Who Rules?: Shattered Hearts

Who Rules: Shattered Hearts

by Nom deCheval

Chapter Three

“Surprise!” The door bursting open was accompanied by a fanfare--quite literally--a burst of light, and a small sample of streamers. As the paper fell to the floor, Trixie discovered that she was alone in the Carousel Boutique.

“Um, hello?” She stepped inside, shutting the door gently behind her.

“Rarity isn’t here.” The voice caused Trixie to turn her head, looking down to see a baby dragon walk into the room.

“Oh, hello Spike,” she answered with a smile. “Where is she? Trixie was hoping to surprise her.”

“She’s out shopping. She does have a life, you know,” Spike answered, walking right past the blue mare. “It’s not like she just sits around waiting for you to pop through the door.”

Trixie cocked an eyebrow. “Well, yes, I am aware that she has a life. Trixie is also aware that you normally spend your time at the library with Twilight Sparkle. Why are you here?”

“Twilight is off with Princess Luna hunting for some old mare’s tale or something,” his voice remained snarky. “Why are YOU here? You weren’t supposed to be back for another two months.”

“I took time off to come see Rarity,” Trixie answered. “And I didn’t know that you were keeping tabs on my itinerary.”

The dragon kept walking, not looking at Trixie, who stood there, turning to watch him as he moved.

“Well, somepony has to be here to take care of Rarity on a daily basis,” he answered, climbing up onto one of the work tables in the room. “And not everypony is going to be able to go off and showboat and parade around a bunch of strange mares and stallions.”

“What exactly are you implying?” Trixie walked up to the table, staring Spike directly in the eye.

“Oh, was I implying something? I’m sorry. Maybe I should just get up on a stage and make a big production of it. Would THAT be the right way to handle things?” Spike stepped up, standing on the edge of the desk, bringing his nose right up to Trixie. “Or should I just parade around challenging ponies to do things for my own benefit.”

“Trixie doesn’t do that anymore,” she stated. “Ponies travel from miles around to see me perform.”

“Riiiight. Perform. Is that what you call it when the ponies throw room keys up to you?” The reply was thick with sarcasm.

“I will have you know that Trixie is extremely loyal to Rarity! I have not even been tempted by anypony else!” Trixie snapped back.

“Well, even if that’s true, you still have been cruel to her! You left her behind and went off to live your life, instead of being here for her! I would never do that to her!” Spike puffed up as big as he could. “Just like Rarity has been there for me!”

“Wait, wait, wait...” Trixie stepped back, shaking her head. “This isn’t about you disliking me at all, is it? This is about you liking Rarity.”

“Why? Afraid you can’t handle a little competition?” His chest was out and his head held high.

Trixie laughed. She brought a hoof up to her eye to wipe away a sudden tear. “Oh, this is too funny.” Turning away, she walked over towards the center of the boutique. “You had me right on the verge of doing something I would have regretted, Spike.”

“Hey! Hey, don’t you walk away from me!” He jumped down and scampered over, catching up to the mare. “I’m not done with you yet!”

“Please, Spike, I think that you are very done,” she stated, her eyes now scanning the room once again.

He grabbed her tail, yanking on it with all of his might. For a being so small, he was surprisingly strong. Being a dragon did have advantages. “Don’t you walk away!”

“OUCH!” Trixie spun around. “That was uncalled for! If Trixie didn’t think that Rarity would be upset, I would--”

“Oh, so you admit that Rarity likes me!” Spike tried to be taller--unsuccessfully.

“As. A. Friend!” Trixie shook her head. “You are a friend, and always will be, Spike. Don’t get your head full of ideas.”

He pressed his nose up, trying to push it against Trixie’s. “Well, maybe you’re the one that should make sure that YOUR head isn’t full of ideas!”

Trixie smiled and almost seemed to pat him on the head without making a move. “I’m her marefriend, Spike. Trixie isn’t imagining anything.”

“You’re her LONG DISTANCE marefriend!” he countered. “Do you think that’s going to last forever? And I’m right here!”

Her mouth opened to respond, but her words were held in check by the sound of another voice piercing through the room.

“Darling!” Rarity beamed as she opened the door to her boutique. “Trixie, I had no idea that you were visiting this week! The place is an absolute disaster!”

She bounded over to the other unicorn, the packages she was carrying levitating to the closest table to be set down abruptly. Forgetting what she was doing, Trixie turned and embraced her marefriend, their lips meeting in a moment of passion--and lingering for more than that moment.

“When did you get here?” Rarity asked, breaking free from the kiss.

“Only a few minutes ago. Trixie was hoping to surprise you,” she answered.

Rarity’s eyes grew a twinkle of light in their core. “Well, you may consider me appropriately taken aback. How long are you able to visit?”

“I have taken two weeks off from my show. Trixie could use the rest, actually. Performing is my life, but doing so nine times a week with no time off can grow quite tiring,” she said. “And when I got your--ahem--message, I found myself wanting to take that time off right away.”

“Well, I’m not certain that Las Pegasus can survive without its most brilliant thaumaturgic artiste,” Rarity stated with a huge smile, “but I know that their loss is most assuredly my own personal gain.”

“And besides,” Trixie said, saddling up beside Rarity, “this will give me a chance to work on a few new tricks.” Her eyebrows arced up. “Some of which I might even be able to use in the show.”

“Oh, darling! You’re incorrigible!” Giggling, Rarity pressed her flank up against her marefriend playfully. “So tell me, how is the show going?”

Rarity returned to the abandoned bags, levitating them up beside her once more and walking towards the kitchen. Trixie fell in right beside her.

“Tiring, but wonderful! Trixie has been playing to a sold-out audience since the show started. In fact, I want you to come visit soon and see it. I’ve told everypony about you and they are all...”

The words faded away as the two ponies exited the room, leaving a small dragon standing there, wisps of smoke rising out of his mouth. He hadn’t moved since Rarity entered the room--and said nothing to him. His small fists were turning pale from the tightness of their clenched grip.

“I’m right here, Rarity,” Spike muttered. “You’re gonna notice me if it’s the last thing I do.”

* * * * * * *

A deep-purple mist crawled slowly across the floor of the cave, gradually coalescing itself together and forming into a more familiar figure. And as soon as Luna reformed herself, she collapsed once more to the ground.

“Tw--Twilight Sparkle?” Luna’s voice was weak and strained. “Are you here?”

The echo of her own words off the stone walls was her only reply.

“Of course not,” she said, taking a deep breath. “It would be too convenient for that to happen.”

Her right forehoof extended out, and she pressed up, her body groaning as she regained her stance. Pure force of will and determination kept Luna upright, and her godly endurance allowed her to take a step.

“First lesson: immortality does not mean immune to pain,” she said softly to herself. “I will have to point that out to Coldheart next time we meet.”

With one more step Luna’s world momentarily grayed out. A quick shake of her head did what it could to restore clarity, but the tell-tale signs were overwhelming to the alicorn.

“Dammit, Twilight,” she muttered, “I needed you to be here. Where are you?”

She took small, careful steps, moving to stand beside the massive pool of water that hung on the wall in front of her. Keeping her breath measured, she considered her options.

“I do not want to abandon you, Twilight Sparkle, but I do not have the faintest idea where to begin looking,” she thought out loud, each word returning to her in the large chamber. “This world has proven to be dangerous, and I am responsible for you being here. It is my duty to see you returned safely home.”

She turns to look back towards the entrance of the cave. “But if I stay, I may not have the strength to do that. And if I go find you, it seems inevitable that Coldheart will find me--find both of us--and I am in no condition to stop her.” She turned to look back at the pool. “What’s more, if something were to happen to both of us, our home would be left with a mystery at best, and a disaster at worst.”

She lowered her head, a sigh escaping her. “I am sorry, Twilight, but there is no option.” Bringing her head back up to its full height, she narrowed her eyes in concentration. “But I vow that I will return you safely home when all is said and done.”

A smile began to creep onto her face. “And I know exactly who can help me do just that.”

She moved to the pool once again, preparing to go home.

* * * * * * *

A bright golden flash of light filled the night air, and Twilight was temporarily blind. She blinked rapidly, hoping to restore her vision quickly.

“Wh--where am I?” she asked.

“Who the hell is that?” a gruff voice asked. “Are you bringing home more strays, Trueblood?”

“Pretty much, yeah.” Twilight was pretty sure that it was Trueblood who answered, and the other voice sounded vaguely familiar, but she couldn’t quite place it. At least not yet. Her vision was coming back to her, and she was able to make out some rough shapes in the night. There were three--maybe four--ponies here. And one of them was big.

“Gosh, is that another friend? We can always use more friends!” A happy voice announced.

“Is she hurt? Has she been...y’know?” another voice asked.

“Yes, but let’s deal with that in a moment,” Trueblood answered.

The darkness lightened, her eyes coming to terms with the flash of light and the deep shadows of the night, and the first thing she saw was a pair of eyes staring back at her--somewhat. One of the eyes was staring directly at her, but the other one was looking more at her right ear.

“Derpy?” Twilight asked in surprise.

“Huh?” the pony answered, her eyes cocking even slightly more. “That seems like a mean thing to say to somepony that you meet for the first time. But that’s okay, I forgive you. You’ve had a rough day I’m guessing.” She stepped back, light green mane and eyes over a pale blue-grey coat, with a huge smile on her face. “My name’s Ditzy Doo. But honestly, that’s a bit of a misnomer.”

“I...see,” Twilight said softly. “It’s nice to meet you, Ditzy. I’m Twilight Sparkle.”

The ebullient mare grabbed Twilight’s hoof and began to shake it vigorously. “It’s great to meet you, Twilight! I’m always glad to make new friends!”

“Same here.” Twilight turned to the other voice, and immediately jumped backwards.

“Changeling!” she shouted, her horn sparking to life as she prepared to unleash an attack. The attack never came, as Trueblood stepped in between the pair.

“Woah! Relax there, Sparky!” she said, raising a hoof to try to calm the unicorn. “Husk is a good guy.” She stood there until Twilight showed a hint of relaxation. “Wow. You weren’t kidding when you said that you had met up with changelings before, were you?”

“No,” Twilight said, her horn losing its glow. “And I don’t have any good experiences with them to date.”

“Well, let me be the first,” the changeling stepped up, moving Trueblood aside. “My name is Husk, and I’d like to help you--if you’ll let me.”

“Help me what?” Twilight asked, raising an eyebrow dubiously.

“You’ve had a run in with Fantasia,” Trueblood stated, “and that can mess with a pony’s mind.”

“The Empress?” Twilight asked in confusion. And then her eyes grew wide. “Oh no! I left her without an explanation! I need to go back there and apologize! I hope that she’ll forgive me.”

“Well, before you go running off, Sparky, let’s see if Husk can have a little talk with you about things, okay?” Trueblood moved to stand next to Twilight, a reassuring smile on her face. And those eyes. Ice blue eyes looking at her, making Twilight think that she was safe.

“Okay,” she said with only a hint of reservation, “but I can’t stay long. I need to get back to the Empress.”

“Of course you do,” Trueblood stated. “Husk?”

“I’ve got this,” he said, stepping up to stand beside Twilight. “Can you do me a favor and close your eyes for a second?”

Twilight looked at him. Charcoal black skin--or shell, perhaps, she couldn’t tell--glowing green eyes, and short fangs in his mouth. Everything in her body was telling her to fight, not to close her eyes and trust this creature. Her jaw set firmly as she stared straight into him.

“It’s okay, Sparky,” Trueblood whispered. “I’m right here.” The mare took her hoof and placed it onto Twilight’s, holding it gently. “Nothing bad is going to happen.”

Her lungs filled with air, and she let it out slowly as her eyes closed. The moment she shut her eyes, she saw a vision of The Empress. She smiled, not even knowing why. A warmth fell over her, soothing and calm, and the vision of Coldheart began to shimmer. Slowly it lost its shape as she began to blur into the background. Twilight wafted over a wave of nothingness, as she began to drift about on a current of pleasure--which promptly vanished.

Twilight’s eyes popped open, darting about nervously. Husk was standing nearby, spitting up gobs of green goo.

“You with us, Sparky?” Trueblood’s voice was calm and reassuring. “You okay?”

She turned towards her, nodding. “Yeah. Yeah, I think so. What just happened?”

“Husk drained all of the love that Coldheart pumped into you,” she answered. “We’re lucky that she didn’t get a deeper hold, or he wouldn’t have been able to help.”

“Nasty tasting stuff,” Husk said, spitting up another chunk of green phlegm. “I got it all, though.”

“Thanks, Husk,” Trueblood said.

“Yeah, thanks, Husk!” Ditzy moved over to support her friend, holding him up carefully.

“Love that Coldheart pumped...?” Twilight’s words trailed off as she thought back earlier into the night. “Oh. Oh no. No, no, no!”

Tears welled up in her eyes as the memories flooded back. They began streaming freely as those memories sank in. Her legs gave out and she sank to her knees, a deep sobbing filling the night. Trueblood moved with her, dropping down and putting a single hoof over Twilight’s withers.

“It’s okay. You aren’t alone in this, Sparky. A lot of ponies have been through what you just went through. The lucky ones are still around to regret it--and be angry about it,” she said softly. “We’re here for you.”

Falling into Trueblood’s embrace, Twilight fought her words as they came out. “Sh--she...kuh-kuh...” Her breath caught, and she tried again. “Pr--Princess Celestia...”

“It’s okay,” Trueblood said, her voice soft and soothing. “It’s okay.”

Twilight felt the figure move to stand over them before she heard her voice. She looked up just as she spoke.

“She gonna be okay?” The voice was rough and thick.

“G--Gilda?” The griffin raised an eyebrow at the sound of her name.

“Have we met, squirt?” she asked.

“No,” Twilight said, shaking her head, the tears continuing to fall. “No, not really.”

“Good, ‘cause I think I would be upset if I forgot meeting a pony like you.” The big griffin tried to smile, but it looked a little scary in the dim light.

“Uh, yeah,” Twilight said uneasily.

“Gilda, can you go to the treehouse? We’ll be there in a few. Get everypony together, will you?” Trueblood asked.

“You bet, boss,” her voice was calm and gentle--even with the rough edge--which seemed oddly out of place to Twilight. She stared as she walked away.

“You doing okay?” Trueblood asked her.

“I...I think so,” Twilight said, her eyes falling back to the ground.

“Yeah, probably not,” Trueblood answered. “But you’ll get there. I can see it in your eyes.”

Raising her head, Twilight began to look around, getting her bearings. They were in a clearing, the moon and stars shining above. The grass felt soft beneath Twilight, her hooves padding it gently and her tail brushing back and forth. Trees dotted around the perimeter of the space, dense and thick, impenetrable in the night. A faint glow of light came from one space that snaked its way through the foliage.

“Where are we?” Twilight asked.

With a great flourish, Trueblood jumped to her hooves, dancing lightly through the clearing, her face suddenly awash with joy. “Forgive me, Twilight Sparkle! I didn’t mean to be so rude!” With a golden flash she teleported, disappearing from one side of the clearing and arriving on the top of a tall rock at the other end. “Welcome to Everfree!”

“This is the Everfree Forest?” Twilight looked around, seeing none of the tell-tale images that she knew from her Everfree. “But it seems so...pleasant.”

“This is the last bastion of freedom in the world, Sparky,” she replied, teleporting once more to stand beside the unicorn. “And we plan to keep it that way. It’s the only place where Coldheart’s magic can’t take hold, which makes it, by its nature, pleasant.”

“Wait...the whole world?” Twilight asked. “She doesn’t just rule Equestria?”

“No, she is Empress of the Six Kingdoms. Here, there, the whole world,” Trueblood said, flashing a smile. “Except Everfree. My band and I stand against The Empress, and her puppet, Toy, who rule with an iron hoof. We will fight against them until the true rulers of the separate kingdoms can be restored. We’re the last source of hope in the world,” she extended a hoof, “and we can always use another.”

“I, um, I’m not sure,” Twilight said. “It’s kind of...complicated.”

“Well,” she pulled the hoof back, her smile still shining, “at least give me the chance to convince you.”

“Well, I’m not gonna be going anywhere until morning at the earliest,” Twilight stated, rising to her hooves. “And I think I could use something to eat and some...water.”

Trueblood stepped over next to Twilight, her mane shifting in the late-night air. “Then why don’t we go over to the treehouse and see what we can get set up for you.”

“You live in a treehouse?” Twilight took the first step towards the light shining through the trees.

“Well,” Trueblood let her voice take on a sing-song quality, “it’s not so much a treehouse as it is a tree that happens to be a house.” She laughed. “I know that sounds a little crazy.”

“Actually, that sounds amazingly inviting,” she responded, smiling over at the blond-maned mare.

Trueblood put her hoof back up on Twilight’s withers as they walked. “That’s the spirit!” She trotted ahead, turning back at the last moment to look at Twilight as they came into view of the treehouse.

It sat among many other trees, a gnarled old hardwood with limbs that twisted and turned their way up and around into the canopy above. Dirt was worn away at the roots, many of them exposed above soil, and a door sat in the hollow between two roots. Twilight knew it in an instant.

“Zecora’s hut? Is she here, too?” Her eyes lit up as she saw the familiar location.

“Is who here? And what’s a zecorva?” Trueblood turned her head to the side in confusion.

“Oh, just a...friend,” she answered, her expression dropping slightly.

“Well,” Trueblood’s smile filled the space left behind as Twilight’s faded, “why don’t I introduce you to some new friends.” She stepped backwards, her hooves light and confident.

“You’ve already met Ditzy Doo, our heart and soul,” she said, stepping up beside the pegasus. “And you’ve had a close encounter with Husk, too. He’s helped us more than maybe any other pony, thanks to his special gift.” She moved over to stand beside another familiar figure. “And this is my most true friend, the one that I can rely on to be there for me every single time.” She put her hoof up around the griffin’s neck, pulling her close to her in a half-hug. “This is Gilda.”

“You’re a little too sentimental there, boss,” Gilda chided, playfully.

“She is,” another voice answered, stepping out from the doorway into the hut. “And if she’s not careful she’s going to bring home the wrong pony, endangering all of us.”

Twilight’s eyes rolled back, her mouth falling open as the figure stepped into view. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

A light blue unicorn with a pale mane stood next to Trueblood, her eyes sharp and piercing as they stared at Twilight. “What do we know about this one, Trueblood? One day you’ll bring home a spy.”

“Trixie? Of course it’s Trixie,” Twilight shook her head in disbelief.

“What? I haven’t gone by that name since I was a filly. I go by Bea now,” she responded, and then turned to Trueblood. “See, this is what I’m talking about. How does she know that?”

“She knew my name, too,” Gilda said slowly.

“And she got my name wrong,” Ditzy added with some hesitance.

“They have a good point, Sparky,” Trueblood stepped over to Twilight, her tell-tale smile missing from her face. “You do seem to know a good bit about us. Mind telling me how that can be the case?”

“Uh...growing fame from your success?” Twilight forced a smile.

“Not a good answer,” Trueblood replied, now standing right in front of the other mare. “Want to try again? With the truth, maybe?”

A mournful sigh came out of Twilight as she looked into Trueblood’s eyes. “Okay, but I really don’t think you’re gonna believe me.”

* * * * * * *

The night had fallen, and Celestia had done her duty, both in lowering her sun and raising Luna’s moon. The throne room was quiet, and the halls were still. There was no pony needing immediate need or care.

And Celestia sat in bed with a huge smile on her face.

She was naked, her shoes, crown, and chestpiece all carefully hung up in place nearby. Her mane spread out over the sheets, lazily drifting about as though it was taking the same time to relax.

The flicker of a sole light shone over her shoulder, illuminating the book that she had floating in front of her. Her eyes danced over the page, not with the speed of a party jig, but with the grace of a waltz. Her tongue wet her lips, only to have the lower lip find a place between her teeth.

It had been over a week since Luna had left with Twilight Sparkle for their attempt to discover the solution to a mystery centuries old, and that was the longest that the two had been separated since their relationship had become intimate.

The title of the book was “The Magic Bit” by A. Jinx, and Celestia had been salivating since she first picked it up.

“Oh yes,” she whispered, “yes, she is a bad, bad pony. She deserves what she is getting.”

The feathers on Celestia’s wings flexed open and closed as she read down each passage. A thin coat of sweat covered her coat as her breath became more labored.

“Pin her down. Make her beg,” Celestia hissed. “You know she wants you to do it!”

A hoof worked its way down her body, caressing her stomach and thigh as she read on deeper.

“Pound her. Drive your newborn cock deep into her,” she moaned. Her hoof found its way to her marehood, and began its ministrations, deepening the sound issuing from her body.

The book shifted in her magical grasp, her eyes closing as the words became lost to her. Images floated through her mind, drawn from the story and enacted by her cherished love. She was pinned down, her body being savagely violated by Luna and a cock that had grown from her engorged clitoris. A memory as much as fantasy, but one that took on a new life.

“Yes. Rut me. Make me yours,” Celestia could feel the tension growing in her loins. It would not be long before she would have at least a semblance of relief. It wasn’t the same as actually being with her beloved Luna, but it would have to suffice until her return.

She could hear Luna’s growl from behind her. She could smell her musk as she pushed herself towards climax. She was ready to cum for her.

She didn’t quite make it.

The door to her chamber burst open. The book flew through the air, as sheets and covers were scattered in all directions. Celestia’s eyes went wide and wild, her mane flying, as the words sputtered from her mouth.

“Knocking! This is my private chamber! It is assumed that you will knock before entering this room!” she all but shouted.

The guard stood there, lowering his head for the briefest of moments, before raising it up again. His voice wavered as he spoke. “My apologies, Your Majesty,” he said, “but...it’s Princess Luna...”

The words carried the space between the guard and Celestia instantly, but they did not match the speed of her reaction. The bed could not contain Celestia. Her wings fluttered as she came to rest at the side of the guard.

“Where is she?” Celestia asked solemnly.

“Sh--she’s in the Throne Room. She just appeared there a short--”

The guard was knocked to the ground, drawn in off balance by the sudden void left behind by Celestia. He blinked rapidly, his mind coming to terms with her teleportation as he did his best to regain his hooves and rush back to find his princess.

Celestia arrived in the throne room an instant after she left her chambers. Guards spun to attention, seeing their princess enter the room suddenly, despite the presence of the other half of the diarchy.

“Luna?! Luna?!” Her head spun around, and then stopped suddenly on its target. “Luna!”

Celestia’s hooves were moving at a full-gallop, though barely touching the ground as her wings carried her forward.

“Relax, Tia,” Luna’s voice was calm and reassuring. “I’m weak, nothing more.”

“What happened? Your coat has scorch marks on it!” Celestia stood there with no shoes or adornment, a sight rarely seen by the guards of the castle. A welcome, familiar sight to her sister-wife. “Was there an accident?”

“Not really. A mistake, perhaps, but not an accident,” she answered with a faint smile.

“What happened? What could do this to you?” she asked.

“Not what, Tia--who,” Luna’s face turned dark. “She calls herself Fantasia Coldheart, and we may well need to prepare for the worst.”

* * * * * * *

“That is a bit hard to believe, Sparky,” Trueblood said, her hoof gently rubbing along the side of her muzzle.

“Too hard to believe,” Bea answered. “I think she’s a spy.”

“Yeah, I figured you would,” Twilight mumbled.

Twilight sat at the center of a large circle, facing towards Bea, with Ditzy on her right, Husk on her left, and Gilda directly behind her. Trueblood was constantly walking, moving around the outside of the circle, keeping her focus on Twilight the whole time. The night sky was open to them above, and the lights from the treehouse gave them just enough illumination to see.

“Now, tell me,” Bea asked, “what did I do to make you dislike me so much?”

“Not you. The other you. The one from my world,” Twilight stated.

“Now, now, Sparky,” Trueblood inserted herself into the conversation before it escalated. “I know that Bea can come across a bit terse at times, but she’s really a good kid. Our resident magic expert, and somepony with a good heart.”

Twilight’s shoulders sagged with a sigh. “Yeah, that sounds familiar, too.”

“What about me?” Husk asked. “You haven’t said anything about me, or knowing somepony like me.”

“Uh, that’s a bit different,” Twilight glanced out the side of her eyes quickly, then shifted them back to Trueblood. “It might not be a good time to go over that.”

“Now’s as good a time as any,” Trueblood stated. “Might not hurt to hear what you have to say about him. You did react kinda poorly earlier.”

“It’s not him,” she said, glancing at Husk once more. “Well, not specifically. I’ve just had bad experiences with...Chrysalis.”

“Who’s that?” Ditzy asked. “The name is pretty.”

“Th--that’s my queen. The name she had before she fell to Coldheart many years ago,” he whispered. “You knew her?”

“Unfortunately, yes,” she answered. “She attacked Canterlot, hurt Princess Celestia, and almost ruined my brother’s wedding. And that was just the start!”

“This is fairly recent?” Trueblood asked, now behind Twilight Sparkle as she continued to pace evenly.

“About a year ago,” she answered. “The beginning of it, anyway.”

“Wait, are we talking about Toy here?” Bea asked. “Her actual name is Chrysalis?”

“It is on my world,” Twilight said. “And she is the Queen of the Changelings.”

“It’s hard to imagine that minging sycophant doing anything that could lead a nation,” Bea stated.

“She was grand in her prime,” Husk noted, his voice mournful. “Demanding, yes, but she was strong and proud. Though a bit cruel at times, too.”

“We’re losing sight of the issue here, ponies!” Trueblood rallied. “This is about Twilight Sparkle, and whether or not we believe her story about coming here from another world.”

“It’s true,” Gilda spoke solemnly. “Every bit of it.”

Every eye turned towards her, with Twilight shifting her body considerably to look her in the face. Trueblood entered the circle, standing midway between Twilight and Gilda, staring at her with a raised eyebrow.

“You know something you aren’t telling us, Gilda?” she asked.

Her head began to bob slowly. “When I was a kitten, I heard the elders talking about the far tribes. The griffins that lived in the lands beyond the lands, whose visits were brought through the great waters. I thought they were talking about some griffins that lived across the sea, but...there aren’t any. All of the griffins live here. We don’t have our own lands anymore, but we never did anywhere but on this continent.”

“So?” Bea asked. “A story doesn’t prove anything.”

“I believe her,” Gilda said.

“Your elders know about the pool?” Twilight’s voice raised an octave. “Maybe they know how it works! They might be able to get me home!”

Trueblood winced, and turned towards Twilight with a look of concern.

“I doubt it,” Gilda said. “There are barely enough griffins left to fill a single moot, let alone know the secrets of the elders.”

The tension in the circle was palpable.

“I--I’m sorry,” Twilight said, cringing. “I didn’t know. What happened?”

“It’s all right, you didn’t mean anything by it. Besides, it’s the truth. No point in hiding from it.” She took a deep breath. “The short version is that Coldheart decided that she found griffins to be...tasty.”

Twilight’s eyes grew to the size of saucers. “You don’t mean...”

“Yes,” Gilda stated. “No matter where you are going with that, the answer is yes.”

A hoof came to rest on Gilda’s shoulder, with Trueblood eyes telling a different tale than the smile on her face.

“Okay,” Trueblood spoke to the circle once more. “Who is with Gilda? Who believes Twilight?”

“I do not,” Bea answered coldly.

“I think that she’s really nice!” Ditzy answered. “And at the very least she tells a great story!”

“I think that she’s telling the truth,” Husk answered. “The poison inside her was real enough when she came to us.”

“Well,” Trueblood smiled wide at Twilight, “that makes four to one. Looks like you’re in, Sparky.”

A thin smile crept onto Twilight--for a brief moment. As soon as she started tumbling head-over-tail to the side she stopped smiling, letting out a sharp squeal instead.

“YAY!” Ditzy said, coming to rest on top of her new friend. “I’m so glad to meet you, Twilight! I mean, I already met you earlier, and you met somepony that looks a lot like me already, but now that I know that we’re friends, it’s like meeting you for the first time! Which is great, because that means I got to meet you twice already!”

“Uh, thanks, Ditzy,” Twilight stated.

“Do you want to share my room?” Half of Ditzy’s eyes stared down at Twilight, but all of her smile was fixed firmly on the mare. “I’ve got plenty of room for another bed. Ooh! Or we can share my bed, like sisters. Or maybe have a sleepover! That would be amazing!”

“Give her a minute to breathe, Ditzy,” Trueblood gently urged the pegasus off of Twilight. “We’ll figure out the sleeping arrangements soon enough.”

“Well, I would prefer it not be with me,” Bea stated coldly. “I want to wake up tomorrow morning. And speaking of which, it’s very late. I’m going to bed.”

Her pale mane flew as Bea turned and marched towards the door to the treehouse without a word of farewell or goodnight. The door shut firmly behind her.

“She doesn’t like me,” Twilight said.

“Well, you really haven’t been that warm to her, either,” Husk said stepping up to the mare. “But we can start new tomorrow, right? Let me go and deal with her now. Welcome aboard, for as long as you stay. We’ll find a way to get you home.”

“Thanks,” Twilight answered slowly, with a smile that seemed pasted on her face.

“Goodnight,” Husk stated to the group. “Ditzy, why don’t you come with me. Let’s see if we can’t improve Bea’s mood, eh?”

“Ooh! I like a challenge!” Ditzy answered, flying alongside the changeling as they, too, exited into the nearby dwelling.

“He’s a good pony,” Trueblood said, responding to Twilight’s body language. “Give him a chance.”

“I want to,” she answered, “but it’s so hard to get past what he is.”

“A lot of my people felt that way about ponies,” Gilda said. “If they had been a little more open minded, we might still have a nation.”

Twilight opened her mouth, but with no words finding their way out, she simply opted for a quiet nod of her head.

“I like you, squirt,” Gilda said with a smile. For a second Twilight wondered how she was able to get her beak to change like that, but it passed with another tick of the clock. “And I’m with Husk, we’re gonna get you home. I’m kinda wanting to meet these distant cousins of mine, actually.”

Gilda’s eyes shifted over to Trueblood, whose eyes also shifted over to the treehouse.

“Well,” Gilda stretched for a moment. “I should get off to my nest, get what little sleep I can by morning. Never know what tomorrow is gonna bring around here anymore.”

“Goodnight, Gilda,” Trueblood said. “Sleep well.”

“You bet, boss. You have a good night, yourself.” She turned to walk off, glancing over her shoulder at the last minute as her wings spread out wide. “Oh, and Twilight, you might want to get some sleep, too.”

“Yeah, that’s, uh, a good idea,” she answered. “I guess.”

The two remaining ponies watched Gilda fly up into the top of the treehouse, climbing into the depths of the high branches.

“She doesn’t sleep inside?” Twilight asked.

“Only if it’s raining,” Trueblood said. “And she’s grumpy when that happens. Doesn’t like to be inside much.”

“Huh. I guess I can see that,” she answered, and then turned her gaze to Trueblood. “I guess now is when you go off to sleep?”

“In a minute,” she said. “I wanted to talk to you first.”

Twilight cocked her head to the side. “About what?”

“Well, mostly just to make sure that you were okay. You’ve been through a lot today. Traveling to a new world, finding yourself at the mercy of Fantasia, and then coming here to meet up with this merry band. It’s quite a bit.”

“I’m okay, if that’s what you mean,” Twilight smiled. “Actually, I’m kind of surprised that I am doing this well. Stress can sometimes take a bad toll on me. Make me go kinda, well, crazy.”

“Not that anypony here would think that you are crazy,” Trueblood insisted.

“I guess I should thank you for that,” Twilight said. “I know how everything I said must sound.”

“Actually, you probably don’t. But don’t worry, as long as we are safe and happy, then all is well,” Trueblood answered.

“I do know for certain that I need to thank you for saving me earlier,” Twilight said. “I can’t believe I fell to Coldheart that easily.”

“Goddesses have fallen to her, Twilight. You have nothing to be ashamed of,” Trueblood stated.

“If you hadn’t come along when you did, I might not even be alive right now,” Twilight admitted.

“Good thing I did, then,” Trueblood said with a smile.

Her brow furrowed, and Twilight thought about the events of the day. “Um, why were you there, anyway?”

“It’s my duty,” Trueblood said. “Somepony has to fight the good fight.”

“But that doesn’t explain--”

A slap on the Twilight’s back helped raise Trueblood to her hooves and cut the mare off. “C’mon, Sparky. Let’s get you inside and find you a warm bed to sleep in. Morning comes pretty early around here.”

The pair walked along towards the treehouse in silence, but the thoughts now running through Twilight’s head wouldn’t shut up.

* * * * * * * *

Seven figures stood perfectly still, their backs straight and their muzzles held high in the air. Their eyes did not move as the great pink alicorn marched back and forth before them. The light of the morning sun glinted off their copper-like scales, a high fin-like ridge rising up their neck and cresting on the top of their head. A long tail, ending in bony spikes, stood rigid behind them.

As Coldheart walked, her eyes scanning over the line-up, a shadow followed her close behind.

“All seven of them, Empress,” Toy said, her eyes burning and her lip curled up. “All by morning.”

“Yes, yes,” she answered, her hoof waving to the side. “You did well, Toy. But these,” she stopped, turning to face the line-up, “these are magnificent.”

“Of course, Empress,” Toy answered, her voice hiding the snarl that played on her mouth.

“I truly did an amazing job with them,” Coldheart praised. “Of course, I would expect no less, but still...”

“They perform brilliantly, Empress. I can attest to that personally,” Toy answered.

“Oh yes,” Coldheart turned towards the changeling, “I forgot about that.” Her eyes were laughing with the lie.

“They are supreme killers, Empress. It’s a shame that I had to destroy the other three,” Toy said with mock sympathy.

“And it is a shame that they slaughtered all of your hive,” Coldheart replied, “but that is the cost of defying me, isn’t it?”

“Yes, Empress,” Toy said softly.

“Do you know how I made them, Toy?” Coldheart turned back to the line of stallions. “My precious Dragoons?”

“Magic, Empress?” Toy answered.

She turned her head with a smirk, and then turned back away. “Of course with magic, Toy, but let me tell you the specifics.

“After I ascended to the throne of Equestria, I knew that I would have to extend my reach. The world would feel my love, and bow down to me--as they should.” Coldheart began to pace once more. “But I could not be everywhere. I had an army, of course, but I needed a force that was elite. A group that I knew could bring a kingdom down even without me there.”

She turned to look at Toy, her eyes filled with false sadness. “But there was none. No pony out there could meet my standards. So I looked elsewhere, starting with the the dragon kingdoms. They were unhappy to see me at first, but, like everypony else, they soon came to love me. And it was that love that led to my biggest revelation.” Her eyes glinted in the morning light. “If I could not find my elite pony, I would make them.”

She took a deep breath, her smile growing wide. “Experimentation was the key. I didn’t know much about dragons or their anatomy, so I had to examine them. See their musculature, the strength of their skin, the density of their bones, all of it was needed to find out exactly what made a dragon a dragon.” She nodded happily. “I went through dozens of them on my examination table before feeling as though I had the knowledge that I needed.”

Coldheart stepped up to one of the stallions who remained perfectly still. “I chose the stallions for the process myself. The best warriors that the kingdom had to offer. Similarly, I chose young dragons, still in their growing stage. And then I stripped them down to their bones. Both the dragons, and the ponies. The first few ponies died screaming, but eventually I got it right, and was able to keep them alive while I took the other parts from the dragons and layered them onto the pony’s frame. It must have been excruciating.” Her hoof went up and brushed against the jaw line of the stallion in front of her. “But they did it for me, because they love me.

“My Dragoons,” she stepped back, looking over her creations. “My special warriors.”

“And what is it you plan to do with them this time, Empress?” Toy asked.

“Well, that seems obvious,” her voice eased, “conquer the world.”

“You already rule the world,” Toy answered.

“Not this one, pet,” she stepped over and ran her hoof alongside Toy’s jawline. “The new world. The one that brought us the lovely Luna.”

“And what of this one?” Toy asked.

“What of it? I have no intention of giving up what I already have,” Coldheart said, her face contorted in disbelief.

“Of course not, Empress,” Toy answered compassionately. “I didn’t mean to suggest that.”

“It’s not a problem, Toy. I don’t expect you to think, just to follow my instructions,” Coldheart stated. “And I have a new task for you to complete, in fact.”

Toy lowered her head, bowing it as her lips trembled. “Of course, Empress.”

“Conscript an army. Nothing too large, perhaps one or two hundred capable ponies,” Coldheart instructed. “Make sure there are flyers among them. I want air support. I’m not as concerned about magic, but I will need a hoof-full of unicorns that seem to be outstanding, so by all means choose them. The key is continuity. I want a unit that is willing to die for me. You have two days to gather them and have them ready to march out of Canterlot. I will meet you then. Is that clear?”

“Perfectly, Empress,” Toy answered, “but if I may ask, where are you going to be during that time?”

“Me?” Her smile sent a shiver down Toy’s spine. “Oh, I have somepony that I need to find.”

* * * * * * *

The hallway echoed with the sound of his hooves as Shining Armor marched towards the throne room. Another official summons to come see the princess. He was appreciative of her concern, but he also had duties to perform--as she had made clear the last time they spoke--so he hoped this would be a quick visit.

He certainly wasn’t expecting to bump into his wife along the way.

Princess Cadance walked on in oblivion, her smile bright and contagious. He thought that she had a meeting with an ambassador from the southern territories today. Something about becoming an official part of Equestria, if things went well.

“Cady?” Shining Armor trotted up towards her, his own smile growing.

She turned suddenly, the smile dimming when she saw him. “Shiny? What are you doing here?”

“I was about to ask you the same thing,” he stretched his muzzle forward, kissing her on the cheek. “I thought you had a meeting with a dignitary today?”

“I did,” she answered, “but I got a summons from the princess to come to the throne room immediately.”

“Really?” Shining Armor’s eyes narrowed. “So did I. I wonder why?”

“I...I have no idea,” Cadance’s voice wavered, and her smile suddenly reappeared at full intensity.

“Well, there’s only one way to find out,” he said, nodding forward to the door. “I hope that everything was going well with the ambassador.”

“Uh...yes! I had to leave him sooner than he...hoped, but I’m sure that he’ll be fine,” she spoke, her eyes darting around the hall.

“Okay,” he replied slowly. “Are you sure that everything was fine?”

They came to a stop in front of the doors to the Throne Room, a guard standing on either side of the closed portal. Their eyes staring forward, ignoring the two visitors.

“Yes!” she snapped. “Why are you even questioning it? Everything was fine. We were talking and going over plans, that’s all. Just doing my job!”

“Okay, okay,” he stepped back. “I was just worried about you. You seem a little tense.”

“I’m fine, dear,” she smiled, and bent over, kissing him on the lips. “It’s sweet that you worry.”

“You’re my wife, Cady. I’m always going to worry about you,” he stated.

“But you don’t--”

The doors to the Throne Room opened suddenly, pulled by a golden magical glow. The couple’s heads turned into the space, seeing both princesses--Luna and Celestia--standing near the throne, beside a large table.

“Princess Cadenza, Shining Armor, thank you for responding. Please, come in,” Celestia stated in a monotone voice.

Almost mechanically, the pair turned and entered the chamber, with only a momentary glance at each other along the way.

“Princess Luna has been informing me about a situation that she has discovered, one that we will need both of your help to deal with,” Celestia stated. “Shining Armor, what is the current state of our military preparedness? How quickly could you mobilize our forces?”

“Our forces? You mean the entire army, Your Majesty?” Shining Armor’s eyes narrowed.

“I’m afraid so,” she answered.

“Hard to say, Your Majesty,” he replied. “I would say two, perhaps three days at the soonest.”

“And what about a smaller force? A squad of some of your best ponies?” Luna asked.

“That I could have today, Your Highness,” he stated.

“Then make it so,” Celestia said. “I want that squad ready to move out in two hours.”

“Aunt Cele--” Cadance felt the words catch in her throat as she met the gaze of the ruler of Equestria. “Uh...Princess Celestia, what is happening? What is this all about?”

“That’s what we are here to talk about, Princess Cadenza,” Celestia answered. “And I’m afraid that it will be something that is likely going to be difficult for both of you to hear--for various reasons. Not the least of which is the danger that is currently being posed to Twilight Sparkle.”

“Twilight?” Shining Armor’s eyes widened.

“What’s the problem with Twilight?” Cadance asked.

Luna turned to look at her, and Cadance would have sworn that the Goddess of the Night faltered as she moved. “You are, Princess Cadenza.”

Cadance’s jaw dropped, and did not close again until well after Luna had finished her story.

* * * * * * *

“Stupid ponies!” Goldfeather raked her claws across the table, which shuddered from the onslaught. “I’ve been here, safe and sound, all by myself, not bothering anypony at all...”

The table rocked as she stood up, her wing buffeting it sharply. A deep, feline growl rose from her chest as started to pace back and forth.

“Get it together, girl! Two ponies in the same day doesn’t make for a disaster,” she said aloud. “Even if the second one was a little scary looking.” She shuddered. “Okay, maybe very scary.”

She padded her way back to her bed, flopping hard enough to send dust flying from underneath it. She shook her head, and raised her claws up above it. Slowly, she extended them, flexing them out and then closing them back in tightly.

“You knew this would happen. You were never going to find peace, were you?” Her claw fell to her chest with a thud. She closed her eyes, letting her mind wander.

Dreams come unbidden and without direction. They can take you to wild places of fantasy or to mundane moments of confusion. They can be glimpses into your future, your soul, and your heart. And sometimes, they can be visions of the past.

The screams were the worst part. They were so clear and crisp. Screeches of terror and pain, in voices so familiar and desperate. She turned, looking for them. Racing through the air to save them from their torment, with no clear idea how, or even where to go.

The shadows closed in around her, the night playing with her senses. She screamed out their names, her shrill cry piercing far into the distance. She kept flapping her wings, driving herself forward, but no ground seemed to move. Nothing seemed to be gained.

A flash of light and silence. And then a hard, sharp banging.

Goldfeather popped up, her pulse racing and her breath short. She looked around, her feathers ruffled and her hackles up, eyes darting back and forth. She took a deep breath, holding it in for a moment.

“Damn dream,” she said softly. Her head fell back to her pillow as her strength left her.

Then the banging sound returned.

This was no dream. She jumped from her bed, her heart once more racing as she crept towards the door.

“Three visitors. That is a bad omen,” she whispered.

She stood at the door, waiting. Her claw opened and closed upon itself as she reached for the handle. Softly, she placed her claw and pulled the door open--with only the air waiting beyond. Her body slumped as she finally let out a full breath.

“I was wondering if you were going to answer,” a smooth, even voice stated.

She spun around, her eyes flared out, to behold a tall, regal pony, with wings and a horn, sitting in the corner of her kitchen casually. Her multi-colored mane and pink coat only confirming what Goldfeather knew.

“Empress!” She fell prostrate immediately.

“Oh, such fealty. I’m touched. Especially since, from what I heard, you referred to me as, what was it again?” she tilted her head up, feigning a memory. “Oh yes, ‘a demon come to life.’ Weren’t those the words, Goldfeather?”

“I live but to serve you, Your Majesty.” She swallowed hard, her eyes fixed on the ground.

“Oh, I know. I’m the one that allowed you to live, after all.” She stood and brushed her wing up against the cabinet of the kitchen. “Though why you chose to live in such squalor astounds me.”

“I find peace in it, Your Majesty.” Goldfeather’s eyes scanned the floor, moving up to see gold-clad hooves stepping over to her side.

“Well, that’s about all you’ve found lately, isn’t it? It has been some time since you’ve brought me anything at all. Why is that?” Coldheart asked.

“I--I’ve been trying, Your Majesty. There haven’t been any signs lately,” she answered, her voice uneven.

“But you are the finest tracker in all of Equestria. Haven’t you told me that yourself?” Goldfeather could feel the alicorn’s hooves stepping around her, circling her.

“You are too kind, Your Majesty,” she answered, her eyes trying to pick up the hooves without moving her head.

A warm breath was suddenly on Goldfeather’s ear. “I know,” Coldheart whispered, “and it is because of my amazing kindness that you are going to help me to find out everything that you can about the ponies Twilight Sparkle and Luna.”

Goldfeather’s eyes squeezed shut, a tear pushing out onto her cheek.

* * * * * * *

“Uh, hi, Gilda,” Twilight looked back and forth as she stepped up to the griffin.

“Twilight,” Gilda nodded, taking a break from her task. “What can I do for you?”

Looking over at her, Twilight saw sweat beading up on Gilda’s coat. For the past few hours Gilda had been taking some wood that was found in the area and cutting it down to size, making it better to use for a fire--and she was doing it using only her claws.

“Uh, I don’t mean to interrupt,” Twilight clarified. “I can come back if this isn’t a good time.”

“Nah, it’s okay, squirt. I could use a break, anyway,” she said, a smile growing on her beak.

Twilight looked at the smile and paused. She stared up at her, seeing the beak of a predator smiling down at her, and briefly considered running away, screaming. Instead, she smiled back--awkwardly.

“I, uh, I was just wondering if you knew where Trueblood was? I haven’t seen her since I got up,” Twilight stated.

Gilda’s eyes smiled as well as her beak. “What do you need to know? Maybe I can help you out?”

“Well,” her eyes darted back and forth, looking for anypony else nearby, “it’s not so much something I need to know from her...”

“Ah, I see,” Gilda said, pulling her forearm across her face, wiping away the sweat. “So, you are wanting to know if she is here at all. Because you want to find out stuff about her.”

“Uh...yeah,” Twilight admitted.

Gilda laughed, wiped her claws on a nearby rag, and motioned with her head. “C’mon, squirt. Let’s go have a talk.”

Nodding, Twilight fell in behind Gilda, moving over to the shade of a large tree.

“So, let me see,” Gilda started, sitting down and leaning back against the tree trunk. “You wonder how Trueblood came to lead us? You want to know what it is that makes her so special? You wonder why we all listen to her against impossible odds to fight the good fight against a tyrant that literally has everypony loving her? That pretty close?”

Trotting up next to her, Twilight’s eyes lit up slightly. “No!” She looked off to one side for a second before looking back and Gilda. “Well, yes, actually, but that wasn’t what I was going to ask. I wanted to know how she was able to save me? What she was doing there, and why Coldheart didn’t just take over her mind--or worse--when she did it?”

“Oh, yeah,” Gilda nodded. “I guess that would be a good question, too.” She paused for a moment, scratching her neck. “Let me tell you a story...

“When the griffin nation fell, and Coldheart began her...culling...of my kind, we all scattered. We went our separate ways, staying far and clear of each other. We didn’t want to be in a single place, or even in groups, because we knew that would make us easier to find and easier to...take.”

She took a deep breath and let it out slowly.

“So you know where I headed? Where I decided to go?” she asked. Twilight looked at her uncertainly. “Canterlot. This monster had decimated most of my kind, and I was thinking that the best way to deal with her was to go right up to her and tear her heart from her chest.” She extended a claw, flexing it out and closing it again.

“I’ve always been a bit of a hard-ass. A tough gal that wasn’t willing to take anything from anypony. So, once I got it in my head that I was going to go in there and take that bitch down, well, it wasn’t like I was about to be stopped.

“That doesn’t mean that I was stupid, though.” She laughed. “Or, I guess I was, but I was trying to not be obvious in my stupidity. So, I flew to the Everfree Forrest and started to walk out, with the intention of marching straight into Canterlot, and right up to the Empress’s throne.”

Twilight winced, reflecting back to what happened to herself.

“The path out of Everfree isn’t exactly straight, or fun, and as I worked my way along I found that I was getting more and more annoyed by the whole freakin’ thing. So, when I came to the narrow bridge that crosses over the river running through the woods, I was in no mood to deal with anypony.”

The light grew on her face. “So, imagine who walked up to me. A smile on her face, and a defiant gait to her step, right in the middle of the bridge was Trueblood herself.”

Gilda shook her head, laughing softly. “That mare just stood there, staring straight at me. Naturally, all that did was piss me off. The pony Empress was responsible for what happened to most of my kind, and there is no love left between griffins and ponies, so I was ready to gut her there on the spot. I marched right up to her, growling the whole way, and do you know what she did?”

Gilda looked down at the ground and then back up to Twilight. “She told me that the bridge was closed. That I would have to find another way around.” She laughed. “Oh sure, I could have flown right over her, but I wanted to make a point. I wanted to show a pony what happened when you crossed a griffin!”

Twilight swallowed, watching Gilda’s claws flash out, each one extended to its fullest.

“I attacked her like a beast. I only saw red, and I wanted to see more. I wanted her blood on my claws, and her lifeless body under my paws.” Twilight took a step away from Gilda, her eyes wide. Gilda closed her claws, lowering them. “Easy, squirt. I’m just telling a story.

“Anyway, Trueblood had brought a staff with her, and was throwing it around with her magic in a display that I can only call amazing. Every attack I threw at her she parried aside. Every slash she caught and redirected. All culminating in her tossing me over the side of the bridge and into the water.

“Now, I don’t know if you know much about griffins, squirt, but we aren’t exactly the best swimmers in the world. And Trueblood there had already done a great job of wearing me down, so I just sank like a rock. My life was going down, my plans of revenge ruined, all because of another damn pony.”

Her face became softer. “And that’s when she pulled me out. She grabbed me with her magic, and lifted me out of the river and put me down on the far shore. I was coughing up water and struggling to get back up on all fours when she walked up to me, putting a hoof gently on my back. She made sure that I was going to be okay, and then she stood up and nodded down the road.

“She told me that Canterlot was down that road, but that Coldheart was far more dangerous than she was, and that I should keep that in mind. So, she told me that I was welcome to head off to my fate in Canterlot, or...”

Gilda smiled again, and this time Twilight wasn’t scared in the least. “She walked off, inviting me to go with her. To take another path. One that wasn’t revenge, but was for the right fight. I wanted to hate her. I wanted to stand up and rip her to pieces, and then march on to Canterlot and do the same to Coldheart. And then I thought about what had happened.”

Gilda stood up, looking down at Twilight. “I stood up and I followed her. And I’ve never looked back.”

Twilight blinked. “But...how did she know? How did she know what you were doing and where you were going to be? It doesn’t make sense!”

“Well,” Gilda extended her wings up and arched her back down, stretching her whole body, “I suppose you’ll have to ask her that.” She nodded behind Twilight.

Spinning her head around, Twilight saw Trueblood walking up on them.

“Gilda, are you telling our new friend some old stories?” she asked.

“Nah, boss,” Gilda said, slapping Twilight on the back. “I was just giving her some perspective.” Taking a step past the shade of the tree, she continued. “And now I’m getting back to work. Thanks for the talk, squirt.”

“Uh, you’re welcome,” Twilight said softly.

They both watched Gilda walk back over to the wood, where her claws once again went to work on the fallen lumber.

“Hate to be on the wrong end of those things,” Trueblood stated.

“What?” Twilight turned to face her. “But she just told me that you and she...”

Trueblood smiled. “Yeah, I thought as much. C’mon, Sparky, let’s go talk.”

She took five steps before Twilight stopped herself.

“No,” she said. “No, I’m not going anywhere. You keep doing that. Walking away and distracting everypony, and avoiding the matter at hoof. No, we’re going to talk, and we’re going to do it right here!”

Trueblood turned around and looked at Twilight, her smile a little crooked. “Really? Are you sure? Because there is a great vista just a little ways over that way, and I thought that--”

“No!” Twilight stepped up to the other mare, staring her right in the eye. “Stop trying to change the subject. I want answers!”

Opening her mouth for a second, Trueblood closed it and looked around puzzled. “Actually, you haven’t asked me anything yet.”

“Well...I was going to!” Twilight said with a snort. “How did you know where I was? How were you able to get away with me? Why didn’t Coldheart just whammy you like she did me? Why?”

“Oh, that one is easy,” Trueblood said with a sigh of relief.

“Well, what is it?” Twilight insisted.

“Simple: Fantasia is my mother. I’m her daughter,” Trueblood explained.

Twilight blinked several times.

“I’m sorry, what now?”

...to be continued.