A tradition of the harpies, especially those of high station, is to take an egg that will soon hatch—one where candling could reveal its gender—to the oracle to have its fate told. Knowing their fate, their mother would give them their name. Alecta was told of her divination many times. The oracle prophesied that she would take the Valkyrie Queen’s Bifröst and travel through it to a place where no harpy had ever been before.
Alecta’s family had a history with Boreas and its legendary Empire as the descendents of the original invasion commander. They knew the Valkyrie Queen’s daughter had escaped the invasion, and hunted her bloodline for centuries. They were delighted to hear her prophecy and named her after that commander. Her destiny was to bring the Bifröst to the harpies, the power they had lusted for.
She was trained from hatching as a warrior and leader. Every waking moment of her life was dedicated to preparing for her destiny. She learned the cultures of Boreas and the surrounding powers to know her potential enemies. She was trained in melee combat and with the longbow. She studied the strategies and methods of the greatest military and political leaders.
However, by the time she reached the age when she could actually act on her destiny, the harpies as a people had cooled on the idea. A new Supreme Alpha had taken power and was content with the lands and spoils they had within their domain.
Alecta would not be denied. She continued her family’s work of tracking down the Valkyrie Queen’s bloodline, finally striking pay dirt. The mother died the winter before her eldest daughter came of age. Even more perfect as she could use her without her able to do anything against her.
Unfortunately, she was delayed. She had to wait for the weather to improve in Boreas, which took her well into spring. She would also not have an army, but whoever she could scrounge together. She obviously needed a male for his mental powers which took longer than she anticipated. By the time she was in a position to kidnap the girl, she was less than a week away of coming of age. Add in the seemingly unrelenting interference of those ponies who came out of nowhere to be a constant thorn in her side, and fulfilling her destiny was coming down to the wire.
However, despite the delays and inconveniences, it was now within her sights. She dove for the island and landed on its rocky shore. She shivered at the cold, ridiculous for being less than a week and a half from the summer solstice. Of course the Valkyrie Queen would hide her greatest treasure in the far north. It was one last stick in the eye to the southern-dwelling harpies.
The others landed behind her, and Thanatos landed on her shoulder. Frona shivered. “That thing led us to a worthless lump of rock in the Frigid Sea, Glorious Alpha.”
Alecta sneered. “Bring the girl to me.”
Bernice took hold of the girl from Gergo’s flying carpet and forced her to Alecta. Gergo threw Alecta the locket. She looked at the island around them. Perhaps it was just a bit of paranoia after three days of them always being there at the wrong time, but she felt like this was too easy and ponies were lying in wait for them here. “Gergo, scan the area.”
* * *
The water was starting to reach Wind Whistler’s pasterns. The ice cold water was stinging on her skin.
“How long do we wait?” Gusty asked.
“Until they’ve gone inside,” Wind Whistler answered.
“The male is using telepresence,” Ribbon reported. “Try to clear your minds and stay quiet.”
They were all silent. Shady watched something with her eyes from behind her sunglasses. Following her eyes, she figured he was in the cave. Then she swung her head out.
“He’s gone,” Shady said, wiping her brow.
Wind Whistler drew in a breath and puffed her cheeks out as she slowly exhaled it.
* * *
Gergo closed his third eye and opened his normal eyes. “I sense nothing.”
Alecta looked to the sun sinking towards the horizon. “Then let’s work quickly.”
She shooed Thanatos off her shoulder and put the locket in the girl’s hand. The girl resisted, but she forced her to point it towards the rock.
“Why do you keep doing this?” the girl asked.
“Silence, grounder,” Alecta snarled and held her hand forward.
The locket burst open and the beam shot to the face of it. Alecta pushed the girl forward, following the direction of the beam. As they approached, the locket closed and a heart-shaped indent appeared in the rock. She pressed the girl’s palm against the rock and the locket into the indent.
Colorful light cut into the rock, creating a seam that shot up and split to form two rectangles in the rock. They pulled back, revealing the metal behind the rock façade, and parted. The slabs disappeared into slots with dull thuds Alecta could feel in her ribcage. The opening behind it was dark with small cylinders in the ceiling providing paltry light.
Alecta took the locket from the girl’s hand, but kept her in a tight hold by the shoulder.
“Let’s go.” Frona stepped through the threshold.
“Wait, Beta,” Alecta said. “There could still be defensive measures.” She turned back to Desdemona. “You go in first, Omega.”
“Yes, Glorious Alpha.” Desdemona stepped through the threshold. As she stepped in deeper, the others cautiously followed.
Bernice and Melinda were about to enter. “Wait,” Alecta said before they could cross the threshold.
Alecta passed the girl to Frona and pointed to them. “I want you two to stay out here and stand guard for interlopers. Especially those of the four-hoofed variety.” She looked at the shore. He did not care what Gergo said he sensed. “I believe those ponies have given up as much as I believe there’s only one moon.”
She motioned to Frona to pull the girl into the hall.
* * *
The water was lapping against Wind Whistler’s knees. The Moochic had retreated onto Emmett’s back. The cold was starting to spread up Wind Whistler’s body.
“I say we go now before the water is up to our barrels,” Gusty stated, her teeth chattering.
“I concur, but head for the closest cover on dry land,” Wind Whistler replied.
They headed out of the cave into the ocean water. The sea ponies disappeared below the waves while the rest headed for a large rock. They stayed low, and Wind Whistler glanced at the two harpies standing to either side of the opening. They seemed to not notice them as they used the terrain to conceal themselves as much as possible.
Wind Whistler slipped behind the rock and peered around it at the guards. She shook off the last of the cold water from her legs and flexed them to get blood pumping into them and warm them up.
“I wonder why they didn’t close it behind them,” Lofty said.
“Considering the open design of their stronghold,” Wind Whistler replied, “harpies might not like the idea of being enclosed. Classic pegasus architecture features high ceilings and a large open design because it’s optimal for flight. However, they left two guards we have to contend with.”
“Let’s rush them,” Gusty growled.
“If we go too early, the commotion could attract the attention of the others,” Wind Whistler said.
* * *
The hall opened up into a large chamber with light shining up on a white dome to provide soft illumination. Piles of treasure surrounded a massive statue of marble. It was more than 15 meters tall and depicted a human woman in an ermine cloak and gown. One hand held a gold sphere with a silver disk dividing it in half, and the other held a tall staff. A gold crown sat on her head.
Alecta knew exactly who it was meant to depict. “The Valkyrie Queen.” She pushed two harpies aside and spread her wings. She flew up so she was level with the statue’s face and pointed at her. “You thought you were clever. You hid everything from our ancestors, your Bifröst and even your daughter.” She clenched her talon into a fist. “For so long, harpies forgot why they came here to this frigid malignancy of a landmass. My prophesied destiny renewed their desire for the Bifröst, but that ember quickly faded as well.”
She stared at the holes that served as the statue’s pupils and the neutral expression on its face. She only hoped she was watching from whatever underworld her soul ended up in at this. “Even I had times where I doubted the prophecy that I would finish what my namesake started. Yet, here I am. I have your descendant—” she held up the locket “—I have your key, and soon I will have the power you claimed came from your gods.”
She looked down at the others rummaging through the piles of treasure, covering themselves in finery. Gergo had hold of the girl while even Frona was staring at rings she had put around her fingers.
Alecta landed a smacked the fistful of gold coins Chrystal had taken from her. “We can plunder these trinkets later. The Bifröst is what we came for.”
“I don’t see anything but gold and gems, Glorious Alpha,” Frona said, stilling marveling at the rings.
Alecta looked past the treasure, clearly placed here to sate any raiders who managed to penetrate this vault and keep them from further pursuing the true prize. The opposite wall had a large pair of doors. It was plain and unassuming, almost disappearing into the wall it was built into. She walked up to it and noticed the heart-shaped indent in the center of them.
Alecta motioned with her talon. “Bring the girl over here.”
Gergo pulled the girl to her. Alecta put the locket in her hand and shoved it against the indent. The doors parted and slid away, disappearing into the wall with thuds. Beyond was a spiraling stairway leading down.
“Omega,” Alecta said.
Desdemona passed by her and walked down the stairs. After she had cleared several steps, Alecta followed with the girl in her grasp. Her heart was pounding in her chest. She could just feel it. Her destiny was just ahead of her.
* * *
Wind Whistler glared at the two guards as she assessed the situation. The open ground between them was too great to cross without them taking notice and either going on the attack and or heading in to warn the others. However, they needed to act.
She ran through the different abilities they had at their disposal and hit upon Moondancer. “Moondancer, you said you can put things to sleep with your magic. Could you do it to them from here?”
“They’re not going anywhere, so I think so.” Moondancer summoned a purple aura around her horn and two bulges came off it and formed glowing spheres.
The spheres floated away from them and towards the harpies. They veered away from each other to hover in front of their faces and popped. The harpies faltered and eventually fell over into limp heaps.
“Let’s go!” Gusty galloped out from their cover.
The followed her to the opening. The two harpies were laying there, their chests slowly rising and falling and content expressions on their faces.
“How long will they be asleep?” Wind Whistler asked.
“Until winter,” Moondancer said casually.
Wind Whistler looked at her wide-eyed. Winter was six months away.
“I’m kidding,” Moondancer stated. “They’ll be out anywhere from few minutes to several hours. It depends, so let’s get in their quick.” Her horn illuminated as she dashed into the dark hall ahead.
* * *
Alecta pulled the girl down the final step and into where the passage way opened up into another chamber. Responding to their presence, the ceiling illuminated to light the area. Columns lined the walls with Moons and suns in relief where they were the thickest. The chamber was vast but empty except for an object in the exact center.
A cloth covered it was a thick layer of dust over it. Alecta pulled the cloth off, ignoring the cloud of dust it threw up even though it made the girl cough. Underneath was a boxy object with various controls on top of it.
Alecta looked at it and the columns. “Just as I thought. The tales of the Bifröst coming from the Borean gods were a lie to impress the people. It’s in reality a relic of the legendary Ancients. No magic or divine power, just one of the few pieces of their super science that has survived the ravages of time intact.” She held the locket up. “And their advanced technology trumps any silly parlor tricks your family put on this locket.”
She pushed the girl away and placed the locket in an indent on the top of the machine. The controls illuminated and a three-dimensional projection of the globe appeared in front of them. Alecta stared at it wide-eyed. The massive supercontinent of Pangaea as well as the smattering of islands scattered across the Great Ocean were all there. They could all be reached by this piece of metal.
Alecta wheezed a laugh. “I’ve done it.” She pushed the girl aside and threw her fists into the air. “I’ve finally done it!”
She reached into the pouch on her left side and pulled out her notebook on the old Borean language. It had the list of their alphabet, numerals, and words that she figured would be important to using the Bifröst. She glanced from it to the controls. There were buttons to switch between latitude, longitude, and elevation, the three directions needed to pick a specific point of destination anywhere in the world. Large buttons activated and deactivated it. It seemed simple enough.
Unfortunately, there seemed to be nothing suggesting it could connect to other worlds. A shame, but Alecta could settle with the spoils of one planet.
Other readouts appeared to be for power and other statistics more important to engineers.
She looked at the large globe rotating in front of her. “Where to first?” She thought about it. She could literally go anywhere now. “Maybe to the audience chamber of the Supreme Alpha itself. I want to see her face when I step out of the Bifröst right in front of her throne before I kick her off it.”
“You want to overthrow the Supreme Alpha?!” Frona exclaimed.
“Why not?” Alecta asked rhetorically. “I now possess the greatest power on Tellus, making me the most powerful harpy. Besides, it was her shortsightedness that almost doomed this expedition. She is content with raiding and pillaging only what she sees before her. Well, now my reach extends to every corner of the planet.” She clenched her fist. “It would be wrong to let the harpies settle for such a small existence under her for any longer.”
The harpies looked to each other but said nothing.
Alecta turned to the girl lying on the ground. “However, we have one last loose end to tie up in these northern lands.” She raised her talon and flexed them as the girl curled up in a trembling ball. “Now is the time to end the direct bloodline of the Valkyrie Queens once and for all.”
“Over our dead bodies!” a voice declared.
Alecta looked up. Several ponies stood at the opening along with a mushroom gnome, a large humanoid creature in armor, and she could swear one of the baby dragons they had ensnared the day before. The white pony in the blue dress was there, meaning she had escaped whatever manner Gergo used to try to kill her.
Alecta clenched her teeth and concentrated on the light blue pony with wings. This was her doing, she knew it. “I knew this was a trick.” She took the locket from the indent. The projection of the globe remained suspended in the air which was curious for a split second, but she pushed it out of mind. “I don’t know how you hid from Gergo’s powers or got past my guards, but I guess it doesn’t matter.” She presented her talons. “You say ‘over your dead bodies’? Well, I’ll be more than happy to oblige on that condition.”
* * *
Wind Whistler thought Gusty had made a very unfortunate choice in words, especially the inclusive pronoun. She watched as the harpies strung their longbows and flexed their talons. This was it. As Twilight Mist had said, only one side was walking out of this chamber alive.
She spread her wings and took to the air. The ceiling was between six and seven meters above the floor, high enough for a pegasus to get airborne and fly above the reach of the harpies while too low for the harpies to build up the speed to maintain any kind of flight. The ground was also level, so there was no way for them to jump into a sustained glide. They were effectively grounded.
The ponies spread through the chamber, surrounding the harpies on all sides as well as above. Arrows were put on bowstrings, but many were interrupted by ponies bucking and tackling. Fiery shot a fireball at one harpy knocking, lighting her lacquered longbow on fire and forcing her to toss it aside.
One harpy got a shot off and struck Emmet in the chest. He simply looked at the arrow embedded into his clay form and pulled it out. She shot arrow after arrow into him as he approached, but he just slowly walked up to her looking like a over packed pincushion by the time he was close enough to throw a punch square into her face and throw her back several meters. Wind Whistler grimaced at the punch connecting, feeling the force of the blow by proxy.
The Moochic faced a harpy and tapped the ground with his finger. She just looked at him with her brow knotted in a confused expression.
“Wait for it,” the Moochic said.
A narrow column shot out of the ground and hit the harpy in the chin, knocking her on her back.
The Moochic grinned. “I love doing that.”
Bucks and body blows from the earth ponies were definitely getting to the harpies. They were slower to get up and had a bit of limp. However, several ponies went down under the glare of the male.
* * *
Shady watched through her sunglasses as the red waves coming from the male harpy’s third eye slammed into the ponies writhing in agony. Green waves came at them from a right angle and broke the red waves up. Ribbon stepped forward, a brilliant aura of green energy surrounding her horn.
The male turned to her, planting his feet to make a box with his shoulders. Red tentacles spread from his eye and surrounded Ribbon. She squared up her stance and formed a dome of green around her, deflecting them. The tentacles reared back and threw themselves at the dome. Shady could see the power behind them, and Ribbon flinched with every blow.
* * *
Bow-Tie jumped over the swipe of a harpy and delivered her hoof to her midsection. The harpy coughed and backed up several steps.
Bow-Tie backed up to be with Moondancer. “How about sending the rest of them to Dreamland?”
“I need them to hold still long enough for the spell to take hold,” Moondancer said. “We got the ones outside by surprise.”
Two figures ran into the chamber from the stairway. It was the harpies she had put to sleep. They were faltering, probably not completely awake yet.
“Glorious Alpha,” one of them huffed, “we think the ponies are—”
They stopped and looked at the scene in front of them with their mouths hanging open. “It looks like you already know that.”
“Mental note: harpies are not all that susceptible to sleep magic,” Moondancer murmured.
Bow-Tie looked to the harpies she had kicked. She was holding her stomach, but still standing. A kick like that would have put a full-sized male griffon in the hospital. “I’m wondering what they are susceptible to.”
* * *
Shady watched as the male battered away at Ribbon’s defenses. Her dome was starting to lose shape, and her knees were buckling. Each hit brought her lower.
An idea entered Shady’s head, one that a week ago she could never imagine even considering. She remembered what Wind Whistler and Gusty had told her. It was not about having no fear, it was about accepting fear. She was afraid, but she knew what had to be done.
Shady threw herself forward before she could think better of it. She planted her hooves and vaulted into the male’s midsection, knocking him off balance. The red tentacles instantly dissolved, his concentration being broken.
Ribbon got to her feet. She shot a beam straight at the male’s eye before he could get his feet under him. It struck the eye, and he reared back. He grabbed his eye and screeched. As if struck blind, he staggered away, moaning.
Shady turned to Ribbon. “Are you all right?”
“Yeah,” Ribbon said, rubbing her horn. “Thanks for knocking off balance.”
“I had to do something.” Shady looked to the male stumbling away. “What did you do to him?”
“Ever stared directly into a camera’s flash?” Ribbon asked.
“Once,” Shady answered. “I saw spots for minutes.”
“Well, multiply that by a hundred and that’s what I did to his third eye,” Ribbon said. “He won’t be using any psychic abilities for several hours.”
Shady looked at him fumbling around, still seeming to be blind to the world around him. “I’m glad you’re on our side.”
* * *
Wind Whistler flew over the scene with a few other pegasi, surveying the fight. The male had been neutralized by Ribbon with some assistance from Shady. They did not have to contend with his mental powers. The harpies were looking like they were starting to feel the blows they were receiving. However, hurting was a long way from being vanquished.
She kicked a harpy looming over Sundance and Fizzy over and landed on her chest. She could slam her hooves to her head until she crushed her skull. However, she stopped for a moment.
Wind Whistler felt something grab her by her neck and threw her against a nearby wall. The blow forced her to exhale. A powerful talon had her pinned to the hard wall by the neck and pushed down on her throat.
She choked for air and struggled. However, it was futile to try to get free. She did kick the locket in the other talon away, but it was a hollow victory.
She stared into the eyes of Alecta, bloodshot and seething with anger. “Why?” Alecta got through her clenched teeth. “Why do you constantly interfere with us? You have no stake in this, so why do you plague me at every turn?”
Wind Whistler swallowed and got down air as best she could.
* * *
Sea Winkle stared at the opening in the rock. She wondered what was happening in there to the land ponies and those ghastly bird creatures. She only caught the sun disappearing below the horizon out of the corner of her eye.
* * *
“Do you think the Boreans getting their hands on the Bifröst would be any better?” Alecta continued while Wind Whistler gasped for air and braced herself against her powerful arm. “Who are you to judge us as unworthy?”
Wind Whistler looked at her, the leader of these harpies. She was a terrifying sight, large with sharp teeth and sharp claws. She was the perfect picture of everything ponies had feared from the first proto-ponies who galloped across the plains to escape predators. However, Wind Whistler’s brain—which was begging for more oxygen as her vision was starting to close in—told her this was a sapient being like her. She was a sapient being capable of making decisions and she had made hers.
“Who are we to judge?” Wind Whistler managed to get out. Alecta loosened her grip slightly, only enough for Wind Whistler to breathe. “While the Boreans might abuse that device like you if given the chance, we have seen what you’re capable of. We’ve seen your absolute contempt for the lives of others, and know what you would do should you have the power to travel instantly across this world. When we came to this world, we knew absolutely nothing about it, and we still know very little. However, I do know one thing for certain. You are true evil, and we must stop you because it would be immoral to stand by and let you do what you wish because we are afraid of making a judgment.”
Alecta lowered her brow and raised her free talon, flexing the fingers ending in sharp claws. She tightened her grip on Wind Whistler’s neck again, choking her. What looked like a rainbow wrapped itself around her arm holding Wind Whistler tightened as it pulled it away. She released her grip and Wind Whistler fell to the ground.
Wind Whistler coughed and gasped to get air flowing back into her lungs. She looked up at Alecta and the brilliant rainbow circling her. They both looked to the side where Megan stood, holding the locket up. She glowered at Alecta, no doubt all the frustration with being captured and held coming out.
“No,” Alecta hissed.
Megan pointed. “Leave her alone.”
The rainbow curved around and struck Alecta in the gut, throwing her back so hard she skipped off the ground and slid a few meters before finally coming to a stop.
Wind Whistler turned back to the girl. She held up the locket and opened it so the rainbow could stream inside and closed it. She held it to her chest and sighed.
She ran to Wind Whistler and dropped to her knees to feel her throat. Her face and clothing were dirty and she was pungent with body odor but, after being choked, her gentle embrace was welcoming. “Are you all right?”
“I do not believe she inflicted any significant injury to my trachea,” Wind Whistler answered. She forced another cough. “Thank you for your concern.”
“I just couldn’t stand seeing a horse being hurt like that.” Megan held up the locket. “And somehow the rainbow knew what I wanted it to do.”
“We had originally come to save you,” Wind Whistler said. “However, I will gladly take this reversal of roles.”
She looked at the fights raging across the chamber. The harpies were still able to fight for the most part. The ponies were beginning to give ground as they avoided slashes. The harpies were just too big and too strong, and Wind Whistler just could not think of killing them even if it was within their power. Even Alecta was getting back to her feet albeit slowly and wiping a dribble of bright red blood from the corner of her mouth.
She then saw the projected globe coming from the device. Now that it was unlocked, it was still functional. The message Paradise translated also said it had some capability to form portals. She smirked as an idea came to mind. There was another way.
“We need to get to that device,” Wind Whistler said. “Hop on and hold on tight.”
Megan got onto her back and wrapped her arms loosely around her neck. Wind Whistler flew over a scuffle to the device. She landed and looked at the controls in Old Borean. “I wish Paradise had accompanied us. She was the one who had been studying the old language.”
“I can read it,” Megan said. “My mother taught me how to read the old language.”
A harpy vaulted towards them. Wind Whistler gasped as she outstretched her talons, but he was blown to the side. Gusty galloped to them. “What are you doing?”
“It might be the result of momentary oxygen deprivation,” Wind Whistler said, “but I believe we can use the very Bifröst the harpies covet to be rid of them.”
Gusty blew another approaching harpy across the chamber. “Awesome. I’ll give you cover.”
Wind Whistler looked at the controls. They could literally send them anywhere. “Maybe we can send them into outer space. Set the elevation to five hundred kilometers.”
Megan typed in a sequence of numbers, filling displays. She hit the green button. The blue numbers were replaced with red runes and the machine buzzed.
“It says it’s invalid,” Megan said.
“Apparently it has safety measures,” Wind Whistler replied. “Pick some place over the open ocean.” She surveyed the globe and assumed the castle was at the prime meridian since a particularly thick, vertical line went right through it along with a normal horizontal line. “Try latitude zero and longitude positive one hundred fifty.”
Megan typed in new coordinates. The globe turned to show a side mostly dominated by ocean and a square appeared in front of it. The square was blank, but a red message appeared. The red messages again appeared on the machine with more buzzing. Megan looked to Wind Whistler and shook her head.
“Apparently it requires us to choose a coordinate on a land mass to lock on,” Wind Whistler murmured to herself.
Gusty blew away another harpy. “Can you step it up over there?”
“If we can’t dump them over the ocean, maybe some island chain on the opposite side of the globe, so they can never get back,” Wind Whistler said. “Set the longitude to one hundred eighty degrees.”
Megan did and the globe showed them the opposite side of the world. There were a few scattered archipelagoes in especially the tropic zone. “Latitude fifteen degrees south.”
“It doesn’t have anything for north or south,” Megan said.
“Use the minus sign,” Wind Whistler said.
Megan typed the minus sign and then one and five. A box appeared and expanded to show a group of islands. “Refine the coordinates to minus thirteen degrees two minutes and eighteen point three seconds of latitude and minus one hundred seventy-eight degrees fifty-seven minutes and thirty-eight point five seconds of longitude.”
Megan typed the coordinates in. A dot appeared on one of the smaller islands, and the elevation readout filled in with two meters.
Wind Whistler wondered why they would even need the massive machine under the castle when this device could do the job with more precision.
Megan hit the green button. A message box appeared with an object that looked like a battery that had only a small amount of it filled. That was why they needed the rest of the machine.
“What’s the hold up?” Gusty asked.
“We need a power source,” Wind Whistler answered.
“We might have one.” Megan put the locket in the indent.
The message disappeared and a vortex appeared directly in front of them. It was not as large as the vortex formed by the main body of the machine in its tunnel, but it was sufficient to send a harpy through.
“All right, Gusty,” Wind Whistler shouted, “We’re ready.”
“All right.” Gusty smirked. “Time to punch these harpies’ one-way ticket to their remote island getaway.”
Wind Whistler could only roll her eyes. “From what I’ve seen, she’s always like this.”
“I heard that!” Gusty blasted a harpy back and through the vortex. “Okay, ponies and company, send the harpies through the portal!”
“And make it quick since we don’t know how long we can keep this stable,” Wind Whistler added.
Powder shot her magic at the ground, covering it in a smooth layer of ice. Medley and Firefly kicked a harpy in the chest, sending her slipping across the ice and into the portal.
“Make sure to get the male!” Ribbon shouted.
“I’m on it.” Gusty waited until he stumbled in front of the vortex and blew him through.
“That’s three down,” Firefly declared.
They quickly doubled that number with three harpies sent through by ponies tackling them into slides through the vortex. Emmett threw a seventh through.
Fiery spat fireballs at a harpy, forcing her to back up. “You killed my mom and ate her for lunch,” Fiery growled. “Let’s roast you and see who you like it.”
The harpy backed up to the portal. She looked at the portal and then to Fiery who was puffing out his chest as he got ready to spit another fireball. She turned to the portal and dived into it.
“And don’t ever come back!” Fiery shouted and shook his fist. He suddenly jumped with a yelp and tried to keep her feet off the icy ground as much as possible. “Dancing dragons, that’s cold!”
Medley batted at Thanatos hovering over her and trying to claw her. He backed up to avoid a swipe, but right where Gusty could blast him through the vortex.
“We’re more than halfway there!” Gusty shouted.
“But don’t forget the vortex is a two-way passage,” Wind Whistler said. “Keep an eye out for any trying to get back.”
The Moochic pulled a crooked walking stick out of his sleeve, though it looked like it should have been too long enough to fit in there. He pointed it at a harpy and it quickly extended to slam her in the gut and send her staggering into the vortex.
The walking stick retracted to a reasonable length. “Maybe old Mr. Moochic still has it.”
Nine down with six left. Fizzy and Gusty made that five left as Fizzy sent a stream of bubbles into her eyes to stun her and Gusty blasted her with a gust to send her through the portal.
“We’re two thirds of the way there,” Wind Whistler declared.
Beeping came from the machine and a red light flashed next to a gauge with its needle in the yellow range.
“It reads temperature,” Megan said.
“Another reason it requires the larger equipment of the main body,” Wind Whistler replied. “This component is too small to have the appropriate cooling systems.”
Harpies eleven and twelve were sent through. Wind Whistler leapt forward and tackled the Beta to send her through. The blond harpy was the next to be sent through by a well placed kick from Sundance. That meant just one remained: Alecta, the ‘Glorious Alpha’, herself.
Alecta came up with her talon outstretched and unfettered fury in her eyes. Wind Whistler turned to face her, not with fear, but with anger and frustration. It was time to end this. “I—” she smacked Alecta’s talon to the side with her front leg “—have had—” she delivered her hind hoof into her gut to knock the wind from her “—enough of you.” Wind Whistler spun around slapped her wing across Alecta’s face, sending her staggering back to right in front of the portal.
Wind Whistler flitted to the side and looked to Fizzy and Gusty. “Now!”
The two pointed their horns forward. Fizzy created a swarm of bubbles Gusty sent forward in a vortex of wind. They struck Alecta and scent her through the vortex.
* * *
Alecta tumbled in the torrent of bubbles and wind through the tunnel of rainbow light. It would have been a beautiful sight if she was not being blasted through it and tumbling out of control.
She came out of the vortex and landed in soft sand. She looked up at the others stunned and confused. A couple of them were looking after Gergo who was still holding a talon to his barely opened third eye. Her face throbbed and she wiped blood from her nostrils.
She looked up at the sky. It was night time, but there was a faint glow to sky in the east suggesting an approaching morning. The rings were also a narrow band arcing almost directly overhead and displaced just north of the zenith. They were on the other side of the planet.
She looked back at the portal suspended in midair above the beach. It started to collapse in on itself. She jumped to her feet and ran to it. However, it disappeared just as she got within reach.
She collapsed to her hands and knees. What about her destiny the oracle had prophesied? She remembered the exact words of her fate. She would take the Valkyrie Queen’s Bifröst, which she had even if it was for only a few precious seconds, and travel to a place no harpy had ever been before, which she had also done even though it was not by choice and ended up marooned there. She picked up a fist of the fine, white sand and let it run between her claws. This was her fate, not one of glory with the ultimate power at her command but of humiliation at the hooves of a bunch of diminutive herbivores. Those ponies—ponies—had beaten her and with the very thing she had sought her entire life.
She got to her feet and screeched at the strange stars in the sky, hoping whoever among the gods that decided this was what was meant for her heard her displeasure.
* * *
Heart Throb watched the tunnel, wondering what was happening on that far off island. The ponies had gone silent after Twilight Mist told them the harpies were approaching. She could only imagine what happened after that.
Despite all of Wind Whistler’s scheming, she doubted they would fare too well in a battle of power against those brutes. Though, maybe, in their most dire moments when the jaws of defeat were sure to close around them, a squadron of gorgeous pegasus stallions with flowing manes and chiseled features swooped in and saved them. They would then sweep the grateful mares off their hooves and speak sweet love to them. Hopefully there were enough to spare one or three for her.
“What are you thinking about over there?” Paradise asked with a raised eyebrow.
Heart Throb suddenly realized she might have been a little too eager at the prospect. She cleared her throat and regained her composure. “I’m just eager to hear some news.”
Paradise rolled her eyes. “Right.”
Her daydreams aside, Heart Throb was worried about those ponies. She hovered and held her hooves together as she stared at the tunnel.
A chime sounded. “Twilight Mist here,” Twilight Mist said into the microphone.
“It’s done,” Skyflier said. “Bring us home.”
“As you wish,” Twilight Mist replied gleefully. A tone Heart Throb thought would never come from the typically dour pony ever.
The vortex filled the tunnel. Heart Throb wished they had said more about how they fared, but she would see for herself presently.
The ponies appeared and walked down the ramp exhausted but apparently unharmed. A small, strange looking man dressed in green was a part of the stream of creatures as well as a massive humanoid carrying a dark box of some kind. Six of the ponies were carrying sea ponies on their backs as well.
They continued with Wind Whistler and Sundance bring up the rear along with a girl in a filthy blouse and overalls with disheveled, blond hair. The vortex faded as they walked down the ramp.
“Megan!” Daniel ran past the ponies and up the ramp. He grabbed her and spun around with her in his arms.
“Dad!” the girl said.
“My Megan,” Daniel said, tears welling up in his eyes. “My sweet, sweet Megan.”
Heart Throb wiped a tear from her eye. “Oh, I just love happy endings.”
She and Paradise landed among the ponies. They were talking about their fight and what they did. Paradise intermingled with them, wanting to hear all of it.
Gusty grabbed Shady and rubbed her hoof deep into her mane. “How you took down the male was awesome. See what happens when you put your mind to it.”
“Yeah,” Shady replied, trembling. “Just don’t ask me to ever do anything like that again.”
“We’ll probably face even bigger challenges.” Gusty held Shady tighter. “But they better watch out for Shady, am I right?”
Shady only moaned in response.
Danny and Molly joined Daniel with Megan as he carried her to the mouth of the tunnel. They took turns hugging her even though she was a filthy thing. Though, if her own sister had been kidnapped for five days, Heart Throb would not care what she had been through if she had a chance to embrace her once again.
Daniel looked to Wind Whistler. “You saved my daughter. There were times I had my doubts”—he looked to her—“but you brought her back to me.”
“We had given our word,” Wind Whistler replied, “we meant to keep it no matter what.”
Daniel took Megan up in his arms again and held up the locket around Megan’s neck. “And you got your mother’s locket back too.” He stopped. “Actually, it’s your locket now. Happy birthday.”
Wind Whistler flew out of the crowd and up to Twilight Mist as the humanoid creature brought the box up there. It set the box down and Wind Whistler landed in front of it. Curious, Heart Throb flew up to see what this was about.
“What’s that?” Twilight Mist asked.
“The device or the golem?” Wind Whistler asked in response. “Because the device is the final component of the Bifröst.” She looked at it. “We can figure out how to reconnect them later.” She rubbed her throat. “I’ve had enough excitement for one evening.”
The golem turned away from them and slowly walked down the stairs. Heart Throb always loved the strong, silent type, but he was a little too silent.
“Did it come down to killing the harpies?” Twilight Mist said once the golem was down on the ground floor.
“You were right that only one side would walk out of that chamber alive,” Wind Whistler said. “Though, one side being pushed through a vortex leading to the other side of the world is not exactly walking.”
Twilight Mist smirked. “You used the part of the Bifröst against them. Clever.”
“It looked like it was going to be a fight to a death for a moment.” Wind Whistler sat down. “I had a chance to inflict fatal injury on a harpy, but I hesitated.” She rubbed her throat again. “I almost paid for it with my own life.”
“You still came out of there with everything you wanted,” Majesty’s voice said. “I would call that a good day.”
They turned to her standing there. Her knees were wobbling and her eyes were sagging, but she had a warm grin on her face.
“Oh, Queen Majesty, what are you doing on your hooves?” Heart Throb asked.
“You think I was going to stay in bed and miss this?” Majesty said. “I just wanted to come down and congratulate you.”
“How did you know we would succeed?” Wind Whistler asked.
Majesty chuckled. “Who said I did? However, I knew you had it in you to do it.”
“We actually needed some additional assistance,” Wind Whistler said. “I don’t want to think what would have happened if we had not met Mr. Moochic and the sea ponies.”
“We can’t do everything by ourselves,” Majesty replied. “That is the real power of friendship and community. We can create a whole that is greater than a sum of its parts. You are intelligent, logical, and able to detach from your emotional biases. Those are your greatest personal strengths. However, their true power only comes out when you can contribute them to a group effort.”
“I think I see that now,” Wind Whistler said.
“There she is!”—Gusty appeared along with Fizzy and Shady climbed the stairs—“the mare of the hour. I just wish could see the look on those harpies’ faces. How you wing slapped their leader was just great.”
“I always knew we could pull it off if we never gave up,” Fizzy said.
“Yeah,” Shady added, though with a little quiver to her voice. “Never doubted it for a second.”
“Thanks, girls,” Wind Whistler replied. Heart Throb stifled a giggle at the embarrassed expression crossing Wind Whistler’s face. Reserved intellectuals could be so cute.
They looked at the crowd on the ground floor. The ponies were gathering around Megan, some keeping a token distance because of her ‘aroma’. Others were perfectly willing to take a hug.
Heart Throb felt more tears of joy forming in her eyes at the sight of this. Yes, there was nothing like a happy ending.