Who Rules?: Shattered Hearts

Who Rules: Shattered Hearts

by Nom deCheval

Chapter Eight

“Can I see?” Spike asked, trying to stay calm.

“In a bit. Just stay calm and try not to move,” the doctor told him.

Spike hadn’t seen anything, including the doctor, for almost an hour. They had covered his eyes with something, keeping them shut while they worked. There was somepony helping the doctor--he would assume a nurse--as well as Shining Armor, who was holding his claw as he lay on a flat table so the doctor could work.

The doctor was a unicorn, and Spike could feel the familiar sensation of magic running over his skin as the doctor manipulated the flesh on his face. He had also done some sort of spell that lowered the considerable pain he had been feeling.

“Don’t worry, Spike. They’ve got this,” Shining Armor said with a happy tone. “These guys are the best.”

“Yeah, but the best at what? You wouldn’t even let me touch my face, let alone look at it.”

“That’s...probably for best. Don’t worry, everything is fine,” he answered.

“That’s what Twilight always says when she’s afraid that everything has gone bad,” Spike grumbled.

“Everything hasn’t gone bad. Everything is going great,” Shining Armor reassured.

“It would be going better if you would stop moving your head,” the doctor suggested calmly.

“Sorry,” the two answered in unison.

It was best that Spike couldn’t see anything right now, or he would see the concern laced onto Shining Armor’s face. The doctor was close to being done, he could tell that, but he wasn’t sure how much what he was doing was going to help. Or how Spike was going to react when he saw the results.

“Okay,” the doctor pulled away, looking over his work, “I think we’re almost done here.”

“So, can I open my eyes?” Spike asked.

“Give me a moment,” the doctor asked. Spike could feel the gentle touch of his magic delicately tugging on the coverings over his eyes, which suddenly felt much lighter. “Okay, Spike, I still have some work to do on one eye. Keep it closed for now.”

“Uh, okay. Wh--what do you have to do to my eye?” he asked nervously.

“Not much. Just a little bit to tie everything together,” he said with a slow nonchalance as he concentrated.

“Tie what together? What did you do?” Spike’s voice grew progressively more nervous.

“Don’t worry, Spike. Everything is going great,” Shining Armor said confidently.

“You said it again! Twilight’s code for ‘not good!’ That’s not good!” Spike began to tremble.

“No, no! It’s good! Honest!” Shining Armor grasped Spike’s claw firmly.

“What if it’s not? What if you’re lying?” Spike gasped.

“I’m not!” he answered.

“Well, you get to decide for yourself,” the doctor pulled back again, “I’m done. Open your eyes.”

Blinking, Spike opened his eyes slowly, letting them dart back and forth.

“Okay, okay, calm down,” the doctor smiled, staring at Spike. “I want you to look at this light, and follow it just with your eyes.”

A small blue dot appeared in the air about a half-meter in front of Spike. His eyes locked on it instantly, and followed it as the dot began to bounce back-and-forth. He watched it dance through the air, and then it winked out of existence just as suddenly as it appeared.

“Good!” The doctor said. “Now, tell me,” he motioned behind him, “how many dots do you see?”

Spike looked behind the doctor, near where he indicated. Four dots appeared, each of them very pale and very near each other. “Four,” he answered immediately.

“And now?” the doctor asked again.

Spike saw the dots move quickly, and then reform into a different pattern, but they seemed the same. “Uh...still four,” he answered.

“Excellent,” the doctor smiled broadly, turning to a book and quickly scribing a note into it. “I think, Mr. Spike, that you are fine. I want you to take care of the wound and try to keep it dry. I’ll come by in a couple of days to check on you.”

“Uh, okay,” Spike answered slowly. “What happened to me?”

“You were attacked by the creature that you eventually fought off, but it was able to wound your face,” the doctor said.

“Well, no offense, but, I kinda picked that part up,” Spike said. “I’m not stupid. I just don’t know how bad it is. No pony was letting me touch it or look at it.”

“I still don’t think you should touch it,” the doctor said, “but I do think you need to see it.”

“Now, don’t worry about this, Spike,” Shining Armor said. “We don’t know what it’s going to look like when it’s fully healed.”

Spike looked at Shining Armor. “You need to stop talking. You keep making me nervous.”

“Well, don’t be nervous. I’m right here,” he replied.

“See! It’s stuff like that!” Spike answered, pointing at him.

“Here you go, Spike,” the doctor floated a mirror up in front of his face.

Focusing on the reflection, Spike looked at himself--and specifically at his left cheek and eye. A trio of long slashes raked up his face, starting just above his mouth and ending just above his eye, one of them passing directly over the eye itself. Stitches criss-crossed the wound, holding the flesh together in an unnatural way.

“My face...” Spike stared blankly into the mirror.

“Don’t worry, Spike. You’re fine. The wound is just cosmetic, it will heal. Over time, you won’t even notice it,” Shining Armor said, putting his hoof on Spike’s back.

“I...I...” Spike stammered.

“Everything is great!” Shining Armor repeated in mantra-like fashion. “Don’t worry!”

“I look,” Spike turned to look at Shining Armor, “SO COOL! Now this is the face of a real rugged male!”

“Uh...okay,” Shining Armor replied slowly.

“You’re going to be fine, Mr. Spike,” the doctor said with a laugh. “Just follow my instructions, okay?”

“You bet, doc!” Spike smiled. “Uh, but, is the pain going to come back?”

The doctor nodded with a wince. “I’m afraid that it will. I’m going to leave you some pills that will help, but if it gets too bad, send a message to have me come over, and I’ll come and reapply the numbing spell.”

“How long will this one last?” Spike asked, standing up on the table.

“Probably another hour or two,” the doctor said. “I recommend you trying to get some sleep, too.”

“Later!” Spike jumped down from the table. “Right now I need to go out and show off my cool new face!” He raced towards the door of the medical office, waving over his shoulder as he opened the door. “Thanks, doc!”

Standing there with his mouth hanging open, Shining Armor’s jaw started moving slowly, as though trying unsuccessfully to form words.

“Don’t worry,” the doctor said, “it’s good that he had such a positive reaction. He’ll back down from it soon enough.”

“But...but...his face is scarred! Badly!” Shining Armor turned to look at the doctor.

“Yes, and if he was fixated on his looks, then this might be an issue, but he’s not. He’s happy to have something that makes him look distinct. Sounds a bit like he has a few self-esteem issues, but that’s not unusual considering his age and the fact that he’s a dragon living among ponies,” he explained.

All Shining Armor could do was nod slowly.

“In any case, keep an eye on him. Make sure he does what I instructed and observe his mood. If he starts acting melancholy, then we need to take action. Right now, we’ll let him be happy,” he said.

“Thanks, doc, I will. I appreciate everything that you did for him,” Shining Armor said.

“Well, I’m always happy to help the wounded. And besides, the Princess values Mr. Spike very highly, and I would hate to disappoint her,” he said.

“The Princess!” Shining Armor bolted upright. “I almost forgot! She wanted a report as soon as this was over. I need to go see her.” He rushed to the door, passing through it as he yelled over his shoulder. “Thanks again, doc!”

He couldn’t see the doctor shake his head and smile, nor hear the comment about youthful stallions, as he sprinted from the small Ponyville hospital towards the Golden Oaks Library.

Before he knew it, he was there. He stepped inside without knocking, not thinking he should do otherwise. The Princess wasn’t alone.

“...at your facility?” Celestia finished asking. She glanced past the stallion she was speaking to briefly, seeing Shining Armor in the doorway, but kept her focus on the pony in front of her. A large, black stallion with a black mane, burly and strong. A hammer cutie mark on his flank.

“Yes, ma’am. That pretty much sums it up,” his voice was deep and dark.

“Thank you. I appreciate you taking the time to come by and see me,” she said with a nod. “You may go now.”

“For you, ma’am, anything,” he smiled, and then bowed, rather ungracefully.

Celestia nodded back and the stallion turned and walked to the door, pausing to nod at Shining Armor as they passed. Watching him walk for a moment, Shining Armor raised an eyebrow and turned back to the Princess.

“Your Majesty,” he bowed.

Nodding with a smile, Celestia answered, “Shining Armor. Thank you for coming by.”

“Not a problem, Your Majesty,” he glanced over her shoulder. “Who was that?”

“Hmm? Oh, that was Ironshank. He’s a worker here in Ponyville,” she stated. “I’m trying to assess what we have at our disposal here.”

“I see,” he replied.

“How is Spike?” she asked.

“Surprisingly well, actually,” he answered, trotting over to her. “I was worried that he would be upset, but he actually seemed...happy.”

“Happy?” Celestia twisted her head. “That’s unexpected. But much better than the alternative, I suppose. How bad are the scars?”

“Noticable. I think that’s what he liked about them, though,” he answered, his face clearly frowning as he glanced around. “Where is Princess Luna, Your Majesty?”

“Sleeping. She spent many, many hours searching for me, and I insisted that she get some rest. We will need her at her best in short time, I have no doubt,” Celestia rose and walked to the window, looking outside.

Glancing around, it seemed to Shining Armor that the library looked different somehow. Everything was perfectly in place, immaculately clean, and lit gracefully in the dying moments of the day. And yet, it was wrong.

“Something bothering you, Captain?” Celestia asked without turning.

“No, Your Majesty,” he spun back to stare at her. Celestia didn’t move during the long pause, before he spoke again. “Yes, Your Majesty. Is there something going on that I need to know about?”

Celestia calmly turned to look at him. “If there was, I’m sure that I would have told you about it, Captain.”

“There just seems to be--”

“Are you implying that I am hiding something from you?” Celestia asked.

Shining Armor stood there as the Goddess of the Sun walked over to him, standing above him and staring down into his eyes, her normal smile missing from her face. Her huge white form, wings out to the side and horn gleaming the dim light, she loomed forward, pressing her physicality. The gravity of her presence was not to be ignored--but that did not mean that it could not be overcome.

“Yes, Your Majesty. I am,” he stated, rising up to his full height.

She raised an eyebrow, turned, and walked over to sit down again.

“As always,” Celestia said slowly, “you do me proud, Captain.” Her smile came back. “I am keeping something from you. In time, I will tell you exactly what that is and why, but until then, I ask that you trust me.”

“No offense, Your Majesty, but now may not be the time for secrets,” Shining Armor stated.

“Says the man who conspired with my sister to bring Queen Chrysalis into this matter,” she laughed.

“And we made no secret of it. We told you as soon as you arrived,” he said.

“Actually, I commend both of you for finding her and convincing her to join us. I don’t know how she will respond to dealing with me directly, but her ability is certainly an asset,” she answered. “Assuming she can be trusted.”

“I hope that she can. I’m trusting her. If she were to let me down, I would be...upset,” Shining Armor stated.

“Yes, I understand. Having her deal with your wife must have been quite a burden on you,” Celestia’s voice eased.

“I would rather not speak of it at the moment, Your Majesty,” he answered.

Celestia nodded in reply.

“And you’re trying to avoid the subject,” he countered.

“Yes, I am,” she said, “and I will continue to do so as long as needed.”

“You aren’t going to tell me what’s going on, are you?” he asked.

“Not yet. I will in time, though. You have my word on that,” she said.

He stood there a moment, his face conflicted. “I suppose I have no choice. Besides, I need to go find Spike and make sure that he isn’t doing anything foolhardy.”

“That probably should have been your first choice, actually,” Celestia answered.

“Probably. Thank you, Your Majesty,” he said.

“No, thank you, Captain,” she smiled. “You are dismissed.”

Bowing with a sharp clack of his heels, Shining Armor turned and left the library without further incident. As the door closed behind him, Celestia slumped with a heavy sigh.

She stood and walked to a nearby table, waving her hoof over an inconspicuous mirror that sat on a table. The room seemed to flicker, and the illusion that was kept going by the mirror faded, revealing the hidden charts and diagrams that the Princess had been working on diligently. And as they appeared, the illusion of her horn faded away, leaving the fragmented stub on her forehead.

With great care, Celestia picked up the pencil with her hoof, and awkwardly went back to work.

* * * * * * *

“Kill me?” Cadance laughed. “That’s the funniest thing I’ve heard all day.”

Chrysalis stepped back, her eyes widening. “Really? You don’t think that I have it in me?”

“Oh, yes! Very much so, actually. I’m sure that you would love to see me dead, but I think you would prefer to see me suffering,” Cadance answered.

“Well, that’s true...” she looked longingly towards the ceiling. “However, I am here on orders.”

“True. Which is the other reason that I think you’re lying. Shining Armor would never order you to kill me.” Cadance walked over the door, glancing out of it to make sure there was no pony coming towards their room.

“Oh, but you’re wrong there, Your Highness. He and Luna decided that it was the best possible course of action,” she said gleefully, “assuming that I found you alive, of course.”

Cadance turned and walked up to the disguised mare, her eyes glaring. “And what is it that you aren’t telling me.”

She made a tsking sound, shaking her head. “So trusting of those that you...love.” She stepped over to the bath, running her hoof along the edge. “Sadly, though, you are right. There is more to it than that.” She looked back over to Cadance, who stood there with her eyes focused and her horn slightly aglow as she waited. “The whole point was to fake your death. We want Coldheart to think you’re dead so that she doesn’t realize that you are still a threat.” She smiled, her fangs appearing. “You could be our secret weapon.”

“Our?” Cadance asked. “How did you get involved with this?”

“I told you! They asked me.” She pulled out a rag from the maid uniform and began to clean the bath. “In fact, Luna practically begged me. It was...amusing.”

“And yet you are the one cleaning a bath and obeying her orders,” Cadance growled.

“This bath could use a good cleaning,” she said. “Whichever pony uses it must be a filthy beast.”

“This is Princess Celestia’s private bath,” Cadance answered.

“Oh, is it?” The lilt is Chrysalis’ voice gave her away.

“About this fake death idea,” Cadance changed the subject, “exactly how would that work?”

“Well, there are two options. The first is that you let me beat you half to death disguised as a special agent for the Equestrian army, and then teleport you into the caverns below just as it appears that I vaporize you, thus giving the illusion that you are dead.”

“That sounds like the painful option,” Cadance said. “What’s the other one?”

“You commit suicide,” Chrysalis stepped back and admired her work on the bathtub.

“Funny. That’s not going to happen,” Cadance said.

Shaking her head, Chrysalis put the rag back in her saddlebag. “You have no faith in us.”

“Then explain it better,” Cadance suggested.

“You would kill yourself, but you wouldn’t be you. I would be you. I can easily plunge a spear through my chest and then plummet down into the ravine that Celestia and Coldheart have so conveniently provided, never to be found again,” she stated.

“Y--you can do that?” Cadance stammered.

“What? Not be found? I’m very good at that,” Chrysalis grinned. She continued when Cadance opened her mouth to speak. “Of course, I know that’s not what you meant! Yes, I can move any vital organs out of the way before I spear myself. It would hurt, but not so much that I wouldn’t survive it.”

“And you would do that for me?” Cadance turned away slightly, her eyes closing halfway.

“Oh, I’m not doing it for you, Princess. I’m doing it for me. I’ve got my own stake in this,” she explained.

“I see,” Cadance replied warily. She turned and walked back to the door, checking the status beyond. The maids were almost finished cleaning the mess.

“So, you like that idea, then?” Chrysalis asked.

“I think it might work,” Cadance said. “If you could do it in a way where Coldheart could be convinced that you were dead, but far enough away that she couldn’t save you.”

“Leave that to me. And once you are gone, Coldheart will be able to do nothing but rage and throw temper tantrums,” Chrysalis said.

Cadance froze.

“Wh--what did you say?” she asked.

“That Coldheart will be beside herself without her pet in tow. She’ll have to find something new to keep her amused,” Chrysalis saddled up against Cadance.

“You’re right,” Cadance whispered. “She would.”

“Of course. It would be wonderful to hear her frustrated cries,” Chrysalis said.

Standing there, the image went through Cadance’s mind. Her promise to the Empress, and the cost of her own death. Her decision was never in doubt.

“I’m not doing it,” she said.

“Not doing what?” Chrysalis asked.

“Not dying. Not leaving. However you want to describe it,” she looked at Chrysalis. “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but...I’m going to stay here.”

The Changeling Queen stepped away, her eyes like platters. “What? You mean that I came here for nothing?” Her expression dropped. “Are you already corrupt? That would be rich.”

“Obviously not, or I would have called Coldheart in here immediately,” she said. “Tell Celestia that I found my calling. She’ll understand.”

“Oh, but poor, dear Celestia is missing. For all we know, she might well be dead,” Chrysalis mocked.

“That’s not true,” Cadance said confidently.

“A girl can dream, can’t she?” Chrysalis confided.

“Yes, I suppose she can,” Cadance said slowly. “In any case, I think you need to go back and tell Shining Armor that I’m alive, well, and thinking of him. Coldheart won’t hurt me, and I’ll do more good staying here than going with you.”

“How do you know she won’t hurt you?” Chrysalis asked. “She seems somewhat temperamental.”

“She is, but I can deal with it. I have to.” She looked out the door again, watching the maids gather up their things. “You need to go. The maids are about to leave. And I need to get back to work on my list for Coldheart--sadly.”

“Very well,” she answered, “but I will be back. And you never know just who or where I will be, so be on your best behavior, dear Cadance.”

“Right,” she answered. “I would say the same, but I don’t think you have a best behavior.”

Chrysalis moved towards the window, ignoring the door.

“Aren’t you going back out there?” Cadance asked.

“No. And don’t worry, they won’t miss me. I’ve seen to that,” she answered.

“I would ask how, but I don’t think I want to know,” Cadance moved over and looked out the window. There were ponies below and pegasus above. “Aren’t you worried about being noticed?”

Chrysalis simply laughed. Green magic enveloped her body and suddenly a pegasus dressed in Coldheart’s royal attire was in her place.

“Right, what was I thinking? Well, just make sure that you take the message to Shining Armor. And to Celestia, when you can,” Cadance said, turning to head to the door out of the bath.

“Of course!” Chrysalis said, in a new voice. She took a half step up towards the window and paused. “Oh, and one other thing, Cadance, dear.”

“What?” She turned back to the changeling.

“Just before I came here,” Chrysalis began, “I fucked your husband.”

Cadance faltered. Her legs buckling slightly before she righted herself and took a step towards the window. “You’re lying.”

“No, I’m not. You know I’m not,” she said. “It was delightful. I think he really needed it.”

“Wh--why would you tell me that?” Cadance’s voice cracked.

Chrysalis laughed. “Why? Because I could, dear. Why else?”

Leaping out the window, the changeling took flight, heading up into the sky and blending in with the other pegasus circling above.

Cadance turned and went back to the bed chambers, a tear streaming down her cheek.

* * * * * * *

Their giggling got there before they did.

“Well, we could always claim you were adopted,” Twilight said as they entered the room.

“I don’t think that’s going to work,” Trueblood answered. “Besides that might put a damper on things. Especially at family gatherings.”

“True,” Twilight replied.

Sitting around the table were Bea, Gilda, Husk and Ditzy Doo, sharing a moment and a drink. The conversation came to a lull as the two ponies walked in casually.

“Hi, everypony,” Trueblood said to them as a group. “How are things?”

“Oh wow!” Ditzy Doo jumped up from her seat, pointing across the table at the two mares. “You guys totally did it!”

“Ditzy!” Husk shouted. “You can’t accuse ponies of that kind of thing. What were you thinking?”

“I must concur, Ditzy. That was a little rude,” Bea said, “and this is coming from me.”

“C’mon, Ditzy, apologize to them,” Husk said.

Ditzy looked down at the table, and then back up at Twilight and Trueblood.

“You guys totally did it!” she shouted again, a huge grin on her face.

Twilight’s cheeks turned a very deep purple while Trueblood just sort of turned her face away, without either of them saying anything.

“Wait a second,” Gilda said slowly. “Is she right?”

The two mares buried their muzzles into each other’s necks, giggling.

“Ditzy,” Husk said softly, “I apologize for doubting you, but there still might have been a more tactful way to handle that revelation.”

“Well, let me be the first to congratulate you two, I guess,” Gilda said.

“Thanks, Gilda,” Trueblood raised her muzzle up and smiled at the griffin. “And yes, I think that I’m not out of line in saying that Twilight and I are...” she looked at Twilight, twisting her face for confirmation, “involved?”

“Involved works,” Twilight answered. “I like that idea.”

“Well, that escalated quickly,” Bea said. “What brought this on?”

“It wasn’t that quick,” Trueblood said. “I think it’s been building for a while.”

“Yeah. It’s been building,” Twilight agreed with a smile.

“You totally did it! You totally did it! You totally did it!” Ditzy started dancing around, singing the same words over and over.

“Oh and it turns out we’re also sisters,” Twilight added.

Ditzy tripped and fell over something, crashing into Bea’s chair and collapsing both of them to the floor.

“I beg your pardon?” Husk asked. “I may have mis-heard you.”

“Well, not directly of course, since we are from different worlds, but there is still a very definite...tie,” Twilight explained.

“Do I even want to know?” Gilda stated. “I think I do. Oh, why do I want to know this?”

“It’s okay, Gilda,” Trueblood said. “Turns out that Sparky and I have the same dad. Sort of.”

“Well, that’s...kinda creepy, actually,” Gilda answered.

Twilight bumped up against Trueblood, smiling.

“I’m so happy for you,” Bea said from beneath the table. Slowly she rose up, bringing her head clearly into view. “What does this mean for the two of you?”

“Uh, well I’m not sure?” Twilight said. “I hadn’t thought about it. Right now, we’re just...feeling things out.”

“Ha!” Ditzy’s head popped up. “Feeling things! Ha!”

Bea’s horn lit up and Ditzy was pushed back down.

“And on that note,” Trueblood said, “let’s move on to another subject, okay?”

“It’s going to be difficult to ignore this completely,” Husk suggested.

“Not too difficult,” Bea said, regaining her seat. “We’re all adults, and this is hardly the first time that we’ve been around a new couple, I’m sure.”

“Yeah, but a pair of powerful magic-wielding sisters dating isn’t exactly an everyday event, y’know,” Gilda said.

Twilight stifled a laugh.

“We could talk about the big secret thing that the Empire is doing,” Ditzy stated from beneath the table.

There was an audible pause in the room.

“Ditzy, what are you talking about?” Trueblood asked.

“The big secret thing that the Empire is doing,” she repeated.

“What big secret thing?” Bea asked, looking down at the wall-eyed mare.

“The one they have all the notes for on the bottom of this table,” she answered, pointing up.

“What?” Trueblood dropped to the ground in a flash. “I’ll be, she’s right.”

A glow of golden magic illuminated underneath the table, and in short order a stack of papers came around to land on the top of the table, spreading out to be easily seen.

“What is it?” Gilda asked. “I see the Imperial Crest on it, but other than that, it all just looks like gibberish.”

“It kind of is,” Trueblood stated. “The Empire uses a variety of codes when they are sending out crucial information. Helps to keep things secret.”

“So, you can read this?” Bea asked.

“No. No, I can’t,” Trueblood frowned. “This is a new code.”

“Uh, Ditzy?” Twilight asked, pulling back to look under the table. “You said that you knew this was a secret message a minute ago. Are you able to read this?”

Her head popped up between Twilight and Trueblood. “Yep!”

“No offense, but...how?” Gilda asked.

“Ditzy is full of surprises,” Husk stated.

“It’s just a bunch of lines and circles,” she answered. “They have a pattern, and the pattern has to match with something, and the something was obviously words, so I just matched the pattern to the same pattern that words use and it reads just like words.”

“I...think I followed that,” Twilight answered. “That’s amazing!”

“It is?” Ditzy asked. “Huh. I didn’t know that.”

“What does it say?” Bea asked.

“Oh, well, I only read the first page, so...” Ditzy rose up and flew above the table, her eyes scanning two separate areas of the documents. “They’re talking about transferring a magical discovery, something really powerful that they want to keep out of the hooves of the civilian ponies of the Empire. It gives instructions to the ponies that were supposed to get these papers to, huh,” she looked up at everypony, “to look for us, actually. They want us to be harassed and distracted. Kept away.”

“Keep away, eh?” Trueblood ran her hoof over her chin.

“Does it describe the magic artifact?” Twilight asked.

Ditzy’s head twisted back and forth, scanning over the pages. “Nope. It barely mentions it, actually.”

“Need to know,” Gilda said.

“You aren’t thinking that it’s the Elements, are you?” Bea asked.

“Maybe,” Twilight answered softly. “What other kind of powerful artifact would they be guarding?”

“Then we’re too late,” Gilda said. “They’ve already got them.”

“Woah, woah, woah,” Trueblood said, standing up and looking around the table. “Don’t anypony rush to a conclusion here. All we know is that they have something, and they don’t want us to have it. That’s all we know.”

“True,” Bea said, “but we’re not likely to know much else.”

“Sure we are! Because we’re gonna go find out!” Trueblood stated with a smile.

“How? We don’t even know where they are?” Twilight said. “All they left in this message was to keep us away by harassing us. Not pushing us away from a particular spot.”

“Of course they are,” Trueblood said. “We just haven’t discovered it yet.” She turned to look at Ditzy. “Is there anything in there about other soldiers that are supposed to be doing this?”

“Uh, yes. They talk about driving them--well, us--towards the south or east, so that others can continue the detail,” Ditzy stated.

“Great, so that means that they are going to be north or west, or probably both,” Trueblood smiled. “And what city is northwest of here?”

“Oatland,” Bea answered. “If you want to talk biggest and closest.”

“And if there is anything that Fantasia likes, it's being seen and loved. Any chance to parade through town and get the adoration of hundreds of ponies is right up her alley.”

“But, wouldn’t she want to avoid being seen?” Twilight asked. “If they are transporting something secret that they don’t want us to know about, why do it where everypony could see?”

“No, she wants to be seen,” Trueblood said, “she just doesn’t want us to see whatever it is.”

“I don’t know,” Twilight shook her head, “something about this seems strange.”

“Trust me, Sparky. I know Fantasia better than anypony. This is exactly what she would do. And we need to find out if she’s got these Elements of yours before she gets back to Canterlot and it becomes almost impossible to get free.”

“I guess so,” Twilight said hesitantly.

“Hey, Trueblood has a nose for these things,” Gilda said. “If she says this is the right thing, I’m betting it’s the right thing.”

“I trust her,” Husk answered. “And it really is worth checking out.”

“I suppose so,” Twilight answered.

“Hey, don’t worry, Sparky,” Trueblood put her hoof on Twilight’s shoulder. “We’ll go. Just the two of us. That way we can get in and out quick if needed.”

Trueblood’s smile shot straight into Twilight. Her skin shuddered under the hoof brushing across her withers, and her heart tried to beat out of her chest, her ears turning towards the other mare. “Okay.”

“Everything’s going to be fine,” Trueblood said, her teeth gleaming in the soft light.

* * * * * * *

The group came to a stop, each one glancing around at their surroundings. A hard gallop from most and a low-level flight from others brought them here, leaving the runners gasping for air.

“This is...much nicer than I recall...from my trips to the Everfree Forrest,” Rarity stated. “Not that I am complaining, mind you.”

“Yeah, I gotta say, this is a might nicer than I expected, too,” Applejack agreed.

“What are you talking about?” Goldfeather looked around. “This is the way that Everfree always looks.”

Birds lighted in the trees, singing as leaves fluttered in the breeze, light playing across them. Flowers bloomed on the ground as rabbits ran into the brush at the pony’s unexpected attention.

“Not for us,” Trixie explained. “Which is part of what we have to explain to you about who we are and why we’re after Twilight Sparkle.”

“You’re from her world, aren’t you?” Goldfeather stated. “What happened with Coldheart? Did you kill her?”

“Uh, well, I think that y’all might be a couple of steps ahead of us here,” Applejack stated. “Seems like you already know where we’re from and such.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Goldfeather walked up to the farm-pony, “but what happened to Coldheart? Did you kill her? Did that Luna pony? Is she gone?”

“‘Fraid not,” Applejack stated.

“Indeed, this Coldheart creature has created quite a problem back on our world,” Rarity explained. “We were sent here to get Twilight so that we might do our very best to be rid of her.”

Her head spun around to stare at Rarity. “Sparkle can do that? She can beat Coldheart?”

“Not alone,” Trixie stated. “Twilight is very capable, but not that capable. Trust me, I know.”

“I don’t get it,” Goldfeather said. “Then why do you need her?”

“Because together we can do all kinds of magicky-wagicky things that zap the biggest meanies and make them into non-meanies!” Pinkie explained in a way that only she could.

“What Pinkie is tryin’ to say,” Applejack explained, “is that Twilight is one of us, and together we have the strength to beat Coldheart.”

“Beat her?” Goldfeather chuckled. “Have you ever been around her?”

“Nope,” Applejack said.

“I assure you that we are very serious about this,” Rarity said. “We simply need to find Twilight.”

“Right,” Goldfeather said. “I was hoping that you at least had good news to counter what you did back at my place.”

“Hold on, there!” Rainbow Dash flew up and landed in front of Goldfeather. “Look around at us. Take a good look.” She turned and looked at the other ponies, her hoof swinging around with her gaze. “All six of us--even Trixie--we’re all here for the same reason.” She turned back to Goldfeather. “Because Twilight is family. We’re all family. We risked coming here from another world to reunite us all together, because we are strong when we are together! When we are family!”

She rose up and got in the griffin’s face, pressing her muzzle against Goldfeather’s beak.

“And when a family is strong, they can do anything!” Rainbow Dash growled.

Goldfeather stared into Rainbow Dash’s eyes, her hackles raised and her feathers puffed out. She clacked her beak closed a few times, pressing into Dash’s muzzle, even as the pony pushed back.

Suddenly, Goldfeather pulled away, stepping back to get a better look at Rainbow Dash. “I like you, pony. What’s your name?”

“Rainbow Dash! Fastest flier in all of Equestria!” She pushed her chest out.

“You really think that you and yours can beat Coldheart?” she asked.

“Think? Ha! I know we can beat that Nightmare wanna-be!” Rainbow Dash scoffed.

“Trixie says so, too!” Trixie stepped in. “Coldheart cannot defeat them when they are together.”

Goldfeather looked sidelong at Rainbow Dash. “You vouch for her?”

Rainbow looked at Trixie, then over to Goldfeather, then back at Trixie. “Yeah, I do,” she said eventually. “In fact, I vouch for everypony here. Like I said, they’re family.”

“Good enough for me,” Goldfeather nodded.

“Now, ya gotta tell me, what the heck was up with that weird basement shrine thingie?” Rainbow asked.

“Yeah, thanks for bringing that up,” Goldfeather said. “All that work, ruined.”

“How did we ruin it? By seein’ it?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“As soon as Coldheart finds out about it, not only am I dead, but all those griffins are dead, too,” Goldfeather snarled.

“But how are they gonna find out?” Rainbow Dash threw her forelegs up in the air.

“Because...because...” she tried to answer.

“‘Cause you had it in your mind that as soon as somepony found out, no matter who that pony really was, that it was gonna be Coldheart or one’a her agents?” Applejack stepped forward asking softly.

“Yeah,” Goldfeather admitted.

“We won’t tell anypony!” Pinkie jumped in. “Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye!”

Goldfeather watched the pink pony go through an odd set of motions as she gave her promise. She opened her mouth to say something, one eyebrow raising.

“It means that she is quite genuine in her promise,” Rarity explained, “and if it would help, I believe that we would all go through the same promise.”

“Only if Trixie must...” she muttered.

A glance her way brought a response from Rainbow Dash. “Yeah, yeah, it’s cool. Pinkie’s just...Pinkie.”

“What were you doing with those griffins, darling? And why were they so very grateful to you?” Rarity asked.

“That’s...complicated,” Goldfeather said.

“Simple version, then?” Rainbow suggested.

“Simple version...” Goldfeather paused, her eyes shifting around, focusing on nothing. She let out a deep sigh. “Let’s just say that griffins in this world have had a rough time of things, and I’ve done everything that I could to make sure that as many of them as could found a safe place to be together. And I did that by getting as close to Coldheart as I could stomach, and that sometimes made me do things that I will always regret.”

“Oh my, what made you do that?” Fluttershy asked.

“I...this isn’t a good time, okay. Let’s just say that Coldheart has a taste for things that aren’t pleasant, and to help the majority, I had to make some deals that...that are going to be with me. Forever.” Goldfeather hung her head down, turning away from all the ponies.

“Oh, you poor dear!” Fluttershy rushed up towards her, only to have Rainbow Dash get in her way.

Shaking her head, Rainbow Dash scowled at her pegasus friend, and then turned back towards Goldfeather.

“Don’t you sit there and feel pity!” Rainbow shouted. “This is about family, and they come before anypony. You’ve done what you’ve done for the right reasons. You have nothing to be ashamed of, and should stop sulking!”

Turning her eyes up, Goldfeather squinted at Rainbow Dash. “You don’t know anything about what I’m going through.”

“And I don’t need to! You say that Coldheart is the problem? Then we deal with Coldheart!” Rainbow exclaimed. “If we find Twilight, then we can deal with your Empress. So, are you going to help us find her, or just sit here like a kitten?”

Rising up, Goldfeather towered over Rainbow Dash, who put her wings out to make herself look bigger. Goldfeather did the same, and dwarfed the smaller pony, but all that made Rainbow do was push forward, putting her muzzle near the griffin again.

“Damn,” Goldfeather smiled, “I really do like you, pony! I’ve needed this kick in the butt for longer than I care to admit. How did you learn so much about griffins?”

“School,” Rainbow Dash held up her hoof, which Goldfeather met with her claw.

Applejack stood there, shaking her head, her mouth hanging open.

“I concur,” Rarity said softly to Applejack. “I dare say that we may never understand griffins.”

“But Rainbow Dash does, and that’s all we need right now,” Trixie offered. She stepped over towards Goldfeather again. “Does this mean that you will help us to find Twilight Sparkle?”

Turning to look at her, Goldfeather nodded. “Yeah, and I know where she is, or at least, where to look for her. And hopefully we’ll get to her before Toy does?”

“Toy?” Applejack asked. “Who in tarnation is Toy?”

Goldfeather scowled. “Trouble.”

* * * * * * *

“Luna?” Her voice was smooth and soothing, even at a time like this. “Luna, wake up.”

“Grungle. Finaba oopla, grungle.” The language she muttered was only decipherable by the unconscious.

“Yes, I know, Luna. I’m sorry,” Celestia was fluent in unconscious. “Still, I need you to get up. I can’t lower the sun and raise the moon right now. You can go right back to sleep after it’s done.”

Luna popped up, her eyes blinking repeatedly. “Is it time? I didn’t notice! I was going to sleep through it!” She leapt from the bed and ran out onto the balcony adjoining Twilight Sparkle’s bedroom. The sun was hanging low in the sky.

“How long has it been this way?” Luna turned as Celestia walked slowly out onto the balcony with her wife.

“Not long enough for anypony to notice,” she answered. “I wasn’t going to leave anypony worrying.”

“I’m not thinking of just anypony.” Luna’s horn came to life, her eyes glowing with a bright silver light, and soon the whole of the balcony was lit in her iridescence. Celestia watched, her heart swelling as her sister performed the magic that she had done so often before. The magic that worked through her lifted her off of the balcony, pulling her into the air to join the heavenly bodies she manipulated.

Her teeth clenched, Luna willed the sun to lower itself down below the horizon, a prism of color decorating the horizon as it faded from view. Soon enough, her moon crested on the far horizon, rising elegantly to signal the arrival of her night.

Setting herself back down onto the balcony, Luna’s chest rose and fell deeply. She looked up into the sky, twisting her head around to take in as much of the canopy of stars as she could. “I hate it,” she said solemnly.

Stepping up beside her, Celestia stared up into the newborn night sky. “Hate what?”

“This night. The layout of the stars. It is all wrong,” she said.

“It looks perfectly normal to me,” Celestia answered.

“No, it is not. Look at the thirty-second parallel. The lights should be more of a purple. Right now they are too blue. And over in the second azimuth there is a cluster that is supposed to twinkle far more than it is right now,” she explained.

Celestia tried to repress a giggle--unsuccessfully.

“Are you laughing at me?” Luna turned her head slowly towards her wife.

“A little, yes,” Celestia answered. “This is what I was telling you a while back. You are much better with the night than I ever was.”

“And now I know why! When forced to do both duties it tasks you, and neither are done to the standards that I find acceptable,” she stated with a curt nod.

“Well, I apologize,” Celestia answered with a smile. “If I had my preference you would have been sleeping, and I would have done your duty tonight.”

Luna’s face dropped.

“No! No, Tia, that is not what I was implying. I did not mean to make you think that...” Her voice trailed off.

“What? That I couldn’t perform my given duty? That I didn’t have a horn? That I am magically impotent?” She laughed lightly. “Luna, you are saying nothing that I am not fully aware of already.”

“I did not mean to exacerbate the matter. You are still the Goddess of the Sun and a Princess of Equestria! You are my sister, my wife, and my equal in every way!” Luna demaded.

Celestia raised an eyebrow. “Every way? That’s a bit of a new attitude from you.”

“Every way that involves the command of the skies,” Luna clarified. “Though at the moment, I would not think to lord any power over you in other ways.”

Her smile left her face. “What? Why?” Celestia asked.

“I will not degrade you at this time, Tia. It does not seem fitting,” she answered. “I do not wish to damage you further. We must see to your safety.”

Expressionless, Celestia stared at her sister. For a long moment, they stood together on the balcony before Celestia spoke again. “Luna, would you join me inside for a moment?” She stepped back, gesturing towards the door with her extended wing.

“Of course,” she answered, stepping past the alabaster wing and into the tree house.

Following after her, Celestia gently closed the door and turned to face her sister.

“Why did you want to come inside, Tia? Is there something--” Luna’s head jerked to the side, forced that way by Celestia’s hoof slapping her across the face.

“How dare you!” Celestia growled. “At the one moment in my life when I need to feel more normal than ever, you will treat me as an invalid? You say pretty words, but you will not treat our own private, intimate moments with the same respect that we have since our relationship began?”

Her head turned slowly back around, coming finally to face her sister-wife. Luna’s tongue came out and touched the corner of her mouth, tasting blood, and then slowly worked its way back into her mouth. “I love you, Tia. I love you enough to defy Death herself, but if you ever lay your hoof on me like that again...”

“What?” Celestia spat. “What will happen? You think that I’m frail and fragile, remember?”

“Tia,” Luna held her tone in check, “this has nothing to do with your current condition.”

“Doesn’t it?” Celestia’s hoof flashed forward, swiping across towards Luna’s face--and never finding its destination.

A midnight glow held the hoof aloft, gripped in a powerful magic as Luna raised her head higher, a sneer curling up her lip. The magic curled around Luna’s horn, while power trickled from the corner of her eyes.

“How dare I?” Luna dragged Celestia’s hoof back to the ground, and then took hold of the other three, locking the alicorn in place. “How dare thee! Twas us that freed thee from thy prison beneath the fallen Canterlot! Twas us that hath performed thy duties since the destruction of our castle! We have aided thee at every turn!”

Her voice, still slightly rough from her wound, was gravelly from fury. And the tone went towards the realm of Nightmare.

“Thou thinks that we are belittling you by kindness?” She lashed out with her hoof, grasping Celestia by the mane and pulling her forward. “Perhaps we have been too kind on thee. Perhaps we do need to remind thee of thy true place!”

A sharp yank on her mane pulled Celestia down, causing her to fall to her knees onto the hard, wooden floor. Celestia looked up at her, eyes trembling as she tried to meet the glowing orbs of her sister that stared down at her. She couldn’t hold the gaze, turning her eyes to the floor in an instant.

“As we thought,” Luna hissed. “Kiss our hooves, slave, and we may forgive thee.”

Celestia didn’t move, her head still staring downward.

“Did thou not hear us?” Luna shouted. “Or dost thou need encouragement?”

Shimmering into existence from nothing, a black rod snapped across Celestia’s flank, leaving a bright red welt. She yelped as the rod struck her, but did not move. A second and third time it struck her, and finally Celestia fell forward, her muzzle landing next to Luna’s hooves.

Stretching out her neck, Celestia’s lips met with Luna’s hooves.

“See now, was that so difficult?” Luna asked.

“No, Mistress,” Celestia said weakly as her lips ventured over shoes that covered Luna’s fetlock.

Curling back her lips, Luna sucked in a breath between her teeth. Her rear hooves shifted, and she took the rod and rubbed it along her wife’s flank. Celestia responded by pressing back against her sister’s ministrations.

Turning her head, Luna located the bed she recently vacated, and moved towards it, and finally turning and plopping down on it, her rear legs spread. She took her hoof, pointed at Celestia, and then to her own loins.

Bowing her eyes, Celestia crawled over towards the bed, urged along with light smacks caressing her flank. Raising her head and peppering Luna’s inner leg with kisses, she worked her way up towards her prize. Before she reached it, two hooves grabbed either side of her head, lifting her muzzle up.

“Thine only task is our pleasure. Is that clear?” Luna asked sternly, black energy swirling along the edge of her eyes. “Thou shalt do what we tell thee, when thou art told, and if thee does it properly, we may reward thee. If thou does it improperly, we will most definitely punish thee. Dost thou understand?”

“Y--yes, Mistress,” Celestia stammered.

Dropping her hold, Luna placed her hooves on her belly and lay back, spreading her wings wide until they covered the bed like an ebon blanket. Celestia pressed forward until the lips of her mouth met with Luna’s nether lips in a most intimate kiss, enticing a moan from her Mistress.

The flavor of Luna’s sex seeped across Celestia’s mouth, giving her a taste of things ahead. She could feel Luna’s pussy opening up to her advances, offering itself to her mouth and her actions. Snaking her tongue out, Celestia let it deliver a long, slow lick up the length of the slit, the thick juices now deep and hearty in her mouth.

“Faster, slave!” Luna growled from her back, a swift smack of the rod on Celestia’s backside providing enforcement to the concept.

Following instructions, Celestia increased the tempo her tongue worked on her sister’s marehood. Delicate licks turned to sharp strokes, with an occasional probe inside the depths of her folds.

“Yes, just like that!” She hissed. “Fuck us with thy tongue!”

Darting it out to the point where it hurt, Celestia drove her tongue deep inside Luna’s cunt. She felt her sister’s hooves grasp the side of her head as she pulled it out and repeated the procedure, feeling the wet cavity tighten around her tongue.

A gutteral grunt rumbled from Luna. She swatted Celestia’s flank with a sharp snap, wordlessly encouraging more activity. Celestia obeyed with vigor, her mouth gobbling up the flesh surrounding Luna’s pussy while her tongue continued to work the insides.

Very shortly, her actions were rewarded with a deep groan and the arching of Luna’s back as she thrust her groin into Celestia’s face again and again. Luna’s cum poured out into Celestia’s mouth and onto her face, with her drinking in as much as she could manage. After several thrusts and loud moans, Luna relaxed both herself and her grip. Slowly, she raised herself up and pulled Celestia’s head from her groin.

“That,” she said huskily, “deserves a reward.”

Bending forward, Luna brought her mouth into contact with Celestia’s, tasting herself on her sister’s lips. Celestia felt her mouth invaded by her wife’s tongue, as it swirled around, pulling as much satisfaction from the act as it could from inside.

Something prodded Celestia from behind. It wasn’t the rod that had been whipping her, but rather something larger. It played along her flank, coming to rest at the base of her tail for a moment. She tried to pull back and see what it was, but Luna suddenly gripped the back of her head, and held her to the kiss.

The object, large and blunt, moved again, this time tracing down to Celestia’s cutie mark where it pushed and played for a moment, before crossing back over and resting between Celestia’s ass cheeks.

“Relax thyself,” Luna pulled back from the kiss, “or this may be much more difficult for thee.”

“Mistress, I--” Celestia began before Luna cut her off.

“Do not contradict us, slave! Do as we say. We thought that was clear,” she stated.

“Yes, Mistress,” Celestia whispered.

Celestia could feel the large object approaching her rear passage, pressing against her tailhole firmly.

“Thou struck us,” Luna said with a rough voice. “Despite the pleasure, thou hast to be punished for that.”

Her eyes darted back and forth, trying to find a way to see what it was behind her without turning her head, or looking directly into the face of her Mistress.

“Stop that!” Luna commanded. “Look at us!”

Slowly turning her eyes back, Celestia met her sister’s gaze, her breath ragged, taking in what Luna exhaled. Their lips were still close enough to touch, but there was no kiss.

“We want to see thy face as this happens, so do not turn away from us, is that understood?” Luna stated.

A shiver ran across Celestia’s coat as she nodded. Luna was sitting on Twilight’s bed still, while Celestia was kneeling on the floor in front of her, their eyes locked.

Black energy dripped across Luna’s eye as Celestia felt her tailhole invaded by the object. It pushed inside, slowly and steadily, expanding her anal passage with every passing moment. Celestia’s lip quivered, her eyes filling with tears as the object went deeper.

“Relax thyself,” Luna soothed. “If thou dost, this shall be much quicker.”

Short, sharp nods were the answer, and Celestia did her best to let her body lose tension. The pressure of the object was having the other desired effect however, and her body was reacting to the sexual nature of it. She swallowed hard, her mouth opening as her eyelids slipped half-closed.

“Look at us!” Luna commanded. Instantly Celestia’s eyelids opened completely, but only for a moment as the passion forced them half-closed again. “We want to see thine eyes as we fuck thine ass.”

A moan was the only response that Celestia could muster as she felt the object begin to pulsate and then move in and out of her tailhole.

“Remember this, slave,” Luna instructed, her voice breathing onto Celestia’s mouth. “We want thou to see in our eyes what happens when we do this to thee. We want thou to know that we can see what thou art feeling the whole time. We want thee to know the truth.”

There was no anger. There was no pity. All Celestia could see in her sister’s eyes was an unbridled lust. Which made her do nothing but moan a second time and push back against the object that was behind her, fucking her ass.

“If thou beg for forgiveness, we might stop,” Luna suggested, “but if we stop, then thou might not cum. So what is it thee values more, slave, our forgiveness or thine own pleasure?”

“I...I...” Celestia’s voice was short and breathy, her brain trying to form words while her body could only concentrate on the pleasure that was wracking her system.

“What is it going to be? If thou dost not beg us soon, then it might be too late,” Luna hissed. “We can sense thou art close. It might only be a few seconds before thee hast lost the moment.”

“Mi--Mistress, please...” Celestia began.

“Please what? Finish your statement, slave,” Luna said in a husky tone.

“Mistress, please...please don’t stop,” Celestia stated.

Luna’s eyes shot wide. “Why thou art a dirty, selfish little whorse! Are thou telling us that thou value this massive dildo in thine ass more than thou values our forgiveness?” The object began slamming into Celestia’s rectum. “Art thou saying that thou art so desperate to cum that thou would risk leaving us angry?”

“I--I’m sorry, Mistress,” she gasped, her eyes trying to stay focused on her sister’s. “You are j--just too good. I ca--can’t hold on much longer.”

“Oh, so now it is our prowess that thou uses as an excuse and not thine own pathetic lust! Thou art disgraceful! Thou should just go ahead and cum now and get it over with,” Luna snarled. “In fact, if thou dost not cum in the next ten seconds, we are going to stop and just tie thee to the bed, with no means to pleasure thyself for the whole night.”

“N-no! Please, Mistress! Please, don’t!” Celestia begged.

“Five seconds, slave,” Luna stated.

Celestia’s eyes rolled back into her head as she lost sight of her sister. Her entire body convulsed and shuddered as her cum poured from her gaping cunt, drenching the floor. And just as it seemed to be over, she screamed, loud and guttural, as another wave of orgasm flooded over her. Her legs and hooves were soaked in her own juices, while Luna continued to drive the object deep into her ass.

Her legs gave out, and Celestia sank completely to the ground, falling onto her side and laying there, panting heavily. She felt the item that filled her tailhole disappear, leaving an absence that her body filled immediately.

It took her some time, but she regained her thoughts, and was able to sit up slowly. Luna was waiting for her with a smile.

“You did that on purpose,” Luna said.

“Wh--whatever are you talking about, love,” Celestia replied slowly, her body and mind still trying to sync completely.

“You hit me on purpose,” she clarified. “You wanted me to lose my temper.”

“It was...necessary.” Celestia brought her hooves up and straightened her crown.

“How so?” Luna stood from the bed, stretching her legs and back.

“You thought of me as frail. Weak. I couldn’t let that sit. I needed to prove--to both of us--that I wasn’t,” Celestia explained.

“And?” Luna looked at her wife. “There seems to be another part to that.”

Celestia smiled. “And I needed to prove to you that you are still strong. That you are not a victim in this.”

“I know that I am strong. In fact, you practically drove me to hurt you--truly hurt you--with your action,” Luna’s eyes flashed dark. “That is not wise.”

“But you kept control. That’s the important part. You kept control because you knew it was me. And in the future, you will be able to keep control of your anger, but not because of me--but because of you,” Celestia said. “You are in control, Luna.”

Baring her fangs, Luna stood over her wife, dark energy coming from her eyes. “Yes, I am.” She stepped back, the fangs turning to a smile. “In a good way, though. Come, I am hungry. Let us eat.”

“Whatever you say,” Celestia stood and walked down beside her.

* * * * * * *

“I commend your work,” Coldheart stated. “Presuming, of course, that you are being completely honest with me.” She looked over at Cadance across the table. “Which you aren’t, naturally.”

“I’m doing what I have to do, Fantasia,” Cadance answered.

“Yes, but for who?” Coldheart levitated up a morsel of cake and took a bite. The table between them was rich with food, sweet and savory items of all descriptions, and both ponies were enjoying the cornucopia of delights. And on Coldheart’s side was a stack of paper that she had been reading throughout the meal.

Cadance was still dressed in her black leggings, with the thin silver chain, her mane pulled back into a severe line down her neck, with the tail tied up tight. Coldheart wore regalia that looked liked a variation on Celestia’s royal attire, but also had a long purple cape, complete with pink and red finery woven into the body, and a feathered edge that draped from her withers back over her flank and spread out onto the ground.

“For me, of course,” Cadance answered. “Isn’t that what I’m supposed to be doing? Becoming as selfish as you?”

“Selfish? Me?” Coldheart laughed and took a drink of wine. “I give love to as many ponies as are willing to come near me. I give them a purpose and happiness. How is that selfish?”

“I can’t believe you even have to ask me,” Cadance answered, levitating a bite of up to her mouth. “It doesn’t really matter, though, does it?”

“No, it doesn’t.” She turned and looked at the papers again. “So, you believe that the most likely place for the Equestrians to be reestablishing themselves is in the west? Because of the open terrain and the military positioning of it, you say?”

“I do.” Cadance swallowed the food, staring over at the other. “It’s what Shining Armor was always talking about.”

“Ah yes, the fabled Shining Armor. You trust him that completely?” Coldheart asked.

“Do I...?” Cadance twisted her head, and returned the food to her plate. “You don’t understand who Shining Armor is, do you?”

“Should I?” Coldheart stared over the table. The wind blew through, flickering the candles, extinguishing two of them. Servants rushed over and re-lit them immediately.

Cadance began to nod slowly. “I understand.”

Setting the papers down, Coldheart took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. “Please, do explain it to me, Cadance, dear.”

“You have no Shining Armor,” Cadance said, her tone sounding perfectly clear.

“That’s not an explanation,” Coldheart smiled.

“When was the last time that a pony was with you willingly?” she asked. “Not one that you coerced or forced to love you, but a pony that spent a night with you because that was what they wanted to do?”

“You are treading on dangerous ground, Cadance,” Coldheart’s voice was frozen. “Choose your next words very carefully.”

“I understand. I truly do, because...” she hestitated, “...because I could have become you.”

“You will,” Coldheart smiled. “Trust me, you will.”

“Maybe, but I know why you didn’t become me now,” she explained. “You’re older than I am, and that means you went through more than I have. You’ve seen all the love in the world blossom around you and grow, but never for you. No pony ever loved you, did they?”

A bright white glow surrounded Cadance’s throat suddenly, and her eyes popped wide, hooves grasping at her neck.

“Cadance,” Coldheart said slowly, “I have the love of every being in two worlds. If you continue to say such malicious things to me, then I will have to remove some of your privileges. One of those being the right to breathe in my presence.”

The glow disappeared and Cadance collapsed back into her chair, gasping and wheezing.

“Now, why don’t we have a more pleasant conversation, no?” She picked up her wine again and took a drink. “I take it you are close to this Shining Armor. A lover?”

“H--husband,” she answered, rubbing her throat.

“Oh! Husband, eh? You have saddled yourself with a single stallion. I don’t know whether to commend you or mock you, truly,” Coldheart giggled.

“You should be jealous,” Cadance answered.

“Really? Well, then perhaps we should find him so that I can experience whatever it is that makes him so special,” she said.

“You couldn’t. I wish you could, actually. I do. I think that it would make a big difference,” Cadance said, reseating herself.

“And why couldn’t I? Before you answer, remember your privileges,” Coldheart stated.

“I can’t explain it,” Cadance said. “When I met Shining Armor, my heart skipped a beat. He was so young, at least compared to me, but it didn’t matter. He carried himself as somepony much older. As an old soul. We just...connected.”

“Did you, now?” Coldheart raised an eyebrow.

“Fantasia,” Cadance said softly, “may I come over to you?”

Turning her head, Coldheart paused. Her head slowly nodded in approval. Cadance stood from her chair and walked around to stand before the Empress. It looked like a smaller reflection staring up at the original as Cadance moved closer.

Leaning up, Cadance brought her muzzle directly in front of Coldheart’s, pausing for a moment. Closing the final gap, their lips met. Gently, Cadance massaged the larger mare’s lips with her own. She lingered there for a moment, letting the connection attempt to bond before finally pulling back.

“Cadance,” Coldheart said delicately, “I have already told you that we will be lovers, but when I want to have sex with you, I will tell you.”

She took a step back and sighed, and then Cadance nodded and turned to go back to her seat.

“I did not know that you were that attracted to me, though,” Coldheart said. “I certainly understand why, I’m just surprised to see you display it so openly. It gives me even more hope for your future.”

“I’m sure,” Cadance said without emotion.

“And of course, I will enjoy making this Shining Armor our pet,” she stated. “Bringing him into our arrangement so that we can share his affections appropriately.”

“What?!” Cadance jolted in her seat. “We...we don’t need him.”

“Need? Certainly not, but if he is everything that you say he is, then I wish to experience him for myself.” She looked over at Cadance, her smile chilling the other mare. “Don’t worry, dear. I don’t think that I will break him for you.”

Her lips became two thin lines, pulled back into a smile that was razor like. “Thank you, Fantasia.”

“Now,” Coldheart returned to the papers beside her, “with the additional information that you have given me, I am now convinced where I need to move next.”

“The western shore?” Cadance asked, picking up a pastry.

“Too far, but the right direction, I think. I need to make another statement, and it seems like the most obvious place is...” She placed the map down, her hoof pointing to a small town to the southwest of Canterlot. “Here.”

Cadance swallowed hard as Coldheart smiled across the table.

“Ponyville.”

* * * * * * *

They walked next to each other, their tails flicking back and forth to touch each other’s flank with every step. It would have been blatantly obvious to anypony watching, but under the cloak of the night it wasn’t too flagrant an act.

“So, what are we looking for again?” Twilight asked.

“Anything suspicious,” Trueblood stated.

“Okay, so, suspicious by my definition or yours?” she wondered aloud. “Because if it’s my suspicious, we’re going to be finding a lot of things.”

“You can’t be that paranoid,” Trueblood giggled.

“Oh, I’m not--despite what some ponies say--it’s more that this world does so many things that seem just slightly out of place to me that everything sort of stands out,” Twilight said, and then continued before her companion could speak. “Of course, if everything stands out, then nothing stands out, so I suppose I could be looking for something that doesn’t stand out, but that just seems...weird.”

Waiting a moment to make sure her new marefriend was finished, Trueblood eventually answered. “That doesn’t seem like a good plan, either. Just keep your eyes and ears open. I’m sure that something will pop up sooner or later.”

“Well, hopefully it won’t be too poppy. I would prefer things to be a little calm if possible. Especially since we’re talking about the ponies that are hunting us down,” Twilight said. “I like the idea of a quiet day.”

The town was easy and peaceful, and the ponies were milling about the streets going to and fro, some with a purpose and many with none obvious. Resting on a large lake, Oatland was considered a rough town by some, but Twilight could see no obvious reason for that reputation.

“All I’m seeing are earth ponies,” Twilight observed. “Is that unusual?”

“Not really,” Trueblood said. “Oatland is known as an earth pony city, so not seeing any unicorns or pegasi wouldn’t be that odd. And no pony seems to be staring at us like were out of place, so I’m betting they see unicorns on a daily basis.”

“True.” Twilight glanced around. A pale yellow stallion with a black mane and a sickle cutie mark smiled and nodded at her from behind his cart filled with grapes. She responded in kind. “And everypony here seems nice enough.”

“Well, we don’t even know for certain that something is going on here, remember? This is all based on a piece of paper that was attached to the bottom of a table,” Trueblood recanted. “And speaking of tables, we might want to find one where we can sit and grab some food. And drink, maybe.”

“Um, I kinda gave up drinking,” Twilight said slowly. “I discovered that alcohol and I don’t get along.”

“That sounds like a story,” Trueblood stated. “Well, we can sit and have some tea then, and you can tell me all about that part of your life.”

“I’m not sure you would really like to hear it. It wasn’t my best moment,” Twilight admitted.

“Hey, I want to know all about you, Sparky. The good, the bad, the everything.” Her flank swung over and bumped Twilight playfully.

“Well, okay, but you asked for it,” Twilight laughed. She nodded forward. “There’s a place up ahead.”

“Looks clean enough. Let’s go,” Trueblood suggested.

The Gait and Tackle was an active spot, filled with dozens of young ponies out for the evening. A cacophony of joy met their ears as they walked to the door, greeted by a russet mare with a white mane.

“Welcome! Can I get you two ladies a table?” she asked.

“Please,” Trueblood answered. “And something a little quiet if possible.”

“Let me check,” she said with a smile, “I’ll be right back.”

The two looked around the place, the majority of those in attendance were stallions, with the mares present getting a good share of attention from each of them, and they could smell the hormones in the air.

“Yeah, I think getting a quiet table is a good idea,” Twilight said. “I don’t really feel like getting hit on tonight.”

“Hit on?” Trueblood reared her head back. “No pony better be hitting on my mare, or I’ll give them the what for!”

“Well, hopefully they’ll figure it out quickly,” Twilight bumped up against Trueblood casually.

The russet mare returned, bearing a big smile. “Okay, found just what you want. If you would follow me?” She turned and walked through the establishment, leading the pair past a gaggle of ogling eyes. Twilight tried not to notice, but she was feeling more and more uncomfortable, like meat on display.

Trueblood wasn’t having any problem. Her eyes were firmly focused on the flank of the mare in front of her, watching it bounce with every step, the circular cutie mark dancing to keep her entranced.

“Here you are,” the mare stopped and gestured at a table. It wasn’t exactly quiet, but it was a little out of the way, and that made it at least feel slightly cozy. “Your waitress will be with you in a moment.”

Both mares sat down, with Twilight staring daggers into Trueblood.

“This seems nice,” Trueblood said.

“Uh-huh,” Twilight said curtly.

“You okay, Sparky? You seem a little odd,” she answered.

“Oh, I’m fine, but I saw you staring at her flank! Already looking at other mares, eh?” she teased.

“Hey, just admiring! It was in front of me, what am I supposed to do, ignore it?” Trueblood said.

“Yes!” Twilight laughed. “I might not have the nicest flank in the world, but at least you could make me feel like I do.”

“I never said you didn’t have the nicest flank in the world,” Trueblood stated. “And besides, you were behind me. I was kinda hoping that you were staring at my flank.”

“That old thing?” Twilight smirked. “Been there already.”

“Oh, it’s gonna be that way tonight, eh?” Trueblood squared her shoulders. “Okay, fine. I can give as good as I get.”

“Hello, ladies,” a dun mare with a brown mane approached the table. “My name is Sharpedge, and I’ll be your server. Can I get you something to drink?”

“Just water for me, thanks,” Twilight stated.

“I think I’ll stick with water, too,” Trueblood said, “but we would like some menus as well. We’re kinda hungry.”

“You bet. I’ll be back in a second,” she answered and turned to leave. Twilight watched her walk away, twin blades shifting back and forth on her flank as she stepped.

“Ahem,” Trueblood said loudly.

Twilight spun her head around to see her marefriend staring at her with a wry smile.

“Busted,” Twilight admitted.

“Damn right you are!” Trueblood said. “Which makes us even.”

“Fine! We’re even,” Twilight laughed. “And it’s not my fault, she has a really nice, athletic flank.”

“Uh-huh! Same as the hostess! So, don’t be too judgmental!” Trueblood said.

Twilight looked down at the table, shaking her head in amusement. Then she slowly moved her head to the side. Turning, she looked back into the room, surveying the crowd. Earth ponies, all of them fit and attractive. Mostly stallions.

“Trueblood, I’m not sure if things are the same here, but back home there are about seven times as many mares as there are stallions. Is that true here?” she asked.

“I don’t know the exact ratio--I bet Bea does, though--but yeah, that sounds about right. Why?” she asked.

“Well, this place is filled with stallions. Shouldn’t it be mares? And shouldn’t there be at least one unicorn or pegasus?” Twilight wondered.

“I...guess so,” Trueblood looked past Twilight into the room. “They aren’t bad on the eyes, though.”

“That’s the other thing. All of the ponies we’ve seen are in great shape. Doesn’t that seem odd?” she asked.

“Yeah a little, now that you mention it,” Trueblood stated.

“And when I think about it, all their cutie marks are odd, too. They’re all--” Twilight’s eyes went wide, and her ears twitched forward. “We need to go. We need to go right now!”

“What is it, Sparky? What’s--”

Trueblood finished her sentence with a scream. One that was echoed by Twilight Sparkle. Both ponies fell back out of their seats, writhing on the ground in agony, their bodies convulsing sharply. Arcs of magic shot across their forms, shooting out as their horns seemingly attacked their own body.

The world went gray for Twilight. Her eyes lost focus and the color faded away from everything, the edge of her vision becoming a soft blur. All she could see was a tunnel with a dot of light ahead. Her head fell backwards, the floor meeting her with no kindness. She could hear a steady thumping sound in her ears, and she wondered what it was for a moment.

The pain went away as quickly as it came, but all Twilight could do was lay there, the thumping in her head continuing to fascinate her. It had an odd, familiar pattern to it. One that she was sure she had heard before. It was regular and steady, deep and thick.

Her heartbeat! She knew that she had heard it before somewhere.

“Sparky?” The sound of Trueblood’s voice pulled her back. She turned her head slowly, no strength in her system. The white mare looked small and puny, her body struggling to move. “Twilight? Are you...okay?”

“Wh--what happened?” she asked.

“Magic overload,” a familiar voice said. “A rather complicated spell that caused your own magic to attack you. It’s something that I’ve been considering for a while for...various reasons. Consider yourselves test subjects.”

Kneeling down beside beside Trueblood, Toy looked directly into the unicorn’s eyes.

“Welcome to the rest of your life. I plan to enjoy it.”

...To Be Continued