//------------------------------//
// A mad dash to Ponyville/Walking the gauntlet 
// Story: A strange creature in Equestria 
// by sykko 
//------------------------------//

Gabby and Gallus hid amongst the craggy boulders of the Everfree mountains, it had been two weeks since they had fled Griffonstone with Gilda, carrying two dozen chicks and eight eggs between them. They had spent the last two weeks flying fast and hard at night, hiding amongst the clouds, wooded thickets, ravines and boulders during the day to avoid changeling patrols. The two griffons hid the scared and hungry chicks under their wings, trying to keep them quiet as they kept the eggs warm between them. The two griffons would periodically shift their heads towards the sounds of scree shifting or the cracks of rocks falling from the mountains ever watchful for changeling ambushes. The griffons had used their natural instincts and magics to hide themselves and the chicks making them blend into the natural surroundings, but it had been taxing on their reserves as they had to risk hunting to get meat for the chicks. Currently Gilda was currently out hunting as it was safer for one griffon at a time to hunt, leaving the other two to guard the chicks and eggs.

Gallus and Gabby alternate regurgitating a milky substance in the hungry beaks of the chicks, a unique adaptation griffons had to be able to feed their chicks during famine times, with cost of taxing the reserves of their own bodies. In the distance the griffons could see Ponyville  on the horizon in their sharp vision, with the broad expanse of Sweet Apple Acres between Ponyville and them.

Gilda landed on the ground, scorched lines cut through the feathers of her head and forelimbs, greenish-black blood stained her talons. "We make for Sweet Apple Acres!", she shouted as she helped load chicks on the other two griffons backs, "I ran into a changeling patrol while I was out hunting. Managed to give them the slip for now, but it won't be long 'til they double back and find us. Go fast and hard, don't slow down for anything! I got your backs and will keep as many off you two as I can!" Once the chicks were loaded and the eggs were gathered, all three griffons took off climbing high into the sky before diving to gain speed.

As they sped away from the mountains, a squad of four changelings sprang up from amongst the rocks fire red beams of energy from the horns. Gilda grabbed a nearby cloud and threw it behind her to provide cover. A dozen changelings sprang up from a wooded thickets between Gilda and the other two griffons. "Dammit!", Gilda snarled as she pushed herself forward. Latching her talons on the first changeling, Gilda ripped it in half, flying forward she raked a rear claw against the body of another changeling gutting it. Gilda was fighting amongst the remaining ten changelings, ripping with her talons, snapping with her beak and raking with her rear claws when a dozen more changelings swooped down from a cloud bank making for Gallus and Gabby. Gilda roared in anger as she propelled herself forward when a changeling slammed its body into her, she went into a tumbling midair duel with it.

As Gabby and Gallus neared the edge of Sweet Apple Acres, they shrieked out calls in the hopes that any nearby pony would hear them. Gabby banked to avoid a blast of energy that nearly clipped her right wing, another blast passed through the flight feathers of her left wing igniting a few of them. Her flight became erratic when Gallus pointed to Big Mac, High Seas and a two legged creature pruning an apple tree, they banked towards the three individuals giving shrieking calls as the first of the changelings started nipping at their tails.

Big Mac, High Seas and Harald turned hearing the shrieking calls seeing two griffons swooping down towards them with changelings on their tails. Harald snatched up his axe and sword that were propped against the tree, readying them for combat. "Strength and speed ancestors.", he prayed quickly as he summoned the weirding. Big Mac readied the polesaw he was using as High Seas charged a concussive spell in his horn lining up a shot. As the griffons got closer, a green streak came from High Seas and exploded amongst the changelings causing them to scatter momentarily giving the two griffons the break they needed to get to the ground.

When Gallus and Gabby landed, Harald charged past them in a blur. He tree his axe at the first changeling, imbedding it in its head, he leapt grabbing another changeling by its hing limb and impaling it on his sword. Flinging the still thrashing body off his sword and roared a challenge, "Come at me if you dare for I am your death!" As Harald fought amongst the changelings thrusting and slashing with his sword, Gilda slammed into two changelings from above crushing them under her talons.

A red bolt of energy slammed into Gilda's shoulder exploding, she screamed in pain as she fell to the ground. Harald lurched forward swinging his sword decapitating a changeling that was lunging at Gilda, reaching his hand down he helped her back to her feet. A changeling tackled Harald and he tumbled with it, pinning it to a stump with his sword. He went into a diving roll dodging two red blasts, he snatched up his axe from the body of a dead changeling and felled another.

The remaining five changelings seeing the fight had turned against them flitted up into the skies to escape. Twilight appeared above them in a brilliant magenta flash. Summoning her magic, the five changelings burst in flames as their bodies fell out of the air. Gilda clutched her shoulder, groaning she collapsed to the ground as her strength gave out. Twilight landed as Harald knelt, bowing his head and placing a fist over his heart.

Once Gabby and Gallus had finished making a rudimentary nest out of tree branches, they placed the chicks and eggs in it then Gabby nestled on top of them.

Twilight gestured for Harald to get up. "I'm sorry I was able to be here sooner, I had to deal with Chrysalis' changelings chasing three griffons through Ghastly Gorge.", she said, "For some odd reason I could feel your magic flaring in my blood." Looking over at Gilda, she said, "Oh no Gilda, you're hurt!" Lighting her horn, she gently touched Gilda's shoulder. "There that should help with the pain."

Applejack, Rainbow and Sugar Belle ran up. "We saw th' fighting an' got here as fast as we could!", Applejack said, "But it looks like it's over now."

"Get a wagon!", Twilight said, "Gilda's hurt!"

"With all due respect princess, I'll live.", Gilda said rising slowly from the ground, "I've had worse in scraps back home. We've got hungry chicks to worry about." She winced in pain, staggering before regaining her footing and attempting to give a traditional griffon regal pose.

Harald released the weirding, the fatigue of the short combat washed over him causing him to breathe heavily. "It is noble of you to think of your younglings, but you need to see a healer.", he said catching his breath, "Let us tend to your young, you focus on healing."

"AJ, Big Mac, Sugar Belle, go get thee wagons and load one with hay.", Twilight ordered, "Rainbow, go around town and tell everypony it is my decree that if they have any blankets to spare, they are to bring them to the castle. Harald, High Seas, gather as many branches and sticks as you can. Gallus, you are hereby recalled from leave. Go to the palace and find a suit of armor, then tell spike to bring food for...", she paused quickly counting the chicks, "...two dozen griffon chicks, then grab something for yourself and Gabby too. Gilda, you're going to the hospital whether you want to or not." Giving the gesture for them all to go, she walked over to Gabby, nestling down next to her helping keep the chicks and eggs warm.

Celestia appeared in a flash of golden light. "Is everypony...oh my!" She looked around seeing the carnage of the short battle. "When I felt Harald summon the weirding I knew he was fighting. I would have gotten here sooner, but I was helping protect griffon refugees from changelings. At about three this morning two griffons nearly dead from exhaustion carrying three dozen starving and cold chicks. Reports from Cloudsdale are saying that yesterday afternoon around five the wonderbolts intercepted a seriously injured griffon female carrying eleven eggs. She was in histrionics, saying that changelings killed her two companions, abducting the chicks and eggs. It was also reported that she said that the changelings snatched the twelve chicks she was carrying off her back and threw eggs she was carrying in her talons before she could lose them in a cloud bank. Similar reports are coming in from across Equestria. You have any reports to add?"

"The Everfree scouts reported fifteen adult griffons hiding in Ghastly Gorge being hunted by changelings. When I arrived and helped repulse them, three adult griffons had been killed. An unknown number of chicks and eggs were abducted. After the changelings had been repulsed, there were three Everfree scouts injured and two unaccounted for. The number of living griffons recovered so far is nearly two two hundred. When Rainbow gets back from gathering blankets, I'm sending her to call up the Wonderbolt division under her command to search the surrounding areas for changelings, griffon refugees or bodies."

Gilda turns her face and weeps silently for the griffons killed or taken by the changelings. Anger and vengeance begin to bubble in her heart.

"Sombra and Chrysalis have gone too far!", Celestia seethed, her pastel ethereal mane and tail becoming like the corona of the sun for a brief second.

Gilda snapped her head around, furious vengeance burning in her eye. "Sombra?!", she snarled, "Has he allied himself with Chrysalis?! Where is he hiding? I'll rip his throat out with my own beak and wear his horn as a trophy!"

"Calm down Gilda. I don't know where he is.", Celestia said forcing calmness into her tone, "I promise you that once I find where he is, I'll give you the first opportunity to seek vengeance for your fellow griffons. But until then, I implore you to keep a level head and be the leader for all griffons now living in exile."

Currently Gilda was beyond reason, the desire for vengeance was beginning to ignite her griffon anger. A predatory grow rumbled in her throat as she stalked forward until her beak pressed against Celestia's snout. "You will tell me where he is!", she growled, "I will pry it from you if I have to, pony!" Her griffon anger was clouding her better judgement.

Celestia knew that when anger began taking over a griffon's mind, proper displays of power would return them to a more amiable mindset and she decided to give Gilda a small display of power. She transformed from Celestia, the white coated, kind and benevolent diarch of the sun, co-ruler of Equestria to Celestia, the terrifying avatar of the sun. Her coat became like the surface of the sun, her mane and tail because a solar corona, her eyes shone like twin solar storms, the snow around her hooves instantly evaporated as the air became uncomfortably warm and the terrifying light shining from her hurt to look at. Celestia the terrifying avatar of the sun spoke softly in a tumbling tone that seemed to come from everywhere at once, "Do not think thou can threaten us, Gilda! Thou art an ant standing before the burden of all eternity! We have strode the length and breadth of the world long before thy grandfather's grandfather's oldest remembered ancestors were conceived and we shall continue to stride this world long after has forgotten thee!" Gilda backed away in fear. Celestia snapped back to her familiar form, the world, even the snow was unchanged. Celestia said in her usual kind and almost motherly tone, "Calm your temper Gilda and save your anger for a more productive time. Right now you need to be the leader of the griffons." She smiled warmly.

The three wagons were soon brought up. In the first the hay, branch and sticks were made into a nest for the eggs, they were placed in then Gabby gently nestled on top of them. The chicks were loaded in the second. Spike, Gallus and Rainbow flew up carrying a couple sacks of food and a few blankets. Gallus made a rudimentary nest out of the blankets, soon the chicks were fed with enough food left over to feed Gabby and Gilda. Gallus nestled on top of the chicks as Gilda was helped into the third. Soon the chicks and eggs were hustled to the castle as Gilda was hurried to the hospital.
Twilight took Celestia aside. "When Gilda angrily confronted you earlier, she backed away scared after a few seconds, but all you did was stare her calmly in her eyes. Did you do something", Twilight asked..

"I showed her in her mind one of my many forms, Twilight.", Celestia answered.

"Your many forms?", Twilight asked surprised, "I thought this was your true form."

"This is my true form. But so is every form I choose to take.", Celestia explained, "We alicorns have multiple forms, each is our true form. It's the one trait we share with the gods. Once you have been chosen to swim the great river, all will be made clear, including both how infinitely massive and tiny eternity is."

Twilight tried to wrap her mind around what her teacher had told her. "Gods? The great river?"

"I was just as confused as you were when my teachers Haefestus and Faustinus told me of the great river.", Celestia chuckled warmly.

"I thought Starswirl the Bearded was your teacher.", Twilight said confused.

"He was my teacher, he taught Luna and I how to use magic. But only alicorns can teach an alicorn to be an an alicorn, about other the gods, the elder dragons, the great river, the great wheel, the far above father, the deep mother and our place in the universe. But those are things that must be talked about at a later time.", Celestia said, "Now we must worry about getting the refugees somewhere safe and fed." Celestia walked off spryly. "Forgive me Faustinus for not Teaching my faithful student or my adopted niece about about the great river.", Celestia thought.

"Fear not daughter mine, thy student shall swim the great river soon and she shalt join the clan of Invictus.", a voice echoed in Celestia's mind.

That evening the Everfree rangers returned to Ponyville escorting a band of haggard griffons carrying as many chicks on their backs as they could. Several wagon and carts carried injured adult griffons, scared chicks and eggs, the last wagon help the bodies of three griffons covered with blankets. All the griffons had exhausted expressions on their faces, their eyes held hollow stares. Soft weeping could be heard amongst the griffons. When the caravan stopped ponies rushed up with food and water. A train of ponies came from the castle led by Gallus, Gabby, Twilight and Celestia, passing out blankets. Gilda limped up, her shoulder bandaged and her forelimb in a sling, she had chose to leave the hospital as soon as they were done bandaging her up, much to the protests of the medical staff.

After lodgings had been accommodated for the griffons, the elements, Starlight, Gabby, Gallus, Celestia and Harald gathered around the map table. Luna, Cadance and Flurry Heart teleported in. Before any could begin talking, the weight of the last two weeks came crashing in on Gilda and she wept loudly as she covered her face with her talons.

It was an hour before Gilda's tears finally ran out and was able to compose herself. She looked around with bloodshot and puffy eyes. "I'm sorry, griffons don't normally cry this much.", she apologized, her voice raw and gravelly.

"Thou need not apologize to us good Gilda, a rightful leader mourns when their kind suffers.", Luna said.

"Indeed,", Celestia agreed, "right now you need to be the leader the griffons both deserve and need. Right now you need to be the stone they can stand upon to regain their strength and Equestria will be the safe harbor for them until this storm passes."

"I didn't ask to be a leader, I never wanted to be a leader, I just want my all griffons to be happy and safe.", Gilda lamented.

"Nay thou didst not ask for this mantle, fate hast decreed that this mantle be thrust upon thine shoulders.", Luna said calmly, "Thou must be the shining beacon of hope and the banner of courage all griffon-kind to gather to."

Flurry Heart's eyes shone white as her mane became ethereal, a myriad of colors and ever shifting shapes played across. After a moment her eyes and mane returned to normal. "Gilda, your name will become a rallying cry for the survivors of Griffonstone."

The double doors to the map room snapped as a tall stallion walked in wearing a dark cloak, an air of power seemed to waft about him. "The child speakest true dear sisters and cousins. But we didst not come here to discuss the matters of griffons."

Luna stood smiling. "Oranos! It's been too long!", she exclaimed as she ran forward to embrace him.

Oranos discarded the cloak with a flicker of magic revealing an orange alicorn stallion with sky blue ethereal mane as he returned the embrace. "It hast indeed been too many cycles of thy moon since we last parted.", he said before glancing to Celestia, "We still see thy elder twin is as dour as ever."

"I'm surprised to see you here Oranos. I didn't know you were traveling in Equestria and I didn't sense you alive until now.", Celestia said, her face a calm stoic mask, "Why are you here?"

"We are amused to see thou art as dense as ever little sister.", a silver alicorn with golden ethereal mane said descending the stairs with a smile, "Oranos and we have come to train our cousin, thy faithful student for a fortnight as the great river will call her soon. Now don't be rude dearest sister, introduce us and our brother to thy student whom shalt be the youngest sister in the Invictus clan."

"Twilight, Cadance, Flurry Heart this is...", Celestia paused taking in a breath, "...Luna and my older brother Oranos and our oldest sister Phoebe."

"Is it true that you and Luna are twins?", Cadance asked.

"Yes were are, Cadance.", Celestia replied, "And, yes I'm the eldest twin."

"Only by three days!", Luna said trying to hide her excitement. She began to to dance in place. "Oooo! I'm going to be a big sister! I'm going to be a big sister!", she she repeated over and over again before running over to plant a wet kiss on Twilight's cheek.

Celestia chuckled as Phoebe and Oranos said, "Come along young Twilight Sparkle, we have much to show thee."

"Well I guess that adjourns us for now.", Celestia said, "Flurry Heart, unless the elements object, I leave Twilight's responsibilities to you until she returns. I think I'll go to Sugarcube Corner for something sweet to eat."

"They're having a sell on slices of sweet roll right now!", Pinkie said excitedly.

Celestia turned green in the cheeks momentarily at the thought of eating anymore sweet rolls.

Twilight stood on a massive cliff overlooking a vast golden plain flanked by Phoebe and Oranos, a shimmering silver river flowed from gleaming amethyst mountains in the distance across the plain, branching off in uncountable directions. Some of the of the branches swung off into the distance, some branches braided around each other in impossible patterns, some branches disappeared under the plain reappearing further down, some branches fell over precipices in the plain into great swirling pools. The sky above was like field of black velvet, the stars and planets. Amongst the stars she could see the spirits of untold numbers of ponies dancing, singing, romping and galloping in joy. Twilight's breath caught in her throat as she took in the impossibility massive vista.

"Behold a glimpse of infinity!", Oranos said in a grandiose tone as he gestured with a hoof, "The great river flows from the eternal mountains where the spirits of the humans live with the gods."

Twilight stared in silence, for the first time she could not find the words to explain what she was seeing. If this was just a glimpse of infinity, how massive must it be if this glimpse was impossibly massive and indescribably beautiful.

Four other beings appeared before Twilight. Two were human-like and the other two were the most massive dragons she had ever seen. The first human-like being appeared to be a heavily muscled male, it had skin like burnished bronze, its hair writhed like flames, its eyes shone like gold in a furnace, its armor gleamed like diamonds, lighting wreathed around its arms. The second human-like being appeared to be female, its spin was like ebony, its matted black hair hung like ropes from its head, its eyes shone like diamonds, it was clothed in a dark grey tattered dress, a ring of skulls hung around its neck like a necklace, in its left hand it held a wavy blood stained dagger and in its rich hand it held a pure white lotus blossom. The first massive dragon had scales the color of molten iron in a crucible, its spines had the silver sheen of polished steel and the second dragon had scales the color of midnight, its spines shone like starlight. Twilight felt fear begin to overtake when Phoebe placed a hoof on her shoulder to calm her.

The six beings projecting images into Twilight's mind faster than she could comprehend. After a time she could comprehend the images. They were images of two immensely massive and indescribably powerful beings as they discovered each other, one was a deep dark purple, the other was a deep rich emerald. The embraced in love and a great silver river flowed forth from them. They raised up great amethyst mountains and spread out a great golden plain. From the silver river sprung a golden god, a silver god, an emerald dragon, a sapphire dragon, a flame red alicorn and an ice blue alicorn. The two beings the six smaller in their hands and sang to them in deep voices. As the gods, dragons and alicorns laid with their own, they gave birth to dozens upon dozens of young. The two immense beings pointed to the grey emptiness singing. The dark purple being sacrificed its body to become the vast heavens, the deep emerald being sacrificed its body to become the stars and planets.

On a planet Twilight recognized, she saw most of the gods, elder dragons and alicorns raise continents out of the seas as twinkling light rained down across the planet. The light coalesced into sleeping form of ponies, griffons, hippogriffs, yaks and humans. The gods, elder dragons and alicorns sang in a deep throaty note causing the world to explode to life as the creatures awakened. "The great wheel is constructed, guard it well grandchildren.", two voices boomed like thunder. The gods, elder dragons and alicorns took their places across the world to guide and protect it.

Twilight felt time lose meaning as she felt herself simultaneously grow both old and young. Power began to crackle through her body she had not felt since her duel with Tirek. Phoebe and Oranos began to sing deep throaty notes in her ears. The notes began showing dozens of alicorns standing upon a great wheel, most stood upon the rim of the wheel or walked along spokes, she saw Celestia and Luna standing in the center of the wheel, soon Twilight saw herself standing beside them. As she took it in, a bright flash nearly blinded her and she's standing before Luna in the night court.

"Greetings Twilight Sparkle. I hope thy fortnight went well.", Luna said calmly, smiling ear to ear.

Twilight went to speak but found herself stricken silent. Her legs wobbled as she collapsed to the floor, gasping for air.

Luna walked over and levitated Twilight on her back. "Take it easy. You have been through an ordeal.", she said softly, "Let's get you somewhere more comfortable to lay down. Just give yourself a couple of days to recover and reflect on what you have seen."

After a few days of rest and quiet talks with Celestia and Luna, Twilight was ready to resume her duties back in Ponyville.
***************************************************************

As the weeks began heading towards Hearth's Warming Eve, all of the ponies in Ponyville were singing carols happily, romping in the snow or hanging decorations. Harald trudged through the knee deep snow banks on the edge of Sweet Apple Acres towards town when Celestia appeared before him in a flash of golden light. "Sky Queen.", he said in reverence as he went to kneel, but Celestia stopped him.

"Come walk with me.", Celestia said, "We have some business to discuss."

They walked through the snow drifts to a hill outside Whitetail Woods. "Midwinter is coming in a couple of weeks and with it shall come your final test so you can receive your final marks.", Celestia said placing a hoof on his chest to accentuate her statement, "When you complete it, you will become a full-fledged weirding warrior. I've already arranged for who will be testing you. You will need to choose one to be your cruelty and one to be your courage."

Harald bowed politely. "Sky Queen, you grant too much honor."

Summoning a red and a blue ribbon with her magic Celestia said, "We shall see in a couple weeks if your opinion changes." She passed the ribbons to his hand before disappearing in a flash.

Harald scratched his chin in thought. He began making his way to Carousel Boutique. Scrubbing off his boots a the stoop, he opened the door with a jungle.

"Good morning and welcome to Carousel Boutique! How my I help you?", Rarity said turning from a ponyquein, "Good morning mister Harald! What brings you here, darling?"

Bowing, Harald said, "Lady Rarity, I have a request of you."

Harald produced the red ribbon. "Midwinter is coming and I am to be tested in order to receive my final marks. I ask you to be my cruelty when I get tested."

Rarity felt mixed emotions about the request, one the one hoof she had never never been intentionally cruel, on the other hoof she had said cruel things to her sister and friends in the past when she was angry or stressed, on the third hoof she was surprised at how candidly Harald had asked this of her, on the fourth hoof a part of her was honored that Harald had asked so candidly of her, she was out of hooves. "What does being your cruelty ensue?", she asked.

"When it comes time to test me, you must taunt me and tempt me to give up with offers a leisure and sweets.", Harald replied, "Will you be my cruelty?"

Rarity blinked at the request. Rarity took a long moment to think before replying, "Yes." The words seemed to gall her.

Harald gently took her hoof with his hand and laid the red ribbon on it. "When the time comes to test me, braid this into your hair...err...mane."

Rarity tied the ribbon around her hoof as Harald bowed before leaving the shop.

Harald walked down the street in thought kicking some snow absentmindedly. He ducked some snowballs thrown by several foals and Pinkie, he quickly formed a snowball, throwing it he hit Pinkie square in the snout. The foals squealed in laughter as Pinkie guffawed, as Harald chuckled an iceball smacked into his cheek causing him to stumble. Rubbing his cheek, he turned his head seeing Babs laughing at him. He ducked a few more iceballs as he packed an iceball. Throwing it he smacked Babs between the eyes, causing to stagger and curse. Walking over, he helped dust Babs' forehead off saying, "All's fair in winter war."

"Babs chuckled, "Yeah, ya got me pretty good theyah Harry!"

Harald pulled the blue ribbon from his waistband, playing it over in his hands before saying, "Come walk with me, I have business to talk with you." Harald spun dodging another volley of snowballs snagging one deftly out of the air, he threw it back smacking Pinkie in the eye. Suddenly the street became snow war one as Pinkie, the foals, several other ponies and some griffons began hurling snowballs at each other. Babs and Harald decided to retreat as this was a war that would have no clear victor.

After they had walked away from the snowball war, Harald said, "Midwinter is coming and I must be tested so I can receive my marks. Will you be my courage."

"What does it mean to be youah courage Harry?",Babs asked.

"I have already chosen my cruelty. When I am to be tested, cruelty will taunt and tempt me to give, you must be the counter voice. At the time of my testing, braid this blue ribbon into your name.", Harald replied.

"Deal!", Babs said taking the ribbon in her teeth.

After parting with Babs, Harald made his way to Fluttershy's cottage.

As the weeks wore on towards midwinter, Harald dug a long shallow wide trench on the edge of Sweet Apple Acres and built a simple wooden longhouse over it. After thatching the roof, he wove mats from dried reeds and brought them into the longhouse.

On my day before the testing began, the five princesses led a procession of the elements, Babs, Shining Armor, Gilda, Gabby, Gallup and the Cake twins. The procession entered the longhouse where Harald was sitting at the far end with a sack of herbs, in the center was a shallow fire pit with a fire burning making the longhouse toasty warm. As the party Sat, Harald added wood to the fire and stoked it making the flames grow. Soon the longhouse became hot as all inside began to sweat. Harald reached into the sack and produced a handful of herbs. "First we cleanse our spirits.", Harald said, "Breathe the smoke and the visions will show you things. Some see friends or loved ones long passed, others see the desires of their hearts, others see glimpses of the past or future, others see the spirits as they travel this world, what each see is meant for you." He threw the handful of herbs on the fire, as the herbs burned a sweet smelling blue-grey smoke began to fill the longhouse, reaching into the sack again, he threw a few more handfuls onto the fire. As the blue-grey smoke became thick, the group's vision began to dance as the visions came on them.

In Pinkie's vision she was old sitting in a rocking chair on a porch watching her great-grandfoals were frolicking and roughhousing in the yard of a small cottage. Her vision swirled and she was laying on a bed looking up at the sad faces of her great-grandfoals all grown up, they were sad. She felt cold and tired as her sight began to fade.

In Rainbow's vision she was laying on a hospital bed with Applejack holding her hoof, her belly was big and she felt kicking inside it. A doctor sitting at her hind legs told her to push and she screamed in pain as sweat ran down her face. Once the pain ended, the doctor placed a bright red pegasus colt with golden mane and tail in her forelimbs, Applejack leaned to kiss her and nuzzle the colt. Her vision swirled and the colt was older, complaining that the other foals had been teasing him about not getting his cutie mark yet, she chuckled warmly as she ruffled his name.

In Rarity's vision she was standing on a battlefield, she was carrying a medical case as she was bandaging the wounds of an injured griffon with golden feathers. Her vision swirled, she was at sitting next to a female human with yellow skin, black straight hair and narrow eyes, the human was wearing a brightly colored robe, they were sipping a warm bitter clear liquor from small alabaster cups.

In Applejack's vision she was out in the orchards harvesting apples with Rainbow when a bright red pegasus colt with golden mane came running up knocking over the buckets of apples, he was excitedly showing off his new cutie mark, a zip apple with lightning bolts coming off it. Her vision swirled and the colt had grown into a tall strong stallion. He was bringing to the house a white earth pony mare with pink mane and curiously, crossed golden eyes to meet his mothers.

The cake twins had a shared vision, they were foals again, a Pinkie Pie was talking care of them. She had plopped down on her hind quarters crying when they dumped a bag of flour on themselves to make her laugh.   Their shared vision swirled and they were pacing outside a hospital room. Inside they heard Pinkie scream and curse in pain. After the screaming finally stopped, the doctor open the door to beckon them in, inside Pinkie was holding a colt in her forelimbs, he was yellow with a pink poofy mane.

In Fluttershy's vision she was standing beside Harald who was weeping before an unlit pyre, Gilda was laying on the pyre, Griffons came and poured oil on the pyre. Harald spoke a few words she didn't understand before laying they torch reverently on the pyre. Her vision swirled, she saw Harald was standing before a great host of ponies, griffons and Thorax's changelings. He had finished a speech as he lifted his sword high in the air. Voices cried out from the host, "For Equestria! For Gilda and Griffonstone! For Thorax's hive!" The host began to shout in voices that sounded like thunder.

In Gilda's vision she saw scores of griffons joining a column of ponies marching across Equestria to a valley between two buttes. The griffons were singing a song about being Gilda's vengeance and Griffonstone's wrath. Her vision swirled and she saw a new Griffonstone being built.

In Gallus' he saw himself in a bedroom, he was laying on top of a female griffon who was crying out in passion. He looked down at the blue highlights in the crown of feathers on her head and deeply into her golden eyes. He felt a deep love for her. His vision swirled, he was in the Crystal Empire, the female griffon with blue highlights in the feathers and golden eyes stood next to him, several chicks tussled between his feet. A crystal statue of Gilda was unveiled as he told the chicks of the story of Gilda the Gallant.

In Gabby's vision she was flying over Ponyville when she landed alongside her friends, the former CMC's . A green unicorn mare his behind Sweetie Belle's legs. She gently laid a talon on Applebloom's pregnant belly and giggled when the foal inside kicked. Scootaloo was showing off her engagement necklace. The three friends hugged. The vision swirled, Gabby was being held back by police as they drug off a pegasus stallion, she shrieked in rage as she tried to get at the stallion. Scootaloo laid on the ground barely conscious as paramedics tended to her. Her face was swollen and lumpy, her wing was in a brace. Gabby broke loose from the police ponies and lunged at the pegasus stallion with murderous intent when a little red pegasus colt flew in front of her stopping her. Gabby plopped to the ground crying when the little pegasus colt hugged her.

In Celestia's vision she playing on a green hill with a pitch black alicorn colt that called her auntie. She scooped him up on her back and flew up to a cloud where they snuggled under the moon.

In Luna's vision she was on a green hill playing with a sky blue alicorn filly calling her auntie. They tumbled down the hill and snuggled together under the warm afternoon sun.

In Cadance's vision, she was sitting in the gardens at Canterlot at a small table next to a very pregnant Twilight. She laid a hoof on her sister-in-law's belly feeling twins.

In Twilight's vision she was sitting in the Crystal Empire next to two baskets containing two alicorn foals. One was a pitch black colt with fire red mane and azure eyes, the other was sky blue with white mane and bronze eyes. A dark green pegasus sat next to her nuzzling her.

In Babs' vision she was in highschool back in Manehattan, two unicorns were holding her down in an alleyway as a third was on top of her forcing himself on her. She tried to feebly fight them off but her head ached and her hind right leg felt like she had a white hot wire in it.  She tried to scream but the unicorns clamped her mouth shut with their magic. When she went to her parents after the attack, they threw her out of the apartment. Her vision swirled, she had been living in a box in an alleyway for months a few blocks away from her parents apartment, hoping they would forgive her. She laid in a pool of her own vomit, delirious with fever when Rainbow had found her. Rainbow had been in Manehattan with Applejack to announce their marriage to the Oranges. When Applejack saw the condition of Babs, she went berserk and had to be restrained to keep from beating her aunt and uncle to death. Her vision swirled again and she was in her apartment on the Upper East side of Manehattan with the brash young unicorn she had been dating for two years. He was recently discharged from the navy. He had recently proposed to her and they had set a date. He sat on the couch as she laid with her head on his lap, they watched an old silent film together as she drifted off to sleep on his lap.

Flurry Heart's vision became a trinocular view of past present and future. In the past she saw the gods, ever dragons and alicorns fighting against tendrils of darkness that sought to tear the world apart. In the present she saw the great tendril of darkness slowly snaking across the world hungry to devour all life on it. In the future she saw the other five elements sprout wings and horns as the silvery waters of a river flowed into their hearts. Out of the mirror to the other world strode seven alicorns. Flurry saw herself lead the twelve alicorns to victory. A new name was on their lips. "Euphrates!", she whispered.

In Shining Armor's vision he was standing in a longhouse with dozens of rooms. In the beds were foals sleeping, all adopted war orphans. The last name on each plaque at the foot of the bed was Irontoothson. In the last room was Harald and Fluttershy locked in the throes of passion. Her mane and coat were the same, though she was changed, a scar ran down her left eyebrow, past her eye and down her cheek. The vision swirled, Fluttershy stood on a hill next to a grave stone. She was changed, her coat was the same buttery color, she still bore the same scar on her face, but she was an alicorn, her mane and tail were ethereal green that blew in an unfelt wind. She wore on her flank familiar weapons. Foals pranced around her calling her great-grandmother.

I Harald's vision he stood atop a great frozen mountain, the spirits of his ancestors were around him singing as lightning and blood rained down around him. Enemies rose against him, he stomped his foot and the ground opened up swallowing them. More enemies rose against him, he roared and a great wind dashed them against the rocks. A third wave of enemies rose against him, he rose his fist in challenge and a great food deep them away. A yellow pegasus mare flew up and embraced him, a great whirlwind of fire surrounded them.

As the last of the party's visions faded, the daylight outside was fading. Celestia lowered the sun and Luna raised the moon. Harald nodded to Rarity and Babs, they braided the ribbons into their manes. All members laid down to get rest for the night as the fire was fed fresh wood and restoked.

*THE FIRST DAY*

Harald rose with the first rays of daylight, he roused the members still sleeping before walking outside the longhouse. He began cutting twelve switches.

Celestia raised a hoof to stop any from following Harald. "Remember the goal is to make him suffer not to cause permanent harm. Welts are one thing, but no deep gashes. Use only the switches provided.", she said softly, "For this part of the test he must not cry out in pain or even speak or the test is over. Cadance, Flurry Heart, Twilight, follow Luna's lead. Rarity, Babs, you know your roles, go and take your places on either side of him."

After Rarity and Babs had left, the group lined up behind the princesses. As they walked outside, Luna directed the twelve to the pile of switches. Luna walked up to Harald, stared him in the eyes as she narrowed hers. She slapped Harald across the face with a wing then spit in his face. "You disgust me cur, leave my sight now!", she said in a curt tone. Luna raised an eyebrow in signal to Rarity.

"You see, even Luna finds you repulsive!", Rarity hissed hatefully even though saying it made her stomach twist in knots, "Just quit now."

"Don't listen to her Harry! Stand youah ground and prove youah worth!", Babs retorted.

Cadance walked up to Harald, placed a hoof under his chin and turned his head from side to side.  She slapped him a wing. "I used to think that every creature deserved love, but I see I was wrong. You don't deserve love, you don't even deserve pity! Just leave back to you come from!" She spat in his face before turning and walking off with her snout in the air.

Rarity's stomach turned as she summoned the words. "You see? If the princess of love can find nothing to love in you, you should just quit!"

"Stand strong Harry! Prove the princess of love wrong! Keep youah chin up!", Babs retorted.

Flurry Heart stared into Harald's face with an intense glare. She spat into his face before slapping him with a wing. "I can see into the future and I see that Equestria would be better off without you." She turned with a huff and walked off.

"You see? If Flurry Heart sees Equestria doesn't need you, that's proof you should just quit!", Rarity said. Her own words made her feel like she had just been gut punched.

Twilight stared Harald in the face. She spit a long silvery ribbon of saliva in his face. "You're a coward!" She slapped him in the face with a wing before stomping off.

Rarity's stomach churned at the words she was forming. "You see? If Twilight thinks you're a coward, you should just flee!"

"Stand firm and prove youah no coward Harry!", Babs retorted again.

Celestia walked up and glared into Harald's eyes. "I'd spit on you, but I wouldn't waste my body's fluid on a pathetic excuse of a creature as you!" She struck him hard on the cheek, she turned and walked off with a "harrumph".

Rarity went to form the words, but her body rebelled. Her stomach heaved as she retched loudly, vomiting on the ground. She regained her composure, wiping her mouth with a hoofkerchief and said, "You see? Even Celestia thinks you're not worth it and your very presence made me vomit." She felt like vomiting again but swallowed it back.

"Stand firm Harry! Prove youah worth it!", Babs retorted once again.

"Strip him!", Luna ordered.

Gabby and Gilda pulled Harald's tunic over his head as AJ and Pinkie pulled his pants down, forcing him to step out of them leaving only his loincloth. Harald trembled slightly in the cold.

"Look at you, completely undressed and freezing. If you just say the word, you can get dressed and get next to the fire.", Rarity taunted as she felt guilty.

"Don't do it Harry! Show 'em youah strong and can take a little cold.", Babs replied encouraging.

The twelve lined up as they picked up switches. Soon the air was filled with short staccato crack as each switch raised a red went on Harald's flesh.

Rarity flinched at each crack of a switch on flesh. She wanted to beg for them to stop. She saw painted regret on her friend's faces, especially on Fluttershy's face as she blinked back. Rarity maintained her composure as she continued to taunt Harald, even though it made her feel like it was eating an ulcer in her stomach. Babs continued to retort encouraging Harald to stay strong.

After several hours Luna gave the order to stop. Harald's legs, arms, stomach, chest and back were covered with raised red welts. A few were bleeding and more than a few were bruising. Harald trembled from a combination of the cold and the pain. Rearing up on her hind legs, she wrapped her forelimbs around him in an embrace. She kissed Harald gently on the cheek. "Salve!", Luna called out, she then directed Harald to the longhouse. Celestia summoned in several bowls of a thick grey salve that smelled heavily of medicine and soothing herbs.

As the group made their way into the longhouse, they carried the bowls of strong smelling salve with them. The group began to gently apply the salve to to his wounds. Cadance teleported in food and water. As the group ate, Harald found his hands were trembling too much to property hold on to the food, so Fluttershy gently fed, she even gently held the cup of water so he could. After eating, they helped Harald get dressed, when he laid down, they draped a blanket over him. Fluttershy cuddled up next to Harald to help him stop trembling.

*THE SECOND DAY*

As the group rose in the morning, Harald had a slight glint of reluctance in his eyes as he moved with apprehension. He gathered up armfuls of wood and draped two lengths of rope across his shoulders. Harald started a fire near a stout tree as he threw the two lengths of rope across a sturdy branch, tying a loop in the end of each one with slipknots. He cut several short lengths of wood from nearby branches.

"Steel yourselves as this shall be the most trying and dangerous test that Harald must endure.", Luna said with measured aprehension, "It is called the sun dance. We will suspend him by his wrists effectively stretching his body over a bed of coals. He will loose consciousness and may be unable to walk or even able to use his arms until his the joints are put back in. His pain and suffering will be great. He is not allowed to cry out in pain or speak or the test will fail, however he will be allowed to grunt and groan. We will be provided sticks to clack rhythmically. Follow my sister's lead."

Celestia stood at the entrance of the longhouse as the rest of the group lined up behind her. She began to stamp her hooves in a simple rhythm as she hummed a simple canter, the group followed suit. They marched and hummed the canter as they made their way to Harald. Celestia pointed to the pile of sticks and the group minus Rarity and Babs picked them up sitting in a semi-circle. "Strip!", Celestia ordered Harald.

After Harald had removed his tunic and pants, Celestia inspected his body before slipping the two loops over his wrists and gently pulling the ropes with her magic until Harald's arms were over his head. Celestia gave a slight twitch of her eyebrow to Rarity as a silent signal.

"Give up Harald!", Rarity taunted, "Just run away!"

"Nothing is gained without sacrifice Harry!", Babs retorted, "Show youah courage and show that ya can endure any hardship!"

Celestia pulled the ropes with her magic hoisting Harald off the ground, causing him to grit his teeth and suck in air at the pain. She cleared away the snow from beneath him is a circle levitating a bed of coals beneath him. She nodded to the group who began clacking the stick in a simple rhythm, some began humming or chanting a simple canter to help keep the rhythm. Celestia checked the tautness of the ropes, adjusting them before gently swinging Harald back and forth.

Harald grimace as he gritted his teeth in pain until they began to make squeaking sounds. The pain in his wrists, elbows, shoulders and back became excruciating, he tried to pull in a deep breath but the agony made his lungs want to spasm. He groaned struggling to stay conscious as the pain became white-hot agony, soon darkness began to creep across his vision as the world faded away from him. He drifted in darkness as his mind was barely able to comprehend the pain. Suddenly a blossom of agony erupted in his right should snapping him awake, he thrashed about and gasped in a panic as his body tried to flee the pain. After several moments he was able to regain control of his mind. A white-hot line of pain ran fromhis right shoulder, up his neck and threatened to explode out the back of his head. A hollow pop in his left shoulder sent a fresh bloom of raw agony into his body, he bit down hard on the inside of his cheek to suppress a scream, the taste of copper filled his mouth. The world threatened to fade to blackness, he forced himself to stay awake, tears of pain made his vision blur.

"Just cry out!", Rarity said in an attempt to sound contemptuous. She struggled to suppress the urge to cry and beg Celestia to end this.

"Just stay strong Harry", Babs said as her voice cracked seeing the agony playing across Harald's face and body.

The survival instinct in Harald soon tried to make him flee from the agony in panic. Soon his survival instinct replaced the panic with anger, rage and contempt for the two ponies he considered friends. He spat a gob of blood and saliva at Rarity, while kicking at Babs. The violent animal side of his mind battered against the inside of his skull as everything in him desired to be let loose from the ropes, for the incessant rhythmic clacking of the stick to stop, the logical side of his mind wrestled and warred against the animal side of his mind for control. He lost sense of time as he slipped between panicked gasping, agonizing consciousness and blackness. When he was finally back in control of his mind, he was enveloped in a warm golden glow as he was being gently lowered to the ground.

"You did very well.", Celestia whispered in Harald's ear, "If you want to scream now, you can."

Harald was able to hold his cries of agony until he was laid on the ground, once his weight pressed into him, the pain overwhelmed him and he let out a scream. His vision blurred and would have passed out if he didn't feel a familiar warmth press into his chest anchoring him back to the world. Once he was able to breathe more evenly, Harald weakly raised his head and saw Fluttershy laying her head on his chest.

As Celestia gently rose Harald to a sitting position,Fluttershy braced her body against his back helping prop him up. Celestia slowly and gently worked Harald's shoulder joints with her magic popping one then the other back in. Fluttershy massaged small gentle circles into the strained muscles of Harald's shoulders, she then helped him get dressed. Celestia helped Harald stand slowly withe her magic, once he was standing she used her wing and body to help him stay upright before slowly going to the longhouse.

Back in the longhouse Harald gently sat down as Celestia braced him with her magic. He gingerly worked his shoulders making sure the joints were seated properly before he began flexing his elbows to ensure they weren't dislocated or locking up, Fluttershy gently leaned on him. He grabbed  his left hand with his right and leaned his forehead into Fluttershy's as he tried to give it a quick twist to relocate it. He cried ou as he was unable to get enough strength or leverage to relocate his left wrist.

Applejack leaned into Harald's back, bracing him with her immense earth pony strength. Fluttershy reached around his neck with a hoof as she pressed her cheek into his. Gilda firmly gripped his left hand and forearm in her talons, she loked Harald in the eyes giving a curt nod as a signal to brace himself. With a quick sharp twist Harald's left wrist was relocated with a loud pop. Celestia quickly ground medicinal herbs into a fine paste before mixing them into a slurry with some water. Celestia using her magic helped feed the slurry to Harald, after several minutes the medicinal  herbs began to work numbing the pain. Celestia summoned a glass bottle and ingredients with her magic, she quickly mixed a potion. Levitating the potion over, Fluttershy gentley too it our of the air with her wings and helped Harald drink it. Poultices of medicinal herbs were applied to his joints as the princesses used their magic to summon food and water.

*DAY THREE*

As the sun rose the party made their way out of the longhouse while Harald stayed behind. Celestia and Luna directed the party to stand in two lines. Rarity and Babs had taked the ribbon out of their for the final test as they joined the two lines. "Twilight, stand st the end between the two lines. Once Harald has completed walking the gauntlet, you must engage him in ritual combat. Don't use magic or fly, just wrestle and try to flip him. Once the two of you engage in ritual combat, you can swipe with your hooves or wings, just don't use lethal force and the fight goes on until one bests the other you feel he has proven himself.", Celestia said calmly, "As for the rest of you, this is a test of his endurance, no broken bones, deep cuts or serious injuries, he is to make his way between the lines as each of you attack him testing his endurance and resolve until he reaches Twilight, then we surround them so neither can escape. He can cry out in pain and he amy fall to the ground a few times, if he does do not help him up, he must be able to rise on his own."

Harald made his way out of the longhouse and made his way to the two lines, he dug his feet into the ground preparing for the gauntled. As he walked forward, Gilda was the first to approach him. She balled up her talon punching Harald in the gut, she then struck him across the face with the back of her talon send him staggering backwards torards Rarity.

Rarity ducked low behind Harald, kicking one of her hind legs into the muscle just above the back of his left knee. As Harald struggled to maintain his balance, Rarity reared up and shoved him forward with her forehooves. As Harald staggered, Gallus grabbed him by the tunic and punched him in the face with a curled up talon.

As Harald staggered from the strike to the face, he forced himself to stagger forward attempting to bypass as many in the as he could. They struck out at Harald catching him in his hips or in the soft spots just below his ribs. Harald fell to his hands and knees in front of Shining Armor who placed a hoof on top of the back of his hand ad slowly ground it until he withdrew it with a loud yelp of pain. As Harald rose to his knees, Shining Armor shoved over with his hooves.

As Harald made his way to the end of the two lines, he was battered and bruised, a trickled of blood came from his nose. He entered into a crouched combat stance facing against Twilight, he slowly cricled her as he slapped his chest several times in a taunting challenge.

As Twilight slowly circled Harald snorting, she snorted as she let the analytical part of her mind go over the books she read and digs she went to learning about paleo ponies. She knew modern Equus Sapiens from an ancient interbreeding of carnivorous and herbivorous ponies. She knew that modern ponies possessed a bite force strong enough to not one cut through the toughest plant materials, but also crush bones and shear flesh. She tapped into the ancestral memories that all alicorns shared to simultaneously use her prey-sense to better anticipate Harald's movement and use her predatory-sense to search for weaknesses in him to exploit.

As the group gathered around the two circling each other, Twilight used her alicorn ancestral memories to see early paleo humans and ponies hunting each other in the distant past, she could feel in herself those same primal instincts and see them in Harald. Soon the two stopped circling each other. Twilight drug her hoof along the ground aggressively as Harald dug his feet in. She waited for the subtle shift in stance that told her he was about to charge.

Time seemed to slow as they locked eyes. Their muscles trembled with adrenaline and anticipation for the soon to come initial thrust of combat. Harald extended his arms as he leaned forward, he slight twisted his feet under him to gain better footing as he rose to the balls of his feet slightly. Twilight saw him preparing for a charge and she made a quick charge of her own to force him to either launch an unbalanced charge or force him onto his heels to try and counter her charge. Harald launched himself forward in a sprinting charge. As they neared each other, Twilight leaned her shoulder to use her greater strength and weight to knock Harald on the defensive, but he tangled her neck in a grapple, sliding his feet forward in an attempt to drive her head into the ground. Twilight used her quadrupedal stance to create a wider base so she could drag him into an upright stance and get her weight under his center of mass.

She drove her shoulder into Harald's thighs just below his hips using her weight and wider stance to flip him over her. Harald hung on, using the momentum of the flip to carry himself over her. Twisting her neck, Harald flipped Twilight past him and sent her tumbling across the ground. Using his bipedal nature, Harald quickly rolled up to his feet and sprung at Twilight. Twilight used her longer axis to roll through the springing attempt to pin her and drove a wing into Harald's solar plexus forcing the air from his body, she drove her longer body into the small of his back shoving him into the circle. They roughly shoved hi  on his back and went into a twisting roll back to his feet facing Twilight again. Forcing the air back into his lungs, he began circling Twilight. Their initial clash had been to size abilities up. She matched him in speed, she was clever and quick to adapt, but she lacked any real close-in combat experience. He circled her sizing her up, she was heavier, stronger and had greater reach on him, but he could turn and pivot faster than her. He quickly formulated a strategy.

Harald dug his heels in giving the impression he was going to go into a defensive stance to try and brace the charge Twilight was telegraphing. He quickly went into a mock charge forcing her to backpedal spightly in an attempt to brace, shifting into a quick stutter step to keep her guessing, Harald launched his charge and faked like he was going to his right before spinning left driving the point of his elbow into the corner of her jaw, he swept out with his right front leg hicking her left forehoof from under her. Catching her off balance, Harald drove his shoulder into the soft spot at the base of Twilight's ribs further shoving her off balance, he drove his knee into the base of her keel bone causing her diaphragm to spasm so she couldn't get a clean breath. He entangled her wing into a standing wingbar, slowly forcing her to the ground.

Predictable Twilight panicked at the sudden grapple to her right wing and she tried to pull away. Harald wrapped his legs around her right wing, using his right shin to force leverage across the main joint. Twilight screamed in pain as lines of pain radiated down her wing and through her shoulder causing her legs to collapse. Twilight began to hyperventilate as she tried to thrash about to shake Harald off her, but cause fresh pain to blossom across her wing. She tried to stand thinking she could his weight to shake him off but the added pressure to the base joint made her quickly lay back down. She thought about rolling over on top of him to try and use her greater weight to force him to release, but that was too risk as he might hold on breaking her wing in at least two places. Twilight tried to crane her neck back to try and latch onto Harald with her teeth, but her was too far back and each time  she tried, he applied more pressure to her main wing joint. A clear realization came to her, with out using her magic she was trapped and if she used her magic she would forfeit, she only had one option.

"I yield!", Twilight cried out.

Harald quickly released Twilight and embraced her. "You fought valiantly Sky Queen!", Harald said pressing his forehead to hers.

Twilight quickly flexed her aching wing, confirming nothing was broken before returning the embrace. As the analytical part of mind began running through the fight, she saw how she was beaten. She remembered previous conversations with the princesses about his people being skilled warriors and hunters in a harsh land. "Harald?", she asked, "How long did you train to be a warrior and hunter?"

"Before I was old enough to lift a blade or spear.", Harald answered.

The next morning Celestia was using an iron needle that was dipped in ink and slotted into an intricately piece of wood to indelibly apply making under Harald's skin, permanently etching five stylized alicorns across the empty spots on his back, she sealed the ink in with her magic healing the shallow wound almost instantly. Luna then took over on his chest. She applied over his heart an intricate butterfly, across his collar bones she indelibly marked stylized branches with apples hanging off them. Across his stomach she made two stylized griffons, one holding a balloon in its talons, the other holding a diamond. On the center of his chest she created a six-pointed star flanked by two cakes, below the star she made a shield flanked by two hearts. On the right side of his chest she made a stylized cloud with lightning bolt. She then filled in the empty spots with stylized animals, twisting lines and complex geometric shapes. She sealed the shallow indelibly marked wounds with her magic.