“Chancellor Puddinghead looks down from his highest castle walls… Below him many many Earth Pony troops gathers…”

“The troops mount a defensive line as the armies of dragons and trolls approached…”

“Puddinghead stare stoically out onto to the battle field… emotionless as his greatest fear of the Pegasus and Unicorns teaming together to take over the Earth Pony’s fruitful farm lands…”

The armies start clashing. Puddinghead raises his lance as a Pegasus rides his dragon mount at him. He leaps forward knocking the flying pony off his mount by lancing him in the shoulder. The Chancellor then takes the reins and steers the dragon.

“Send them, send them all, I don’t care if it will kill most of them we take this castle now!” Commander Hurricane shouts to his troops from his dragon mount.

A shadow over head makes the silver colored pony looks up. Puddinghead jumps off of his mount and tackles Commander Hurricane off of his.

The two figures shoot down through the air. They crash into a roaming troll with a loud wet crack. Commander Hurricane was starting to stir when Puddinghead rolls on top of him and starts punching into him.

“And that’s how Equestria was made,” Puddinghead was now with a grey mane. Feathers from his now destroyed pillow flew everywhere.

The stallion stood in his red and lacy bedroom. He looks around the room with a crazed look in his eyes and wipes the spittle off the corner of his mouth.

From up above glowing yellow eyes watch the ageing leader. The shadowy figure of a coyote laughs over head.

“In the morning across the city…”

There was a loud kick at the door. It flies open with a crash startling the two ponies sleeping next to each other. An angry blue Earth Pony glares at them.

“La Dawn!” The Earth Pony points at the light green pony with the mint colored mane. Next to him a banana yellow pony with a strawberry mane.

“Whoop, Got to go!” La Dawn’s jumps up spreading his wings and jumped out the window.

The winged pony slides across the tiled roof. The Earth Pony chaises after him. La Dawn flaps his wings and makes three leaps across different roofs losing the enrage pony chasing after him.

Once safe, La Dawn takes a navy cloak off some pony’s clothes line and wraps it around himself. He walks out in the street and crosses a strange group of travelers. He bumps into Claymari causing the Sword Mare to flinch for her sword for a slight instant.

“Sorry,” La Dawn says turning to the fox colored pony as he disappears into the crowd.

A soldier heads toward the group, “He’ll be ready to see you once you arrived,” The soldier said.

“Good,” Knives answers.

“I can’t wait to get home,” Honey Mead stretches her body.

Petty Kitty and Ferngully gawked at the city’s many large, tall, and brightly cleaned buildings. They had never been in a city this large. Winkz only pretended to be amazed because her homeland had buildings even more beautiful.

Zero on the other hoof was gawking too. He was undergoing a bit of culture shock with all the bustling ponies. Up until now he’s been in small communities homes that looked a lot like the homes back in his own time. The strange buildings clothing flags and goods being sole got to him.

Claymari and Philia was unphased. They been to this city before and have seen better.

“Okay?” Philia asked scaring the space buck.

“Yeap!” Zero jumps away.

“Zero?” Philia speaks concerned.

“Sorry, this is just too much,” Zero sighs.

“Then don’t look now,” Petty Kitty whispers into Zero’s ear and points up ahead.

Before them a humongous castle strong hold built against the face of a tall mountain.

“I want to perch on that tower so bad,” Ferngully peered.

They walked into the fortress castle’s garden. Strange glass orbs floated all over the place. Zero looks at his reflection in one of them and to his shock it turns to reveal a purple eye looking back at him. The buck turns to his side to see Petty Kitty trying to swat at one of the floating eyes like a kitten.

“Eyes?” Zero questioned.

“Earth Pony Alchemy,” Philia answered, “They are just for show balanced out with float powder.

“In my time Earth Ponies had Unicorns to do this stuff,” Zero remarks inspecting the glass object.

“Over here,” Knives called out. He lead the party away from the main door.

“Where are we going?” Zero asked noting the odd change in direction.

“We are going to the silent room,” Knives told them.

“I hate the silent room,” Sword Mare shivered.

Zero raised an eye at this as they walked up to an unassuming door. Knives opens up the door and white.

The room was white. It had no ceiling, no floor, no walls at least ones they could perceive. After all even though there was no floor their feet where standing on something solid.

The room had throne and a royal red carpet at its feet. An unseen door opens and a pair of Earth Pony’s walked into the room.

One pony was light brown in color with a mane grayed with age. Next to him to Zero’s surprise was Applejack.

“Applejack!” Zero shouts at the orange pony. She replied with a daring look that stunned Zero.

“All hail the great and honorable Chancellor Puddinghead,” Honey Mead announced with her spear steadfast.

“Who?” The brown pony looked around confused.

“You sir,” Smart Cookie told Puddinghead rolling her eyes.

“Oh yes,” Pudding smiles teethy.

“Great he’s a mad pony,” Petty Kitty whispered to Zero.

“I should have known giving the play,” Zero rolls his eyes.

The silent room was getting at Ferngully. Her antenna was itching as she sweat. The black walls was making her head swing and she could hear, smell a beast. She looks at Puddinghead and saw a dark shape behind him. A pair of eyes stare back at her and the Bat Pony looks away. She had to hold back her sick.

“Oh, are these the embassaries from witch is it? The Future or the past?” Puddinghead asks noticing the group of ponies.

“Both sir,” Smart Cookie answered.

“Really?” Puddinghead smirks, “How’s that possible?”

“Applejack,” Petty Kitty spoke into her Pipbuck.

“I’m here,” The southern voice answers.

“Ooo! Talking glowing watch, Does it have a wizard?” Puddinghead remarks

“You need more than that to convince us of your worth,” Smart Cookie said coldly.

“Zero reaches into the pockets of his space suit… and pulls out many Granny Smith’s Fruit Pies…”

“I offer the lord fruits pies from my time.” Zero told the Earth Ponies.

Smart Cookie takes one of the fruity treats and takes a bite. Then her face lights up and she takes two more joyful bites.

“Okay, I believe you,” Smart Cookie said with a mouth full of pastry.

Philia see’s Ferngully’s distress, she turns to the Chancellor and his Secretary. “This room appears to be putting one of our companions under distress.”

“She may leave,” Smart Cookie waves the Bat Pony away.

“I’ll watch her,” Honey Mead volunteers.

The two ponies walked out of the room. When they stepped out Ferngully starts taking in many breaths. She sat on her hunches as one of the floating eyes drift by her.

“Sure those things don’t see us back?” Ferngully looks at the thing nervously.

“I don’t know that to be the truth,” Honey Mead answers.

“Back in the silent room…"

Chancellor Puddinghead ate a Granny Smith’s Fruit Pie. “These crabs taste like fruit,” Puddinghead cheered.

“They are fruit,” Smart Cookies said with irritation.

“Ho, yes I see now,” Puddinghead nods his head.

“Em, you all done?” Applejack spoke up from the Pipbuck.

“Yes,” Smart Cookie nods her head, “Lady ministry? You’re from a time with more advance technology then ours. We are willing to negotiate a trade.”

“Wouldn’t that risk our past?” Applejack points out.

“And saving your future,” Smart Cookie replied.

“I want my man to be safe and to find away to send him home,” Applejack adds.

“He is being pursued by a strong agent of the Zebra,” Claymari spoke up finding herself looking at the spot where the door to the outside should be. She found herself thinking of Ferngully’s mother and what she was. Something the mare kept to herself, and wondered what Ferngully was.

Smart Cookie raised an eye at the contrary body language shown by the Sword Mare.

“There is one thing you should know,” Knives adds.

“What is it?” Smart Cookie asks.

“Zero! Remove your robes!” Knives orders.

Zero did as he was told, He spread his wings at least one of them. The other was still in the brace.

“Pegasus,” Smart Cookie grits between her teeth.

“Oh, a Bird Pony,” Puddinghead smiles at the sight of the wings. He turns to Smart Cookie. “Like that kid, what’s the name? that brother of yours?” For a moment a dark an evil glare peered at Smart Cookie then followed by Puddinghead’s crazed smile.

Smart Cookie composed herself. “You know how to pull my strings sir.” She sighs, “I will allow him to stay in the castle under our care." Smart Cookie turns to Zero. "But be warned, I know the ways of a Pegasus.”

“Um, what?-okay?” Zero reacts at the sudden and confusing turn of the conversation.

“Good, you are dismissed, Knives find rooms for Claymari and her group.” Smart Cookie turns for the hidden door she first walked in. “Come Chancellor.”

The two ponies left the room.

“What was that about?” Zero blushed.

“She has a certain impression of your kind.” Knives answers.

“Outside the door to the silent room…”

“Honey Mead?” A castle guard in a gold mask walks up to Honey Mead and Ferngully.

“Metalance?” Honey Mead perks up.

The guard pony removes her mask to reveal an olive colored mare with a brown mane. “I wasn’t expecting you back for another month.”

“I had to return to the capital with Knives,” Honey Mead answers, “Claymari is with us as well.”

“It's been a while since she been in the city,” Metalance laughs, she sees Ferngully. “Who’s this friend of yours.”

“Ferngully of Soft Peak House,” The Bat Pony answered.

“This is Metalance of Popper Family,” Honey Mead introduced feeling anything less than the pony’s full title wasn't appropriate.

Metalance blushes at such a formal introduction. “After my shift you want to head back to the house? I would love to see the looks of the others faces at your return.

“Oh, she’s your herd sister?” Ferngully realized.

“Yeah,” Metalance smirks.

There was a loud flutter sound. This made the two warrior ponies go on alert. But Ferngully flinch nervously. A cloaked figure had just jumped over the five story wall.

Metalance puts her mask back on and shouts “Halt!”

The pony raised his hooves showing pastel green forelegs. One of the legs had a gold bracelet around it with the Apple Family seal.

The two Earth Pony mare’s sigh and spoke at the same time, “La Dawn.”

“Yes it is I!” La Dawn pulls back his hood and flares his wings.

“Pegasus?” Ferngully points out confused.

“Ah what is this a lovely night maiden,” La Dawn jumps to the cute Bat Pony.

Ferngully blushed at the strange pony’s sudden and close action. She was still young just became a mare by pony standers and never had her sexuality been so blatantly commented until now.

The two other mares giggles at the Bat Pony’s reaction.

“He’s a special case,” Metalance answered, “That bracelet means he’s okayed to be here.”

“In fact I live here, my home in the abandoned second east tower,” La Dawn answers, “I been told to keep out of sight and out of trouble. The first I’m hardly able to do, the second none at all.”

The door opens causing the mare to turn and watch Claymari and their friends walk out. They turned back to see La Dawn was gone

“Honey Mead we are dismissed, “Knives told the yellow mare, “I’m heading to my family, you can see the rest of yours once you settle our former companions in their rooms.”

“Smart Cookie retreats to her chambers…”

Smart Cookie looks at herself in the mirror. She didn’t have much makeup on her face but she did have some on.

Suddenly Smart Cookie’s window swings open. She turns to see a green Pegasus sneak into her room.

“What are you doing!” Smart Cookie snaps at the intruder.

“Just stopping by sis,” La Dawn answers.

“You’re up to no good again?” Smart Cookie snaps.

“A charming rogue like me?” La Dawn smirks, “no.”

“I don’t know why I tolerate your antics,” Smart Cookie sighs.

“Everybody loves me despite my wings,” La Dawn out stretched showing off his wing span. The Pegasus heads for the window. “Nice chat sister but I have some more maidens to deflower.”

La Dawn flies out of the window. Smart Cookie shakes her head and walks out of her room.

“Zero looks out a window and sees the flying figure move away from the castle…”

“Was that a Pegasus?” Zero points out the window.

“La Dawn,” Philia answers, “He’s the only Pegasus that’s allowed to walk freely around the city.”

“How that happen? Zero asks.

“Rape,” Philia answers coldly as she turns and walk away.

“Zero! These guest rooms are amazing!” Petty Kitty sticks her head out and shouts.

“It’s alright,” Ferngully remarks, “They are a little better then my private quarters back at home.

“Yeah, But you’re a rich pony on the edge of the Wildlands,” Petty Kitty points out.

“Well, I have time to hit the training hall,” Claymari states well stretching her joints.

This made Metalance give a smirk. “I’d love to see you put our men to shame.”

“Well I’ll stick around for this,” Honey Mead smiles.

“I’d like to go out with you!” Ferngully jumps up. She turns to Philia, “Is this training hall a place where one can practice magic?”

“I don’t think Earth Ponies have a place for magic,” Philia answers.

“Actually we do,” Metalance spoke up, “Paladin dragoon use enchanted weapons with magic effects our training halls could handle anything you can do.”

“I’ll stay here,” Zero yawns.

“I’ll stay with him,” Petty Kitty hugs the Pegasus.

“Chancellor Puddinghead walks down the halls of his fortress castle…”

“Uncle!” A white mare with a brown mane and bubbles for a cutie mark came trotting up. A Blue buck was behind her with a clay turtle cutie mark.

“Ah, Whirly Pop right?” Puddinghead looks at the mare dazedly.

“Is it true about that watch that talks to the future past?” Whirly Pop asks.

“Yeah, But I don’t see the importance, I could talk to them now,” Puddinghead shrugs

“Claymari is here too?” The buck Pot Shell adds.

“I guess its been a while since you seen her,” Puddinghead remarks.

“I want to see the pony with the watch that talks to Applejack,” Whirly Pop demands.

“Check the guest wing,” Puddinghead remarks with a shrug.

“Claymari wipes the sweat from her brow… Bodies lay at her feet…”

“Next?” The mare panted. The group of ponies she just defeated crawled out of the way clearing the training floor. The Earth Pony was wearing simple leather training armor and she defeated her opponents with bare hooves and brute strength.

“Use the training swords this time,” Rat Tak-Tak the training warden orders the next three ponies. She was a lavender colored pony with a sand colored muzzle. Her cutie mark a dropped green rod. A wavy line shot up with a tiny note at the lowest point was her cutie mark.

The ponies picked up wooden weapons. One went at Claymari with all their might. The mare blocked the attack by lifting her patted foreleg. Another wooden pole struck Claymari in the thigh slipping in between her fore and hind legs. The mare grabs the weapon with in her legs as she bucks her third attacker from behind. Claymari only hit the attacker hard enough to send her flying back.

“I like this sport,” Metalance said to Honey Mead.

“It’s nice to see the mare in combat without having to dodge weapons myself,” Honey Mead smirks.

“Once she’s done I want you two fight her with the paladin spears.” Rat Tak-Tak ordered.

“I haven’t touched a paladin spear since I left the boarders of Earth,” Honey Mead blushed. Such weapons were not permitted outside the country unless for war. “What of Metalance?”

“I have been training in the paladin spears,” Metalance added.

“Metalance is our best paladin in training, you fought alongside this Claymari, you know how she fights,” Rat Tak-Tak told them. “I want to show the men this warrior pushed to her limit.

“Back in the guest sleeping quarters… Zero and Petty Kitty play a card game…”

Zero puts down one of his playing cards and uses his muzzle to move a peg on a board. Petty Kitty does the same but uses the padded toes of her paws to move her peg smirking at Zero the whole time.

“You are enjoying that,” Zero remarks with the some joy himself.

“You bet your pony ass,” Petty Kitty laughed.

Zero’s stomach groaned.

“Another Granny Smith’s Fruit Pie?” Petty Kitty reaches into Zero’s space suit hung up on a coat hook behind the Cat Pony.

“No, that’s good energy for traveling the poisonous wilds,” Zero shook his head, “We are in civilization now, Let’s eat civilized food.”

“Okay,” Petty Kitty brings up a map on her Pipbuck. “I marked the Kitchen on my map.”

“You go ahead, I’ll take a nap,” Zero plops himself onto his bed bring me back something good.”

“God pony you sleep more than a cat,” Petty Kitty shook her head, “I should know.”

The Cat Pony leaves the room. Her natural curiosity caused her to explore.

Petty Kitty fallows one of the ticks that marked a living being on her EFS. The Cat Pony walks down the hall. She hears a sliding sound and turns the corner to see a dead end. The tick she was tracking appeared to be moving and was close by the rate it moved across her EFS.

Petty Kitty catches the scent of food on the air and turns her attention to its direction.

She found the smell came from an active kitchen. In charge of the cook room was a light green chief pony with two maids that fallowed his instructions.

“What are you doing here little one,” The cook said to Petty Kitty in the tone of one speaking to a child.

“I’m from the Wildlands,” Petty Kitty answers sniffing the air full of cooking food.

“Here,” The chief pony gives the small pony a cupcake. The Cat Pony takes it.

“You’re the one with the talking watch?” A voice spoke up from behind Petty Kitty.

The Cat Pony turn to see a young white mare looking at her.

“You mean this thing?” Petty Kitty showed Whirly Pop the device on her wrist. “It's called a Pipbuck.”

“Oh, yes, I seen one of those on Clover the Clever,” Whirly Pop nods her head.

“You seen Clover the Clever?” Petty Kitty said in shock.

“There was a convention last time Claymari was in the city,” Whirly Pop smirks, “I believe Claymari was banished from our nation until you came along.”

“With her, I can see that,” Petty Kitty shrugged.

“In one of the training rooms... Larger then the one Claymari showed off her skills in… Philia, Winkz and Ferngully trains in the art of magic…"

Ferngully’s eyes and antenna glowed as she floats a white game ball.

“Good,” Philia spoke with Winkz behind her. “I think you are now strong enough to try more complex magic.”

Ferngully nods her head in reply. She released her telekinetic magic and Philia catches it in the cup of her hoof. She put the ball in a bag and takes out a knife.

“Now, since you had such a strong connection with the Life Knife, I believe you maybe be suited for healing magic.” Philia explains.

“Sound reasonable I suppose,” Ferngully nodes her head. She had left the enchanted blade back home with the Pegasus Perfect Image.

The Unicorn then holds out her forehoof and cuts her flesh making a trickle of blood that quickly slows. Ferngully was shocked by this, Winkz tried to hold back her smile as not to break her beaten slave ruse.

“Philia!” Ferngully shouts.

“Now use your magic to heal this wound,” Philia ordered.

“How?” Ferngully said nervously.

“Cast your magic and use your mind to think of healing,” Philia instructed.

“That seems at little advanced for her,” Winkz remarks.

“If she fail we can move to charm magic,” Philia answers, “Plus I can always heal myself.”

“Well here I go,” Ferngully sighs and casts her magic. It took a few seconds of concentration but the wound on Philia’s forelimb started to close.

“Yes, Yes, good work!” Philia cheered

Suddenly one of the doors to the room swing open with a loud clang.

“Okay, this is the room where we use the paladin spears,” Rat Tak-Tak announced.

Both Philia and Ferngully jump and scream. The shock makes Ferngully hit Philia’s wound with a strong blast of energy opening it wider then it was. The wound squirts blood causing Philia to pass out. Winkz fakes a gasp of horror, turning to run out of the room to find a place where she could release her laughter.

“Damn,” Philia quickly recovers and covers her wound.

“Umm…Sorry?” Rat Tak-Tak saw she did something to hurt the Unicorn although she didn’t know what it was.

“It's okay,” Philia sighs turning to the yellow Bat Pony who was looking absolutely pale from guilt.

“Up to foolishness daughter?” Claymari mocks in a teasing tone as she walks into the room.

“I could say the same about you mother,” Philia smiles, “Still butting heads I see.”

“Oh, You only frown upon this because you’re not an Earth Pony,” Claymari pounds on the ground to limber her body. “If a Unicorn butts heads they poke an eye out or something.”

Honey Mead and Metalance step forward with a pair of highly crafted lances. In each lance there were empty holes. Slots for something.

“Why are you guys moving to this room?” Ferngully asks.

“High level fighter training area,” Rat Tak-Tak explained, “This room allows them to move wider and perform stronger attacks. Speaking of.” The instructing mare points at a window on the second floor. “Who’s not fighting should head up there.”

All the unneeded ponies left the room with Rat Tak-Tak staying behind.

“Honey!” The training master tosses an amber colored gem to Honey Mead.

“My power gem?” Honey smiled.

“Power gem?” Claymari perked up.

“You been away from your homeland far too long Claymari,” Rat Tak-Tak laughed, “Let’s just say we got a hold of one of those magic swords.”

Claymari makes a glare, “You bastards, He would have never allowed this what did you do?”

“I don’t know how this came about, Only the scuttle butt that this magic is based off something like your sword powers,” Rat Tak-Tak shrugged, “Focus your anger on those that would know Claymari.”

“Cookie,” Claymari grits her teeth.

Metalance places an olive colored gem into the empty slot of her spear. It clicks and a wave of sparkling green energy shoots up from the gem. The energy sticks to Metalance’s body forming into a solid armor the same color of her coat.

Honey Mead puts her gem in the slot of her spear and the same wave shoots up her body. This time the color of the energy was shining amber. It shot up her body and shot out the back of the pony like a pair of spiky wings. She starts hovering in the air.

“Interesting,” Claymari notes the forms the ponies turn into, “Instead of finding somepony that fits a blade’s abilities. You found a way to make a blade that customize it’s self to a pony’s abilities.

“I was helping prototype this before I left for the Wildlands,” Honey Mead explained.

“I’m heading up stairs to watch,” Rat Tak-Tak waves off as she walks out the door. “You may start.”

Claymari draws Crimson Bond. Honey Mead rockets toward Claymari, who had to use her speed power to retreat backward from the speeding pony. She eventually hit the back wall. Something that was expected and the paladin pony made her strike. Claymari too expected this attack and ducked. At this moment she smelt an odor coming from the weapon.

The smell was another matter, Claymari in her crouching position lunges forward and headbutts the floating Honey Mead in the lower abdomen. As Claymari attacked the slower Metalance had gained ground and attacked the fox colored pony. Claymari blocked the attack with her blade.

Between Honey Mead, the wall and Metalace, Claymari found herself boxed in and only had one position to retreat to. She jumps backwards and fires a Sonic Boom at the two ponies. Claymari used the Sonic Boom attack to hide the Flash Step she used to get away.

Up in the observation room, Pot Shell burst through the door.

“Did, I miss it?” He shouted causing the ponies in the room to turn and look at him. “The fight did I miss it.”

“No you didn’t,” Philia said coldly wrapping her foreleg in a healing bandage.

“Come sir, Watch,” Rat Tak-Tak said to the pony.

Pot Shell enthusiastically dashed for the window.

The Flash Step head made Claymari’s head swim. It always made her head swim but this was different. Normally things would spin for a second but the mare would quickly recover. This time her head was taking too long to clear from its swimming.

Across the room the door opens up and Winkz walks into the room. She quickly realized that she shouldn't be there and stepped back out.

This allowed Claymari to get her mind about her just in time to block Honey Mead’s attack. The odor that Claymari was smelling earlier hit her nostrils again. This point she realized what it was. Alcohol, Honey Mead was emitting alcoholic gas. These Paladin Spears were more powerful then she thought.

Metalance was catching to the two ponies and Claymari needed to get away before she reached them. She shifted to bolt and found her forehoof hooked by Honey Mead’s spear. Claymari trips, she quickly reacts and hits Honey Mead in her padded side. Then Claymari spins around and bonks Metalances’s armored face with the hilt of her sword.

Honey Mead avoids Claymari’s buck well she sticks Metalance with her sword. Claymari's blade sparks magical sparks as it contacted the armor. Metalance swings her hoof but found Claymari out of range of her spear.

“You think you can beat me by getting me drunk,” Claymari smirked, “I enjoy being drunk! And gotten quite good at it.”

Philia facehooves somewhere,

Claymari had enough of this fight and leaped up into the air. One of the abilities Crimson Bond gave her was to make her body as light as a Pegasus. With her strength this allowed her to hit the ceiling. Before she reached the ceiling. Claymari flipped on her back and lands on the ceiling with her hooves. She then pushes off the ceiling and comes down at Metalance.

At the last moment Claymari turned her neck and missed Metalance. The pony didn’t have time to think about what would have happened to her skull if Claymari had hit her because the mare had leaped back up and rammed into her chest flipping the armored pony on her back.

Claymari’s drunken mind was spinning from the sudden movements. She knew that Honey Mead was moving in for an attack and spins to block. But she was too slow and found a spear pointing at her chest.

“As you see even the great Sword Mare can’t even hold up against two of our Paladins,” Rat Tak-Tak boasts.

“If it was a real fight my mother would have won,” Philia added flatly, “Claymari would have struck- Metalance right? Metalance with her blade at the moment she dropped from the ceiling. She would have seriously injured your man and would have been able to keep close to Honey Mead and under the range of her spear tip. If she attacked Honey Mead from that position she would have struck the girl first.”

“Yeah what she said,” Rat Tak-Tak blushed realizing she missed a lesson she could have pointed out herself.

Claymari marches out of the room with an angry glare.

“Claymari!” Pot Shell shouts as he ran down stairs.

Ferngully quickly grabs the buck and hushes him, “Whatever business that you have with her should wait.”

“What’s up her pussy?” Metalance remarks.

“What ever it is if we fallow her it may take another hour before we get home,” Honey Mead points out.

“True, Training Master?” Metalance asks.

“You can leave,” Rat Tak-Tak waves the mares off.

“Zero was awaken by a knock…”

The brown Pegasus gets up out of his bed. He winces in pain as his bound wing tried to stretch. Zero opens the door to see Smart Cookie. The sight of the Appplejack looking mare caused the Pegasus to stand up right out of respect.

“At eases,” Smart Cookie ordered the Pegasus.

Zero sighs and loosens,

“I’m looking for the Cat Pony,” Smart Cookie told him.

Zero turns to look at the cloak back in his room. “She went off for the kitchen a hour ago, The girl has the will of a cat, so who knows when she will return.”

“Cookie!” Claymari shouts marching down the hall.

Smart Cookie was about to dash into Zero’s room to hide from the enraged pony. She ended up bumping her nose against the closed door. Zero wasn't dumb enough to stand between Claymari and anypony she was mad at.

“Inspiration! Where is it!” Claymari demands.

Smart Cookie smiles understanding the question. “Yes, we found Nutcracker and his sword not long after you were banished.”

Claymari punches Smart Cookie in the face. The mare stumbles back and dabs her bloody nose with a handkerchief.

Claymari starts sobbing, “His sword allowed him to see everything. To see the truth of the world and its beauty and in its return make the world a more beautiful place.”

“Yeah he was the buck,” Smart Cookie smiles.

“He knew he had to run, run from you. He knew, knew how this would go if he stayed,” Claymari snaps at the orange mare.

“Look Claymari, It’s always the good ones that are murdered,” Smart Cookie explained, “Nutcracker retreated to the Griffon boarders. He was killed by a Gryphus who took over a Griffon tribe.

“Gryphus?” Zero opens the door, “They a cruel and strong, massive beasts.”

“Yes, one would have to be crazy to kill a Gryphus,” Smart Cookie answered.

“I’ll kill him,” Claymari growls.

“Point taken,” Smart Cookie whispers.

Claymari over hearing this, glares at Smart Cookie and held back her anger. “The sword, show me it.”

“The Cat Pony first,” Smart Cookie answers, “I’m not making a needless trip unless I need too.”

“What about me?” Petty Kitty came walking up with Whirly Pop behind her.

“We will see in a moment,” Smart Cookie smiles.

“What’s going on?” Ferngully came walking up the hall.

“The preppy lady wants to take us somewhere,” Petty Kitty remarks.

Ferngully gets a smirk on her face. She was enjoying this randomness that happens around Claymari.

“Do we have to wait for the others now?” Smart Cookie said coldly.

“I don’t think so,” Ferngully’s eye’s roll up thoughtfully, “Phillia seemed to know that boy I stopped so she and Winkz stayed behind to talk to him. Honey Mead and her herdmate went home. Everybody else is here. So I think I covered everypony’s whereabouts.”

“Good, fallow me then,” Smart Cookie replied.

“Honey Mead and Metalance walks through the doorway of their home…”

“Girls! Look who’s back!” The green mare calls out.

“Honey Mead!” A cream colored mare with a blue muzzle answered. Her mane rose pink. A blaster gun with a heart on it as her cutie mark.

“Blaster…”

Another mare was with her, A green full sized Cat Pony with a red mane. She had a light green clam shell cutie mark.

“Catfish…”

Honey Mead gives the two mares a smile. “Are the other’s home?”

“Butterfree is off working,” Catfish answered, “She’s going to have a foal soon.”

“We kicked the males out of the herd,” Blaster added.

“Oh, where are they now?” Honey Mead said sadly.

“Farmland near the Griffon boarder,” Blaster answers.

“That's a dangerous area,” Honey Mead sighs. She looks up to see two shy looking foals were peering at the top of the stair case.

“They are getting big,” The yellow mare remarks, “So, Any new bucks around the group?”

“Testing the waters,” Blaster answers, “If you’re interested in foaling we could make a choice.”

“I’ll have to see what my next orders are,” Honey Mead answered with a blush.

“You could use the time off,” Metalance snuggles affectionately against the yellow mare.

“Speaking of,” Honey Mead looks up that the stairs.

She heads up the steps to see the two yearling foals. A filly and a colt. The filly had a bright brown coat. The colt a light brown coat.

“Weedie and Caramel Coonz”

“You live here?” Weedie asked shakily.

“Yeah, I just been gone a long while,” Honey Mead nods her head.

“Does that make you another mommy?” The filly asks.

“I suppose you could say that,” Honey Mead gives a smile.

The mare walks past the foals and opens the door to her room. It had been cleaned. But her tokens were relatively where she left them.

Honey Mead inspects herself, She was sweaty and dirty. Being on the road she hadn’t bathe for about a week and nothing was stopping her now. Mare was going to hit the shower tonight.

Honey Mead opens her door to see Catfish and Metalance standing in the hall. Metalance pats Weedie on the head.

Is it okay I fill the tub?” Honey Mead asks.

“I’ll join you,” Metalance adds.

“Need any help?” Catfish remarks.

The ponies filled up a tub large enough to fit four mares. Or three mares and two foals. The water was lukewarm. Sitting in the water on their hunches it went up just under the chests of the mares.

Weedie and Caramel scrubbed down Honey Mead’s back.

“Go with the hair sweetie,” Catfish points out seeing how Weedie was stroking Honey Mead’s back. She then grabs Caramel, pressing the colt against her body and starts combing out his hair.

Honey Mead smirks and gets the urge to lift Weedie up in the air. The dripping filly laughs and giggles.

“Meta catch,” Honey Mead toss the filly to Metalance. She catches Weedie splashing water over the edge of the tub.

“Please don’t make a mess,” Blaster remarks entering the bathing room her hoof splating in the water.

“I’ll get out,” Catfish steps out of the tub and shakes off the water like a dog.

The mares hear the door open. A minute later a light blue pregnant mare with a navy blue mane walks into the room. She had butterfly ink blot cutie marks.

“Butterfree,” Honey Mead smiles down at the mare.

“Honey,” Butterfree replied smiling back.

“Back at the castle… Smart Cookie enters a large chamber…”

The secretary, Holds the door open allowing Claymari, Zero, Petty Kitty, Ferngully and Whirly Pop to walk in a head of her. The room was part library, part museum.

“What is this place?” Zero asks tapping on the rusty remains of a Protectron.

“A place where Applejack can fulfill her promise,” Smart Cookie remarks.

“Leo Vitreous’s Laboratory,” Whirly Pop answered.

“Nutcracker’s sword,” Claymari runs up to one of the glass cases. Inside the case was a rapier with a purple gem in the hilt. “Inspiration, you deserve to be alive in the muzzle of a pony not stuffed in a case.”

“These are hoof grabbers,” Ferngully notes a pair of leg straps with moving metal claws, “Some tribes of Bat Ponies use these to hold onto the stone faces of cliffs.”

“Eeeek!”

They turn to see Petty Kitty holding a sheet. On a slab near her, a desiccated corpse.

With a clatter a massive peace of armor moves. “Don’t touch that!” The armor speaks. “That’s for anatomy study!”

Claymari reaches for her blade.

“Don’t attack me!” The armor opens up to reveal a brown pony with a gray mane. His Cutie Mark was a lion's head in the shape of a gear.

“Leo,” Claymari loosens her stance.

“Claymari, “The buck answers back. He looks at Inspiration on display. “Sorry about Nutcracker.”

“Putting aside can we get started?” Smart Cookie told them.

“Okay,” Petty Kitty pulls out some pieces of paper from her saddle bag placing them on the table, “Applejack had sent back some schematics we can work on. Eventually we can make a prototype magic engine that could be used to sent Zero back.

“Let me see that,” Leo gets out of his moving armor and looks at the papers on the table. “This is some amazing stuff.”

“Sir?” Ferngully speaks up, “Mind if I borrow these grabbers?”

At this point Leo Victorious notices Ferngully. “You have an antenna sticking out of your head!” Leo said excitingly. “Is that in the pony’s magic center of the brain?”

“Um yes,” Ferngully blushes, “I can use magic now too.”

“Fascinating,” Leo smiled.

“I wanted to have it removed when I first got it but now I rather like the use of magic,” Ferngully remarks.

“Well better not tell you then,” Leo mumbles to himself.

“What?” Ferngully’s ears perked up.

“Why do you want my grabbers?” Leo asked.

“I’m out of practice,” Ferngully shrugged, “With all the traveling I’m planning on doing I should get use to using them. I’ll commission a black smith to make me some but I want to use these until he’s done.”

“I suppose,” Leo shrugged, “I’m not going to be using them anytime soon.”

“Thank you,” Ferngully bows respectfully. “I’ll put these into my room.”

Ferngully walks back to her room. She tosses the grabbers and catches her reflection in the mirror. The Bat Pony found herself looking at the antenna that stuck out of the side of her head. She wasn’t used to it yet and seeing the thing still bugged her.

A light growling sound came into Ferngully’s ear. Fallowed by a voice. “I know you seen me, You are mad.”

Ferngully’s eyes focus on a dark figure in the mirror behind her. The Bat Pony’s heart stops as she realizes what it was. A shadow of a coyote.