s mind. With a snort and a stomp, Zecora broke the tension, and the red mare recoiled, her burning stare extinguished.

“To your tricks,” Zecora coldly repeated, “I am already jaded.”

Mahara roared with fury. “If you want this life of mine so badly, come and take it from me!”

Those words had barely left Mahara’s lips when the blood soaked wood surrounding her exploded into wooden shrapnel, crimson spikes spearing her from all sides. The crowd erupted into screaming and stampeding.

Mahara gasped breathlessly, but didn’t so much as flinch. The green of her irises rusted to the color of blood. Zecora slid a hind back, widening her stance, retracting her bloody spears with intent to stab again. Her thrust met open air, as Mahara had lunged forward, fangs bared, hooves and tendrils poised to strike. The zebra leapt backwards, narrowly avoiding a ground shaking crash of hooves and writhing flesh. She rushed back in with her knife clenched between her teeth.

A blur of bright colors and shifting forms whirled behind Mahara as Zecora skirted around her, holding Mahara’s furious glare as they danced violently through the boardwalk. The zebra ducked an air splitting whip, the supports of a nearby stand reduced to little more than splinters behind her. She tried to dash forward, but was forced to sidestep another downward strike, squinting through dust disturbed by the blow. The cloud parted around an uppercut, narrowly avoided as she rolled back over her haunches. With so many tendrils thrashing and jabbing, an opening in Mahara’s defense seemed nearly impossible to find.

The zebra misstepped as she tried to control some of the spilled blood, taking a heavy blow to the face, jaws grinding as she felt her nose gush in the aftershock. On impulse, she directed the spray into a whip, stepping out of the way of an oncoming blow and cutting deep into a tendril that curled to protect Mahara’s face. Mahara backpedaled. Zecora landed several more slices before Mahara’s bloodied tendrils unfolded, pounding the ground and rocketing her forward, hind hooves first. The zebra cringed as both hooves crunched into her breast, blood whip dissolving. She sprawled back, tumbling roughly for several yards. The red mare didn’t give her the chance to recover.

Zecora’s knife found purchase in a tendril as it coiled around her foreleg, carving a long line through squirming muscle and flesh. The wound closed almost as swiftly as it was made, but for her effort, a bright spray of blood misted the air. It was hers in an instant, shaped into a spike and driven into Mahara’s side. In that same instant, the zebra was lifted into the air, brought through the side of a dart-throwing booth with a wood splintering crack. Zecora cried out, flailing, but couldn’t slip free. Her momentum shifted, smashed through the roof, swung over Mahara’s back, and slammed into another booth on the other side.

“You can’t win this fight, Zecora,” Mahara snarled through the buzz in the zebra’s ears. “Stay down!”

Even with the breath knocked out of her, and a feeling like several bones had been snapped out of place, she responded with a volley of needles formed from her own bleeding wounds. Each impact resonated in her mind’s eye, shredding Mahara’s face, throat and breast in a split-second. The tendril around the zebra’s foreleg uncoiled, followed by the sound of frantically scrambling hooves.

“Are you sure?! I disagree! Perhaps you shouldn’t underestimate me!”

She continued peppering Mahara’s retreating body with hardened crimson shards until she felt them meeting resistance other than flesh. The world was a blur as Zecora rolled back onto her trembling hooves, but she could plainly see that the boardwalk had just about become a ghost town. Only a few determined onlookers remained, watching from a distance. As she stepped out of the wreckage, she could also see that Mahara had grown wise to her trick. The red mare held a large piece of wood in her tendrils, using it like a shield. Blood slowly trickled down the front where Zecora’s projectiles had made contact. Try as Mahara might to seal her wounds, however, some of her blood had spattered the ground, leaving a crimson trail to where she now stood.

Mahara stood at a distance, the ferris wheel looming behind her, her form shifting and convulsing. Zecora used this lull in their duel to focus on all the blood she had left back at the peanut stand. A sticky red curtain welled up over the park, splitting into a storm of javelins that descended on the red mare with a high pitched whistle. Mahara launched from the spot, narrowly avoiding the skewering downpour. A low, gurgling shriek bubbled up in her throat as she advanced, distorting as it tore its way out of her. A thick, black ichor had replaced her coat. The red of her eyes cut through the night.

Zecora jumped back, twisting in the air, unleashing a razor edged spray of blood. Her attack was met with a wall of pulsing black flesh, which her blood slashed into with no effect. It didn’t even bleed. The fleshy shield parted around Mahara’s jagged fangs as she unleashed an ear splitting scream. The zebra tensed, receded again, and rolled a tide of blood toward her enemy, attempting to spear her from below like before. The crimson lances found minimal purchase, half of them shattering back into fluid.

Mahara reached out for her with dozens of longer, vein-like lengths of flesh. Zecora attempted to shake herself free of them as they ensnared her and lifted her off the ground. A sharp stabbing prickled up in her skin wherever Mahara made contact, spreading inside and out.

“No more games. You die here and now.”

It was a sensation similar to the anguish that had gripped her when Mahara had attempted to peel her apart as a mist, but instead of oppressing humidity, the sticky, black vines of flesh were cold and clammy. Zecora glared back at her, pulled the pool of blood into a long arc, and dropped it across the invading tendrils like a guillotine. The zebra fell like a stone, severed black flesh oozing harmlessly out of and off of her, with fresh, red blood trickling out behind it. She wavered for a moment, a feeling of light headedness coming over her, shaking it off just as quickly. Mahara’s dark silhouette was already pressing in on her.

Thinking fast, Zecora wrapped her forehooves in swirling cocoons of blood, rearing up and bringing them together on opposite sides of Mahara’s head. Her skull crunched under the impact, but she kept advancing, a thick, black pitch oozing from between her jaws. The indents in her head shallowed out the instant Zecora slid back, completely gone in the blink of an eye. Black lines shot out from Mahara’s back, hooking toward the zebra, spearing her from the sides. She could feel them digging around inside her, curling around her ribs and pulling them in opposite directions, while others began to squeeze her lungs. Gasping, she cocked her foreleg back, every drop of free blood coalescing into a lance on the tip of her hoof.

A wet crack split the air as she felt her ribcage start to give. Her heart struggled to throb as it was constricted. Zecora drove her hoof forward with all her might, plunging into the underside of Mahara’s breast. A crimson point burst from Mahara’s back. Her jaw hung slack, her tendrils went limp, and the red glow of her eyes faded. The lance dissolved, as did the black vines, and Zecora staggered away from her. Both mares collapsed into panting, gored heaps.

“Mahara! Zecora!” Fluttershy swooped in behind Mahara, dropping to her knees. “Oh! Oh Celestia, what have you two done?!”

“Stay out of this!” Mahara hissed between broken pants. “I’m going to settle this one way or another!”

The zebra struggled to lift her head. Color had already faded back into Mahara’s coat, and her wounds were swiftly healing, the gaping hole in her chest growing smaller by the second. The pool of blood surrounding her, however, was still massive. Zecora strained to focus, several droplets rising out of the pool before splashing down harmlessly.

“I told you not to fight her! Both of you! Are you even listening to me?!” The pegasus stomped furiously as Mahara rolled back to her hooves and snorted wetly, a small spurt of blood spraying from her nose. “Stop! Please!”

Zecora coughed as she shakily pushed herself off the ground, the world undulating and rolling under her. Mahara tried to take a step toward her, but Fluttershy intervened, head low. The red mare froze on the spot as a teal glow washed over her. Zecora staggered forward, stumbling as her right foreleg refused to move. At that moment, Fluttershy whipped her head around to lock eyes with the zebra, and just like that, everything else refused to move.

Fluttershy glared, trembling with anger, her eyes burning. “I want you both to stop fighting this instant!”

Just as the words began to sink in, she noticed Mahara edging closer. The red pony interrupted Fluttershy’s stare by pushing her out of the way. Mahara tried to keep Fluttershy back with her tendrils, but the pegasus took to the air, fluttering over the red mare and blocking her path.

“Even if you make her retreat today, Fluttershy, what will stop her from hunting us down tomorrow? I was foolish to let her live.” She leaned to the side, narrowing her eyes at Zecora. “I see now that I should have killed her long before this point. I wan— I need to kill her.”

“No! You don’t!” Fluttershy shook her head violently, tears glimmering with reflected neon as they rolled down her cheeks. “This has gone too far already!”

“I’m doing this for you!” she hissed, trying to push past the pegasus, halted by a stroke of Fluttershy’s enormous wings.

“Are you, Mahara?! Are you really?! Because this isn’t what I want!” Fluttershy glanced back at Zecora, her tears flowing freely. “Please, just go! Neither of you have to fight! You’re not murderers! And you’re not monsters, either!”

The pair of them froze, Mahara and Zecora locked in each other’s cold, bitter glares.

“I know how much this upsets you, but she and I must see it through!”

“She’s right, Fluttershy. I’ve come this far, and I’m not letting her take this from me! I’ll cut through her, and anyone else that stands in my way! It’s us or them! It always has been!”

\/ /\ /\ \/

They’re not listening to me! They’re really going to try and kill each other! I… I have to do something! The pegasus snorted as Mahara tried to step past her again, shooting her a glare. Mahara grunted, trying to go around the other way. This is insane! I hope help arrives soon. I can’t keep them from each other’s throats forever.

Fluttershy looked over her wither as she scanned her surroundings. Zecora stood but a few noses behind her, looking for an opportunity to strike as the two of them walked in a tight circle around the pegasus.

What a mess… At least Mahara seems to be recovering, but she’s in awful shape… and Zecora… She must be in so much pain… I don’t think she knows how to heal herself! Well, she’s alive at least… she would be dead right now if not for— What was that? Oh!

A pool of bright light swept down the board-walk, nearly drowning them in its glare. A dull, distant humming accompanied the sudden illumination. Looking skyward, Fluttershy spotted several airships, all of them training spotlights on her and the two mares in her immediate vicinity. She smiled in relief as a large group of figures approached them, flanked by a pair of enormous, vaguely pony-shaped stone golems. She immediately recognized them as the police.

“I’m so glad you’re here,” she called to the distant silhouettes. She took a step forward, and the ponies in uniform shuffled back while the golems crouched defensively. “S-sorry! I didn’t mean to startle any of—”

“Down on the ground!” a pony thundered through a speaker on the closest airship. “Hooves where we can see them!”

The pegasus splayed her ears, lowering her head. “Wait! I didn’t—”

With a low, stone grinding groan, the golems lumbered forward, shaking the ground with every heavy hoof-fall. Fluttershy yelped, stepping back until she nearly tripped over Mahara. They returned to a standstill when they had completely obscured the ponies behind them, like some kind of magically animated wall.

Oblivious to or ignoring her appeals, the voice from the speaker continued. “By order of Princess Celestia, you are all to submit for arrest and remain in our custody until she arrives!”

Oh, she mused as she remembered her short but already incriminating history with the Manehattan Police Department and the royal guard. I’m still a fugitive, aren’t I?

“What do you think, Zecora,” Mahara muttered. “Temporary truce? Maybe we can kill each other once we’ve ditched these clowns?”

Fluttershy quickly glanced back at the zebra, watching as she slowly lifted a sphere of blood out of the pool, causing the pool to recede drastically. “I agree to nothing, you awful beast. Any truce with you is filthy and greased.”

The pegasus whipped around to Mahara, or where Mahara had been standing. The red mare gave herself a shake, wincing in the process. “Well, I tried. Fluttershy, I really hope you’re not going to let them arrest you.”

“I… I’m going to do whatever is asked of me. I’ve seen more than enough violence! Now, will the two of you please stop?” Fluttershy spread her wings, attempting to block Mahara’s path as she advanced. “Please?!”

“I’m sorry,” Mahara whispered after several seconds. “I can’t. Not when we’re this close.”

A tremor rattled through the ground. She looked back, watching as the golems spread out again, a line of yellow police tape fluttering in the distance. Behind that, she spotted several police wagons and a crowd of onlookers being held at bay. The airships continued to circle overhead, surrounded by smaller units of gargoyles and pegasi flying in formation.

In those few moments, Mahara and Zecora had already moved away from her, standing amongst the debris on opposite sides of the boardwalk. The pegasus dried her eyes, huffing furiously as she watched the red mare and the zebra stagger toward one another.

“Please, help us,” she cried as she lifted herself into the air. “I can help you get them under control!”

After several moments of staring up at the circling airships, a single pegasus drifted into speaking range.

“The princess has ordered us to refrain from direct involvement… we’re only supposed to maintain a perimeter to keep you in and other ponies out.”

He glanced down, and she followed his lead. Far below, Zecora lay on her back, Mahara rearing up over her. A red curtain manifested over Zecora’s head, absorbing the blow. Mahara struggled to pull her hooves free as she was lifted into the air by the rapidly congealing blood. Seconds later, Zecora repeatedly slammed her back down.

“But they’re going to kill each other if I don’t stop them, and I can’t do it by myself!” She descended, pleading with her eyes as much as she pleaded with her words. “Please, believe me! I need your help!”

The winged stallion looked back to his hovering formation, brow furrowing. “I’m sorry,” he said abruptly, as he flew back to join them.

Out of the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of crimson. Zecora had slashed right through Mahara’s throat, and the red mare stumbled, gasping. Her tendrils feebly reached for the zebra, only to be cut clean through with a lash of blood. They fell to the ground, twitching, and Mahara collapsed. Her eyes rolled up at Fluttershy, mouthing wordlessly as Zecora stood over her.

“Yes,” the zebra purred, looking up at the hovering pegasus, “you can feel the time is nigh. Prepare yourself and say goodbye.”

Fluttershy uttered a dry squeak before folding her wings against her body, letting herself drop like a stone. She had nearly skimmed the ground before she spread her wings again, shooting out of her dive and colliding with Zecora. Fluttershy tumbled away from the downed red mare with her, a sharp pain shooting through her right wing as she rolled onto her stomach. Zecora glared at her as the shock wore off, slowly rising back to her hooves.

“You will let me accomplish what I came here to do, because if you don’t,” the zebra spat, her saliva tainted pink, “I will then deal with you. If I kill her, things will return to the way they were. Is leaving Equestria really what you prefer?”

“I… I don’t know…” The pegasus followed Zecora as she slowly limped back toward Mahara, visibly trembling with the effort, as if a strong breeze might knock her over. “I just don’t want anypony to die! Please, listen to me!”

“If I do not finish this now, further harm do I allow. She’s a dangerous pony, you know it to be true. Though it may hurt to admit, this is what I must do.”

Fluttershy hesitated and, though she hated herself for it, found herself weighing the decision in her mind.

It would be so easy… to just stand here… let it happen…

She shook her head and galloped past the zebra, dropping to her knees at Mahara’s side. The red mare looked deep into her eyes and smiled, letting her eyelids descend. Fluttershy spared a quick glance toward the ocean as the distant horn of a boat rang through the night sky.

“Do you still think…” Mahara whispered, “that I deserve to be punished?”

“What do you mean?”

“When you were staring down the hydra… I know some of that fury was meant for me, and I know that you deserve better.” Mahara opened her eyes slowly, a few tears rolling down her cheeks. “I’m sorry that I couldn’t be better.”

“You were yourself.” Fluttershy smiled, leaning in to kiss Mahara’s bloodied lips. “That’s all I ever wanted from you.”

“Mahara, this evening, you fought well,” Zecora’s shadow spilled over Fluttershy’s shoulder. The pegasus rose slowly. “But I’m not sorry to say that this is farewell.”

“No.” The pegasus looked back at Zecora, striking the ground with her forehoof.

Zecora cocked a brow, lips pursed. “What?”

“I said no!”

Immediately after the initial stomp, she tucked in a hind leg and bucked Zecora in the breast, hard enough to knock the wind and the last trace of stability out of her. As the zebra dropped to the ground, a pained, half-formed gasp escaped her throat. Her hooves weakly scratched at the ground, searching for purchase. Slowly, painstakingly, she lifted herself again, just having risen when Fluttershy knocked a hoof from under her. The zebra tumbled back onto her side.

“No… I cannot… yield… just yet,” Zecora rasped, a thick strand of bloody saliva rolling from her lips. “This act… I promise… you will… regret...”

Fluttershy stepped over her, placing a forehoof firmly on Zecora’s side to hold her down, the other hoof cocked and hovering over her battered face. Zecora trembled, staring back with eyes that brimmed with fear.

“Yes…” Mahara gurgled, “We’re almost there, Fluttershy…” Zecora squeezed her eyes shut, her slashed brow twitching as she gritted her teeth. “There’s no turning back now…”

Fluttershy closed her eyes, and brought her hoof down.

“I’m sorry,” she murmured a moment later, looking away from the startled zebra and down at the ground. As the moment passed, she took a deep breath, her expression hardening again. “You’re right, Zecora, things have gotten extremely out of hoof, but murder is not the appropriate solution. I’m not letting anypony kill anypony tonight. Princess Celestia is coming? Good.”

Mahara’s eyes widened, but Fluttershy simply flopped onto her haunches, brow furrowed as she looked over them both. “Mahara, I’m sorry, but you and I aren’t getting on any boats. We’re all going to sit right here until they arrive, and that’s all there is to say on the matter.”

\/ /\ /\ \/

Twilight Sparkle had read the reports and seen the nervous and tense expressions that Luna and Celestia shared, but arriving to find Fluttershy, Mahara, and Zecora all patiently waiting for pickup took them all completely by surprise. The pegasus offered Twilight a timid smile as she climbed into the chariot, but it quickly faded when the gesture was not returned. Zecora and Mahara avoided eye contact with just about everypony as they were helped into the chariot as well, apparently too weak and too injured to move much on their own. Despite their apparent passivity, all three of them were put in chains before being seated at the rear of the chariot.

Any joy Twilight may have felt at being reunited with her friends was overshadowed by her frustration with the friends in question and the anxiety that preceded the judgment to come. Luna and Celestia had done a great deal of discussing in private, so as not to cause Twilight any further distress, but the fact that Celestia deemed discretion a necessity was cause enough for alarm. The oppressive silence that hung over them on the ride back to the castle only made matters worse, giving her ample time to reflect on what she knew.

Fluttershy sat between Mahara and Zecora, looking off into the night sky. Her reluctance to look at either of them gave Twilight the impression of disapproval. Whenever Mahara moved, the motion was stiff, and the mare would grunt in discomfort. Despite the blood caking her body, however, she didn’t appear to have a single open wound on her body. Zecora, on the other hoof, was wrapped in bandages, which concealed the deep gashes that covered her from nose to tail. At just a glance, before her wounds had been dressed, Twilight had seen an uncomfortable amount of Zecora’s insides.

At the very least, in Mahara and Fluttershy’s case, death isn’t on the table. That’s… That’s good, I guess, but if they’re banished? Or imprisoned? And what about Zecora? Has she changed her mind? Does she still want Celestia to execute her? I mean, it looks like she and Mahara roughed each other up pretty bad… Maybe she got it all out of her system? It’s one thing to be banished, or imprisoned, but… She shook the thought out of her mind, resolving to discuss it with Zecora later.

In an attempt to distract herself, she looked over the other occupants of the chariot. Celestia and Luna sat in front, occasionally glancing back at them, making fleeting moments of eye contact with her. Both princesses would offer brief, compassionate smiles, silently trying to reassure her. Beyond them, a mixed team of pegasi pulled the chariot, the biggest and strongest of both Luna and Celestia’s personal guards. Accompanying them, flying alongside, were at least two dozen more pegasi, all of them keeping watch over the more volatile passengers in their company.

Even with fear in her heart, there was no escaping the exhaustion slowly drowning her in lethargy. Following Fluttershy’s example, she tilted her head back and basked in the glittering mosaic of the night sky. Everything melted into a glimmering swirl of lights, spread across black velvet. The unicorn didn’t realize she had completely lost track of time until she felt a gentle nudge. Her blinking, haze clouded eyes focused on Princess Celestia’s warm smile.

“Is this a dream,” she whispered, “or another nightmare?”

The sun princess stifled a giggle, shaking her head. “If you’d like to discuss philosophy, I’m afraid I’ll have to ask you to step out of the chariot first.”

Behind Celestia, the main spire of the royal castle dominated Twilight’s view. Fluttershy, Mahara, and Zecora were already crossing the threshold into Celestia’s domain, led and surrounded by a full spectrum of cautious royal guards. Luna stood at the door, waiting patiently for her sister.

“I must have fallen asleep…”

“These last few days have been hard for you, Twilight. They’ve been hard on all of us... But, we’re nearing the end of our trial, and soon we will all sleep much easier.”

Twilight nodded, lifting herself onto her hooves and following Celestia out of the chariot and into the castle. The hall was lined with guards at attention. Some of the tension left them as Celestia smiled and nodded. A delighted, high pitched squeal caught everypony’s attention as she continued to follow the princesses. The source was Pinkie Pie, her forelegs wrapped around all three of the ponies in chains, squeezing them all together, much to their apparent disdain. Rarity and Trixie looked on with mild amusement, offering smiles and nods instead. Both unicorns and the earth pony turned their attention to Twilight next, and their smiles faded slightly. A twinge of guilt stung her in the chest.

For some reason, she had expected their destination to be the throne room. Instead, she found herself in Celestia’s personal study, along with everyone else involved. With nine ponies standing around, not counting a few guards and castle staff, the situation could easily be described as crowded. Over Pinkie’s curly mane, she spotted a parchment-cluttered desk situated before an enormous window, overlooking the glowing silhouette of the city below. Half of them stood on a rug in the center of the room, set before a fireplace. Celestia spoke briefly with a maid, and several cushions were brought into the room moments later, along with a trio of bowls filled with blood.

Celestia approached a rather worn looking pillow resting in front of the fireplace, then turned to address her guests. “I kindly ask that you all be seated.” Once everypony had settled, and the bowls had been delivered to Fluttershy, Mahara, and Zecora, Celestia seated herself. “Thank you. A lot has happened in the past week. All of you have seen more than your fair share of bloodshed, and experienced burdens that would destroy most ponies, but here you all are, alive and well. That alone is worth my respect. Now, there is a great deal to discuss, as I’m sure there is a great deal of confusion to be relieved and questions to be answered.

“So, let me start by saying that it is not my intention to punish any of you—”

“Wahoo!” Pinkie shouted as she jumped up from her cushion. Rarity and Mahara, seated on either side of Pinkie, recoiled from the outburst, and Luna, seated beside her sister, blinked several times. Celestia visibly tried not to laugh.

“Yes, I also feel that is cause for celebration, but please refrain for the time being.” Pinkie nodded and clasped her hooves to her mouth as she plopped back down, grinning from ear to ear. Still smiling, Celestia continued. “It is not my intention to punish any of you,” she turned toward Mahara, Fluttershy, and Zecora, “and your chains will be removed so long as you promise to behave with civility. My apologies, but I felt they were a necessary precaution given the police report.”

Celestia’s gaze swept back over the gathering, Twilight following. Mahara calmly leaned forward to sip from her bowl. Zecora narrowed her eyes as she watched the red mare drink. The others gave Celestia their undivided attention.

“That said, I feel that certain arrangements are to be made for everyone’s mutual benefit. I would prefer to discuss those in the morning, after we’ve cleared the air and everyone is well rested, but again, I assure you nopony is to be banished or otherwise exiled—”

And Zecora? Twilight only realized that she had voiced her thought as everypony turned toward her. “Sorry…”

“No, it’s quite alright…” Celestia looked to Zecora, her brow slowly descending. “I’ll be honest with you; your request still troubles me a great deal. Have you given it any more consideration?”

Zecora remained silent, looking down at the bowl at her hooves.

“Zecora,” Twilight called. The zebra remained still. Twilight felt a sudden rush of irritation. “Zecora.”

“I do not wish to speak right now,” she mumbled. “Though you do, I can’t see how.”

“How? Zecora, I’ve been avoiding this for too long, and I apologize for that, but I can’t let you just forfeit your life.”

Zecora craned her neck, looking up at Twilight from under a furrowed brow. “It is not your choice to make... this is the only way to quell my ache.”

“But no one blames you for what happened! Celestia has officially pardoned you!” She glanced back at the sun princess, receiving a single, slow nod.

“If it happened to you, you would understand.” The zebra closed her eyes, forehooves starting to tremble. “The memory is more than I can stand…”

The unicorn crossed the circle and extended a hoof, resting it on Zecora’s. The zebra slowly lifted her head to meet Twilight’s gaze. “So we’ll help you through it, Zecora… Nopony wants you to die; you don’t need to do this… I don’t want you to do this…”

“I’m sure you recall Applebloom’s visit the other day. She had very similar things to say…” Zecora’s voice wavered as she choked up. “But how can I go on living if my own conscience is so unforgiving?”

“Once upon a time…” Twilight’s reply died on her lips as she, along with the others, directed their attention to Mahara. The red mare ignored all of them, staring down at the floor. “I realized that what I had become a part of was wrong. I wanted to see if I could help make it right, so I left Luna and the royal palace without telling anyone where I was going, intent on seeking out Celestia. It wasn’t very difficult. I just allowed myself to be captured once I was behind enemy lines, and I let them know that I wanted an audience with her. Soon enough, I was sitting in the quaint little town of Canterlot, explaining myself and expressing my optimism. I had hope for the future, for a peaceful resolution, and so did she.

“Though ponies were reluctant, they were willing to donate blood for me, but… Celestia and I both agreed that keeping me close to starved of fresh blood might yield some kind of breakthrough. We had no idea of the repercussions we would face… After a few days with minimal feeding, I began to slip. I would catch myself bearing my fangs at passersby, leaning in to try and take a bite. Celestia noticed the changes in my behavior and asked if I would like to stop, but I allowed the experimenting to continue, against my better judgment. One morning, we received word that Luna and her forces were on the move, massing for an assault.

“The self-imposed blood deprivation, resisting the urge to flee from Celestia, and the thought that Luna might launch an attack before we had found a cure finally became too much… I was right in the middle of a library when it happened, surrounded by scholars busy with their research. Only some of them heeded my warnings, confused by what I was able to spit out, but by the time one of them offered his neck to me…”

Mahara exhaled slowly. “The very worst part is that you’re fully aware of what you’re doing when you lose control, but you’re powerless to stop it. At the most, you can plead for someone to stop you, but what good are words when your body refuses to cooperate?” She lifted her head, staring across the room at Celestia. “She was the one who had to kill me, because she was the only one who could restrain me long enough to deal a killing blow. And the truth is, when all is said and done, I don’t blame her. I would have done the same thing. We had run out of time, and that was the only choice she had left.”

“I never wanted to kill you, Mahara.” Twilight turned toward the princess, noting the tears slowly dampening her coat. “That was the very last thing on my mind that day, and I wish that I had known then what I know now, so that it might have happened differently. I intended to seal you in your diary as a temporary measure, until a more contained environment could be prepared, but… I thought the spell had simply failed when you remained, still maddened with blood lust… I panicked…” Celestia shut her eyes, shaking her head. “Mahara, I had no way of knowing you were bound to this world in spirit. Your imprisonment for all those years was anything but intentional. I’m sorry; deeply and truly sorry. I know that doesn’t seem like much, but I mean it from the bottom of my heart.”

The silence stretched on for minutes, the monster and the princess looking deep into one another’s eyes.

Finally, a fragile smile spread across Mahara’s lips. “Thank you…” she whispered.

Another stretch of silence filled the gap in their discussion, until Rarity cleared her throat. Immediately, all eyes were on the fashionista. “While that is all very tragic, and I’m quite happy to hear that you and Celestia have made amends, I fail to see what that has to do with Zecora and her desire to be put to death.” Fluttershy’s mouth hung agape, Mahara cocked a brow, and Trixie began to snicker, with Pinkie following her example. Celestia took a breath to speak, but Rarity cut her off. “Are we just taking turns voicing our problems? Or are you insinuating that you know her pain; that the two of you are similar through grief?”

Mahara glanced away for a moment, ears folded back. “Yes, that’s essentially what I’m trying to say.” She turned toward the zebra, leaning forward slightly. “Zecora, not a moment goes by when I don’t think of the mistakes I’ve made, and the lives I’ve unwillingly ended, but you can’t allow your pride to dictate such a serious decision. This is not a matter of honor. If you still need someone to blame for what happened, I’ll accept the harness of your guilt. I won’t fault you for that, because I’m the one who did this to you.”

Twilight nodded. “Please, don’t force Celestia to take your life; if not for your sake, than at least for hers. She is the one who has had to live with what was done for all this time. There’s no reason for you to add any more memories of bloodshed to those already haunting her.”

Zecora took a deep breath, closing her eyes again. “If you all feel so strongly that I should live, then my agreement I shall give…” She looked to Mahara next. “But I don’t see the point of what you’re trying to do, because you already know how much I blame you. I fear you misunderstand: we’re not the same; for the lives that were lost, you were always to blame. And while I understand that you’ve carried this awful memory, I can never forgive you for forcing the same experience on to me! Never once have I doubted that this is your fault! Your carelessness was the cause of my mindless assault!”

Mahara remained silent.

Celestia raised a hoof. “If we could—”

Pinkie scooted forward and cut her off again. “Wait, how come you didn’t drink my blood like I offered? That would have saved those two guards, right?! I mean, really, I kinda figured that was what Mahara meant when she told me to stay at the cottage and act like a distraction!”

“You did what?!” exclaimed Twilight, Rarity and Fluttershy in unison. Mahara cleared her throat quietly.

“I had just told Mahara I was a walking blood bank, and there Zecora was, all sharp-fanged and glowy eye’d! It’s totally okay, though! I knew it was dangerous and she did tell me to get outta there if things got crazy, but—”

“Mahara, you just left Pinkie Pie there?! After explaining how… how difficult it is to control yourself the first time you feed?!” Fluttershy thumped the floor with a hoof between her exclamations. “I was barely able to stop drinking from Rarity with you standing watch! What if something had happened to Pinkie?!”

The red mare splayed her ears. “I needed to get you to safety, and, you know, Zecora wasn’t exactly there to chat...”

“And that involved putting Pinkie in danger?! That is not—” Fluttershy huffed, leaning over Mahara as Mahara tried to shrink away. “How could you even begin to think I would be okay with that?!”

“I did not accept your offer, Pinkie Pie,” attention shifted back to Zecora as she began to speak, “because, I feared the results it might imply… I wish had known what lie ahead, but at the time, my thoughts were clouded with dread. I did not understand the urges I felt, and disaster is what my ignorance dealt.” Zecora shook her head, locking eyes with Pinkie. “And would you have had me risk such a toll, the chance that I might claim your soul?”

“I would have been willing to try, Zecora. If it had come to that,” Pinkie leaned forward, tapping her left forehoof once, and her right twice, “one life is still less than two.”

A murmur of dissent began to buzz about the room as everyone looked at Pinkie, the general consensus being somewhere between shock and horror at her suggestion.

“Your life is worth no less than those I ended. Pinkie, sacrifice is never what I intended.”

Celestia nodded as she sat up straight. “I would have preferred nopony died that day, Pinkie Pie. What has come to pass is tragic, but had you sacrificed yourself, we would not mourn your loss any less than we mourn theirs. This entire affair is the result of similarly poor judgment, but also misunderstanding and assumptions based around misinformation on everyone’s part, including my own.

“So, unless anypony objects, I’d like to focus for a moment on running…” Celestia took a deep, slow breath. “Running has been the very foundation of our turmoil. We have either run from confrontation, run toward confrontation, or attempted to keep a party running in the wrong direction to avoid confrontation. In all cases, the result has simply prolonged our conflict. However, I haven’t brought you all together to point hooves. Instead, I feel it would be best to discuss why we have behaved as we did. Zecora, I know you’ve already been the center of a troubling discussion, but I would like to ask you, personally; why did you flee from Canterlot the previous evening?”

The zebra inhaled slowly, closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. “When all this began, I knew little of the curse. I thought the taint would make one’s intentions worse. But I quickly learned how little I had changed, how greatly reality and fiction are estranged. At the cottage, and in town, I admit to acting rash. What I learned through legend is what led me to clash…”

Zecora slowly looked around the room, briefly meeting Twilight’s gaze. “But through her eyes and her actions, Mahara’s picture was painted, and from a distance, reluctantly, I became acquainted. The picture I saw was one that left me concerned. For all her wrongs and remorse, so little has she learned.” She glared at the red mare, pointing her hoof. “This blatant stupidity is now the source of my scorn. Why let her roam free if she’ll cause others to mourn? When I departed that evening, fear of the curse was not my motivation. It was concern that others might perish from her irresponsible predation. She acts without thinking to see her needs fulfilled, and that is precisely what can get ponies killed.”

“Mahara has made a lot of bad decisions, but she is not a murderer.” Fluttershy snorted softly, putting her hoof on Zecora’s and slowly lowering it. “Yes, she does things without really thinking them through, but I’ve been trying to work on that with her.”

“You may have tried to instill responsibility, but acting with foresight seems beyond her ability. Just how quickly does she put diplomacy aside? What would she do if she had nowhere to hide? Or if the ones she stared down could resist her trance, how swiftly would she adopt a fighting stance? During our duel, do you recall what she said? Anyone that stood in her way would wind up dead.”

“You’re wrong, Zecora.” Fluttershy rested a hoof on Mahara’s back. “She would never kill another pony, right?” Twilight felt a knot in her stomach as the red mare remained silent, her green eyes turned toward the floor. “…Mahara?”

Mahara looked up and cast a distant glance out the window. “I have been wrongly… unintentionally imprisoned for roughly one thousand years. You all may take your freedom for granted, being able to do whatever you like, whenever you like… But for me, freedom is everything… it’s worth any cost, no matter how great… I tried to reason with Zecora, and she refused to back down. I wouldn’t have hesitated. And if the police, or anyone else had stepped in, and I couldn’t escape from them or persuade them without use of force…”

“How can you say that?” the pegasus whispered, drawing back her hoof.

“How can you be so willing to forfeit your freedom? We were so close…” The red mare returned her focus to Fluttershy. “I highly doubt that Celestia is going to allow us to go wherever we please after all of this. I’m glad that I was finally able to talk to her, but…”

The sun princess frowned, sadness in her eyes. “Mahara, you could have spoken with me at any time. You could have had Twilight send me a letter requesting an audience on the very day you were released, and I would have met with you without hesitation.” Celestia lowered her head slightly, adopting a softer tone of voice. “I understand that you were confused, and afraid, and likely very bitter about what had happened, but you made little to no effort to contact me. Speaking through others is hardly the same as speaking face to face. I wish that you hadn’t run, because Zecora is right; you’ve left quite a trail of harm in your wake, and your aversion of me does not give you the right to inconvenience others. I’m sorry to say that your persecution has been the direct result of your actions.”

“Not to say that you didn’t make an effort, dear.” Rarity spread her forehooves, propping up her head with her knees as she sprawled over her cushion. “Trixie and I certainly appreciate that you enlisted our help by getting our consent, but I fear that by that time, it was too little, too late. You started by stealing blood from fillies, for goodness sake. I hardly blame Zecora for assuming you were some sort of manifest evil, especially after feeding from her in her own home. And I haven’t even scratched the surface regarding all the trouble you’ve caused the Apple family, directly or indirectly. Your problem has always been assuming the worst in everypony, and I think that gives you a sense of entitlement. That you’re above rules, or listening to others.”

Mahara snorted, narrowing her eyes. Rarity tilted her head to one side, rolling her forehoof. “I dare say you’re something of a bad influence. I assaulted police officers and avoided incarceration because of my involvement with you. And let’s not forget about your little performance in the restaurant.”

Pinkie began to wave her forehooves, crossing them over one another. “Now hold on everypony, Celestia said not to point hooves! So Mahara is a little crazy because she’s been cooped up in a book for a really long time. That doesn’t make her bad, right?”

“You… you wanted me to kill Zecora. You wanted me to finish her for you, since you couldn’t finish her yourself…” Fluttershy shuddered, staring down at the floor. “And I actually considered it…”

Mahara’s eyes widened slightly. “She could follow us wherever we went by seeing and hearing through my eyes and ears. She was the only thing between us and freedom. I wanted us to have a fresh start, free of worries… Isn’t that what you wanted?”

“It was… I did… But running away from our problems was never the right answer, and even if I didn’t want to admit it, I knew it was the truth… You should have tried to talk to Celestia from the very start. I should have tried harder to convince you to talk to her, or tried to contact Celestia for you.” Fluttershy sighed, shaking her head. “I’m sorry for dragging this on for so long… for dragging everypony into this…”

Celestia offered a gentle smile as she spoke. “Pinkie Pie and Rarity helped you because they love and care about you. That hardly needs explanation. Is that the same reason that you helped Mahara for as long as you did?”

“Yes… No… I… I love her… I did love her… I’m just so confused now…” The pegasus turned toward the red mare, tears slowly gathering in the corners of her eyes. “I wanted you to be happy and to be happy with you, because I know how much you care about me, but… You’ve done awful things to my friends… Things that I overlooked because I was caught up in the moment… I don’t know what I want anymore!”

\/ /\ /\ \/

Poor Princess; this isn’t going like I think she thought it would. It’s been nothing but hoof pointing from word one! But this is all stuff that has to be said at one point or another I guess, so better late than never! Pinkie Pie’s gaze traced the silken curtain of Fluttershy’s mane as she wept quietly. It took every ounce of her restraint to keep herself from darting across the circle and throwing her forelegs around the pegasus. I wanna tell her so bad… I wish I had figured this feeling out months and months ago… But how long have I been in love with Fluttershy? Was I in love with her months and months ago, or did it only really start when I realized she and Mahara were a couple? Guh, this romance stuff is soooo confusing!

The corners of Celestia’s lips had long since been weighted into a frown. After a few minutes of uncomfortable silence, she rose from her seat with a sigh and looked around the room. “Perhaps discussing the recent turn of events so soon was in poor taste… Unless any of you object, I think that will be all for this evening. Your rooms have already been arranged, and though I am not instituting any sort of curfew, I do suggest you all get a good night’s rest. There is a great deal to discuss in the morning regarding what lies ahead.”

A single silver key drifted up from Celestia’s desk and glided through the air, guided by the sun princess. Pinkie watched as Fluttershy’s shackles were unfastened without hesitation, but the key hovered for a moment between Mahara and Zecora.

“I remind you both that you are guests in my home. I’m willing to forgive your past aggressions, but any sort of violence from either of you will be met with swift and stern discipline.” The white alicorn approached them, a dreadful seriousness about her. “Am I understood?”

Mahara arched a brow. “I have no intention of attacking Zecora. She’s the one who keeps instigating fights.”

“I promise not to harm a hair on her head.” Zecora turned her glaring eyes away from Mahara, her expression softening. “Would you be so kind as to show me to bed?”

Celestia smiled, unlocking the remaining shackles and waiting patiently for both Zecora and Twilight to join her. Her star pupil hesitated, glancing to Fluttershy and back again. Celestia gave a single nod, turned, and lead Zecora out of the room. After a few moments, it became apparent that Twilight had decided to stay.

In the wake of the sun princess, attention shifted back to Mahara and Fluttershy. They exchanged glances, both mares making an effort to speak and failing. Just when it appeared that Mahara was about to speak, she glanced up, and immediately began to bristle. Pinkie nearly jumped when she realized that Princess Luna had silently come up behind the red mare. The moon princess stared back at Mahara with a look that was difficult for Pinkie to place; her stance, and the near splay of her ears suggested that she was passive.

“Mahara,” Luna began, displaying the slightest flinch as the red mare jumped to her hooves.

Mahara nearly growled, bearing her fangs. “You and I have nothing to discuss!”

“Please…” she begged, attempting to take a step closer. “At least allow me to—”

Luna received a face full of tail as Mahara whipped around, making her way to the door without so much as a second glance. A guard by the door looked up at the incoming pony with increasingly wide eyes and the beginning of a nervous shiver.

“I’m done here,” she hissed. “I’d like to be shown to my room.”

Pinkie felt some of the tension leave with Mahara. Luna looked around the room for several moments, like a filly with stage fright. She silently departed shortly after that, hanging her head. With only the four of them left, not counting a few guards idling near the door, everypony gradually began to convene on the pegasus. Everypony but the unicorn she had come to know as the Great and Powerful Trixie, who had fallen asleep on her cushion. Pinkie took slow, cautious steps toward Fluttershy, effectively keeping the urge to rush up to her and hug her in check. She thought back to her group hug when they had arrived, and how uncomfortable Fluttershy had looked.

The last thing I wanna do is make her more upset… Rarity and Twilight inched closer, and Pinkie followed their lead. Just be gentle, Pinkie. Stay calm and listen. That’s what she needs right now. Hey there… The pegasus looked up at her with big, sad eyes. For a girl that just came back from a vacation in Manehattan, you don’t look too relaxed.

Fluttershy returned Pinkie’s gentle smile, closing her eyes and shaking her head. “No… I… I guess I don’t, huh?” She looked around as she opened her eyes, her smile fading. “I got so caught up in it, and then I kept going, thinking maybe things would get better… I didn’t mean to… I’m sorry that I worried everypony so much…”

“You followed your heart, Fluttershy. None of us can blame you for that.” Twilight briefly rested a hoof on Fluttershy’s shoulder. “And when the time came to make a decision, I’m sure we all agree that you made the right one.” Pinkie nodded as the pegasus met her gaze, Rarity doing the same in turn.

“But… I stopped to consider… I weighed the possibilities…” She shut her eyes again, wincing. “I contemplated murder!”

Rarity took a slow breath. “In the heat of the moment, dear, we think about doing things we might never consider under normal circumstances. I’m certainly guilty of acting rashly in recent times due to the unusual conditions we’ve been faced with. The important thing is that you choose not to act on those thoughts, and instead sought out a more appropriate solution.”

“But what about what I did before that? All those ponies I stole blood from… And I liked doing it…”

“I suppose that wasn’t the best decision you could have made, but you saw to it that nopony was harmed by your actions. That says quite a lot.” Rarity pressed closer, forehooves on the sides of Fluttershy’s neck. The pegasus looked up at her from under a worried brow. “You needn’t be so hard on yourself. All things considered, the outcome could have been much, much worse.”

Is it hug time now? Yes! Yes it is! Pinkie Pie pushed in between Twilight and Rarity, squeezing Fluttershy tightly. A timid smile returned to the pegasus’s lips. We still love you, no matter what happened. We’re all just glad to have you back! I mean, if you had jumped on a boat and sailed halfway around the world?! Sheesh, we would have been a mess missing you! What happened to staying calm?! You’re screwing this up! Wait, sorry, that wasn’t a guilt trip about your boat trip! Really, it wasn’t!

The soft sound of Fluttershy’s laughter filled her with nostalgia, as though it were a song she had long forgotten. “I know… It’s okay, Pinkie.”

The pink mare heaved a happy sigh and nuzzled in close, forgetting about the rest of the world, if only for a moment. Pinkie opened her eyes as she felt Fluttershy shift between her forelegs.

“I think I should go check on Mahara… If that’s okay with all of you, that is.” She slipped out of Pinkie’s embrace, her smile much more genuine as she received nods in agreement. “Thank you, though. All of you. I feel much better now.”

Pinkie bobbed on her hooves as she watched Fluttershy leave, biting her lower lip. Should I go with her, maybe? Maybe not? Probably not… Oh well… If you love her, Pinkie Pie, let her go… Hmm? Did I say that out loud?! Oh, no, it was nothing! Nothing important! Soooo anyway, Twilight, you’re not mad at us, right?

Twilight cocked a brow, grinning. “I’m not mad with any of you, no. I was upset earlier, but that was mostly because I realized that Celestia and I had been deceived. Everything more or less worked out, though, so there’s not a whole lot to be mad about.” She settled her haunches onto a cushion, looking between the three of them. “I can almost write this whole thing off as a big prank… almost…”

The scholarly unicorn turned toward Pinkie as she barely managed to stifle a snicker. “Well it was kinda funny… Watching everypony wander around the Everfree forest while I knew that Fluttershy and Rarity were safe and sound and cozy in Manehattan.” Rarity cleared her throat and dragged a forehoof across it, nodding toward Twilight. “But I didn’t mean to upset anyone! I was just trying to help Fluttershy! I guess our helping ended up being kinda dumb in the long run, though. Sorry about that.”

“As am I, Twilight,” Rarity added. “It was just so sudden, and we weren’t sure what was right or wrong.”

“Girls, it’s okay. Like Celestia said, you didn’t do this out of spite. You were doing this for Fluttershy.”

Rarity leaned forward, her voice low. “You don’t know what Celestia has planned for tomorrow’s discussion by any chance, do you?”

“I’m afraid not. I know that it’s not something you need to worry about, though. She promised me that there wouldn’t be any disciplinary action for any of them, or any of you, since you were doing this to protect a friend.”

Trixie sputtered, one eye snapping open and centering on Twilight. “What’d I miss?”

“Although,” Twilight mused, “I’m not totally clear on how she got involved in this.”

The show-pony put on her sleaziest smile, waving a forehoof. “Well, they stole a bunch of food and booze for Trixie, and then Fluttershy let her stay in one of the nicest penthouses she has ever seen. Not to say that the Great and Powerful Trixie hasn’t been inside plenty of fine penthouse suites! The Great and Power—”

“She played blood donor for Mahara and freeloaded in Sapphire Shores’ Manehattan home, mostly.” Rarity shot Trixie a grin as Trixie began to scowl. “Although, for a pony full of hot air, I suppose she makes good company.”

Twilight tilted her head. “Didn’t she ruin your mane, though?”

Rarity snorted over Trixie’s single ha. “Didn’t you humiliate her so much that she fled town?”

Trixie’s scowl returned, much more intense than before. Pinkie flopped down on a cushion as she wished for popcorn.

The fashionista grinned and waved a hoof dismissively. “But that about sums it up. You might argue that she’s simply a victim of circumstance.”

Snickering, Twilight nodded. “Sure, that works for me.” She looked to the door, a bit of her cheer fading. “I hate to step out so soon after seeing you all together again but I think I should go see how Zecora is doing. Try not to stay up too late, okay?”

Well, okay, Twilight! I’ll see you in the morning I guess! Goodnight! So what are we gonna do now? Got any ideas what we’re gonna talk about in the morning? I think— Hold on a second, is that… A familiar looking winged stallion with a bowl full of popcorn on his back passed by the door, then immediately backpedaled, locking eyes with Pinkie. As he began to grin, so did she.

“There’s your coltfriend,” Trixie teased.

Pinkie’s cheeks burned slightly. “He’s not my coltfriend...”

“Pitty, that,” Rarity added. “He really seems taken by you. Oh well. Love is blind, I suppose.”

Drifting Cirrus casually trotted across the room, nodding to Rarity and Trixie before unceremoniously dropping onto his haunches over a cushion. His armor clattered quietly. He was much more delicate with the bowl.

“I was wondering where you girls got moved to! Can’t even get a bite to eat around here without something important happening. The big C went easy on you, right?”

Pinkie giggled, propping herself up on her forehooves. “Mmhmm! Everything is a-okay. I guess we’re winding down for the night, or something.”

Cirrus nodded, chewing a mouthful of popcorn. “That’s cool,” he mumbled, swallowing before speaking again. “Are you doing alright?”

Pinkie nodded, rolling onto her back. “Yeaaaah, I guess. I wanted to tell Fluttershy what we talked about yesterday, but… Now probably isn’t the best time.”

“Probably not… But there’s always tomorrow, right?” He slid the bowl toward her, tipping it up so that she could scoop some into her mouth with her tongue.

I hope so…

\/ /\ /\ \/

Princess Celestia’s definition of morning was, as far as Rarity was concerned, in serious need of revision. The sun was little more than a sliver of orange light in the window when Celestia and Twilight gently roused her from her sleep. One shower, tooth and hair brushing later, she found herself seated in Celestia’s study once more. This time, they were arranged more like an audience, with the princesses seated before them, regarding them all with calm, regal gazes. Rarity covered her mouth as she yawned softly. Trixie leaned against her and began to snore. Mahara and Zecora exchanged glares.

“If everyone is settled, I think it’s time we begin. First and foremost, all charges of assault, theft, non-consensual blood transfusion, attempted murder, actual murder, identity fraud, and any other legal infractions that I am unable to recall at present that are related to this incident have been dropped. I very politely ask that you do not make me regret that, because bending the law is not something I enjoy doing. In addition to that, while altering weather patterns is not illegal, please refrain from generating cloud cover or rain storms. It causes a number of complications regarding the weather schedule.”

A murmur of confusion built up around Rarity. The unicorn raised her hoof. “I beg your pardon?”

“That was addressed to me, I think.” Mahara tilted her head to one side, then the other as she spoke, stretching her forelegs. “Weather manipulation is another trick I never got around to teaching you, Fluttershy. Little things like condensing moisture in the air, adjusting cloud density, or making it rain. Very useful on bright, sunny days. It burns through a lot of blood, though, since doing it involves focusing raw magic, and you and I aren’t unicorns.”

Rarity arched a brow. “Well, Princess Luna, you certainly made your creations versatile. Why give them so much power?”

“I wanted to change the world,” Luna replied, calmly and confidently, “and only a fool would think that such a change could be made alone. I wanted them to be more than capable of caring for our new world, so I created a pony that could accomplish any task, no matter how great. A pony more durable and more powerful than any pre-existing breed of equine.”

“But at the cost of needing to drink blood?” Fluttershy looked down at the floor immediately after voicing her question.

“In a world of darkness, plants cannot be grown, and while it was never my intention to bathe the world in eternal night, I knew that sustained darkness would result in famine. I was prepared to cause such a famine if it meant achieving victory. For my forces to survive, an alternate form of sustenance would be necessary. Blood is a powerful substance. It is the manifestation of our very life force. I knew right away that it would be more than adequate to sustain my... creations.”

Luna’s gaze slowly swept over the room, pausing on Mahara. The red mare looked away. “I had never intended to undo the changes, however, which is why the three of you remain in your altered form. The conversion itself is not an instantaneous one. The magic saturates its host completely, becoming ingrained with their very essence. For that reason, one cannot simply remedy it as they would an illness. A soul can be bound to another vessel, and it can be broken into smaller parts, but how does one divide something specific out of a soul without destroying that soul in the process? Even to those well versed in science and magic, the full nature of the soul remains a mystery. In time, perhaps we may discover something that will yield answers, but until then, I’m afraid that there is no solution.”

“Which brings us to my next point.” Rarity shifted her attention back to Celestia. “There is no immediate cure for the condition, which, unfortunately, makes the three of you something of a liability. The simple fact is, under certain circumstances, the curse can render you quite violent. There is an existing supply of blood for medical purposes, and there are ponies who might donate willingly, yes, but in the event of a shortage? What if you cannot find anypony to feed from?” The sun princess frowned, her gaze faltering slightly. “If you should somehow, for whatever reason, find yourself without a source of blood for long enough, there is no guarantee that you will not become dangerous to yourself and those around you.”

Rarity quickly glanced around. Twilight closed her eyes with a sigh. Fluttershy bit her lower lip, brow knitted with anxiety. Mahara pursed her lips, looking particularly offended, and Zecora stared down at the floor. Pinkie took a breath as though she were about to interrupt, but Celestia raised a hoof.

“This is not an issue of trust. I want to make that abundantly clear. I want to believe that I can allow you three to return to Ponyville without fear of incident. I would like nothing better than to permit that, but I have every reason to believe that the risk is simply too high. So, what I would like you to do is prove me wrong.” Everypony perked up in near unison. A slight smile spread across Celestia’s lips. “Show me that you can control yourselves. Show me that it is possible for you to live normal lives as you are now. If you can do that, I will allow you to return to life as you knew it.

“That said, the following are the conditions that Luna and I have agreed to.” Celestia briefly glanced to Luna, nodding with her. “Arrangements have been made to restore the former royal palace located within the Everfree forest. Luna and her entire staff will be moving there, and are, as we speak, in the process of reconstruction and relocation. Mahara, Fluttershy, and Zecora: as of today, the three of you are under Luna’s care, and will be accompanying her to her new residence. I encourage you to write to me as you so desire, but she will be the one to handle your daily concerns.

“You will not be treated as prisoners. So long as you have drunk your fill of blood for the day, you will be free to move about as you like, which includes free reign of Equestria. However, I’m afraid I must insist that you reside with Luna, and I would strongly prefer that you return to your new home shortly after sunset. Travel that involves overnight or extended stays will be permitted so long as you travel with no less than two guards, and you have a full supply of blood to sustain you. Visitors may come and go as they please, and if they so desire, they may choose to reside at the site of Luna’s palace with you. I do believe that’s everything.” Celestia turned to her sister and received another nod, this time with a smile. “Are there any questions?”

Mahara rose to her hooves, meeting the white alicorn’s gaze. “I refuse.”

Celestia’s eyes widened. “Now Mahara, let’s not be—”

“Wait!” Pinkie swiftly interrupted. “That wasn’t a question!”

“No, it wasn’t,” the red mare coldly replied. “I’m not going.”

Fluttershy narrowed her eyes as she stood. “Will you please stop being so… You’re being unreasonable!”

The sun princess spread her wings, trying to speak over the rising commotion. “If everypony could please just—”

“No, I’m not being unreasonable! She’s going to make us live with Luna? The root of the entire problem? You know damn well why I’m not going to stand for that, Fluttershy!”

“I know she hurt you, but she tried to talk to you last night and you just slapped her in the face!” Fluttershy thrusted her hoof in Luna’s direction, the moon princess averting her gaze. “You didn’t even try to hear her out!”

Mahara stomped, Pinkie and Trixie shuffling away from her. “I don’t want to hear her out! I don’t care if she’s sorry! I can never forgive her! She ruined what little of a life I had!”

“I would appreciate it if—” Celestia took a deep breath as the shouting drowned her out once more.

Zecora rose next, ignoring Celestia’s pleas for calm. “You cannot forgive Luna, but you expect me to forgive you? How can one pony possibly be so askew?!”

“At least I wasn’t parading around like some great striped hunter, you sociopath!”

The sound of a hoof against flesh cut through the noise, silencing every voice but Fluttershy’s. “Will you stop acting like a fucking foal and causing problems for five minutes, Mahara?!” Mahara stood like a statue, her expression blank, her face tilted away from the forehoof Fluttershy had slapped her with. “Oh… oh my… I’m sorry…”

“You shouldn’t be.” Mahara settled back onto her haunches. “If all I’ve done is hurt ponies… cause problems for others… Maybe it’s time I did something responsible.” She looked to Celestia, then down at the floor. “As much as I would personally hate being under Luna’s care, that’s not the reason I shouldn’t go with her. Everything I do seems to blow up in my face, no matter how good my intentions are. I mean, I tried to help Fluttershy, I really did, and look at what I did to her.”

A grin slowly spread across her lips. “And let’s be honest here, do you really think I won’t try to run? No matter how much you pad it, I still see it as a gilded cage. I will not accept a life where I cannot go where I please. I would rather you let Zecora slay me here and now than live under the hoof of another.”

Fluttershy shook her head. “You don’t really mean that... I’m... I’m sorry for what I said... what I did... Let’s just... Celestia, let me talk to—”

“I meant every word of it. Celestia knows that.”

“W-what about me?” The pegasus reached out, hooves hovering just shy of Mahara’s breast. “What about us?”

“I’m poison, Fluttershy. You don’t have to lie to yourself anymore. I’m not just doing this for you, either. I’m doing it for everypony in Equestria. You’ll all be better off without me.”

Rarity huffed softly, drawing the red mare’s attention. “You’re being incredibly selfish… but as far as your presence here is concerned, I agree with you, to a fault. As much as you’ve made Fluttershy happy, you tried to take her from us; drag her off to who knows where and live a life of thievery and amorality. There’s no sugarcoating that.” Mahara nodded, and she continued. “But more bloodshed is not the appropriate way to resolve this. There must be another way.”

Mahara arched a brow. “And what would you suggest?”

“There is a place…” A deathly silence fell over the room, all eyes on Celestia as she spoke. “A realm that borders this one...separate, yet joined to our world. It is a place that exists in perpetual twilight, the moon and the sun circling on opposite ends of the sky, neither setting nor rising. This is where I sent Nightmare Moon’s followers, both cursed and mortal ponies alike. It is not a realm that was created by ponies, and the spell required to return from that place was lost long before my time. As a result, they have no way to contact me, and I do not know what has become of them, or the soldiers that volunteered to go there and keep the peace, or their descendants. I cannot promise what you may find there, but you have my word that, should you take the chance, in that realm you will be permitted to live as freely as you so desire.” The sun princess stood, holding her head high. “The choice is yours, Mahara.”

“You already know what my answer will be.”

Celestia sighed, closing her eyes. “I wish I didn’t… but if that’s the way it must be…” The sound of her regal hooves echoed as she slowly exited the study.

Rarity furrowed her brow as she watched the white alicorn cross the room. “This isn’t at all what I meant!”

Mahara whispered something to Fluttershy, hugging her tightly and kissing her on the forehead.

“How…” the pegasus trembled, her tears quietly splashing against the floor. “How can you do this to me?!” Mahara hesitated, glancing back at her. They stood in silence for what felt like an eternity. “I’m coming with you,” Fluttershy finally gasped.

Mahara shook her head, brushing her mane out of her eyes. “You can’t... they need you.”

“I need you!”

“Do you? What have I done besides nearly, if not completely ruin your life? I’ve made you worry your friends enough already.” Mahara turned away, meeting Celestia at the door. “It’s time I did something right for a change. Thank you all for helping me see that.”

Rarity glanced away from the door, back to Fluttershy. The pegasus wept uncontrollably into the side of Pinkie Pie’s neck as Pinkie whispered softly in her ear, rubbing her back. Twilight stood not far from them, resting a hoof on the back of Fluttershy’s head, glaring in Mahara’s direction. Zecora stared down at her hooves, while Luna looked out over Canterlot through the window. Rarity snorted and crossed the room, storming down the hall after Mahara.

“I know what I said, but you can’t do this to her!” Mahara looked back briefly, but continued walking. “This is completely uncalled for!”

“This is me being responsible. If I’m the cause of every problem, then naturally, removing myself from the equation will remedy the situation.” She glanced back again, smiling, but her brow hung heavy. “It’s simple, really. I should have done it a long time ago.”

“You’re taking the easy way out is what you’re doing! Yes, you’ve made bad decisions, and yes, you’re something of a trouble maker, but you don’t have to be! You can change, and you know it! Whatever Fluttershy saw in you, it brought something back to her that I haven’t seen in the longest time, and right now, you are threatening to snuff it out!”

Mahara turned her gaze to the enormous door at the end of the hall, waiting patiently with Celestia as it began to open. The light of dawn spilled over her, washing the color out of her body. “And I will pray that a butterfly can still flutter after her wings have been touched... The temptation was too much for me to resist, and I can only hope that the damage done isn’t permanent.”

Rarity halted her pursuit, her eyes adjusting to the light as she watched them cross the threshold, stepping out onto an enormous balcony.

“But if you ask me, she’s much stronger than that… She may stumble here and there, but as long as there are ponies to help her back to her hooves, she will never stop walking her path.”

Celestia widened her stance, raising her horn to the sky. “I think you should reconsider, Mahara...” The red mare lifted her gaze to meet Celestia’s. “Even after everything that has happened, I know that you do not have evil in your heart.”

Mahara’s words were so faint, they were lost to Rarity. The alicorn closed her eyes and nodded. Her horn began to glow, the tip radiating like a second sun. Mahara looked back, toward Rarity. The unicorn realized Mahara wasn’t looking at her as the sound of Fluttershy’s voice reached her ears. Rarity glanced over her withers, watching as Fluttershy galloped down the hall, Pinkie and Twilight right behind her.

A bright flash illuminated them, gone again in the blink of an eye, and Rarity’s blood ran cold. A sound like thunder shook the castle to its foundation. Fluttershy slowed to a stop, dropping to her knees, screaming between sobbing gasps. Rarity heard the door close behind her. Celestia hung her head as she passed.

“What did she say to you…” Rarity whispered.

Princess Celestia paused. “Too little, too late.”

\/ /\ /\ \/

There were times when Applejack’s leg had fallen asleep, and as with any normal pony, attempting to use that leg before blood flow had returned to normal was about as effective as trying to stand on a leg that wasn’t there. Memories of those occasions lingered at the forefront of the blond mare’s mind as she put her forehooves on the floor, trembling slightly. She couldn’t quite identify the source of her anxiety, glancing out the window as her thoughts wandered. She was determined to walk, but somewhere was a fear that she would be unable to do so. Applejack gritted her teeth, reinforcing her resolve, and slipped her hind leg over the side of the bed.

For a moment, she felt as though she would topple over, swaying, forced to lean against the bed for support. Well, she mused, Ah’m standin’… leanin’, more like it, but… That’s a good start… Ah’m jus’ gonna walk to tha dresser an’ back. Ah got this, no sweat…

Something caught in her throat as she swallowed. Her right forehoof slid forward, then her right hind. Immediately, she began to lose her balance, tilting until she gently leaned against the bed again. Applejack shook herself off and reminded herself to avoid putting weight on a limb that was no longer present. She spread her forelegs a bit wider. For her second attempt, she moved them first, left and right, then shifted all her weight forward as she brought her remaining hind closer. It was shaky, and it felt extremely unnatural to her, but Applejack remained standing.

“Ha! Nothin’ to it!”

Her triumphant grin faded as she took a deep breath, preparing herself to repeat the performance. It was a slow process, passing through the dusty columns of sunlight that spilled through the window as she pushed herself to reach her destination. On more than one awkward stride she nearly tumbled to the floor, but when she finally rested against the dresser, her spirit soared. She looked down at the bandages around her left hock, swinging what remained of her leg. Her forehooves were healing fast, and her right hind leg was in otherwise perfect condition. A sudden rush of confidence came over her. She leaned forward, putting all her weight on her forelegs, and cocked her right hind. The dresser rattled as she bucked it as gently as she could manage. She landed with a huff and a wide stance, her grin returning.

“Maybe Ah spoke too soon when Ah reckoned mah buckin’ days were over.”

A familiar voice pushed through the floorboards, accompanied by the sound of the screen door banging closed. Winona barked excitedly, her claws tapping wood as she raced up the stairs. Applejack realized that Rainbow Dash was already on her way up. A streak of playful defiance gave her the urge to stay put and greet her lover, but she also remembered how adamant Dash had been about making sure that she avoided unnecessary strain so that her injuries would heal swiftly. Gritting her teeth, Applejack began her awkward hobble back to the bed, forelegs moving in unison, wobbling uneasily when her hind leg caught up. She had just pulled herself up on the foot of the bed when the door creaked open behind her.

With a nervous grin, she glanced back at the winged mare, brow furrowing slightly as Dash’s eyes widened. Before the scornful concern that Applejack had anticipated, Dash wore a look of glee, wings spread, looking more like she wanted to cheer than she wanted to scold. When the moment passed, her ears folded back.

“Woah woah woah! What are you— Did you—” Rainbow frowned and ruffled her feathers as she marched forward. “The doctor said you’re supposed to rest, AJ! Come on!”

Applejack snorted quietly, looking down at the floor. “Ah know… Ah jus’ figured… Well, Ah ain’t helpless, Dash! Ah made it to tha dresser an’ back all by mahself!”

Some of the worry left Dash’s expression, the corners of her mouth slowly curling into a smile. “Alright, that’s pretty cool… Just, please, take it easy, okay?” She took a step closer, nuzzling Applejack on the cheek. “And not just because doctor’s orders, either.”

“Alright, Sugarcube. Soon as this leg is healed up though…”

Rainbow’s smile became a grin. Just as she was about to reply, Winona began to bark again. A wave of confetti and streamers broke over the room, and a pink blur bolted in behind it, coming to a stop just a nose short of Applejack’s face. She immediately knew it was Pinkie Pie, but that didn’t stop her from flinching. Gravity began to work against her.

“Surpriiiii-oh jeeze…” The sparkling joy left Pinkie’s eyes as Applejack toppled over, sprawling on her back. She noticed Angel standing in the doorframe as Pinkie leaned closer. “Sorry!”

“That wasn’t your cue, Pinkie,” Rainbow grumbled.

Dash’s glare faded as the blond mare started to laugh. “Naw, ain’t nothin’ to be sorry ‘bout.” Applejack rolled onto her belly, carefully lifting herself with her forelegs. “Been a spell since Ah’ve seen ya ‘round here! You been stayin’ outta’ trouble, I hope?”

“Weeeeeeeeell…” Pinkie began, rolling her eyes. “Not exactly.”

“Whaddya mean not exactly?”

Pinkie took a deep breath. “I think I first got involved because Twilight told me to follow Fluttershy and keep her safe, and I was okay with that because I just realized not too long ago that I’m kinda in love with her (but don’t tell her that, I’m not ready to tell her yet), but at some point keeping her out of trouble meant that I had to tell a lie or two to make sure nopony found out where she was or what she was doing, you know, because she got wrapped up with Mahara…” Rainbow seemed to be mostly ignoring Pinkie as she offered Applejack her hooves for support. The blond mare swayed as she returned to a standing position. “...so that meant lying to Zecora that I hadn’t seen Fluttershy, and then lying to Twilight about where Rarity had gone, and then abducting a guard named Cirrus because he had a wanted poster with Fluttershy on it, and last night it all sorta came together and I got a little bit arrested.”

Applejack’s jaw hung slack. “Ya’ll did what now?”

“Yeaaaah…” Dash briefly avoided the farmer’s gaze. “She and Rarity kinda got arrested last night. Derpy was telling me about it just before we bumped into her.”

Applejack narrowed her eyes, but Pinkie put on a big, goofy grin. “Well, she hugged into me more than anything, I think! She was so happy to see me! She told me she was afraid she might never see me again, and—“

“That’s all well an’ good, but did I hear correctly that ya’ll were helpin’ that lil’ red, filly-bitin’ sonova bitch?”

“Who, Mahara?” Applejack’s ears folded back, and Pinkie’s grin disappeared. “Not really? Rarity and I were just trying to keep Fluttershy safe. I mean, no offense to Mahara, wherever she is now, but… she kind of screwed up a lot of things for a lot of ponies. I’m just a little relieved that she’s gone…” The pink mare covered her mouth with her forehooves. “Don’t tell Fluttershy I said that, though! You gotta Pinkie-promise that you won’t tell her!”

Applejack glanced between Pinkie and Rainbow, the pegasus offering only a shrug. The blond mare heaved a sigh. “Ah Pinkie-promise not ta tell Fluttershy, on tha condition that ya back up an’ explain yerself… You weren’t helpin’ Mahara? An’ she’s gone? Gone fer good?”

“Uhhhh…” Pinkie blew on the curls of her mane as she glanced up at the ceiling. “Celestia said there was no way back from where she was sending Mahara, so... she’s pretty much gone for good, yeah. And if I did help her, it was only because I was helping Fluttershy. I said a lot of things trying to get Celestia and everypony to leave Mahara alone buuuuut… I dunno… She was a whole lot of trouble when you stop to think about it.” Her grin returned as she glanced at Dash. “A lot like your griffon friend, actually!”

The pegasus remained silent. Applejack cleared her throat. “Well… Alright, long as ya weren’t encouragin’ any foul play, Ah guess. Sounds more like ya’ll just got caught up in it than anything.”

Pinkie nodded enthusiastically. “But hey, all this chit-chat about stuff that makes you worry? That’s not why I’m here! I came to make sure you’re feeling better!” The pink pony bobbed in place. “And you were walking?! That’s great! I bet you’ll be right as rain in no time!”

Applejack chuckled as she put her forehooves on the side of the bed, shifting her weight as Dash nudged the rest of her onto the sheets. Winona hopped up after her, laying out at the foot of the bed. “Ah sure hope so. Walkin’ is one thing, but… the sooner Ah can get back ta buckin’ apple trees, the better off Ah’ll be.”

“Oh! That’ll be great!” Pinkie’s bob upgraded to a slight bounce. “I bet you’ll be the first pony in the Apple family to buck one-legged! Maybe the first in all of Equestria!”

“One step at a time,” mused Rainbow Dash, nuzzling Applejack on the nose as she rested her head on a pillow. The pegasus paused for a moment, ears perking. “Wait, did you say something about being in love with Fluttershy, Pinkie?” She cocked a brow as she glanced back at the bouncing mare.

“I did! And you haven’t promised not to tell Fluttershy about it, yet!” Pinkie bounded across the room in the blink of an eye, nose to nose with Dash. “Please-please-please promise you won’t! This means a lot to me!”

Dash leaned away from her, her brow still arched. “Alright, I won’t say anything!”

Applejack snickered, rolling onto her side to watch more easily. “When did all this happen, though? Ah knew you were close friends with her, but nothin’ like this.”

“I think that maybe it was always there, but I just didn’t see it, kinda like air, you know?! Well, we don’t breathe love, but—” Rainbow rolled her forehoof, ushering Pinkie along. “A few days ago, it just kinda clicked. Click! You’re in love with Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie! I’m not gonna tell her for a while though. She’s in a pretty bad place right now because of you know who, so I’m thinking I’m gonna move in with her and make sure she doesn’t get depressed again, and then, when she’s ready…”

“Move in with Fluttershy? Pinkie,’s a mighty big step ta take, even if you ain’t gonna tell her how ya feel right away.” Pinkie pursed her lips and narrowed her eyes, as if pausing to consider that. “An’ what about Cup and Carrot? Have you told them ‘bout this yet?”

Any trace of seriousness left the pink mare as fast as it had appeared, her cheery smile returning. “I sure did! I think they were a little sad, but they know I won’t be too far away, and they know that I’m doing this to help Fluttershy, so they support this decision.” Pinkie bounded onto the bed, landing next to the dog, causing Applejack and Winona to bounce with her. “Fluttershy sends her regards also! She hopes you’re doing better! Well… She didn’t say that exactly, but I know that’s what she would say if she were herself right now.”

Applejack briefly exchanged glances with Rainbow Dash. “How bad?” the farmer asked after a short span of silence.

“Not quite ‘just got dumped by Lucky’ bad, but… really close… That’s why I wanna stay close to her and make sure she doesn’t slip back to where she was. Plus, she kinda needs a source of fresh blood now, and, well…” The slightest blush lit Pinkie’s cheeks as she settled on her haunches. “I guess I wouldn’t mind letting her nibble on me every now and then!”

“So the rumors are true…” Applejack looked to Dash again, noting the wrinkle in her brow. The pegasus continued. “Fluttershy is… one of them now? And Zecora too?”

A chill ran down the farmer’s spine, her veins icing over. She remembered what Big Macintosh had told her, about the trespassers from a few nights ago, and how quickly she had dismissed it; how badly she had wanted what Macintosh heard from Mahara to be another one of her lies. It all came crashing down as she stared back at Pinkie, watching her nod, as if there were nothing out of the ordinary about the news she was relaying. A wave of nausea gripped her, sending another chill through her body.

Dash immediately took notice, leaning closer, her face twisted with worry. “AJ?”

Pinkie wasn’t far behind, anxiously biting her lip as she peered over the top of Dash’s head. The pegasus put a hoof to Applejack’s breast. “You alright?”

“Ah… Ah don’t feel so good…” The blond mare rolled over, away from Pinkie and Dash, staring at the wall. “If ya’ll don’t mind, Ah’d like ta be alone fer a spell…”

\/ /\ /\ \/

High above Ponyville, the few clouds dotting the blue expanse of endless sky drifted lazily toward the horizon. Rainbow Dash figured it was a little past noon, since the sun wasn’t directly overhead. The leafy shade of a tree obscured her view of the sky as she passed beneath its branches. She sighed and rolled over with a few quick flaps, scanning the path below. Pinkie trotted along a bit farther ahead, Angel on her back, glancing up at her and offering a big smile as she made eye contact. The pegasus swooped in a bit closer, fluttering beside the earth pony, a few noses off the ground.

The worry on Pinkie’s brow worked against her illusion of cheer. “Are you sure we should have left? Is she gonna be okay by herself?”

“Yeah, I think so… It was just a lot for her to take all at once, you know? I probably should have warned you. This thing is just scary for her.” Pinkie Pie nodded along as Dash spoke. “Mahara attacked both her siblings, and I know that Fluttershy and Zecora won’t do that, but for her I think it’s the principal of the thing. Maybe she feels betrayed? And I’m a little worried too, I guess. What guarantee do we have that they won’t start taking blood from whoever they feel like, if they can just go crazy like that?”

“That’s not how it works, silly! It’s like if a pony starves for long enough, they’ll do anything for food, right? Well, if they don’t drink, they start to starve, and I guess a survival instinct kicks in. They don’t want to do it; it’s just their body telling them to do whatever is necessary to stay alive. As long as they drink every so often, though, it’s totally not even an issue. They’re the same as they were before, just, now they can do a special kind of magic... And they don’t like being in the sun... And they need to drink blood.”

Dash cocked a brow. “Oookay...”

The gap in their conversation was filled with the songs of birds and the rustling of leaves.

“So, what’s it like?” Pinkie mused.

Rainbow yawned, stretching out her hind legs. “What’s what like?”

“Being in love!” The pink mare grinned, ears swiveled forward. “I’ve never… you know! This is new for me!” Her trot became a bounce, and Angel clung to her mane for dear life. “Is it lots of fun?! Do you get to share all kinds of secrets?! Is it like having a super best friend that’s all yours?!” Dash began to answer, only to be cut off. “When should I tell her?! How should I tell her?! What should I—”

“Cool it with the questions for a second!” Dash took a deep breath, doing her best to clear her thoughts. “Love is… kind of complicated. I mean, sometimes Applejack and I get into arguments and stuff, but I don’t think we’ve had an argument yet that we weren’t able to talk ourselves down from.” The pegasus smiled. “But, yeah… It’s pretty great. Being able to just… you know, talk… and not have to worry if she thinks I’m cool, or having to act tough. Knowing when you should tell Fluttershy, though? That’s tricky. I almost blew it with Applejack because I didn’t tell her at the right time. Or… maybe there wasn’t a right time. Maybe it happened the way it was supposed to happen and…”

Angel heaved a quiet sigh of relief as Pinkie stopped bouncing to give Dash a blank stare. “Huh?”

“Sorry. Look, if you ask me, the most important thing is being able to talk.” The pink mare flashed a wide grin. “And not just… not just talking like, saying things. Talking like being able to listen, too. You’ve gotta be able to listen to what she tells you if you want it to work. And who knows, if you listen long enough, maybe she’ll give you a signal or something, and you’ll know it’s time to tell her how you feel.”

“Alright…” Pinkie nodded, smiling. “Thanks, Rainbow Dash.”

“You just take good care of her, okay? I’m sorry that I haven’t been around much since… since before this started, I guess. That happens, too. Once you’re with someone special, they kinda become your whole world, and you end up ignoring important stuff because you’re only focusing on them. It’s not intentional, just…” Pinkie nodded again, keeping pace with Dash as they followed the road to the Everfree forest. “How was she? Before today, I mean. You saw her before whatever happened, happened.”

“I saw her the day of the hydra attack, and then again last night and this morning. Really, though? All I’ve seen her do for the most part is cry and shout, mostly about Mahara. Rarity says that she was really relaxed for a while in Manehattan but I sure don’t see that now. Now, she’s like she was when she was depressed. She’s not that far gone, and she’ll kinda talk a little bit, but she’s just been really quiet all day so far. I’m a little scared... I don’t want her to slip into that state again.”

“She won’t.” Pinkie glanced back, meeting Dash’s gaze. The pegasus nodded and smiled. “I know you can help her, Pinkie. And maybe I also think the two of you would make a cute couple.”

Pinkie nearly stumbled, eyes sparkling, and grinning as wide as Dash figured she could. “You really think so?! Do you think she’ll say yes?! I’m just so excited I could— Hey there!”

The pegasus tilted her head, scanning ahead to see whom Pinkie was addressing. Her breath caught in her throat when she set her eyes on Scootaloo. The younger pegasus gracefully dove toward Pinkie, knocking the pink mare clean off her hooves with a tackling hug. Angel landed in a nearby bush, shaking his paw furiously. Sweetie Belle and Applebloom were a few paces behind, but closing in fast. They smiled as they noticed Dash, and she struggled to return the gesture.

They know, she screamed in the back of her mind. They know what I did to Scootaloo!

“I was just hanging out with Sweetie Belle and Applebloom, and then Rarity came back, and I thought maybe that meant you came back too, so I asked Ditzy and she said she saw you and that you went to visit Applejack!” Scootaloo took a deep breath, then fell into a fit of laughter. Pinkie joined in, hugging the filly close. “I’m so happy to see you! What happened?! We were worried that…”

As Rainbow Dash watched the pair of them chatter excitedly, some of her dread slowly evaporated. Scootaloo didn’t even seem to notice her, barely making eye contact when the winged filly’s gaze swept over her. She cringed impulsively when Applebloom addressed her.

The young earth pony tilted her head. “Woah, are you okay?”

“Yeah,” Dash lied. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just a little nervous is all. Fluttershy and Zecora are at the old palace ruins in Everfree. We’re gonna go visit them.”

“Oh! Is Zecora okay?! Ah’d love ta see her again.” Applebloom put on her sweetest smile, looking intent on negotiating. “Do ya’ll mind if Ah come along?”

“I dunno… Your sister might not like that… Cause they’re blood suckers and stuff…”

Applebloom waved a forehoof. “Pshaw, Ah visited Zecora in Canterlot the other day an’ nothin’ bad happened to me!” Her eyes widened immediately. “Ah mean…”

“You said you were…” Rainbow Dash narrowed her eyes, then rubbed her forehoof over her face. “Ugh, I don’t care. Just don’t get into trouble, okay?”

“Ah promise! An ya ain’t gonna tell Applejack ‘bout this or the other thing, right?”

“No...” Dash sighed. “I won’t.”

Applebloom hopped and bucked into the air, grinning from ear to ear. “Well, alright! Let’s get a move on then!”

The younger mares rejoined their feathered friend, all three of them trotting alongside Pinkie Pie, giggling as Pinkie got Angel to climb back onto her, and as she explained what happened after she had been arrested. As much as Dash was relieved that none of them seemed interested in confronting her about her violent outburst, there was also a twinge of guilt. She realized that part of her wanted to be reprimanded for what she had done, and yet nopony seemed interested in punishing her. It occurred to her that they might not even be aware of what she had done.

But why wouldn’t they be? Why wouldn’t Scootaloo tell somepony that I hit her? Why would she keep that to herself? Is she afraid of me now?

Dash followed at a short distance as they continued to talk merrily amongst themselves, even as they slipped into the gloom of Everfree. The pegasus remained silent unless spoken to, trying to sort out her thoughts. When that didn’t work, however, she tried to distract herself instead. Retracing her steps from their encounter with Nightmare Moon proved effective.

The steep, rocky outcrop offered little difficulty, and Dash easily carried both Applebloom and Sweetie Belle to the bottom. They paused to watch as Pinkie raced Scootaloo, zipping from ledge to ledge until she had rejoined them, beating the young pegasus by a split second. There was no manticore to challenge them as they pressed deeper, nor were there any trees twisted into monstrous forms, much to Pinkie’s disappointment. An enormous tree had fallen across the river where she remembered coming across the sea serpent, allowing them easy crossing. Distant voices began to break the eerie calm of the forest, growing louder the closer they came to the ruins. On the other side of the canyon, ponies unloaded and carried crates away from an enormous wagon. Pinkie Pie, Applebloom and Sweetie Belle crossed the rope bridge one by one, grinning excitedly when they returned to solid ground.

A few of the ponies at work gave them curious stares, but quickly returned to their work without comment. As they approached the ruins themselves, however, Twilight Sparkle stepped out and into the open, looking both surprised and pleased to see them. Rainbow let her gaze wander as Pinkie and Twilight conversed, barely paying any attention. She resumed her daydream, reliving the confrontation, the excitement and the happy memories that came with triumphing over evil. The very instant she stopped thinking about that day, her thoughts returned to what she had done to Scootaloo. A sick feeling pooled in the bottom of her stomach.

“…except Applejack.” Rainbow snapped back to reality as those words reached her ears. When she looked for their source, she found that the speaker was Rarity. “And she’s healing up nicely, I trust?”

“Oh yeah,” Pinkie answered for her, something Dash suspected Pinkie had been doing for the duration of the conversation. “She’s doing great!”

“Yeah…” The pegasus added. “She’s doing just fine. Sends her regards.”

“Welcome back,” Rarity quipped, grinning. “We thought we might have lost you for a time. Are you going to hover there in silence all day or are you going to socialize with the rest of us?”

“Sorry. I’ve just got a lot on my mind right now.” Scootaloo briefly met her gaze, then quickly looked away.

Rarity nodded slowly. “Don’t we all…”

\/ /\ /\ \/

The softness and warmth of Pinkie’s flank and the feel of Angel sleeping in her embrace were comforting, helping numb Fluttershy’s senses like anesthetic on an open wound. She felt lethargic even though the rays of the sun were kept at bay by the Everfree forest’s veil of shadow. If she could still drift off to sleep, she would. The best she could manage was daydreaming, but her imagination offered no solace, forcing her to relive her gallop down a seemingly endless hallway, never reaching the end in time.

“And you’re sure about this?” she heard Rarity inquire as she drifted back to reality.

“Not one doubt about it.” The sound of Pinkie tapping her forehoof against the cobblestone accompanied her answer, causing Angel to kick gently in his sleep. The pegasus blinked tiredly, nuzzling in closer to try and hide from the world, from everything that wasn’t Pinkie or Angel. There were no more tears, but the soreness of bitter sorrow remained. “I didn’t really know how to help last time, but this time, I’m going to do it right.”

She imagined Rarity standing next to a column covered in ivy, looking back at Pinkie as she spoke. She imagined the wind blowing out Rarity’s mane as a light breeze whistled through the ruins, carrying the smell of roasting oats and snippets of conversation. “And Cup and Carrot? Did they take the news well?”

“Better than I thought they would. Pound and Pumpkin are a mess, though. I’ve never seen them cry so hard. Poor little ponies… Anyway, I’m going back tomorrow to get a few smaller things. I won’t be moving out for real until the end of the month.” Fluttershy felt a hoof on the back of her neck, gently stroking. Pinkie’s next words were spoken gently, addressing her as softly as she could. “You should come with me tomorrow, if you want. We won’t be in town for too long, and I’m sure everypony would be so happy to see you. Ditzy asked me so many questions about you. She’s glad you’re okay.” She paused for a moment. “So is Applejack.”

Fluttershy remained still and silent. Pinkie sighed softly. “Well, just think about it,” she whispered. “So what are you gonna do, Rarity?”

“At this moment, I’m not entirely sure…”

The pegasus allowed herself to become lost in thought again, drowning out the conversation around her with a storm of anxious questions.

Do I just give up? Is there even a point in trying anymore? What did I do to deserve this, and why is this happening to me again?

The corridor stretched on ahead of her, outpacing Twilight and Pinkie Pie, running toward the silhouettes standing against the intense light of day. They became clearer as she rushed closer.

Did I really love her? Did she love me? Is it normal to fall in love so fast, and under such strange circumstances? Is there something wrong with me? Has there always been something wrong with me?

Mahara turned toward her, a fragile smile on her lips, wordlessly whispering, “Goodbye.” The light from Celestia’s horn became unbearable, but she refused to slow down, refused to look away.

Is it because I tried to run with her? Or is it because I forced her to stop running?

The glow spread from the tip of Celestia’s horn, enveloping Mahara in a glaringly bright sphere, her silhouette barely visible. The sphere imploded with a painfully loud crack. Not a trace of Mahara remained.

I thought that running away would make everything better, but I forgot how much it would hurt my friends.

Fluttershy collapsed, screaming until her throat was raw, shaking violently on the floor. Pinkie was there beside her in a heartbeat, holding on as tightly as she could. Twilight stood close by, struggling to find something to say. Rarity joined them moments later, kneeling across from Pinkie.

I forgot that they would be there for me if I needed them. I forgot that they need me as much as I need them. But why did it have to turn out like this? Why wouldn’t she try and change? Why couldn’t she learn to forgive?

The pegasus returned to reality again as she felt Pinkie Pie shifting her weight. “I’m gonna get something to eat,” she whispered. “Do you wanna nibble a bit when I get back? Or are you not thirsty right now?”

Have I learned to forgive? Did I ever forgive Lucky? Should I forgive Lucky? Should I forgive Mahara, too? What should I do?

“Fluttershy, dear…” said Rarity, quietly. “We know you’re upset, but really, you can’t just lie around all day. It isn’t our intention to irritate you, we’re just concerned. Perhaps you should go for a walk, get familiar with your new surroundings. You barely gave them a second glance when you arrived.”

Sighing, Fluttershy lifted her head, feeling Pinkie’s flank and hind leg slip out from under her. As the pink mare left her side, she gently set Angel down, waking him despite her best efforts. The rabbit nuzzled her foreleg and motioned for her to rise. Donning a fragile smile, she pushed herself off of the cool stone floor. Her legs trembled, but she remained standing as she slowly surveyed the area. When last she had visited, she and her friends had been tasked with saving Equestria. Now, in the soft shade of day, she was able to take in the scenery and truly appreciate the beauty she had outright ignored before.

The castle ruins lay around her, though there were a lot more trees than she remembered. She admired the way the forest’s dense canopy filtered out all but the strongest beams of sunlight. Those that managed to penetrate the foliage appeared as shallow pools scattered across the ground, frequently interrupted by the shadows of fluttering birds. Crumbling masonry played host to vines and small nests. The few spires that defied the ravages of time stretched through the leafy ceiling and out of sight; an unmet challenge to nature itself. A patchwork of light and shadow spread across the cobblestone where the canopy failed to conceal the ruins below. Behind her, beyond the opened double doors and decrepit wall, a rope bridge hung, lightly blanketed with moss, spanning from one distant side of the canyon to the other. She could hear a river churning far below.

Fluttershy’s attention shifted back to the ruins themselves, noting the many ponies milling about. A number of them wore hard hats, carefully inspecting the stonework and scribbling on rolls of parchment, or marking the masonry with chalk. Others carried or levitated chests and crates, depositing them deeper within the ancient castle and resurfacing for more. Luna, Celestia, and Twilight stood just about in the center of it all, casually conversing with one another. As she continued to watch, Luna lowered her head and pawed at the ground, snorting, as though she were about to charge. Twilight’s eyes widened. All three of them burst out laughing.

She spotted Pinkie, Scootaloo, and Applebloom amongst the crowd, slowly circling an enormous pot over a roaring flame. When she noticed the handles between their teeth, she realized they were stirring the contents of the pot. Zecora appeared to be in charge of cooking, watching them closely and curiously, occasionally snickering and giving them instructions. Much nearer, she faintly overheard bits of a conversation between Rarity and Trixie, with Sweetie Belle and Rainbow Dash listening intently. From Fluttershy’s understanding, it was a retelling of their harrowing escape from the Manehattan police department. Rainbow and Sweetie sat in awe and nodded along for the most part.

A few minutes passed before Fluttershy decided to venture deeper into the ruins. The ancient passages were already cluttered with odds and ends transported from Canterlot, with all sorts of instructions and notes scrawled on the walls in chalk. A lone mouse popped out of a crack in the floor, gave one shrill squeak as it locked eyes with her, and then scurried down the hall and out of sight. Angel shrugged and waved a paw, encouraging her to press onward. A short walk later, she found herself in the remains of the throne room. An enormous willow tree had uprooted the throne itself, swaying gently in the breeze. A few ponies carefully inspected the room, inch by inch, occasionally calling out to a stallion in the center of the room who appeared to be recording their observations with a quill and a roll of parchment.

The pegasus was just turning to leave when she noticed a mare standing almost behind the willow tree, staring out the window frame. She approached slowly, trying not to interrupt any of the ponies at work. The mare at the window turned and smiled as she heard Fluttershy’s hooves on the stone.

“I never thought I would see flowers growing in a place like this,” she softly remarked, “but just look at them all. They must have been growing like this for generations.” For a split second, Fluttershy felt her heart go completely still. Just beyond the window lay a literal field of white flowers, their petals occasionally dancing in the wind and swirling off into the distance. “We asked Princess Luna if she wanted to hire somepony to tend this garden, but she outright refused.”

“Do you… know how to get down there?”

The mare smiled. “Oh sure! Back the way you came, and take a right the first chance you get. Should take you right to it.”

A nod and a whispered “thank you” later, Fluttershy found herself traveling down another hall, Angel peering between her ears. She could barely see. Sunlight wavered through chipped and empty window frames, the glass long gone, veils of illuminated dust draping from ceiling to floor. She pressed on, determined to reach the pool of light that flooded in through what she assumed to be a doorframe. She knew that the garden was completely exposed to the sun, but she didn’t care. She had to see it up close, even if she couldn’t see.

The smell of flowers, was already overpowering, even intoxicating. It was the smell of roses.

Angel nudged her ear, and she turned, feeling her strength drain as she stepped out into the full radiance of day. She didn’t care. Grass cushioned her hooves as she blindly walked through the garden, guided by her companion. All at once, her vision returned. A single, puffy cloud slowly drifted across the sky, obscuring the sun just enough to let her see the rose bushes all around her. The garden was alive with small animals and birds, the likes of which observed her curiously. Something about it all gave her the slightest peace of mind.

As a gentle breeze rustled the vegetation surrounding her, she had a moment of clarity. Fluttershy took a deep breath, closing her eyes. The relief of her revelation wasn’t total. She still felt awful, and she knew that she would continue to feel awful for weeks to come, but in her heart, she felt determination: the will to keep going, instead of a desire to let the world pass her by.

Things have changed. Things always change, constantly and endlessly, but life goes on. I’ve changed, too, but I’m still alive. The ghost of a smile spread across her lips.

My story has only just begun.

\/ /\ /\ \/

Chapter 11 - Fall

Chapter Eleven: Fall

\/ /\ /\ \/

A wooden sound had invaded the rhythm of Applejack’s trot. Every third step produced an almost hollow clunk, sharply contrasting the dense, solid noise her hooves made when they met the ground. Having a wooden peg for almost half of her left hind felt as unnatural to her as the sound it made. It was an awkward trot, at that. The peg lacked the control and strength of her well conditioned muscles and her sturdy hoof, but at the very least, she figured it was better than not having any support at all. Applejack’s wounds had healed well, or at least as well as they ever would. Several scars cut deep trenches through the mark on her left flank, stopping abruptly where the rest of her leg should have started; a grim reminder of how close she had come to death.

Despite all this, her determination to get back to her old life was unwavering. As soon as the doctors had given her the okay, Applejack was up and active again. Rainbow Dash remained a near constant at her side with each and every step she took toward recovery. Applejack wouldn’t have had it any other way. However, there was another issue that continued to weigh on her thoughts that warm autumn afternoon.

Applejack looked to her winged companion, receiving a warm smile and a nod of encouragement.

“Leaves‘ll start turnin’ soon,” she commented, glancing off the path. “Applebuckin’s right around the corner, ya know…”

Dash’s smile faded. “AJ, we talked about this already…”

“Ah know… Ah jus’… Ah…” She looked away and snorted. “It ain’t fair! Ah can walk jus’ fin—”

The farmer stumbled as she lost her concentration, but Dash was there to catch her. Applejack trembled slightly in Rainbow’s embrace, as embarrassed as she was frustrated.

“You done yet, hotshot?”

Applejack remained silent, staring down at the ground. She felt a muzzle between her ears, nuzzling into her mane, and she relaxed with a defeated sigh.

“Look…” Dash started, speaking in a gentle, hushed tone. “I know how important this is to you, but you’re not back at your peak yet. I don’t want you to hurt yourself. Braeburn will be here in a few days, and I’m gonna help out too. The apples will be alright without you this time, okay?”

“Ain’t just about the apples, Dash…” The earth pony tried to turn and look up at her. “You know that.”

The pegasus sighed quietly, settling her chin into Applejack’s mane and giving her a squeeze. “Yeah… Yeah, I know.”

Applejack inhaled slowly, preparing to continue her argument, when a faint and familiar voice reached her ears. It wasn’t uncommon to hear Big Macintosh as he worked around the farm. However, it was uncommon to hear an unfamiliar voice respond to him, especially if the voice was that of a female. As if sensing her curiosity, Rainbow perked up in the direction from which she had heard them.

“Who was that?” the pegasus murmured as she glanced back at Applejack.

“Ah ain’t too sure, mahself…”

A grin spread across Rainbow’s lips. “Wanna go check it out?”

As much as she knew that Dash was only feeding into her curiosity to distract her, Applejack was genuinely interested in finding out the who’s and why’s of this rare occurrence. A burst of Macintosh’s laughter echoed through the trees, joined by the mystery lady a moment later. Swallowing her pride, Applejack nodded.

“This ain’t over, though,” she informed the pegasus as she shifted her weight back to her three remaining hooves.

Rainbow Dash just snickered and shook her head, then motioned for Applejack to follow.

Together, they moved away from the well worn path between the trees, passing through the cool shadows of the orchard as they closed in on the source. After about a minute of awkward sneaking, the blond mare spotted her brother in a small clearing. Dash pulled her behind a tree as Big Macintosh glanced their way. Slowly, cautiously, she peered around the side, Rainbow just about on top of her, and her eyes widened as she got a look at his companion. Seated beside the stallion was a cow. She lacked spots, and her coat reminded Applejack of the color of coffee with plenty of milk. Around the tuft of her tail, and in the neatly trimmed bangs of her mane, she wore pink ribbons.

“Atta’ boy, Mac,” Rainbow whispered, snickering.

When Applejack noticed the plaid blanket under them, and the open picnic basket placed just about in its center, it occurred to her that Big Macintosh wasn’t out in the orchard to do work.

Macintosh smiled, leaning closer to nuzzle the cow’s cheek. “She’s almost a grown mare. ‘sides, the one that was causin’ all the trouble is long gone. Maybe she’ll meet a colt… or a filly. She might be takin’ after Applejack in that respect. Anyway, Ah figure a lil’ time without supervision might do ‘er some good.”

“You’re not worried about her wandering into the Everfree Forest?” The cow chewed her lower lip. “It was dangerous before, but those… things live in there now, with Nightmare Moon!”

“Oh, naw!” The stallion gave a deep chuckle. “They’re good ponies! Princess Luna ain’t so bad, neither. Applebloom don’t gotta worry ‘bout a hair on her head if she visits them… ‘less sis’ finds out.” He chuckled a little more and shook his head.

Applejack felt herself go red in the face. She started to step forward when she felt Rainbow’s teeth on her tail, yanking her back. Applejack snorted, glancing back at the pegasus.

“Woah, woah,” she mumbled with the earth pony’s tail in her mouth. She spat it out and cocked a brow. “What are you doing?”

Applejack turned back to her brother’s picnic and cocked a forehoof. “Ah’m gonna go smack some sense inta mah brother is all.”

“He’s in the middle of a date, AJ!” Dash whispered shrilly. “You can’t just go charging in there.”

“Apparently, Applebloom’s safety ain’t a concern fer him!” she growled in response.

“Oh,” the cow began, a twinge of anxiety in her voice. “Who was that?”

“Probably jus’ mah other sister, who should know better…” Macintosh cast a glare in their direction, upturning a forehoof. “Don’tcha worry yerself, Brie.”

Dash rolled her eyes and smiled. “Come on, Applejack. Let’s go.”

Reluctantly, Applejack followed the pegasus back to the path, silently fuming every step of the way. Dash met her cold stare and flashed a nervous smile.

“Come on, now. Cheer up, AJ…” She lifted a hoof to Applejack’s shoulder. “Is it really such a—”

“Yes, Dash! It’s a very big deal!” The earth pony pushed her hoof aside, glaring back at her. “Those blood suckers almost killed her! Ah don’t want her anywhere near ‘em!”

Dash cocked a brow. “You don’t want her anywhere near Fluttershy or Zecora? Two ponies that have been your close friends for years?”

“They’re different now!”

“No, they’re really not.” The earth pony shook her head, but Rainbow continued. “They’re the exact same ponies you’ve always known. I’ve visited them enough to see that.”

Applejack snorted. “Ah don’t much fancy you visitin’ ‘em either! An’ what…” She glanced off to the side, cringing as her imagination began to run wild. “What if…”

“Applejack, no offense, but you really need to let it go.”

Dash lifted her hoof to Applejack’s shoulder again. This time, she let it stay.

“Am Ah…” Applejack trailed off, glancing up as the pegasus nudged her gently, brow knitted with concern. “Am Ah wrong to be a lil’ worried ‘bout the whole situation?”

“No… But you can’t shelter Applebloom just because of what happened. Zecora is Applebloom’s friend, and you used to trust her enough to let Applebloom canter off into the Everfree Forest to visit her. This really isn’t any different, if you ask me.”

Applejack let out a long sigh, glancing down at the dirt. “Maybe… maybe yer right. But if she’s gonna visit, Ah’m goin’ with her.”

Dash’s smile returned. “Alright, that’s a good start. How about we head back home?”

“Yeah…” Applejack muttered. “Alright.”

“Maybe take a nice, long bath when we get there?”

Applejack met Dash’s gaze, noting the little twinkle in her eye, and she couldn’t help but grin. She took a deep breath, exhaling some of the tension. “That sounds perty good right ‘bout now.”

\/ /\ /\ \/

In little more than a month, many things had changed for Pinkie Pie. For what Fluttershy believed to be the second time in Pinkie’s entire life, she had moved. The pink mare claimed that her new home in the Everfree Forest was comfortable, and very much to her liking, but that it still felt a bit strange to wake up somewhere other than her room above Sugarcube Corner.

Fluttershy figured part of that was the fact that Pinkie was not sharing this new home with a married couple that she loved like her own parents. The Cakes, mister, misses, and the twins, had been very sad to see her go, but Cup and Carrot clearly understood; it was time for Pinkie to set out on her own. Of course, Pinkie wasn’t actually living by herself. Without much need for convincing, Fluttershy had agreed to let Pinkie move in with her once her new home was finished. Pinkie had refused to wait that long, keeping Fluttershy company for the few weeks that she had to spend living in a very lavish tent within the dilapidated throne room of Luna’s castle.

Just thinking back on it brought a smile to Fluttershy’s lips. She was still subject to the occasional depths of depression, but they were becoming few and far between. Even then, Pinkie Pie was all Fluttershy needed whenever she started to feel down, and for that, there were no words to express her gratitude for Pinkie’s companionship.

This, along with a few more idle ponderings, was at the forefront of Fluttershy’s thoughts as she stood at the side of Pinkie’s bed. She took a deep breath as the pink mare stirred under the sheets, letting it out in a quiet sigh of relief when Pinkie settled back into a deep sleep.

Very slowly, the pegasus leaned forward, listening carefully for a change in Pinkie’s pulse. Her lips parted, her fangs quickly drying, only to be slicked down again by a pass of her tongue. With all the precision of a surgeon, she brought the points of her fangs to the soft, warm flesh of Pinkie’s neck, biting down on her artery and slowly drawing out several gulps of blood. Immediately, her senses peaked, the depth and contours of her vision sharpening, every sound becoming its own separate symphony. The sensation made her tingle from head to hoof, but those few gulps were all she would allow herself.

Fluttershy pulled back, occasionally slathering her tongue over the bite marks until she had the bandages ready. She carefully pressed the pair into place, grinning as she noticed the heart pattern across the adhesive. Pinkie squirmed again, mumbling something unintelligible and smiling. A moment later, she rolled over and went still again.

Satisfied, Fluttershy took a step back, briefly looking around the room. The sun had yet to rise, but she could see clearly through the darkness. Only a few boxes remained unopened in Pinkie’s room; the last things she had yet to unpack. She glanced back to the bed as Gummy let out a snoring grunt, still curled up in Pinkie’s mane. Angel was fast asleep between Pinkie’s hinds, his nose and whiskers twitching.

Pinkie’s room was adjacent to hers, just across the hall. Her door was wide open, her knitting supplies spread across the table, but she had already been occupying herself with that for hours. Outside, the leaves rustled around a breeze, carrying the opening notes of the day’s birdsong. The thought of going outside made her shiver with anticipation.

She smiled, admiring Pinkie for a few moments more. Try as she might to place what it was that had changed between them, how it was possible for Pinkie to help her now when she had been unable to help before, the solution eluded her. With another quiet, happy sigh, she slowly crossed the room, trotted down the hall, and descended the stairs.

The peacefulness of the surrounding woodlands met her ears the moment she opened the front door. From across the gorge, the occasional, distant calls of the various creatures inhabiting the Everfree Forest mingled on the wind, joined by the much closer sound of waking birds, rushing water and rustling leaves. Fluttershy took several steps beyond the threshold, closing the door behind her, and slowly surveyed her surroundings.

At her request, their home had been constructed close to the remains of the castle wall, but tucked away in the cool shade of several large trees and shrubs. Unless one knew exactly where to look, it was effectively hidden by the surrounding foliage. In a short span of time, due to its seclusion and despite Pinkie’s antics, it had become a haven for wildlife.

She looked a bit higher, noting motion in the darkness; birds preening in preparation for flight and branches shifting in the wind. Beyond that, she could see the silhouette of the ruins standing out against the thawing cold of the night sky. It was Fluttershy’s understanding that Luna wanted a great deal of the ruins to be left alone. Instead of fully restoring the castle, the night princess had ordained multiple residences to be constructed around the perimeter of the castle ruins, much like her own. For the time being, they were occupied by the many construction workers that Luna had hired from all over Equestria.

Fluttershy started down the worn path, humming along with the birds as they warmed up, occasionally bidding “good morning” when they crossed her path. Zecora’s home had been constructed about a minute’s trot from her front door, much closer to the cliffs overlooking the river. While not quite as unique as the home she had made in a tree, the zebra was already well on her way to making it truly stand out. The pegasus paused to admire the pair of masks that hung over her doorway. In her heightened state, Zecora’s heartbeat was easy to pick out, but it was an earthy scraping sound caught her attention a moment later.

She stepped around the side of the house, finding herself face to face with the zebra herself

“Oh!” Fluttershy glanced down, flashing a nervous grin. “Good morning, Zecora.”

As the pegasus slowly lifted her gaze, the soft glow of Zecora’s eyes stood out in the darkness . Her hooves and fetlocks were smeared with dirt, a small satchel with a few digging tools resting against her shoulder. Several plant stems protruded from either side of Zecora’s mouth, all of them vanishing as she dipped her muzzle into a satchel on her opposite shoulder.

The zebra gave her a big, toothy smile. “Always a pleasure, Fluttershy. May I ask why you’ve stopped by?”

“I um… I just wanted to get out of the house… before the sun comes up. I’m sorry for interrupting you.”

“You’ve not interrupted a thing, my dear.” Zecora stepped around Fluttershy, moving toward her front door. “I just finished gardening; never you fear.”

Fluttershy looked over the small, fenced in plot, tracing Zecora’s hoofprints though the tilled soil. “Don’t you usually gather your ingredients from the Everfree forest?”

“That was fine when there was not such demand, but I’m facing a shortage at my potions stand.” A trickling sound reached her ears. She glanced back to the zebra, watching her wash her hooves. “The basic ingredients rarely stay on my shelf, so it is more practical to grow them myself.”

“Well… if you’re selling so much that you’re having a hard time keeping your stock, I think that’s wonderful! I mean… That does mean business is going well, right?”

“Oh yes, business is going very well. There’s no ailment which my brews cannot quell! With, but a single exception…” The zebra bristled, glancing away. “The cure to this curse seems beyond my perception.”

“Don’t say that, Zecora… I’m sure you’ll figure it out if you keep trying.” Fluttershy smiled and nodded. “I know you can do it.”

“Yes, you’re right, I mustn’t lose hope. In the mean time, I’ll just have to cope.” Zecora put her forehoof on the handle of her front door, smiling back at Fluttershy. “I have work to do, but you’re welcome to join me. Perhaps you would enjoy a hot cup of tea?”

Fluttershy shook her head, glancing off toward the castle. “If it’s okay with you, I’d like to keep walking.” She turned back toward Zecora, head low. “Thank you very much for the offer though. Maybe some other time?”

“Yes, of course, when you find it more opportune. You’re always welcome, and I hope to see you soon.”

As Fluttershy continued down the path, she noticed a few lights flickering in the windows of some of the houses. For a moment, she feared that she might have woken the occupants. At the very least, the house Trixie was staying in was still completely dark.

Two earth pony guards were stationed by the castle’s front entrance, blinking blearily and standing up straight as she approached. It was Luna’s castle now, but there were at least two dozen of Celestia’s guards in circulation. Only a fraction of that number was on permanent assignment. She shrank back as they looked her over. After nodding to one another, the one to the right gave the wall a kick, and the enormous doors swung inward.

With a nod and a “thank you,” she passed into the chamber that once held the Elements of Harmony. This was one such area that Luna had decided to leave alone, effectively repurposing it as a courtyard, or perhaps an open-air marketplace. The Elements’ pedestal remained proudly in the center, covered in ivy that wavered in the gentle breeze. Behind that, the main spire of the castle stood tall against the glow of the rising sun, surrounded by scaffolding that looked skeletal in the early light. During the day, she knew that this space would be absolutely packed with ponies going about their business; buying, selling, and conversing. Her gaze swept over the dozen or so carts and stands that lined the walls of the courtyard. Soon, they would be full of fruits, vegetables, baked goods, drinks, and other merchandise.

The potions stand caught her eye as she approached the back wall. It was a structure that was built to completely shelter both the salespony and the client from the sun. A very strange looking sign hung over the front, carved and painted with exotic patterns. The fine silk drapes billowed in the wind. Fluttershy had no doubts about Zecora’s skill in alchemy, but the sheer uniqueness of her place of business certainly served as a form of advertising.

Fluttershy came to a stop in front of another doorway. Where there had once been the open mouth of an interior hallway, a second set of double-doors had been set into the castle wall, concealing it. A pair of pegasi stood on either side of the door, one of which possessing leathery, bat-like wings. She glanced to the mismatched pair of guards and smiled skittishly. They, in turn, glanced to one another and nodded. The door creaked open moments later.

Inside, the sound of her hooves reverberated off the walls. While the spire overlooking the courtyard was undergoing renovation, this hallway already resembled something more regal. It had been freshly restored and decorated, though it lacked a rug to cover the freshly installed marble of the floor. Instead of a straight shot to the throne room, as it had once been, the hall now opened into a recently added antechamber. Like the spire, it was far from finished. Tools and hunks of stone lay scattered across the room, and scaffolding stretched along the walls from floor to ceiling. A fine coat of dust had settled over everything during the night.

She made a lonely trail of tracks through the room, meandering toward the passage to the garden.

“Ah, Fluttershy…” The pegasus winced and froze to the spot, ears swiveling. “My apologies, it was not my intention to startle you.”

Fluttershy relaxed as she recognized Princess Luna’s voice, looking toward its origin. Luna stood among the scaffolding, regarding her with a playful grin. Her very presence instilled a feeling of comfort in Fluttershy, despite the fact that she still found the moon princess to be rather imposing.

“And what brings you to my little work in progress on the dawn of this fine day?”

“I… Oh, well, you see, Pinkie Pie is still asleep, and um…” She turned and tapped her forehoof against the floor, kicking up a small cloud of dust. “I just wanted to get some fresh air.”

“Yes, I imagine it must get rather boring when your friends spend half their time asleep. I understand you’ve taken up knitting to help you pass the time others spend in bed?” Fluttershy nodded sheepishly. The moon princess adopted a warmer smile in response. “There’s no shame in taking up a hobby to keep yourself occupied. Personally, I’ve always been fond of star gazing.”

At a loss for words, Fluttershy nodded again. The pegasus flinched as Luna glided off the scaffolding, a much larger cloud of dust billowing up around her when she touched down. Her conflicted feelings intensified as Luna approached her, half wanting to flee, half yearning to stay.

“Might I ask where you’re heading?”

Fluttershy took a step back, ears splaying. “Th-the garden...”

As if sensing her discomfort, the moon princess stepped into a more casual stance, lowering her head to eye level with Fluttershy. Her expression softened, losing its regal edge.

“I know that you and I have not spoken much,” she began, speaking more gently than Fluttershy believed her to be capable of. “But, should you ever feel the desire to do so, I want you to know that I will always be more than willing to listen.”

A warm, fuzzy feeling settled in Fluttershy’s breast. “Thank you,” the pegasus replied, a delicate smile coming to her lips. “And I’m sorry that I’ve been… well… avoiding you. I just… You’re a princess, and…”

Luna cocked a brow, her mischievous grin returning. “And you’re an Element bearer. A hero, no less. It’s not every day that a pony can claim to hold such an honor.” Still grinning, the moon princess bowed deeply. “And it would be my pleasure to accompany such an esteemed guest to her destination.”

“Well, okay...” Fluttershy looked down at her hooves, suddenly feeling bashful.

With Luna at her side, she slowly moved down the corridor, marveling at the improvements that had been made since her last passage. Compared to the decrepit corridor she remembered, it was like being in a completely different building. The floor, walls and ceiling had been fully restored, lanterns flickering along the ornately decorated walls, reflecting off of the finely polished marble. All of the windows facing out toward the garden had been replaced, a pattern like ivy etched into the borders of the glass.

“Is your new home suiting you well?” the princess asked.

“Oh yes, it’s wonderful.” Fluttershy nodded, peering out through the window. “Thank you so much for... well, for having it built in a secluded area.”

“Think nothing of it. But, if I may I inquire...” The pegasus turned back to Luna, ears perked attentively. “With the exception of Pinkie Pie and your other close friends, why do you refrain from interacting with others? Very rarely do I see you far from your home.”

“It’s not that I don’t enjoy company. I’m just...” Fluttershy glanced back down at the marble tiled floor. “I’m not the best at talking to ponies I don’t know very well…”

“That’s quite alright. I knew a mare, a long time ago. She preferred to keep to herself for the most part as well... she told me once that I was the only pony she considered her friend.” Luna looked away, her smile bearing a trace of sadness.

The echo of their hooves faded as they slowed to a stop. She followed Luna’s gaze, inspecting the recently added carving set into the door to the garden. Immediately, Fluttershy recognized the likeness of the mare tending to the roses.

Above the carving, she noticed an inscription. There are no words for what I’ve done to you, or for how sorry I am. Another inscription rested directly under the carving. Fluttershy read along silently: Wherever you are, I hope you find the peace that I denied you.

“Forgive me, I…” Luna closed her eyes, briefly shaking her head. “I shouldn’t talk about her.”

“No, it’s alright. I um… I’d like to hear more about her sometime. If you’d like that, I mean.”

Luna seemed to brighten up at the suggestion. “I would like that very much. Perhaps we can exchange stories?”

Fluttershy nodded deeply. “Of course.” She took a step closer to the door, hesitating. “But, um… Not to be rude, but I have a lot on my mind right now. I just want to be by myself to clear my thoughts.”

“It’s quite alright. I understand.” Luna turned, glancing back with one last smile. “Until we meet again.”

With a creak of hinges and oak, punctuated by a dry click, Fluttershy was alone once again. Outside, the world had come alive with sound. Birds of all sorts had taken to the air, filling the sky with music. Out of the corner of her eye, she sensed a light so intense that it began to blind her. She slowly moved to the center of the garden, facing in the direction of the rising sun, and sat amongst the untamed roses. Dozens of birds began to flock to her, chirping out their cheerful greetings. She spread her wings, giving them more space to perch. Some of them began to preen her feathers and mane. The feel of their tiny feet and their delicate beaks tickled just enough to make her giggle.

As the sun lifted higher, she could see less and less of her surroundings, her vision fading to little more than a white haze. Her strength followed, draining out of her as though someone had pulled a cork. Several of the birds gave chirps of concern, but she just smiled.

“I’m okay,” she told them, swaying in the rays of dawn.

In her mind’s eye, she painted a living picture. The sun was a glowing ember on the horizon, casting shadows that danced and stretched. She imagined all the birds around her as a fluttering pool of color, the roses as a soft, delicate shore. Suddenly, the birds dispersed, dispelling her portrait. Fluttershy kept her eyes closed, rebuilding her surroundings with her imagination. In the place of the birds, she felt a presence. Her ears uncovered no sound and no heartbeat. She remained seated, still and silent, waiting. After several moments, she felt it beside her, as though another pony were sitting next to her.

“This garden is quite an eyesore, isn’t it?”

“Oh, not at all,” Fluttershy answered, smiling. “I think it looks beautiful like this.”

She tilted her head to the side, imagining a mare with brilliant green eyes. Half of the mare’s face was covered by her mane. Fluttershy’s smile was not returned, and the mare glanced away, knitting her brow.

“How much longer are you going to keep doing this? You know how much Pinkie Pie worries when she finds you here.”

“She… she knows I’m okay.” The pegasus began to frown. “Right?”

“Pinkie really cares about you. It’s not fair that you do this to her.”

Fluttershy shook her head. “I’m not doing anything wrong.”

“But you are coming here for the wrong reasons.”

“I don’t want to forget about you.”

“You don’t have to forget, but you also can’t live in the past.” The mare turned back toward her, brow heavy with worry. “Please, don’t make the same mistakes. You need to let it go.”

“I can’t… I mean… I don’t think I’m ready. Every time I think about you, I…”

“It’s alright. These things take time… Tell you what; why don’t you try talking to Pinkie? She wants to help you, and talking about it might make it easier to sort out your feelings. Really, anything is better than sitting alone in a garden, talking to yourself.” The red mare smiled, and then she was gone.

Seconds later, she heard the sound of hooves on grass, accompanied by a steady heartbeat.

“Fluttershy?” Pinkie cautiously whispered.

“I was just thinking about you,” the pegasus murmured, still sitting with her eyes closed and her head raised toward the sky. “I’m sorry for leaving without letting you know where I was going... You just looked so peaceful, and I didn’t want to disturb you.”

“It’s alright,” Pinkie cooed, settling in beside her. “As long as you’re safe and happy, I’m a-okay with whatever shenanigans you want to get up to.”

Fluttershy tilted her head toward Pinkie, revealing her smile. “If you weren’t here for me, I’m not sure that I…” The pegasus leaned closer, resting her head against the side of Pinkie’s neck. “I don’t think I’ve ever said thank you.”

The pegasus felt Pinkie’s head resting against her own. “For what?” the earth pony asked.

“For being such a good friend, and looking out for me, and…” Fluttershy heaved a happy sigh. “Well, for just about everything, really. Thank you.”

A pair of forelegs wrapped around Fluttershy, squeezing her tightly. “You don’t have to thank me for that, silly…”

\/ /\ /\ \/

It had been a chilly morning, and even with the sun at not-quite-noon height, the air had a lingering bite of frost to it. For that reason, the crowd had dressed warmly for the most part. A dry rustle of dead leaves crackled softly on the wind; an ocean of red, orange, gold, and brown as far as Rainbow Dash could see. Much closer, lengths of white tape fluttered in the breeze, marking the near and far sides of a path that weaved through the trees. The pegasus knew that by sundown, the branches of every tree around Ponyville would be barren, and the following days would be full of raking. Between Dash’s forelegs, the warmth and toned softness of Applejack shifted slightly as she attempted get comfortable under their shared blanket.

“Yer not torn up on account a sitting outta yer Leaf Run?”

Applejack’s sharp inhale made Rainbow Dash wince. The pegasus glanced away from her, cocking a brow and smiling at Braeburn’s question.

“’s called The Runnin’ of the Leaves, tumbleweed,” Applejack quipped.

“Uh… AJ and I are taking it easy this time around. I mean, it’s only fair that we let some other ponies win after we’ve beat the horseshoes off the competition the last two years.” She gave Applejack a squeeze, meeting her gaze again. “Next year, though, she and I are going to show all these slowpokes a real race! Right, AJ?”

Dash watched as a smile tugged at the corners of Applejack’s lips. The earth pony nodded, but remained silent. All the while, Rainbow could feel Applejack shifting in her grasp again. She frowned as she caught a glimpse Applejack’s forehoof sliding over the mostly concealed stump of her left hind leg, where her flesh met wood. Realizing the motion had been noticed, Applejack quickly looked away.

Oblivious, Braeburn snickered, adjusting the brim of his hat. “Dunno if we’ll be in town fer that, but Ah’m sure you’ll give em’ hell.”

Dash turned back to him, trying to force a smile. “Yeah, it’s fine. You two are a long way from home. Couldn’t expect you to come here just to watch a race.”

“And no disrespect to yer friend Twilight, but Strongheart and Ah ‘re gonna step out a mite early.” Braeburn rolled off his haunches, stretching his fore and hind legs. He briefly glanced to his companion. “Got business ta ‘tend to in Canterlot ‘fore headin’ home.”

Though as far as Dash knew, the buffalo’s full name was still Little Strongheart, little was no longer an appropriate descriptor. In the years since their first meeting, Strongheart had grown considerably larger, now bearing a much stronger resemblance to her kin. The difference in size between Braeburn and Strongheart, as the buffalo sat beside him, struck Dash as near comical. Thankfully, the fits of laughter she experienced over their mismatch had mostly passed.

Little Strongheart smiled as she met Dash’s gaze, offering a deep nod. “We are extremely grateful for your hospitality, however.” She rose slowly, displaying practiced grace despite her larger stature. “And, as always, you are more than welcome to stay with us should you ever find yourselves out on the plains.”

“Same goes fer you an' yours, whenever yer in the area. Plenty o’ room on tha farm.” Applejack began to smile again as she looked between Braeburn and Strongheart. “Ya’ll take care now, an’ good luck.”

A breeze rolled through the trees as they nodded goodbye, the feathers jutting from the band of Braeburn’s stetson fluttering gently. The constant chatter from other spectators prevented a total silence from falling over Rainbow Dash and Applejack as they watched Braeburn and Strongheart depart, but for an uncomfortable stretch of time, they said nothing to one another. After what Dash assumed to have been several minutes, she quietly cleared her throat.

“So…” she began, causing Applejack to turn her way. “What do you make of that?”

“Well, Braeburn sent me a letter about it maybe a year ago, but that’s the first time Ah’ve seen ‘em together.” The earth pony glanced skyward, smiling fondly. “Ah think they’re a pretty cute couple, an Ah’m happy fer ‘em.”

“No, I mean about…” Dash leaned a bit closer, lowering her voice. “You know, what they said is going on in Appleoosa. I thought they settled their land dispute.”

Applejack sighed and leveled her brow. “Things change, Dash. Ah ain’t seen it fer myself, but Ah do know that Braeburn ain’t a liar… An Ah know that the rest o’ mah kin out that way ain’t none too pleased that he’s sidin’ with the buffalo.” She held up a forehoof, rolling it slowly as she spoke. “Ah’m sure the way they see it, they’re just usin’ advances in irrigation and land preparation, takin’ land that ain’t bein’ used by nopony... but they’re just playin’ stupid if they claim they don’t know they’re makin’ life harder fer the buffalo.”

She paused, snorting softly. “It’d be real easy ta just say it ain’t mah fight, since they’re all so far away, an’… Well, Ah ain’t in no shape ta go off playin’ diplomat. But mah family is right in the center of it. Makes me feel guilty even though Ah ain’t done no wrong. Apples are s’posed ta be honest… fair...”

“It’s not your fault, AJ. You couldn’t have known they would do this. Besides, from where I’m sitting, you’re the best damn Apple on your family tree.” The pegasus gave another squeeze. “Not everyone can be as amazing as you.” Applejack’s expression softened, cocking her brow at Dash as she cracked a smile.

“You think Celestia will tell ‘em to stop expandin’ their orchards into buffalo territory?” the earth pony asked when the moment had passed.

“Isn’t that more of a question for Twilight?”

Applejack flashed a sarcastic grin. “Twilight’s runnin’ a race, feather brain. Ah’m askin’ you.”

Dash snickered and nipped the earth pony’s ear. “Uh… I can’t see why she wouldn’t. She wants what’s best for everypony, right? If the Apples out in Appleoosa are taking land away from the buffalo, that’s bad for the buffalo, so she wouldn’t approve.”

“Alright, good. Ah jus…” Applejack sighed quietly. “Ah feel guilty ‘bout conspirin’ ‘gainst mah own family, too. Like Ah’m betrayin’ em by wantin’ Celestia ta tell ‘em to stop bein’ so selfish. Let’s… let’s talk ‘bout somethin’ else.”

The pegasus gave a slow nod. “Like what?”

Rainbow attempted to follow Applejack’s gaze as she turned away, toward the wide path that had been cleared for the race, the ponies on the other side of that path, and the swaying trees behind them.

“Like, do you really think I’ll be ready to take part in the race next year?”

“With me as your coach?” Dash closed her eyes and held her head up high, grinning confidently. “I am one hundred percent confident that you’ll be ready to leave all the other ponies in the dust. Eeexcept for me, of course.” She opened one eye, peering back at Applejack. “I’m not gonna take it easy on you just cause you’re one leg short.”

As soon as the words had left her lips, Rainbow Dash gritted her teeth, an intense feeling of regret coming over her. What little cheer Applejack had was washed right out of her, the delicate smile she had worn vanishing under a more somber expression.

“Wait…” Dash started to plead. Applejack looked away, snorting as the pegasus tried to hold onto her. “Wait, I didn’t mean it like that. I’m sorry.” Dash leaned forward, nosing Applejack between the ears. “I’m sorry,” she whispered.

Applejack stopped squirming, but remained tense. After what felt like an eternity, the earth pony glanced back at her.

“Am Ah still perty, Dash? An’ be honest with me. Ah’m a grown mare, Ah can take the truth.”

The pegasus parted her lips, taken completely by surprise. “What kinda question is that? Of course you’re still pretty!”

“Even though Ah’m missin’ a leg?” Applejack shifted again, moving Dash’s left forehoof to the remains of her left leg. “Even with the scars on mah flank?

“Applejack, you have always been, and still are, the absolute most beautiful, awesome, amazing mare I’ve ever known.” Rainbow Dash looked deep into her eyes and smiled. “Nothing will ever change that.”

“Good.” Applejack turned completely around, taking most of the blanket in the process. With a brow cocked, and a wide grin across her face, she added, “’Cause Ah always said Ah could beat ya with one leg tied, so yer gonna have plenty a time ta stare at mah butt from second place.”

Just like that, Dash’s concern melted away. She snorted, giggled, and mussed the earth pony’s mane with a forehoof, all while Applejack laughed with her. A much more comfortable silence fell over them after that, the likes of which Dash spent staring deep into her lover’s eyes in admiration. She began to lean in for a kiss when a steady rumbling rolled in from the distance. Immediately, the crowd was hushed. A single voice echoed out over the rising thunder. Even from so far away, it was unmistakably Pinkie Pie.

Applejack tapped her on the shoulder and began to point, eyes lit up with excitement. “Here they come,” she whispered at a near squeal. “How do ya think Twilight’s doin’?”

“That egghead is probably doing great, like always.” The pegasus turned toward the sound, one foreleg around Applejack’s back. “I’ll be surprised if she’s doing worse than fourth. You uh…” She nodded skyward. “Wanna go up for a better look?”

With an eager nod, Applejack shed her side of the blanket. She leaned into Dash, and the pegasus cradled her in her forelegs, holding her tight. The rest of the blanket slid off as Rainbow spread her wings, letting the breeze ruffle her feathers before she beat them against the air. They were high above the crowd in seconds.

From the air, Dash could see the dust cloud kicked up by dozens of ponies galloping together, some of them at full tilt, others quickly dropping back as they tired out. As expected, Twilight Sparkle was near the head of them all. At a glance, she looked to be doing as well as third place, tied with another pony trying to nose ahead of her.

“Aaaaaaand we’re closing in on the finish line, everypony! Get your cameras ready, cause this is gonna be a close one!”

Below, the crowd erupted into a frenzy of whistling, whooping, and hollering. Dash spotted Pinkie’s balloon floating lazily above the stampede, maintaining roughly the same altitude as her. The bubbly mare babbled on excitedly as she followed the race, slipping a “Hi Rainbow Dash! Hi Applejack!” into her commentary as she drifted by. Rainbow Dash glanced back down just in time to watch Twilight outrun her competition for third place, and the pegasus screamed out a cheer in unison with Applejack. The racing ponies passed by, pounding on toward the checkered tape of the finish line. A beautiful, seemingly endless cloud of leaves swirled in their combined back-draft, filling the air with fluttering color.

“Ladies and gentleponies,” Pinkie cried, “the winner of this year’s Running of the Leaves is—” To Dash’s mild disappointment, the combined roar of the spectators was enough to completely drown out the announcer. Of course, seeing that she and Applejack weren’t among the competitors, the winner didn’t really matter to her.

“Hang on, AJ!”

Rainbow Dash gave Applejack a little squeeze, grinning as the farmer met her gaze. She tilted toward the winner’s circle and stopped flapping, the wind tossing her mane and howling in her ears as she streaked through the air. All the while, the earth pony squealed with glee like a foal on a carnival ride, clinging to Dash for dear life.

The pegasus pulled out of her dive, gliding into a hover several noses above the ground. Carefully, she let Applejack down, making sure she had her balance before landing herself. The fresh coating of leaves gave a satisfying crunch under her hooves. Pinkie Pie’s balloon touched down a few dozen paces from them. Pinkie bounded out moments later, dressed in some kind of baggy sweater and waving excitedly. She stayed put, however, turning and peering back into the balloon’s basket.

“Come on now, silly,” she heard Pinkie say. “These are your friends!”

A pair of yellow ears and a flowing pink mane slowly peeked over the rim. Dash could see that Fluttershy had her eyes closed, but every so often, she would attempt to squint, her brow scrunching up in the process. As Dash continued to watch, Pinkie reached into the basket, taking Fluttershy by the forehooves and helping her climb out. With the timid pegasus safely on the ground, Pinkie slowly led her toward them, smiling brightly all the while.

“Why is she bringin’ her over here?” Applejack muttered.

“AJ, please… It’s Fluttershy.”

“Ah know damn well who it is, an’ she makes me uncomfertable.”

Dash snorted. “You’re being ridiculous. It’s the middle of the day. She’s powerless right now.”

“Zecora sure weren’t powerless when she tore through them guards…” Applejack quickly glanced between the approaching mares and Dash. She whispered, “Ah don’t feel safe around her, alright? Nothin’ against Fluttershy, she’s sweet as can be, but if she loses control—”

Fluttershy abruptly stopped several steps away, her ears splaying. “It’s okay, Applejack… I can go somewhere else. I’m sorry for upsetting you.”

“No, it’s fine.” Dash shot a disapproving glare to the farmer pony. “AJ just thinks you haven’t had any blood to drink recently. You’ve had your fill, right? That means it’s safe to be around you.”

Her head hanging low, Fluttershy seemed to shrink back.

“Hey!” Pinkie stepped in front of the retreating pegasus, giving them both the stink eye. “You can’t just ask her that kinda thing! That’s totally personal! I don’t ask if you’ve eaten anything because I’m afraid you’ll eat me, do I?!”

Rainbow Dash and Applejack shared a quick, startled glance at one another. While Dash began to snicker, the blond mare donned a scowl as her cheeks burned. Pinkie held her position, with her brow weighing heavily as she glanced between them.

“I um…” Fluttershy’s gentle voice broke the tension. She stepped out from behind Pinkie. “I fed recently, before going up in the balloon. I’m not thirsty at all right now, but if you still want me to leave…”

Applejack sighed. “Naw… Ya don’t gotta go nowhere. That weren’t… civil of me. Ah’m sorry.”

“Didn’t mean anything by it,” Dash added. “The drinking comment, I mean.”

Fluttershy smiled and shook her head. Apparently satisfied, Pinkie relaxed and stepped out of her defensive stance, the cheer quickly returning to her expression as she approached. Fluttershy followed close behind. The moment Pinkie came within a few noses of them, she struck the ground with a forehoof and bounded back to the balloon, leaving a very surprised pegasus in her wake. Murmuring something too quiet for Dash to understand, Fluttershy took a cautious step forward, slowly swiveling her ears. Applejack flashed a nervous frown and took a step back.

“Sorry!” Pinkie shouted across the open as she bounced back toward the group.

Dash cocked her head. Pinkie appeared to have the pole of an umbrella between her teeth. Without warning, the bubbly mare stabbed the umbrella into the ground on the exact spot she had made an imprint with her hoof less than a minute ago. The umbrella opened with a whoosh, and Fluttershy was completely blanketed in shadow. She squinted out of one eye first, and then, with a relieved smile, she slowly opened the other. Their soft glow was just barely visible from the shade of the umbrella.

“Thank you,” she softly said as she set herself down in the grass.

Without hesitation, Pinkie settled in beside her, giving an enthusiastic nod. “Don’t mention it!”

“Oh!” All four ponies turned toward the sound of Rarity’s voice, spotting her as she edged out of the crowd. The fashionista reared up, looking back into the mass of ponies. “Twilight, I’ve found them!”

A cheerful round of not quite simultaneous greetings poured out of them, nodding and waving in the pale unicorn’s direction. Never one to miss out on the chance to dress for an occasion, Rarity wore a fluffy looking parka with the hood folded back, the curls of her mane gathering in it and spilling over the sides. She smiled as she dropped back to all fours, giggling to herself as she joined the group.

“And you’re all looking simply lovely today! Applejack, Fluttershy, glad to see the two of you out and about.” Rarity paused as her gaze passed over Pinkie. “Good heavens, what is that?”

Failing to recognize the loathing in Rarity’s voice, Pinkie Pie grinned proudly. “Fluttershy taught me how to knit!”

Dash snickered as she watched Rarity and Fluttershy exchange glances. Fluttershy arched her brows and shrugged. Rarity sighed and approached the edge of the umbrella’s shadow. Before she could comment further, Pinkie changed the subject.

“Hi, Twilight! Hi, Spike!” The pink mare got back to her hooves and waved, grinning from ear to ear. Rainbow Dash glanced in the direction Pinkie was speaking, smiling as she caught sight of the unicorn and her draconic assistant. “Jeeze, wow! You’re taller than I remember, little guy!”

Spike looked the same as he always did to the pegasus, but then, Pinkie hadn’t seen him as often as she used to. Thinking back, Spike did seem a bit bigger than Rainbow remembered.

The little dragon grinned bashfully. “Aw, you’re just saying that, Pinkie!”

“And Twilight!” Pinkie threw her forelegs around the beaming unicorn. “You did super great today! We’re all so proud of you!”

Everypony gave nods and exclaimations of agreement. As it turned out, Dash had guessed correctly from the air. A medal bearing the number three hung from Twilight’s neck, and the scholarly unicorn seemed quite pleased with herself.

“Thanks girls! I actually trained for a few weeks before the marathon this time.” Twilight smiled, glancing around. “Could you tell?”

“Oh yeah!” Dash grinned, nodding, but not as enthusiastically as Pinkie. “Course, when AJ and I are in there next year—” Rarity cocked a brow, Spike rolled his eyes, and Applejack nudged the pegasus in the side, snickering. Dash cleared her throat. “Seriously, you did a totally awesome job, Twilight. I can’t wait to race with you next year.”

Twilight took a deep breath and grinned, looking almost bashful. “Thanks, Rainbow Dash. So what are you girls up to today?”

“Pinkie and I… ” Fluttershy hesitated as attention shifted to her, but as she looked to Pinkie, she smiled and continued. “We’re going to go visit the Cakes. You’re all more than welcome to join us, if you want to.”

“Ah’m down fer that. They got hot cocoa, right?” Applejack asked. Pinkie grinned and nodded in response. Applejack followed her example.

Rarity looked away from Pinkie’s sweater, ears perked. “Cocoa sounds just divine! Count me in.”

“Twilight, please tell me there’s time in your schedule for hanging out.” Spike peered up at her with big, puppy dog eyes. “Pleeeeease.”

“Pleaaaaase,” Pinkie mimicked, sliding in next to him.

“Well…” Twilight glanced away, then turned back toward them with a big smile. “I made sure this entire day was free, just in case eyerypony wanted to get together.” She giggled as Pinkie and Spike hugged her. “Now, how about we head over there? I seriously need to get off my hooves for a while.”

\/ /\ /\ \/

Ooooh, I should have sent out the invitations earlier! I should have sent them out at least a week in advance! Of course everypony else is busy; they didn’t know I was throwing a party this year! Pinkie Pie growled under her breath between outbursts, pressing her face against the window and scanning the darkened street for would be party goers. Not a single one! Ugh, this is a disaster! I’ve got all these balloons and streamers and cake and there’s nobody to enjoy it but Gummy! Well, Gummy and… She flopped down onto her haunches, and looked across the room.

Fluttershy gazed back at her, frowning, brow knitted with concern. Pinkie realized that it might have been difficult for any other pony to take her seriously, considering that she was dressed in a suit and matching bowler hat, with a pair of glasses that had a fake nose and mustache attached. For the timid pegasus, however, it was clear that Pinkie’s colorful display of frustration was anything but amusing. With this in mind, Pinkie sighed softly, leaning back against the wall.

She doesn’t even like Nightmare Night. She’s not even dressed up. She’s just been standing over there and drinking the punch and watching me have a super crazy meltdown. Why is she letting me use her house to throw this bomb of a party? Maybe she was hoping some of her friends would show up? Sorry, kiddo… I dropped the ball on that one. It’s just… The pegasus cocked her head as a tiny smile started to spread over Pinkie’s lips. Looks like it’s just you and me, Fluttershy.

“Pinkie… It’s okay, really.” Fluttershy bit her lower lip for a moment, glancing around the room. She motioned to the front door, adding, “I’m sure they’re on their way. You’ll hear a knock any minute now, and then you’ll get to throw your party.”

Flashing a half hearted smile, Pinkie shook her head. “It’s getting waaaay too late. If anyone was going to come, they would have been here by now.”

“Oh…” Fluttershy chewed her lower lip again, slowly trotting toward Pinkie. “Well, um, would you like to go see what Zecora is up to?”

“Mmmmnope. The Ponyville Nightmare Night committee hired her to do her usual storytelling bit. She told me Celestia gave her special permission to be out after dark just for tonight.”

The pegasus sat down beside her. “Trixie?”

Pinkie shook her head. “Doing magic for the Ponyville party.”

“Um… Princess Luna?”

“Making appearances.” Pinkie grinned, her joke glasses shifting with her cheeks. “It’s Nightmare Night, silly.”

Seemingly out of suggestions, the corners of Fluttershy’s mouth dipped into a frown, ears splaying. After a few moments of silence, her ears perked. The word “cute” did not even begin to describe Pinkie’s opinion of the display.

“You can still go out trick-or-treating,” Fluttershy offered. “Isn’t that what Scootaloo is doing?”

“Probably!” For several seconds, the bubbly earth pony brightened up. Her energy faded when those seconds passed, but her smile did not. “Hey, you can’t come with me if I do that, silly. I’d rather stay here.”

Fluttershy tilted her head to one side, a delicate smile on her lips. “I don’t mind. I don’t really like Nightmare Night anyway. Go on, have fun.”

Still smiling, Pinkie shook her head again. “It’s not really worth it if you can’t tag along.”

“Oh, Pinkie… I… You don’t…” Fluttershy looked away, but Pinkie glimpsed the start of a blush on her cheeks. “You’re always so nice to me, and…” The pegasus gasped quietly, a tiny shiver running through her. Pinkie feared for a moment that Fluttershy might begin to cry. “And I…”

Okay, she’s not crying. That’s good. But she’s so quiet all the sudden… Oh, no, she’s making noise again! Wait, still not crying. That was a deep breath. Is… Did she shudder again? Maybe she’s crying all quiet like. Should… should I say something? I should at least ask her if she’s okay.

Before Pinkie could get a word in, the pegasus turned just slightly, glancing back out of the corner of her eye.

“Well,” Fluttershy finally mumbled, “thank you.”

“Oh, come on, silly. How many times do I have to tell you that you don’t need to thank me? You’re my friend.”

Still looking to the far side of the room, the pegasus nearly whispered, “There’s… there’s something I want to ask you. I don’t know if I should, though. I mean… You’re my friend, and no matter what, I wouldn’t ever want to change that.”

When Fluttershy turned back toward Pinkie, she paused, her lips moving without making any sound. The pegasus looked down afterwards, her cheeks now a bright shade of red.

Pinkie reached out, putting her forehooves on Fluttershy’s. “I didn’t really hear what you just said! But, whatever it is that you want to tell me, I Pinkie-Promise that I won’t get upset.”

“I um… I… I said that I… That… Pinkie…” Fluttershy slowly lifted her head, briefly meeting Pinkie’s gaze. “I’m worried because... I think that what I’m about to tell you will change things… you know… between us.”

“Oh… you’re not gonna tell me you want me to move out, are you?” Pinkie withdrew her hooves, tucking them under her chin. “I’m sorry I make so much noise sometimes, I just get so energetic and I wanna jump and dance and sing!”

The pegasus giggled, shaking her head, but she continue to avoid eye contact. “No, Pinkie, I like that about you. If it were just up to me, we would sit around doing nothing all the time, but you… you want me to go places with you, and have fun. I wouldn’t ever want you to change that.”

“Iiiis this about how I leave the front door open sometimes?”

Fluttershy outright laughed at that, leaning forward and smiling up at the earth pony. “Okay… while I do want you to work on that, I don’t think that would…” Her confidence evaporated, and she glanced away again. “That wouldn’t change things…”

“Okay, well…” Pinkie put her hooves back on Fluttershy’s. “What do you wanna tell me?”

Several seconds of silence followed. Fluttershy punctuated them by taking a deep breath, finally locking eyes with Pinkie. “I’ve been… thinking a lot lately… I don’t know if this happened because you’ve been living here with me, or if I’ve always felt like this and just never realized it, but I… Pinkie, I…”

The winged mare exhaled. “I like you… no, that’s not… I... I think I’ve fallen in love with you.” Pinkie felt her jaw drop, but she couldn’t close her mouth, and she couldn’t look away. “No... Oh no... This was a mistake… I’m sorry that I told you. I didn’t want to make you feel uncomfortable… but I felt like I wasn’t being honest by keeping it to myself. If you want, you can just pretend I never said anything, okay?”

“Oh…” Pinkie mumbled. “Hey, Fluttershy....” The earth pony began to smile. “You just took the words right outta my mouth.”

Fluttershy’s eyes opened wide. “R-really?”

“See… I thought, she just got out of a relationship, and she’s probably still really upset, and she won’t want to date a silly-nilly pony like me! And… well, I was just gonna keep it to myself until who-knows-when. But I guess I was wrong, huh?”

All Fluttershy seemed capable of at that moment was a nod, blushing intensely; her gentle smile could melt glaciers. She parted her lips, starting and stopping several times before she finally whispered, “What happens now?”

Pinkie leaned a little closer, sliding a forehoof to Fluttershy’s breast. “What do you want to happen now?”

“C-can we maybe…” Fluttershy drifted a few noses closer. The heat of her breath rolled over Pinkie’s coat. She looked up, timid, but eager. “You know… kiss a little?”

Somewhere in the back of Pinkie’s mind was the fear that she was dreaming the whole thing up, but she pushed the thought from her mind, lifting her forelegs higher, cradling the pegasus against her. The gentle glow of Fluttershy’s gaze was intoxicating. She took a deep, slow breath through her nose as she closed her eyes.

“Mmhmm… I was hoping you would ask...”

\/ /\ /\ \/

Chapter 12: Winter

Chapter Twelve: Winter

\/ /\ /\ \/

“If you would be so kind as to put those in the kitchen—” Rarity pranced anxiously, watching as Trixie clumsily levitated a box of fine china through the doorway. “Oh! Do be careful, they’re very fragile!” She glanced to the other, more professional moving ponies as they carefully unloaded a box labeled ‘sewing supplies’. “I would like that upstairs, in the same room as the desk. Thank you kindly.”

Trixie emerged from the front door, holding her head proudly. Her breath rolled up in a puffy white cloud as she spoke. “The Great and Powerful Trixie did not chip a single plate. Hold your applause, please.”

Rarity grinned and rolled her eyes. “Yes Trixie, very impressive.” She turned her attention to the young dragon beside her as he sighed quietly, emitting a similar puff of fog.

Oh, now this won’t do at all.

“Spike,” she gently began, “you’ve been awfully quiet.”

“I just have stuff on my mind, I guess…” Spike looked up at her, forcing a smile. “So how do you like being a royal seamstress?”

“Well, I’ve only just begun, but it has been simply wonderful so far!” She glanced off toward the fully restored castle spire rising above the surrounding homes. “The work I’ve already done has been rather challenging, but also quite fun. Princess Luna has all sorts of interesting projects lined up for me, or so I’m told.”

“That’s cool,” Spike mumbled, “I guess.”

Frowning, Rarity lowered her head, the zipper of her parka jingling when she gently nosed the dragon. “You certainly don’t sound all that thrilled about it. Would you like to tell me what’s troubling you?”

Spike shook his head. “It’s nothing.”

With a pout, Rarity added, “Please?”

“It’s just…” Spike sighed again, looking down at his claws. “Well, this place isn’t even that far from Ponyville, so it’s not like you’re moving out of the area, and I’m really happy for you—really really happy—because I know how much this means for you and what it will do for your reputation as a fashion designer, but…”

“But?” she asked, arching her brows.

“But this town isn’t Ponyville, and it is kinda far away. I mean, did you really have to sell the boutique and move out to the middle of the Everfree Forest? Couldn’t you have kept working from your old home? Will we still get to hang out with you being busy working for Luna?” Rarity took a breath to respond, but Spike continued. “And there are monsters out here. The Everfree Forest is dangerous, and I don’t want anything bad to happen to you.”

“Oh, Spike, of course we’ll still get to spend time together. You’re my friend; I’ll always make time for you.” She rubbed his chin with a fetlock. “But I do feel that moving was necessary. This is the beginning of the next phase of my career, and a change of scenery was necessary to accommodate that.”

“Yeah, but… I dunno, this place isn’t exactly Canterlot. I don’t see what the big deal is.”

“This place is called Duskhoof, and even though it was founded less than half a year ago, look how many ponies have moved here in that short span of time. This is where Luna has decided to make her home, and ponies will always herd around royalty.” She began to grin, looking off toward the spire again. “I’m on the razor edge of the next big thing, Spike. I’m going to be somepony!”

The exclusivity! The prestige! Her mind buzzed with fantasy. They’ll forget every little stumbling block I’ve had thrown across my path! It’s so close I can almost— She came back to reality as she realized that Spike had spoken.

“Sorry dear, I was miles away. Could you repeat that?”

“I said, what about the monsters?” He wrung his claws, staring up at her with big puppy-dog eyes. “There have been a lot more monster sightings around Ponyville because of all the lumbering and construction out here. It’s only a matter of time ‘till they try and attack this place! Er… Duckhoof.”

“Duskhoof,” she corrected. “Both princesses have dedicated royal guards to defending this town and Ponyville in the event of an attack. Neither of them are interested in seeing a repeat of the hydra massacre.”

She paused for a moment. Has is really been nearly half a year? When was the last time I lit a candle for Aloe?

Rarity cleared her throat. “Besides, we have Zecora, Fluttershy, and Luna to protect us here. I’m quite certain that no harm will come of me.”

Spike continued to frown, but he nodded just the same; a gesture Rarity assumed to mean agreement. The unicorn took a moment to check the progress of the movers. They had only just begun to get into her clothing, unloading several boxes catalogued by the seasonal fashion to which their contents corresponded. Satisfied, she let her gaze wander.

It had snowed the night before. The first snow of winter swirled along the hardened ground like powdered sugar in the wind. A hint of inspiration struck her as she watched the snow settle, but before she could solidify the idea, a set of lavender hooves stepped into view. Though her train of thought had been broken, Rarity smiled and lifted her gaze to meet that of Twilight Sparkle. Seeing Twilight wearing the scarf and coat Rarity had designed for her filled the fashionista with pride. Out of the corner of her eye, she could also see Spike’s expression change almost instantly.

“Hiya Twilight,” the dragon proclaimed with a grin.

“Sorry about that. It took a little longer than I thought.” Twilight glanced to Spike, then back to Rarity. “I hope I didn’t miss much.”

“Oh, hardly. And no worries dear, Spike has been keeping me company.” Rarity rested a hoof on the back of his head, then arched a brow. “How went your audience with the princess?”

“Pretty good, I think! Princess Luna is starting to get correspondence from other nations. Mostly requests that she have an emissary or two from each nation in her court to make sure their interests are represented.”

“Ah!” Rarity’s smile became even brighter at the thought of meeting important individuals from far off lands. “That’s quite an exciting development, then.”

Twilight waved her forehoof around, grinning. “It’s not such a big deal, actually. When she lived in Canterlot, she had access to all the diplomats since they already worked for Celestia. It makes sense that she should have her own now that she has her own palace.”

“Naturally,” agreed Rarity, nodding.

“Also, she uh…” Twilight’s smile faded. “She got an appeal from the Buffalo too. I guess Celestia’s visit to Appleoosa didn’t really resolve much, so now they’re asking for Luna’s help too.”

Rarity and Spike exchanged glances. “Yes, well…” Rarity gently tapped a hoof. “Let us refrain from divulging that bit of information to Applejack, at least for the moment. I would hate to see her in poor spirits.”

Twilight looked to the right of Rarity and murmured, “Speaking of—” Her smile returned as she shouted, “Hey girls!”

Rainbow Dash glided to a stop, kicking up snow as her hooves met the ground. “Morning, everypony. I know we’re kinda late.”

The pegasus folded her wings against her fluffy-looking flight jacket, ruffling her feathers in the process. Applejack was right behind her, wearing what looked to be a duster. Rarity looked between the two, admiring their choice of attire.

“Had to bring in the last of the farmin’ tools,” Applejack explained. “The darn weather team didn’t warn us ‘bout the snow ahead a’ time.”

Tilting her head, Twilight stated, “I thought you weren’t a part of the weather team anymore, Rainbow Dash.”

Rarity cocked a brow as her gaze settled on Dash. “Indeed,” she mused, nodding. “I was under a similar assumption.”

“I’m not. Still, you know, it would have been considerate.” Dash shrugged. “Pegasus to pegasus and stuff.”

Rarity smiled and shook her head. “Well, think nothing of it. As I already told Twilight, you haven’t missed anything of importance.”

Dash smiled and cracked her fetlocks. “Alright, awesome. Let’s get to work then!”

The pegasus had already snagged a box full of sweaters and zoomed into the house before Rarity could stop her. She sighed quietly and managed a smile while the others snickered.

“’s just us, then? Ah can try mah hoof at heavy liftin’ but, well…” Applejack tapped her left hind against the cobblestone, producing a wooden clunk. “Mah balance ain’t what it used to be.”

Twilight lifted her head, wearing a warm smile. “Actually, if you don’t mind me opening your windows, I can probably move everything in from right here.” She looked over at the cart, narrowing her eyes. “I made sure to schedule plenty of time, just in case you needed my help, but it probably won’t take longer than a few minutes.”

“Oh, no, you needn’t trouble yourselves!” Rarity gestured toward the cart. “The moving company I’ve hired should be more than enough.”

Twilight seemed almost disappointed when Rarity met her gaze. “Alright, that’s fine too.”

“Twilight, darling, it’s not that I wouldn’t appreciate your help! But, these lovely stallions are being paid by the hour, and it would hardly be fair of me to deprive them of work.” Rarity grinned as Trixie passed her with a box full of scarves. “Trixie is only helping because she refuses to take no for an answer. I get the feeling Rainbow Dash will respond similarly, but I know that the two of you will be more reasonable.”

With a little sigh, Twilight’s frown was replaced with a smile. Applejack chuckled and nodded. They watched Dash as she shot by empty-hooved and grabbed another box.

Trixie was hot on her tail. “If you want a race,” the unicorn cried, “The Great and Powerful Trixie will happily oblige!” The pair of them darted back inside, nearly knocking over a burly earth stallion that was lugging a box of gems.

“You can take the show-pony out of the show,” Spike began, “but you can’t take the show out of the show-pony.”

Rarity grinned. “At any rate, I didn’t invite anypony here to help me move. I invited you all because this is a housewarming party.”

“Oh,” said Applejack and Twilight in unison. Applejack’s brow and mouth scrunched up as she adopted a puzzled demeanor, but it was Twilight who asked, “I’m no expert on parties, but aren’t you supposed to wait until after you’ve finished unpacking for that?”

“That’s what I said, but Pinkie Pie insisted on throwing it on the same day that I’ve moved in. She and Fluttershy haven’t made their appearance yet.” Rarity glanced down the road. “I imagine they’ll be along shortly, though.”

Rarity turned her gaze toward Applejack. “Also, if you don’t mind my saying, you look to be managing quite well. Your limp isn’t nearly as pronounced as it was.”

“Aw, shucks.” The farmer donned a bashful smile. “Yer just sayin’ that. Ya really think so?”

“Oh, absolutely! Spike,Twilight; don’t you agree?” Twilight and Spike nodded in agreement. With a tilt of her head, and a sly smile, Rarity asked, “Applejack, really; do I strike you as the kind of pony to compliment half-heartedly?”

Applejack grinned, closed one eye, and raised her forehoof just a nose off the ground. “Ehhh…”

They burst out laughing, gradually trailing off into snickers and giggles.

“I mean it, though,” said Rarity. “A lesser mare wouldn’t be able to deal with it as well as you have. I know I certainly couldn’t.”

Applejack nodded slowly, bearing a fragile smile. “Thank you. ‘s not as hard as it looks. Ah mean, Ah don’t have much of a choice.” Dash flew by, several stockings fluttering out behind her. Applejack snorted out a chuckle. “Havin’ her around, though… Dash up an’ quit her job an’ moved in with me, just to make sure Ah didn’t have ta do this alone.”

She locked eyes with Rarity, then Twilight. “She’s where mah strength really comes from.”

A soft ‘mmm’ purred from between Rarity’s lips. Before she could comment further, a bubbly peal of laughter drew her attention. She and Twilight glanced briefly to Applejack, who took a deep breath and nodded.

“Ah’m alright.” Applejack put on a smile that looked more like a grimace. “Don’tcha worry bout me.”

Moments later, Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy trotted into view. Fluttershy flashed a nervous smile from Pinkie’s side, eyes glowing softly beneath the rim of her sun hat. The pegasus had near-completely concealed herself with a long, flowing dress. The spring colors of the fabric seemed out of place against the fresh snow. A monstrous, garishly pink sweater hung awkwardly from Pinkie’s body, too tight in some spots and too loose in others.

Rarity cringed at the sight of it. Oh, for goodness sake… Fluttershy, what have you created?

“Goooood morning everypony!” Pinkie cheerfully announced.

“I will not tolerate these atrocities for much longer,” Rarity quietly informed Fluttershy.

Applejack and Spike began to snicker. Fluttershy wrinkled her nose, but offered no comment in return.

Pinkie cocked her head. “Atrocities?” The bubbly mare maintained her beaming grin. “Whaddya mean by that?”

In seconds, Spike had doubled over with laughter. Twilight grinned and rolled her eyes.

Cracking the slightest of smiles, Fluttershy took a deep breath and said, “Good morning, Rarity. Good morning, Spike. Good morning, Twilight. And um…” She paused, her smile fading. She glanced down, her face hidden by the brim of her sunhat. “Good morning, Applejack.”

An uncomfortable silence settled over the group as they waited for Applejack to respond. Rarity cleared her throat softly. Pinkie leaned forward, wiggling her ears and arching her brows, silently pressing the farmer.

“Good mornin’ to you too, ‘Shy,” Applejack said at last, her body still rigid like a statue. “How’ve you been?”

There you go, dear. Just like old times. Rarity let out a quiet sigh of relief, smiling and nodding to Pinkie. In that same moment, Dash zipped by, shouting her hellos as she cradled a nightstand between her legs. Trixie heaved and gasped as she struggled to keep up, dragging a mirror behind her.

“Oh, I’ve been doing very well, thank you.” Fluttershy pawed at the ground. “Now that there are more ponies living in the area, I’ve had more veterinary work to keep me busy.”

Applejack arched a brow, beginning to smile. “Oh yeah?”

Fluttershy peeked out from under the brim of her hat. Her demeanor began to change, a smile spreading across her lips. “Mostly birds and cats and dogs. At the moment, I’m one of the only ponies in this town with chickens. How are things on the farm?”

“Oh, you know. Same old, same old.” Though tense at first, Applejack seemed to be slowly relaxing. “Saw a cockatrice a few nights ago. Big Macintosh scared it off with his shotgun, but that ain’t exactly a permanent solution.”

Twiligh’s eyes widened. “Yikes. You girls saw another one?”

Applejack nodded slowly. “Third one this month. Ain’t no mystery where they’re comin’ from. Me an’ Mac reckon we oughta build a fence ‘round the Everfree side of the orchard.”

“See,” shouted Spike, “I wasn’t exaggerating!”

“I could come by and try to talk to it,” Fluttershy offered, lifting a forehoof. “If you want me to, that is.”

Applejack began to smile, tipping back her hat with a fetlock. “That’d be mighty kind of ya. If you don’t, Mac’s probably just gonna shoot the thing.”

Fluttershy’s eyes widened with alarm. “Oh, that would be terrible! I’ll stop by tomorrow if that’s okay with you.” Applejack nodded, and the pegasus added, “If the cockatrice uses its stone gaze on anything before then, make sure that you do not kill it. Only a cockatrice can reverse that spell.”

“What spell?” Rainbow Dash asked.

Rarity looked over her withers, smiling as she met Dash’s sweeping gaze. A round of hellos were exchanged, welcoming the hovering pegasus back into the circle.

“Cockatrice troubles,” Twilight informed her.

“Oh, you told them about the cockatrice, AJ?” Dash fluttered to a stop beside Applejack, grinning in the direction of the house. Rarity noticed that Trixie had collapsed against the doorway, panting out rolling clouds of fog. “Those things aren’t so tough.” She shuddered, adding, “They’re kinda freaky, though.”

“Mmhmm.” Applejack nodded in Fluttershy’s direction. “Fluttershy offered to help us out, though.” Fluttershy gave a beaming smile and an enthusiastic nod. “Shouldn’t be a problem no more.”

“I should certainly hope not.” Rarity glanced over her friends, then back to Twilight. The scholarly unicorn had an almost distant look on her face. “Twilight? Is something troubling you?”

“Oh!” Twilight shook her head, then donned a smile. “I’m sorry, I was just thinking, I guess. It feels like it’s been a while since we’ve all been together like this. I’m happy to see all of you.”

“I couldn’t agree more.” Rarity looked around her nodding friends and smiled. “Well, I don’t know about all of you, but I am positively freezing. My new home has a fireplace, and I’ve been just dying to use it!” She gestured toward her new home. “Why don’t we head inside? Applejack, you know how to start a fire, don’t you?”

Applejack gave a solid nod.

“Splendid! While you’re busy with that, I’ll see if my mugs are still on the cart.”

\/ /\ /\ \/

The sound of laughter seeped in through the window and the delicate layer of frost which glazed it. Another stray snowball thumped against the side of the house moments later. The culprits were indisputably Pinkie Pie and Scootaloo, deep in the throes of a snowball fight. Zecora met Applebloom’s curious stare from across her alchemy table, returning her thoughts to their conversation. They shared a smile.

“I’m sure she will appreciate it very much,” the zebra nearly whispered. “Your work always has a special touch.”

Nodding eagerly, Applebloom glancing back at her sister, then to Zecora. On the far side of the room, Rainbow Dash and Applejack were deep in conversation. Try as Zecora might to resist eavesdropping as she worked, with such sensitive ears, she was finding it very difficult. The young mare was providing an adequate distraction, however, making it easier to tune them out.

Appleboom leaned a little closer to the table. “An’ you promise not to tell her anything, right?”

“Goodness, Applebloom, do you think I’m unwise?” She chuckled softly, reaching for a bunch of pine needles. “I have no intention of spoiling your surprise.”

“Ah know, Ah ain’t sayin’ Ah don’t trust ya. It’s just important to me is all.” Applebloom craned her neck higher, trying to get a better look at what Zecora was doing. The zebra smiled and leaned back, giving her a clear view. “So what will this do once yer done mixin’ it?”

“Many requests have I been told for a potion to resist the cold. It is a very simple brew, hardly anything you’d call new.” Zecora paused, glancing to the clock hanging over Applejack and Rainbow Dash. “But this may be all the work I have time for today. In Rarity’s latest project, I have a part to play.”

Just looking in their direction was enough. Their words began to flood her ears, clear as crystal.

“…still haven’t talked to her, sugarcube?” The concern was evident in Applejack’s voice, even at such a low volume. “Ya gotta at least say yer sorry.”

“AJ, I haven’t told anypony about what happened.”

“That don’t mean it‘s just gonna go away, Dashie.” Applejack lifted a hoof to the pegasus’s shoulder. “This ain’t somethin’ a pony should keep bottled up.”

“Yeah…” Dash heaved a heavy sigh. “Yeah, I know.”

“What kinda project, Zecora?” Applebloom inquired.

Zecora happily returned her attention to her friend and mused, “The frozen ground will not yield to her, but she is quite a savvy entrepreneur. A shortage of gems she needs to amend, so a Diamond Dog deal is a means to this end.”

“She’s gonna what?!” Applejack shouted from across the room.

The outburst made Zecora feel less guilty about eavesdropping. “This is what she told to me. I will be accompanying her for security.”

“That’s crazy!” Dash fluttered across the room mid sentence, Applejack following close behind. “What if they try and ponynap her again?”

Zecora cocked a brow and put on a big, toothy grin. “Though I mostly detest this curse, to some of its effects, I’m not so averse. Neither of you need to fear. I promise to bring her safely back here.” She stepped away from her mortar and pestle, moving toward the front door. Her cloak rustled softly as she slipped into it. “So, if I’m not mistaken, it’s an hour past noon. I thank you for visiting, but I’ll be departing soon.”

The guests gathered their things and accompanied Zecora outside, waiting for Rarity with her. Only a few minutes after locking the door, Zecora’s ears perked to the sound of Rarity’s voice. The fashionista made her way down the freshly shoveled path, smiling and bidding hello to the ponies she passed, raising her voice to greet Zecora once she was at a resonable distance.

“Good afternoon, my dear! I trust you’re ready to—”

Applejack barred Rarity’s path. “Now hold on a minute! Yer really just gonna canter into Diamond Dog territory an try ta strike a deal with em’?!”

“I mean, seriously?” Dash added. “What makes you think you can trust those monsters?”

Arched brows were Rarity’s initial response. Zecora shrugged when the unicorn looked to her for an explanation. Rarity uttered a long, dramatic sigh, her breath rising as a dense fog.

“Yes, I do intend on attempting to strike a deal with the Diamond Dogs. They’re mining experts, and quite frankly, I haven’t the time or resources to devote to procuring my own supply of gems these days. Besides,” she said with a coy smile, “they can be reasonable if you know how to talk to them.”

“We’re comin’ with ya then.” The farmer glanced to her companion. “Right, sugarcube?”

Dash nodded.

“I appreciate the gesture, but that won’t be necessary.” Applejack and Rainbow Dash went slack jawed. Rarity locked eyes with the zebra again, nodding in her direction. “I believe Zecora will be capable of providing more than enough protection.”

“We’ll return before dark, you’ll see.” Zecora smiled, bowing her head. “I promise that you needn’t worry.”

Rarity flashed a smile, turning toward the bridge out of town. “Quite. Now, let’s be on our way, shall we? Celestia won’t hold the sun just for us.”

“Well, shoot,” Applejack muttered. “Ya’ll come back safe, ya hear?”

Zecora smiled and glanced over her wither as she followed Rarity toward the edge of town.

Applebloom reared up on her hind legs, waving. “Otherwise we’ll come lookin’ fer ya!”

Some of the snow that had been shoveled was in the process of swirling back across the cobblestone. The bridge across the cliffs swayed gently, the banks of the river below glistening with ice. Whistling wind and creaking trees drowned out the last sounds of Duskhoof as they pressed into the Everfree Forest. Just a few weeks before the first snow, a wide road had been cleared through the forest, providing a straight shot to Ponyville. It seemed as though the forest was already trying to reclaim lost ground, its branches stretching over the road from both sides.

“So…” Rarity began. “We’re going to go in, make our proposition, and leave once business is concluded. No coercion, no false offers.”

“Provided that things go according to plan; we’ll just have to see how the events pan.” The zebra pursed her lips as a thought occurred. “But if I may be permitted to ask, what will you offer for their aid in your tasks?”

“Ah, yes, I suppose I should have addressed that sooner. At first, I thought that offering them bits would be pointless, because they essentially live separate from pony society.” The unicorn paused, lifting a hoof to her breast. “Then I thought to myself, Rarity, darling, just because they’re monsters doesn’t mean they don’t enjoy comfort and convenience!”

Rarity glanced back at Zecora, grinning. “So, I spoke with Princess Luna. She said that as long as they agree to follow the rules and act with civility, they are more than welcome to trade with us and use whatever resources are available at Duskhoof. Within reason, of course.” Rarity let her hoof drop, glancing around. “Should we turn here?”

Zecora nodded, scanning her line of sight and slowly swiveling her ears. The forest was teeming with life under its blanket of snow. In the distance, several timber wolves paused to look in their direction, blending seamlessly with their surroundings. Rarity levitated a few branches aside as she made her way into the brush, oblivious to their presence. They turned, then froze again as Zecora bared her fangs and emitted a low growl.

“Try me,” she breathed, her eyes flickering.

The timber wolves looked amongst one another before slinking away. Zecora snorted with satisfaction and stepped off the path.

“A decree like that carries great finality. Is their answer the hinge to our hospitality?”

“Well, no…” Rarity stepped over a fallen tree, weaving around the branches that threatened to catch in her mane. “Luna has already made the decision. They’re welcome to come and go whether they agree to help me or not, but I’m hoping that my bearing the olive branch will motivate them to make a deal.”

Gradually, the trees began to thin out, opening into a barren stretch of snow bordered by rocky ridges. A strong gust of wind tore across the plain, blowing up a cloud of snow. The pair of them braced against the sting. Zecora opened an eye cautiously as the wind died down. Several dirt mounds had been revealed, the closest of which Zecora began to inspect. They looked to have been filled in. Rarity joined her, chewing her lower lip.

“I see that I was correct in assuming that they would seal the entrances to their tunnels.” The unicorn met Zecora’s gaze, her ears folding back slightly. “Not that I want to ask any more of you than I have already, but I don’t suppose you would be capable of clearing the way?”

“Yes, I should think so.” The zebra rolled her head, her neck cracking. She studied the mound of frost-hardened earth, occasionally glancing skyward. A thick group of clouds began to block out the sun, bringing a grin to her lips. “Stand back while I deliver the blow.”

In the absence of sunlight, she felt her strength increase dramatically. She wasted no time unsheathing her knife, cutting a pair of thin lines behind her fetlocks. The warmth of her blood rolled toward her hooves, then spread to the sides. She reared up, fully engulfing her forehooves in glistening crimson. Jets of fog rolled away from her nostrils as she exhaled slowly, willing her blood to harden. Her breast swelled as she filled her lungs with fresh air, the rest of her body tensing, and then she released. With a thunderous crack, she drove her hooves straight down, forcing the frozen soil to shatter and shift around the points of impact.

Zecora eased some of the tension out of her body, letting the blood flow again. She could feel it seeping into the cracks, thawing the earth around her hooves as it spread outward. In a single, fluid motion, she whipped her head back, the rest of her body following. Massive chunks of frozen dirt and rock came with her, scattering out behind and around her. A warmer breeze rushed to meet her as she gazed down into the dark tunnel she had opened. Her wounds expelled any loose dirt or rock and sealed cleanly, but she directed her free blood into a pair of vials at her shoulders, corking them soon after.

“Wonderful!” Rarity squealed. “Thank you so very much!” She stepped out of her gleeful canter as she approached the edge of the tunnel, glancing back at Zecora. “Let’s get on with it then, shall we?”

They began their cautious descent into the dark passages of the diamond dogs’ home, Zecora leading the way. The tunnels greatly amplified any sound made in or around them, and her ears swiveled as tiny, distorted noises echoed to her. Through careful navigation, they eventually found themselves staring back at a rather startled-looking, bipedal canine. She leaned forward, narrowing her eyes, idly scratching the base of her ear with a massive front paw.

“Ponies?” she questioned, blinking several times. Rarity took a breath to respond, but the diamond dog interrupted her. “Nice try, Cliff, but I’m not falling for this again!”

“I’m not quite sure what you mean by that, but…” she put on a charming smile, and lifted her head proudly. “My name is Rarity, and I have come here with a business proposition!”

“Falling for what?” barked another diamond dog. “And who was that?” This one leaned around a corner, then perked his ears. “What are ponies doing here?!”

“Ponies?!” came a howl from further down the tunnel.

In minutes, the confused yapping of the dogs had become deafening to Zecora. She folded her ears back, trying to block out the noise. Rarity flashed a nervous smile as she tried to speak over the growing crowd, all of them pointing and shouting excitedly. Slowly, the unicorn began to recede, putting Zecora between herself and the dogs.

“Enough!” cried a single voice from behind the mob of canines. “Ponies, why have you come here?” A grey diamond dog wearing a red vest stepped through the mumbling gathering. He came to an abrupt stop as he laid eyes on Rarity. “You! What do you want, pony?!”

Rarity jumped on the chance to finally get a word in. She quickly stepped around Zecora, held up her head, and put on a confident smile.

“Salutations to each and every one of you! We apologize for our unannounced arrival, but our purpose here is one that we feel you will greatly appreciate!” She looked over her audience, finally locking eyes with the dog wearing the vest. “You see, I would like to make you an offer, one that I believe is very reasonable.”

\/ /\ /\ \/

Nearly a full week had passed since the last snowfall. The path from the house to the barn hadn’t needed any plowing in that span of time, for which Macintosh was grateful. However, as the walls of snow on either side of that path repeatedly melted and solidified, the occasional salting was necessary to keep the path from icing over. Brie had almost slipped once, and he wasn’t eager to see her topple over for real. Cows weren’t quite as nimble as ponies.

The late day sun cast an orange glow over the frozen landscape, which he admired as he made his way out to the barn.

“Applebloom,” he called from several paces to the door. “Didn’t you hear the dinner bell? We ain’t gonna eat without ya.”

Silence filled the space between him and the barn. He glanced toward the glowing horizon again, smiling. A blur of movement passed through the edge of his vision. It was gone before he could get a proper look, vanished into the orchard. Did Ah imagine that? He asked himself, his smile evaporating.

“Applebloom,” he called again, this time more urgently. “You alright in there? Ah think… Ah might ‘a just seen another critter from the Everfree!”

A muffled shout came from within. It was definitely Applebloom, but he couldn’t understand what she had said. Anxiety got the better of him. He charged the remaining steps and flung the door open, expecting to see his sister half changed to stone, or pinned under some ugly beast.

Instead, she was dragging a tarp toward what looked like some sort of mannequin. The mannequin’s left hind leg, from the hock down, had been replaced with what looked like a hinged bludgeon. She immediately dropped the tarp, stomped, and snorted. She had one of his jackets on, and the fact that she was just about swimming in it made her display of frustration almost sickeningly cute.

“Ah said Ah would just be a minute!” she seethed, wrinkling her nose.

Relieved, though mildly confused, Macintosh began to relax. “Is this why you’ve been out here so much lately?” He took a few steps closer as Applebloom maintained her angry pout. “What is it?”

“It’s a surprise fer Applejack,” she stomped again, “an’ Ah don’t want you spoilin’ it!”

“Ah ain’t gonna spoil anything.” He smiled as he settled back on his haunches. She had a heater glowing softly just a few paces away, keeping the immediate area around it fairly warm. “What is this, though?”

Applebloom grinned as she tapped the metal and wood that replaced the mannequin’s left hind. “That peg ain’t exactly a fittin’ replacement fer her old leg, so… Ah decided to make her somethin’ more ‘propriate!”

She gave the leg a push and stretched it back, a tensing sound coming from within the contraption as it followed what appeared to be a natural range of motion. It swung back into place the moment she let it go, apparently providing balance for the mannequin without any outside assistance.

For at least a minute, Macintosh was speechless. He leaned in closer to study it, noting that all the hinges mirrored the joints of an actual leg. “You did this all by yerself, Applebloom?”

The young mare’s smile was positively radiant. “Ah sure did! Well…” Her smile faded as she glanced away, returning as she met Mac’s gaze again. “Zecora gave me a few anatomy charts an' a bit of advice here an' there, but Ah did all the plannin' an buildin' by mahself! Ah just finished this'un a lil’ while ago." Applebloom gave the leg a few taps, grinning. "First one that actually works, far as Ah can tell.”

Macintosh grinned. “Just in time fer Hearthswarmin’, hmm?”

“Mmhmm!” Applebloom nodded excitedly, then came to an abrupt stop. “Do you think she’ll like it?”

“If it’s somethin’ you put time an’ love into, then there ain’t a doubt in mah mind that she’ll like it. Ah’m proud of you, an’ Ah’m sure she will be too.” Macintosh got back to his hooves, grabbed the tarp she had been carrying, and threw it over the mannequin. With a grin, he added, “But that don’t change the fact that dinners waitin’ on both of us!”

“Race ya!” she shouted, already pushing her way outside. “Loser’s gotta wash the dishes!”

“You didn’t even turn off the heater!” He did so with the click of a dial, then galloped after her.

Brie was waiting on the front porch, smiling as she watched the two of them sprint toward the house. Her mane and ribbons fluttered in the breeze.

Applebloom squealed as Macintosh caught up to and then passed her, biting his tail in an attempt to regain lost ground. When his forehooves met the porch with a wooden ‘clunk’, she heaved an exasperated growl from second place. Macintosh noted her scowl, snickered, and nosed her forehead.

“How about Ah help you with the dishes?” He craned his neck toward Brie, smiling and touching noses, then held the door open for them both. “There’s somethin’ I might need yer help with that ain’t fit fer discussion over dinner.”

Applebloom nudged past him, wiping her hooves on the mat inside. “What is it?” she asked as she wiggled out of the jacket.

“Just a lil’ project of mah own.” Once Brie had stepped inside, Macintosh followed and closed the door behind him, shaking off the chills.

“Why wouldn’t you want to talk about it over dinner?” the cow asked, pawing at the mat under her hooves. “Is everything alright?”

“Ah dunno…” Macintosh shrugged, looking Brie in the eyes. “Cause it’s Hearthswarmin’ Eve, an’ Ah don’t think that’s appropriate talk at the table. Anyway, Ah hit a wall with the design, an Ah reckon Applebloom is a mite better at tinkerin’—” The stallion started to turn toward Applebloom, but he froze on the spot, his eyes widening as his gaze centered on his younger sister.

“Shucks, thank you.” Applebloom glanced back at him, then cocked her head. “Mac? What’s wrong?”

He felt Brie gently nudge him, leaning around to try and look him in the eyes. “Macintosh?”

The shock began to wear off, and Macintosh thrust a hoof in Applebloom’s direction. “Her flank! Applebloom, yer flank! Look!”

“Oh my…” Brie murmured, a smile spreading across her lips. “Applebloom…”

The young mare scrunched her nose and looked back at herself. “Shoot, if Ah got a lil’ oil on me, it’ll wash—” She trailed off, her expression going blank as she saw what Macintosh was pointing at.

An image of a blueprint now adorned her flank. It took Macintosh a moment to realize that the blueprint displayed schematics for an apple, a quarter slice removed to show the interior. Applebloom reached back with a trembling hoof, tapping her flank several times, as if her newly acquired cutie mark might dissolve. It stayed put, even as she heaved a deep, shuddering breath, tears welling up in her eyes.

“Wow,” she breathed. “Ah… Ah wasn’t even…”

Macintosh approached slowly, smiling as Applebloom lifted her gaze. A few tears rolled down her cheeks, but her smile was bright as the sun. With one foreleg, Mac pulled her in for a hug, nuzzling between her ears.

“Just in time fer Hearthswarmin’.” He chuckled softly. “Ah don’t think any of yer gifts are gonna top that.”

Applebloom snorted out a laugh, then took a long, wet breath through her nose. Mac heard Brie coming up behind them, smiling as she leaned closer to give Applebloom’s mark a closer look.

“What’s the holdup out there?” Applejack called into the hallway. “Dinner ain’t gettin’ any warmer!”

“We should surprise them,” the cow suggested with a whisper. Mac saw a spark of playful mischief in her eyes as she met his gaze, then focused on Applebloom. “Wouldn’t that be a fun?”

Eagerly nodding, Applebloom stepped away from them both, taking a few deep breaths and wiping the tears from her eyes. She stopped just shy of the dining-room door, motioning for them to enter first with a few waves of her hoof. Macintosh grinned, nodded, and trotted in behind Brie.

Rainbow Dash and Applejack looked up from Grannie Smith. “Well,” Applejack began, “that’s two outta three. Where’s our sister?”

With as stern an expression as he could manage, Macintosh said, “Stay calm now, but somethin’ happened to Applebloom on the way here. Ain’t that right, Brie?”

The cow nodded, feigning a serious expression. “Oh yes, I can hardly believe it myself.”

“Heavens,” Grannie shouted, “Is she alright?!”

Without waiting for an answer, Dash just about launched out of her chair. Applejack was close behind her, swiftly hobbling around the table. Macintosh and Brie pressed closer together, blocking the door.

“Hold on just a minute!” Mac reared up and grabbed Dash as she tried to squeeze through from above. “Ain’t nothin’ bad that happened to her!”

From the other side of the doorway, Applebloom shouted, “Ah’m fine, everypony! Quit yer worryin’!”

Applejack slowed to a stop, leaning closer to Brie and peering at her out of one eye. Brie bit her lower lip, visibly trying not to laugh. Dash squirmed and thrashed between Mac’s forelegs until she finally slipped free, at which point she relaxed and returned all four hooves to the floor.

“Ya’ll may think this is a riot,” Applejack barked, “but Ah seen too much trouble the last few months to think this is funny!” She tried to look around Mac and Brie, still wearing a sour expression. “Applebloom, did you put them up to this? What happened?”

“Oh, Ah’ll tell ya what happened, but ya gotta guess somethin’ first!” Applebloom gave Macintosh a little nudge, and in turn, he nodded to Brie. Applebloom cantered between them, holding her head proudly. “Ah got somethin’ Ah’ve been lookin’ for while Ah was out in the barn!”

A puzzled look was shared between Applejack, Dash, and Grannie Smith.

“Is this like a riddle?” The elderly mare scratched behind her ear. “Write it down fer me. Ah think better on paper.”

Wearing a beaming grin, Applebloom shook her head. “Nope, ain’t a riddle! Ah really did get somethin’ out there. Somethin’ Ah’ve been… missin’.”

“Would’ya just tell us already?” Applejack grumbled with a pout. “Me an’ Grannie worked hard on this dinner, an’ it’s gonna get cold if you three don’t quit actin’ weird an’ eat it.”

Dash practically reared as she perked up. “Your cutie mark?!”

Applebloom leapt out from between Mac and Brie, grinning from ear to ear as she turned to the side to show off her cutie mark. The room went completely silent, but the silence was short lived. The sounds of joy that erupted from Rainbow Dash and Applejack weren’t words as much as a series of unintelligible noises. They were torn between smothering Applebloom with hugs and and kisses, and pulling back to gaze in gleeful awe at her mark. The commotion nearly drowned out Grannie Smith’s own not-so-intense celebration as she slowly made her way toward Applebloom.

Macintosh saw a change come over the young mare in those few moments, as if somepony had flipped a switch. Perhaps, in the hallway, the sheer shock of finally getting her mark had been too much for her to fully process; now that the rest of her family was acknowledging and cheering for her, she began to laugh and weep in the same hysterical breaths.

He sniffled quietly, lifting a fetlock past his smile to the corner of his eye, wiping away a few tears. His attention was drawn away from his family when he felt Brie nuzzling against him.

“Aww, Macintosh.”

Try as he might, he couldn’t subdue the mist in his eyes. He chuckled, sniffling again. “Sorry.”

Brie shook her head. “No need to be.” She giggled softly and kissed him on the nose. “Happy Hearthswarming.”

\/ /\ /\ \/

“Twilight.”

The unicorn lifted her head off the windowsill just enough to glance down at Spike. He met her idle gaze with big eyes and a brow heavy with concern. Twilight Sparkle sighed quietly and let her head flop back down on her forelegs, slouching against the wall and windowsill like melted wax. She felt a claw on her back, his scaly face lingering out of the corner of her eye.

“Will you tell me what’s wrong, at least?” Spike edged closer, clearly trying to get her to look at him. “You’re seriously worrying me here. This isn’t like you.”

Twilight stared blankly out the window. “I dunno, Spike… I’m not even sure if I should be upset at all. Part of me thinks that I’m just overreacting.”

“Yeah, that’s pretty vague.” The little dragon settled in next to her, adopting a similar stance as he slumped against the windowsill. “What are you overreacting to?”

Though she drew a breath to reply, she couldn’t form anything coherent, and decided to just exhale instead. Her gaze drifted over Ponyville, and the countryside beyond.

The very last snow of winter had fallen two nights prior, not that it mattered much at this point. In the span of a few hours, the landscape had changed dramatically; from vast stretches of grey and white to muted earth tones. With Twilight in charge of planning, it had been another successful and efficient Winter Wrap-up. So efficient, in fact, that they had finished just an hour after noon, very nearly breaking the record set last year. Quite a few ponies found that cause enough for celebration, and she could hear a party on the other side of the glass, just down the road. Evidently, so could Spike.

“Well, if you’re not gonna tell me, at least try and go out and do something besides moping around.” He put on a little smile, resting a claw on her back once again. This time, he started rubbing. “Wanna check that out over there? It sounds like they’re having a great time!”

“A party without Pinkie Pie?” Suddenly, she found the words she was looking for. Twilight pushed herself away from the window, locking eyes with her draconic familiar. “Spike, I miss my friends. When was the last time we saw everypony?”

Spike cocked his head to one side. “We just saw Applejack and Rainbow Dash.”

“Yeah, but…” She briefly glanced away. “We were doing work; getting ready for spring. It’s not the same. And even if I did hang out with them, it wouldn’t be like it used to be, you know?”

“I guess,” he murmured, nodding.

Twilight knitted her brow. “And what about Pinkie Pie? Or Fluttershy?” She lowered her head, coming closer to eye level with him. “When was the last time either of us saw Rarity or Zecora?” Spike started to answer, but she cut him off. “More than a month, Spike! I haven’t seen their names on my schedule for more than a month!”

Spike’s expression brightened. “Hey, why don’t we go visit them? Duskhoof isn’t that far away! It’ll be fun!”

She shook her head vigorously. “I can’t just show up at their homes, Spike. I feel like… things are different now.”

“Different how?!” Spike crossed his arms, almost pouting up at her. “Just because they moved doesn’t mean we can’t go see them!”

“It’s not because they moved, Spike. It’s… you know how when Applejack and Rainbow Dash started dating—openly dating, I mean—trying to hang out with them by ourselves was just a little uncomfortable?” She paused to wait for his response, continuing when he offered a nod. “When everyone gets together, it’s not so bad because it’s a group thing, but if it’s just you or me, or even both of us…”

“A third wheel thing,” he stated with a grimace. “Right?”

Frowning, Twilight nodded in agreement. “And now Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy are a couple, so I don’t even have to guess that going there by myself would be weird—”

The hope in Spike’s voice was unmistakable as he uttered, “What about Rarity?!”

“What if she’s busy, Spike? She’s Luna’s personal seamstress now, on top of doing commissioned work.” Twilight shook her head, turned away from him and crossed the room. She began to pace. “I don’t want to just wander out there and find out that everypony already has plans. That would make me feel even worse than I feel now.” She squeezed her eyes shut and groaned under her breath. “I should have tried to plan for this ahead of time… I just figured, hey, they’re my friends. Of course they’ll stop in to visit little old me on a day like today!”

“You… were counting on them to be spontaneous?” he asked, narrowing one eye.

“I don’t know, Spike…” Twilight sighed and slowed to a stop. “I feel guilty for feeling like this at all. I know that things could be much, much worse, but...” She took a deep breath, swallowing to try and keep her voice from wavering. There were so many things she wanted to say, but she couldn’t find the strength to say them. Finally, she nearly whispered, “It kind of hurts.”

“Geeze…” The dragon ran a claw through his quills. “How long have you been feeling like this?”

“Since a little while before the last time we visited Duskhoof,” she sighed, looking down at the floor. “It just didn’t really hit me until today.”

He nodded slowly. “Well, if you never see them, why don’t you try writing to them?”

Twilight practically jumped for joy. “Ah! Spike, you’re a genius!”

“Well,” Spike began, rubbing the back of his head and grinning. “Not to brag…”

“I’m going to write to Celestia first, though.” She started down the stairs, briefly glancing back. “Maybe she’ll have some insight on this whole thing.”

Spike began to follow. “You want my help?”

“No, this is kind of personal. I can do it myself.” She stopped at the landing, smiling up at him. “But thank you for offering.”

With a nod and a smile, Spike stepped out of sight. “Let me know when you need me!”

For a moment, Twilight tried to recall the last time she had written a letter to Celestia regarding friendship. It felt as though she and her mentor had reached an unspoken agreement some time ago, long before any of the chaos that Mahara had left in her wake; one that acknowledged the completion of Twilight’s studies. Celestia herself seemed less like a teacher and more like a close friend at this point. The letters they exchanged reflected this, devoid of lessons learned, and instead detailing plans for visits or tales of recent events.

Truthfully, Twilight had been content with that. She was enjoying life with her friends in Ponyville, knowing that she could return to Canterlot at any time and choosing to stay. Now that anxiety was holding the reins, she felt as though she were in freefall. A nervous chill ran through her as she levitated her quill out of the ink well.

“Dear Celestia,

“I know that I just wrote back to you yesterday, and that you’re likely still reviewing legislation for the auto-carriage laws, but I need a bit of advice. Who better to turn to for advice than a princess, after all?”

Celestia was sure to find that amusing, and referring to Celestia as a princess brought back all sorts of fond memories. Her smile was fleeting.

“Irecall writing to you about how Rarity moved out to Duskhoof a few months ago. Well, it would seem that this turn of events has left me feeling a bit depressed, for lack of a better word. I didn’t fully realize it until just shortly before writing this, but now that I think about it, it makes a lot of sense.

“It seems like all my friends have more or less gone their separate ways, and I’m not really sure what to do about it. They’re not angry with one another or anything like that. In fact, Applejack and Fluttershy seem like they’re well on their way to going back to the way things used to be between them, from what I can tell. The issue, at least for me, is that it seems like life has just taken everypony off in different directions. Applejack and Rainbow Dash are very happy together, and it felt like Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy are as well. I have no doubts that Rarity is going to do amazing things with her new position in Luna’s court. Zecora was doing great with her potions business the last time I visited her, too.

“But, if I can be honest with you, it just feels like I’ve been left behind.”

With the quill hovering over the parchment like a dagger, Twilight stared at the last line she had written. She narrowed her eyes with disgust and scribbled it out.

“Spike suggested writing to them all, and I completely agree, I just wish that I had thought to do it sooner. I’m actually afraid that they’ve outgrown me. I was so happy just being here with all of them that I never stopped to think that I should have been growing with them. I don’t mean in terms of magical skill, or trust, or learning lessons about friendship. I mean that, looking at myself now, I feel like I’ve become stagnant. All of my friends have found love, or have had some big break that is undoubtedly going to bring them fortune and fame, and I’m very happy for all of them, but what about me? I’m just a glorified librarian tethered to schedules that I impose on myself, but without the schedules, I wouldn’t know what to do with my time.

“And that pretty much sums up how I feel right now. I don’t want to lose my friends, but I have no idea what to do about it.”

On any other day, she would have felt a tingling on her lips as she as she chewed the feathery end of her quill, but she felt nothing but numbness. It occurred to her that Celestia might be rather shocked by the contents of her letter. She felt obligated to alleviate any concern, though she doubted how effective her attempt might be.

“I know this is going to be a lot to process all at once, so don’t worry if you’re busy, or if you need to think it over. I’m not going to do anything rash, so don’t worry about that, either. I just need some advice right now, and you’re the only pony I could think to ask for help.

“Sincerely,
“Twilight Sparkle”

Twilight sat back from the table and put the quill back into the fountain.

The first pony you thought to ask for advice isn’t even your own mother or father. Twilight shut her eyes and gritted her teeth, fighting to keep tears out of her eyes. What is wrong with me?

She snatched the pen out of the fountain and frantically scrawled under her signature.

“P.S. I’m attaching a letter I would like sent to my parents. I know that you have better things to do than handle my mail, but if you could please have it delivered to them, it would mean a lot to me.”

Several moments were spent reflecting on all the emotion which she had just poured out onto the page. The urge to take the letter and rip it up was overwhelming. Instead, she put her quill back to work.

“P.P.S. I promise that I’m okay. Really. Sorry if any of this worries you.”

Hardly satisfied, but unsure what else to write, she rolled up Celestia’s letter and sealed it. Another roll of parchment drifted slowly toward her as she wrapped it in her telekinetic grasp. Several minutes passed as she stared at the blank page. She couldn’t even remember the last time she had written home.

Twilight took a deep breath, sighed, and put quill to parchment.

“Hi mom, hi dad,

“I know it’s been a while since the last time you heard from me. I want to apologize for that. I also know that you’ve always supported me and encouraged me to be the best pony I can be, but I’m not sure if I’ve lived up to those aspirations. I’m sorry for that, too.

“This is a pretty glum note to start on, but I just want you to know that I’m going to try and be a better daughter. I’m going to write home more and I’m going to visit more, and most importantly, I want you both to know how much I love you, and how grateful I am for such amazing parents.”

Thinking about her family brought on a wave of nostalgia. To her disappointment, memories that should have been happy were infected with the melancholy that had consumed her. Twilight furrowed her brow and choked down a shudder.

“I’m in a bit of a dark place right now, but I promise that I’ll be okay. I’m just doing a lot of thinking about my life and I don’t like the conclusions I’m coming to. It seems like all my friends are making big changes in their lives, so maybe it’s time for me to do the same.

“I hope Cadence and Shining Armor are doing well. They had just had a foal the last time I heard from them, but that was a while ago. I wish I could remember their colt’s name, but I can’t, and that feels pretty awful. Another reason why I’m going to try and be a better daughter.”

Writing it a second time strengthened her resolve to make good on her promise. She felt as though she had nothing more to say, and considering the size of her letter to Celestia, she was left feeling guilty.

“Anyway, don’t worry, but please write back soon. I love you both.

“Your daughter,
“Twilight Sparkle”

A feeling of relief came over Twilight once she put the quill back. It wasn’t complete, but just writing out her feelings had brought her marginal peace of mind. She sealed the letter to her parents, then tucked it inside the letter to Celestia.

“Okay, Spike,” she called, looking up to the second floor. “I’m ready to send these.”

The click and scrape of Spike’s claws as he came rushing down the stairs made her smile and, seeing her smile, Spike’s expression was positively radiant. She levitated the letters into his claws, and with a deep breath and a woosh of green flame, he had sent them on their way.

Spike peered up at her, still smiling. “So what did you write about?”

“Oh… personal things… things that were on my mind.” She shrugged and sat down next to the desk. “A lot of it was there for a while, but I just hadn’t really given it a lot of thought.” She looked to the side, furrowing her brow. “Do I come off as absent minded, Spike?”

He cocked his head. “What do you mean?”

“Like, I don’t prioritize things correctly?” She lifted a forehoof and waved it in a circle. “I put the wrong things ahead of what should really be important?”

“Oh…” Spike put his claws on his hips, idly looking around. “I dunno, maybe?”

“Mmm…” She slowly got back to her hooves and headed for the stairs. “I’m gonna lay down for a little while. Take a nap. Let me know when Celestia responds, okay?”

Spike nodded slowly, his cheer completely evaporated. Twilight was practically dragging her hooves by the time she reached her bed. Somewhere in the process of climbing the stairs, she had been gripped by intense lethargy. She crawled onto the bed, ignoring the sheets and just sprawling across the comforter. Sleep never came. For what felt like eternity, she stared at the wall across from her, her mind a convoluted mess of self-doubt and concern for what the future might hold.

When Spike brought her back to reality, she was grateful.

“She responded,” he chimed, forking over the letter. “It didn’t come sealed, so I read it. I hope that’s okay.”

His enthusiasm was infectious, and she found herself grinning.

“Dearest Twilight,

“You’ve picked an odd time to come down with the winter blues, considering that spring begins tomorrow.

“As you may have gathered, I’m a bit overwhelmed of late, so it would benefit me if you could discuss these things with me face to face. In fact, if it wouldn’t be too much to ask of you, I think we might be able to help one another. A pony with a sharp mind and diligent work ethic could greatly help me with some of the duties bearing down on me as of late. This would also free up for me something that I think we could both use; a chance to spend time with a good friend.

I was feeling a little impulsive, so I’ve already sent a chariot for you at the time of writing this, and the room I’ve had arranged for you should be ready well before you arrive. I know that you have a great deal of responsibilities in Ponyville, but if you wouldn’t mind, I would like to request that you clear your schedule.

“The choice is yours, of course. I hope to see you and Spike within the next few hours.

“Your friend,
“Celestia

“P.S. Delivering the letter to your parents is no trouble at all. It is en route as I write this. I’m sure they’ll be happy to hear from you.”

Spike was just about bobbing up and down when she looked up from the letter and met his gaze. She smiled and clutched the parchment to her breast, nodding.

“I think I’m gonna be okay, Spike.”

\/ /\ /\ \/

Chapter 13 - Spring

Chapter Thirteen: Spring

\/ /\ /\ \/

A strong wind rattled the windows in their frames, intensifying the patter of the rain, if only for a moment. The distant, low rumble of thunder rolled in soon after.

Spring had definitely arrived.

The sound of falling rain brought great comfort to Fluttershy, and once upon a time, it would have lulled her to sleep. Now that sleep was no longer an option, hearing it while she lay in bed made her feel somewhat cheated. The mattress squeaked softly as she sighed and rolled over. Beyond the window, behind the mostly barren trees surrounding her home, she could see the soft glow of street lamps in the damp haze. She stretched her hind legs and prepared to slip out of bed, but she hesitated when she heard a soft inhale behind her.

“Fluttershy?” Pinkie Pie murmured.

Fluttershy looked over her wither, meeting Pinkie’s sleepy gaze. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to wake you.”

Pinkie shook her head slowly, reaching for the pegasus with her forelegs. “No no, it’s fine. I’m having a hard time getting to sleep anyway.”

Fluttershy rolled back toward Pinkie, uttering a soft, happy sound when Pinkie gave her a squeeze. “Nervous about tomorrow?”

A small nod preceded Pinkie’s words. “I’m not trying to be a nervous Nancy about it, but yeah.”

“Well, why are you nervous?” Fluttershy leaned back, showing Pinkie a gentle smile. “You’ve worked in a bakery for as long as I’ve known you.”

“Cause this is different than just working in a bakery, cause it’s not gonna be someone else’s bakery.” Even lying down, Pinkie began to bounce excitedly, the mattress creaking softly under her. “I mean, I’m really excited, because this is gonna be soooo cool, but—” She took a deep breath, closing the space between them and nuzzling into the side of Fluttershy’s neck.

“If I was running Sugarcube Corner for a day or two, I knew that if anything went wrong, Cup and Carrot could fix it when they came back… Now it’s gonna be my responsibility to make sure everything stays peachy-keen since it’s gonna be my bakery.”

Pinkie wrapped her forelegs around Fluttershy a bit more tightly. “I guess that’s kinda scary to think about.”

“Oh, Pinkie… I know you’ll do just fine.” Fluttershy kissed her on the forehead, stroking along her back. “And you won’t be doing it alone. I’ll be there to help you however I can, and so will Ditzy and Scootaloo.”

“Hey, Scoots said she was gonna move out here after a few paychecks. You think maybe I could rent out a room in the back of the bakery to her?” As Pinkie’s gaze began to wander, Fluttershy pondered how much of what was said was actually directed at her. The bubbling pony winded down with, “I don’t really need an office and they built in a pretty big office!”

Fluttershy rolled her eyes and giggled, resting a hoof on Pinkie’s breast. “Pinkie Pie, it’s your bakery. If you want to rent a room to Scootaloo, then feel free to do so. Now, do you feel less nervous about tomorrow?” Pinkie nodded eagerly, and Fluttershy giggled a little more. “Okay, then I think you should try and get some sleep.”

A long stretch of silence followed after Pinkie closed her eyes. Fluttershy let her thoughts wander, idly watching the gentle rise and fall of her lover’s breast. Then, in an almost fish-like fashion, Pinkie flopped to one side, then the other, squirming all the while. Fluttershy cover her muzzle to keep herself from laughing during the display. After several failed attempts to get comfortable, Pinkie rolled onto her back, dropped her head against the pillow with a feathery thump, and sighed.

“No dice,” Pinkie flatly murmured, staring up at the ceiling with eyes squeezed shut.

“I can fix you some tea, if you’d like,” Fluttershy offered, rubbing Pinkie’s foreleg. “Or maybe some warm milk?”

Pinkie’s eyes practically sparkled as they opened into darkness, reflecting the soft teal glow of Fluttershy’s gaze. “Actually, I just thought of something else! What if you do… you know.” She arched her brows and nodded toward Fluttershy, then opened her eyes as wide as Fluttershy imagined they could go. “That hypnosis thing.”

Fluttershy’s smile vanished. “Oh, Pinkie… I don’t—” She glanced away. “I mean, I really shouldn’t.”

“Puh-leeeease?” Pinkie squirmed back into view. “You can put me out in like, a minute! I know you can!”

Fluttershy sat in silence, her lips twisted up with discomfort as she began to reminisce on the night she had learned how to hypnotize. An intense wave of nostalgia crashed over the pegasus, bringing an urge to flee along with it.

Why did you have to bring that up, Pinkie Pie? It’s bad enough that I have to drink a few drops of your blood every day. Fluttershy swallowed, nearly choking on anxiety. She could feel frustration rising to take its place. You know… you know I just want to be a normal pony. We’ve talked about this. Did you forget? How could you forget?

Pinkie gave her puppy-dog eyes, bringing her forehooves up under her chin; completely oblivious to the inner turmoil she had just stirred up.

No. No, I know you didn’t mean it. I’m sorry, Pinkie. Her forelegs began to tremble. I don’t want to stress you out with any of this. Not when your big day is tomorrow. I should go... somewhere… anywhere. Getting out of the house might help me clear my thoughts, she reassured herself. I wanted to take a walk. Yes, I think I’ll take a walk.

With a deep sigh, Fluttershy nodded, sitting up on her haunches. “Just this once. I don’t want this to become a habit.”

“It won’t!” Pinkie settled back down, resting her head against the pillow. “I promise.”

Fluttershy closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “Okay. Ready?”

“Yep!”

When Fluttershy opened her eyes, their glow had intensified to the point that it cast flickering shadows. A blue haze welled up around the edge of her vision. Pinkie’s expression went completely vacant as Fluttershy made eye contact.

“I’m going to count back from twenty. By the time I reach one, you will have fallen into a deep sleep. You will not wake from this sleep until I say ‘Good morning, Pinkie Pie.’” She paused briefly, letting her instructions sink in. “Do you understand?”

“Yes,” Pinkie droned.

“Good. Let’s begin. Twenty… nineteen… eighteen…”

The closer Fluttershy came to “one,” the further Pinkie’s eyelids descended, her breathing and heart rate slowing to a relaxed pace. Only when Pinkie had drifted off did Fluttershy allow herself to blink, the flickering glow of her eyes snuffed out. Their normal, delicate aura washed against Pinkie as Fluttershy leaned in closer, spending a moment just watching her sleep.

“I wish I could join you,” she lamented. Feeling a bit melancholy, but smiling fondly, she kissed Pinkie on the lips and whispered, “Goodnight, my love.”

This time, as she went through the motions of getting out of bed, Pinkie was unresponsive. The beginnings of a snore reached Fluttershy’s ears just as she stepped out into the hall, quietly closing the door behind her. Another, closer rumble of thunder rattled through the house as she descended the staircase, stopping at the front door to slip into a rain poncho.

The smell of early spring rain rushed to greet her as she stepped out into the night; a dank scent that hinted at the blooming to come. High above, a puffy, rolling patchwork of storm clouds blanketed the sky, offering an occasional glimpse of the moon. A powerful gust pulled at her hood and made the bare branches sway and groan, as though they were reaching for the clouds, begging for more. She looked ahead, through the dark and the fog, and made her way down the path to the main road.

Houses lined both sides of the road now, hugging the perimeter of Luna’s castle and skirting the edge of the cliff, some more loosely spaced than others. Fluttershy reflected on her former concern about the influx of neighbors. They respected her privacy for the most part, with the exception of the occasional colt or filly that wanted to climb her trees or play with the animals that lived in her yard. She didn’t even consider that to be a bother, since she enjoyed teaching them about nature.

A pair of ponies trotted briskly down the street, accompanied by a rather short diamond dog. They brought Fluttershy out of her thoughts as they all bid her “good evening.” Zecora lived in the opposite direction from which they had come. The decision to pay her a visit came suddenly.

I haven’t seen her in a while, Fluttershy mused. I wonder if she would mind me stopping by to say hello.

Less than a minute later, Fluttershy stood at Zecora’s front door, hesitating to knock. She had just started to turn away when the door creaked open, meeting Zecora’s curious stare.

The zebra smiled, opening her door the rest of the way. “Ah! Fluttershy, my dear. On such a night, what brings you here?”

“I was feeling…” Fluttershy glanced away, an ear folding back. “Well, restless, so I thought that I would take a walk, and then I thought maybe I would pay you a visit.” She cautiously returned Zecora’s gaze. “I hope that’s okay.”

“Yes, of course, it’s more than okay.” Zecora nodded, stepping aside and gesturing into her home. “By all means, you’re welcome to stay.”

Hearing that brought a delicate smile to Fluttershy’s lips. Zecora gently closed the door behind her, passing by as Fluttershy shed her poncho and hung it beside several of Zecora’s cloaks.

Fluttershy spent a moment at the door, letting her gaze wander over the interior of Zecora’s home. The construction was clearly of pony design, a far cry from her former home in the Everfree, but she had effectively made it her own. Rows of dried roots, leaves, and flowers hung from the ceiling, a small fraction of which Fluttershy had only heard of or read about. Several painted masks hung from the walls, while every available shelf and table had been covered with corked bottles and candles. A large, black pot rested within the fireplace, bubbling in rhythm with the fire crackling beneath it. All telltale signs of an alchemist were present, and the smell of the place drifted somewhere between spicy and earthy, much to her delight.

“I was not expecting you,” Zecora called from the other end of the room, “so please bear with me.” She stepped into her kitchen, adding, “Once the water is hot, I’ll make you some tea.”

The pegasus nodded, approaching one of the large cushions laid out in front of the fireplace. “I would like that very much, thank you.” Fluttershy set herself down carefully, surprised to find that the cushion felt more like a cloud than cotton.

Zecora stepped back into view moments later, smiling as she sat across from Fluttershy. “So tell me, if you will, how is Pinkie? Her own business; she must be quite happy!”

“Oh, yes, she’s been rushing around all week getting ready for the grand opening.” Fluttershy giggled quietly. “I don’t think I would be able to handle that much stress, but she seems to love it.” Her smile faded. “I hope that doesn’t change once she’s actually in business, though.”

Zecora nodded, glancing up in thought. “No one knows her better than you. Do you think she’ll bite off more than she can chew?”

“Just a little. I feel bad for worrying, though.” Fluttershy looked down at the cushion under her, gently pawing at it with a forehoof. “I’m supposed to believe in her and support her.”

“Do you?”

Fluttershy lifted her head, meeting Zecora’s gaze. “Absolutely.”

“Then, my dear,” Zecora began with a smile, “you have nothing to fear.”

“Tonight, though, she—” The pegasus glanced away again, biting her lip. “She asked me to hypnotize her, to help her sleep. I… I don’t really like bringing up my… you know, my powers, I guess, and she knows that. I think she just forgot, so I did as she asked, but now I… it made me...” She swallowed, trying to figure out how to say what she wanted to say. “I can’t stop thinking about Mahara.”

“I can see how that would disturb you, indeed.” Zecora nodded slowly, shifting her weight. “Somepony to talk to, is that what you need?”

Fluttershy shrank back, peering up at Zecora. “I don’t want to be a bother. I can leave if you’d like.”

“Certainly not; you are my friend. If you are concerned, my aid I will lend. It‘s better to speak than bottle your woe. What is it that troubles you so?”

“I’m just… it’s hard to really explain. I love Pinkie Pie, with all my heart, but sometimes I find myself thinking about being with Mahara.” Fluttershy shook her head, ears pinning back. “No, that’s not it. I don’t want to be with her, or anything like that, but… I wonder what would have happened if she had stayed, what my life would be like right now.” Looking down at the floor offered no distraction from her guilt, nor did closing her eyes. She heaved a deep breath, adding, “And that just makes me feel awful, like I’m cheating without actually cheating. Does that make sense?”

“Your ties with her were quite violently severed. It’s only natural that what-ifs are endeavored.” Zecora briefly glanced into the fire. “Are you unhappy with Pinkie Pie? If something is missing, that may be why.”

Fluttershy’s attention snapped forward, eyes wide, and feeling as though the wind had been knocked out of her. “I’m very happy with Pinkie. I want this to go away so that I can continue being happy with her, and I know I need help dealing with this, but I…”

She squeezed her eyes shut, her whole body tensing. “I don’t know if this is something she can help me get over… I know I’m not actually doing anything wrong when I start thinking about Mahara, but it’s…” Her eyes opened again, following grooves in the floorboards. “I’m worried it would make her uncomfortable if she knew.”

“Then, my advice would be to find a sense of closure.” Zecora heaved a deep sigh. “Though how you’ll do that is beyond my composure.”

“I just want to know if she’s doing alright wherever Celestia sent her. I want to believe that she’s safe and happy, but…” She locked eyes with the zebra, her brow heavy. “Zecora… in the time since Mahara has been banished… have you ever tried to use… clairvoyance? Can you still see through her eyes?”

For several moments, Zecora sat in silence. Then, without a word, she stood got to her hooves and made her way to a full length mirror. “I tried once, a few nights after her leaving. I believe the other realm is beyond our perceiving. Despite my best efforts, I could not see. Nothing but darkness was revealed to me."

Fluttershy followed her, meeting her gaze via reflection. “Could you teach me how to do it?”

Zecora turned away from the mirror, her expression almost vacant. Before Zecora could say anything, a shrill whistle sounded from the kitchen, drawing their attention. The zebra flashed a little smile and casually crossed the room. From where Fluttershy stood, she could see Zecora moving around the kitchen, carefully filling two cups with steaming water and lowering a teabag into each. She returned with a wooden tray balanced across her back, her every step so careful that the cups didn’t so much as rattle.

“I will teach you how to see through eyes not your own, but I can’t promise success greater than I’ve known.” She set the cups on a nearby table, resting the tray against it as well. “Stare into the eyes of your own reflection. Think of Mahara; do not force a direction.”

Fluttershy glanced between the mirror and Zecora. “That’s it?”

The zebra nodded slowly, blowing on her tea before taking a sip. “You are more than welcome to practice it here. I just hope what you see will help your thoughts clear.”

The pegasus gave a deep nod, smiling. “Thank you so much, Zecora. This means the world to me. I just… um… there’s one other thing I would ask of you.”

Arching a brow, Zecora looked up from her tea. “Mm?”

Fluttershy made an effort to speak, but she nearly choked on what she intended to say. Zecora tilted her head, but Fluttershy lifted her hoof, gesturing her to wait. She took a deep breath, calming herself and finding her voice.

“Please don’t tell Pinkie about what we discussed, or that you taught me how to do this.” Fluttershy sat down by the mirror, cautiously making eye contact. “I don’t like to keep secrets, but…”

Zecora nodded, slow and solemn. “You need not worry, I understand. Telling Pinkie is not what I’ve planned.”

“Thank you,” Fluttershy said with a sigh.

The guilt lingered, but the more she reassured herself that keeping it a secret was for Pinkie Pie’s own good, the more she felt comfortable with it. She looked to Zecora, then the mirror, exhaling slowly as she met the gaze of her own reflection.

\/ /\ /\ \/

“And how soon might I expect the next shipment?”

A few wrinkles formed along Rarity’s nose as she lifted her glasses closer with her magic, carefully scanning the next line of the invoice spread out before her. As usual, the lighting within the subterranean grotto was exceptionally poor for her tastes, so she levitated a lantern off the wall and brought it closer for good measure. The flickering firelight made it somewhat easier to read.

“Soon as it’s done, Pony Rarity,” replied the diamond dog standing across from her. “We’re on schedule, like always.”

The unicorn glanced up from her reading, one brow raised, to discover that the diamond dog was grinning. She lowered her glasses, grinning a little herself.

“That’s what I like to hear. I’ve come to expect nothing less of you.” She tilted her head, adding, “But, that’s Miss Rarity to you, Mister Rover. It wouldn’t do for an associate to refer to me as pony anything.”

Rover snickered, putting his paws in the pockets of his vest. “Whatever you say, Miss Pony Rarity.”

Rarity slipped off her glasses and closed them with a little snap. “Do I detect sarcasm in your voice, Mister Rover?”

“Sarcasm? Never.” He pulled something out of his vest, casually inspecting it between two of his claws. The bulk of his paw kept it concealed. “I have the utmost respect for you, Miss Pony Rarity.”

Scowling, Rarity stepped around the slab of stone she had been using as a table. “Is there something you wish to discuss with me?”

Rover glanced up from what he had from between his claws, lowering it just enough for Rarity to identify it as a diamond the size of a chicken’s egg. Her expression immediately changed to one of delight.

“Oh my!” She regained her composure immediately after her outburst, adding, “Is that part of the shipment?”

“What, this?” He took a few steps closer, turning it over in his paw. “If you want it, it’ll cost extra.”

With one ear cocked, Rarity took a careful step forward, lowering her nose and narrowing her eyes. “Extra? Are we negotiating now?”

“Negotiating? No. I make an offer, and you either take it or leave it.” Rover flashed a toothy grin, bringing the diamond closer to his eye and peering through it. “Very good quality, this one.”

“Is that to say that I’m getting merchandise of inferior quality? You expect me to beg for anything better than scraps?” Rarity stood her ground, lifting her head. “Need I remind you that I’m your only client?”

“Not at all. Just, this one is better than the rest.” The diamond vanished back into Rover’s vest pocket, and he stepped right up to her. “And you were our only client. Other ponies are starting to see how useful we are.”

“Digging those tunnels for the telegraph lines was done on commission basis and you know it!” Rarity stomped and huffed, glaring up at him. “We have a contract, and I am your employer!”

“You’re saying you got leash on me, and I should drop it like a good boy?” He arched a brow, looping his claw through his spiked collar and leaning down until he was nose to nose with her. “What if I wanna bite the hoof that feeds me?”

She swallowed, eyes wide as Rover stared back at her. Words failed her.

There was wildness in his eyes that gave Rarity reason to pause. The feeling in her breast reminded her of fear, but she couldn’t quite put it in that category. If anything, it felt closer to admiration of his sheer audacity. Eventually, he grinned and started to settle back, but not before the sound of Trixie’s voice shattered the silence.

“Hey, are you two done in here? We’re all finished loading up and… huh.”

Trixie came to a dead stop, glancing between the two of them. Startled and frozen in place, the diamond dog and the unicorn returned her blank stare, then jerked away from one another in unison.

“Is the Great and Powerful Trixie interrupting something?” A wide grin spread across her lips. “She can come back if—”

Rarity cleared her throat and quickly said, “Just discussing business.” She crossed back to the stone slab on which she had been reviewing the invoice, folding it up and slipping it into her saddle bag. “We’ll be along presently.”

“Yeah, sure. Business.” Trixie turned back the way she had come, snickering as she slipped out of sight.

Left alone again, Rarity gave Rover another long look, cocking a brow. Rover put his paws back in his vest and tilted his head, donning a toothy grin. She considered resuming the argument, but settled on leaving it alone for the time being. The sound of Trixie’s hooves on stone echoed through the winding tunnel ahead, joined shortly by the resounding clip-clop of Rarity’s own trot. The two-beat gait of the diamond dog behind her was much softer by comparison, the click of his claws barely carrying into an echo.

The dimly lit tunnel opened into a much larger cavern after a few moments of walking, busy with diamond dogs and more than a few ponies. At the center of all the activity were dozens of enormous crates, each one stamped with a short sequence of numbers and letters to designate their contents. True to Trixie’s word, the crates had been loaded onto a series of wagons and strapped into place. Several diamond dogs nodded to Rarity as she passed by, a few of them including “Boss” in their greetings. Just hearing it made Rarity shiver with pride.

“If everything is in order,” Rarity announced as Rover helped her up onto one of the crates, “I do believe we should begin moving these materials to Duskhoof.”

“You heard the lady!” Rover sternly barked.

Pony and diamond dog alike fastened themselves into the wagon harnesses without delay. Rarity dismounted the crate as stoppers were removed from beneath the wagon wheels, and soon enough, her precious cargo was in motion, slowly rolling toward the open mouth of the cave.

Rarity had made the mistake of stepping straight out into daylight on several prior visits, but this time, she was spared direct sunlight by the storm clouds overhead. The scenery around Rambling Rock Ridge was as bleak as she remembered. The grey haze of overcast certainly didn’t help. She cast a sideways glance to Rover, the diamond dog keeping steady pace with her as they walked alongside the wagons. A dull buzz of chatter between wagon pullers mixed with the rattle and crystalline shifting of the carts and their cargo, none of which held her attention beyond passing interest.

With nothing of interest to occupy her thoughts, she found herself thinking back to their earlier argument.

Am I wrong to feel that I should be given that diamond free of charge? I’m providing more than a fair sum of bits for their services, and I’m hardly unreasonable with the quantity and frequency of my orders. She grinned as Rover sneezed, rubbing his nose with the back of his fuzzy wrist. But then, you did dangle it right in front of me, and I took the bait.

Rover idly glanced over at her, his gaze wandering until he made eye contact. As if suddenly realizing that she was staring right back, he quickly snapped his attention forward, his pace faltering for an instant. Rarity giggled quietly, following his example and turning her gaze to the forest ahead at a much more casual speed.

You sly dog.

A few moments passed before he mumbled, “Something on your mind, Miss Rarity?”

“Nothing in particular.” Rarity suppressed her grin as she looked toward him. “I suppose I’m just wondering if we should turn back and put canvas over these crates. Were it to rain—”

“Wouldn’t make sense to go back for rain-proofing. We’re almost to the edge of the forest.” He snickered and added, “You worried about your gems getting wet?”

Rarity sighed, smiled, and shook her head. “No, I suppose not. We had best continue on, then. I’m in no hurry to get wet.”

As they entered the Everfree forest, the scenery improved, if only slightly. The road which connected the diamond dog mines to the rest of pony society was still rather crude. She knew that the canines had put forth a great effort in cutting a wide swath through the forest, and then pulling up the stumps and leveling the earth. It was certainly adequate, but it lacked pony finesse, and it seemed as though the very nature of the surrounding forest made the soil unruly. This meant that riding the wagons from their mines to the main road into Duskhoof was out of the question, as Rarity had learned the first and only time she attempted to do so.

Forked, barren branches stretched over the road on either side, but the gloom of the Everfree Forest was lessened without a dense layer of foliage to block out the sun. Rarity knew that by mid spring, the forest’s shadowy nature would be alive and ominous once more. The deeper they pressed into the forrest, the more conversations were hushed, until they had ceased all together. The silence of the forest hung over the caravan like a cloak. All ponies and diamond dogs present showed respect for the untamed wilderness though which they tread, ears perked and eyes wide, alert for any sign of danger. Without Zecora acting as an escort, Rarity couldn’t help but share in their unease.

A palpable wave of relief rolled over the party as an intersection came into view. Not far ahead, the packed, uneven earth of the road abruptly gave way to a road of paved cobblestone that stretched off in opposite directions. Several carriages rattled by, some on their way to Duskhoof, others on their way to Ponyville. When the coast was clear, Rover looked back and waved the caravan onward, lifting Rarity onto one of the passing wagons. Once all the wagons had safely merged onto the main road, he caught up to her wagon and leapt up beside her.

“Rover,” Rarity began as he got comfortable, “if you really want me to pay out of pocket for that beauty of a diamond, I could be persuaded to do so.” Grinning, she added, “Not without a bit of haggling, of course.”

“Nah, I was just kidding around.” He plucked the jewel from his vest and held it out for her. “You can have it, boss.”

“At least accept a little bonus as compensation.” A smile broke across her lips as she levitated it away from his paw. Even in the cloud-dimmed light, it sparkled. “After all, this piece is a cut above the rest of this shipment, no?”

“It uh…” Rover looked away, scratching the back of one paw with the other. “It wasn’t part of this shipment. Found it in my free time.”

Rarity’s brows shot up. “Oh!” She put a hoof on his shoulder, still carefully inspecting the diamond floating in front of her face. “In that case, I refuse to pay anything less than full price.”

“Rari—” Rover cleared his throat, lifting his paw, hesitating, and then letting it drop. “Miss Rarity, I want you to have it. You know…” He turned toward her just enough that she could see the sheepish smile on his muzzle. “Like a gift.”

Again, Rarity found herself speechless. She withdrew her hoof as she looked between the diamond and the dog several times, mustering every ounce of restraint she could manage before finally murmuring, “I couldn’t. What have I done to deserve such magnificent stone?”

Rover looked skyward, his brow furrowing. “When we met years ago, you saw us as monsters because we acted like monsters. What we did was wrong, selfish, but…” He smiled, meeting her gaze again. “You came back anyway, because you thought that we could be more than monsters. Other ponies are starting to see that in us, too.”

Rarity glanced down as she felt his paw against her forehoof. He added, “And that’s because of you. So… thank you.”

“Oh, Rover, I…” She realized she was whispering, and immediately after that, felt the blush burning across her face. “I don’t know what to say.”

He shook his head, leaning toward her. “You don’t—”

A loud honk caused the both of them to jump. The diamond tumbled out of her levitation and landed on the crate under them. As Rover frantically slapped his paws around around to recapture it, she found the source of the noise. A carriage rolled by without the aid of ponies, chugging out puffs of black smoke through a smoke stack in the rear. After passing the caravan, it sped off toward Ponyville, leaving a trail of clouds of soot in its wake. The caravan slowed down after that, wagon-pullers chattering excitedly.

“What was that?!” Rover barked, his ears pinned back.

“I do believe that was an auto-carriage.” She nodded to herself, turning her attention back to Rover. “They’ve become quite trendy in major cities, so I suppose it’s only natural that we would start seeing them out here as well.”

With one ear still folded back, Rover asked, “It moves on its own?”

Rarity tilted her head, lifting a hoof. “Well, no. There’s a pony inside, driving it, but it doesn’t need anypony to pull it. I’ve considered buying one myself, truthfully.”

“Thinking of replacing us, Miss Rarity?” Rover teased.

Feigning insult, Rarity mused, “I may be a shrewd business mare, but I’m not heartless.” She smiled, locking eyes with Rover. “No, I don’t believe I could replace you if I tried.”

\/ /\ /\ \/

Scootaloo nickered quietly as she checked the buckles of her harness for what Pinkie counted as the seventh time since slipping it on. She had a map tucked under one wing, and a box wrapped in brown paper secured to her back by several velcro straps. The flight goggles she had pressed up on her forehead reflected a bit of sunlight from under her mane. It was a picturesque spring day, and the sky was clear as crystal, but the mid-season winds were as intense as ever. A strong breeze swayed the budding trees and whistled over the surrounding roof tops, pulling at Pinkie’s mane, tail and apron. She glanced back to watch Scootaloo take the map between her teeth, spreading her wings and giving a few test flaps. Another roaring wind nearly lifted her off the ground as it caught her by the wings.

“Jeeze!” Scootaloo shouted as she pointed her wings straight up, laughing and dropping back to all fours.

“Pretty choppy out today!” Pinkie commented as she began to scan the horizon. “You sure you wanna fly this one?”

Grinning and wrinkling her nose, Scootaloo quipped, “You don’t pay me to take my sweet time making deliveries, Pinkie! Of course I’m going to make the run by air!”

“Aaaalright then!” Pinkie Pie shouted as she made her way to the enormous sling-shot mounted on the highest point of the roof.

She knelt down to check the series of bolts that fastened the sling-shot to the roof, making sure they wouldn’t pop loose under stress. Her attention shifted to the slingshot itself after that, putting all her weight against the wooden Y to make sure it could bend without snapping. After going through these motions eight or nine times a day, it had become nearly second nature, and she finished the safety check in under a minute. Scootaloo was giving her delivery harness one last once-over, concluding with a vigorous shake to make sure the package on her back wouldn’t come loose mid-flight.

Pinkie pulled a lever at the base of the sling-shot, swiveling it until she had lined it up with the direction of the wind. She pulled the lever again to lock it into place, then looked Scootaloo in the eyes. “Ready?”

Scootaloo backed into the elastic band, tucking her hinds, and then putting one foreleg after the other onto the wooden frame. With a single, swift flick of her head, her flight goggles dropped over her eyes. She glanced back at Pinkie from behind mirrored lenses and grinned. “Ready!”

Satisfied, Pinkie put her forelegs on Scootaloo’s hips and began to pull. The elastic creaked softly as it stretched, with Scootaloo carefully balancing herself in the middle.

“One!” Scootaloo cried, lifting her forelegs off of the frame and curling up as straight and tight as she could.

“Two!” Pinkie shouted, gritting her teeth as—at two full pony lengths from the frame— the pull of the elastic began to sap her strength.

In unison, they screamed, “Three!”

Pinkie let go of Scootaloo, and with a snap, the pegasus became a speeding blur, sailing high over the rooftops with a gleeful squeal. There were orders to make and customers to serve, but Pinkie spared a moment to sit back and smile, watching as Scootaloo cut through the air, becoming little more than a speck on the horizon over Ponyville. She sighed happily and turned toward the roof hatch, tugging it open against the breeze and sliding down the ladder.

The ladder deposited her in the stock room of the bakery, between several tall stacks of flour sacks. She moved briskly down the aisle, stepping around a young, lanky unicorn that she had come to know Decaf, hired just a week prior. Organization was what he claimed as his best quality, and it certainly seemed to be what he excelled at, further suggested by the image of an index card on his mocha flank. He was busy gathering ingredients, as she had asked him to, but realizing that she had missed a chance to say hello gave her reason to pause. She came to a full stop and back peddled.

“Hey! So, how are you liking Duskhoof?” she asked, flashing a smile.

The colt glanced up from his levitating clipboard, his green tea colored eyes simultaneously startled and cheerful. “Oh, uh… yeah, it’s pretty cool so far. They just finished building the school.” He nodded, a few lemon sherbet locks falling into his face. “I got to see my classroom for the first time yesterday.”

A few jars rattled as Pinkie leaned against a shelf. “Back to school? You must be pretty excited, huh?”

“Mmhmm!” He nodded eagerly, displacing his mane to the point that he had to brush it out of his eyes. “It’s only been a month since we moved here from Canterlot, but I really missed going to school. I can’t wait to start learning again.”

“You remind me of a friend of mine. Total egghead!” Pinkie flashed a nervous smile and shook her head. “Not that you’re an egghead! I just mean that she really loved reading and learning! It was supposed to be a compliment!”

“I was the best student in my grade.” He snickered, lifting his head proudly. “I do take that as a compliment.”

“Terrific! Anyway, I’ll let you get back to it.” She turned and cantered toward the kitchen. “Don’t be a stranger if you need a hoof!”

For Pinkie Pie, getting back to work was never something to dread, and becoming her own boss had only made her work that much more enjoyable. She tried her hardest to make sure her employees could share in her enthusiasm, especially since nearly her entire staff was composed of close friends. Seeing the kitchen empty and the cooler door wide open was consequently a sign that something was amiss. Her breath fogged just slightly when she peered into the chamber. Ditzy Doo stood within, swaying in front of a shelf of un-frosted cakes. She muttered something, then let loose with a long snore, ears flicking.

“Heyooo,” The pink pony called, setting hoof inside. “You got everything under control in here?”

Ditzy jolted, wings snapping to full span and tail flicking. “I swear I delivered it to the right address!”

Pinkie crossed the cold, metal floor, snickering. “I know you did, silly. You’ve been doing a great job, you’re a natural delivery mare.”

“Thanks.” Ditzy’s smile was half hearted.

“I’m not mad, but I keep catching you napping on the job.” The curls of Pinkie’s mane bobbed as she tilted her head. “You okay?

“No…” Ditzy turned toward her, but didn’t make eye contact. “Haven’t been getting much sleep. I know how stupid this sounds, but I keep having nightmares about getting fired. Then again, I guess that’s just as stupid as having nightmares about not studying for tests.” She glanced up, meeting Pinkie’s gaze with her good eye, her expression blank. “And I still get those sometimes.”

Pinkie came closer, lifting a hoof to Ditzy’s shoulder. “Ditzy, even if you screw up a delivery, I’m not going to fire you.”

“That’s what the Postmaster said, too, and look how that went. I’m eventually going to screw up, and I’m eventually going to screw up so bad that even you’ll want nothing to do with me.” The pegasus shook her head, sighing. “I just know it.”

“Aw, come on, don’t say that! You’re totally one of my bestest friends!” Pinkie wrapped her other foreleg around the back of Ditzy’s neck, pulling her in for a hug.

“Besides, even if you deliver a cake to the wrong address, that’s like, awesome marketing.” She turned her head to the side, grinning and deepening her voice. “Sometimes On a Wing and a Pastry delivers free pastries to a random address for free!” She turned back to Ditzy, brows arched. “We could pretend they won a raffle or something, make it seem totally legit!”

“Yeah… yeah, alright.” Ditzy sighed again, but a smile followed it. “Thanks, Pinkie.”

Pinkie grinned, giving Ditzy another squeeze. “Anytime.” She took a step back, tapping a hoof. “Not to cut this short, but I gotta get back to work. You gonna be alright?”

“Yeah, I’ll be fine.” Ditzy gave a nod, her smile seeming much more genuine. “Sorry to worry you.”

“That’s what friends are foooor,” Pinkie sang as she stepped out of the cooler.

Fluttershy stepped in from the shop front at around the same time, flashing a little smile as Pinkie trotted up to her. The pegasus spread a wing, wrapping Pinkie in soft plumage and holding her close. Touching noses turned into a peppering of kisses, and then back to nuzzling. Pinkie sighed happily, Fluttershy’s face buried in the side of her neck.

“Still busy?” she murmured, nibbling the tip of Fluttershy’s ear.

“Not so much.” Fluttershy replied, giggling and flicking her ear. “The lunch rush is dying down. We’re running low on twelve grain and we’re down to the last three scones. The coffee cake isn’t really selling today, though, and we still have plenty of cupcakes and sweet rolls on reserve.”

Pinkie Pie leaned back, smiling as she met Fluttershy’s radiant gaze. “Alright, I was just about to get back to baking. Twelvies and sconies are priority!”

As if on cue, Decaf trotted into the kitchen, a bag of flour slung across his back, and a cloud of other ingredients levitating around his head. Pinkie smiled and pecked Fluttershy on the nose, but there was a vacancy in her stare, as though her thoughts were elsewhere. She came out of it as Pinkie nudged her, grinning and cocking her head.

“Whatcha thinkin’ about?” The pink pony leaned in closer, her grin widening. “Last night?” she whispered, arching a brow.

In an instant, Fluttershy’s face had flushed a gentle shade of pink. She made a small, pleasant sound not unlike a laugh, but shook her head. “Well now I am…” She smiled and nuzzled in closer, snickering quietly.

Pinkie giggled, nibbling on her ear again. “What were you thinking about before that, then?”

“Oh, um…” Fluttershy shook her head, looking down at the floor. “It’s nothing. Didn’t you say you needed to get back to work?”

“Aw, what?” As she said this, Ditzy pushed her way out of the cooler, carrying a bucket of frosting with each wing. Pinkie flashed her a smile and a nod, then returned her attention to Fluttershy. “I can put off baking for another few minutes. What’s on your mind?”

Attempting to turn away, Fluttershy took a few steps to the side, but Pinkie moved around to block her. “No, it’s okay,” the pegasus murmured. “Really.”

“Come oooon,” Pinkie nearly whined, pressing her nose to Fluttershy’s. “Tell meeee.”

Fluttershy continued to avoid eye contact. “I’d rather not—”

“Pleeeeeeease?” Pinkie interrupted, with puppy-dog eyes.

Fluttershy wrinkled her nose, fighting a smile. “All that construction Luna hired the diamond dogs to do underground?” Her cheer quickly evaporated. “Well, they started digging around under our house this morning, a little while after you left to open.”

Pinkie cocked her head. “Yeah?”

“Yeah. It feels like we’re getting hit with an earthquake when they’re at work. I know Rarity reassured everypony that they’re experts, and that it’s perfectly safe for them to carve into the rock under the town, but all the noise…” Fluttershy shook her head, ears splaying. “None of the animals like it. I don’t like it.”

Pinkie slowly nodded along, and when Fluttershy had finished speaking, she simply said, “Yikes.”

“Yeah,” Fluttershy mumbled through tense lips. “And I hope they finish soon, because I don’t know how you’re going to sleep through that.”

“Well, I’m sure they’ll be done soon! And anyway, you don’t need to worry about me sleeping, because you can always just hyp—” Pinkie snapped her mouth shut so fast that she heard her own teeth clack, but Fluttershy’s stare had already turned cold. Rapidly shaking her head, Pinkie began to repeatedly shout, “I’m sorry!”

“It’s fine.” Fluttershy mumbled. “Besides, that’s not what was really bothering me.”

“You didn’t say anything was bothering you, Shy!” Pinkie redoubled the effort to cheer up her partner, wiggling her ears and arching her brows. “What’s got you down?”

“Pinkie, we’re…” Briefly, Fluttershy’s gaze wavered, then locked with Pinkie’s. “We’re still getting a lot of requests for meat pies, and I respect the diamond dog’s right to be carnivores, but…”

Fluttershy snorted softly, glancing away again. “It really bothers me that they would want us to make— to sell something like that. I mean, it would be different if they’re hunting to survive, but this is… they would be…” She took a deep breath, vigorously shaking her head. “What I’m trying to say is; I’m still not comfortable with the notion of making a profit selling dead animals.”

This was a subject that had already been thoroughly discussed on several occasions. Pinkie frowned, nodding slowly. “Okay, I guess I need to hang up a sign or something. I’m really, really sorry that they upset you again. Did you say anything when they asked you?”

“No. I didn’t want to risk making you lose business. I just told them that I would have to ask you about it.” Fluttershy shivered and peered up at her, ears splaying. “I’m sorry that I keep bringing this up.”

Pinkie lifted a foreleg, giving her a squeeze. “Hey, it’s alright.” Fluttershy’s silence weighed heavily on her. “Is there something else you wanna tell me?”

“I…” Fluttershy swallowed, her lips moving without sound for a moment. She glanced away from Pinkie, her gaze sweeping the room.

“Aaaaand I’m back!” Scootaloo shouted from the front of the shop, accompanied by a jingling of bells as the door opened and closed.

Fluttershy took a deep breath, motioning toward the cooler. “Can we go somewhere private?”

“Sure,” Pinkie almost whispered, her ears drooping.

Without saying another word, Fluttershy pulled away and crossed the kitchen, silently slipping into the cooler. Pinkie Pie glanced over her withers, meeting looks of concern from all ponies present.

“Hey, is everything alright?” Scootaloo asked from the kitchen entrance, seeming more confused than anything.

Pinkie forced a smile. “Yep! Everything’s peachy! Nothing to worry about!”

Her smile vanished as she pulled open the door to the cooler, quickly closing it behind her.

“I know you really love living here,” Fluttershy began the very instant the door clicked shut. She hung her head as she spoke, staring at the floor. “Having your own bakery and you own house, but… do you ever miss living in Ponyville?”

Hoping her enthusiasm might spread, Pinkie nodded eagerly. “Sometimes! But hey, we’re not that far away! If going to the spa with Rarity isn’t enough, we can always visit just for the heck of it! I mean, Twilight and Spike are still out of town, but we could always go see Applejack and Rainbow Dash! I bet they’d love having us down on the farm! It’d be like old times!”

“That’s what I mean, Pinkie…” Fluttershy slowly lifted her gaze, the corners of her eyes wet with tears. “I miss the way things used to be. I miss my cottage. I miss walking into town in the morning to sell eggs and go grocery shopping. I miss being able to eat normal food whenever I’m hungry, instead of sucking blood. I miss being able to sleep.” She took a deep breath, fighting back a sob. “I miss being normal!”

“But Fluttershy,” Pinkie lowered her muzzle, gently nuzzling between Fluttershy’s ears. “If things were different, we might not be together.”

“And I would never want that to change.” Fluttershy carefully raised her head, nose to nose with Pinkie. “I love you, Pinkamena. I love you with all my heart. You’re the only thing in my life that makes this bearable, but… I just… It’s almost been a year, and it’s still so hard for me, living like this. I feel like it’s selfish to want my old life back and have you at the same time, but that’s what I want more than anything else.”

Fluttershy shuddered as she exhaled, a line of damp fur trailing down her cheek. “Am I just screwed up?” she whimpered. “Am I broken?”

“No, you’re not screwed up, and you’re not broken.” Pinkie found the strength to smile in the truth of her words. “You’re beautiful, and I love you. I’m here to help you, Fluttershy, and I know we can get through this.”

Very gently, she lifted a hoof to the side of Fluttershy’s face, sliding it to the back of her neck.

“Everything is gonna be fine. I Pinkie promise.”

\/ /\ /\ \/

As far as Twilight Sparkle could tell, the constant presence of ponies seemed to be having an effect on the very nature of the Everfree Forest.

When Duskhoof had been founded, it still had a sort of gloom about it that one might expect to see in the surrounding woodlands. In the winter of that same year, the ambient shade of Duskhoof seemed to have dissipated entirely, and the wildlife in the immediate area began to behave in a more docile and generally more intelligent fashion. Not more than a few months after her last visit, the change seemed to be spreading outward, beyond the borders of the town.

The air resonated with the music of birds, mingling with the laughter of foals and full grown ponies alike. Looking over all the fresh, green growth pushing out of the ground and from every swaying branch, picturesque came to mind, despite the fact that the town was still right in the center of a dangerous and mysterious forest. She very nearly forgot that she wasn’t in Ponyville as she walked down the street, returning the greetings of passersby. Seeing the occasional diamond dog or bat-winged pegasus served as a pleasant reminder to the contrary. She regarded it as a very strange place, but it had a sort of bizarre charm to it for the same reasons, like something out of a book.

A place where monsters and ponies live together, she mused to herself.

When she laid eyes on Zecora’s home, the nebulous mixture of her idle thoughts resolved into defined priorities, and the muted sounds of Celestia and Luna’s conversation became clearer.

“…haven’t heard from Saliant, I’m afraid.”

Twilight glanced back at the regal sisters, noting the way Celestia cracked a smile at Luna as she spoke. A small entourage of guards followed in the wake of the princesses, silent and alert, but calm; save for a single pegasus of the day guard. Twilight immediately remembered his face, but she could not put a name to it. His gaze swept past Twilight, barely making eye contact.

“But then,” Celestia continued, “the dragons never did respect me as they respect you.”

Luna shook her head, and before Twilight turned her attention forward, she saw that Luna’s own lips had curled into a smile.

“Dragons are notoriously stubborn, sister. Do not take it to heart. However, I fear I have not had much success either. He has repeatedly, but respectfully declined my request to send a representative here. He—” Luna paused. “Or, at least, his peers seem to believe that the political atmosphere in Equestria would be unfavorable to them.”

Their combined hoofbeats slowed to a stop. “Ah, but we may discuss this further at another time. We have arrived.”

Twilight glanced back at them, nodding. “I’ll go let her know we’re here.”

On her way to the door, she overheard Celestia addressing someone in a rather hushed tone. Twilight lifted her hoof to Zecora’s door and knocked, but curiosity got the better of her as she waited. Peering out of the corner of her eye, Twilight saw that Celestia had pulled one of the guards aside. She recognized him as the one that had seemed anxious, but his name continued to elude her. Their words were quiet, but not enough that their conversation was inaudible.

“Cloud Burst, you gave me your word that your presence here would come without incident, and I intend to hold you to that.” Celestia’s voice was stern, but not aggressive. If anything, the way she had lowered her head, and the passive stance she had taken read more as concern. “So before we enter, I’ll ask you again: are you sure that you’ll be able to accompany us?”

“I did not insist on coming along to pick a fight with one of this town’s blood suckers.” Celestia’s brow furrowed, but he continued. “I am here to guarantee the safety of you, your sister, and Miss Sparkle in the event of—”

Celestia lifted her head so suddenly that he stopped short. “You know very well that Zecora is not a threat.” Narrowing her eyes and bringing her hooves closer together, the sun princess flatly added, “The presence of any guard on royal business is purely procedural, and you are no exception. If I detect a shred of antagonism from you, you’ll be cleaning the palace bathrooms for the rest of the month.”

Luna began to quietly snicker, but Celestia ignored her and lightly tapped her gilded forehoof against the cobblestone. “Am I understood?”

Cloud Burst bowed his head. “Yes, princess. I will not step out of line.”

“Good,” Celestia coldly replied.

Celestia looked up from the armored pegasus, seeming surprised to meet Twilight’s gaze. Twilight bristled as she realized that she had turned her head to watch, whipping her head around and staring intently at the door in front of her. It opened a moment later, revealing a zebra with squinted eyes and a sharp-toothed smile.

“Twilight, how good it is to see you!” Zecora tilted her head just slightly to the side, her ears swiveling forward. “And both royal sisters have come along, too?”

Twilight gave a cheerful nod. “Well, since this is already a collaborative effort, I thought that having them present for the process would shorten the amount of time and money we would have to spend editing and refining our notes through post.”

“I think this will sound like a silly question…” Zecora took a step back, into the dimmed light of her home. Her eyes emitted a soft glow as she opened them wider. “But are you planning on writing this book in one session?”

“Well…” Twilight glanced to the side. “No. But if I have everypony here at the same time, then I can ask for feedback on the notes I’m taking as I’m taking them.” She held herself proudly, her smile brimming with confidence. “That way we’ll get it written faster.”

Taking another step back and to the side, Zecora cocked a brow and snickered. “Forgive me for saying, but that’s far too ambitious. I’m afraid that writing is far more repetitious.” She laughed and gestured into her home. “But where are my manners!” She smiled to Twilight, then looked past her. “Please, come inside! In a short while, food and drink I’ll provide.”

Twilight returned the smile and nodded as she passed Zecora, turning to watch Luna, Celestia, and two guards file in behind her. All but Cloud Burst greeted the zebra in turn. He and Zecora came to a standstill in the doorway, locking eyes, but saying nothing. Cloud Burst began to say something, but then he abruptly turned away, leaving Zecora standing in a pool of sunlight. Her ears splayed, and she slowly closed the door. Twilight took a step toward her, but Zecora lifted a hoof and shook her head, gesturing toward the rest of the group. Sighing quietly, Twilight nodded and did as suggested.

Zecora’s home was lit mostly candles and her fireplace, with a few long rays of sunlight stretching across the floor from beneath windows with drawn curtains. Once the door was closed, the light level dropped dramatically, reducing Twilight’s surroundings to silhouettes. Zecora led them toward the fireplace, making a wide, sweeping gesture toward the various cushions spread across the floor. A circle of candles had been placed around the seating area, creating a mesh of flickering shadows.

She stood before the crackling flame for a moment, studying her guests, then fixed her gaze on Twilight. “Forgive me for asking if the cause is unpleasant, but is there a reason that Spike is not present?”

Twilight shook her head, carefully lowering herself onto a silk pillow. “He’s just visiting Rarity. He said he would join us later.”

“And how is Rarity taking to her work?” Celestia asked, her gaze drifting toward her sister, seated beside her.

“Astonishingly.” Luna’s smile glimmered through the flickering shadows. “She has yet to disappoint. Quite the opposite, in fact; she has exceeded my expectations at every opportunity.” Luna paused, shifting slightly, as if to get more comfortable in her seat. “I chose my seamstress well.”

“I find it fascinating that she was able to get the local diamond dogs to cooperate with her. More than that, they seem to be settling here as well. Is that correct?” Luna nodded in response. “You’ve established quite a remarkable community here, Luna.” Celestia smiled fondly at her sister, reaching out to rest a hoof on Luna’s wither. “I’m impressed.”

Luna closed her eyes and bowed, barely concealing her bashful smile. “I am only as accomplished as the ponies that live and work here.”

Celestia hummed softly, seeming to give that some thought. She met Twilight’s gaze a moment later. “So, for the sake of getting us all on the same page, Twilight, would you like to recap the goals of this project?”

“Yes, of course.”

Twilight levitated a roll of parchment out of her saddle bag and opened it. Without even needing to be asked, Zecora brought her a candle. Twilight smiled, nodded, and lifted it with her magic.

“Thank you. Okay, uh…” Her eyes darted over the parchment, straining to adjust to the added light.

“So, when I learned that an entire moment in history went mostly unrecorded… or, well, overshadowed is the better phrase, I guess. Anyway, it was a point in Equestrian history that did not receive the documentation it deserved.” She looked to Luna, then back to Celestia. “My first objective is to fill in the blanks behind your quarrel. Not so much the specifics of why you fought, but what was going on in the background as you fought.”

The sisters nodded, and Twilight continued. “My second objective is to educate the reader about ponies and zebras like Fluttershy and Zecora. I want the reader to be able to understand them better, instead of just looking at them like monsters. So…” She chewed her lower lip for a moment. “I want to explore some of the myths of zebra folklore regarding the Children of Nightmare, and if possible, disarm them. Similarly, I want to fully detail their needs and capabilities, to remove some of the mysticism that might lead some ponies to make bad assumptions.”

Twilight lowered the parchment, glancing around. “That’s all so far. What do you think?”

“Your priorities seem to be in order,” Celestia replied, smiling, “so you’re already off to a good start. I recall mention of several potential titles.”

Nodding slightly, Twilight returned her focus to the parchment. “I’ve narrowed it down a bit more, but the one I like the most is: Children of the Night: Fact, Fiction, and Physiology.”

“Rather direct,” Luna murmured. As Twilight looked up from the parchment, Luna gestured toward her with an upturned forehoof. “Please, continue.”

Twilight nodded, taking a deep breath. “Well, what that means is—”

A quick series of thumps at the front door made her jump. Celestia murmured something, and Twilight blinked rapidly as she glanced up from her notes and toward the source of the commotion. Zecora was already nearly to the door, the speed and silence with which the zebra moved startling her anew. Twilight squinted into the glare of day as the door opened. A short, bipedal silhouette occupied the frame.

“Hey Zecora,” Spike almost sighed. “Sorry I’m late.”

“Why do you frown with such severity?” Zecora turned to follow Spike as he moved past her, flicking the door closed with her hind leg. “Did you enjoy visiting Rarity?”

Spike stumbled in the darkness as he approached the flickering circle of candles. “No. I didn’t. And I don’t really want to talk about it. Let’s just do this book thing, okay?”

Twilight glanced back at Celestia and Luna, her eyes adjusting enough to note their own exchange of confused looks. They both turned their attention to Twilight, then Spike as the dragon knelt down beside her.

“Yes,” Celestia began after clearing her throat. “Twilight was just explaining the objectives of her work. I trust you’re familiar with the material already?”

“Yep,” Spike flatly replied, looking down at the floor.

Celestia frowned, glancing to her sister again. Luna offered a shrug. Again, all eyes turned toward Twilight.

Twilight leaned down to him, her nose practically bumping his ear-fin. “What’s wrong?” she whispered.

“ I just…” He let out a low sigh, wringing his claws. “I’ll tell you about it later, okay?” He looked up at her, forcing a smile. The wetness in the corners of his eyes told her that he had been crying recently. “Your number one assistant is here. Let’s get to it.”

With a slow nod and a gentle smile, Twilight reached out hugged him tightly to her side. He rubbed at his eyes a moment later, and then, nodding, held out his claws for a quill and a fresh roll of parchment. A flood of fond memories filled her with a sense of nostalgic joy as she watched him shift into a more writing friendly position.

It was Luna’s voice that brought her back to reality. “Twilight, you were going to explain something?”

“Right! Sorry.” Twilight shook her head a bit, sifting through her thoughts. A grin spread over her lips when she got her train of thought back on the rails. “The contents will be divided into three sections.”

Twilight un-tucked a foreleg and divided an invisible line with three chops. “Facts would be things like… the history behind the Children of Nightmare; how and why they were created, the part they played in the conflict, and what became of them after the conflict ended.” She gauged the expressions of her audience, pleased that they were giving her their full attention. “So while that will be largely for Celestia and Luna to consider, it will also include much more recent events, right up to the present.

“Fiction would be more along the lines of folklore.” Twilight nodded toward the zebra. “Zecora, that will be your field, more or less, and I say that because it doesn’t seem like any relevant stories survived in pony culture.” She swept her extended foreleg toward the princesses. “But if either of you have things you’d like to contribute, every little bit will be helpful. Things like… stories from the conflict, or rumors that circulated after the conflict had ended.”

A round of nodding swept through the equines seated before Twilight. Taking their silence and attentiveness as a sign that there were no questions, she leaned toward Spike and murmured, “Did I miss anything?”

The dragon shook his head, idly tapping the feathered end of his quill against the parchment. “Nuh-uh. Sounds about right to me.”

“Great.” Twilight settled back onto her cushion and smiled. “Lastly, physiology. Since Fluttershy doesn’t really want to be a part of this project, I’ll be mostly relying on Luna and Zecora regarding the physical and supernatural nature of Children of—”

Twilight came to an abrupt stop as Spike’s claw shot into the air, waving from side to side. She gave him a squinting glance, unable to resist the urge to grin.

“Yes, Spike?”

Spike cleared his throat, letting his claw drop. “Hey, sorry to interrupt, but...” he glanced from Twilight to Luna. “Are we going to refer to Children of Nightmare by their full title each time they come up in text?”

The night princess scrunched her lips to one side, deep shadows forming as she wrinkled her nose. “I suppose that name is rather cumbersome. I wanted them to sound extravagant and mighty, but now it just sounds rather… excessive.”

Twilight glanced around, all present nodding in agreement. Luna began to smile now, directing her attention to Zecora. “And I would be lying if I said that I had not given consideration to giving my creations a new title.”

“What did you have in mind?” Celestia asked, her raised brow and her smirk betraying her amusement.

Luna hardly noticed, giving the zebra her full attention. “Zecora, would you be at all opposed to being called a duskhoof?”

Spike made a soft, confused sound, tilting his head. “As in, the name of this town?”

Luna nodded. “The plural of which would be duskhooves.” She stifled a quiet giggle. “I know it sounds a bit silly, I just thought that, rather than regarding them as a reflection of my mistakes... their name should reflect the good I’ve done.” Luna smiled, lifting her hoof toward Zecora. “Does this please you?”

For a long few moments, silence settled over the room. Zecora briefly looked to the floor, and then, lifting her head and glancing from face to face, began to nod.

“I can find no fault with this name change.” Her smile became a toothy grin, fangs glistening in candle light. “Next to words like ‘pegasuses’, duskhoof isn’t so strange.”

“We’ll make a note of that in the preface,” Twilight said as she flashed a smile to Spike, who was already busy jotting it down. “So, I suppose we should start with ancient history. Luna, Celestia, how would you like to begin?”

\/ /\ /\ \/

Chapter 14 - Summer

Chapter Fourteen: Summer

\/ /\ /\ \/

The sight of them together made Spike sick to his stomach.

A large part of him felt that, despite the revulsion he felt, he should still be happy. Twilight was with her friends again, laughing hysterically as she listened to Pinkie’s story. There was no doubt in his mind that this was the happiest he had seen Twilight in months, and it brought on a distracting wave of nostalgia.

Applejack seemed to have completely forgotten about Fluttershy’s condition. She was too busy leaning against the pegasus as she gasped between fits of laughter, her prosthetic leg making a wooden sound every time it thumped against the gazebo floor. Were this Spike’s first time laying eyes on Fluttershy, he wouldn’t have guessed that she even had a condition. It might be considered unusual for somepony to wear sunglasses so early in the morning, but her wide-brimmed hat and her body-concealing shawl were nothing out of the ordinary. She timidly held up a forehoof, kindly asking for a moment to collect herself as she wiped joyful tears from the corners of her eyes with the other.

Despite the request, Rainbow Dash loudly echoed the last, and what she probably felt were the funniest things Pinkie had said, stirring everypony right back up again. She dropped lower to the floor every few flaps, doubled over with laughter and barely able to stay airborne in her current state. Pinkie Pie was, surprisingly, the quietest one at that particular moment. She appeared clueless, as though she didn’t get her own joke, but Spike sincerely doubted that. She giggled a little as she looked around at her friends, though her eyes lingered on Fluttershy. Like a butterfly pausing on a flower petal, her laughter was briefly replaced with a tender smile before she went back to giggling and curiously looking around.

Pinkie’s cheer dissolved as she met Spike’s gaze, however, and she tilted her head, brow knitting slightly. She began going through the motions of mouthing “you okay?” when Spike looked away, and then found himself unable to look anywhere else.

There she was. Rarity: the object of his affection and the mare of his dreams. For an instant, he was able to forget that she was sitting neatly in Rover’s lap, her forehoof clutched in his big, fuzzy paw. The instant passed all too swiftly. The fanciest unicorn of the group reclined against her diamond dog perch as she giggled dryly, holding her free hoof over her muzzle. Rover, on the other claw, was making the stupidest chuckling sound Spike could imagine, slapping the side of his thigh with his free paw.

Rover’s every motion made the dragon’s scales crawl.

Having seen more than he could bear, Spike got up from Twilight’s side with the intent of quietly stepping out of the gazebo. He caught another glimpse of Pinkie, who was now raising her brows at the unicorn beside him.

“Are you gonna be alright?” he heard Twilight whisper, briefly locking eyes with her.

All Spike could think to do was shrug. Twilight frowned, but nodded. Without her saying a word, he understood her gentle apology. He gave the group one last sweeping glance and saw that none of the others had noticed the recent turn of events. That was just fine with him. He raised his claw in a half hearted wave to Pinkie and Twilight, turning toward the steps.

“Oh,” Rarity called, stopping the dragon in his tracks. “Spike, are you leaving?”

A chill ran down his spine as he glanced back, hoping more than anything that she would leap out of Rover’s lap and sweep him up in a hug, begging him to stay. If I could just put these feelings into words, he told himself, maybe she’ll understand the mistake she’s making.

“Yeah,” he said on impulse, kicking himself for answering so plainly.

Rarity smiled, looked at Rover, and then back to Spike. “Would you please get us some more punch?” She fluttered her eyelids, resting her head against the side of Rover’s neck. “We would be ever so grateful, Spikey-wikey.”

The scream welling up in the dragon’s chest withered to an inaudible groan by the time it reached his throat.

“Yeah,” he muttered, feeling completely defeated.

Celestia gracefully cantered up the steps as he shambled down, Luna just a few paces behind her. He was so intent on turning everything out that when one of them said something, he didn’t even bother trying to comprehend what was said, or whom had said it. Spike stopped, however, when he felt somepony nudge the back of his head. The sun princess smiled as he looked back at her.

“I asked how you were fairing. I think it’s safe to say the answer to that question is a not well.”

Spike let out a long sigh, his shoulders hanging as he deflated. “It’s that obvious, huh?”

“When the one who always has a witty remark handy is wearing a frown at the Summer Sun Celebration, yes, I would say so.” She turned, and sat on the steps beside him. “Twilight told me already. You don’t need to hide it.”

“Aw man…” Spike flopped down on his rump, leaning back into his palms. “I know it sounds stupid—”

“It most certainly does not sound stupid, Spike. Your feelings are just as important as anypony else’s.” Celestia looked up and away as Luna and Twilight called for her, and she offered a brilliant smile. “I’ll be just a moment.”

Lowering her head, and wearing a much gentler smile, she continued. “But what I want you to understand is that Rover is not trying to hurt you. Rarity is following her heart, and as much as it may sting, you must respect her decision.”

“Great.”

“And Spike, remember that as far as dragons are concerned, you’re still very, very young. You have plenty of time to find the love of your life.”

“Yeah,” he mumbled as he looked down at the steps under him. “Thanks, I guess.”

Celestia maintained her smile as she lightly nodded, but he could see that her expression had lost a bit of its luster. With nothing further, she joined the gathering within the gazebo to the sound of eager welcome. Of all the voices raised in greeting, it was Rarity’s that he heard the clearest. Spike swiftly decided to bring his emotional storm-cloud elsewhere.

There was certain lethargy in his step. An entire night spent partying in Canterlot was catching up to him, intensified by the draining sensation of watching his dream girl fawn over a creature he despised. The sun was still fairly low on the horizon, having risen no more than an hour prior, but the baby blue of the morning sky failed to bring him any piece of mind. He had anticipated feeling this way on the ride over to Ponyville, quietly confiding in Twilight and accepting her reassurance as fact, but time had yet to numb the hurt of seeing Rarity cooing in Rover’s embrace.

Wandering aimlessly, he soon found himself in Ponyville’s town square, which was absolutely saturated with party-goers, as it was every year on that day. The attendees were locals and visitors alike, familiar faces singing and dancing with fancier ponies from out of town. New to this mixture were diamond dogs, many of which seemed to be wearing clothing much too fancy for them. Closer inspection, when passing by one such canine, revealed Rarity’s handiwork. The knots in his stomach tightened even further.

Spike felt the urge to flee, but the notion was as silly to him as it was appealing. I’m a little old for running away from home, he told himself, and where am I gonna go where no one would recognize me or think to come looking for me? A daydream unfolded in the back of his mind; meeting Rarity on some lonely road away from town. The thought of Rarity seeking him out was poisoned as he imagined Rover tagging along on the end of a leash. He felt bile rising in his throat.

At that moment, hiding under a table seemed like the best course of action. No one would really expect that, he decided.

Spike hastily weaved his way through the crowd, muttering pardons as he bumped and pushed his way to the nearest tablecloth-covered surface. Crouching as low as he could, he squeezed under the table and let the fabric drape behind him, exhaling a sigh of relief once concealed. It was only then that he realized he had company.

Sweetie Belle’s eyes widened as they exchanged glances. For several awkward moments, they stared in silence, blinking, but otherwise statuesque.

“Oh,” Spike eventually mumbled, averting his eyes.

Sweetie Belle sighed quietly, her look of surprise quickly fading to irritation as he chanced a second look. “Did Scootaloo send you?”

Spike cleared his throat, lifting one of his claws off the ground to scratch the side of his neck. “Scootaloo? Uh, no.”

Cocking her head, she asked, “Applebloom?”

“No.” He glanced over his shoulder at the tablecloth wavering behind him. “Nopony sent me.”

This time it was Sweetie Belle’s turn to murmur, “Oh.”

Spike began to back up, tucking his tail between his legs. “I uh… I guess I’ll go find another table, then.”

“You don’t have to. I’m just—” The young mare took a deep breath, and then exhaled sharply. “Hiding.”

His retreat came to a halt. “Wait, you’re hiding from somepony?”

She nodded slowly. “Are you hiding, too?”

Hesitantly, Spike muttered, “Yeah.”

The tiniest little smile inched across her lips. “Who are you hiding from?”

“Your sister,” Spike droned, “and her flea bitten boyfriend.”

“Oh gross.” Sweetie Belle stuck out her tongue and shuddered. “They’re getting all cuddly in public, aren’t they?”

A groan was the first thing to Spike’s frowning lips. “I really don’t want to talk about it.”

Sweetie Belle gritted her teeth. “Right. Sorry.”

He shrugged, frown subsiding. “It’s alright. So… you’re expecting somepony to come looking for you?”

“Yeah… I guess so,” she idly replied, looking away.

Spike crawled a bit closer, tilting his head. “Who?”

“Scootaloo. Or I guess Applebloom,” Sweetie Belle waved a hoof around, frowning, “since Scootaloo is too busy telling everyone her dumb story.”

Spike sat down, tucking his knees against his chest. “What story?”

“How she got her stupid cutie mark!” She thumped a hoof against the ground.

His eyes widened. “Wow, Scootaloo got her cutie mark?” Immediately after he had asked, Sweetie Belle’s expression darkened. He shook his head. “Uh… nevermind. So, how come you’re hiding from your friends?”

But as the words left his mouth, he felt like he already knew the answer. Looking down at her flank confirmed it. Sweetie Belle shifted away from him, covering her exposed and blank thigh with a foreleg. As if on cue, Scootaloo’s voice filled the silence.

“And that’s when I realized that there was a whole swarm of parasprites chasing me, so I—”

“It looks stupid,” Sweetie Bell grumbled, “I don’t know what she’s so excited about. Her story is stupid too. That’s probably not even how she got it.”

Spike leaned a bit closer, squeezing his shins. “Maybe not, but… you don’t hate her for it, do you?”

“No. I don’t. I’m just—” She huffed, giving him a sideways glance. “It’s not fair. What did I do to deserve this?”

“I don’t think you did anything wrong. I think that’s just how life is sometimes.” With a little sigh, Spike shrugged. “And believe me; life can be pretty unfair. I do know that great things can happen too, though.”

His feet slid forward as he rested his claws on his knees. “I’m not saying it doesn’t totally suck, but Celestia kinda told me that I still have my whole life ahead of me, and she would probably tell you the same thing.”

Sweetie Belle wrinkled her nose. “Don’t give up? Yeah, that’s not something I’ve heard before.”

“What I think she meant was, it’s not the end of the world. I’m feeling pretty lousy, but I’m still Spike.” He raised a claw, gesturing toward her. “Are you still Sweetie Belle?”

She took a breath, but no words came. After a moment, she murmured, “Well… yeah.”

“Then who cares if you don’t have your cutie mark? You got bullied for it?” He shrugged again, looking her in the eyes. “So what? You’re all grown up now. If someone does pick on you, that’s a pretty clear sign that they’re totally childish. You shouldn’t even care what they have to say.”

He punctuated with a snort. “And anyway; I’d rather hang out under a table at a party with you, then with some jerk that does have a cutie mark and has the nerve to tease you.”

There was no response from Sweetie Belle. She looked down at her thigh again, her hoof idly fidgeting against it. He cleared his throat softly.

“What I’m trying to say is; your cutie mark isn’t what makes you a good pony.” He lifted a claw, pointing at her. “You’re what makes you a good pony. You know? What’s inside; who you are.”

“This might sound kinda weird,” she said at last, “but I was a little disappointed when you said that no one told you to come find me.”

Spike shook his head slowly. “No, I understand. You just wanted someone to notice you were gone. You wanted to know that they care about you.”

Sweetie Belle nodded, looking down at her hooves. “That sounds about right… you’re a pretty good listener, you know.” She smiled, glancing up at him, then quickly looking away. “Thank you.”

“Yeah, I get that a lot.” He chuckled and waved a claw. “I don’t mind.”

“Also…” She let herself trail off as Spike met her gaze. It seemed for a moment as though she had decided to keep it to herself. Instead, she giggled softly. “I’m kinda glad you did find me, even if you weren’t looking for me.”

Sweetie Belle lifted her hoof to the knuckles of his claw, leaving her flank unguarded. “I was lonely.”

Again, the pair fell silent. This time, however, the quiet was not uncomfortable. He turned his palm toward the offered hoof, gently taking it as though it were a blooming flower.

Spike found himself smiling. “Me too.”

\/ /\ /\ \/

“So are you gonna gimmie some of that or what?”

Big Macintosh paused mid-swallow. This was hardly the first time he had heard Applebloom ask for a taste when he had been drinking something strong, but she had never been quite so forward about it until that moment. The rest of the whiskey found its way to his stomach, and he chuckled.

“Ah’m serious!” Applebloom flicked an ear, then grinned. “And you can’t weasel your way out of it this time,” she lifted her head, looking especially smug, “cause Ah ain’t a filly anymore!”

All Macintosh could think to do in response was nod and say, “Ah reckon yer right.”

Applebloom looked genuinely surprised as he got up from his chair and crossed the porch to pass her the bottle. She sat down and took it gingerly, as if she were afraid of breaking it. Her eyes darted up from the homemade label, meeting her brother’s curious gaze. Again, Macintosh nodded, confirming that the offer was genuine. Before he could caution her, she tipped the bottle up, and her cheeks swelled with hard liquor. Macintosh stepped aside just fast enough to avoid being sprayed. It was impossible for him to contain his laughter.

Amidst her coughing fit, Applebloom managed to shout, “Why in Celestia’s name do you ponies drink this stuff?!”

“It’s an acquired taste,” he replied, still laughing. When he had calmed himself to the occasional snicker he added, “And yer only supposed to take a lil’ swig at a time, ‘specially if it’s yer first time. You want to try again?”

A groan gurgled past her lips as she shook her head furiously. She forked the bottle over to him. “No thank you!”

Macintosh shrugged and took another swig, then corked the bottle and set it on the railing. “Gonna be okay there, sis?” She stuck out her tongue, and he gave her a few firm pats on the back, smiling. “We oughta get to work then.”

He could hear her just a few paces behind as he stepped out into the noonday sun, his shadow clinging to him as he crossed the yard to reach the barn. Occasionally, he would hear Applebloom clearing her throat. She waited patiently as he heaved one of the doors open. From the entrance, it was plain to see that the right side of the interior had taken on a more industrial appearance. A sturdy table stood beneath an enormous tack board that took up a large portion of the wall. The table had been weighed down with forged metal and carved wood alike, stained with oil and black powder across its tool cluttered surface. The tack board displayed a series of overlapping and ratty-looking blueprints, with conceptual drawings scattered across the blue and white collage.

In front of that were a series of unevenly spaced mannequins, some of which were wearing rather scrappy-looking reins and harnesses. Most of those harnesses had been rigged with long, horizontal carvings that hung over the side, running from mid back to well beyond the chest. Macintosh stepped past these and went straight for the table. Applebloom moved up beside him a moment later, sweeping a foreleg along the crowded tabletop to clear a space. Satisfied, she looked up to the board and began studying the most recent blueprint.

“You an’ Dash were able to get the impurities outt’a the ore?” he heard her ask, as he rooted around for what was needed.

Macintosh nodded, hefting up a thin metal cylinder and setting it down in the clearing. “Eeyep, near as Ah can tell.” He began moving the more intricate bits, careful not to drop anything in transfer.

“Good,” Applebloom murmured, inspecting the pieces as he presented them to her. She had already begun laying them out in accordance to the design hanging above. “I’ll order some more from Rarity while I’m visiting Zecora tomorrow. No problems with the molds?”

The wooden parts were next. “Nope.” He made sure to blow off any shavings he spotted before passing them to her. “Poured in real smooth. No imperfections.”

Her ears perked, and he could almost see the light bulb flicking on over her head. “Hey, we should probably put some kinda roof over the forge before winter.” She glanced over at him, brows arched. “Gonna get mighty cold out there, even if Dash manages to keep a little hole in the clouds for us.”

“Eeyep.” Macintosh chuckled quietly. “That’ll be our next project, then.”

Applebloom gave a little nod as she turned back toward the pieces she had arranged, picking up the longest of the lot; the metal cylinder. There was a large drill situated next to the table, with a slender drill bit in place. She had set the cylinder into the device around the same time that Macintosh had retrieved the earmuffs that had been hanging on the other side of the table. He smiled as he offered ear protection, receiving a “Thank you!” for his consideration. Once he had slipped his pair on, and she had done the same, they exchanged nods and she turned on the drill.

Even though he knew what this assembly was supposed to look like on paper, seeing the actual components was fascinating, as was the knowledge that he had personally assisted in their creation. The latter brought a troubling question to mind.

“Hey uh,” he leaned a little closer to her, “this thing is gonna work, right?”

At these words, Applebloom stopped working and turned off the drill. She lifted one side of her ear muffs and glanced back at him. “What’d you say?”

“I said this thing is gonna work, right?” The raised eyebrow and grin that his sister donned was already making him feel stupid for asking. “It ain’t gonna explode or anything when Ah pull the trigger?”

The snorting giggle that bubbled its way out of Applebloom startled him. “Yer not gonna fire this before Ah test it, Mac!” Macintosh opened his mouth to speak, but she slapped a hoof against his chest, grinning from ear to ear. “That don’t mean Ah’m gonna fire it mahself, smartass. Sheesh, ya think Ah’m crazy?”

When Macintosh shrugged, grinning nervously, Applebloom pouted and huffed. “Nopony’s gonna touch a gun that ain’t proven. Ah’m gonna tie a string to the trigger or use a long stick or something.” She lifted a hoof and jerked it back a few times for emphasis.

Macintosh smiled and nodded. “Good. Ah’m just makin’ sure.” He put a foreleg around the back of her neck and gave her a little squeeze. “Ah ain’t tryin’ to rain on yer parade, Ah just don’t want you to get hurt. We already buried enough Apples for one year.”

It got uncomfortably quiet after that. Macintosh cleared his throat. “Sorry, that probably weren’t the best joke to make.”

Applebloom turned off the drill and looked up, meeting his gaze. “Actually, Mac… Ah know Applejack and Granny Smith don’t really wanna think about it more than they have to, an’ Ah guess Ah haven’t really tried talkin’ to Dash yet, but… well, it’s been a few weeks now and—” She pawed at the packed dirt underhoof, looking away. “Ah mean it’s okay if you don’t—”

He shook his head, rubbing his hoof against her withers. “Ah don’t mind talkin’ about it, Applebloom.”

“What do you think?” she cautiously asked.

“Ah think the whole thing is a mess.” Macintosh sighed, shaking his head. His hoof slipped back to the floor. “Somepony shoulda done something before it got this bad. Celestia, Luna; shoot, even one of us Apples might have made a difference.”

“You think Applejack and her friends could have stopped it?” she asked, sounding hopeful.

Macintosh shrugged. “Ah dunno. Maybe.” He returned her gaze, feeling melancholy. “Anything would’a been better than this; it didn’t have to be this way.” He looked away, focusing on the door. “An’ the worst part is that Ah feel like we’re just as guilty as the buffalo. Braeburn was here, in our town, on our farm, at our table. If Ah had known they were gonna do somethin’ like this—”

“We met Little Strongheart, though, an’ you’ve known Braeburn for years more than Ah have.” She leaned closer, knitting her brows in the corner of his vision. “Ah can’t see ‘em getting’ anypony killed on purpose.”

“That don’t change what they did,” he snorted.

“But they tried to warn Appleoosa!” She paused, then added, “Didn’t they?”

“Maybe they did, but that still don’t make it right. They weren’t bad ponies, Applebloom.” He looked her dead in the eyes. “They were our kin, an’ they didn’t deserve that. They were just tryin’ to make a livin’. Put all that land to use.”

Applebloom slowly shook her head, never once breaking eye contact. “It was never their land to begin with, Mac. Our family took it from them, and they just kept takin’ and takin’ even after that.” She glanced down at the floor. “After all this time, Ah think the buffalo were just tryin’ to give Appleoosa a taste of their own medicine.”

He snorted again, lifting his hoof to stomp, but refraining. “There’s a big difference between dammin’ up a river to make a reservoir, and blowin’ up that dam to force the ponies to leave. None of the buffalo drowned when the river started turnin’ into a lake.” He thrust his raised hoof toward the door. “They had time to leave. They had time to find somewhere else to live!”

“An’ so did the ponies at Appleoosa!” Applebloom straightened up, standing as tall as she could. “They knew what they were doin’ to the buffalo, an’ they didn’t care! When they were warned, most of our family out there chose not to believe it! That ain’t the buffalos’ fault!”

“So what‘re you sayin’, Applebloom?” Macintosh loomed over her, eyes narrowed. “Celestia should pardon the buffalo tribe an’ their accomplices of mass murder?!” She cringed away from him, and he felt a pang of remorse in his chest. He swiftly backed away, sighing. “Sorry.”

“I-it’s alright,” Applebloom murmured after several moments. “An’ Ah dunno. Ah’m sayin’ that it seems like it was an accident. They meant to blow up that dam, but Ah don’t think they wanted to hurt anypony.”

Macintosh shook his head, exhaling through his nose. “Yer probably right, sis, but that don’t mean a whole lot now that they’ve got blood on their hooves.”

“What’s—” She swallowed looking down at her hooves, ears splayed. “What’s gonna happen to them—to Braeburn—if they all get caught?”

“Ah really don’t know.” He gave a slight shrug. “Braeburn is still our kin, but Celestia damnit if he hasn’t gone and screwed everything up. Ah know yer tryin’ to see the bright side in all this but Ah can’t see it ending well for him, or anypony or buffalo involved.”

Applebloom said nothing, still hanging her head. Macintosh heaved a deep breath and leaned down, nuzzling her between the ears. “Listen, Ah know Applejack and Granny Smith got a little sore when you tried discussin’ this with them, but Ah ain’t mad at you or anythin’ like that.” Her eyes followed him as he stood up straight, stretching his neck. “Ah just wanna to step out an’ get some air. Ah’ll be back soon.”

“Alright. Ah’ll be here.” She turned toward the drill, then glanced his way. “Thanks for talkin’ about it with me, Mac.”

Macintosh managed to get in, “Anytime, sis,” before she slipped her earmuffs back on and the drill buzzed to life.

The droning grind of metal on metal was significantly muffled by the barn doors once closed. He stood just beyond them, eyes closed, muzzle pointed skyward. Already, he began to feel his calm return, taking a deep breath of the warm summer air. Thoughts of Brie filled up his idle mind, bringing a smile with it. Their much anticipated trip to Manehattan for the Innovations Exposition was fast approaching. His mind shifted gears, from fond musings of his bovine girlfriend to anxiety over how well their pony-engineered rifle would stack up to griffon-manufactured firearms.

It was the sound of conversation that brought him back to reality. He opened his eyes to find Fluttershy on the steps of the front porch, Applejack emerging from within. Smiles, waves, and greetings were exchanged, just faintly audible from a distance.

Fluttershy was just as pudgy as she had been the last time he had seen her, which he didn’t mind, but there was something about her now that caught his eye. Is it the dress? He wondered. Macintosh didn’t have much of an eye for fashion, but her outfit just about screamed Rarity. Even though he couldn’t see hide or hair of her below the neck or above the tail, the dress she wore did a fine job of accentuating her curves, making her appear voluptuous more than anything. He began to wonder if Rarity would make something similar for Brie when Applejack looked his way. Fluttershy followed her example, sunglasses catching the light, the wide brim of her sun hat bobbing as she waved.

While returning the gesture, it occurred to him that he had never apologized for shooting her in the hip. Maybe she forgot about it, he reassured himself. Best not bring it up. She might get all fangy, like what’s-her-name.

Rainbow Dash slipped through an upstairs window moments later, and after another round of hellos, the three of them went back to chattering. Chuckling to himself, Macintosh turned and slipped back into the barn.

\/ /\ /\ \/

It felt to Rainbow Dash as though it would be easier to turn tail and fly away, but her hooves remained glued to the spot. The spotty warmth she felt across her body told her that the sun was shining through gaps in the foliage, hovering high above in the sweet spot between afternoon and dusk. A breeze was rolling through the area too, rustling leaves and tugging at her tail and mane, bringing her the smells of a clear summer day. These feelings were distant and detached. It certainly wasn’t quiet either. Pinkie Pie was giggling like a filly and the air was full of birdsong, accented by the occasional, distant shout of Applejack or one of her siblings.

Pinkie was leaning closer, but it didn’t fully register, even as Pinkie began to wave a hoof in her face. “Well aren’t ya gonna say hi back, Dash?” Pinkie finally asked.

Dash nodded slowly, scolding herself. What’s wrong with me? She’s right there! Just say something, idiot! She tried to say ‘hi’, but all she managed was a quiet “Huuh.” Pinkie took the opportunity to lift a hoof to Dash’s jaw, working it as though she were a puppet.

“Hey there Scootaloo,” Pinkie murmured out of the side of her mouth, in her best Rainbow Dash voice. “It’s been a heck of a long time! How’ve ya been?!”

Scootaloo was snickering behind Pinkie, which naturally made Pinkie start laughing along. After a series of blinks, Dash regained her senses and shook free of Pinkie’s grasp, chuckling in spite of her embarrassment.

“What, uh—” Dash pawed at the ground, her eyes darting from Pinkie to Scootaloo to the ground, and everything in between. “What she said,” she grumbled, finally forcing herself to meet Scootaloo’s gaze.

“I’ve been pretty good!” Scootaloo smiled, tossing her head to get her mane out of her eyes. “I moved out a few months ago, been living in the back room of Pinkie’s bakery.”

“Pretty cool,” Dash commented, grinning. “Sounds a lot like Pinkie’s old gig.”

“It kinda is!” Scootaloo cheerfully replied. Pinkie nodded in agreement as Dash briefly glanced her way. “I don’t really bake though. I run deliveries. That’s actually how I got my cutie mark!”

Dash nodded enthusiastically. “I heard about that! Way to go, kiddo!” She leaned a little closer, tilting her head. “Let me see the thing. I haven’t gotten a good look at it yet.”

With eyes that practically sparkled, Scootaloo turned to the side, holding herself proudly as Dash inspected her cutie mark. The image of a crude map scrawled on a winged roll of parchment had taken residence on Scootaloo’s flanks. The top and bottom of the map curled inwards, and a pair of wings sprouted to the left and the right, fanned out as if mid flight. After a few moments and a thoughtful nod, Dash eased back. She took a breath and opened her mouth, but Scootaloo beat her to the punch.

“So there I was,” Scootaloo began, “running a whole wedding cake from one end of Duskhoof to the other, when all the sudden a huuuuge gust of wind blows me off course and sends me right into the Everfree Forest!”

Pinkie grinned and nodded as Dash met her gaze with a look of disbelief. “Uh-huh,” Dash responded, blinking once.

Scootaloo spread her wings and reared up, waving her forelegs in front of her. “And as I was trying to even out, skimming over the treetops, timber wolves started leaping out after me like piranhas!”

“Really.” She glanced over at Pinkie again, receiving an even more intense grin.

“I got so caught up in trying to avoid them that I didn’t even realize I was flying toward…” She was flapping now, hovering a few inches off the ground. Dash rolled her eyes, but Scootaloo didn’t seem to notice. “Canterlot!”

“Canterlot,” Dash repeated flatly.

“And uh… I ended up in Celestia’s throne room!” Scootaloo’s eyes darted to Pinkie and Dash looked just in time to see Pinkie moving her foreleg back and forth along her throat. Pinkie immediately dropped her hoof and went back to grinning. “And she thought the cake was for her, but I said, even if you’re a princess, I can’t deprive our paying customers of their order!

“Celestia was so impressed that she had her guards escort me to the address,” Scootaloo lifted a hoof, lightly tapping her temple, “which I remembered right off the top of my head!”

“Alright, not bad.” Dash tilted her head to one side, snickering. “But how did you really get it?”

A look of surprise came over Scootaloo. Dash didn’t have a hard time imagining that she had gotten practice making that face every time somepony had called her bluff. “What do you mean how I really got it?”

“Wow Rainbow Dash, you’ve got this skepticism thing down to a tee!” Dash looked over to find that Pinkie had lifted a hoof to her own chin, studying her. “Is it in the eyebrow or the stare or the lower lip?”

“Pinkie, come on,” Scootaloo whined. Pinkie shrugged and smiled as Scootaloo looked Dash in the eyes. After a long, drawn out sigh, Scootaloo droned, “I took a few wrong turns delivering a cake for a party, got lost because I forgot my map, then flew up high enough to use landmarks to figure out where I needed to go.” She lifted her forelegs, giving unenthusiastic jazz-hooves. “Tadaaa.”

Dash snorted out a laugh, rolling her eyes again. “You don’t need to be glum about it. Not everypony has to do something incredible to get their cutie mark.”

“I got mine for throwing a party for my family,” Pinkie chimed in, nodding. “It wasn’t even anything that special compared to the totally wild and crazy parties I can throw now, but I set out a few balloons and streamers and poof,” Pinkie reared up and slapped her own flank. “Balloons on my butt!”

Scootaloo nickered quietly in defeat. “Should have stuck with the parasprite story.”

“Aaaaanyway,” Pinkie sang, “Applejack knows I’m stopping by to talk business, right?” She bobbed her head from side to side. “No roundin’ up varmints or anything like that planned for a little while?”

“I think she’s just doing a little yard-work today.” Dash ran through a brief mental checklist, glancing down the road, then back to Pinkie. “You ready to see her?”

Pinkie gave a big nod. “Mmhmm!”

“Before we do that, though—”Dash cleared her throat, trying to will herself to speak again. Alright Rainbow Dash, you can do this. Just say it already!

But before Dash could get another word in, Scootaloo spread her wings and propelled herself into the air. Dash practically leapt up after her. “Wait!”

“I’m just gonna go see what Applebloom is up to,” she called down, “Is that alright?”

“I need to—” Dash took a deep breath and looked away, holding up her hoof as Scootaloo descended. When Dash lowered it, she locked eyes with Scootaloo. “I need to say this, and I know it took me a while to actually say it to you—I’m not proud of that, either—but, I’m sorry. It was seriously un-cool of me to hit you, and I hope you can forgive me.”

“I already have, Rainbow Dash.” Scootaloo fluttered a bit closer, tenderness in her eyes. “And I shouldn’t have pushed and pushed until you reached the breaking point. I should have just left you alone, like you told me to.” She held out her hoof, and Dash took it without hesitation. “No hard feelings, honest.”

When the hoofshake ended, Dash smiled and murmured, “So… are we cool?”

“Rainbow Dash,” Scootaloo said in a matter-of-fact way, “you know we’re always gonna be cool.”

Grins were exchanged, and then Scootaloo took to the skies, flying off toward the barn in the distance.

Just like that, Rainbow Dash felt the weight of her guilt dissolve. She watched Scootaloo until the young mare had dipped out of sight. The gentle smile she wore faded just a bit when she realized that Pinkie was observing the moment, wearing a goofy grin. Pinkie was quick to whip her muzzle toward the ground when Dash turned her head.

“So AJ isn’t going to be the only one cooking, right?” Pinkie looked up from the trail of ants she had been pretending to watch as Dash asked her a question. “Like, we’ll help her out, but—”

“Oh, pffft! No!” Pinkie waved her hoof around, shaking her head. “Applejack can bring you and Big Macintosh and Applebloom with her if she wants, but Luna’s whole entire cooking staff will be there to back her up. Cup Cake and Carrot Cake, too!”

Dash nodded. “Nice! You’re cool with Luna wanting Sugarcube Corner to cater?” A few powerful flaps and she began to hover, casually fluttering down the path.

Pinkie matched her pace with a leisurely bounce. “I wanted Sugarcube Corner to cater,” Pinkie proclaimed mid-hop, putting a hoof to her chest. “She put me in charge of pretty much everything! I’m the masteress of ceremonies!”

After a snort of a laugh, Dash asked, “Awesome, but isn’t it bad for business to give that kinda spotlight to your competition?”

“I don’t really feel like our bakeries are in competition.” Pinkie shrugged as she sprang back into the air. “They still get lots and lots of customers in Ponyville, and we get lots and lots of customers in Duskhoof. I’m thinking of it like… this is like my gift to them. I wouldn’t be where I am today if they hadn’t been there to teach me.” Dash nodded thoughtfully before Pinkie loudly added, “And it’s gonna be so great! Cup and Carrot are super-duper excited! Pumpkin and Pound might even help out!”

“That sounds pretty cool, Pinkie.”

Dash focused on the end of the path, trying to imagine what Applejack might be up to, and more importantly, if she would need help with whatever it was she was doing. Barring extreme circumstances, the answer was likely no, which made her feel a bit melancholy.

She realized a moment later that it must have been obvious, because Pinkie bounded ahead of her, hopping backwards. “You alright there, Rainbow Dash?”

“Oh, yeah.” Dash met her gaze, but spoke more out of impulse than anything. “Yeah, I’m good. Sorry.”

Knowing full well that trying to get Dash to say what was on her mind was a fool’s errand, Pinkie came right out and asked, “Still thinking about Scootaloo?”

One ear flicking, Dash said, “Not so much, but thanks for having her tag along. Did she, uh—” Pinkie’s curious smile was not returned. “Did she tell anyone else? About what I did?”

“Nope.” Pinkie shook her head. “You and me and Scootaloo are the only ponies who know what happened, unless you told anypony yourself.”

“I told AJ.” Again, Dash descended into her thoughts. Applejack was the eye of her emotional storm.

Pinkie was quick to snap her back to reality. “Is she gonna be alright doing yard work with her fancy-dancy leg?” Pinkie wiggled her left-hind for emphasis.

“Definitely,” Dash swiftly answered, smiling again, if only slightly.

Pinkie nodded, ears wiggling. “And she’s gonna be alright with baking and frying for hundreds and hundreds of hungry partying ponies on Nightmare Night?”

Dash’s smile had become positively radiant. “Absolutely. Hey, don’t tell anyone I said this, but—” She looked off toward the barn again, then fixed her gaze on Pinkie. She decided that it had to be said. “To tell the truth, I was a little worried at first, when the accident happened.”

“The uh…” Pinkie gnashed her teeth and made a whisper of a roar.

“Yeah,” Dash murmured, nodding. “I didn’t tell her that because I needed to stay positive for her, but now… it’s like she never lost a leg at all.”

Pinkie bounded a little closer. “And that’s a good thing, right?”

“Oh yeah! I just feel—” Dash exhaled slowly. “I dunno, weird, I guess.”

“Cause she doesn’t need your help anymore?” Pinkie asked, canting her head to one side.

Dash nodded. “Cause she doesn’t need my help anymore. She can walk, she can jump, she can buck; she’s even getting close to galloping at top speed again.” She went quiet for a moment, reminiscing. Her chuckle was impossible to contain. “You know, I caught her bucking her dresser, one legged, literally a day or two after the attack.”

“Sounds like Applejack, alright!” Pinkie giggled, then asked, “How do you feel now that she’s recovering?”

“I—” Dash let out another little laugh, turning away. She brought a fetlock to the corner of her eye and hoped Pinkie couldn’t hear her sniffle. “I’ve never been happier about anything in my entire life, and I’m so proud of her.” She choked down the sentimentality and reapplied an air of confidence. “It was such a huge change, moving in and taking care of her, but it never felt like a burden. She’s a real tough pony; only asked for help when she absolutely knew she needed it. Sometimes I wonder what would have happened if I hadn’t been here to help her.”

Pinkie chimed in with, “Probably would have tried to go through apple-bucking season one-legged.”

Dash laughed again, this time without the sniffles. “Probably! But, now things are going back to the way they used to be. She still loves me, but she doesn’t need me like she did when she was recovering.” She uttered a little sigh, looking up through the branches and into the sky. “Like I said, it’s not bad, it just feels,” she paused, looking down at Pinkie and shrugging. “Weird. You know?”

“I think I get it,” Pinkie said with a nod. “You’re happy but you’re also a little sad because you’re happy. Fluttershy gets like that sometimes.”

“Oh!” Dash swooped lower to the ground, and Pinkie adjusted her bounces to compensate. “How are you and Fluttershy doing?”

“Fluttershy is doing really great! She was kinda down for a little while, but she’s coming out of it. I think.”

Dash blinked a few times. “You think?”

“Well, you know how she can be.” Pinkie splayed her ears and pouted. “She doesn’t always tell everyone how she’s feeling because she’s worried it would make them upset. I guess she was feeling homesick for Ponyville and getting really bummed out about being different.” Pinkie reared up, putting her hooves to the sides of her head. “You know, like one of those existential crisis-se-se-ses.”

“Yeah… what makes you think she’s feeling better, then?”

Pinkie let go of her head, but continued to bounce on her hind legs “The way she’s acting! For a little while she just kinda stayed at home unless I really needed her help at work. It seemed like depression, and the source of it was confidence troubles, so I was super supportive and made sure to put plenty of time aside for her, bakery or not.”

She began to bounce a bit faster, still on her hind legs, but waving her forelegs around and grinning from ear to ear. “Now she goes out on her own a lot more, and comes with me when I go shopping, and she takes me to the Ponyville spa with her as long as I promise not to annoy Rarity, and since the bakery is so successful, we go out to dinner a lot, too!”

“Dinner?” Dash arched a brow. “She does still drink blood, right?”

“Oooh yeah!” Pinkie tapped the heart speckled bandaid on the side of her neck. “But I think it’s kinda hot! Sometimes I chew my lower lip until it bleeds, and then she—”

“Woaaaaaaah! Hold on there! I don’t need to hear all that, Pinkie Pie!” Dash chuckled and shook her head. “But that’s good to hear. She actually came around last month to help one of the pigs give birth.”

Pinkie’s nods became a lot more enthusiastic. “Yeah, she told me about that! Baby piggies are soooo—” Pinkie stopped abruptly as a loud bang rang out through the orchard. “What was that?!”

“Probably just somepony using the firing range.” She shrugged.

“What the hay is a firing range?!” Pinkie shouted over another bang.

Dash picked up the pace, soaring down the path. “C’mon, I’ll show you!”

\/ /\ /\ \/

The last rays of daylight filtered through the clouds like brilliant orange feathers. Fluttershy was reminded of an oil painting, the way the normally gentle atmosphere of Duskhoof was transformed into something of dreamlike intensity. It had to do with the rain, she remembered; a combination of humidity and reflected light bringing out the most vibrant of colors and shadows. She understood it as something only possible during transition from day to night, or night to day, and even then, only under the right conditions. Before daylight had become hostile and blinding, she had never really appreciated the beauty of these fleeting occasions. Now she cherished them, as a filly might cherish a rainbow, because this was the only time that sunlight did not rob of her of strength and sight.

In Luna’s garden, Fluttershy had experienced such fatigue many times, watching the sun rise until her vision blurred into a milky haze. On this summer evening, however, it was not the effect but the cause that troubled her. A little more than a year had passed since her transformation into a creature of the night. The mornings spent alone with her eyes closed, surrounded by rose bushes, had dwindled to infrequent visits. The urge to stare blankly into a mirror in an attempt to use clairvoyance had similarly diminished. There was simply too much guilt attached to those activities.

And yet, she still occasionally caught herself daydreaming about Mahara or attempting to satisfy the urge to see her. Fluttershy hated herself for it, almost as much as she hated herself for being unable to tell Pinkie Pie of her inner-conflict. Efforts had been made, but they were largely misdirected. The homesickness and longing to return to her former life, while legitimately distressful, were not the roots of her problem. It was her unresolved feelings for Mahara that were, and had always been, the heart of the turmoil. No matter how many problems she solved, so long as that keystone remained, true happiness would be unobtainable.

Fluttershy sighed quietly as she reached the same conclusion, like she had so many times prior; There is nothing I can do to get the closure I want so badly. Nothing that might help me put it all in perspective. Nothing to do… but swallow it, try to ignore it, and hope that it will fade with time.

Pinkie Pie cantered into view moments later, her energetic silhouette bringing some peace of mind. Fluttershy lifted herself off the ground, trotting toward Pinkie to meet her halfway.

“So how was the meeting? If um…” Fluttershy smiled sheepishly and lowered her head. “If you’re allowed to tell me.”

“Why wouldn’t I be allowed to tell you, silly?” Pinkie giggled and touched her nose to Fluttershy’s. “It went pretty well! Mostly just confirming stuff and going over the plan. Everyone knows what they’re supposed to do and when they’re supposed to do it, and they know what everyone else is supposed to do and when they’re supposed to do it, so everyone knows what everyone—”

“I think I get it,” Fluttershy quietly interrupted, smiling. Her ears and her smile quickly began to wilt. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to be rude, I just thought— you told me to, you know… when you start to ramble.”

Pinkie snorted out a laugh. “No-no, that was good!” She leaned in to kiss Fluttershy on the nose. “Do it just like that.”

The timid pegasus beamed. “Okay.” She gestured toward the gates at the other end of the garden, and together they stepped into a trot. “It sounds like you’re putting a lot of work into this, though. Have you ever planned something this big?”

“I sure haven’t!” Pinkie replied, her mane bobbing as she shook her head eagerly. “This one is gonna be a whopper of a party! The official Pinkie Pie party record-breaker!”

“Goodness, I can’t even imagine that.” Fluttershy looked down at her hoof as she began to paw the ground. “Do you think you have enough ponies to bring it all together?”

Pinkie shrugged mid-stride. “You know, I’m not really sure! I don’t wanna over-staff, but this is kind of a big deal and I’d rather play it safe than sorry.”

“Oh, okay.” Fluttershy glanced up again, taking a deep breath. “Well, I was thinking, and… I’d like to help.” She put on the most enthusiastic smile she could.

Pinkie Pie grinned and nodded, and then, as her eyes widened, she stumbled to a standstill. Fluttershy’s smile evaporated, fearing that her offer had somehow thrown a wrench in Pinkie’s plans.

After a few moments, Pinkie asked, “Shy… you’re totally, completely, one-hundred-seventy-three percent sure you wanna do this?” Fluttershy appreciated the concern, nodding. She had already reached a decision, but Pinkie persisted. “You don’t have to! I’m just saying, no pressure!”

“I know, Pinkie.” Fluttershy leaned toward her, nuzzling through her curly locks to kiss her on the cheek. “I mean it, though. I want to do this, if it’s okay with you, and everyone else, that is.”

All the usual energy and momentum surged back into Pinkie. With a wide grin, she wrapped her forelegs around Fluttershy’s neck, squeezing her closer. Fluttershy giggled and squirmed against Pinkie, sighing happily in the embrace.

The sound of Pinkie Pie’s heartbeat was comforting to her, and at this proximity, rather appetizing as well. There had been a time when the very thought of drinking blood had been unsettling, but it felt like so long ago. Fluttershy swallowed a bit of saliva, trying to distance her thoughts from feeding while Pinkie was speaking.

“Of course it’s okay!” Pinkie nuzzled into her mane, planting countless kisses between her ears. She was released a moment later, and they continued on their way. “I just wanna make sure you know what you’re getting yourself into! There’s gonna be a lot of ponies there, and I know Nightmare Night isn’t really your thing.”

The guards stationed at the gate bid them “good evening” as they passed through, and their hooves made a slightly louder click against the well worn cobblestone of Duskhoof’s streets. Fluttershy glanced back at the castle one more time, its darkened silhouette standing proudly against the glowing horizon. She could see Luna, standing vigilant from the highest balcony, welcoming the coming night.

Already, Fluttershy could feel her senses sharpening, her pupils expanding in the dwindling light. Something about nightfall always made her feel especially lively. With a gentle shiver, she turned back toward Pinkie.

“I don’t feel obligated or anything like that.” She tilted her head to one side, smiling and shrugging. “I just… I know that my help will be appreciated… and, well, it would be selfish of me to just stay at home while you’re working so hard.”

“That sounds like obligation to meeee,” Pinkie sang, stopping to tickle under Fluttershy’s wing.

Her wing fluttered and ruffled when teased, as though that would save it from the Pinkie Pie. “No-no! I do sincerely want to help however I can!” She gave Pinkie a pleading look, and the tickling stopped. “But I—” She heaved a small sigh, taking a few steps forward. A few steps turned back into a trot. “I hope I’m not too late.”

The bubbly mare shook her head furiously. “Not even close! I’m the one planning the thing and there’s lots and lots of stuff you could help with!” She started waggling her brows. “You could even be my assistant!”

Fluttershy giggled. “What would I be doing as your assistant?”

“Mostly following me around. Probably with a clipboard and a checklist!” Pinkie took a deep breath, her eyes widening. Fluttershy smiled, anticipating another whirlwind. “Even though the parade is my baby and I refuse to let anyone else take the lead on that because I want to make abso-posi-defi-lutely sure that it’s perfect because it’s gonna be so totally spectacular—”

“Pinkie,” Fluttershy murmured, arching her brows. Even if Pinkie had given her express permission to keep her on track, she still felt guilty every time she had to interrupt.

As if sensing this, Pinkie leaned over and gave her a quick smooch. “Okay! So besides the parade, my main job is to make sure all the pieces of this party fit together so that no one sees the seams while they’re having a good time.” Pinkie grinned and looked off to the side. “Buuuut I can be kind of a ditz sometimes, so I need somepony to make sure I don’t forget anything.”

Momentarily puzzled, Fluttershy asked, “You don’t have somepony doing that already?”

“I do!” Pinkie hopped forward, then backpedaled until she was at Fluttershy’s side again. “Twilight said yes right away, but it can’t hurt to have someone to check the checks!”

“Alright, I’ll try to help you with that.” Fluttershy nodded, smiling and trying to imagine what sort of whimsy her job would entail. “So who will we be working with besides Twilight? Rarity told me that you have her in charge of costumes?”

“Costumes and logistics! Though I guess you could say she’s mostly handling the costumes and Rover is handling the logistics and she’s reporting for both of those. Rarity is definitely doing the costumes though. Luna insisted on that, like I would even consider someone else!” Pinkie waved her hoof dismissively. “As if!”

Fluttershy nodded. “She’s very excited about the whole thing. I’m not sure she has ever done anything quite like this before.” She paused, then asked, “Is Applejack in charge of catering?”

“Applejack is like, the head baker. There’s lots and lots and lots of ponies on the catering team.” Pinkie looked up into painted clouds overhead. “The Cake family, Luna’s entire kitchen staff, some hot shots from Manehattan and Canterlot… but Applejack is the one in charge of catering.”

“I just said that,” Fluttershy murmured, dusting the tip of her wing along the Pinkie’s tummy.

Pinkie let out a squeal of a laugh, leaping a few paces ahead. “You did!”

“What about Rainbow Dash?” With a gentle flap, she landed gracefully beside Pinkie. “Is she helping with catering too?”

“Nuh-uh. She’s on entertainment.” Pinkie reared up, lifting her forelegs over her head and dancing around on her hind legs. “Crowd pleasie stuff! Zecora is, too, with her storytelling routine, and she added a whole bunch of stuff to it since last year!”

“Okay…” Fluttershy smiled as Pinkie dropped onto all fours and bowed. “But who’s in charge of that, though?”

“Trixie! I offered it to Dash, but she said it sounded like too much work. She’s just gonna be spooking ponies out with a thundercloud, so I thought she would be able to handle performance schedules.” Pinkie shrugged. “It’s kinda like planning weather except there’s gonna be an audience that actually wants to see it! Trixie is a total show-pony, though, so I know she won’t let us down.”

Fluttershy gave that some thought, then nodded. “Alright, who else?”

“Well, my friend Vinyl was butting heads with this cellist from Canterlot for lead on the music team, but Rarity said Sapphire Shores would be perfect, so that settled that. Vinyl said she was cool with it, as long as she didn’t get the position.” Pinkie snickered. “The cellist, not Sapphire.”

“Oh my.”

They stepped off the main road, following the winding path to the front door of their home. Fluttershy’s vision had fully returned, which meant that it was getting dark. Her ears stood up straight, pivoting slowly as she listened to the birds sing themselves to sleep. Further in the distance, she could hear much larger creatures emerging from the dens, beginning their nightly prowl. Somewhere deep inside was a desire to join with them, which meant that it was very nearly approaching time for her evening drink. She looked first to the bandaid on Pinkie’s neck, ran her tongue over her fangs, and then met Pinkie’s gaze.

“Yeah, I think Vinyl told me that they used to fool around a long, long time ago. Must still be a sore subject!” Pinkie chewed the corner of her mouth. “Please don’t tell her I told you that.”

Fluttershy giggled. “I won’t. Rarity made amends with Sapphire regarding our stay in her penthouse, then?”

Pinkie crossed the porch, pausing at the door. “I guess so! Still wish I could have gone with you girls.”

“I’d love to take a trip there with you sometime. We’ll have our own adventure, just the two of us.” Fluttershy returned Pinkie’s smile, kissing her on the back of the neck and following her inside. “But um… is that everyone?”

“We’ve got a security team since there’s going to be hard cider floating around, plus an after-party.” Fluttershy closed the door behind herself, watching as Pinkie slipped out of her saddlebags. “It’s mostly Luna and Celestia’s guards. Rarity made them special uniforms just for Nightmare Night and they look totally wicked cool!” Her eagerly shaking forehoof swung in a wide, pointing gesture. “Oh, and I put Drifting Cirrus in charge!”

“Who is that?” Fluttershy asked, cocking her head.

“Oh, shoot, I don’t think you’ve met him! He’s a friend of mine!” She rolled her forehoof. “The one I penpal with?”

It clicked a moment later, and Fluttershy nodded. “Ah! I remember now. Didn’t you say he was away on business?”

“Well, he was, but he’ll be back just in time to help out on Nightmare Night!”

“Wonderful. I’d love to finally meet him.” The pegasus waited until Pinkie had finished nodding, and then a few moments more just to be safe. “Is… is that everypony I should know about?”

“Yep! Wait…” Pinkie wiggled her nose and ears. “Yep!”

Fluttershy giggled. “Alright then. And what will Luna be doing?”

“This is her party, silly!” Pinkie took a few steps toward the stairwell, and Fluttershy followed. “She’s going to be having a good time. Making sure she’s enjoying herself is just as much our job as keeping all the other guests happy, and I’m super flattered that she’s giving me the honor of putting all this together!”

“I’m happy to see you taking all this responsibility in stride.” The steps creaked softly as they ascended. “Goodness knows I wouldn’t be able to handle it.”

Pinkie glanced back at her, eyes lidded. “I know something you can handle,” she almost whispered.

There was a question on the tip of Fluttershy’s tongue when Pinkie lifted her tail nice and high, her trot becoming more of a swaying canter. Fluttershy put a bit more haste in her step, shuddering and ruffling her feathers. Several bandaids hugged the contours of Pinkie’s backside and inner-thighs; reminders of mischief from nights past that had yet to fully heal. The tiny, pale scars left by Fluttershy’s fangs made her feel a pang of guilt. There were identical scars scattered across Pinkie’s neck as well. It was unavoidable, given the necessity of frequent feedings, but the sight of them still made Fluttershy feel a bit guilty. Knowing this, Pinkie had told her that they almost reminded her of spots on a fawn.

“I saw you giving me the thirsty look, butterflanks.” Pinkie let her tail drop, turning and giggling at the end of the hall. She raised her head, putting her neck on display. In a much haughtier voice, she murmured, “And where would you like to dine this fine evening, madame?”

Fluttershy swallowed, eyes wide as she drank her lover in. “Your um… your neck.” She could feel her cheeks burning brightly, her wings unfolding, but Pinkie just smiled and nodded.

“Excellent choice!” Pinkie abandoned the waitress act the moment they moved into the bedroom. She strutted up to the bed, putting one hoof on the mattress. “You want to do that pouncing thing?”

“I… tonight I kind of want to…” Fluttershy found herself staring at the floor. “If you’re alright with it, I mean… I’d like to take it slow.” She glanced up at Pinkie, wearing a sheepish smile. “Okay?”

“Not feeling too assertive?” Pinkie rolled onto the bed, sprawling out and propping her head up with a hoof. “That’s okay; we can go as slow as you want.” She giggled and winked. “I’m all yours.”

The air was full of Pinkie’s scent; from the cotton candy shampoo she used, to the bubble gum soap, to the distinctly feminine aroma of sweet sweat and excitement. Fluttershy’s wings fluttered impulsively, feathers fanned out as she took a few steps closer. She could see her shadow swaying on the moonlit floor and feel the embrace of night fueling her desires, but there was something in the way. Her eyes drifted closed as she tried to focus.

There was a part of her that wanted to call it off, until her thoughts had cleared, until her reflections on Mahara had faded from recent memory, but then she opened her eyes. Pinkie was gazing back at her, wearing a dreamy smile and idly stroking the side of her neck.

She believes in me, and she trusts me, and she loves me.

Pinkie tilted her head, still smiling. Fluttershy climbed up beside her, exchanging slow and delicate kisses.

Pinkamena Diane Pie, I am going to be the mare you think I am, and every single day we spend together I am going to do everything I can to make you happy. Maybe I don’t deserve you, but you deserve someone who can give you their all. Fluttershy exhaled slowly, feeling the tension roll off of her. And that’s what you’re going to get, from this moment on.

“I love you, Pinkie,” Fluttershy whispered, smiling.

She ran her tongue over the side of Pinkie’s neck, feeling her pulse just beneath the skin. A tremble ran through Pinkie as Fluttershy brought her fangs to the surface, and then, with just a bit of pressure, broke through. Pinkie cooed quietly, rubbing her nose against Fluttershy’s ear, as warm, fresh blood slowly trickled out of her neck and into Fluttershy’s belly.

“I love you too, Shy.”

\/ /\ /\ \/

Author's Note

And now we go to a legitimate hiatus. Story will resume after I've polished and streamlined the first ten chapters for the sake of consistency and improved prose.

That said, I'm sorry for making you all wait this long, and I hope it was everything you hoped for<3

Chapter 1 - With Good Intentions

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There are some books that simply should not be opened. Of course, a scholar like Twilight Sparkle would refuse to believe such a statement, and her curiosity is precisely what sparked off a chain of events that unleashed unspeakable horror on Equestria. Had she not been looking for self help books in the basement of the library, Fluttershy in mind, it is entirely possible that she might never have discovered the book which housed long forgotten memories.

Twilight didn’t exactly find the book in the basement, however. It was tucked away in a deep, winding passage that, until a recent Spike related mishap had been hidden by a wall of earth. The tunnel was not of Pony design, instead the result of the library’s enormous roots boring through the dirt. While she found it strange that a book would be by itself at the end of such a passage, stranger still was the fact that it seemed to be rooted into the tree itself, gnarled wood wrapped around it like ancient fingers.

Her initial reaction upon finding this strange text was one of uncertainty, a slight frown bending the corners of her lips; the book was covered in all sorts of stains, and the cover appeared to be stitched together, made of some kind of coarse material. The writing on the cover was nearly illegible and the soft glow of her horn was not nearly bright enough to lessen the strain on her eyes.

In the light of her study, Twilight saw clearly that the insignia on the front cover was in the image of an eye, a slit pupil with a green iris that faded to red around the edges. Raising a hoof to the cover sent a chill down her spine, goose bumps cropping up on her flesh. The surface almost seemed to respond to her touch, rippling under her hoof. For a moment, she considered just putting the book back where she found it, but ultimately, she resolved that fear of the unknown was foalish.

“Whatcha got there Twilight?” Spike’s voice nearly caused the bookish unicorn to jump out of her skin.

“Spike!” She glared back at him, then softened her expression after noting his confusion. “Sorry. I found this in the basement just now. I was about to open it, but…”

“Oh!” Spike peered over the edge of the desk, then up at the purple unicorn. “Don’t mind me Twilight, I was just gonna ask if you had any errands you needed taken care of.”

She smiled down at her draconic familiar, shaking her head.

“Not today, I’m afraid. I think you’ve earned some relaxation time anyway.”

Spike grinned, nodded, and disappeared through the front door, a column of sunlight spilling in through the doorframe and then receding just as quickly.

Somewhere in the back of her mind, an overwhelming urge to open the book manually took root. The thought felt foreign, but the novelty of manipulating the cover without the use of magic was appealing. Free of distractions, Twilight took a deep breath, raising her hoof to the front cover again, bracing herself against the chills this time.

What’s the worst that could happen? she asked herself, glancing over at a nearby clock.

Only as she was lifting the cover did she notice that she had cut herself somehow. The edge of the cover had become barbed, digging into her flesh enough to make her bleed. A few bright droplets of blood splashed against the pages before she could react. A look of concern came over Twilight as the blood disappeared completely into the yellowed paper.

And then the paper wasn’t just paper anymore; where the blood had landed, a thick, translucent ichor began to spread across the page with alarming speed. Twilight tried to shut the book, only to find something was now holding it open. A long, rotted mass jutted from the acrid pool, joined by a second, both bending toward the edges of the desk.

Decayed hooves marked their ends.

The unicorn screamed, but no sound came to her throat, her eyes bulging with terror as she witnessed a half covered brain rising out of the pool which had now spread to cover her entire desk. Fragments of skull crept across fetid gray matter like ice until it was concealed behind wet bone. The limbs which had first emerged were now wrapped in necrotic muscle, the contours of the pony skull filling out with blackened flesh. In the pits of its sockets, milky eyes bloomed from the branches of nervous tissue.

It was staring right at her, but Twilight couldn’t avert her gaze.

The creature’s jaw hung slack as it pulled its flanks up out of the sickening ooze, hind legs already covered in patches of putrid flesh as it tumbled off the desk and onto the floor. It began to laugh, a dry, shrill cackle that echoed with an unnatural chorus. Slowly, it crawled toward Twilight, reaching out with one hoof, still laughing, still piercing her with its dead stare. The unicorn cringed, horn flaring brightly, shutting her eyes tight and anticipating the feel of decay against her coat. It never came. When she opened her eyes, she found she was alone.

The laughter cut to silence no sooner than she had made this realization. Startled, horrified, but relieved to find that no harm had come to her, Twilight attempted to reflect on what had just occurred.

The puddle of ichor had vanished along with the creature, and the clock revealed that no more than a minute had passed since opening the book. To that end, the book was now closed as well.

The image of an eye that previously adorned the cover had disappeared.

“Spike?!” she called out, glancing to the door. “Spike, did you hear that just now?!”

Or did I imagine all of that? I couldn’t have just imagined it… It felt so real…

Her thoughts were interrupted as she caught a glimpse of something moving. It was too fast for her to get a good look, little more than a blur that disappeared through the doorway just as Spike opened it. He didn’t even seem to notice. As much as she tried to rationalize the situation, Twilight couldn’t help but feel a sudden wave of dread come over her.

“Spike… Take a letter… We may have a problem.”

“Aw! But you said…”

\/ /\ /\ \/

On the outskirts of town, Fluttershy was having a much less eventful day. The animals were all taken care of, and her friends were apparently busy with their own odds and ends. Considering how lovely the weather had been, the pegasus decided to spend the day with her flocks of avian companions; something she hadn’t done in months. They lined the branches with a full spectrum of colored plumage in her favorite clearing, warming up for rehearsal as she approached the center. The sunlight felt pleasantly warm against her coat, her mane shimmering a soft pink as it shielded her eyes from the more intense rays. Smiling, she stretched her wings, flapping several times by sheer force of habit. She had grown too heavy to fly, however, and the reality of it brought on a flood of painful memories.

The change in appearance which Fluttershy had undergone in the past few months was worrying to most of her friends, but absolutely revolting to Rarity. The pale unicorn had never said it outright, but Fluttershy knew well enough how the pony she once considered her best friend really felt. However, considering how badly she had failed when all Rarity wanted to do was help, Fluttershy knew that she was deserving of such scorn. Without the assistance of Twilight Sparkle or Pinkie Pie, she felt it possible that she would still be locked inside her cottage, a prisoner of depression. Part of her felt undeserving of such caring friends, while at the same time, the absence of Rarity cut her deeply.

But being rejected by her best and closest friend didn’t cut nearly as deeply as being rejected by the stallion she had fallen in love with.

The pegasus frowned as she dwelled on her recent misfortune. Dipping into the pack she had brought with her, she began to munch on a mouthful of oats she had brought along as a snack. The food based distraction helped push her unhappy thoughts back into submission. Mid swallow, she realized that she could conduct just as well with her wings as she could with her hooves.

Maybe even better! Her feathers ruffled with anticipation.

Excited to test out her idea, she spread her wings wide. To her surprise, the birds suddenly scattered. Concerned, she glanced around, and for an instant, she could have sworn she saw another pony at the edge of the clearing. When she blinked however, she realized it was a cardinal. Or some other sort of red bird, at least.

It circled her several times before vanishing in the same direction from which it came, the other birds immediately returning in its wake. It wasn’t like them to avoid other avians; her flock was very accepting of all sorts of birds. Mildly confused, but in no way deterred, Fluttershy prepared herself for rehersal. Once the birds had settled in, she raised her wings again, took a deep breath, and cleared her mind. On that sunny afternoon, Fluttershy conducted like never before. The clearing exploded with brilliant music. Utterly blissful, she couldn’t help but join in.

The pegasus was amused to realize that she would never have even considered using her wings in such a way if she could still use them to fly.

The pegasus became so engrossed in orchestrating that she completely lost track of time, rehearsing every song she had taught them, and even composing several new ones. Her feathery friends performed excellently. As the sun began to paint the sky a hazy pink, she decided to call it a day. Nodding pleasantly and wishing them all a good night, the air filled with the sound of fluttering wings as the birds returned to their nests, feathers drifting like falling snow. Alone again, her mind became clouded with darker thoughts.

Things will get better, she told herself, trotting between the trees and back to the road. I just have to be patient.

As Fluttershy made her way home she noticed another pony sitting under a tree by the side of the road. It was clear from a distance that the pony had a red coat, mane mostly swept to one side, but something about this stranger seemed unusual. Perhaps foreign. There was a moment of eye contact, an unintentional, uncomfortable moment that seemed to last forever for the pegasus, and as she drew nearer, the stranger rose to their hooves.

Fluttershy’s stomach turned with anxiety, looking again in hopes that this unfamiliar pony had gone elsewhere. Instead, she saw that the stranger was apparently waiting for her. It wasn’t until the stranger spoke that Fluttershy realized, without looking up, that the pony was in fact a mare.

“I was passing by and I heard the most wonderful music. Was that you singing with those birds?”

Frozen in her tracks, Fluttershy scarcely managed a nod. She spoke softly, not unlike the pegasus, but with an air of confidence. Fluttershy was about to make an effort to flee when the stranger spoke again.

“You’re very talented, if you don’t mind my saying. From what I could hear, it was a magnificent performance.”

Taking the slightest bit of pride in the compliment, she managed a smile, peeking up at the stranger.

“Thank you” she mumbled, though a bit less nervous than she had been.

The eye that gazed fondly back at her was like nothing she had ever seen before. That is, until she thought of how similar it looked to those of a reptile. A vertical slit of a pupil that almost seemed to have a pulse, though perhaps her eyes were just adjusting to the light.

Such a vibrant green, too.

Her right eye was entirely concealed by her mane, a darker red than her fur.

“Anyway, I’m sure you’re busy, and I didn’t mean to trouble you. I’m just passing through the area and I was wondering if there was an inn nearby or something like that where I could spend the night.”

The stranger turned slightly, looking to the rising glow of Ponyville as darkness began to fall. Fluttershy was a breath away from telling her to try asking someone in town in the hopes that she could continue home uninterrupted, but something caught her attention. In the last rays of sunlight, she noticed the bandages wrapped around the red mare’s middle, and rather distorted contours of something bound beneath them. Gasping softly, Fluttershy trotted around to her side, trying to get a better look.

"Oh dear… Are you alright?” She gingerly extended a hoof as if to touch them, only to draw it back. “Were these... Wings?"

They twitched and squirmed slightly, as if aware that they were under inspection, which only made her more concerned. The stranger looked to Fluttershy for a moment, then traced the pegasi’s gaze to her back, making a soft ‘ooh’ sound as if their presence were some kind of long lost memory.

"Yes yes, I'm alright. They were wings a long time ago, but that’s a long story…”

"Were?” Fluttershy’s eyes widened in shock, the pegasus becoming increasingly alarmed. “Goodness… I can look over them back home if you like. Maybe I can help!”

The stranger glanced back at her, tilting her head slightly, but smiling all the same. It was getting harder to see as the sun got lower and lower on the horizon, the shadows of trees stretching across the grass and gravel path. Something about the stranger’s teeth seemed odd. Her voice brought the pegasus back to attention.

“I don't want to impose."

Smiling warmly and shaking her head, Fluttershy started back down the road again. The lights of her cottage flickered in the distance; Angel must have been waiting for her.

“Not at all. I’d be happy to do it. It is getting pretty dark, but you’re more than welcome to stop in for a checkup. If you want to, that is."

She felt a bit bashful over inviting somepony she had never met before into her home, but she could never pass up the opportunity to help someone in need.

“No one else has really asked me,” the red mare mused, “but I guess they thought that I wouldn't want anypony to mention it.”

Fluttershy glanced back with a look of concern, worried she might have offended her potential patient. This stranger was so slender by comparison. The pegasus felt a light cloak of shame fall over her, wishing in that moment that she could somehow make herself shrink.

“Thank you, I mean.” The stranger took a step closer as she said this. “Thank you for caring.”

With another nod, Fluttershy felt her concern melt into a gentle smile once more. The pegasus waited for a moment until she was sure that the stranger was still following her. She was as eager to help in any way she could as she was curious to see what was under those bandages.

Trotting on mostly level ground wasn’t very difficult, but the walk uphill to the front door had become something of a chore for Fluttershy. The hill was still manageable, and she was only slightly winded by the time she reached her doorstep. The stranger remained outside however, even after the pegasus passed through the doorway. Fearful once more that she had somehow offended this new pony, she glanced back with a look of concern.

“Um… Is… something wrong?”

“Is it alright if I spend the night here as well?” She pawed at the ground lightly, looking rather ashamed to have to ask for shelter. “I don’t have any money, but I’d be glad to help you with housework or something like that. I understand if that’s asking too much.”

"That… would be an awful way to treat someone…" The pegasus shook her head briefly, then stood aside so that her guest would have the space to squeeze by. "You're… Well… Just as welcome as anyone else I guess! It won't be a problem at all."

The stranger, now upgraded to a guest, took a few cautious steps forward, as if unsure of the sincerity of the offer. Fluttershy nodded, beckoning her inside.

“As long as you’re absolutely sure. But, I'll start looking for a place to stay first thing tomorrow. I don't want to be a burden.” With nothing further but a gentle smile, she entered the cottage.

Inside, she looked around as if in awe. “You have a lovely home!” the red mare exclaimed.

Fluttershy giggled softly, bowing her head in gratitude. Out of the corner of her eye, the pegasus spotted Angel scurrying out of the room.

“Thank you again, for letting me stay here… How rude of me, I don’t even know your name.”

Still a little tired from the walk home, the pegasus set herself down on her couch, motioning for her guest to be seated as well. As Fluttershy sprawled, softly catching her breath, she wondered for a moment where Angel had run off to; all of her animals, in fact. The living room was completely empty, save for her and her guest. Not a chirp from any of the birdhouses, not one scratch of a nail against the floorboards. Only after this observation did Fluttershy realize she had been asked a question.

“My name? I’m Fluttershy. And you’re more than welcome here.” She said this with a bashful smile, already rather fond of how quietly and politely her newfound company behaved.

The red mare sat so neat and straight in her chair, a polar opposite to the pegasus, at least for the moment.

“If the rest of the forest is welcome to stop in for a visit, I don't see why you can't stay here as well.” The guest smiled, but not wide enough for her to get a good look at her teeth. After a short pause, Fluttershy asked, “Um… What should I call you, though?”

“Mahara... Just Mahara. It’s been a pleasure to meet you, Fluttershy.”

“So…” Fluttershy began, then trailed off, suddenly losing her nerve.

She didn’t want to be rude after Mahara had paid her such lovely compliments. The red mare tilted her head, smiling, raising a brow. She began to hunch over just slightly in her seat, apparently getting more comfortable in her surroundings.

“So before I take a look at your wings… You have beautiful eyes. The only other time I’ve seen eyes like that are on a dragon…” The pegasus gasped softly, as that thought hadn’t fully occurred to her.

Reptilian eyes, yes, but a dragon?!

She sounded both excited and worried as she softly whimpered, “You’re not a dragon, are you?!”

Despite all this, the pegasus had only marginally arched herself on her couch, unsure if she would even have the strength or speed to flee if necessary.

“A what?” Mahara gave her a blank stare for several moments, then began to giggle. Fluttershy relaxed again, hearing the sound of Mahara’s laughter, feeling rather silly for her outburst. “Oh goodness no. I was just born with them, I guess. I uh… I never met my parents.” She gave a little shrug. “I could be part dragon? Does that even work?”

Sensing that her guest was trying to make light of it, the pegasus laughed a bit as well. Feeling refreshed, she then slowly rolled off the couch and back onto her hooves. Mahara remained seated as she slowly crossed the room, and Fluttershy couldn’t help but gaze deep into those eyes, feeling as if she were being drawn into them. It wasn’t until the red mare grinned and looked to the side that she remembered what she was supposed to be doing.

“Would you like me to… Um… Take a look at your wings now? If you still want me to, I mean.”

With a nod, she followed Fluttershy’s example, getting to her hooves with an almost catlike grace. The pegasus hadn’t really noticed outside, but her guest seemed to move rather strangely. She moved like a pony, but it was if the muscles under her skin behaved differently, under some sort of tension. She doubted anypony without an eye for medicinal work would notice, and decided to leave it alone, on the oft chance that Mahara was more sensitive about that than she was about her wings. Or perhaps she just needed a massage.

I wonder what Rarity would think of her, she pondered.

The red mare’s voice brought her out of her thoughts again.

“I don't mind talking about it though, my being an orphan. I don’t mind talking about how my wings got messed up either.”

Mahara reached around to tug on the bandages, and they slowly began to unravel. They were still a clean, stainless white, but then, Mahara hadn’t said that the injury was a fresh one.

“It's a funny story actually, if you look at it from a step back.”

The pegasus watched with wide, almost fearful eyes as Mahara’s wings slowly fanned out, or at least what was left of them. Several long, slender offshoots of flesh reaching out from her back on either side, all of them extending from right about where the wings would have been attached on a healthy pegasus. They seemed to sway and twitch slightly, the tips occasionally curling and uncurling. Fluttershy guessed the shock on her face was immediately recognizable, based on Mahara’s response.

"On second thought, to avoid upsetting you, the short of it is that the bones in my wings were removed rather… Forcefully… By some very nasty gryphons. I guess they damaged them so much that my feathers just stopped growing back. It's not so bad though, I can pretty much use them like extra limbs."

The pegasus backed away a few steps, worried for a moment that if she got too close, they would ensnare her. That wasn’t the case, of course, though she was still made somewhat uncomfortable by the unveiling.

“Oh my… I didn’t know gryphons could be so violent…” Fluttershy’s wings shuddered slightly just thinking about how that would feel, and then she did her best to strike the thought from her mind. “G-glad to hear they still work! Sort of… It um… Doesn't look all that bad… Really!"

The pegasus forced a smile as her guest’s expression degraded from one of optimism to that of pessimism.

"It creeps most ponies out though, so I keep them under wraps… You're not creeped out too are you?” Mahara made an effort to rewrap the remains of her wings, but the pegasus raised a hoof as if to stop her, shaking her head. “I'm sorry I showed you, that was a bit forward of me."

Mahara allowed the bandages to fall to a heap on the rug beneath her.

"It's fine… Really! I’m sorry for reacting like that.” Her smile became more genuine as the appearance of Mahara’s mangled wings became less of a novelty, though she continued to watch them closely. “You're welcome to leave the bandages off if it's more comfortable for you, I don’t mind. I’m sorry to say that there’s little to nothing that I can do for you, though…”

"I didn’t expect that there was, but there’s no harm in hoping. It does hurt a bit to keep them tied up like that, though. If you're absolutely sure that it’s okay…” The pegasus nodded slowly, raising a curious hoof, but letting it fall away once more. “I didn't mean to scare you. I probably should have warned you first." Seeing that Fluttershy still looked troubled, she added, “Don’t worry, I would never let anything harm a pony as sweet as you.”

"Oh… Um…" Very rarely had anyone called her ‘sweet’. She blushed a bit, not entirely sure how to take such a compliment, deciding instead to change the subject to anything but herself. "Well... I think they're kind of neat, really. Your wings, that is. I'm sure they're really useful.”

“You have no idea! It’s kind of like being a unicorn, to a degree.” She demonstrated by picking up a pillow, squeezing it gently in the coil of one of those tendrils. Fluttershy watched with fascination. “A lot easier than holding things in my teeth, that’s for sure.”

\/ /\ /\ \/

They sat and talked until well after the moon had risen, casting a pale glow over the countryside as the sound of crickets filled the night air. The conversation at first consisted largely of Fluttershy’s curiosity with Mahara’s strange disability that had somehow become a blessing in disguise, then of Mahara’s questions about Equestria with Fluttershy doing her best to answer. Her guest seemed to avoid the subject of where she had come from, however. While she had been unsure of her new acquaintance at first, she now found Mahara’s company to be quite enjoyable.

To that end, the red mare didn’t seem to find Fluttershy’s extra weight to be anything out of the ordinary, much to her relief. If anything, her guest seemed to think she was rather beautiful, complimenting her several times over the course of their lengthy conversation whenever she could do so, smiling a little every time Fluttershy felt her complexion becoming flushed.

Having been a model, she was familiar with being admired, but this felt different. She likened it more to when she had first met her stallion; the way he would look her over, the gentle complements he would give. Considering how that relationship had ended, the pegasus didn’t possess nearly enough confidence to ask Mahara about the flirtatious vibes she was giving off, and at the same time, she wasn’t entirely sure she wanted to. Even if she was wrong, even if that feeling was coming from a mare, it felt nice to think that somepony found her attractive.

Somepony with eyes that I could get lost in.

The pegasus felt an odd shudder as she looked deep into Mahara’s eyes, followed by a warm tingling.

Somepony with a silken coat, and a lush red mane that I can just imagine getting tangled with my own. Oh… Goodness, I just met her! And… And she’s a mare, on top of that! Where did these feelings even come from?!

The onset of such sudden emotion struck her with confusion and a small degree of discomfort, less with her guest and more with herself. Even so, the more she considered these feelings, the more she began to enjoy and accept them.

"I think I'm going to cash out for the night once we finish this.” Fluttershy shuddered and blinked a few times. She had nearly spilled her cup of hot chocolate. “Is that alright? I've been traveling all day is all. You look like you could use a little shut eye yourself."

These were feelings that were not entirely unfamiliar to her. Like any mare, she had experienced crushes, daydreamed about the stronger, faster colts that didn’t even know she existed. She had even kissed one of those colts once.

More than once.

His smile flashed briefly in her memories, replaced with Mahara’s as she idly let her gaze drift over the mare across from her.

Am I reacting to the attention out of desperation? she asked herself. Do I feel this way because… I miss him? Because I miss feeling affection?

Considering that she had never harbored these kinds of feelings for another mare before, it was as exciting to her as it was nerve wracking.

What if I’m wrong, she wondered. What if she doesn’t feel that way? What if I’m just interpreting her politeness as attraction?

The pegasus returned to reality. “Y-yes, you’re right… I’m pretty tired as well. I hope you don’t mind sleeping down here. The mattress is very comfortable, I have some extra pillows and blankets if you’d like. Is there anything else I can get for you?”

"No, no this should be all I need. Really, you've already done more than enough."

Smiling, Mahara drew close to her as if gliding on air, close enough to feel the softness of the red mare’s breath against her flesh. Fluttershy felt weak, suddenly overwhelmed with a passion that had she hadn’t experienced in what felt like a long time. Smiling, blushing, she reflected on the pleasant novelties which were unfolding before her.

She had never even considered kissing a mare until that moment, but the thought had become incredibly appealing.

"Thank you again,” the red mare whispered, “For everything.”

Fluttershy felt herself tremble, her eyes drifting shut as a soft gasp rolled up from her throat. Her breast was on fire, the pegasus feeling as though she were melting against the warmth of this wonderful new lover, who so delicately pursed lips the side of her neck.

This is it, she thought.

Instead, she felt a light peck on the nose. Confused, she looked to Mahara, or at least where Mahara had been. Evidently, she had already flopped down on the spot where the pegasus had dragged in a mattress earlier. The red mare had even covered herself in a blanket. Fluttershy felt her heart continue to pound in her chest, another shudder passing through her as she waited for something more, but it never came.

I… I don’t understand… The pegasus took a few steps forward, then stopped, realizing that she was about to disrupt Mahara in the hope that the red mare would continue what may well have been a figment of her imagination. What… What’s wrong with me? I’m not even sure that any of that just happened… But… It… It had to have happened! It felt so real…

Fluttershy couldn’t help but feel a bit bashful, giggling quietly to herself, considering what she had been ready for, what she had been so eagerly awaiting. She felt that she couldn’t have just misinterpreted the way the red mare had looked at her, mistaken all those compliments for simple flattery, and certainly not imagined the feel of Mahara’s body against her own.

Her mind was brimming with questions, but they would just have to wait. She gave her strange new friend one last look, and then made her way to the staircase. Yawning, Fluttershy slowly carried herself up to her bedroom, her flank brushing the doorframe. That might have upset her before, forgetting how wide she had gotten, but with the bizarre emotional rush she had just experienced and the possibility of a new relationship; now it just made her smile a bit. The bed creaked softly, her eyelids growing heavy as she watched shadows dancing against the moonlit wall. The pegasus smiled, drifting soundly to sleep.

\/ /\ /\ \/

Applebloom stirred under her sheets, her vision blurred and groggy as she looked toward her window. She had thought the scratching was her imagination, but there it was again, one two three, almost like someone knocking on a door. It seemed to get just a bit louder each time.

“Scoot, if that’s you out there…”

As quietly as she could, she lowered her hooves to the floor and made her way to the windowsill, glancing to her bedroom door. Applejack and Rainbow Dash were in the next room, laughing about something, occasionally making strange noises.

Honestly, she thought, Ah could be loud as a stampede an’ they probably wouldn’t notice.

They had been drinking, she remembered, before she had gone to bed. Not regular cider, but the stuff she wasn’t allowed to touch until she was old enough. She would get a sip when she got her cutie mark, though, or at least that’s what Big Macintosh had promised her. Her thoughts floated back to Rainbow Dash, who had been coming over just about every night for the last few months. Always after the sun set, and never when any of their other friends were around. Maybe they had a secret club. The filly had asked her older brother about it once, but he told her that she was too young to understand. Again, when she got her cutie mark. The scratching brought her back to the matter at hoof.

“Hold yer darn horses Scootaloo! Yer supposed ta tell me when we’re gonna have a midnight meeting before the meeting!” She propped up the base of the window with her hooves and heaved it up, then paused. “Oh… Yer not…”

“Probably not who you were expecting, but um... I… That is, someone told me…” It was almost too dark to see the little filly, barely illuminated by the soft glow from behind Applebloom. “Are you the leader of the Cutie Mark Crusaders?”

Any uncertainty Applebloom had felt toward the filly outside her window evaporated immediately with those words.

“Ah sure am! Wow, when didja hear ‘bout us?! An’ from where?!”

“I’m new in town and…” She paused, blushing, crossing her forehooves a bit. “I… I don’t have a cutie mark either. I got teased about it a lot where I used to live but…”

She smiled so sweetly that Applebloom thought her heart would melt.

“Ya’ll stay put, Ah’ll be right down in two bucks ofa apple tree!”

The timid filly stayed firmly rooted to the spot as Applebloom dropped down from her windowsill, grinning from ear to ear once she had regained her footing.

“Ah’m Applebloom, an’ ayep! Ah’m tha leader of tha Cutie… Mark…” Her words trailed off as she gazed into her new acquaintance’s eyes. “Golly…”

Applebloom felt her cheeks began to radiate as she lost herself in a sudden surge of emotion totally alien to the filly.

“Is… Is something wrong? Should I come back in the morning?”

“Naw, ‘s nothin’ like that… Where ya’ll from exactly? An do they all have eyes like that?”

\/ /\ /\ \/

The library had become a complete mess in the span of just a few hours. Books had been flung across the room, papers lay scattered on every possible surface, some of them full of half finished letters and barely intelligible notes. At the very heart of the chaos sat Twilight Sparkle, frantically scanning the pages of one book, only to toss it aside and begin on another. She heaved an exasperated groan and pressed her face against an edition of Incantations and Enchantments then threw it across the room with a burst of magical light. Spike peered down from the balcony, half wrapped in a blanket, watching Twilight with worry evident in his expression.

“Twilight… You should really get some sleep.” She whipped her head around and starred cold daggers. “You can try in the morning when you’re rested.”

“It’s one thing that I might have opened Pandora’s Box, but why, Spike, did Pinkie Pie have to come through here and rip all the books off the shelves?!” Spike cringed just a little, remembering the horror on Twilight’s face as Pinkie undid literally several solid days’ worth of cataloguing without any explaination. “Has all of Equestria gone crazy?! Am I the only pony who gives a horseapple about the rules?!”

“Twilight, please calm down…”

The unicorn took a deep breath, closing her eyes.

“Spike, I have to understand what happened when I opened that book, and I need to tell Princess Celestia when I do. The sooner that happens, the better.” She looked up at him again, the ghost of a smile on her lips. “I’m close. I’m very close. Thank you for your concern, but I’m not going to bed until the situation is under control.”

Spike had begun a slow, sleepy descent down the stairs as she explained herself, now curled up next to the unicorn. She gently brushed a hoof over his spines, feeling a bit calmer now that she felt him against her flank.

“Just don’t wear yourself out, okay? I’ll be happy to help when I’m not on the verge of passing out.”

“Okay Spike. I’ll try and keep it down. Goodnight.”

The dragon had already nodded off, however, snoring softly on the same pile of books that Twilight was herself perched on. She glanced over at the ominous text on her desk, afraid to even try and move it for fear of releasing something else from its pages. Even Pinkie had steered clear of it during her rampage, shuddering violently every time she even came close to it.

Twilight felt like she should send some kind of message to Celestia regarding the strange circumstances, but sending a letter that amounted to I let a monster of some kind out of a creepy book didn’t seem appropriate. She needed to find proof that something had escaped. She still wasn’t even sure if she had just imagined the entire thing. Spike didn’t hear anything strange, and when whatever it was blurred right past him he didn’t even bat an eyelid. It had to be magical, but the nature of the magic, and the apparition, had yet to be determined. Taking another deep breath, she levitated a book toward herself and began to read.

\/ /\ /\ \/

A symphony of birdsong woke Fluttershy the following morning, as it had every morning during the warmer months. Some of it sounded like practice of the songs she had rehearsed with them the day before, though perhaps a bit out of key or off tempo here and there. Shadows danced lazily on her wall, the sound of a gentle breeze rolling through the leaves nearly lulling her back to sleep.

That wouldn’t be fair to the birds, she thought, or the bunnies.

Smiling, she rolled toward the edge of the bed, and found herself face to face with her guest. She squeaked softly, eyes snapping wide open.

“Sorry! I probably should have knocked. I didn’t mean to startle you.” Though her heart raced with shock, Fluttershy managed to laugh it off.

Just how long has Mahara been standing there, though?

“Anyway, I’m ready to help you with your chores and things!”

“Oh, um, okay. It’ll be nice to have another set of hooves around to help.”

She stretched a bit, then lowered her hooves to the floor, grunting under her breath as her weight shifted into a standing position. Throughout the motion, her middle quivered gently, making the pegasus wish even more that Mahara weren’t watching her.

“Well, we should start with the animals,” Fluttershy stated. “They eat first.”

Following patiently, Mahara was introduced to the various sacks of feed scattered around the cabin. Catching sight of the red mare again, Angel darted from the room, refusing to come even when Fluttershy attempted to call him back. She laughed and shrugged.

“It’s hard to believe that you usually do all this yourself.”

“Well, I have to admit, it’s gotten a little more difficult recently…” The pegasus lifted a sack full of birdseed, then attempted to sling it over her back, successful on the second try. “But it’s not so bad. They’re certainly grateful for the effort.”

Outside, the birds had already gathered in force, weighing down branches and hanging from every available ledge. The moment Mahara peered outside, however, they took to the air, landing on more distant trees and chattering excitedly.

“Oh my… How strange.”

“I must have upset them. I’ll wait inside.” She turned and headed back inside before the pegasus could persuade her to stay.

“No, you don’t have to…” But the moment the door closed behind her, the birds returned in droves, some of them landing on the sack of seed and in her hair. “Now that isn’t very nice,” she scolded, looking rather upset. “There’s nothing wrong with that pony.” The birds glanced back and forth at one another, and then all at once looked back to the pegasus. “You all have no reason to behave that way.”

The rest of the feedings followed a similar pattern, however, and Angel continued to do his best avoid Mahara’s presence, though he did hesitantly and begrudgingly tolerate her after being bribed with a carrot. If anything, Fluttershy was more offended than alarmed by the behaviors of the various animals. They were usually so friendly with guests, and even the birds would warm up to visitors if given enough time.

With all the animals taken care of, it was time for the ponies themselves to eat. Or at least, it was time for Fluttershy to eat, as Mahara claimed that she wasn’t hungry, and would eat later. Even so, she did eagerly watch the pegasus as she prepared and then consumed her meal, consisting of a large bowl of oatmeal and a few pieces of fruit.

“Do you always eat this late in the day?”

“Twilight’s suggestion,” she said, finishing off the bowl. A bell tolled off in the distance, not quite noon yet. “I’d love to introduce you to my friends. Have you been to Ponyville yet?” Mahara shook her head, nursing a glass of orange juice. “You should come with me then! If you’d like. Like I said, I can introduce you to my friends, and we can show you around town.” The red mare shook her head again. “Or you can stay here, I guess… Is everything alright?”

“I’m feeling a little under the weather, actually.”

As Fluttershy thought about it, she realized that Mahara did look somewhat out of her element, perhaps a bit pale, especailly around the lips, her eyes not as brilliant as they had been the evening prior.

Mahara was mostly slouched in her chair, as well. “I didn’t want to say anything while I was helping you because I didn’t want to be rude, but if it’s alright with you-“

Fluttershy nodded hurriedly.

“Don’t even worry about it. I’ll stay here and make sure you get better in no time.” Her guest laughed, and then finished the rest of the glass. “I’m serious! Doctor Fluttershy is on the case!”

Mahara shook her head again and smiled.

“It’s nothing to worry about, please don’t trouble yourself. I’m just a little worn out from traveling still.” She got to her hooves and rounded the table, nuzzling the side of Fluttershy’s neck. The pegasus immediately felt her cheeks burning. “I’ll tidy up a bit for you while you’re out.”

Without a word further, she left both the room, and a rather bashful Fluttershy. A kiss on the nose and a little nuzzle weren’t that much, but from someone she had just met, the affection was just a bit overwhelming. Certainly not unwanted, but overwhelming just the same. There were times when she wished friendly hugs were a bit more than for sharing a moment, and she had felt that sort of intimacy before.

Or could I be imagining it? she asked herself. Am I just lonely? Maybe this is just how ponies behave where Mahara comes from, she concluded.

On that note, she realized that she still had no clue where the red mare had lived prior to traveling to Ponyville. She sighed softly, and then brought her dishes to the sink.

\/ /\ /\ \/

Outside, the pegasus was greeted by a beautiful summer afternoon, neither too hot nor too humid. A few puffy clouds slowly drifted across the sky, and for a moment, she thought she saw a few other pegasi darting between them. Brief farewells were exchanged, and then she set off for town. Several birds accompanied the pegasus as she traveled down the path, some perching on her back, others flitting about beside her. Grateful as she was for their presence, she still wished that Mahara had decided to join her as well. Part of her was also unsure about leaving a strange pony alone in her house. Fluttershy put these thoughts to rest around the same time that the birds began to leave her company, preferring to stick to the trees as opposed to traveling with her into town.

About halfway there, she noticed Pinkie looking at the underside of a rock, then setting it down and lifting another. It was difficult to tell from such a distance, but she seemed distressed about something, occasionally jittering around on her hooves. The pink earth pony repeated this several times with various rocks, then grumbled and bounced back toward town before Fluttershy could even ask her what she was doing, though she appeared to have been looking for something.

Oh Pinkie…

She couldn’t help but smile. She took a short break just outside of Ponyville, munching down a mouthful of oats and leaning against the side of a building to help catch her breath. It was another normal day, ponies going about their business, a few nodding or saying hello as they passed. The enormous tree housing a wealth of Ponyville’s books came into view. Twilight had wanted her to bring a few loose quills from her various birds to see how well they could carry ink. She had expected to find Spike or Twilight waiting for her, but there was no sign of them outside the library, and the front door was closed, though she could hear them taking about something from within. Fluttershy knocked, but neither of them came to the door. She spotted Owlowiscious on a distant branch, fast asleep. Waking him would have been extremely rude, so asking him for help was out of the question as well. Biting her lip a bit, she nudged the door open and stepped inside.

The library was in a state of controlled chaos, books stacked in unstable looking towers across the floor, many of them so high she couldn’t see over them, and notes taped to the shelves, overlapping three or four times over, as if the bookcases had sprouted paper foliage. Somewhere in the disarray, she heard Twilight telling her draconic familiar to take a letter. As quietly as she could, she found her way through the maze of books, led by the sound of the the bookish unicorn’s voice.

“Dear Princess Celestia,

“Normally I would be writing regarding further insights into my study of the magic of friendship, however, something rather strange has occurred. Yesterday, I found a new book in the basement of the library, and when I opened it, I think I triggered some kind of summoning spell. I can’t be sure, because whatever came out of the book left before I could actually get a look at it. Then again, I might have just imagined it. Some of my other books suggest that it is possible to hide things between the pages using magic, but I don’t think a living creature could survive the spell, and even if they could, that book seemed like it had been down there for a very, very long time… I won’t bother you with this again until I find out more, but for the time being- Fluttershy, I’m sorry but I’m a bit busy right now. Please come back later. Spike, what are you doing!? Are you still writing?! This is serious!”

The pint sized dragon looked up from the parchment and attempted a smile. Twilight, on the other hoof, looked like she hadn’t gotten any sleep, heavy bags under her eyes, left eyelid twitching noticeably. Her mane was tossed every which way, hairs sticking out at odd angles, a few paper cuts evident on her hooves as she stared blankly at Spike from her book fortress. It was also possible that she was extremely distressed, likely a combination of the two. Fluttershy decided it was definitely not the best time to try and chat.

“Oh! Sorry Twilight. Guess I got carried away…” Spike waved to the pegasus on her way out.

Rather embarrassed over interrupting her friend, she left as silently as she came in, vowing to herself to try and knock louder next time.

The pegasus quietly closed the door behind her as Twilight began the second draft of her letter. It wasn’t uncommon for her to get so wrapped up in her studies that she didn’t have time for her friends, which was ironic considering the nature of her studies. The pegasus did her best not to take it personally whenever it happened, but it still hurt, just a bit. At least this time the bookish unicorn didn’t saddle her with volumes on dieting and overcoming depression. Twilight’s way of helping was both more and less confrontational than that of Rarity.

Before giving up completely, Rarity had tried to be less obvious about wanting the pegasus to lose weight. However, the subtle hints she would drop in conversation, the offhooved remarks she would make when something didn’t fit quite right or something was made difficult by her larger frame; that hurt the pegasus even more than being offered literature on the subject. On the infrequent occasions when Rarity would even speak to Fluttershy, the pale unicorn was becoming downright catty, compared to the gentleness of her initial attempts. It seemed as though Rarity believed that making fun of her would be a greater motivation than concern. Fluttershy assumed that, having lost her patience, Rarity decided tough love was the only course of action.

“Well hello dear!”

Rarity’s voice brought the pegasus out of her thoughts. For a moment, Fluttershy was overjoyed to hear her voice. The pale unicorn was nearly weighed down with yards of freshly purchased fabric, clearly making a beeline back to Carousel Boutique.

“Another lovely day, hmm? Out to get some exercise in this fine weather?” Fluttershy nodded meekly while the pale unicorn took a few steps closer toward her destination. “Well that’s splendid! I’d join you but as you can see, I’ve got my hooves full at the moment. I just got a huge order in and I’ll probably be busy for the next few days.”

“Oh, well, that’s okay… I actually have a vis-“

“And I’d ask you to model for me, like you used to, but, well…” She giggled rather cruely, raising an eyebrow with a subtle grin. “I’m afraid my clients don’t quite share your ample measurements. Such a shame. Well, not for my clients. You know what I mean.”

“Y-yeah…” The pegasus hung her head a bit, any remaining cheer washing right out of her.

“Well, ta-ta for now!” She trotted off toward the boutique without so much as another look back at the pegasus, clearly thinking nothing of what she had just said. “Good luck with that exercise!”

For a moment, Fluttershy could feel tears welling up in her eyes, on the verge of rolling down her cheeks. Several deep breaths later, she had regained her composure, writing off the pale unicorn’s nasty comments as more tough love, like always. More than anything, she was interested in losing weight so that the animosity from what was once her closest friend would stop.

Maybe it’s a good thing that I didn’t bring Mahara with me…

She wondered if the red mare was feeling better, and was about to head back to the cottage, but she overheard Applejack from the next street over. The voice that responded sounded like Rainbow Dash, which wasn’t that surprising. They had been spending quite a lot of time together in the more recent months, and there was a bit of a rumor going around about the pair. Of course, they denied it adamantly, but Fluttershy had her suspicions. Their conversation became clearer as she got closer, making her way through an alley and doing her best to weave between garbage cans and empty boxes.

“Ah know she’s alright Dash, but that ain’t the point! When ah was a filly, ah could wander ‘round after dark and nothin’ bad woulda happened ta me. We gotta do somethin’ ‘bout this ‘fore another pony gets hurt!”

She could see them clearly now, standing in front of the doctor’s office. Applejack paced nervously, while Rainbow attempted to comfort her. All the other ponies in the area went about their business, doing their best not to stare or get in the farmer’s way.

“Alright, so we set out a couple traps and make sure to keep Applebloom inside at night? I know you probably don’t want to hear it, but I’m not totally sure I want to kill whatever did this.” Applejack narrowed her eyes slightly, glaring at Dash. “I mean, what if she antagonized it? What if she thought getting something to bite her would get her a cutie mark? You know how fillies are!”

“Ah know that mah sister might be in danger, an’ ah don’t want ta risk her gettin’ hurt even worse next time.” Glancing to the side, Applejack noticed Fluttershy’s approach, mostly because the timid pegasus had knocked over a garbage can, startling herself more than anyone else. “Hey shug’, you know a lotta ‘bout critters, right? Wouldja mind tellin’ us what bit Applebloom?”

“Oh my… Yes, I’ll take a look right away!”

Fluttershy nodded to the nurse on her way in, led to Applebloom by Applejack and Rainbow Dash. Besides looking a little tired and very bored, the filly appeared to be perfectly fine. She had her forelegs crossed, laid out on a medical cot, clearly with very little interest in staying there for much longer.

“Ah already toldja sis, mah new friend did it, an’ it didn’t even hurt!” The filly pouted, trying to keep the side of her neck out of sight. “Yer all makin’ a big deal ‘bout nothin’.”

“She keeps sayin’ that she met some new filly outside her window last night, but ah think she’s just protectin’ whatever critter bit her.”

Applebloom scowled and looked the other way, which gave Fluttershy a clear look at the small, circular bite marks on the left side of her neck. There were four in total, though the more prominent two were centered over her carotid artery.

“Whatever it was, it bit her an’ she lost a whole pitcher’s wortha blood… Doctor said it weren’t nearly enough ta kill her, but ah ain’t havin’ no critters thinkin’ they can nip mah sister an get away with it!”

Nodding, Rainbow added, “We found her curled up under one of the trees in the orchard this morning. I think she just decided to sleep outside, tried to get cuddly with a stray dog or something.”

Applebloom snorted softly, insulted.

“Applebloom, you said another pony did this to you?” Fluttershy leaned a bit closer, examining the scabbed wounds. Even if it wasn’t fresh, she could tell that the bite was very clean, not a trace of bruising or additional cuts. “Whatever bit her, it was very deliberate. This looks almost surgical.”

“Okay, that’s cool and all, but it doesn’t get us any closer to finding whatever creep that did this.” Rainbow leaned a little closer as well, perhaps so Applejack wouldn’t hear. “Maybe when we find it, you can do that stare thing and talk some sense into it so this doesn’t happen again. I’d kinda feel bad about getting some animal killed over a misunderstanding.”

Fluttershy gave a solemn nod to the blue pegasus. “I’ll do my best.”

The timid pegasus directed her attention back to Applebloom, who was becoming more irritated the longer she had ponies gathered around and inspecting her. “Can you tell me what it looked like? The creature that did this, I mean. We’re just worried about you, that’s all.” The filly seemed to relax a bit, raising her gaze to meet Fluttershy’s. “I promise I won’t let them hurt what bit you, whatever it is.”

“Alright… Long as ya promise… Lessie…” Closing her eyes in thought, the filly did her best to recall her visitor. “She was about as big as I am, maybe a little bigger… Light blue coat, but her mane an’ tail were such a dark blue they almost looked black.”

The description didn’t sound like any fillies from Ponyville. Maybe Applebloom was making it up after all, she thought.

“Had the prettiest green eyes ah’ve ever seen, though!” Fluttershy’s smile slowly began to fade.

“What did they look like?” The timid pegasus began to bite her lip nervously as she listened to Applebloom’s response, while Applejack and Rainbow Dash listened in casually, apparently familiar, and unsatisfied, with the description.

“Well, kinda like Spike’s! Ah thought it was mighty strange fer a pony ta have eyes like that.” She giggled softly as Fluttershy’s expression became increasingly grave, narrowing her eyes just a bit, brow furrowing. “Oh! An she didn’t have a cutie mark! Ah asked if she wanted ta join tha Crusaders an she said yes!”

Having heard more than enough, Fluttershy turned and made for the door. Rainbow, Applejack and her younger sister watched with curiosity and confusion at her sudden urgency.

“Woah, where are you going in such a hurry?”

“Ya didn’t tell us what bit her either!”

“I think I know what did this, but I need to get home right now to make sure. Stay here with Applebloom and keep her safe, okay?” The pair gave up their inquiry long enough to glance back at the filly, who just shrugged, waving to the back of Fluttershy’s head as she vanished through the doorway.

Fluttershy left before they could get another word in, heart pounding as she looked off in the direction of her cottage.

It couldn’t be more than just a coincidence, could it?

The filly Applebloom had described sounded nothing like Mahara, and Mahara looked and sounded to be about as old as the pegasus, but those eyes… She tried to think back to her guest’s flank as well, but couldn’t remember if she had seen any sort of mark. As fast as she could, the pegasus began her gallop home, heads turning as she pounded the cobblestone under her hooves. Heavy as she was, panting and sweating, she refused to slow down. Of course, Pinkie Pie had other plans, nearly knocking her over as she sprung from an alley near the edge of town.

“You have to help me! There’s a new pony in town and I am twitching like crazy trying to find them, but I caaaaan’t! I’ve checked everywhere! Everywhere! Even under rocks and behind the books in the library! Nothing!” Fluttershy watched with wide eyes as Pinkie vibrated in place, then half groaned, half whimpered. “If I don’t find this new pony I’m gonna go crazy!”

“Pinkie, I think she might be at my house! You should come with me, just to make sure!” If she was right, if it was Mahara after all, having Pinkie with her was probably better than nopony but herself.

\/ /\ /\ \/

The gravity of the situation was entirely absent for the pink pony, and she cheerfully bounced along beside Fluttershy, singing something about meeting new friends as the pegasus did her best to gallop all the way home. She paused outside her front door, gasping for breath, doing her best to prepare for whatever might happen once she stepped inside. Noon had come and gone while she was in town, though the sun was still a few hours from reaching the horizon.

The windows were completely dim, barely a speck of light inside, but then she caught a glimpse of something moving, a green glow slowly approching the door.

Okay, she told herself, what if Mahara did bite Applebloom? What are you going to do? Tell her to leave? Yes, tell her to leave, immediately. Biting fillies is no way to behave.

Fluttershy reached this decision just as Mahara opened the door herself, smiling as she locked eyes with the pegasus, her pointy teeth like pearls in the sunlight.

She seemed a bit confused by Pinkie’s presence, however. “Is this one of the friends you wanted to introduce to me?”

From the doctor’s office all the way home, Fluttershy had been so terrified of the possibility that her guest could be the one that attacked Applebloom, but now that she was face to face with Mahara, the thought seemed almost laughable. Mahara was a pegasus, or at least she used to be, and from the sound of things, she would have had to at least be a unicorn to change her form so completely to match Applebloom’s description. What’s more, it didn’t sound like the filly was even attacked so much as she willfully volunteered. The coincidences were not so easily dismissed, but perhaps there was another explanation. It couldn’t hurt to ask. Maybe when it was more appropriate. The pegasus heaved a small sigh of relief, lowering herself to one side as she watched Pinkie’s face light up almost immediately.

“I found you! I found you! I FOUND YOU!” Pinkie began to orbit the red, understandably startled pony.

For a moment, Mahara tried to retreat back into the cottage, then after a nervous glance at Fluttershy, she forced a toothy smile.

“Hello! I uh… You caught me a little off guard here.”

Despite the surprise, the pegasus could tell that she was already regaining her composure, assuming a more solid, confident stance. The pegasus also noticed that Mahara had bound herself up in bandages again. Perhaps for the best, considering Pinkie’s excitable nature.

“Wow, but how didja end up all the way out here with Fluttershy? Usually newcomers hustle on right into Ponyville!” The pink pony weaved in and out, examining Mahara in the most inefficient and erratic way possible, grinning wide as she glanced about curiously.

“I’m afraid I didn’t make it that far, but I would love to see the town tomorrow. I’m still cleaning up her cottage presently.” She smiled again and stood aside, allowing the pair to enter, though Pinkie seemed more interested in Mahara than admiring her handiwork.

The pegasus had admittedly fallen behind on housekeeping, but there didn’t seem to be a speck of dust or paw print in sight, numerous sacks of feed organized by the door, even the fireplace looked to have been cleaned. The red mare stood by the door, smiling proudly.

“Oh my goodness…” Fluttershy looked around almost in awe. “You didn’t have to do all this! T-thank you!”

In fact, she wondered how Mahara had even accomplished so much in the span of at most two hours. Maybe she had made peace with the animals and got them to help her.

“No need to thank me. For a night of shelter and wonderful company, I think this was more than deserved.” The pegasus could feel herself blushing again.

Part of her wished Pinkie hadn’t heard that. Thankfully, the pink pony didn’t seem to notice anything out of the ordinary.

“Hey, if you’re coming to town tomorrooow…” Pinkie’s eyes lit up again as another grin curled the corners of her lips. “It’s been super nice meeting you but I gotta go!”

Without anything further, she was off like a shot. They watched as she became little more than a pink blur streaking across the countryside toward town, and then closed the door, laughing.

“She um, might not have wanted me to tell you, but you should be ready for a surprise party. It’s kind of her thing.” Fluttershy smiled a bit and made her way toward the kitchen, which shared the same spotless treatment.

“I’ll try and act the part.”

With Pinkie gone, she suddenly remembered that there were pressing issues at hoof. On short notice, she was able to begin questioning, albeit very delicately.

“I was in town today and… Um… Well, some strange things have been happening… I mean…” Mahara tilted her head, as seemed to be her typical reaction to things she didn’t quite understand. “Well, uh… You see, Applebloom… The younger sister of one of my friends. She um… Something bit her last night and uh…” The red mare arched her visible brow as the pegasus nervously tapped her hoof on the floorboards. “When she described the creature that did it… It sounded um… Sounded… Had eyes like… Do you have any siblings? Are there other ponies like you somewhere in Equestria? Maybe they followed you here?”

“Not to my knowledge, no… I saw quite a few other ponies while I was traveling, though.” Mahara seemed a bit concerned more than anything.

Perhaps it really was all just a big misunderstanding?

“What did… Applebloom? What did she say, exactly?”

“She said that whatever it was that bit her… What I mean is, what she described as whatever it was that bit her, it um… It sounded kind of like you…” The red mare narrowed her eyes, lips pursed just slightly in a display of insult. “I mean, the pony that um… Her description… And your eyes are so… Unique… That’s um… That’s what she said.”

“Okay, this is just a guess here, but with a name like Applebloom, she lived on that big orchard I passed by on my way to the spot where we met? Big bow in her hair?” Fluttershy nodded slowly. “I asked her for directions. It’s nice to know that she’s making up stories to explain her mishaps, I suppose.”

Relieved, though a bit disappointed in the filly in question, Fluttershy smiled and shrugged.

“Um… Maybe she thought she could get a cutie mark for lying? You know how fillies are.” She sighed quietly as she began to prepare supper. “Are you feeling well enough to eat?”

“I had a little snack while you were away. Don’t worry about me.”

The pegasus noticed that the color had definitely returned to her guest’s complexion. As if on cue, Angel scurried into the room and began desperately trying to get Fluttershy’s attention.

“He’s quite a feisty one…” Mahara mumbled as her brow lowered.

“Oh, yes, he can be quite a troublemaker sometimes.”

The rabbit continued his display, frantically pantomiming with a piece of fruit. First he cradled it, and then bit into it with his buck teeth, following up with what could be interoperated as slurping. Fluttershy watched quizzically.

“What’s gotten into you? You know you can’t have supper for another hour.” Smiling, the pegasus took the fruit from her fuzzy friend and set it up on the table. “But if you’re that hungry, I suppose I can give you a little more when it’s time to eat.”

Clearly frustrated that his message was lost on Fluttershy, Angel withdrew from the kitchen, keeping his eyes on Mahara all the while.

“I apologize if my presence upsets the animals under your care. I’ll start looking for a new place to stay first thing tomorrow. After I help out around here, of course.”

Mahara flashed that toothy smile again, and Fluttershy wondered how she had missed those pointy teeth when they met. It had been getting dark, sure, but something like that would normally stand out on a pony.

“Your help is always welcome, and so are you. Really, um… Don’t worry about the birds and the bunnies; they’re probably just nervous around strangers.” Her rounded middle growled softly, reminding her that the salad on the counter was only half perpared. “Speaking of ‘time to eat’, I almost forgot why we even came in here!”

The rest of the day passed rather peacefully, and with Mahara doing the heavy lifting and none of the actual interaction with the animals, their evening feeding went without any difficulties. Evidently, despite being so badly disfigured, the remaining muscles in her wings were strong enough to lift three or four sacks of feed at a time, squeezing them tightly in fleshy coils. The air outside positively vibrated with sound, feathers beating softly against overlapping songs of gratitude.

Amid a sea of fluttering and chirping birds, the pegasus felt at peace, spreading her wings wide and singing along with her feathery friends. Fluttershy wished that her guest could join her, but realized that perhaps being friendly with animals wasn’t her specialty. In fact, she wasn’t sure what Mahara was good at, seeing as she lacked any sort of cutie mark. The thought made her rather sad. Wherever she had lived before, life must have been very difficult. As the sun began to set and she bid the birds goodnight, she decided to ask, gently, about where the red mare had come from.

As luck would have it, Mahara brought it up on her own, after stepping down from the windowsill. Evidently, she had been watching Fluttershy play with the birds.

“It’s so strange for me to see animals behaving this way. You can just walk right up to them.” She crossed the room, setting herself down in a chair. “I don’t think I’ve seen a single creature in Equestria that isn’t in some way dependent on ponies for survival.”

“Is that unusual where you’re from? As far as I know, animals have always behaved this way in Equestria. Well, except for the ones in the Everfree Forest, but… I think that’s the only place in Equestria where the plants and animals take care of themselves.” The pegasus took to the couch, hind legs dangling over the side. “Um… Where are you from, though? It’s okay if you don’t want to talk about it, I’m just a little curious is all.” Fluttershy felt uncomfortable just imagining what Mahara’s home might be like. “It doesn't sound like a very nice place… I mean, after what happened to your wings… And um… All those poor animals having to fend for themselves…”

“You’re right, it’s not a nice place… I’m in no hurry to return, especially after seeing how nice it is here in Equestria. Also…” The red mare glanced to the side for a moment, grinning a bit. “Meeting you has definitely been the highlight of my stay so far. Enough about me, though. Where are you from?”

While Fluttershy felt her cheeks getting rosy, the strange attraction she felt the night before seemed to be missing. She didn’t like her guest any less, but when she looked into Mahara’s eyes, dazzling as they were, she found it much easier to look away. Or at least, it wasn’t as easy to daydream when their gazes met. The red mare’s words, while still flattering, didn’t have their romantic edge, either.

Has my guest lost interest? she pondered. Or was it the thrill of meeting a total stranger that made me feel so drawn to the Mahara at first?

Confusion and frustration began to cloud her thoughts as they talked about Cloudsdale, how she had been picked on as a filly, and her decision to live on the ground, unlike most pegasi.

“And, well, I’ve been living here more or less by myself ever since then, if you don’t count all the animals I take care of. They’re pleasant company, but it does get lonely sometimes…” She smiled a little, glancing up at her guest. “So… I guess that’s why I really don’t mind you being here. It’s nice to have somepony around that I can talk to.”

This time, when Mahara smiled, she could feel some of the warmth and longing from the previous night, but it was much more gentle, perhaps more natural than the sudden wave of passion that had come over her. That didn’t stop her heart from fluttering slightly when Mahara got up and began a slow approach to the couch.

“I wanted to ask you before, when you were telling me about what life was like for you, growing up, and this is going to sound a little strange, even coming from me, so if you’d rather I not…”

The red mare made each step carefully and slowly, as if walking on thin ice, as sheepish as she had been when asking for permission to spend the night.

“Oh, no, not at all!” The pegasus smiled, shaking her head a bit, biting her lower lip just slightly as her anticipation and anxiety began to build. “Please, ask away.”

Maybe this time I’ll find out how she really feels.

“Fluttershy, have you ever had feelings for somepony as more than just a friend?" Before she could answer, Mahara quickly added, "Nopony in particular, I’m just wondering. I'm not sure how that sort of thing works in Equestria."

“Well, um… It um… Works…” Not quite what she was expecting, but maybe she could steer it in the right direction. “I had feelings like that for somepony, once… But… It didn’t really work out and… umm… It’s still painful for me to talk about it… Do you feel that way too?” The pegasus began to blush rather intensely, “Um, I mean, have you ever had feelings for another pony? Maybe a pony you wished was more than… um… more than a friend?” Mahara’s giggle was just barely audible.

“Perhaps…” she answered calmly, though her delicate smile, and the look in her eye, implied something else entirely.

Fluttershy swallowed nervously, scarcely able to meet Mahara’s intense, green rimmed gaze.

“A-are you… Asking for the reason I t-think you're um… asking?” Mahara began to lean toward her now, tilting her head to the right, her mane falling away just enough for her other eye to become visible. “B-because… Um…"

The pegasus felt herself tremble again. She wasn’t ready this time, she could barely string her sentences together. Her breaths felt so shallow. Fluttershy was crippled by the possibility of the rejection she might face if Mahara didn’t feel the same way. The fear that she might suffer from heartache once again was more than she could bear.

But how could Mahara not feel the same way? Every sign points toward the same conclusion, so why can’t Mahara just say it? She mentally whimpered. Why does it have to be me?

“Because I… Well… I… Um…” She began to fall into mumbling, and then just before turning away, her voice became little more than a squeak.

Fluttershy felt a kiss on the forehead, and the tension left her entirely. Mahara’s voice was soothing. “I think maybe I’m going a little too fast for you.”

The pegasus nodded slowly, trying to smile through her burning blush. “That’s alright,” the red mare continued, “I probably shouldn’t have asked. I’m sorry for putting you in that position. It was rude of me to do so.”

“It’s alright! Really, I’m actually glad that you did.” Still trembling softly, she leaned forward, nuzzling the underside of Mahara’s muzzle. “I think… I think I just need a little more time. Maybe I’m not ready to be in another relationship just yet...”

There was a long pause, the silence full of rhythmic chirping, leaves rustling in steady waves. The pegasus gingerly raised a hoof to her guest’s mane, brushing the silken red locks away from her right eye, letting herself get lost in those deep emerald pools once more.

“Do you still want to hear my answer?”

Fluttershy smiled, closing her eyes, nuzzling again, feeling the gesture returned just as softly. For the moment, that was more than enough.

“No, I think I’d rather leave it a mystery for now.” The pegasus slipped over the edge of the couch, still close enough to Mahara that their bodies lightly touched. “But I think I can guess… I’d like to talk about it in the morning, if that’s okay with you. There’s just so much on my mind right now and I’d like to sleep on it.”

“Fair enough.” She smiled warmly. “I’ll knock this time, I promise.”

They parted ways, Fluttershy slowly climbing the stairs, pausing at the top to watch the red mare trot over to her makeshift bed and vanish beneath the sheets. The pegasus followed the example soon after, crawling onto her squeaking mattress and getting comfortable under light blankets. She thought over how strange the day had been, wondering if this was the beginning of a trend. While a small part of her felt uncertain about her mysterious new friend, a larger part of her considered the circumstances excitedly; a wonderful new experience for her, maybe just what she needed to clear the last few hurdles of her depression.

If this is the beginning of another change, she pondered dreamily, then I think this one is all for the better…

Shadows of leaves swayed on the wall against soft moonlight, and watching them with half lidded eyes, sleep came easily.

\/ /\ /\ \/

Fluttershy’s dreams were far more troubling.

She looked upon her own sleeping form from above her bed. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t force herself to wake. The blurred silhouette of some slender creature stood over her, possibly bipedal, vaguely canine in shape. A long, bushy tail swayed about behind it, large ears tilted forward. Its eyes were obscured by unruly hair as it loomed, rubbing a single, thick claw over the underside of her chin. With the other paw, it brushed some of the hair aside, and an intense green glow radiated from beneath the thick mass of tangled strands, as if the creature’s eye were projecting a dancing emerald flame. In the light, she could see its lips slowly pulling back, curling into a grin, revealing parallel rows of sharpened fangs.

“Sleep tight,” it whispered, voice distorted to sound as many spoken at once.

The words had barely left the creature’s lips before it erupted into a thick red haze, dissolving completely, the mist flowing through gaps in the windowsill and swirling off into the night.

And she was left there, staring down at herself with time at a standstill.

\/ /\ /\ \/

“Alright, we’re callin’ this meetin’ ta order!”

Applebloom stood behind a small, clearly homemade podium. A few candles flickered in the corners of the small, also homemade room, illuminating bunches of leaves shivering just outside the window. The moon hung low over the treeline, a few puffy clouds drifting by.

“But uh… Ah guess Sweetie Belle couldn’t sneak out tonight. Ah almost didn’t make it mahself.” Applebloom glanced out the window, toward the house, and frowned slightly. “Hope sis don’t try an’ check on me...” She snickered. “Cause Ah sure ain’t in bed!”

“So who’s the new filly? That’s what this meeting is about, right?”

Scootaloo’s eyes were fixed mostly on the light blue, almost black maned newcomer seated beside her, who appeared to be doing her best to be as small and inconspicuous as possible. In a room with only two other fillies, the effort was entirely pointless.

Scootaloo grinned a bit as she thought that over. “You wanna be a crusader, huh?”

“Yes! I mean, um…” The newcomer cast her gaze to the floor, hooves shuffling nervously. A mouse could interrupt her with little more than a squeak. “If you’ll let me, that is.”

“Hey, you know who she reminds me of, Applebloom?” The red bowed filly looked up from the podium curiously, their guest almost cringing as she waited to hear the rest. “She reminds me of Fluttershy!”

“Oh yeah… Huh, Ah didn’t notice that before.” Applebloom smiled and shrugged. The podium gave a low groan, earning a look of uncertainty from the bowed filly standing behind it.

“Is um… Is that a bad thing?” She looked up just enough for the green of her eyes to show. Scootaloo immediately stopped slouching as she caught a glimpse of them.

“Naaw,” Applebloom waved a hoof, still smiling. “Fluttershy’s a real nice mare. Kinda skittish though.”

“She doesn’t have eyes like that either!” The orange pegasus filly leaned a little closer, which only seemed to make the Fluttershy in miniature even more nervous. “That’s so cool! I’ve never seen anything like that before!”

“It’s um… It’s nothing special…” Her cheeks began to flush, a bashful smile creeping across her lips.

Scootaloo had to admit that their potential new member was very pretty, her shyness becoming something endearing.

“But…” The blue filly spoke barely above a whisper. “Thank you.”

“Anyway!” Applebloom thumped the podium several times with a forehoof, promptly stopping when she realized it just might collapse if she hit it again. “We’re gettin’ way off track here. She wants ta join the crusaders, an’ seein’ that she don’t have no cutie mark, she’s more than qualified!”

“But you’ve gotta be up for the challenges we’ll be facing, because we don’t just sit around and wait for our cutie marks to come to us!”

Scootaloo proudly rose to her hooves, head held high. The newcomer cowered, as if expecting to be struck or shouted at. The orange filly chose to ignore it and continued her small speech.

“We’re constantly trying new things in the hopes that we’ll find what we’re good at. It’s not for the meek. Can you handle it?”

“I… I can certainly try!” She got to her hooves as well, but much more humbly, still mostly looking down at the floor.

“’s good enough fer me! Yer hereby inducted into tha Cutie Mark Crusaders-” She came to an abrupt stop. Scootaloo raised a brow. “Actually, Ah don’t even know yer name yet.” Applebloom let out a giggle. “Dunno how that slipped by me.”

“Yeah,” said Scootaloo. “What’s your name?”

The orange filly grinned, taking a few steps around their newest member, until she was face to face with her, or at least face to ears. This close, she could see that the light blue filly was trembling, which she found rather odd.

What is this filly so nervous about? Scootaloo wondered.

“I bet it’s Emerald Gaze or Jade Iris something like that,” Scootaloo softly added, trying to help the sheepish pony relax.

“My um… My name?” She glanced around, biting her lip. “My name…” Scootaloo and Applebloom leaned a bit closer as she paused. “Is um…” Closer still, breath held in anticipation. “Seafare… Clearwater.”

“Huh…” They shot confused looks to one another, which Seafare didn’t seem to notice. “Okay, that’s a nice name too. Well, Seafare,” Scootaloo put a foreleg around the blue filly’s neck. “You’re a crusader now!”

“Hoo-ra!” shouted Applebloom, immediately clasping her hooves over her muzzle. “Ooh, Ah hope sis didn’t hear that…”

Applebloom turned her attention toward the window, expecting to hear or see an enraged Applejack at any moment. She was relieved to see that her outburst had gone unnoticed.

“Yeah, actually, why is she trying to keep you cooped up at night now?” Scootaloo let go of Seafare, who had been trying to shrink away from Scootaloo from the moment the pegasus draped a foreleg over her. “I guess she talked to Rarity and now Sweetie Belle can’t go out past sunset either.”

“Oh, ‘s cause Seafare bit me last night.” The blue filly blushed intensely at those words, while Applebloom smiled and Scootaloo gawked, first at Applebloom, and then at Seafare. “Ah told em it was nothin’ ta worry about but they all got so mad an’ worried. Guess ‘s a grownup thing.”

“Why did you…” Scootaloo’s mouth continued to gape, the orange pegasus doing her best to make sense of the situation. Seafare offered no explanation, remaining perfectly silent as she did her best to hold her ground, visibly shaking now. “What?”

“Oh! Cause Seafare said Ah might get a cutie mark that way!” Applebloom rounded the podium, which collapsed in on itself the moment she stepped away from it, and approached the pair. The bowed filly seemed to have locked eyes with Seafare, gazing intently at her. “Ya’ll should give it a try too, Scoot. Maybe it’ll work for you!”

“Okay, no offence, but I’m not sure I want a cutie mark of another filly biting my neck. That’s…” Scootaloo suddenly found herself face to face with Seafare, the blue filly’s eyes open wide as she simply slid into view, emerald pools practically glowing. “That’s… I… Uh… Wow… Is it getting hot in here?”

The pegasus shuddered lightly, a blush spreading over her cheeks. Her chest felt tight, her throat so dry, a sudden spark making her feel both excited and uneasy at the same time in ways she had never quite experienced before. She spared a glance at Applebloom, who looked as though her pupils had fully dilated in the passing moments, an unnerving smile on her face as she approached from the side.

“Girls… I don’t really feel comfortable with this…” She managed a swallow as Seafare leaned in close, the warmth of the blue pony’s breath rolling over the side of her neck. Scootaloo’s legs refused to budge, transfixed to the spot, helpless. “I… I wanna go h-home…”

“Just relax,” Seafare whispered as Applebloom just stood there, watching, smiling. “This will only take a second, and you’ll barely feel a thing…”

\/ /\ /\ \/

Considering the panic she had witnessed and felt earlier that day, Rainbow Dash noted the calmness of the Apple family household. It was a tense, uneasy calmness, but there weren’t any shouts of fearful anger, blame was no longer being cast for failing to keep closer watch over Applebloom, and Applejack had finally managed to nod off, if a bit fitfully. Every so often, the blond maned mare would twist or jerk in her sleep. Rainbow raised a gentle hoof to the side of Applejack’s face, rubbing tenderly in hopes of dispelling the nightmares. Instead, Applejack bolted upright, nearly knocking the blue pegasus right off the bed.

“Hey, it’s alright.” Applejack cast a weary gaze up to Rainbow Dash, who smiled and nuzzled close. “Mac and I just checked on Applebloom half an hour ago,” she whispered. “She’s fine. Go back to bed.”

“Are ya sure? What if she snuck out right after ya’ll checked on ‘er?” Applejack began to shift around, trying to get to her hooves.

“AJ…” Dash made a failed attempt to keep her in bed, her halting hoof easily brushed aside by the determined pony.

“Ah gotta go see fer mahself. Just ta make sure.”

“Do you want me to come with you?” Their eyes were level now, bodies pressed softly together as Dash rubbed an orange furred foreleg with a hoof of her own.

“Nah. Ya’ll stay here an keep the bed warm.” Dash shot her a smug grin.

“It’s the middle of summer.” They laughed quietly, kissing briefly before Applejack slid off the edge of the bed, the sound of her hoofsteps growing softer the further she got from her bedroom.

Left alone for the moment, Dash reflected on her own situation. She couldn’t help but wonder what the others would say if they found out. She and Applejack had been so careful, and Big Macintosh had agreed to keep their secret so long as Rainbow Dash agreed to help out around the orchard during the harvest. Granny Smith didn’t even seem to notice that Dash was there just about every single night, her home in the clouds gradually collecting condensation. The pegasus looked around Applejack’s comfortably decorated room, smiling at the thought of just moving in, living on the farm instead of in the sky. Her thoughts were interrupted by a muffled gasp. Applejack’s muffled gasp.

“Applejack?” Rainbow Dash hopped off the bed and cautiously made her way down the hall, only to break into a gallop when the mare in question let out a scream.

“She’s gone!” The blond earth pony burst from Applebloom’s doorway, looking around frantically. “Dash, she ain’t in her bed!” The pegasus could see her shaking, eyes full of terror and worry, tears soon to follow. “Oh Celestia where did she go?!”

“Just calm down! She couldn’t have gotten far, we just checked on her a little while ago.”

“She left a damn decoy in her bed! Ya’ll don’t know how long she’s been gone!” Dash tensed, wings starting to unfold. “Dash we gotta find her! What in heaven’s name is wrong with that filly?! She gonna get herself killed!”

Big Macintosh, having heard the commotion from his room, was already kicking his door open and making for an exit.

“Sis, we ain’t gonna find her if we jus’ stand around talkin’ about it! Let’s get a move on!” Winona ran alongside him, barking excitedly as she reached the front door before anyone else.

Taking one last look in the filly’s room, Applejack seemed to notice something. Peering through the doorway herself, passed the sack of flour and mop head fashioned to look like Applebloom, and through the window; the pegasus saw a flicker in the distance.

Simultaneously, they shouted “The treehouse!”

Applejack stomped a hoof and followed Macintosh, Rainbow Dash in the rear. The moment the roof fell behind, however, she beat her wings against the air and launched herself skyward, ripping over the orchard and rapidly closing in on the rickety structure. The air was so tranquil, the starry skies clear as crystal, everything bathed in moonlight and laced with shadow. Dash could scarcely believe this was happening, it all felt so surreal. Her heart raced, her mind reeling with the possibilities of what she might find upon reaching her destination.

“Please be okay…” she whispered as she dropped in through the door, floor shaking lightly on impact.

The pegasus narrowed her eyes as she surveyed the scene, mouth twisting with apprehension. She doubled back, taking off again and soaring over the siblings on their way to the tree fort.

“AJ! Mac! Stay with them, I’m gonna get a doctor!”

\/ /\ /\ \/

Chapter 5 - A Matter of Survival

Chapter Five: A Matter of Survival

\/ /\ /\ \/

Rarity stood in her doorway, trying to make sense of the situation.

Outside, the sun had dipped low enough on the horizon that the orange glow of evening passed beneath the clouds over Ponyville. While still oppressive and gloomy, the clouds in question had broken up to a small degree, offering up glimpses of the darkening sky and a few twinkles of starlight. Twilight Sparkle paced frantically just beyond the door, looking around with a wildness in her eyes as the words poured out of her mouth. With some difficulty, Rarity was able to catch the gist of what Twilight was trying to explain. She cleared her throat and made an effort to clarify.

“Just calm down, dear… So, you’re saying that… Mahara disguised herself as me, led Spike here, and then disguised herself as Spike to slip into the library?” Twilight nodded rapidly, and the pale unicorn bit her lip. “Well… I’m sorry to say this, Twilight, but Spike isn’t here; at least, not anymore. He was definitely here at some point, however. There are enough gems with bites taken out of them to make that abundantly clear.”

“Damn that mare… Monster… Ugh…” Twilight rubbed the side of her face with a forehoof, evidently much more prone to profanity when distressed. “Alright. Thank you, Rarity. I guess I need to start looking around town, then.”

Rarity gave a single nod, then shifted her weight uncomfortably. The pale unicorn spoke her mind before Twilight could inquire.

“I seem to be experiencing a similar problem... I don’t suppose you saw Sweetie Belle on your way to the Boutique?” Twilight’s eyes maintained their wide, panicked appearance, which Rarity took as a no. “Normally, I wouldn’t be so concerned about her coming or going. Fillies will be fillies, after all. But… I told her that, if she wasn’t at school, I wanted her to stay inside. Just to be safe. And now you’re telling me that… thing lured Spike here. What if she took my sister?”

“Oh my gosh… Should we organize a search party?”

Rarity was about to give her answer when a muddy, curly maned filly rounded the corner. Sweetie Belle froze on the spot, looking as startled to see Rarity as Rarity was to see her. Twilight stopped pacing, turning her head and regarding the dirty filly with similar confusion.

“I… I don’t really wanna go to any parties tonight, if that’s okay with Twilight,” Sweetie Belle mumbled as she drew near. “I just wanna take a bath and go to bed.”

The filly passed wordlessly between Rarity and the doorframe, keeping her gaze low as her older sister’s shock faded to a mixture of anger and irritation. The pale unicorn stopped glaring when Sweetie Belle had disappeared into the hallway, returning her attention to Twilight.

“Rarity, what color were her eyes?”

“The same color they always are, Twilight. She’s the genuine Sweetie Belle.”

“Well… That’s one problem solved, I guess…” The purple unicorn lightly kicked the ground with a forehoof. “I’m gonna start looking for Spike, though.”

“I’d like to come with you, dear, but I think it would be best if I stayed here and kept a closer eye on my sister.”

“I understand.” Twilight turned to leave, only to glance back at Rarity. “Oh, don’t forget, I’m holding a town meeting in the morning. I might as well let everyone know now while I’m out looking for him.”

“Alright, I’m sure I’ll be able to attend. Good luck finding Spike!”

The purple unicorn nodded as she departed, trotting off to the next house. The front door closed, the greeting bell jingled, and Rarity turned her attention to her younger sister. She had expected to hear the bath running, but as she crossed the shop floor, she was greeted with the muffled sound of Sweetie Belle’s voice. She paused at the hallway’s entrance, glancing down toward Sweetie Belle’s bedroom. The door was closed. As Rarity approached, she realized that the filly wasn’t just talking to herself. Her first instinct was to barge in, but she settled on discretion instead. Carefully, the pale unicorn pressed her ear to the door, attempting to identify the second voice in the room.

“I just saw them a little while ago.” The voice was familiar, belonging to another filly. It clicked seconds after hearing her speak.

Scootaloo, Rarity concluded, Sweetie Belle is talking to Scootaloo.

“They’re a little shaken up about the whole thing, but they’ll be fine.” Scootaloo’s voice became heavy with worry after a short pause. “They uh… They don’t know what happened to Twist either, though.”

Sweetie Belle sighed. “I told you splitting up was a bad idea…”

The pale unicorn lowered her head, peering in through the keyhole. Sweetie Belle was alone, but she stood before her window, looking down. Clearly, Scootaloo was outside.

“I know… What else could we do, though? We’ll look for her in the morning, I guess. Worst comes to worst, we’ll just have to tell an adult about it.”

“Scootaloo… You’re sure we lost it, right? And they’re sure too? I… I hope Twist got away, but… If she leads it to Ponyville…”

“Yeah… Yeah, I know. Like I said, we’ll look for her in the morning if she doesn’t find her way back before then.”

“Do you think…” Sweetie Belle hesitated, her voice wavering. “Do you think she’s okay?”

“Yeah… I hope so, anyway… I’m gonna get going. Sorry about dragging you into this.”

“You couldn’t have known this would happen, Scootaloo. Don’t blame yourself.”

Without a word further, the sound of approaching hooves caused Rarity to step away from the door, but not to hide. She adjusted her stance, and when Sweetie Belle opened the door, she found Rarity glaring down at her with disapproval. The filly’s eyes widened as she attempted to back up, but with a single ahem, she came to a complete stop.

“Would you care to explain what that was about? Or why you’re covered in mud and twigs?” Rarity craned her neck forward, lowering her head without reaching eye level.

Sweetie Belle shrank back, grinning nervously. “I- We- Uh- It’s- Nothing happened, sis. Everything is A-Okay.” Rarity lowered her brow, tapping a forehoof on the floor. “Well, see, Scootaloo thought that we would try and track down the monster, because she wanted to help Applebloom, and uh… We ended up in the Everfree Forest.”

“Just you and Sootaloo? Didn’t I hear you say Twist was involved in this as well?”

“Oh! Well, yeah, she came with us and Snips and Snails. But we didn’t find the monster, so we uh… So we split up to better our chances. That’s what Scootaloo said, so that’s what we did.”

“And Twist got lost in the Everfree Forest?”

“No, she uh… She wandered off on our way back to Ponyville. She was arguing with Snips and said she didn’t want to play with us anymore, so she went home by herself. We haven’t seen her since.”

“And what is it that you’re worried she’ll lead into town?”

There was a long pause, during which Rarity stopped tapping her hoof.

“Para…sprites?” Rarity’s brow shot up at that. “We found a few and they started following us. We tried to lose them in the forest, but they wouldn’t leave us alone. They were following Twist when she left us... We kinda think she’s gonna keep wandering around until they leave her alone, but if not, she’ll bring them back into town.”

“Well then…” Rarity straightened up, pondering what she had just heard, comparing it to what she had heard while eavesdropping. “I agree. I hope she gives those dreadful creatures the slip before trying to return home.”

“Yeah…” Sweetie Belle stood in silence, looking down at the floor.

Of course, Rarity mused, it’s only natural for her to feel ashamed after disobeying me like that.

The purple maned unicorn smiled, reaching down to nuzzle her younger sister. “Now now, no need to stand there sulking all night. I was just worried about you. I only want you to stay inside because I don’t want anything bad to happen to you. We’ll worry about Twist and the parasprites in the morning, but for now, let’s get you washed up and ready for bed, shall we?”

The filly smiled, nodding eagerly. “Okay!”

Rarity was pleased to learn that Belle had completed her homework before deciding to go on her adventure, but not so pleased to learn that she had brought two raincoats with her and failed to bring them back. The scolding was brief and concluded with a short exchange of laughter. They were hideous coats, after all. With Sweetie Belle safely tucked in, Rarity found her thoughts wondering over the events of the day. The most prominent of those events was her reunion with Fluttershy. A void felt as though it had been filled now that she had mended her friendship with the timid pegasus. In its place, Rarity now felt a sense of obligation; she had to make up to Fluttershy for her behavior, somehow.

Making her a new dress or two is just a start, she pondered. I need something with more grandeur… Oh! Oh… How does one even find a phoenix egg, let alone raise it…? Maybe a baby dragon would suit her better? Oh, but I wouldn’t want to make Angel jealous… Perhaps an animal isn’t the avenue I should be exploring. Perhaps a plant? She likes trees, doesn’t she?

A knock at the door disrupted her thoughts, and the pale unicorn gracefully slipped over the edge of the couch. Darkness had fallen across Equestria, and the soft glow of the moon was mostly obscured by the cloud cover. As Rarity stood by the window, straining to identify the pony at her door, the clouds shifted just enough for a gentle pool of moonlight to spill over the front door and the pony standing before it.

Fluttershy, realizing she had been noticed, turned and smiled. Her mane was a mess, obscuring her entire face, save for her muzzle. The pale unicorn gasped softly, and for a fleeting moment debated flinging open her door. A creeping suspicion quickly quelled the notion, however.

You’re going to have to try harder than that, my dear…

“No, you may not enter,” Rarity flatly stated as she opened the door, cautiously regarding Fluttershy. “Did you really expect me to fall for that? You’re really quite proving yourself to be a one trick pony. If you are in fact a pony, that is.”

The pegasus’s lips parted with surprise. “I- Wha- Fall for um… Fall for what? What ever do you mean, Rarity? No tricks… I’m just… Um… A lot of things happened to me today and I um…” Fluttershy pawed lightly at the ground, pouting delicately. “I don’t really want to be alone tonight, if that’s okay with you.”

“No, sorry, I’m afraid it’s not okay with me.” Rarity reached beyond the threshold of her doorway, brushing Fluttershy’s mane from her eyes. “Because Fluttershy knows full well that while I support her decision, I’d rather not partake of that sort of… Lifestyle…”

Emerald green eyes narrowed in response. “That’s not what I meant, but I can see how that could have been misinterpreted. My mistake.”

“Indeed.” Rarity turned away from the door, intending to shut it. “Now if you’ll excuse me-”

“Okay! Okay wait.” The faux Fluttershy pressed closer to the doorway, teetering just on the edge of entering, but kept at bay by an unseen force. “I have no intention of hurting or killing you. My intentions couldn’t be farther from that, I assure you. Please, just hear me out. I tried to trick you, that was poor behavior on my part-”

“Part of a long line of poor behavior on your part.” Rarity held the door halfway open, listening to the imposter out of curiosity.

“Granted, but… I’m going to try something different. Or I was, anyway.” The Fluttershy imposter took a step back, straightening her mane with her forehooves. “Twilight is right. What I’ve been doing isn’t exactly acceptable by any standard. I figured, maybe I would try asking...”

“Oh?” Rarity leaned against her doorframe, arching a brow. “What, dare I ask, do you require of me that you would come here disguised as my best friend?”

“I figured I would try asking for blood, instead of getting it as a result of deception.”

The unicorn shook her head. “Well you’re already off to a bad start. So you’ve come here for a drink, then? That’s awfully presumptuous of you. What makes you so sure that I’d be a willing donor?”

“I thought you were supposed to be the generous one.” The pale unicorn cocked her head at that, but Mahara continued before the pale unicorn could get a word in. “I came here because I was hoping that generosity might extend toward prolonging my life.”

“A bit melodramatic, but I’ll bite. I’m assuming you need blood to survive?”

“Yes, that’s correct. I’m not in immediate danger of dropping dead, but…” The faux pegasus shuffled slightly. “I lost a lot more blood than I’m comfortable with, today. The plan was to slip in while you had your guard down, and then warm you up to the idea before asking you.”

“That’s still fairly underhooved…”

“I know… I figured I could run with the connection you have with her. It worked once or twice before. It seems to backfire about just as often, though… Sometimes I assume too much.”

“Yes, well, we all make mistakes…” The unicorn fully opened her door again, and the imposter regarded her curiously. “When you lured Spike here earlier today, you didn’t take Sweetie Belle. Why?”

Faux Fluttershy smiled. “I doubt you’ll believe me, but… I actually brought Spike here to keep an eye on your sister for you. I hadn’t figured she would run off though. Knowing Spike, he’s probably looking for her right now. I didn’t take her because, honestly, I still feel bad about what I did to Applebloom. That was a very, very big mistake on my part, and I wish I could take it back.”

“While I appreciate the gesture, I know full well that it was just a byproduct of something you did for personal gain.” Rarity shifted back to her hooves as the imposter shrank away slightly. “While we’re on the subject of Applebloom, however, what exactly is stopping you from-”

“It’s not something I can just clop my hooves together and undo. Everypony is just going to have to wait for it to wear off. She’ll be perfectly fine after that.” The imposter looked to the ground, lightly tapping her hoof. “Well… I suppose I’ll be leaving, then?”

“Not…” Rarity trailed off, shifting uncomfortably, glancing away from the imposter. “Not necessarily. I may well regret this, but… I feel sorry for you. You’ve been lying and sneaking around because you’re afraid. I’m not sure if anyone else can see it, but it’s obvious to me.”

The unicorn paused, waiting for the imposter to meet her gaze. “And also, even if I don’t approve of your behavior, you’ve been doing wonders for Fluttershy. I haven’t seen her so happy in a long time. If I help you, I’ll be helping her. There are several conditions, however, before I’ll agree to anything.”

The imposter stood straight, locking her gaze with Rarity’s. “State your terms; I’m listening.”

“Very good. First and foremost, you absolutely must tell Fluttershy the truth. The whole truth. She deserves to know what you are.”

“I couldn’t agree more-”

“Second, you are not to lie any further about your intentions. If you need blood, you are to ask for it yourself, and not while disguised as another pony.”

The faux pegasus stood silently, waiting for Rarity to continue.

“Third, you are not to track blood through my shop. It stains, and I don’t have time to waste cleaning evidence of your distasteful habits. Similarly, you are not to get blood on my coat or mane. No stains of any sort, or the deal is off.”

After another brief pause, the faux Fluttershy nodded. “Understood. You have my word.”

“Yes, well, we shall see just how valuable your word is, won’t we?” They stood eye to eye in the doorway for several intense seconds before Rarity turned and trotted into her shop. “You may enter.”

The pale unicorn crossed the room to a couch, seating herself, but never once taking her eyes off the imposter. The door glowed softly as she shut it behind the pegasus, drawing all the curtains soon after. She propped her head up on a forehoof in the process, watching her guest as she would a potential shoplifter.

“Now um…” the faux Fluttershy began, standing a few noses from Rarity. “I’ll need to bite into an artery…”

Rarity considered that for a moment, raising her head from her hoof and looking at the back of her foreleg. Slowly, she extended that foreleg toward the faux pegasus, twisting it so that the artery faced the ceiling.

“And you can stop levitating that needle behind my head. I already told you that I’m not interested in harming you.”

“Oh, you noticed?” The unicorn grinned. “You’ll forgive me, but a good business mare always has a backup plan.”

\/ /\ /\ \/

Man, Twilight is gonna kill me… I can’t let Rarity down, though! I’ve gotta find Sweetie Belle, even if it means staying out all night!

The pint sized dragon trudged slowly through the underbrush of the Everfree forest. The moon hung overhead, pale fingers of light stretching through gaps in the canopy. While it had been easy enough to follow the filly’s tracks out of town and right up to the edge of the forest, he had lost her trail sometime after the sun had gone down.

Even though he was young, it seemed to him that the creatures of that strange stretch of woods regarded a dragon of any size or age with respect. Not one pair of eyes leered out at him from the darkness. The more he considered it, however, the more he realized how empty the forest seemed. His pride slowly shifted to a sensation of anxiety.

“Sweetie Belle…?!” He called into the darkened forest. “Hello…?!”

Silence followed his inquiry, as it had every time prior. He had lost count of the number of his attempts to get a reply. He had completely lost track of time, at that. Even if he was sure that he was getting lost, and his search for Rarity’s younger sister seemed increasingly hopeless, his determination was unwavering.

Lady Rarity told me that Sweetie Belle was my responsibility, and so help me, I’m gonna find her!

“Sweeeetie Beeelle...?! It’s Spike, can you hear me…?!”

A sudden rustling caught his attention, followed by a low, distant rumble. A few dark clouds hung in the sky, so thunder wasn’t out of the question. The rustling commanded his immediate attention, however.

“Sweetie Belle, is that you?!” Spike crept closer, watching for the source of the rustling. “If it’s you, say something!”

The rustling died down as another rumble echoed off the trees. “Sweetie Belle?”

“Will you pleathe thtop thouting?” A face accompanied the voice shortly after; Twist poked her head out of the bush, nervously looking around.

“Sorry! Sorry… What are you hiding from?”

Another rumble, much closer, steadily rolled on, becoming more distinct. Footsteps.

Twist’s eyes widened as she leaped out of the bush, breaking into a gallop. “That!”

\/ /\ /\ \/

There was no choir of birds to wake Fluttershy the following morning. What little sunlight trickled in through the windows was sickly. The sky beyond was overcast, dense and heavy clouds rolling against one another as they blotted out the sun. Shakily, the pegasus slipped her hooves over the edge of the couch, shifting her weight onto them. In lieu of Mahara’s disappearance, she had slept downstairs. The candles she had set on the windowsills had melted down to nothing but solidified puddles, the lanterns completely burned out. Angel had fallen asleep at the door, propped up against a wall. He stirred as Fluttershy approached him, but shook his head solemnly as he met her hopeful gaze.

Mahara had not returned during the night.

Fluttershy shuddered, biting back a dry sob. She had no more tears to shed. Her eyes ached, red and swollen from crying herself to sleep. Her body feebly resisted her attempts to move. The feeling was unpleasantly familiar.

No, she told herself. I’ve come this far. I’m not going to slip back into self pity. I’m going to find her, and I’m going to make her explain. I want to… I can… I can fix this. I’m going to make this better...

Somehow…

Her gaze drifted over the room. Several pictures had been torn off the wall. A shattered flowerpot was scattered across a table. She had torn one of her pillows open at some point during her frantic spree of destruction. Tufts of woolen stuffing were strewn across the room. Rusty blotches lingered on the floor, a reminder of the blood which had pooled there the previous day. Before fully breaking down, she had cleaned it up, but the stains remained. Fluttershy had little reason to doubt that the blood belonged to the missing red mare, but the shattered window remained a mystery to her. She was certain that it was directly related to the grisly scene she had come home to, however.

A distant rumble of thunder caught the pegasus’s attention. While the thought of staying put and waiting for Mahara was appealing, Fluttershy knew that doing so would risk sliding back down the slippery slope of depression. She felt the need to go into town, both to look for her companion and hopefully seek comfort in her friends. Another rumble drew her gaze to the edge of the Everfree forest. Hundreds of birds hovered over the treetops, circling, almost appearing to follow something. She wondered for a moment if it could be Mahara before remembering how most animals seemed to avoid her on sight, much less follow her.

A knock at the door, while it normally would have startled her, barely registered as worth a glance.

The pegasus looked to Angel, who was, in turn, looking out through the broken window. He looked back at her and shook his head.

Not Mahara… Who, then?

Before she could even reach the door, Pinkie Pie peered around the edge of the window frame, her expression home to a delicate smile.

“Hey there Fluttershy. Is everything okay? You don’t look so good.” The pegasus stood there silently, her expression blank and empty, waiting for Pinkie to continue. “Ooookay… Well, Twilight wanted me to tell you that she’s holding a town meeting, but she’s probably going to say a lot of nasty things about your new marefriend, so I wasn’t sure if you’d want to come.”

Fluttershy glanced away, lightly tapping her forehoof against the floor.

“You um… You know about Mahara and I? Who else knows?”

“I don’t think anyone else knows yet, silly! I just know because I… Got a combo about it!” The pink mare’s smile became more of a goofy grin as she nodded rapidly. “Really weird combo, actually! Don’t worry though, I won’t tell anypony.”

The pegasus donned a smile of her own, already feeling just a little bit better talking to Pinkie. Seeing that her presence was helping the pegasus cheer up, Pinkie smiled even wider.

“Thank you, Pinkie. I um… I’m having a bit of a problem right now, though…” Fluttershy came closer to the window, glancing at the edge of the forest as another crash broke the dreary tranquility outside. “Have you um… Well, maybe felt… Do you have any idea where Mahara is? She um… Something happened here and I don’t know where she went.”

“She didn’t wreck up the place! You did! You musta been real mad last night, huh?” Fluttershy appraised Pinkie Pie with wide eyes, then cocked a brow. “Combos again! I’ve got a million of ‘em!” The pink mare giggled in a way that the pegasus perceived as nervous. “I haven’t seen or gotten any kinda senses or tingles about her, though. Sorry…”

“That’s um… That’s okay. Maybe some of the ponies around town have seen her…”

“You’re gonna come to the meeting, then?”

Fluttershy gave a nod, opening the door and stepping outside. Pinkie tilted her head as she made eye contact, then she smiled and shrugged, bouncing down the path. The pegasus watched for a few moments before turning to Angel.

“If she comes back while I’m away, please make her wait for me. I… I’m upset that she lied… Or said that she lied… But um… Sometimes, friends keep secrets because they don’t want to hurt each other. I understand that. I just want to… I um… I can help her. I know I can.”

Angel nodded up at her, then closed his eyes as she leaned down to nuzzle him.

“Thank you.”

The rabbit nodded again, then waved her toward the path, shutting and locking the door in front of her.

Pinkie hopped in place at the bottom of the hill, waiting as patiently as she could for Fluttershy to catch up. Smiling, the pegasus trotted down to her friend, and they made their way to Ponyville together.

\/ /\ /\ \/

Oh! Woah! There it is again! I haven’t felt that one in a while! What does that one mean again? A doosie! That’s right! Right in town square! Oh wow, I wonder what it will be! Maybe Applejack and Rainbow Dash are finally going to tell everyone that they’ve been giving each other sleephugs and tongueshakes? I don’t see what all the fuss is about, keeping those kinds of things a secret from everypony! Oh well, maybe Twilight can explain it to me. She reads all kinds of books, she has to know. Oh? What was that, Fluttershy?

“I asked if you’ve um… No… Nevermind. It’s not important.”

“Aw, come on! You’ve gotta tell me now! I’m all curious!”

“Have you… Have you ever been in love?”

“All my life!” Pinkie grinned widely, nodding away as she rebounded off the ground.

“Wha- Really? With who? If um… If you’re okay with telling me, that is.”

“It’s pretty obvious, really! I’m in love wiiiiith…” Fluttershy watched her intently, holding her breath. “Parties! I absolutely love parties! Always have! Always will!”

“Oh Pinkie… That’s… Nevermind.”

The pink mare giggled, shaking her head. “I know whatcha mean. I guess. I just never really took the time to look! Or pay attention if anypony was looking at me! I dunno! Why? Should I start paying more attention to that kinda thing?”

“It’s um…” Fluttershy blushed, her wings unfolding slightly. “It’s nice… Having someone to be there for you… Knowing someone cares about you…”

“Like a friend, right?”

“More than um… More than just a friend.”

“So like, a best friend? Like with you and Rarity!”

Fluttershy faltered a bit, almost stumbling over her forehooves. “N-no! She um… She doesn’t have feelings like that for me… Or for any mare, apparently. This is um… This is something more than friendship. Love is, I mean. I… I’m sorry for bringing this up.”

“You’re pretty silly sometimes, Fluttershy! That’s okay though. If I find a pony that I like more than a best friend, you’ll be the first to know!”

“That… That’s alright, Pinkie. It’s something that’s supposed to be kind of private… I think it is, anyway…”

“Oh! Okay, if I find a pony that I like more than a best friend, you won’t be the first to know!”

This love stuff is a little confusing! It’s like a best friend, but you don’t tell everyone right away? Why not? If I have a best friend that’s more than a best friend, I’d want to tell everyone! I’d want to have a party! Maybe it’s because she’s shy? Yeah, that’s gotta be it! Who can blame her, though? Poor Fluttershy. I hope that doesn’t happen to me when I find a best friend that’s more than a best friend. Ooh! Yeesh, I wanna get this doosie over and done with! What else is Twilight gonna say about Mahara that’s so important anyway? She already embarrassed her in front of half the town at my party the other day! But a lot of ponies were a little drunk, so maybe they don’t remember everything! Well, leave it to Twilight to be thorough.

Several other ponies joined them as they made their way into town, idly chatting about what the meeting might be about. Some of them seemed to think it was about the weather, others suggested that it had to do with the monster.

“I hope this doesn’t have to do with the deliveries I botched last month,” Ditzy Doo mumbled as she passed Pinkie.

“Botched? If it weren’t for you, I’d have never gotten Gummy a few years ago!”

There you go, Ditzy! Smile! That’s the pegasus I know! Now that they mention it, though, the weather has been pretty weird lately… I’ll ask Dash about it if I see her, because if this keeps up, I’ll have to cancel the beach party I planned! Actually, maybe Fluttershy knows about the weather. How about it, Fluttershy?

“I… I’m sorry, what did you mean?”

“The weather! What do you know about the weather!”

“Oh… Um, Pinkie, you know I’m not involved with the weather team…”

“Oops! Sorry, I forgot!”

The town square was already fairly crowded. Ponies milled about anxiously as they waited for Twilight to start speaking, but it seemed that she was waiting for a larger audience. Another distant rumble turned most heads skyward, but the clouds continued to hold their onslaught. Pinkie idly followed Fluttershy as the pegasus combed the crowd, occasionally asking if anypony had seen or heard about Mahara. Fluttershy looked increasingly distraught as the answer was consistently no.

I wish I could help… I don’t like seeing her all down in the dumps like this. I’ll help her look for Mahara after the meeting! Yeah, that will cheer her up! Wow, does Twilight really need to be up on a stage for this, though? Then again, when she tried passing out pamphlets that one time, I made a paper cupcake out of mine! Oh! Is that Zecora on the stage with her? I can’t believe I used to think she was evil! What is she talking about with Twilight, I wonder? Probably going over her notes. I don’t think Zecora has met Mahara yet! I’ll have to introduce her when we find her! Oh! Hi there, Rarity! Yeah, I’m okay. Kinda cruddy weather. What’s that on your back?

“It’s a quiver, dear,” the pale unicorn replied.

Rarity was wearing her mane up, tied into a semi bun with several long curls dangling free. Pinkie had only seen her do that at parties, when she was wearing fancy dresses. The novelty made her prance excitedly.

“Soooo what’s a quiver?”

“A quiver is what an archer uses to hold his or her arrows.”

“Oh! Is that what those are?” Pinkie leaned closer to the unicorn, inspecting her cargo. “I thought you were just carrying around a whole bunch of feather dusters!”

“No dear, I was practicing archery.” Rarity smiled, shaking her head a bit. “I thought I would have time to go home and wash up before the meeting, but it would seem I’ll not be fortunate enough to have that luxury. Only a minor inconvenience, however. I don’t suppose you’ve seen Fluttershy, have you? There’s something I need to discuss with her…”

“She’s right over…” The pink mare whipped her head around, looking for the timid pegasus in the crowd. “Oh, nope, she’s right here!”

“Hello, Rarity. I um… Have you seen… I’m looking for… I’m sorry, you go first…”

“Mahara,” the pale unicorn stated. “Yes, and that’s precisely whom I need to speak with you about.”

The unicorn held up her foreleg to Fluttershy, but Pinkie was able to catch a glimpse of circular scabs marring her coat before she lowered it again. The pegasus gasped, her lower lip trembling.

“O-oh my…”

Rarity just smiled, giving a single shake of her head. “No need to fret, my dear. No force was used. I volunteered.”

As Fluttershy took several steps in the pale unicorn’s direction, she glanced back at Pinkie, flashing a humble smile.

“Pinkie… I um… I need to talk to Rarity alone for a little while. Thank you for coming to get me though.”

“No problem! I hope everything is okay!”

Fluttershy’s smile faded, her expression suddenly heavy with worry. “We um… We’ll see…”

\/ /\ /\ \/

“’Bout damn time somepony decided this monster thing ‘s worth warnin’ everypony about! Hell, she shoulda’ tried ta getta meetin’ organized tha first time mah lil’ sis got bit!” Applejack stomped and snorted, then turned her attention back to her right, locking eyes with Rainbow Dash. “Ain’t Ah right?!”

“Yeah, you’re right. I… I dunno, though.” Dash cast her gaze to the ground as Applejack furrowed her brow. “I’m just not sold that it’s her. What kind of pony could do that?”

“She ain’t no pony, Dash!” The pegasus whinced just slightly, mouth twisted into an anxious frown. “She’s a monster! A dangerous, blood thirsty monster that’s been bitin’ mah kin! Ah ain’t gonna stand fer that!”

Applejack looked to her left in time to see Big Macintosh nodding in agreement. “Ayep. She ain’t givin’ us a choice, if ya ask me. She’s a bad seed pretendin’ ta be a good apple.”

Applejack returned her focus to Dash as the pegasus blinked several times. “What does that even… Okay, look; what I’m saying is we can’t chase her with torches and pitchforks without a really good reason. She’s weird, and she’s different, I’ll give you that, but unless she gives somepony a letter that says Twilight was right or someone catches her in the act, I’m not going to give her trouble for being a few roots short of an apple tree.”

The pegasus came to a stop, hovering in place. “Oh for the love of… Did I just make an apple pun?”

Applejack’s serious demeanor cracked with a smile, followed by a fit of giggling as Big Macintosh snorted a chuckle. Just hearing Dash say that made her feel better, if only marginally.

“Farms rubbin’ off on ya, sugarcube. Might as well jus’ move in.”

The pegasus’s grin made her question if her apple pun was as unintentional as Dash would like her to think. The thought of having the pegasus living in the same house with her was very comforting, though not without its own anxieties. While Dash spent the majority of her free time with the blond mare already, having her move in was a very big step. The farm house also didn’t truly belong to them. It belonged to Granny Smith. As far as the elderly mare knew, Rainbow Dash was just hanging around to make extra money helping out on the farm.

As far as the majority of ponies knew, that’s all Dash was doing, but clearly, that excuse was finally starting to wear thin.

A considerable amount of ponies had gathered in the town square by the time Applejack, her brother, and her pegasus lover arrived. On the stage, the mayor was having a conversation with Twilight and Zecora. Of course, Applejack couldn’t hear a word of it over the sound of all the other conversations taking place amongst ponies in the crowd. Somewhere nearby, she could hear Pinkie Pie chattering excitedly with Ditzy Doo. From the fragments she could fish out of the ruckus, she realized they were talking about her pet alligator.

No sense in interruptin’ em.

Only moments later did Twilight turn to the crowd and stomp her hooves against the stage. A hush fell over the square, conversations dying out mid sentence. With a few exceptions.

“Everypony, your attention please!”

“I’m not actually sure how big alligators are supposed to get, either!”

“Pinkie!” Twilight snapped in the direction of the pink mare.

“Sorry!”

“I’m sure you’ve all heard the rumors or seen a few ponies with strange injuries the last few days.” The purple unicorn’s gaze swept over the crowd, very briefly making eye contact with Applejack. “Today, I’m going to give you the facts as we know them thus far, and preventative measures that can be used to keep you and your families safe.

“It should go without saying, then, that there is in fact a monster of some kind lurking in or around Ponyville at this time. I have been taking notes on its behavior and, in addition to that, Zecora possesses a great deal of knowledge about the monster as well. She and I will be addressing that later. The first topic I’d like to address is identification. Some of you may have met or seen a red mare around town lately by the name of Mahara. Enough evidence has surfaced to confirm beyond reason of a doubt that the monster and Mahara are the same individual.”

“Son of a bitch…” Rainbow Dash whispered, her expression shifting from curiosity to a scowl.

“Ah toldja, sugarcube,” Applejack quietly replied. “She’s gotta go.”

Twilight had begun to pace now, her expression very serious, the crowd following her every move. A distant flash over the mountains was chased by a low rumble, but the unicorn was not to be distracted.

“…is her most common, public form, she has been proven to take the form of other ponies, as well as entirely different species. The single uniting characteristic between the monster in any form it may take is the eyes. She possesses eyes of a very bright emerald green, with pupils that dilate horizontally. The best example I can give is that she has eyes similar to a dragon, like… Spike?”

With the exception of the low winds and rumblings of the brewing storm overhead, the town square was fully silent as Twilight looked off into the distance, narrowing her eyes. The number of turning heads increased as the silence stretched on for more than a minute. Rainbow Dash turned and took to the air to try and get a better view as Big Macintosh stood on his hind legs to do the same.

Now what in tarnation…

Just before Applejack turned to see what everyone else was looking at, a look of joy came over Twilight as her eyes widened. “Spike!”

Sure enough, as the blond mare looked away from the stage and toward the Everfree Forest, she spotted Spike, but he was not alone. As she looked harder, she noticed he was riding a filly with a curly red mane.

“’s that…” Applejack tilted her head toward Dash. “Applebloom’s friend?”

“The one with the lisp? Yeah, I think so. Hold on, I think they’re saying something…”

They had yet to cross the river, their shouts barely carrying across the distance. In the blink of an eye, their shouts didn’t need to. Their warning had become evident, echoed by Twilight and countless other ponies as an enormous, multi-headed form smashed through a group of trees.

“Hydra!”

Three of the hydra’s mouths parted with a simultaneous roar, the fourth joining in after a brief delay. The shock dispersed and a wave of panic swept over the crowd. Pegasi launched into the air, but earth ponies and unicorns battered against one another, frantically trying to clear out of the square. Applejack fought against the surging crowd as she watched a screaming mare vanish under thundering ponies. Pinkie bobbed above the rush in intervals, looking more excited than afraid.

“E-everyone stay calm!” Applejack glanced back to the stage as Twilight shook visibly, barely staying on her hooves. “We can handle this! R-right, mayor?”

The mayor shoved Twilight aside, looking around frantically. “We need to evacuate! Immediately! Do not return to your homes!” Berry Punch kicked her door open and then slammed it behind her, countless other ponies actually running in the direction of the hydra to reach their houses. “Get clear of Ponyville and head for Whitetail Woods!” The mayor bolted immediately after finishing her announcement.

Part of Applejack agreed, following the surging crowd for several paces as she considered galloping back to the orchard.

But what about Twi? Pinkie? Rarity an’ Fluttershy? Ah… Ah can’t jus’ leave ‘em here…

The purple unicorn fell to the stage, looking off into the distance. “Come on Twilight, think! Think!”

“Dash…” The blond mare looked up to her pegasus. “Should we run?”

“You can get going if you want,” Rainbow Dash looked down to her, then around the square, “but I’m gonna stay here and help out however I can.”

The square had emptied considerably, but quite a few ponies remained, a few running in circles out of frenzied confusion, others limp against the ground, bruised and bleeding. Dash swooped over to one of those injured ponies, trying to scoop the moaning stallion up in her forelegs. Several others swiftly followed her example. The rest of the lingering ponies seemed to be in Applejack’s state of mind, unsure of what to do, watching the hydra in its awe inspiring destruction. It smashed through a house on the edge of town as though the building were made of paper.

Macintosh stepped forward, looking over the wounded. “Ah’m with Dash, sis. These ponies need our help or they’re good as dead!”

Twist, with Spike on her back, raced past the diminished crowd and up to the stage with tears in their eyes. Applejack followed them slowly, devoting most of her attention to the hydra. It snapped at a mare that had dived into a side alley, still a few houses away from the square. A wet scream and a triumphant roar signaled its success. All present cringed. One of the remaining mares let out a mournful wail, falling to the ground in hysterical sobs.

“Twilight, I’m so sorry!” Spike knelt beside the unicorn, trying to dry his eyes. “We didn’t know what else to do! I… I went looking for Sweetie Belle last night and found Twist instead, and then this hydra caught up to us and-!”

“Spike, it’s… It’s okay. I’m just glad you’re safe. We… We need to leave, though. That hydra will be here any minute.”

“Abandon your homes? No, I say!” Zecora stomped, the strength in her voice echoing off nearby buildings. “You all should stand and fight today!”

Several ponies poked their heads out of their doors. Zecora’s words sparked up a burning fury in Applejack. She nodded up at the zebra, then turned to the lingering ponies.

“Zecora’s right! We can’t jus’ let this big, dumb bastard destroy our town an’ turn our friends inta lunch! We gotta’ stand an’ fight! ‘s them or us!”

“Is a hydra a them or a him?” Pinkie wandered between the crowd and Applejack. “Maybe it’s a her? Do hydras have genders?”

“Pinkie! Go get as many knives as you can carry! Anythin’ sharp!” Applejack directed her gaze to the alert ponies before her. “That goes fer ya’ll as well! If you live on tha same side of town as tha hydra, help somepony else gather weapons! An’ if ya don’t wanna fight, help tha wounded an’ clear tha hell out!”

Without a word further, Pinkie bounded off in the direction of Sugarcube Corner, flanked by Mr. and Mrs. Cake. The majority of the crowd quickly dispersed, most of them sticking to the hydra free side of Ponyville, others getting dangerously close to the ravaged areas of town as they entered the shops and homes of friends and neighbors in search of armaments.

“My farming friend, that was very well put.” The blond mare turned to the stage to find Zecora grinning down at her. Her grin faded quickly as another roar bounced off the walls. “We must conspire, the hydras nearly afoot.”

“Ah don’t know much ‘bout hydras, but Ah figure we hit it hard an’ fast. Least we can do is give tha others time ta escape.” She jumped up onto the stage, turning to watch the draconic form rip apart a house in search of another pony to snap up. Two of its maws were already red with blood.

“A hydra is well armored, unfortunately. Its eyes and its mouth are not; that’s the key.”

Twilight had gotten back to her hooves, shaking considerably less now that a resistance was mounting to deal with the invasion. The first batch of sharp objects was dumped out of a saddle bag on the ground in front of the stage. Slowly, the purple unicorn levitated a chef’s knife out of the pile and turned it in the air.

“There’s nothing we can do for your sister now,” Applejack heard a chocolate colored stallion say as he knelt beside the weeping mare. “But you can fight even harder in memory of her, so that others don’t have to know a similar loss.” The mare gritted her teeth, nodding, still sobbing as she got back to her hooves.

“That’s all I’ve got,” shouted Ditzy Doo. “Carrot is still rummaging through her drawers! She should be here in a minute!”

“Somepony better buy me a drink after this is over,” mumbled Berry Punch, saddle bags full of bottles of liquor at her sides. A damp white rag was stuffed into the mouth of each bottle.

A white unicorn with a wild blue mane stepped wordlessly onto the stage, dropping a box full of records besides Twilight. She lowered her goggles, red eyes narrowed as she floated one of the records out of its sheath. “I’m ready when you are.”

“Spike, take Twist to the schoolhouse and make sure Cherilee knows what’s going on.” Twilight leaned close to the little dragon, glancing to Twist and then back to him. “Help her get the fillies and colts as far away from here as you can.” The filly and the dragon were already a house away when Twilight shouted, “And send a letter to Princess Celestia! Let her know what’s happening down here!”

The pile of sharp objects grew considerably in the following minute, a dozen ponies making deliveries, then standing at the ready in front of the stage. Mr. Cake rejoined the crowd with a strange device in his mouth; a handle seemingly made of wood with a metal cylinder attached horizontally to that. Applejack’s brow shot up as she realized what it was.

“Aw damn,” Macintosh snorted as he came to the same realization. “Ah shoulda’ galloped back fer tha shotgun…”

“Ya wouldn’t have had time. ‘Sides, Ah gotta plan an’ Ah’m gonna need you an’ Dash fer it ta work.”

“Yer prob’ly right… Ah wonder where he got that one, though. Don’t look like mine…”

Tired of chasing the ponies that ran by and smashing up the houses they ducked into, the hydra turned all four heads toward the battle ready gathering in the town square. It narrowed its eyes, inhaled, and let out a fearsome roar.

“Aaaalright everypony! This is it! Make yer mommas proud!”

\/ /\ /\ \/

The sound of screaming and crumbling buildings was only slightly muffled by the walls of the town hall; Rarity stayed by the window, watching the chaos just outside. Fluttershy whimpered softly, drawing the pale unicorn’s attention.

“How… How bad?” She couldn’t bring herself to look, trembling as she leaned against the wall.

“Very.” Rarity’s expression was all but grave. “If you’re going to try and evacuate, now would be the best time to do so. It looks like the ponies down there are planning to fight the hydra right here in the middle of town.”

“Is anypony hurt?”

“Several, but Dash and a few others are already tending to them. They’re not even hydra victims. I’m assuming they were trampled when most everyone fled the square.” She paused, glancing to the side. “And from the looks of it, the hydra has already eaten at least one pony…”

“I should be down there! They… They need medical attention!”

“Fluttershy, dear, in my honest opinion, you’ll be much better off leaving town or staying out of the way for now.” The unicorn turned back to the window, then wrapped it in her magic, lifting the latch and opening it. “As for me, well, fate would have it that I’m prepared for just such an occasion.”

“Are you… Will they kill it?”

“As far as I’m concerned, this is now a matter of survival for all of us. The hydra knows where we live. If it survives this encounter, it may well find its way back here.”

The pegasus got to her hooves, still refraining from looking outside. “What if… What if I-”

“Don’t be foalish!” Rarity spat, snapping back to Fluttershy with a glare. “That creature doesn’t care if you disapprove or if eating ponies is wrong! If you try and reason with it, there’s no doubt in my mind that it will gobble you up without a second thought or a trace of guilt!”

The pegasus shrank back, nodding slowly. “You… You’re right. Should I um… Should I stay here with you?”

“If the battle goes poorly, it won’t be long before the hydra reduces this building to a pile of rubble. I’m going to make as much of a difference as I can before that happens.” Rarity turned her gaze to the window again, putting her forehooves on the frame. “If and when I tell you to run, I don’t want you to hesitate. It’s a long way to the ground from up here, and I don’t think your wings will do an adequate job slowing your fall if you find it necessary to take a shortcut.”

“Alright. I promise.” Fluttershy swallowed heavily, working up the nerve to look outside. “I’m going to stay with you as long as I can, though.”

“That’s already more than I could ask of you, dear.”

The unicorn drifted a diamond tipped arrow from her quiver, holding it horizontally in the air to examine it while, at the same time, her magic condensed into a hazy shape around it. A soft, ambient pink washed back against Rarity’s coat, but her eyes had closed. The tranquility of her expression drastically contrasted the mayhem unfolding below.

Fluttershy could only faintly hear the unicorn inhale, the glowing shape around the arrow becoming more refined. A string of magical energy drew tightly against the nock of the arrow, held in place by a slender, radiating crescent. The unicorn’s brow furrowed slightly as she drew the arrow back all the way, and then just as suddenly, she resumed her state of peace.

The hydra’s maws let loose with a blood chilling roar just as the pegasus peeked out the window.

Rarity’s eyes snapped open.

She let her arrow fly.

\/ /\ /\ \/

No sooner had Applejack finished speaking did the second head give a shrill cry, recoiling and twisting in the air. A small gout of blood erupted from its left eye.

“Rarity!” Rainbow Dash shouted.

Twilight and several other ponies glanced to the very top of the town hall. The pale unicorn was just barely visible in the window frame, already levitating another arrow into position.

“’s as good a signal as any! Chaaaaarge!”

Twilight watched as they stampeded as one, their desperation, fear and courage welling up into a furious battle cry. The hydra actually stopped, looking stunned as little more than twenty ponies rushed toward it at full speed, knives, saws and sharp looking poles clenched in their teeth. Before they reached their target, she and Vinyl Scratch wrapped the pile of sharp objects and records in their glowing levitation. Together, they unleashed several volleys of gleaming metal and vinyl which sailed over the advancing ponies and struck the hydra with varying degrees of success. Some of the knives, forks and records penetrated the hydra’s scaly armor, drawing shallow streams of blood, while others bounced harmlessly away and struck the ground or shattered on impact.

The hydra’s shock wore off, and it seemed largely unimpressed, dislodging most of the knives with a shake. Rarity’s second arrow, on the other hoof, plunged deep into the third head’s right cheek, just a little below the eye socket.

“We need to aim higher!” Twilight shouted to Scratch.

The red eyed unicorn nodded. “Wait for them to fall back, then we’ll try again!”

From across the square, Twilight Sparkle anxiously watched as the group divided, half of them to the left and half of them to the right. Ditzy and Dash circled just out of the hydra’s reach, doing their best to distract as many heads as they could. Three of the heads, including the two gored by Rarity’s arrows, were taking the bait. The fourth snaked low, fangs bared as it prepared to defend.

Applejack’s voice carried across the square, distorted slightly as it bounced off buildings. “Lay inta tha knees an’ ankles as hard as ya can!”

The fourth head swung in an arc across the ground, forcing the attacking ponies to jump back. Berry Punch wasn’t fast enough, knocked away from the hydra and sent tumbling into the dirt. She sprawled for a moment, shakily rolling back to her hooves moments later, no worse for wear. In those few moments, as Twilight’s gaze had followed the mare, the others had successfully reached the hydra’s legs, ferociously jabbing and swinging at it, ripping several scales free of the left leg and slicing into the meat beneath.

Mr. Cake had kept the fourth head busy, dodging and weaving as several loud bangs emanated from where he stood. The moment they had begun to rend the hydra’s flesh, however, the fourth head swiveled toward its injured leg as the other heads realized they had been distracted, but the ponies refused to withdraw until the hydra’s jaws were nearly upon them. Big Macintosh rolled away from the left leg, narrowly avoiding a toothy maw, only for Carrot Top to find herself snagged by the mane.

Twilight held her breath as she watched the fourth head lift her off the ground, but Ditzy swooped in before the purple unicorn could even grasp Carrot with her magic, tugging the mare free just as another head tried to bite down on her. The fourth head spat out a mouthful of orange hair as the second and third snickered. The instant they stopped snickering, another arrow plunged into the second head, just slightly above its right eye. Furious, the hydra decided that Rarity was a greater threat than the ponies dodging around its feet. With a roar, it lumbered slowly toward town hall, both injured heads staying low to keep the ponies at bay.

“Scratch!”

“Already on it!”

Vinyl Scratch levitated several records out of her box, spinning them in the air until they blurred. As Twilight lifted another volley of forks and knives off the ground, something moving across the rooftops caught her eye.

That’s…

\/ /\ /\ \/

“Surprise, fillyfucker!”

Pinkie Pie flung herself off the rooftop closest to the hydra, completely behind its field of view. Her ice skates glimmered as she pointed all four of them at the neck of the first head. The hydra gave another shriek of pain as Pinkie slid down the side of that neck, carving four gushing lines deep in its scale clad flesh. She concluded the descent by wrenching free, blood trailing out behind the blades of her skates as she somersaulted away from the beast. Pinkie watched as the first head wavered, arterial spray clouding the air around it with a pink mist, but it refused to go limp.

“Come on, that was awesome!” the pink mare shouted. “You should be dead! You cheater!”

The head in question responded by lunging at her. The pink mare tried to move, but found herself unable to budge. Pinkie’s eyes widened as she realized the blades of her skates had lodged firmly in the ground when she landed. She cringed, eyes shut tightly as she tried to comfort herself.

It’s been a good run! I had lots of fun parties and met lots of good ponies! I hope the afterlife is just as fun as this life was! I’ll be seeing the reaper pony any second now… I wonder if she’s already waiting for me?

As Pinkie opened one eye, she was not met with the hydra’s jaws, or the reaper, but an aerial view of the square. Below, a stream of glowing knives plunged into the wounds she had inflicted on the hydra, pouring right out the other side of its neck as the hydra’s screeching cry was cut short, vocal cords completely severed. The first head and neck gave off a purple glow as Twilight ripped it completely free of its body with a shower of bright red gore. A cheer rose from the ponies on the ground, and also from above her. Pinkie looked up to find herself face to face with Rainbow Dash.

“Oh! Hi!”

“You’re pretty lucky, you know! Twilight barely had time to pull you out of your skates. I took over for her so she could do… That.” The pegasus’s expression suddenly hardened. “Oh shit…”

Pinkie directed her attention back to the battle, only to witness two heads erupt from the hydra’s freshly cut stump of a neck.

“That’s a bunch of horseapples!” Pinkie pouted as her surprise attack was rendered completely pointless. “Who decided a hydra could do a cheap trick like that!?”

“Ditzy, get down there and tell everyone to fall back! It’s time we lit this birthday candle!”

“Dash, as much as I love parties, this is no time for a birthday!”

The cyan pegasus only smirked, motioning to her cargo. A pair of saddle bags clinked and sloshed at her sides, damp rags and bottle mouths visible over the rims.

“Oh! Where’d you get those?!”

“Berry Punch. I’m gonna need you to light and drop them for me. Think you’re up to it?”

“You better believe it!”

“Then get on my back and let’s get going!”

\/ /\ /\ \/

The hydra was visibly limping, halfway to the stage and town hall, as Rainbow Dash dropped out of the sky. Pinkie Pie held tightly to the pegasus, leaning slightly to the left to watch the fight below. The pegasus could feel her shifting in place as they swooped high over the hydra. Dash glanced back in time to watch the pink mare light one of the fire bottles with a match, holding it carefully just behind the pegasus’s left flank. Pinkie said something, but it was lost in the whistle of the wind as they raced toward their target.

“Get ready!”

The two new heads glistened wetly, one of them writhing in the air. An arrow and a knife jutted from the left and right eyes of one of those new heads, completely blinding it. Another arrow split the air, but the head it was intended for jerked to the side, causing it to miss its mark completely.

“Now!”

“Did you miss me?!” Pinkie shouted down at the hydra, releasing the ignited bottle. “I got you another present!”

The bottle shattered against the hydra’s body, a bright orange flame spilling down the front of the draconic terror. While the flames clung to breaches in the hydra’s scales, it seemed unaffected for the most part. Dash pulled up, beating her wings to regain altitude as the pink mare held on tightly.

“Pinkie, are hydras fireproof?!”

“Not on the inside!” She leaned forward to point to the flames licking the hydra’s superficial wounds, a foreleg around the pegasus’s neck. “They need to cut us a bigger target before we can paint it!”

“Okay! I’m gonna drop you off by Twilight and Vinyl! Let them know and flag me when you’re ready for another pass!”

“Oookie-Dokie-Loki!”

The pegasus slowed as she skimmed near to the ground, allowing Pinkie to slip off. She rolled head over hooves several times, then shook herself off and leaped onto the stage. A cry of agony brought Dash’s attention back to the battle. The hydra had caught a stallion in its jaws by the foreleg, blood streaming from its mouth as it bit down harder. A purple glow had just begun to envelope him as another head swiveled around, ripping the rest of his body away and gnashing savagely until he was enough of a pulp to swallow. Ditzy came up alongside the cyan pegasus as she climbed back into the air, but seemed unable to take her eyes off of the hydra.

“How could such a horrible creature exist?!” The grey pegasus’s voice wavered as she fought back the tears. “We have to kill this thing! We’ll be doing all of Equestria a favor!”

“I’m with you on that one! I just sent Pinkie with instructions for the unicorns! We’re gonna try another bombing run if they can strip away more scales!”

“Okay, but Applejack said she and Zecora are about to try something! She wants us to be ready to extract them when they’re done or in case the plan backfires!”

Rainbow Dash nodded, nervously watching the zebra and the blond mare as they stood side by side with Big Macintosh.

Please don’t do anything stupid, AJ…

\/ /\ /\ \/

“Sis, Ah just want ya ta know,” Big Macintosh looked to Zecora, and then back to Applejack. “This plan is perty damn stupid!”

The blond mare just smirked, tipping her hat forward as they galloped toward the hydra from the side. The zebra trailed several pony lengths behind, to give the stallion enough time to prepare for her as well without sacrificing speed or time. She realized that Big Macintosh was right, but enough ponies had already died to the multi-headed terror; it was time to try something drastic. Zecora was fearless enough to go along with the plan, and Applejack greatly appreciated the support.

The other ponies were doing their part. Twilight and Vinyl kept two of the heads busy with floating knives and saw-like records. Ditzy Doo and Rainbow Dash circled overhead, drawing off another pair of heads. The revolver, as Mr. Cake called it, had been reloaded, splitting the air with a reverberating crack as he fired from a distance. While the bullets had ricocheted off the hydra’s scales for the most part, they found purchase in the gaping wound on the hydra’s leg. After peppering the injury with hot lead, the head they had left undistracted lowered defensively, as if intending to deflect any further rounds with its cranium.

The hydra was playing right into her hooves.

Applejack shot a quick glance to her brother. “Ready?!”

With a nod, Big Macintosh poured on enough speed to pull ahead, launching himself into the air and turning toward the blond mare while airborne. Applejack followed his lead, locking her forehooves with his as he shifted his weight back, hind legs against her underside.

“Don’t get’cherself killed!” he shouted as he jerked back, half bucking, half throwing her down at the hydra’s lowest head.

A feeling of weightlessness came over her as she plummeted down. Her hat drifted away, leaving the wind to whistle through her ears and mane. The blond mare gritted her teeth as she aimed all four hooves down at the hydra’s skull.

Ah wonder if this ‘s what it feels like ta fly…

The hydra looked up far too late to do anything evasive. Applejack hit her mark with a crack, feeling immense satisfaction as she felt bone pulverized beneath the hydra’s scaly hide. The air around her buzzed with unintelligible noise. If the hydra screeched, it was extremely brief. The head she struck lost consciousness almost immediately. She realized she had absorbed a great deal of the impact herself, but the rush of adrenaline she was riding dulled all but the vaguest notions of pain.

“Ah’m jus’ gettin’ started, ya scaly fuck!”

Applejack hopped forward, bringing her hooves down again. She alternated as she stomped with all her might, hoping to drive fragments of bone into the hydra’s brain as she traced the fracture she had caused, doing everything in her power to weaken the hydra’s defenses. Berry Punch and several others made an effort to hack and slash at the downed head, but they fell back almost as quickly as they advanced. Applejack looked up to see Zecora floating just shy of one of the hydra’s gaping maws, saved by the gentle glow of Twilight’s magic.

The blond mare looked back mid stomp to see that several ponies were shouting something.

She could feel the unicorn’s glowing embrace, pulling her away from the head she had been pummeling, and caught a glimpse of Rainbow Dash just behind a rapidly approaching head of the hydra.

A sinking feeling penetrated her courage.

Ah’m sorry, Dashie…

A sharp, stabbing pain raked through her left flank in multiple spots, anchoring her, ripping her free of Twilight’s levitation. Her body went momentarily limp as the head jerked upward. Something in her leg snapped like a twig, triggering an even more intense explosion of pain. Applejack wasn’t ready to stop fighting, however.

“Let! Me! Go!” The blond mare lashed at the hydra’s toothy snout with all her might, feeling the scales soften as her hooves pelted them relentlessly.

The teeth dug deeper, carving through her flesh, her blood spilling out against the hydra’s jaws. The head jerked again, another head just barely visible in the blurred corner of her vision, ready to grind her into a paste. Blood began to run from the hydra’s nose as she continued to strike, mixing with the blood spattering from her forehooves.

“Ah ain’t dyin’ like this, ya big, ugly sonova’ bitch!”

She felt another jerk, and then she was flying again, the hydra drifting away from her, much like her blood. A trail of crimson fluid streamed out behind her. Rainbow Dash caught up, cradling the blond mare in her forelegs as tears streamed down her face.

“Hey there… Sugarcube…” Applejack began to feel very tired. “Mah plan weren’t… Such a good idea… After all…”

“D-don’t talk!” Dash swallowed, looking down at Applejack’s legs, then back to her. “I w-wasn’t fast enough! I’m sorry! Please! Please don’t die!”

A sound like chimes washed in through her ears as the world around her became increasingly muffled.

“Ah ain’t gonna die… Hydra let me go… Ya silly pegasus…”

Rainbow Dash said something, but it was so distant she could barely understand it.

The corners of her vision began to blur even more, a heavy shade following. She looked down to where the hydra had bitten her. Long, gushing wounds marked where the teeth had torn chunks out of her left flank. That much had been expected. Where her left hock should have begun, however, she found only jagged bone protruding from the center of a mangled stump.

“Oh… Sugarcube, we gotta… Go back… Ah… Ah think… Ah left somethin’ behind…”

\/ /\ /\ \/

Rarity had run out of arrows a few minutes before watching Applejack’s daring plan spring into action, but as she and Fluttershy witnessed its grizzly conclusion, the pale unicorn’s expression became very grave.

“Go. Go now.” Rarity looked away from the battle, visibly fighting to keep herself from breaking down. “I’ll be right behind you.”

“Wha-What about the others?”

But as Fluttershy looked around the square, she realized just what losing Applejack, and subsequently Rainbow Dash, had done to the morale of the ponies facing the hydra. Evidently, no one had expected the blond mare to sustain such a gruesome injury, herself included. After all the dangerous situations and near misses she had heard stories about or been a part of, the pegasus realized that their luck had finally begun to run out. Another emotion was building in Fluttershy as well. Seeing one of her friends take a potentially fatal wound was the breaking point.

The pegasus stepped up into the window frame, glaring down on the hydra as it slowly limped closer, impeded more by the flurry of knives than it was by its injury, dragging one lifeless head behind it by the neck. Twilight and Vinyl held their ground, valiantly flinging every sharp and blunt object they could magically grasp at the approaching terror. Big Macintosh, Pinkie Pie and Carrot Top were among the few earth ponies still determined to fight, stabbing the hydra in the leg and torso whenever the opportunity presented itself. She could feel Rarity biting her tail, trying to pull her back inside. Her pupils shrank as she glowered back at the unicorn, and Rarity immediately let go.

“Please…” The pegasus’s expression softened as Rarity pleaded, a tear rolling down her cheek. “Please dear, don’t do… Whatever it is you’re about to do! Please!”

“Take care of Angel for me… Okay? And um…” Rarity’s eyes widened with horror as Fluttershy took another step forward, smiling gently. “Thank you for being such a good friend.”

“Fluttershy!”

The pegasus had almost forgotten what it felt like to freefall. The sensation evoked memories of her youth. Taking a deep breath, she spread her wings as wide as she could and began to beat them against the air. The effect was minimal at first, but as she persisted, she felt the slightest bit of lift. The landing was rough, and the stage shook under her hooves, but she had slowed her fall enough to avoid serious injury. The success of one suicidal plan only meant that she could begin the next suicidal plan.

If Twilight Sparkle and Vinyl Scratch noticed her landing not far behind them, they didn’t show it. They had fully invested their concentration into stabbing at the hydra with whatever sharp objects weren’t embedded in the ground, successfully blinding two of the heads. The hydra was nearly close enough to snap at them, steadily dragging itself forward. If anything, it now seemed more interested in mauling the unicorns than eating the ponies jabbing it with sharp objects.

Fluttershy stepped between Twilight and Vinyl, narrowing her eyes. Both unicorns glanced at her, looking mostly confused.

“Fluttershy,” Twilight began. “Don’t-”

“I’m sorry,” she whispered in response.

One of the heads made eye contact, finding itself unable to look away. “Just who do you think you are, huh?! This is our home! These are good ponies you’ve been terrorizing! How many innocent lives have you ended today just to satisfy your hunger, you monster?!”

All four heads swiveled toward the pegasus as she took another step forward.

“You should be ashamed of yourself for what you’ve done today! You’re nothing more than a scaled murderer! I want you to turn around, right now, and go back where you came from! Don’t ever come back here again!”

Fluttershy jumped off the stage as one of the blinded heads lunged for her, getting a mouthful of splinters. As quickly as she could, the pegasus trotted around the hydra, feeling a chill as it turned to follow, just like she had hoped it would. Even with the hydra’s injury, it would only be a matter of time before it caught up to her. If everything went according to plan, she hoped to get it thoroughly lost in the Everfree forest before that happened. Another head snapped blindly to her left, nearly shearing off a wing.

“What are you waiting for?!” The pegasus looked over the surrounding ponies. “All of you, get out of here!”

Twilight successfully put out another of the hydra’s eyes as she shouted, “Fluttershy, there has to be another way! Don’t do this!”

If it can’t see, there’s less chance it can find its way back to Ponyville… The pegasus galloped a few paces, trying to stay clear of the hydra’s biting radius. But once it can’t see me… If anypony else makes a sound, it might turn back toward them… I’m just going to have to run and shout…

The hydra had but a single functioning eye left by the time Fluttershy led it to the center of the town square, gnashing viciously at the air around and in front of the pegasus. Ditzy Doo was just returning from her emergency flight with Rainbow Dash and Applejack, her mouth agape as she hovered behind the hydra, watching the yellow pegasus lure it back the way it came. Fluttershy wondered for a moment if Ditzy could lure the hydra with her, but she already knew that the hydra was only following her because of her Stare. The moment she broke eye contact, it was liable to turn around and head right for town hall again.

While Dash might be able to carry her, she knew that Ditzy could barely carry a flower pot.

If the hydra can still see, it might be able to follow either of us back home... But… If the hydra goes blind when we’re away from the town, Ditzy might be able to lead it into the forest by making noise! I hope it’s stupid enough to fall for that!

“Twilight! I need you to-” Fluttershy cried out in pain as she stepped on the blade of a knife, cutting a wide gash in the back of her rear hoof.

Everything happened so fast after that, from Fluttershy’s perspective. The pink maned pegasus cried out again as she stumbled, falling back and onto her right flank. Ditzy gasped, attempting to dive in to the rescue, but a lunging head knocked her right out of the air, sending her crashing into the ground well away from the hydra. The hydra’s single eye narrowed, all four surviving heads grinning as they loomed over the pegasus.

Twilight’s levitation wouldn’t be fast enough. Size and weight were never the issue so much as speed.

A drop of rain splashed against Fluttershy’s face. She had nearly forgotten the storm brewing overhead. The hydra stood out against the blackness of the sky. A bright flash struck the library’s lightning rod, followed by a ground shaking boom. Another drop of rain. The hydra’s heads closed in for the kill. Its entire body glowed as Twilight tried to pull it away from her, but the necks had more than enough reach. All at once, they lunged, grinning wickedly around open maws.

Fluttershy whimpered, curling up as tight as she could.

The sky wept.

“Just because I told you I would protect you...” The pegasus opened her eyes to find emerald green irises cutting through the darkness of the downpour. “That does not mean you need to be reckless.”

“Mahara…”

The red mare slowly rose into the air.

“I’m a little late, I know, but I hope you can forgive me.”

A bright red stream slipped over Mahara’s lip, racing down her chin.

“Now… I want you to promise me something…”

The hydra’s teeth sank into Mahara’s body, halfway between her fore and hind legs.

“No…” Fluttershy shook her head, frantically trying to get to her hooves. “No! No! No! Put her DOWN!”

“I want you to close your eyes. No matter what you hear or feel, don’t open them. Can you do that for me, please?”

The tendrils of flesh she had used to push Fluttershy out of the way slowly unwound, releasing the pegasus and leaving her behind.

“Just close your eyes.”

The red mare smiled, another stream of blood flowing over her lip to join the first.

“Everything is going to be fine.”

Mahara’s eyes began to change color, green rusting to a near fluorescent red.

“I promise.”

The change radiated out from her eyes; her skin began to peel like old paint, revealing something black and murky beneath the surface. Her mane became heavy, inky and wet against her face. Her lips flaked away, her teeth growing jagged, like interlocking razors. Her entire form seemed to pulse, dark lines of flesh spiderwebbing across the hydra’s jaws like blood vessels. The hydra made an attempt to spit her out as it gave a muffled shriek, but she seemed to be locking herself into place. The three remaining heads tried desperately to rip her out, but digging into her only seemed to get them covered in the same sticky threads, stretching away from her body and spreading over theirs wherever the hydra made contact.

“Please don’t watch, Fluttershy…” Mahara’s voice echoed in a disjointed chorus, overwhelmingly mournful.“I don’t want you to see me like this…”

The hydra squirmed. Twilight had long stopped trying to drag it away, watching at a distance with the other ponies out of some combination of horror and morbid curiosity. The lines of black flesh reached all of the hydra’s eye sockets in unison, pushing through scaled eyelids and pulped ocular tissue like roots. The single remaining eye darted frantically, forced to remain open as Mahara pulled its eyelids back, digging in through the tear duct and around the rolling green orb. She had already invaded its nostrils. As the hydra began to gag, Fluttershy was struck with the horrible realization that the black vines were spreading down its throats as well.

“Please…”

Irregular bulges shifted and twisted under the hydra’s flesh, accompanied by a wet peeling sound.

“Just close your eyes…”

Three of the hydra’s necks erupted in a shower of gore, the full length of the windpipe exposed as Mahara’s blackened flesh spread the gaping incision. They couldn’t even squeak. The hydra fell into spasms as the heads attached to the severed necks began to writhe, pulled down by an unseen, likely internal force. One of the heads imploded. Blood and chunks of grey matter mixed with the falling rain as fragments of skull and jaw were wrenched out through the wound in the neck. The flesh inverted. Jagged bone projected from the wet meat beneath the hydra’s scalp as the head was turned completely inside out.

And Fluttershy watched; unable to look away, unable to close her eyes.

Two more heads suffered the same horrific fate, completely mutilated and left to fall limp against the ground. The remaining head was the only one that could see. Mahara had forced it to watch the carnage. That single eye rolled down at the pegasus, pleading wordlessly. The pitch black mare paused, directing her attention to Fluttershy.

Do they… Do they want me to…

Fluttershy stared back, a shiver passing through her, and slowly, she surveyed her surroundings. The path of destruction which the hydra had carved through Ponyville lay directly behind her. At least three ponies had been brutally devoured. Applejack’s fate remained uncertain. The pegasus narrowed her eyes.

“This… All of this… Is because of you. You deserve to be punished.”

“As you wish…”

The hydra gave a pitiful whimper as black veins began to show through its eye, bulging against the surface, distorting the curve until it collapsed in on itself, leaving a pulp filled crater. She could see Mahara inside the hydra’s skull, undulating, constricting.

The final head burst like a grape.

The body followed, several jagged lines severing the flesh as Mahara ripped it apart from within. The remains of the hydra caved in on itself, a flood of torn and mutilated tissue riding a wave of dark blood. The pegasus could feel it washing over her, felt chunks of the hydra brushing against her in passing.

Mahara fell away from the broken, draconic form, staggering. A ray of sunlight pierced through the clouds as the storm subsided. Her black flesh began to bubble, cringing as she took a step toward Fluttershy. The glowing red of her eyes became softer, shifting back to green.

“I’m sorry… I’m sorry it had to be like this…”

The clouds quickly began to disperse, sunlight pouring through openings in the sky. Mahara’s flesh took on a lighter shade, the red of her coat slowly replacing her inky appearance. She stood nose to nose with Fluttershy, the green of her eyes looking pale and washed out.

“But they were right all along…” The echo in her voice faded, uniting into a single, weak whisper. “I’m just another monster…”

Several loops of intestine hung free from her body, a section of vertebra exposed to the world. Her gaping wound gushed, but already the fountain of blood was beginning to wane. Her blood and viscera sizzled in the light of day, giving off wisps of smoke.

“And no one can love a monster…”

\/ /\ /\ \/

Mahara collapsed against Fluttershy, and the pegasus went down with her, holding the wounded red mare as they lay in a glimmering pool of hydra blood. Twilight could hear the door to town hall opening behind her, the approach of hooves, the sound of Rarity’s voice, but she couldn’t take her eyes off of what lay before her, steadily spreading over town square like a crimson flood.

She… Killed the hydra… Just like that…

Rarity shook her head in the corner of Twilight’s vision, then jumped off the stage and galloped toward the heap of bone, flesh and scale and the two ponies sitting just about in the center of it all. Pinkie Pie followed right behind the pale unicorn, hopping gleefully as though nothing out of the ordinary had occurred, though she did seem to vibrate in the air mid hop at least once.

“She is vulnerable now, it’s time to end this. Follow my lead, there’s no time for remiss.”

“Zecora… She just saved all of us…”

The zebra turned toward Twilight, glaring as she snorted. “No, Twilight, she saved one pony! Do not tell me that she isn’t a phony!”

The purple unicorn took a step forward as more and more ponies approached the pair at the center of the carnage. The sound of Fluttershy’s sobs carried across the open. She turned to Zecora, looking more troubled than anything.

“You’re probably right as far as her origins are concerned, and she has done some terrible things to good ponies in recent days, but Zecora… She just saved the life of my friend.”

“But is Applejack not also your friend?! Where was Mahara when her flesh the hydra sought to rend?!” The zebra stomped, absolutely livid. "Do not be fooled by such an act! She has deceived you before, this is a fact!

“This wasn’t an act, Zecora. That hydra is dead and we’re all still alive.” She made her way to the stairs, the zebra staying put as she fumed. “I’m not saying she’s a good pony, don’t get me wrong, but… I don’t think she’s evil... I want to wait to hear back from Celestia before we take any action.”

In the distance, Pinkie suddenly shot into the air with a yelp of surprise, convulsing as she hovered. She dropped casually back to the ground with a distant giggle.

“I can understand why you would hesitate, but this matter is dire! It is not safe to wait!”

Zecora leapt off the stage and broke into a gallop, passing other ponies as they cautiously made their way toward the steadily growing crowd. Twilight took off after her, pushing several ponies aside as she tried to keep up, catching snippets of conversation in the process.

“…never seen anything like it. Dark magic, maybe?…”

“…absolutely horrifying! Nopony should be able to…”

“…she step in before the hydra murdered Aloe, huh?!…”

“…the same mare Twilight was warning us about?...”

“…poor Coconut… I was just talking to him yesterday…”

“…even more dangerous than the hydra, in my opinion…”

“Yeah, I guess the doozie just happened!” Pinkie shouted excitedly as Twilight drew nearer. “I wonder what it was if it wasn’t the hydra!”

The next shout came from Fluttershy. “You keep away from her!”

Twilight broke through the crowd to find Fluttershy standing over the wounded red mare, wings spread wide to keep her out of the direct light of the sun. Mahara stirred softly, her eyes heavy as she surveyed the ponies surrounding her. Across from Fluttershy, Zecora crouched low to the ground, a knife clenched between her teeth. The zebra glanced to Twilight, then back to Fluttershy. The crowd behaved in a similar fashion, and then broke into shouting and shoving.

“Let the zebra finish her off!”

“What’s wrong with you?! That mare is a hero!”

“That thing is hardly a mare! It’s no less a monster than the hydra!”

“How many more would be dead right now if she hadn’t intervened?!”

“How many would still be alive if she had killed the hydra sooner?!”

“Everypony, please!” Twilight stomped as she came between Zecora and Fluttershy, hushing the bickering ponies. “It is not our place to decide her fate! Yes, ponies are dead because she didn’t arrive sooner, and yes, she has displayed a powerful and destructive magic that I’m unfamiliar with, but she has saved countless more lives in defeating the hydra than we might have risked trying to finish the fight ourselves! You are all forgetting a fundamental truth about the nature of a pony. There is good and evil in all of us. The fate of this mare should be Princess Celestia’s decision, not the will of an angry mob.”

“She… would be disappointed… I think…” Twilight glanced down at the source of the voice, finding Mahara grinning up at her. “Twilight Sparkle… defending an unholy abomination… Still… I appreciate… your compassion…” The red mare coughed, droplets of blood spattering from her mouth.

“You deserve to be treated fairly,” Twilight replied, “even if you’re a lying fraud.”

The red mare whispered something too faint for her to understand, then smiled, resting her head against the ground. She closed her eyes, gradually going completely still. Twilight parted her lips, her brow knitting as she focused on the red mare’s chest. Fluttershy faltered as she came to the same conclusion, giving a short, dry squeak. As gently as she could, the pegasus nudged Mahara with a forehoof, finding the red mare completely limp. Twilight watched as several of the ponies behind Fluttershy cast their eyes down, others looking on with anger and indifference. Fluttershy tried again, but Mahara did not stir. The pegasus let out a pained gasp, closing her eyes tightly, violently shaking her head.

“Please no…” Fluttershy whispered.“Please… Please wake up…”

Rarity lifted a hoof to her back, rubbing gently. “I’m so sorry, dear…”

Fluttershy looked to Twilight again, maintaining her stance over the body of her friend.

“Twilight, I need to take her away from here…” Fluttershy trembled as she fought to contain her sorrow, her eyes darting. “I… I don’t want leave her like this… Out in the open… They… They’ll desecrate her! String her up like a scarecrow!”

Zecora spat the knife into her forehooves, lunging for Mahara “And she is deserving of such an end!” Fluttershy shifted into her path, glaring back at the zebra. “Why is this something you refuse to comprehend!?”

Twilight reached out with her magic, but the knife found purchase in Fluttershy’s left shoulder. The zebra froze, eyes wide and terrified as she found her blade in embedded in the pegasus’s flesh. Twilight was too startled to gasp, too shocked to even blink, while other ponies recoiled from the sight. Fluttershy refused to budge, still glaring, casting a deep shadow with her full wingspan as she stood over Mahara. An intense silence stretched on for almost a minute, all eyes on the pair.

“I see now that you have already made your decision… Her influence is much stronger than what I had envisioned…” The zebra released the knife, turned from Fluttershy and slowly made her way across the town square.

Several ponies lowered themselves to strike Zecora as she approached. “Let her go,” Twilight commanded, and they reluctantly backed down.

A sea of ponies parted around the zebra. “Twilight Sparkle, my friend, remember my warning.” She looked back to the purple unicorn, her brow furrowed, pained. “Do not be surprised when you wake to greater horror, some morning.”

Zecora vanished into the crowd, the sound of her hooves growing faint under the murmur of hushed conversation.

Fluttershy whimpered softly as she pulled the knife out of her flesh, dropping it with a splash. In that same moment, Pinkie came up beside her, harnessed to a cart.

“I figured you’d probably want one of these…” The pink mare gave a delicate smile that was not returned.

Pinkie went quiet after that, looking down at the rippling pool of blood as Fluttershy and Rarity lifted Mahara’s body into the back of the cart. Twilight, and all the other ponies present, watched as the three of them left Ponyville in the direction of Fluttershy’s cottage.

\/ /\ /\ \/