Who Rules?: Shattered Hearts

Who Rules: Shattered Hearts

by Nom deCheval

Chapter Ten

The sound rang throughout the room. Metal on metal, echoing off walls in the red light of the forge. Sparks flying, striking against cold metal and bouncing off, striking against hard wood and glancing away, and striking against living flesh and leaving their mark.

Three ponies, working in unison. Working in metal. Letting the hammer fall.

* * * * * * *

The sky carried that deep purple color only occurring in the moments signalling the eventual dawn. The shadows seemed to take on a life of their own, moving and shifting in the darkest moments of the deep, late night.

And seven figures took advantage of that deceptive lighting.

“Keep low, gals,” Applejack whispered. “We ain’t got that much farther to go.”

“How would you know?” Rainbow Dash countered. “I’m the only one who’s even seen them here.”

“Well, just...’cause,” she said. “The town ain’t that big, so we can’t have too far to go, now can we?”

“Would you two stop it!” she whispered loudly. “Trixie is trying to be stealthy!”

“Ladies, please!” Rarity said softly. “This is neither the time nor the place for such uncivil banter. We need to act with proper respect for the situation. Even Pinkie is acting with more decorum.” She glanced behind her at the aforementioned mare, seeing her darting her head back and forth while wearing a skin-tight black outfit--and a pair of night-vision goggles. “Well, in her own unique way, of course.”

“I cannot believe that I agreed to help you ponies,” Goldfeather mumbled. “And I definitely don’t believe your stories about being specially selected to come here by the rulers of your world. You can’t even stay quiet long enough to start a rescue, forget finish it! And where is the yellow one? Fluttershy was it?”

“She’s the bush that is following us, dear,” Rarity answered.

Goldfeather looked behind her and saw one of the nearby shrubs trembling in fear.

“Well, at least she has a decent disguise,” she said.

“And you ain’t exactly bein’ quiet, neither,” Applejack replied. “So don’t be actin’ all special sneaky or somethin.’”

“Actually, I am,” Goldfeather stated. “It’s what I was trained for. Tracking and infiltration.”

“Then why ain’t you up here leadin’ the way?” Applejack asked.

“Because you said you were going to,” she replied.

There was a moment of silence.

“It’s true, you did say that,” Trixie offered.

“Well, she could’a told me otherwise!” Applejack snapped back quietly. “Anyhow, it don’t matter who’s at the front, you could still tell us which way to go from back there!”

“If I knew, I would,” she stated. “Just keep working west and we should get there soon.”

“I’m doin’ the best I can!” she said. “But we’re tryin’ to stay so darn hidden that I can’t hardly see the horizon, makin’ it darn tough to see the sunrise.”

“Uh, guys?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“You can’t see the glow? It’s kinda hard to miss!” Goldfeather said.

“Guys, hey!” Dash said again, standing up. “Quick question.”

“Dash! What the hay are you doin?” Applejack whisper-shouted. “Get down!”

“That’s kind of my question,” she continued. “Why are we hiding? No pony here knows us, so the only one who does need to hide is Goldfeather. And it’s near dawn, so it’s not unusual for ponies to be wandering around getting ready for the day.”

There was another moment of silence.

“She does have a good point,” Trixie stated.

“Thank goodness!” Rarity answered standing up. “Slinking around like that was doing dreadful things to my mane.”

“You look lovely,” Trixie said, standing and nuzzling her marefriend.

A claw came up and Goldfeather smacked herself in the face with it, slowly letting it draw down and off her beak.

“You ponies are driving me crazy!” she growled. “Do you think this is some kind of joke? Your friend is in serious danger, and these ponies are very serious about what they do. They are cold and ruthless, and will not hesitate to hurt or even kill any of you.”

“Sugarcube,” Applejack said, standing up, “we know that. We’ve been through more than most anypony should, and more than once it looked like we weren’t gonna make it through to the other side.”

“And we did make it, due, in great part, to Twilight Sparkle,” Rarity added. “We will not abandon Twilight. She is our dearest friend, and somepony that any of us,” she looked at Trixie, “and I do believe that is a completely accurate statement,” she turned back, “would do anything to bring back safely.”

“Then why don’t you act seriously?” Goldfeather asked.

“We are acting serious,” Rainbow Dash answered. “You want us to act all mopey or something?”

“Yes!” Goldfeather said. “I mean, no. I mean...” She sighed. “I have never met any ponies like you six.”

“You didn’t spend much time with Twilight Sparkle, did you?” Trixie asked.

“No, I didn’t,” she answered.

“It shows,” Trixie replied.

“Okay, well, Dash is right, though,” Applejack said. “We don’t need to be hidin.’ It’s gonna be easier to spot us if we are actin’ all odd and stuff. So, let’s just go about our business as casual as we can. Which means somepony is gonna have to tell Pinkie to change outfits.”

“Awwwww,” Pinkie let out.

“I believe that you just did, darling,” Rarity said.

“Yeah, I was kinda hopin’ that was the case,” Applejack tilted her Stetson back slightly.

“I could be the special assistant to Goldfeather!” Pinkie suggested. “Just two stealth machines, working their way through the shadows of town, ready to strike at any moment!” To emphasize her point, Pinkie brought her hoof down as though she was chopping it across an enemy.

“Yeah, can I say no to that?” Goldfeather asked.

“Yes. Yes you can,” Trixie answered.

“Awwwww.” Pinkie slouched in disappointment.

“She’s right about me needing to stick to the shadows, though,” Goldfeather said. “It’s likely that these troops will recognize me. Plus, it will give me a little bit of sanity for a while.”

“Pinkie does seem to have that effect on griffins, darling,” Rarity said. “We understand.”

“Wow. She’s met other griffins and is still alive?” Goldfeather blinked.

“Hey, don’t underestimate the ol’ Pinkster!” Rainbow Dash flew up beside her oddly dressed friend. “She can do things that no other pony alive can do.”

“Riiiiight,” Goldfeather droned. She glanced at the trembling bush. “What about that one?”

“Actually, that’s kind of a good place for her,” Dash said. “She’ll be nearby if we need her. Or if she needs us.”

“Okay, we’re gonna head towards where Dashie said they was keepin’ Twilight,” Applejack said. “You stay nearby somehow, if’n you can, so that we can all get the heck outta here in a hurry once we got her free.”

“You say that like it’s going to be easy,” Goldfeather replied.

“Ah don’t expect it to be easy, but that don’t mean I ain’t gonna plan on succeeding,” Applejack explained. “Failure ain’t an option.”

“That’s right!” Pinkie answered, now suddenly missing her skin-tight outfit. Everypony just shook their head and continued.

“Okay, now that is the kind of attitude I was expecting!” Goldfeather smiled. “Be careful though, you never know when somepony is gonna pop up from around the corner.”

“YOU!!” The shout pierced the pre-dawn air, sending a dole of doves fluttering into the sky. They all turned as one to see the figure who vocalized it.

Another griffin was descending upon them.

* * * * * * *

Molten metal flowed down out of the forge. Running through a stone slough and into the cast that had been set nearby. The ponies were in position, ready to do their parts.

A hammer rested in the hooves of the muscular stallion, his body covered in a thick apron to protect him from what was to come.

The young unicorn fixed her eyes on the mold, her magic running through it in a torrent of power, striving to keep the metal alive for its purpose.

The eldest lay there. Breathing slowly, her eyes closed. Waiting.

The hammer fell down.

* * * * * * *

“I knew that this was going to happen,” Bea said.

“Well, if you knew, then why didn’t you say anything?” Gilda asked.

Rolling her eyes, Bea answered, “Well, not this specific thing, obviously, but more of a general...this kind of thing.”

The view from the tree they sat in wasn’t ideal, but it gave them something of a look at what was happening. Plus the fact that it was still the pre-dawn moments of the morning made it all the more difficult to spot anything. They didn’t need to be perfect, though, they knew where to look.

“How many are you seeing?” Bea asked.

“There are still about a dozen guards around the platform holding Trueblood and Twilight,” he answered. He had transformed his eyes, allowing them to see clearly in the void of light. “Trueblood and Twilight seem to be sleeping.”

“Wow. They can sleep standing up and tied to a post like that?” Ditzy asked. “I don’t think that I could.”

“The good news is that the guards don’t seem to be paying much attention to either of them,” Husk explained. “A couple of them might even be...drinking.”

“Good. Let them,” Gilda said. “I don’t think any of us want to have an all-out war here, and if they are distracted--or better, drunk--then we might be able to sneak in and out with very little trouble at all.”

“I can slip them something really fun to drink!” Ditzy suggested.

“No,” Bea said. “They are probably on alert for all of us, so we don’t want to alert anypony to our presence if we can help it.”

“So, how are we going to get them out, then?” Ditzy asked.

“As soon as the light starts to give us some visibility, we need to act. Husk will move in first, disguised as a guard, and act like he’s there to inspect them. That’s when I will get close enough to loose their chains, and you and Gilda will fly down and pick them up and carry them away. Should go smoothly,” Bea explained.

“And if it doesn’t?” Gilda asked.

“That’s when we improvise,” Bea said with a smile. “And when I need your brain to start working at its quickest, Ditzy.”

“They sure are taking this seriously,” Gilda said. “I mean, we’ve dealt with these guys plenty of times, but they’ve never gone to this much trouble. I wonder why?”

“She’s got a good point,” Husk answered. “This feels...different. And I heard them mentioning somepony named ‘The General’ earlier, too. There might be somepony new involved. It’s got me a little concerned.”

Bea took a deep breath and shook her head. “I know. Yeah, this feels wrong. I didn’t want to say anything, but...why are they leaving them on display like that? What’s the point?”

“Torment them?” Gilda offered.

“Coldheart would never let them be tortured. Not Trueblood, at least. And she wouldn’t need to torture Twilight. We already know that she’s susceptible to Coldheart’s magic,” Bea said.

“Which points right back to things aren’t right,” Ditzy said, keeping her eyes on various things.

“Well, that doesn’t mean that I’m not going to act,” Gilda said. “If we wait who knows what they are going to do to Trueblood. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if she got hurt and I did nothing at all. Besides, it’s not like we didn’t suspect this to be a trap.”

“I never said we weren’t going to act,” Bea replied. “I’m just suggesting keeping our eyes open for anything that might be...unusual.”

“Right,” Ditzy said.

“Will do,” Gilda agreed.

“Like five ponies sneaking around with a griffin?” Husk asked.

“Five? There are only three of us,” Ditzy replied. “And technically you aren’t a pony, so there are only two ponies.”

“Not us, Ditzy,” Husk pointed towards town. “Them.”

“Them who?” Gilda asked.

“Five ponies. Never seen them...” his voice trailed off. “Uh, let me correct that statement.” He turned to look at his light blue companion. “I have seen one of them. You.” He pointed to Bea. “There’s a pony there who looks exactly like you--if you wore a cape and a hat.”

“What?” Bea leaned forward, as though almost falling from a tree would help her see better.

“Soooo, is it the Bea from Twilight’s world? Or is it another changeling?” Ditzy asked.

“I don’t know,” Husk answered. “I would have to get closer to find out.”

“How would you know?” Gilda asked.

“Changelings don’t give off emotional energy like ponies do,” he answered. “You have to be close to see it, though.”

“And they are acting stealthy?” Bea asked.

“Seems it. I was only able to notice them because one of them stood up. First lesson in not being seen is always not to stand up,” Husk explained. “And now all of them are.”

“You also mentioned a griffin. What griffin?” Gilda asked, her voice anxious.

“I couldn’t tell you,” Husk answered. “I’ve never seen her before.”

“Her? So it’s a female?” Gilda shifted in the tree, trying to get a better view.

“Yeah, seems to be,” he answered.

“What does she look like?” Gilda stretched her neck out.

Husk turned towards his feathered friend with a slight frown. “Um, not to sound too rude, but most of you griffins look pretty much the same to me. Beak, feathers, fur...that sort of thing.”

Gilda looked at him with a frown. “Yeah. Same’s true with changelings.”

“Actually,” he nodded, “yes. Unless you look at the leg markings, it can be difficult to tell us apart. What are the key characteristics of a griffin?”

“Later,” Gilda muttered, still reaching her neck out. “I want to see if I know this griffin. I haven’t seen another one in...well, a long time.”

“I understand, Gilda,” Bea said, “just don’t do anything--”

“Be right back,” she answered, taking to the air.

“--stupid.” Bea finished.

She arced up high out of the tree, aiming to circle up and then position herself ready for a return to the tree in a hurry. It was far easier to see from directly above, anyway. A glance down spotted the griffin, and she looked in the faint light to see if she recognized her. There was something familiar about her. Something about the shape of the head crest and the line of her body.

Something that suddenly struck a resounding chord.

Her vision went red and all peaceful thoughts immediately left her body. She turned and dove down, the wind racing past her feathers as she became a thin dart aimed at the ground. Aimed at her. Goldfeather the Betrayer.

“YOU!!” She shouted it as loud as she could, hoping to see the fear in the traitor’s eyes before she ripped them out of her worthless skull.

Goldfeather and the five ponies all turned as one to look at her as she descended.

* * * * * * *

The heat was almost unbearable. The heat from the forge. The heat from the metal. The heat from the magic. All of them combined to create a new level of temperature.

Sweat was pouring off of their faces, searing to steam as it struck metal glowing in the dim light. She kept her focus, concentrating on the metal, imbuing it with as much magic as she could muster. More than she ever thought she had. He kept his focus on the forge and the anvil, tying them together as best as he could, binding new with the old in every strike.

And she focused on her breathing. She focused on trust. She focused on the future.

The hammer fell down.

* * * * * * *

They met in a blur, claws latching onto flesh as beaks flashed out trying to sink deep into the body, only to find it snapping in the air as they tumbled around, smashing through a thin fence and finding themselves on the main street of Oatland.

“Graaaaahh!” Gilda reared up, her claws exposed and ready to come down on Goldfeather, who in turn threw her rear legs up and raked them across Gilda’s belly--but only just. No blood drawn, but the claws fell down to the belly in defense.

“Gilda?!” She shouted up in shock. “Gilda, is that you?”

“I’m going to kill you!” was her only response as the claws finally came down.

Pushing up, Goldfeather reared back, pushing herself up to be as tall as possible. Gilda reciprocated, throwing herself up on her hind legs and extending her claws upwards.

“Gilda!” Goldfeather yelled. “I don’t want to fight!”

“Then just lie back! I’ll make it quick!” Gilda growled as she lunged forward.

The two female griffins collided, sending a cloud of dust flying from their coats upon impact. Claws reached out, wrapping around each other and gripping hard. Beaks flew forward, clacking as they hit against each other. Sounds of impact echoed across the face of the buildings, until they pulled apart, landing on all fours and immediately beginning to circle each other.

Blood began to drip from Goldfeather’s coat.

“I never thought I would see you again,” Gilda snarled. “I always hoped, but I never really thought I would get the chance.” She lunged forward, a claw raised, even as Goldfeather jumped backwards. “I’m not letting you leave here.”

“I don’t want to fight you, Gilda,” Goldfeather grumbled through a clenched beak. “That doesn’t mean I won’t if you keep pushing it, though.”

“Fight or not, this only ends with one of us dead,” Gilda spoke with no remorse.

The two powerful creatures jumped at each other once more, their bodies slamming together with the impact of a falling mountain. Claws sank into flesh on both bodies, the two females shifting their weight and throwing themselves to the ground.

An odd cacophony of squaks and hisses filled the air, as claws raked again and again through flesh, tearing streaks of red into the golden fur of each griffin. Beaks were snapping, ripping out small tastes of flesh with each thrust, hoping to find an artery or windpipe.

Savage and brutal, the fight descended into a primal brawl in seconds.

“Get offa her!” The kick connected with Gilda square in the side, causing her to exhale sharply. Rainbow Dash had been moving at almost top speed when she hit.

A glow surrounded Goldfeather, her own rage and bloodlust pressing her forward, the magic holding her at bay.

Gilda turned on Rainbow Dash, the claws striking out in an attempt to reach the pegasus, but the fastest flier in Equestria was too quick. Gilda’s claws found only air.

“Who the hell are you?!” she growled.

“Rainbow Dash!” the pegasus announced proudly. “What the hell are you doing, Gilda?”

“Do I know you?” she asked, eyeing her. “You know what, it doesn’t matter! Get the hell away from my prey!”

“No!” Dash flew down into Gilda’s face. “She’s family!”

“Get away from her!” Goldfeather yelled. “Don’t you hurt her, Gilda!”

“Now both a’ you calm down a tick!” Applejack stated, running up on them. “What they hay is goin’ on with you two?”

“They’re trying to kill each other is what--” Rainbow Dash didn’t finish her sentence.

A burst of blue magic struck against Rainbow Dash, sending her spiraling away from the griffin, who once again moved forward towards Goldfeather. Applejack moved between them, spinning around and preparing to introduce Gilda to Bucky McGillicuddy and Kicks McGee--until Gilda took flight.

“Dang it!” Applejack cursed, as Gilda flew over her towards Goldfeather, who was struggling against her magical cocoon.

“Stop fighting!” Trixie announced as she ran towards them, her horn still glowing from her magic holding Goldfeather. “This is pointless!”

“This is personal!” Gilda roared--and then she fell, Applejack’s teeth firmly latched onto her tail. The earth pony’s head twisted to the side as she pulled backwards, trying her best to keep Gilda off balance. She momentarily lost her own orientation as her prized hat flew from her head, buffeted off by a multi-colored blast of wind.

“Where is she? Or he? Or whatever pony blasted me like that?” Dash hovered next to Trixie, scanning the area.

“Trixie doesn’t know,” she answered, keeping her focus on the spell isolating Goldfeather. “But we may have a problem.”

“No kidding? That Gilda seems like she’s out for blood, and she’s also got a unicorn support team, as well as--”

“Applejack,” Trixie said.

“Huh? No, we’ve got AJ, not them,” Dash replied.

“There is another Applejack,” Trixie said. Rainbow Dash spun her head around and saw the two orange colored ponies facing off against each other. No longer being held by the tail, Gilda had resumed her assault on Goldfeather.

“Aw, you gotta be kidding me,” Dash groaned, and turned to fly back to face the two of them and Gilda. “Sorry, AJ, but you’re gonna have to take care of yourself--literally.”

Slamming into Gilda’s side at full speed, Dash sent the two of them tumbling. The griffin let out a roar, twisting to try to get her claws on her new attacker. Moving as fast as she could, Rainbow Dash was able to slide to the side and avoid the attack--almost. A claw grabbed onto her left wing, lifting her up in the air and arcing over towards the ground.

“Ohcrapohcrapohcrap!” Rainbow blurted out as the ground rushed up to meet her face. Shielding herself with her forelegs, she felt all of the air leave her body on impact. Dazed and disoriented, she forced her eyes as open as she could, trying to regain her bearings.

Leaving the wounded pegasus behind, Gilda once again turned towards Goldfeather. The other griffin had stopped struggling against the magic that was holding her, but kept her eyes focused firmly on Gilda.

“Fine by me...” Gilda broke into a run, charging her held enemy.

She was interrupted by a pair of Applejacks.

Both ponies suddenly stood in her way, and she did her best to come to a skidding stop, fumbling and falling over herself until she tumbled down at the two pony’s hooves.

“What the hell?!” she looked up at them. “I know that one of you has got to be Husk, so...what the hell?!”

“These are Twilight’s friends,” one Applejack stated. “They’re here for the same reason that we are.”

“It’s true,” another voice chimed in. Gilda looked past the identical ponies to see another pair of twins walking up, though dressed dramatically differently. “We have come to save Twilight Sparkle,” Trixie stated, “and it would make sense for us to work together.”

“You don’t understand!” Gilda rose back up, staring back at Goldfeather. “You don’t know who she is! You don’t know what she’s done!”

“Ah do know that she risked her own life to come here and help us out,” Applejack said. “And as such, I’m willin’ to vouch for her.”

“Hey guys!” a perky voice shouted. “You’ll never believe...” Pinkie Pie came bouncing out from behind a building, accompanied by a familiar wild-eyed pony. “Oh, maybe you will!”

“Get outta my way,” Gilda growled at the pair of Applejacks, ignoring the arrival of both Pinkie and Ditzy. “I’m gonna end this.”

“I ain’t gonna let ya,” Applejack said.

“Gilda, calm down,” the other Applejack said. “Whatever this is, we can deal with it later.”

“Gilda,” Goldfeather said calmly, “let’s just deal with this whole Twilight thing. After that, if you still want me, well, I’m not gonna run.”

“Likely story,” Gilda huffed.

“Um, pardon my interruption from your rather dramatic hormonal display,” Rarity said calmly, walking up between the pair of light-blue unicorns, “but I think we may have much more immediate pressing concerns.”

A nod of her head caused all the ponies eyes to follow, and to witness the arrival of dozens of armed soldiers, none of which looked happy to find them.

“You wanna fight somethin,’ sugarcube, well, I think we just found you some targets,” Applejack picked up her hat, placed it on her head, and lowered the brim down to her eyes.

Flapping back to join them, Rainbow Dash eyed Gilda for a moment before turning to Applejack. “Fight or run, boss? You call it.”

She turned to look at Trixie and Rarity, who both nodded with steely resolve. Turning back to Rainbow Dash, she let the corner of her mouth curl up. “Well, we didn’t come here to leave Twilight behind.”

“All right! Let’s do this!” Dash clamped her hooves together and then flew up in an arc, swinging down to pass in front of the first line of arriving troops--who suddenly found themselves without their weapons.

“You heard the gal,” Applejack announced, “let’s do this!”

As one, all of the ponies rushed forward, heading towards the larger number of approaching forces, ready for a fight. Three figures lagged behind.

“This isn’t over,” Gilda glared at Goldfeather.

“It is for now, Gilda,” Husk told her. “Let’s deal with the immediate threat, okay?”

“Yeah. Yeah, that’s fine,” she answered. “I’ve still got a little bit of pent-up energy that I need to get out.”

She turned and took flight, aiming straight for the largest gathering of soldiers, planning to attack directly. Turning to the other griffin, Husk eyed her evenly.

“Are you going to help?” he asked.

With a grimace, Goldfeather replied, “I said I would. I meant it. Now get outta my way.”

She didn’t wait, and Husk found himself nearly bowled over by the griffin as she rushed headlong into battle. After regaining his senses, Husk joined them.

The numbers were not on their side. They had no weapons, nor did they have the luxury of preparation.

It didn’t matter. A group of ten figures cut a swath through some of the finest soldiers in the realm. Battering and slashing them unconscious, driving them back and away. Fighting between the buildings and through the streets, one victory after another, each hard fought and grueling.

And then they turned the corner.

“Well, well, well, what do we have here?” She stood on the platform alongside Twilight and Trueblood. A single hoof held up Trueblood’s jaw, showing that she was awake and aware. “Valiant heroes come to the rescue? Brave little ponies who are here to save the day?”

“Toy,” Goldfeather whispered.

“You realize, of course, that it was all in vain. Everything has been orchestrated to bring you here before me, so that you can all fall at the same time.” She laughed as hundreds of soldiers came from behind, trapping the group between them and herself.

“This is where your story ends, I’m afraid,” she said, cackling.

Concern painted the faces of the group of would-be rescuers. Fear on some, worry on most. The army was ready to fight if they turned, and Toy exuded confidence from her position above them.

No pony seemed to notice the small, trembling shrubbery that was slowly approaching the back of the platform.

* * * * * * *

The metal turned in his hooves. He shaped it slowly, bringing the design to form. Bringing the end to life. His hooves burned, and his arms ached, but he would not stop. He could not. Not now.

The metal rang out against the walls, echoing back the efforts of his labor. Every clang a resounding reminder of one more step completed, and one less left to go.

His eyes focused in the glow, accustomed to the dim light and the details it might hide from others. His ears trained to notice what the eyes might miss in the song of the metal. He saw it all. He saw every flaw. He heard every mistake.

The hammer struck down. The sparks were clear. The music was pure. He knew that he could do no more. It was time to let the next one do their part, his job done.

He set the hammer down.

* * * * * * *

Her hoof passed over the orb, the colors inside it shifting from dark purple to deep red. The light shifted inside it, magic moving the shades and specters of time.

“How kind of you to leave me this, Empress,” Toy purred. “A magical knick-knack that lets me control the day and night without you. It’s like you aren’t even necessary at all.”

She laughed aloud, turning and striding back to her throne. Two unconscious ponies lay nearby, their breath shallow and their faces sunken. It had been a long, draining night for them, but it left Toy feeling powerful.

The room itself was commandeered from the former mayor of the town. She glanced over at his sleeping form, a mild curiosity if he would have the strength to reawaken crossing her mind for a moment. She had, of course, made it more her own, tearing down any image of authority that had been there and breaking anything that reeked of the Empire. The old Empire.

Sitting on her throne, Toy couldn’t help but smile. Soon it would be too late for Coldheart to do anything. She would wrench the secret of the portal from Twilight Sparkle, destroy it, and rule over the Six Kingdoms forever, with no pony left in all the world to challenge her might. She would leave the Empire in place as long as it served her, and she felt that was going to be a very, very long time.

“General!” A soldier stepped into her room, coming to attention and saluting.

“Yes? What is it?” she responded without moving.

“There is a disturbance, ma’am. Several ponies have started a fight against the guards,” he reported. “The griffin, Goldfeather, is listed among them.”

“Goldfeather?” She raised an eyebrow. “She has come back and attacked the guard? That doesn’t sound like her.” She slowly stood from her throne. “No, more likely she threw herself in with the rest of Trueblood’s lot. They already had one griffin in their ranks. How many are attacking?”

“Ten. Two griffins and eight ponies, ma’am,” he answered.

“Two griffins and one of them Goldfeather,” she nodded, “that sounds right. The inevitable rescue attempt. What are your troops doing, soldier?”

“Per your instructions, General, we are baiting them in, coercing them to follow us back to the platform containing the two traitors,” he stated.

“Then you are doing the right thing. Tell the troops to continue their efforts, but do their best to tire them out a little. They will be easier to deal with once they have expended their energy.” Toy waved her hoof at him casually. “You may go. I will move to join Trueblood and the other mare in a moment.”

“Yes, General!” He saluted, spun around, and hurried from the room.

Turning back to her throne, Toy stepped gently towards and then past it. She saddled up against the sleeping mayor, bringing her hoof up to brush the mane clear of his neck.

“Good Mayor, I want to thank you for your hospitality while we visited,” she said seductively. “I promise we’ll be gone soon enough, and your town can resume...whatever it is that it normally does. I do assume you have a purpose here. You, I am afraid, won’t be joining them, though.”

Bending down, Toy sank her fangs into the pony’s neck and drank deeply. She could feel his emotions draining into her. All that was left were the base emotions of fear, anger, and sadness, the others already gone. The higher ones a tasty beginning to the night. Her body drank them in, taking what little nourishment they could provide.

“It is a shame that your love for your wife wasn’t stronger,” she said, letting his body collapse to the ground. “You might have gone home to her tonight otherwise.”

Striding effortlessly to the door, Toy made her way outside. In the distance she now heard the sounds of battle, and angled a smile at the noise. Turning the opposite way, she wandered over to the platform holding her two favorite guests, her wings gently raising her up until her hooves touched down lightly on the surface.

Carefully, she stepped gently up to Trueblood’s post, doing her best to remain completely silent. “Time to wake up,” she whispered in her ear.

Trueblood pulled away with a start and a snort, her body rejecting the voice that assaulted it so softly.

“Goodness, Toy,” Trueblood stated in a daze, “you might want to consider a sprig of mint. Does wonders for the breath.”

“Oh, my apologies,” she cooed. “I didn’t mean to wake you on the wrong side of the bed. Or post as the case may be.”

“Wh--what’s going on?” Twilight blinked her eyes open, staring over at the two of them. She saw the figures standing there, and her mind focused quickly on the state of events. “Leave her alone!”

“Ah, and the other one is with us as well,” she said. “I was going to wake you next, Twilight. I wouldn’t want you to miss out on what is about to happen.”

“What are you talking about?” Trueblood asked.

“Why, I’m talking about the merry band of ponies that you associate with,” she replied, standing and walking a few steps away from the pair. “They are on their way to rescue you even as we speak.”

Staring at her for a moment, Trueblood let the words sink in. “A trap. You wanted us out here on display to draw them in. So that you could capture all of them.”

Toy lowered her head and smiled. “Something like that, yes.”

“Why?” Trueblood asked. “You don’t need them. You’ve already got me.”

“Exactly,” she answered. “I have you, but you are too stubborn to tell me things of your own accord, and I’m afraid that your marefriend here is too frail to last forever under the effects of torture. So...the more the merrier.”

“You monster!” Twilight spat. “You mean to tell me that you baited those four innocent souls in here just so you could--”

“Four?” Toy interrupted. “There are only four others?”

Trueblood looked at Twilight, who looked around in confusion. “I... How many are here?”

“More than four, obviously,” Toy answered, her hoof gently rubbing her chin. “That makes this a considerable mystery. Who have they brought in to help them out in this situation?”

“There are hundreds who fight with me,” Trueblood said. “There is no way that I can answer that question.”

“Nice try,” Toy answered, “but Twilight is much more believable. Which tells me that you don’t know who it is, either. Interesting.”

Looking over at Trueblood, Twilight’s eyes asked the question. Trueblood simply shook her head in response.

“This should be very interesting. I wonder if my dear friend Goldfeather brought others with her? Perhaps as a tribute to me?” Toy pondered.

“Wow. You sure became delusional quickly,” Trueblood stated. “How long has Fantasia been gone? A week? Two? And you already have set yourself up as a pony deserving tribute?”

“Don’t delude yourself,” Toy turned slyly towards the unicorn, “I have always been deserving of tribute. It is only Coldheart who doesn’t understand that fact.”

“You mean she didn’t notice while you were licking her boots,” Trueblood responded.

Toy stood there and smiled. “Of course. I do hope you continue your defiance. While your dear, departed mother will never return to this world, I do hope to take out some of the past torturous service to her on her only child.”

“If you hurt her, I will never help you,” Twilight interjected. “If you do anything to her then Coldheart will return and find out what you’ve done to her daughter, and then you will have to suffer the consequences.”

“Oh, how courageous.” Toy turned to Twilight. “Except for the fact that she gave me permission to hunt and capture the both of you. Her only request was that I leave you both alive. She never said you had to be whole.”

“I won’t let you hurt her,” Twilight narrowed her eyes, her voice turning cold.

“Well, let’s worry about that when the time comes, shall we?” Toy answered. “I’m sure that I might be able to convince you otherwise. At this moment, however, we need to deal with the five--or possibly four if the griffin wasn’t with your group--mystery ponies that are trying to rescue the two of you.”

“Five...?” Twilight’s mind focused. The exact image of five ponies leapt to her mind, and the idea of them being here brought a sparkle to her eye.

“Is that number significant?” Toy asked.

“No,” she answered. “Not yet.”

“Cryptic,” the changeling replied, “an interesting choice.” She turned to look towards the battle that was getting ever closer.

“Sparky?” Trueblood whispered. “What are you thinking?”

“Not thinking,” she answered. “Hoping.”

“Hoping for what?” Toy asked. She turned and walked over to them. “Hoping for a miracle? Well, I’m afraid the Empire doesn’t sanction those.”

“One day you will be a memory, Toy,” Trueblood said. “A note in the story of a greater monster that plagued the world. Almost forgotten.”

“If that is so, then what will you be?” She brought her hoof up under Trueblood’s chin, guiding her eyes to hers. “Nothing at all, I imagine.”

“The difference is that I don’t want to be anything,” she said. “I just want you and Fantasia gone.”

“Replaced by what?” she asked. “Without a being of power this world would fall into chaos.”

“Do you truly believe that?” Trueblood asked. “You have no faith in any pony, do you?”

“Well, it seems that we won’t have to wait any longer to find out the truth,” Toy stated. “The trap is sprung.”

A group of ten turned the corner--eight ponies and two griffins.

“Well, well, well, what do we have here?” Toy said to the arriving figures, her hoof still holding Trueblood’s chin. “Valiant heroes come to rescue? Brave little ponies who are here to save the day?”

“Toy,” Goldfeather whispered.

“You realize, of course, that it was all in vain. Everything has been orchestrated to bring you here before me, so that you can all fall at the same time.” She laughed as hundreds of soldiers came from behind, trapping the group between them and herself.

“This is where your story ends, I’m afraid,” she said, cackling.

Concern painted the faces of the group of would-be rescuers. Fear on some, worry on most. The army was ready to fight if they turned, and Toy exuded confidence from her above them.

“All right,” Applejack said, looking around, “we’ll give you one chance to do the right thing. Go ahead and let them two go and we’ll just walk outta town without no problem.”

Her eyes turned to saucers as Toy stared in response. “I’m sorry, but have we even met?”

“Not ‘round these parts we haven’t,” Applejack answered. Twilight smiled.

“Well, nonetheless, I feel we should be introduced. I am General Toy, and I currently rule the Empire of the Six Kingdoms.” She stepped to the front of the platform. “And you are all my prisoners.” She turned to Goldfeather and spoke directly. “I want to thank you for bringing them to me, pet. I accept your tribute.”

“Tribute?!” Gilda turned to Goldfeather and snarled.

“Don’t even try, Toy,” Goldfeather answered. “They know better than that.”

Looking at Gilda, Toy raised an eyebrow. “Are you sure? Besides, it’s not like you have to pretend any further. You’re safe at home now, and all of Trueblood’s companions have been brought in, just as you promised.”

“That’s no--” Trueblood felt a grip of magic at her throat, even as she saw Toy’s horn glowing.

“You traitorous bitch!” Gilda spat.

“Gilda, calm down,” Bea stated. “She’s trying to make you angry. Get us to distrust each other.”

“And it seems to be working,” Trixie added.

“I know her,” Gilda said. “What Toy is saying is probably true.”

“It isn’t!” Goldfeather turned to Gilda. “How many times do I have to say that?”

“I don’t know! Say it again and we’ll start counting!” Gilda yelled back.

“That’s enough outta you two!” Rainbow Dash flew up between them. “If you guys wanna gut each other when we’re done, fine! But right now we’re in a bit of a mess, okay?”

“Oh, you poor blue pegasus,” Toy cooed, “you are not in a ‘bit of a mess,’ you are doomed. The best option for you is to surrender and hope that I have a good use for you back at my palace.”

“Ain’t gonna happen,” Rainbow Dash answered.

“I must concur with my friend,” Rarity stated. “We are not the kind to surrender in these situations.”

“Actually, Rarity,” Pinkie Pie whispered, “when we fought the changelings, we kinda did surrender in this kind of situation.”

A dark eye turned towards the pink pony. “Yes, thank you, Pinkie, for reminding me.”

“You are an attractive mare,” Toy said to Rarity. “I at least see you having a place in my harem.”

“Harem?” Rarity pulled back. “Though it does have a bit of an exotic sound to it, I’m afraid that I must refuse.”

While the banter continued, Twilight Sparkle scanned the crowd. Applejack. Rainbow Dash. Pinkie Pie. Rarity. All of them were there--except one. She was hoping all of the Elements were here. Together they might stand a chance. But where was Fluttershy?

“Um, psst,” a voice gently whispered from behind Twilight. “Psst, Twilight?”

Turning her head as far as she could, Twilight tried to speak behind her. “Fluttershy?”

“Yes. Oh, I’m sorry, I should have made it clear it was me. That was rude,” she said.

“Fluttershy, get me loose,” Twilight whispered. “No! Get Trueblood loose.”

“Who?” Fluttershy asked from behind her. “Oh, you mean that other pony? I, um, I think that the changeling might notice if I did.”

“But, she’s...” Twilight trailed off, her voice lost for a moment, and then it returned strongly. “Can you get this thing off my horn?”

“I...I don’t know,” Fluttershy stated.

“A harem?” Dinky began. “Wouldn’t that imply that you were male? Maybe you meant a herd. Herds aren’t gender specific that way.”

Toy raised an eyebrow. “You I think I will just kill.”

“Over my dead body!” Gilda shouted.

“Oh fine, I suppose I don’t need two griffins,” Toy stated.

“Ah suppose that means you don’t plan on surrenderin,’ then?” Applejack asked.

Toy laughed. “Are you joking? You have no power here, pony. You are surrounded, outnumbered, and severely overpowered. What is it that makes you think you have a chance?”

“Hope,” Applejack answered.

“Friendship,” Rarity continued.

“Awesomeness!” Dash shouted.

“Parties!” Pinkie Pie added.

They all turned to look at Pinkie.

“What?” she looked back at them. “I like parties.”

Fluttershy brought her hooves up to the shackles around Twilight’s neck, fumbling to try and find a way to release her friend.

“Hurry, Fluttershy.” Twilight’s eyes were on Trueblood, who still fought to find a breath. Trueblood twisted back and forth, trying to get a breath, but the magic was inescapable.

“I...I’m trying,” Fluttershy whispered, “it’s just so complicated.”

“I know. Just...do your best. Please,” Twilight pleaded.

“My Queen,” the other Applejack stepped foward.

“Oh no...” Bea gasped.

“What did you call me, pony?” Toy stared down.

“You are better than this, My Queen. I know your honor. Your graciousness,” the pony stated. “I beg of you, please reconsider what you are doing.”

“And why should I listen to a pony--no matter how flattering--who wants little more than her own freedom?” Toy asked with a smirk.

“D--do you not recognize me? Can you not see?” An aura surrounded the pony and transformed him into his natural form. A changeling drone walked up to the platform and bowed. “My Queen.”

“This is not good,” Bea said.

“Yeah, I was kinda thinkin’ that, too,” Applejack stated.

Toy stood there silently. Her eyes wide and her gaze fixed. For seconds she said nothing and did not move. Finally, her mouth opened and words escaped.

“You’re alive,” she breathed.

Raising his head up to look at her, Husk nodded. “Of course, My Queen.”

“Coldheart killed all of you. Down to the last drone. I was there,” she muttered.

“No, My Queen,” Husk answered. “I escaped. I did what you taught--what you trained us to do. I hid in plain sight. Disguised. We all did.”

“We?” She stepped forward. “What do you mean, ‘we?’”

A soldier stepped forward, looking past Toy and further onto the platform.

“There are hundreds of us, My Queen. Hiding. Waiting,” he answered.

“Hundreds? Hundreds?!” She leapt from the platform, landing in front of Husk, grabbing him and lifting him up to look in his eyes. “Where? Where are they?”

“As I said, in hiding. Waiting for your directions,” he stated.

Her eyes flashed, darting back and forth, but landing on nothing in particular. “My children. They’re alive.”

The solider stepped closer, his eyes focused on Twilight Sparkle, and something happening behind her in the early dawn light.

“You...didn’t know?” Husk asked.

A myriad of expressions passed over Toy’s face, running the gamut and finally settling on a single one as she rose up to her full height, towering over the drone in front of her. Pride.

“I know now,” she answered.

The guard rushed forward, a flash of yellow suddenly revealing itself behind the lavender unicorn. Somepony was trying to free the unicorn.

“General Toy! General Toy! There is--”

His words caught in his throat, as green magic surrounded it and lifted him from the ground, pulling him over violently.

“My. Name. Is. CHRYSALIS!” she hissed in his face. “I am QUEEN of the changelings. Do I make myself clear?”

The pony writhed in his grasp, his body flailing and he reached for his throat in desperation. She looked up and beyond him, staring at the gathered troops under her command.

“Is that clear to everypony here?” she shouted. “Or do I need to explain it further?”

A murmur echoed through the forces, even as the flailings of the pony in her grasp began to ebb.

Behind her, in a scene that the pony attempted to reveal, Fluttershy was busy working on the lock holding the damper in place on Twilight’s horn. Twilight stared at Trueblood, taking small satisfaction in the fact that the changeling had released her hold on the white unicorn.

“I...I can’t get the locks,” Fluttershy said. “They’re too complicated. I don’t know what to do.”

Twilight turned to look at her friends, surrounded and, as always, willing to fight to the last. They were all there, and they were all ready.

“Fluttershy?” Twilight asked calmly. “Did you bring my Element?”

Chrysalis dropped the soldier who had brazenly mis-addressed her, his body collapsing in a heap on the ground. “Now,” she said in a disturbingly easy tone, “you will become my First. My own General, answering to no pony save me. Together we will find your siblings and begin the restoration of the Changeling Empire.”

Husk stepped backward, his eyes fixated on his Queen. Slowly, he turned to look at the others behind him. A variety of response met him. Fear. Anger. Hope. And, in at least one case, joy. He smiled back at joy, and then turned around to face his Queen.

“You honor me, My Queen,” he said with a bow.

“Excellent!” she replied, her fangs, glistening. “Then next we shall--”

“No,” Husk interrupted. “You did not let me finish. You honor me, but...I must decline. My friends need me.”

“Your...friends?” Chrysalis said slowly. “Your FRIENDS?! I have just given you an honor that I have never bestowed upon any other changeling, and you...deny me?”

“It is not that, My Queen. It is simply that they need me more,” he answered.

A hoof moved faster than his eye could follow, grasping him by the throat and lifting him up in line with the eyes of the Changeling Queen. “You have placed THEM above ME?” Her voice was quick, and her green eyes dark. “You taunt me more than Coldheart ever did. I thank you for revealing that my changelings still live, but I’m afraid that another example must be made.”

“Um, excuse me,” a soft voice said from behind her. “but, well, no.”

Spinning her head around, a trail of green slime dribbling from her open mouth, Chrysalis brought her eyes on the pony that would dare interrupt her. A small buttercream pegasus, trying desperately to hide behind her mane.

“And who exactly, are you?” she fumed.

“My name is...Fluttershy...Miss Queen, ma’am,” she whispered. “And, um, I’ve been told to ask you, um, to surrender.”

Her eyebrow went up, and her lip curled back revealing her fangs. “I was amused when the other pony said it, but I’m not in such a pleasant mood now.”

“Eek, okayI’msorryIdidn’tmeantoupsetyou,” Fluttershy said in one breath.

“I cannot even believe that somepony like you even had the courage to confront me,” Chrysalis stated.

“Well,” Fluttershy raised her head up, “Twilight said I needed to be here to make the magic work right.”

“Magic? What magic?” Chrysalis asked. And then she noticed the butterfly shaped necklace around the pony’s neck

An arc of magic sparked from Fluttershy’s necklace, leaping past Chrysalis and striking a similar necklace on Rarity, and then to Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and finally Pinkie Pie. A burst of magic spread out, shooting over the changeling and targeting the unicorn that she had trapped on the platform in front of her--who was now wearing an odd-looking crown.

A white glow surrounded her, leaving nothing but a dark silhouette of her as the cross bearing her shattered to kindling and her body rose up into the air, the chains around her melting into nothing. Finally, the glow faded, revealing the same lavender unicorn she already knew...except for the glowing white eyes.

“Don’t say we didn’t give you the chance,” Twilight said confidently.

“What?” Chrysalis reared back, just as a dome of white energy erupted from Twilight, engulfing the city of Oatland in an instant. Everypony in the area was blinded by the brilliance of the moment, and when the light finally faded they found themselves alone.

The army was gone. And so was Chrysalis.

“Wh--what just happened?” Bea asked.

“Twilight!” Applejack yelled, rushing towards the platform to meet her friend. Twilight had already turned her attention to the other mare near her, her muzzle pressed up against hers in a deep kiss.

“Oh, dear,” Rarity said running up beside Applejack, who had stopped suddenly. “I do believe that Twilight has made some, shall we say, close new friends.”

“Are you okay?” Twilight asked, pulling away.

“Yeah, Sparky,” Trueblood answered. “In fact, after that kiss, I’m feeling pretty darn good.” She smiled up at Twilight, and then slowly began to raise herself up onto all fours. “Uh, was that those Elements of Harmony you have been going on about?”

“Yeah,” Twilight answered, “it was.”

“Okay, I agree. We have got to get us a set of those things,” Trueblood stated.

Turning to see Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie step up beside the first two, Twilight felt a tear form in the corner of her eye. “Girls!” She rushed to them, meeting them in a tight group hug. “I was afraid that I was never going to see you again!”

“We kinda had that same fear, sugarcube,” Applejack stated.

“But we were hardly going to just let you disappear on us without a proper rescue occurring,” Rarity stated.

“Yep! And consider yourself rescued!” Pinkie added.

“And you must tell us, darling, who is your lovely new friend?” Rarity smiled past Twilight at the approaching mare.

“Oh, everypony, this is Trueblood. She’s...” Twilight looked at her for a moment and then made a decision, “she’s my marefriend. My very special somepony. And an all-around amazing mare.”

“Uh, that’s great and all,” Rainbow Dash added from a distance, “but, do you think that you guys might give us a hoof here?”

The five Elements and Trueblood looked over to see Goldfeather and Gilda, each being held at bay by ponies struggling to keep them apart. Trixie and Rainbow Dash held onto Goldfeather, while Ditzy, Bea, and Husk were wrapped around Gilda.

In a flash Twilight was there, followed almost immediately by Trueblood, the others rushing down to meet them.

“What’s happening?” Twilight asked. “Gilda! Calm down!”

“Get outta my way, Twilight. I got something to finish,” she growled.

“Yeah, let her go!” Goldfeather yelled. “I’m not gonna run anymore!”

“They’re gonna kill each other, Twi!” Dash announced. “I don’t know what’s going on, but she’s--”

“Let me go,” Goldfeather said calmly. “Rainbow Dash, you know my culture. Now, I’m telling you, let me go. Trust me.”

“I don’t buy the sudden fake calm!” Dash answered. “You’re gonna go nuts again.”

“It’s not fake, and...yeah, okay it is sudden, but it’s what I’ve got to do,” she stared into Dash’s eyes. “Let me go. Let us both go.”

“No!” Twilight yelled. “I’m not gonna let these two rip into each other. Not after everything that has happened.”

“Twi,” Dash said, taking a step back, “we gotta.” She turned to her friend. “It ain’t gonna go away. They gotta settle this.”

“Um, Dash was it?” Trueblood added. “I don’t know this one, but Gilda here is a good friend of mine, and I’m not gonna stand by and let her get hurt.”

“Hey, I don’t know you, but I do know them, and if you say she’s your friend, then you’ll let her do this,” Dash said.

“Sugarcube,” Applejack said running up, “what the hay are you talkin’ about?”

“Blood,” Dash said. She turned to Trixie, who was still holding onto the now not-struggling Goldfeather. “Let her go, Trix.”

“Trixie’s not sure this is a good idea,” she said.

“Look!” Dash shouted, causing all the ponies to jump back. “This isn’t a pony thing! This is a griffin thing! They ain’t gonna stop! And we can’t be there the whole time, so stop thinking we can!”

“Dash, we can’t just let them hurt each other--or worse,” Twilight said.

“Well, then, Twi,” Dash said, “I suggest you leave. ‘Cause this is gonna happen.”

Trixie stepped away from Goldfeather, who looked at the unicorn and smiled. Walking slowly to close the gap, she stood just beyond claw reach of Gilda.

“Let her go,” she said evenly.

Bea looked to Trueblood, who paused and then nodded unevenly.

The ponies back away from Gilda, who rushed forward and came to a dead stop, staring Goldfeather eye-to-eye.

“I’m gonna rip your throat out,” Gilda promised.

“Before you do,” Goldfeather countered, “let me use it to tell you some things.” She didn’t wait for a response. “When Coldheart fell on the griffin kingdoms, we fought--and died. I watched hundreds of our kind fall to her and her forces, and we did something that I thought would never happen. We ran away.

“That didn’t stop them, though. They pursued us. Hunted us. And they found us. I was there that night. I don’t know if you know it, but I was. I heard the screams and I flew towards them, ready to lay it all on the line. Ready to give my life. Pointlessly.”

Keeping her head up and her eyes focused, Goldfeather’s voice cracked as a tear fell out of her eye. “I saw what was happening, and I saw her. Standing there, looking down on the griffins that were being slaughtered. I made a choice. I went to her, surrendered, and offered my services to help her hunt down our kind.”

“You filthy piece of...” Gilda growled.

“Yeah. Yeah, I feel the same way. And the sad part is that I would do it all again. I didn’t betray anypony that night. I told her I would help her hunt down our kind, and...I did. I found them, and asked them to do the unspeakable. For every four I found, I asked one to stay behind and be captured. And I think you know what happened to those that stayed.”

“Wait? What?” Gilda turned her head.

“The other three I sent out to an island that is clean of all ponies. It’s a rocky, barren piece of hell that is unfit for any pony to even think of living on--but okay for us. Not ideal, but there are roosts, and water, and plenty of fish to eat,” Goldfeather’s cheek was soaked at this point. “There are thousands of griffins, living in peace and thriving.”

She dragged the back of her claw across her eyes and continued. “I’m a monster. I led hundreds of ponies to their deaths. To horrible deaths. And I watched it all. I was made to watch it all. So...kill me. At this point I deserve it, and there is no way in hell that I want to be around if Coldheart comes back.” Her face turned to stone. “But if you do, then you damn well better be ready to step in and take my place, or she’ll hunt every damn one of us down no matter where we hide.”

Everypony stood there in silence. They could hear Gilda’s beak grinding, see her claws gripping the ground, and her tail flicking back and forth. Goldfeather put her ears back and closed her eyes, ready for whatever happened next.

She felt Gilda’s claws on her flesh, gripping into her back--and pulling her close. The hug was tight, making it difficult for Goldfeather to breathe, but she could hear just fine.

“Family,” Gilda said softly. Then, just as suddenly as she grabbed her, she let go, turned and walked away, hiding her face from the gathered ponies.

Flying up, Rainbow Dash took Gilda’s place, hugging Goldfeather tightly. “Family,” she echoed.

“No,” Goldfeather whispered in her ear. “She is family. Real family. Gilda is my cousin.”

Rainbow Dash pulled her head back, smiling at Goldfeather. “Hey, that just makes it better, but we’re all family. You’ve got all of us now.”

“We can always use a new member to our family,” Trueblood said. “We would be honored to welcome you.”

“I can personally attest to how wonderful they are,” Twilight added. “They are pretty darn great. I’m happy to be with them.”

“Uh, about that, Twi,” Applejack broke in. “I think you need to know what’s going on back home...”

* * * * * * *

Her horn was glowing brighter than the forge. She never knew that she could generate this much magic, or how she was doing it now, but she couldn’t stop. Her coat was matted with sweat. Her eyes fought to keep focus, the glow of the metal making it difficult.

It was like staring into the sun itself.

Her magic was hotter than the forge. It pervaded the metal and turned it, twisting it around and shaping it in a way that his hammer couldn’t. Not without breaking both anvil and hammer, pony and soul. And if she kept going any longer, her own soul would break. She could feel the magic fading. There was nothing left to draw upon. She had to let go.

It was all up to The Princess now.

* * * * * * *

“And can you explain to Trixie why we are doing this again?” she asked.

“It’s fairly simple, darling,” Rarity answered. “Twilight has spent a great deal of time with these ponies, and she wants to see this task finished. And since we were so close, it only made sense for all of us to go together, despite the, shall we say, rather rustic conditions.”

“So, we’re letting the ponies back home suffer a little longer so that Twilight Sparkle can finish her adventure with her new marefriend?” Trixie countered.

“You’re a fine one to talk!” Rarity stated with a smile. “And besides, from the way Twilight has described it, the ponies here have suffered far longer, and this may be the answer they have been looking for all along.”

“Well, if I made add to this conversation...” Bea walked up along the other side of Rarity, smiling at the white unicorn. “Twilight has been instrumental in getting all of us to this point. Her talks of the Elements of Harmony were inspirational, and now that I have seen them in action I am more intrigued than ever.” Her eyes glanced over Rarity. “Perhaps you could take the time to give me a detailed explanation of how they work from your perspective?”

“Trixie doesn’t think so!” She slipped over to position herself between Rarity and Bea. “And keep your wandering eyes to yourself!”

“Did...did you just refer to yourself in the third person?” Bea asked.

“What if Trixie did? Huh?” Trixie glared at her twin.

“Ladies!” Rarity interceded between them. “There is no need for unpleasantries. Bea--I believe that is the name you use--while your attention is certainly flattering,” she bat her eyelashes, “I am an involved mare. And Trixie,” she turned to her marefriend, “have I ever told you how sexy you are when you get possessive like that?”

“Are they done?” Twilight asked a few paces ahead.

“Prob’ly not,” Applejack answered. “Personally, I think Rarity is gonna milk this for all that it’s worth.”

“Well, it won’t matter,” Trueblood stated, “because we’re here. Endymion’s Tomb.”

The journey had taken them the better part of a day, and now they found themselves staring at a tower of stone rising up from the plain. Ten meters across on all sides, it rose to a gentle point some thirty meters high. The deep, red stone of the structure stood out from the grass, but left Twilight peering curiously at the base.

“Is...is there something on it? Around the base?” she asked.

“Yeah,” Trueblood broke into a trot, accelerating towards the tomb. “Some of it is the stories of his life, and some are quotes from him, and a lot of it is little things that ponies have done to honor him over the years.”

“Where do you think the Elements might be located?” Twilight asked, moving to keep up.

“Um, I’m not sure,” she answered. “There isn’t anything on the tomb about that. At least, none that I can remember.”

“Well, how do we get in?”

“There isn’t a door,” Trueblood explained.

“Uh, okay, let me see if I have this straight,” Twilight said. “We’ve traveled halfway across Equestria to get a tomb to locate this world’s Elements of Harmony, and...there isn’t a door?”

“It was a theory,” Trueblood said with a smile. “Besides, we haven’t even tried yet.”

Eleven ponies and two griffins reached the tomb in short order, their eyes taking in the grandeur of the place.

“Woooooah,” Rainbow Dash said slowly. “This place is kinda awesome.”

“Yes, it is a rather impressive structure,” Bea agreed. “I visited here once when I was a foal.”

“Um, what are we looking for?” Fluttershy asked.

“Something. Anything that might give us insight to the location of the Elements,” Twilight stated, looking around. “We don’t know if they are here, but we’re gonna find out. Split up, look around and see if any of you can find anything.”

Small groups moved around the building, doing their best to find answers.

“You seein’ anything?” Applejack asked.

“Nothing that indicates a doorway,” Husk answered. “Though this pony seemed very interesting.”

Nearby, others weren’t having any more luck.

“It says here that he had six kids with some pony named Selene,” Rainbow Dash stated. “What a randy stallion!”

“And that led to a good portion of our problem,” Bea answered. “Coldheart is his descendant.”

“Oh, well, not so awesome, then,” Dash replied.

“You know, you could have moved further away from Trixie,” Trixie told Bea.

“Trixie,” Rarity chided. “Be nice to her. She’s doing her best to help out.”

“Trixie thinks she’s doing her best to be near you,” she answered.

The two griffins moved around the corner.

“Don’t you find putting up with ponies annoying?” Goldfeather asked.

“Not really. They have some weird tendencies, but once you get down to it, they’re actually fairly decent folk,” Gilda answered. “You seeing anything that would get us inside?”

“Not without punching a hole in the thing, which I’m guessing would be frowned on,” she stated.

Across from them, on the far side of the tomb, another pair was having the same level of luck.

“I’m not seeing anything,” Twilight said. “There’s a reference to him being the Lord of Harmony, but I don’t see anything about the Elements. Or anything about a door. Or what might be inside the tomb--though I can guess the obvious thing.”

“Don’t lose hope, Sparky,” Trueblood stepped over and put her hoof on Twilight’s withers. “We’ll find something.”

“Um, Twilight,” Fluttershy whispered. “What are they doing?”

She was pointing around the corner from where Twilight and Trueblood stood. The pair walked up next to the pegasus and followed her hoof to see Pinkie and Ditzy Doo, sitting side-by-side, staring intently at a single spot on the side of the tomb, both of them rubbing their chins with their hooves.

“I don’t know, but for some reason it’s making me nervous,” Twilight broke into a gallop, running up beside the mares, Trueblood and Fluttershy right at her side.

“What’s going on, Ditzy?” Trueblood asked.

“We’re studying,” she answered.

“Studying...what?” Twilight cocked her head around, trying to get a clear view of their subject.

“Hole,” Pinkie answered.

“A whole what?” Twilight asked.

“A whole hole,” Pinkie replied.

“A what now?” Twilight shook her head.

“She’s right,” Ditzy added. “It is a whole hole.”

“This is going to lead to a headache, isn’t it?” Trueblood asked.

“Oh, most likely,” Fluttershy said reassuringly.

“So, did you two find anything?” Twilight asked.

“We found nothing,” Ditzy said.

“Which is most definitely something,” Pinkie explained.

“Yep. Headache on the way,” Trueblood said.

Moving around directly behind them, Twilight twisted her head and squinted, hoping to see what they were staring at. After looking for a moment through the various inscriptions present she stopped, her eyes coming back to a spot where there the stone was darker. Or at least, it seemed that way at first.

“What is that?” Twilight asked.

“It’s a hole,” Ditzy said.

“A whole hole,” Pinkie added.

“Is that carved out of the stone?” she stepped forward, getting a closer look.

“Nope,” Pinkie added. “It’s just not there.”

She ran her hoof over the outside of it, testing its edges. The hole was more of a gap, not quite a full hoof across, and irregularly shaped. And Pinkie was right, it wasn’t carved out of the stone. It was where the stones met, leaving a space.

Lighting her horn, Twilight sent a small ball of magic inside to test its depth. The gap went back farther than she thought, the small dot of light becoming very hard to see after a few moments. Bringing it back the way it came, Twilight paused.

“I didn’t see that the first time,” she said.

“What?” Trueblood asked.

“There’s...another hole. This time it looks like it is a hole. Something carved into the bottom of the stone in the gap,” Twilight answered. “And...and I think there are words.”

“Oh! What does it say?” Fluttershy asked.

“Opens...the...way...here,” Twilight read slowly.

“Opens the way here?” Trueblood repeated. “Wait, is that thing a door? Is that what we’re looking for?”

“I don’t know,” Twilight said.

“Oh!” Pinkie bounced up. “I get it! Good thing I brought this!”

From seemingly nowhere, Pinkie Pie pulled out a jar of water, and poured it into the gap.

* * * * * * *

The pain was almost unbearable. Even with her own considerable limits, she found herself straining. The blacksmith had done his part, turning and transforming the metal. And the unicorn had performed her task wonderfully, igniting the magic inside it and providing a natural conduit.

The rest was up to her.

Channeling her inner strength was the easy part. Finding the connection was a challenge. Bringing it in line with her own unique frequency was a task of strong measure. Still, it was the pain that was difficult. But it was necessary. All new life is born in a moment of pain.

She had stopped sweating. Stopped making noise. None of those mattered any more. If she wasn’t able to overcome the pain it was all a failure, but the reward was worth the risk. Worth the pain.

It was just out of reach. Not wanting to be touched at all, despite their new proximity. She could feel the others nearby, their concern touching her deeply. Pushing that aside, she reached out once more, summoning the innermost reserves of her power to stretch out and touch it in the darkness. To reach the light. It was right there. If only she could just...

Contact.

* * * * * * *

The stone cracked, a sound like the world breaking apart filling everypony’s ears. The ground rumbled, causing the earthbound ponies to stumble about, and the winged ponies to take to the sky.

Endymion’s tomb split apart. Four quarters pulled away from each other, dragging against the ground, moved by some invisible power. Dirt and debris fell down from the ancient tomb, jostled loose by the sudden action.

Everypony moved away--some more rapidly than others--from the tomb. Staggering backwards, Twilight stared wide-eyed, her jaw falling slack. Next to her, Trueblood tried to push the mare further away.

“Get back! We don’t know what’s going to happen!” she shouted, doing her best to encourage Twilight to hurry. The moment was bigger than any fear Twilight could muster, though, and she simply stepped backwards at a slow, steady pace.

“Wh--what is going on?” Twilight asked. “This is amazing.”

“Why don’t we worry about that after we’ve gotten to safety? Okay, Sparky?” Trueblood picked up Twilight with her magic and began to gallop away from the stones. Twilight kept her eyes on what was happening, seeing the quarters of the tomb separate and spread, leaving a large gap in the middle of where they once stood.

Dust rose up, obscuring the base of the tomb sections, as well as any ponies that were near the ground on the far side from Twilight. Looking up, it seemed to Twilight that the separate sections must be at least ten meters apart--and were slowing down.

“Wait!” she shouted to Trueblood. In a flash she teleported out of her grasp and onto to ground once again. “It’s stopping.”

“You don’t know that,” Trueblood countered, running back to meet her. “And you have no idea what opening that thing means.”

“Not yet,” she answered, stepping back towards the opened tomb, “but I intend to find out.”

“Wait, you aren’t just...” Trueblood broke into a trot to catch up to Twilight. “You are going in there. You are utterly fearless.”

“Oh no, that’s hardly true,” Twilight said. “It’s just that I want to know what’s going on more than the fear is pushing me back.”

“Yay!” Pinkie Pie suddenly appeared with the two mares. “I knew that was going to come in handy!”

“Pinkie! What did you do?” Twilight asked, stepping up to the edge of the dust cloud.

“I poured the water into it, silly,” she answered.

“Yeah, but what water? Where did you get it?” Twilight asked.

“From the big magic-hanging-pool-thingie!” she explained. “I just scooped some out of it and brought it along.”

“But...how did you know to pour it in?” Trueblood asked.

“Oh!” Ditzy Doo flew up beside the trio. “I understand, now. Opens the way, here. It was instructions!”

“Well, duh!” Pinkie said. “The water opens the way to this world, so you put it there!”

“You...you figured that out? That quickly?” Trueblood asked.

“Pinkie is an amazing pony,” Twilight added, her focus still forward into the settling dust. “I’ve learned not to be surprised by what she can do.”

Squinting her eyes, Twilight peered ahead, spotting something in the settling dust. Something familiar.

“Is that...” she started, “is that a pony?”

The others turned to look, spotting the same thing that Twilight saw. Standing tall in the center of the stones was a roan-red stallion with a thick mane of black and grey. Wrinkles hung under his eyes and bits of his coat seemed to hang a little loose around his withers.

“Endymion,” Trueblood whispered.

“What?” Twilight shook her head. “No, that’s impossible.”

“Only one way to find out!” Pinkie began to bounce forward, casually heading towards the pony.

“No!” Twilight grabbed Pinkie with her magic, lifting her into the air. “No, Pinkie, I think it might be better for somepony else to check on this.”

“Awwww...” Pinkie sagged a little as Twilight set her down behind her.

Taking a first tentative step, Twilight slowly worked her way forward, approaching the elder pony standing the middle of the tomb.

“Uh, hello?” Twilight said gently. “Sir? My name is Twilight Sparkle, and I’ve come a very long way to--”

“Welcome,” the stallion spoke suddenly as Twilight got closer. “I always hoped to see another pony from my world before my death, but that wasn’t meant to be. So, all I can do is greet you now and relay my story in this, my final message.”

Shifting her vision, a flash of light caught Twilight’s eyes. Two mirrors, each sitting opposite the other on two of the sections, each reflecting an image of the pony speaking.

“A recording...” Twilight realized, walking forward to get a better look at the pony.

“As you probably know, my name is Endymion. I came to this world many, many years ago, pursuing the answer to a puzzle and finding a new life. While I love the life and the mare that I found here, I do regret never being able to return home and tell Selene--the other world’s Selene---how much I loved her, as well. I can only hope that she is living a long, happy life. If you get the chance, please tell her that I never meant to hurt her, and thought about her often.”

The quartet of ponies walked up on the image that stood there, a realistic image that seemed to be alive except for the lack of recognition to his surroundings.

“I do hope that you can pardon the theatrics, but it was necessary to hide this recording and what I have brought with me into this place. I live in a time of peace, protected by Celestia and Selene, who watch over the day and night and guard everypony alive. Should that no longer be the case, I am sure that one of them has guided you--new visitors from my world--to this spot, with instructions on how to get inside. And access to the one thing that brings the world together. Harmony.”

“The Elements!” Twilight whispered. Many others came up alongside, silently watching the pony speak.

“I came here looking for answers, and only finding enough to get me in trouble. There was a charm that had been placed on the pool, calling ponies to it and through it from our world, only to be captured and worse by what waited on the other side. The details are not important, but suffice it to say that I found the party responsible and stopped them. But then something unexpected happened--I had no way home. The pool didn’t let me go back through, leaving me trapped here.”

“I know that feeling,” Twilight said.

“I decided to go to the one pony that I thought would have answers for me. I went to find Selene. Imagine my surprise when I found that Selene and Celestia were not the kind, loving sisters that I knew, but angry, bitter rivals. The world was suffering, and I decided that I needed to save this world if I could. Using the magic that Selene--our world’s Selene--had taught me, I located the items that I knew would bring them together.”

Another grinding sound startled everypony as the two sections of the tomb without mirrors opened up, a doorway appearing to face out towards the opening.

“The Elements of Harmony. Bringing the two sisters together with the Elements, they were able to tie themselves to three each, creating a bond between the sun and the moon that had never existed before. Peace and love flourished, and carries through to this day.”

“But then why did he--” Trueblood never finished her thought.

“I asked them to put the Elements here, in this place, safe from anypony that might look to destroy them and take peace from our land. And now you are here, which means that there is a reason. If Selene or Celestia--or both--have returned to their warring ways, then you will need to bring them together with the items in these chambers. Bring peace back to Equestria. For myself, for my children, and for the future. Thank you.”

A flicker of light, and he was gone.

“I don’t...” Twilight said. “There is so much I still want to know. So many things that I wanted to ask.”

“Sparky,” Trueblood saddled up beside her, “the important thing is that you were right. The Elements are here.”

“That’s true.” Twilight smiled. “I guess it’s time to gather them up.”

“I don’t think so.”

The voice was too familiar. They turned to look directly at her.

“Chrysalis,” Twilight snarled. “I thought we got rid of you.”

The Changeling Queen smiled, causing everypony to shudder. “I’m far too tenacious for that to work,” she said, “and far too clever for you to get another chance.”

Green energy swelled from her horn, and a terrified Fluttershy floated into view--along with her Element beside her. In a single swift motion, the necklace of Kindness latched itself around Chrysalis’ throat.

“And with that out of the way, I believe that it is time to teach you upstarts a lesson,” she stated.

“No.” Trueblood stepped forward. “Twilight and her friends have done enough. It is time to deal with you personally.”

A single eyebrow went up on Chrysalis. “Really? Well, I suppose I have time to teach you a proper lesson.” Fluttershy fell to the ground with a slight shriek.

“Trueblood?” Twilight stepped up.

“No, Sparky. You’ve done enough.” She reached over and nuzzled Twilight’s neck, pulling back to let their lips meet. “I’ll be right back.”

Trueblood trotted up a few steps, standing there, her head held high. “You’ve never been anything but a pest, Toy. Feeding off of scraps that Fantasia threw to you. You can protest all you like, but you are nothing but a coward.”

“I’ll be the coward that is still alive in a few moments,” she replied, stepping up with surprising grace. “And it seems that you’ve forgotten.” Her eyes blazed green. “My name is Chrysalis. I’ll make sure you repeat it before you die.”

“I’d wish you luck, but, honestly, I would be lying,” Trueblood said, her own horn glowing gold.

The other ponies stood and watched, letting this drama unfold before them. With the exception of two.

“Come with me,” Gilda whispered to Goldfeather. And they walked away from the rest of the group.

“I’ve wanted to destroy you for years,” Chrysalis said as she paced around carefully.

“But Fantasia’s leash was too short, eh?” Trueblood countered. “Well, it’s time for both of you to go away. It’s time for the ponies of Equestria to be free once more.”

“They are free,” Chrysalis lunged forward, her horn met by Trueblood’s with a resounding clack. “They are free to obey me for the rest of their lives.”

Straining, Trueblood pressed back, her teeth clenched. “These ponies will be free from the rule of you or Fantasia or anypony like you! And the sad part is that it takes somepony being an outlaw to try to maintain what is best and good about Equestria.”

“Equestria? You are always thinking small,” Chrysalis reared back, unleashing a powerful beam of energy. Countering it, Trueblood was able to deflect it with a beam of her own. “This isn’t about a small country. This is about the world!”

“For the world, then,” Trueblood lowered her head and charged towards Chrysalis, horn forward.

“Really?” She replied. “This ought to be good for a laugh.”

Countering the maneuver, Chrysalis lowered her own head, pointing the crooked horn atop it towards Trueblood and launching herself forward. And just before they were to meet, Trueblood disappeared in a flash of light.

Hooves struck Chrysalis’ hindquarters, sending her off balance and skidding into the dirt. Instantly she rolled over, just in time to have Trueblood land on top of her.

“If you are serious about reforming your kingdom, you’ll leave this place, and leave us. It’s over,” Trueblood pressed her horn down, met once more by Chrysalis’ own.

“You overestimate yourself, as always,” Chrysalis said. “You are a speck compared to me!”

A thrust of Chrysalis’ forelegs sent Trueblood flying backwards. Twisting in the air, she did her best to regain her hooves, but skidded down onto her side. A gasp could be heard from the watching ponies.

Leaping to her hooves, Chrysalis bound over to stand above Trueblood. Her hoof came down to rest upon Trueblood’s chest.

“Is it time for another trick? Teleport away again? It won’t matter you know. I’ll be there waiting for you.” Chrysalis’ tongue rolled out of her mouth.

“Pretty much counting on it, actually.” And with a flash Trueblood disappeared, and then reappeared in almost the same location, only this time facing her foe.

Trueblood’s horn sank into Chrysalis’ throat as she thrust forward.

Eye’s wide, Chrysalis staggered back, her throat pulling off the horn. Green liquid oozed from the open wound for a moment before closing seemingly of its own accord.

“Y--you think that can stop me?” she spat, her voice ragged. “I can reform myself almost at will. Your little bites are an annoyance!”

“Yeah, that’s me,” Trueblood said as she disappeared, again reappearing next to Chrysalis and thrust her horn into the changeling’s side, “annoying.”

“Go away!” A burst of green energy swelled from inside Chrysalis, knocking Trueblood backwards and tumbling. “You are an insect! And as such...” The changeling took to wing, fluttering up and landing atop Trueblood hard enough to knock the wind from the mare, “...you need to be crushed.”

A massive green hoof raised up, ready to smash down onto Trueblood’s head, only to be gripped suddenly by a griffin’s claw.

“I don’t think so,” Goldfeather stated.

“Yeah,” Gilda added from Chrysalis’ other side. “Trueblood here might think that she has to do it all, but the truth is a little better.” A clatter of metal revealed six items that the griffin was carrying. “The truth is that she has friends. Which is something you don’t understand.”

Looking up, Trueblood saw three familiar faces standing behind Chrysalis. A smile ran across her face and a light suddenly lit in her eye.

“They’re right,” she said from the ground. “I keep thinking that this is about me and Fantasia, and by extension, you, but it isn’t. It never has been. This is about what is good and best in all of us. What makes this world a great place.”

“Devotion,” a piece of metal raised up and flew to strike Gilda in the chest.

“Joy,” another piece flew up into the air to strike the chest of Ditzy Doo.

“Decency,” Husk was struck by the next flying metal artifact.

“Fairness,” Bea stood proud as the metal found her chest.

“And Sacrifice,” the fifth piece struck a rather unsuspecting Goldfeather.

“When those things come together, along with...with,” her eye lit up once more, “with a sense of Honor, well, then anything can be done.”

The final piece of metal struck Trueblood squarely on the chest, a brilliant flash of light blinding everypony’s sight for a moment. When their vision cleared, everypony saw six chest harnesses, each with a glowing symbol on their at its core, on six creatures gathered together and facing towards Chrysalis.

“I think it’s time for you to leave,” Trueblood said from the front of the six. “Oh, and leave that necklace behind.”

“Letting me go?” she snarled. “Another sign of your weakness.”

“Compassion isn’t weakness, Toy...I’m sorry, Queen Chrysalis,” Trueblood stated. “I don’t expect you to understand that, though. Go on. Find your people. Form your kingdom. They need you.”

Pacing back and forth for a moment, Chrysalis stopped. She levitated the necklace from around her throat and dropped it next to the Fluttershy, who stood waiting with her friends.

“You’ll regret this,” Chrysalis said.

“You better hope not,” Trueblood replied. “Now get the hell out of here.”

Turning away, it seemed as though Chrysalis faded away into the surrounding landscape as she fled. They all stood there silently for a moment, unsure of what to say, until Goldfeather finally spoke up.

“What just happened?” she asked.

“We won!” Ditzy Doo leapt into the air, did a backflip and came down next to Husk, grabbing him in a tight hug.

“I’ll be damned,” Gilda smiled, “we did.”

“And without any harm to anypony,” Bea observed. “Surprising, actually.”

Looking at the other five, Trueblood smiled. “Thanks. I couldn’t have done any of this without you guys.”

Five of them came together in a big group hug. Goldfeather stood to the side, watching the display of affection.

“Goldfeather?” Husk raised his head.

“Uh, no offense, but I just met you guys, and--”

“If you don’t get in this hug, then we’re gonna go another round,” Gilda growled.

She opened her mouth for a moment, and then finally shook her head with a sigh. “Fine.”

And the six of them were hugging.

“Trueblood?” a soft voice asked.

Looking up, Trueblood saw the smiling face of Twilight Sparkle staring at her, pools welling in the corner of her eyes. Breaking free, Trueblood took her marefriend into a deep hug, her mouth coming over to kiss her deeply and devoutly.

“Woo-eee,” Applejack stated. “I think them two has something goin’ on.” Her smile quickly faded. “Which makes what I gotta tell ‘em even tougher.”

She trotted up to the couple, still in the midst of their embrace. “Uh, Twilight? I hate to be the pony who woke up the rooster, but...we gotta get goin.’ We got our own world to save.”

She pulled back, a smile still thick on her face. “I know,” Twilight said. “And I’ve got a few ideas about that, now. But we still have to figure out how to get back through that portal.”

“Oh, that is no concern, Twilight Sparkle,” Trixie stepped up. “The Great and Powerful Trixie already has a solution to that problem.”

“You do?” Her eyes became saucers. “Th--that’s great! How did you figure it out? What do you do?”

“Well, Trixie cannot take the credit for it, actually. It was Princess Luna who solved the puzzle and passed that information on to me,” she explained. “You forgot to use the magic word.”

“Magic word? I tried dozens of magic words! I used phrases and sayings that go back to the early days of magical structure, invoking the forces of magic in ways that haven’t been used in hundreds of years! What do you mean I didn’t try a magic word?!”

“No, Twilight Sparkle, not A magic word...THE magic word,” Trixie replied with a smile. “You forgot to say, ‘please.’”

“You--you’re kidding, right? I mean...” She stopped herself. “You know what, never mind. If it works, it works.” She looked around at all of her gathered friends. “Let’s go.”

* * * * * * *

Luna stepped down the stairs, her head on a swivel.

“Tia? Tia?”

The sun was just cresting the horizon, her new morning duty just finished, but Luna was surprised to find her sister missing from their bed. She normally slept all through the night, but when Luna went in to check on her before raising the sun, all she found was a set of undisturbed covers.

“Where is she?” Luna asked aloud.

“I couldn’t really tell you,” somepony answered.

Turning her head slowly, she saw the speaking voice lounging carefully on the couch.

“Chrysalis.” Luna’s voice was deep and even. “I hope that you haven’t done anything to harm my sister.”

The changeling rolled her eyes. “Oh please. I have entered into an arrangement with you and your sister, and I am not about to ruin that by acting so brazenly.”

“Then what are you doing here?” Luna asked.

“Well, like you, I’m waiting. We need to figure out our next steps,” she replied. “Though it would help to have the pristine Sun Princess here, too, I suppose.”

“Yes.” Luna bared her fangs. “That might be a good idea. It’s always good to have a calming influence around.” She tore her eyes away from Chrysalis. “I just wish I knew where she was.”

The door to The Golden Oaks Library burst open, sunlight pouring through the opening, leaving nothing but a huge silhouette visible.

“Ladies,” a familiar calm voice said.

Celestia stepped inside, her white coat gleaming in the morning light. The smile on her face--a staple for her--was particularly broad.

Yet, Luna gasped at what she saw.

On the top of Celestia’s head grew a gleaming spire of gold, glowing with the magic of the sun. A horn of metal bonded to bone that bore into the top of her skull. A brilliant glint of magic sparked from the tip of the horn, showering Celestia’s mane with new iridescence.

“We have work to do,” she said with a quick glance at both of them. “It’s time.”

...To Be Concluded