Sunset Shimmer tapped her hoof against the airship floor, her eyes wavering over the sleeping form of the dark alicorn. Well, dark would be an overstatement. More like a deep shade of blue. Or perhaps a cyan or indigo. No, more like—
Sunset slapped herself, cutting off her rambling thoughts.
Sitting nearby, Spike looked up from his inspection of his spear. “What was that for?”
Sighing deeply, Sunset rolled over on her side. “This sucks. I am utterly bored.”
Spike frowned, giving his own sigh. “Hey, I don’t like it anymore than you do. Twi’s out there risking her life and we’re stuck here babysitting.” He glanced over at their prisoner. Other than the gentle rising and falling of her chest as the alicorn slept, there was no movement.
“I’m certain that the straws we pulled were rigged.” Sunset heaved herself back up to a sitting position. She withdrew the Ultima Weapon, the blue energy blade springing to life. She gave it a few swings before huffing, deactivating it, and placing it back on her side. “Can’t even practice here.”
The door to the small room that was being used to house their captive opened, Zecora stepping in with a tray of drinks. “Refreshments from Apple Bloom to help ease your gloom.” Zecora passed a cup of steaming brown liquid to each of them, then sat down in an empty spot to begin sipping her own.
Sunset lifted her cup to her lips with her magic, feeling the hot substance trickle down her throat. The concoction had a slightly bitter taste, though the effects couldn’t be denied. A few minutes later and her mind began to clear and sharpen, making her more alert. “Remind me to thank her later. Whatever this stuff is is the only thing keeping me going.”
“I overheard her saying ‘koofie’ or something,” Spike said after taking a drag of his own. “Stardust was trying to get the recipe off of her before he left. Guess he wants to sell it.”
“Big surprise.”
Silence fell over the room. Zecora worked herself into a lotus position, softly murmuring to herself. Spike began looking over his spear again, while Sunset returned to staring at their prisoner.
She only lasted another minute before abruptly standing up and heading for the door. “I need to get out of here for a while.” The others didn’t stop her, Spike only giving a quick nod. Sunset exited the room, closing the door behind her. There was no lock, though she doubted that it would have mattered if the alicorn woke up. She quickly made her way up to the deck, and the moment she was topside, she took in a deep breath. The sun shone down, but the airship balloon prevented any sunshine from reaching the deck.
“Hiya, Sunset!”
Sunset’s ears perked up, her gaze shifting over to where Pinkie Pie was waving at her from the wheel.
“Everything okay down there?”
“Yes, she’s still out cold.” Sunset walked casually towards the railing. “Just needed to get some fresh air.”
“I hear ya. Being cooped up too long makes me go a bit crazy, too. Probably why I like flying so much.”
Sunset gave an affirmative grunt, then looked out over the landscape. There wasn’t much to see, just a grassy plain stretching out to meet an ocean of green. She frowned, the monotony not helping her mood. “How long have they been gone?”
“Only a few hours,” Pinkie Pie called back. “Moonlight didn’t say how long it would take.”
“Great.” With few Returners wandering around on the deck, Sunset withdrew her sword and started going through the forms that Trixie, Shining Armor, and Zecora had shown her. Each of them had their own style, something Sunset couldn’t claim yet. Trixie preferred a more straightforward approach of standard techniques, though often mixing in magic to keep her opponent off guard. Shining Armor’s form was more of a dance, weaving in and out and waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike. Zecora’s was the most brutal, with hard hitting attacks that often ended with overwhelming her opponents.
It was as she was going through Trixie’s set for the second time that there was a shout from the forward bow. “They’re coming back!” Limestone cried out.
Sunset stopped her practice, looking out where Limestone pointed. Sure enough, the unmistakable forms of Applejack, Big Macintosh, Shining Armor, Spotter, and Stardust were galloping towards the airship. What raised Sunset’s eyebrow was the large multicolored creature buzzing above them.
Of Moonlight, there was no sign.
“Lower the plank!” Limestone barked. Maud and Marble complied, lowering the wooden construct to the ground. Minutes later, the returning Returners climbed up onto the deck, along with the newcomer.
“Howdy, all!” Applejack greeted. She waited for the others to crowd around, including the buzzing creature. “Y’all, I’d like you to meet Thorax. He’s a changeling native to these parts and he’s agreed to help us with Discord.”
“Changeling, huh?” Pinkie Pie sidled up the Thorax, giving him a critical eye. “Does that mean you, like, change or something?”
Thorax grinned, his form engulfed in green flames. Pinkie yelped and hopped back as the flames receded and Thorax reappeared, this time as a giant brown bear. It roared and beat its chest, then the green flame flashed again, returning Thorax to his original form. “Yeah, it’s not just a clever name.”
Pinkie Pie blinked at the display. A wide grin spread her cheeks. “That. Was. Awesome! What else can you change into?”
“Lot’s of things. If you name it, I can copy it.”
“Turn into a chimichanga!”
Thorax blinked. “A what?”
“No, how about a parasprite!”
A bead of sweat rolled down the side of Thorax’s head. “Uh…”
“Wait, what about—”
Sunset shoved her hoof into Pinkie’s mouth. “Nice to meet you and all, but where’s that other chocobo that went with you?”
The faces of the returned group fell. Stardust sniffled and walked away with his head down, not uttering a word. He headed down below, quietly closing the door behind him.
Now with a worried frown, Sunset looked to the others. “Is… is he dead?”
Applejack took off her helmet and placed it against her chest. “Pinkie, get the Paradise ready for takeoff. We’ll explain on the way back to the others.”
.o.O.o.
Spike looked up as the door to the small room opened, expecting Sunset to enter. Instead, a sniffling silver chocobo plodded into the room and plopped down next to him. “You’re back! What… happened?”
Stardust rubbed the end of his beak with a wing, wiping away a string of snot. “It… it’s…”
Zecora stood up from her meditative post and walked over to him. She hoofed over a handkerchief which Stardust immediately put to use. “I see your heart is heavy with grief. Take your time as that is the only thing that will give you relief.”
“Moonlight…” Stardust moaned.
“Oh, no.” Spike put his spear down and sat on Stardust’s other side. “Is… did he die?”
Taking a shuddering breath, Stardust told the pair what happened after leaving the airship. So engrossed by the story that none of the trio noticed that one of the alicorn’s ears twitched.
.o.O.o.
Landing next to Fanatics Tower proved much easier without the gale force winds constantly blowing around the structure. Lucky for them, since more than twice the number of passengers boarded the Paradise than had disembarked. Pinkie Pie practically vibrated seeing all the new faces coming aboard.
“Welcome! If this is your first time flying, be sure to pick up your barf bags from the crew before heading down to the cabins. If you have any questions, please don’t be afraid to ask me or my wonderful sisters!”
Starlight Glimmer and her fellow cult members were only given a few minutes to gawk at the immense airship before Trixie ordered Pinkie to take off. The newcomers were ushered below by the Cutie Mark Crusaders while the Pies readied the Paradise for flight.
“What’s up with them?” Pinkie Pie asked as she readied the wheel. “They all joining us?”
“No, just dropping them off,” Trixie said.
“Oh, well that’s a bummer and a relief. I love guests but it’s getting kinda crowded down there. Where to?”
“Thamaresa.”
“Oohh, haven’t been there in a while. Onward!”
Soon, the Paradise was airborne and streaking through the skies. As the airship flew farther away from the tower enclosed within mountains, Starlight looked on through a round window. She watched until the tower and mountains could no longer be seen, her deep sighs leaving brief condensation marks on the window. “Discord never showed up.” Forcefully tearing her gaze from the window, she settled down for the flight home.
.o.O.o.
Trixie sat within the main airship lounge, looking up at the newcomer that Applejack’s group had picked up. Thorax grinned back nervously, giving a little wave. Messaging her temples, Trixie said, “So… changelings are a thing.”
“Eeyup,” Big Macintosh supplied. He sat nearby, tinkering with a device Trixie couldn’t identify.
“And who we thought was a chocobo was actually the queen of the changelings who’s flown off somewhere.”
Applejack nodded. “That’s the gist of it.”
Trixie shook her head and stood up. She headed for her room, saying over her shoulder, “Whatever. As long as you know what you’re getting into, welcome to the Returners.”
“Hold up!” Applejack called before Trixie could leave. “It’s nice and all that you’re so acceptin’, but what’s our next move?”
Sighing, Trixie plodded back. She plopped down, her muzzle scrunched up. “Trixie isn’t sure. It might be time we face off with Discord.”
“Yes!” Rainbow Dash hopped into the air, a hoof thrust to the sky. “With all of us together now, he’ll be toast!” A yank on her tail brought her back down to the floor.
“Simmer down, sally,” Applejack said after spitting out Rainbow Dash’s tail. “I want to buck that bozo as much as anyone else here, but are we sure we’re ready?”
“Sure we are! We totally aced that tower!”
“Funny,” Rarity drawled as she looped a needle through her Mare Do Well costume. “Because I remember it differently.”
Rainbow Dash shot her a hurt look. “Oh, c’mon, I legit saved the day.”
“After being nearly roasted to a crisp.”
“Still won, though.”
Twilight cleared her throat, gaining the room’s attention. “It was too close. If we’re struggling to beat a regular unicorn, then Discord will laugh at anything we throw at him.”
“What do you suggest, then?” Trixie asked.
Twilight sighed and looked away. “I don’t know yet. More training, I suppose.”
Rainbow Dash threw up her forelegs. “Boring!”
“But it’s necessary, Dash. Do you want to fail and let Discord have his way forever?”
Scowling, Rainbow Dash huffed and crossed her hooves, grumbling about eggheads and homework.
The room fell silent, each Returner quietly considering their options.
“Um, how about a teeny little break?”
All eyes fell on Fluttershy, the pegasus shrinking back. “I-I mean, we’re going to Thamaresa to drop off Starlight and the others. Um, w-we could just, ah, relax for a bit?” She hid her head under her hooves as everyone continued to stare. “But… whatever you think would be fine.”
A few murmurs between the Returners spread through the group. The murmurings grew louder as more and more of them began to speak. A clap from Derpy’s hooves brought the growing din back down. “Ya know what, I think that’s a pretty good idea. We’ve been running almost non-stop for a while now. Maybe a few days' downtime will let us come up with some plans.”
Applejack nodded. “Yeah, I like that. And it’ll give Stardust some time to mourn. What do y'all think?”
A round of agreement followed. Trixie cleared her throat. “Fine, but two days, max. Any longer and Discord will likely pull something to get us to leave.”
With their short term schedule in place, the team dispersed, each individual taking time to plan out their upcoming weekend.
.o.O.o.
The return to Thamaresa held mixed feelings between the Returners. Starlight and her followers were welcomed back with great enthusiasm from the remaining townsfolk. With their leader and fellow citizens returned a party was planned that night to celebrate. Pinkie Pie was more than happy to help. Even on short notice, the party exceeded expectations and spirits were high for all involved.
Twilight Sparkle excused herself, heading off to a nearby grove of trees with Stardust, Spike, Shining Armor, Spotter, and Sunset Shimmer following her. In the middle of the grove, the memorial for her father still stood. She sat down in front of the gravestone and placed a fresh bouquet of flowers in front of it. “Hello, Father. It’s been some time, hasn’t it?”
Spotter’s horn sparked and Autumn Blaze appeared next to him. The summoned esper walked up to the tablet and read the inscription. Her jaw dropped. “Your dad was Maduin?”
“Yes. Did you know him?”
“Well, not personally. More by reputation. He was the demon that fell in love with a pony. Wow, that’s weird I've been with his half-esper daughter the whole time.”
Twilight looked over her shoulder at Stardust, motioning with her head for him to come closer. The chocobo did so, his eyes still red and puffy. “Stardust, I wanted to ask you if you’d like me to add Moonlight to the tablet.”
Stardust snapped his gaze down on her. “What? W-why?”
“This is more than a grave for one esper, it’s a memorial to all the creatures we’ve lost. We can give Moonlight at least something for others to remember him by.”
“You… you don’t have to do that.”
Twilight turned so that she faced him fully. “I know what it’s like to lose someone special. Moonlight was special to you, right?”
Looking away, Stardust sniffed. “Yeah. He taught me everything. He wasn’t my dad but… I guess I thought of him as one.” He wiped his beak with a wing. “But still, you don’t have to.”
Twilight smiled. “Just because my father was an esper and yours was a chocobo doesn’t mean they both aren’t important. It shows that we share something between us, even though we’re not the same species.” Her smile still in place, she beckoned Sunset to come forward. Sunset came up, a sly smirk on her lips. The two unicorns’ horns lit up and shot out a pair of beams at the tablet. In less than a minute they cut off their magic.
A new epitaph below Maduin’s was now etched into the stone. It read, “Here Lies Moonlight. Inspiring Mentor and Friend. May he rest in peace.”
Stardust sat down, a fresh wave of tears spilling from his eyes. “Th-thank you.”
The group came up and held him as he cried.
.o.O.o.
For the first time in what felt like forever, Fluttershy slept soundly in her own bed. The softness and comfiness were just as she remembered. She could stay like this forever if the world would let her.
The world wasn’t done with her yet, though.
A consistent and nagging prodding on her wings disrupted her pleasant sleep. She flicked them in the hopes it was a fly so that it would buzz off somewhere else. The poking continued the moment she settled them back down. Groggily, she opened her eyes and reached for her blanket to pull it tighter against her. Something weighed down the blanket, thwarting her efforts. Grumbling, she pulled harder, successfully freeing her blanket.
A thump and a pained cry fully woke her up.
Fluttershy jolted awake, pulling up her blanket until only her eyes could peek over. She blinked at seeing Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle at the foot of her bed, staring down at the floor. Fluttershy followed their gaze and saw Apple Bloom picking herself up and rubbing her bottom. “Girls! Wha… what are you doing here?”
“Owwie. Trying to wake ya up,” Apple Bloom said.
Fluttershy looked around, spotting her window. It was still dark out. “What time is it?”
Scootaloo pointed at a nearby clock which read three o’clock. “Early. Sorry, but we couldn’t wait.”
Fluttershy let her blanket fall back down, her voice growing stern. “What could be so important that it couldn’t wait until morning?”
“It’s your brother,” Sweetie Belle said. “He’s injured.”
“What?!” Fluttershy hopped out of her bed, her cross expression being replaced with concern. “What happened to Zephyr?”
“He’s downstairs. We were going to heal him up ourselves, but he insisted you be the one to do it.”
Fluttershy’s face flipped again, her ears flattening and a small snarl forming on her lips. “Of course he would. Is it bad?”
Apple Bloom shrugged. “We don’t know. He wouldn’t show us.”
Sighing, Fluttershy headed for the stairs. “Thank you, girls. Let’s go patch him up so that we can get back to bed.” She and the Crusaders descended to the first floor, coming down into a modest living area. On the other side of the room lay a beige couch large enough to accommodate two ponies. Presently, it was holding one light green pegasus stallion, stretched out far enough to encompass the whole thing.
The occupant looked up as Fluttershy came over, his muzzle spreading wide into a smile. “Little sis! Oh, it's so good to see you. You’ve been gone for so long that I thought you’d never come back.”
“Hello, Zephyr Breeze. What’s wrong?”
Zephyr cringed and fell back on the couch, letting out a loud groan. “Oh, for you to see me like this must be agony. To see your big, strong brother hobbled has got to be the biggest shock of your life.”
Fluttershy, her voice straining, said, “Zephyr, the girls said you were hurt. Please tell me what the problem is so I can heal it.”
“Oh, oh of course.” Zephyr lifted up a bit, spreading out his wings. He pointed a hoof at one of them. “You see?”
Fluttershy did see, her eyes narrowing. “One of your feathers is slightly bent. Is that it?”
“Indeed and it’s unbearable! Please, you must help me!”
Keeping her expression neutral even as she ground her teeth, Fluttershy spread out her wings, sending out a small tendril of white magic. The wisp circled around the damaged feather, spreading its healing power. In moments, the feather righted itself back into its proper position.
Zephyr lept from the couch, gathering up Fluttershy in a tight hug. “Thank you! You’re a miracle worker, you know that?”
“You’re welcome,” came Fluttershy’s muffled response against his chest.
Pushing her away from him, Zephyr sighed and fell back down on the couch. “Oh, if only I hadn’t gotten hurt, then it would have been worth it.”
Against her better judgement, Fluttershy asked, “Worth what?”
Springing back up and grinning wildly, Zephyr pointed a hoof towards the north. “You know that little island just off the coast? I went exploring and found the most amazing cave!”
Fluttershy and the Crusaders gasped. “Zephyr, you’re not supposed to be going off alone like that!”
“You found a cave on Rambling Rock?!” Scootaloo zipped over to Zephyr, her face full of excitement. “Dude, what’d you find?”
“Scootaloo, don’t encourage—”
“Why, just the deepest, darkest caverns anywhere in the world,” Zephyr said, ignoring Fluttershy.
“Tell us! Tell us!” Sweetie Belle squeaked.
“We need to get back to be—”
Zephyr spread out his healed wings, smacking Fluttershy in the face. “There I was, in pitch blackness, when these horrible figures came out to eat me!”
Apple Bloom cocked her head. “How’d you see ‘em in the dark?”
“Not you too, Apple—”
“I saw their eyes!” Zephyr shuddered, huddling down as if experiencing the encounter all over again. “These pale, pupiless eyes stared at me from all directions. If I hadn’t reacted fast enough, I would be monster chow.”
Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, and Apple Bloom all looked at each other. An unspoken agreement passed through them, their muzzles lighting up. “Cutie Mark Crusaders Island Expedition!” They reared up and slapped their hooves together.
Fluttershy settled for facehoofing. “No. No, no, no, no.” With weary dread, she watched as the girls ran back upstairs, no doubt to gather supplies. “I just wanted a few days' rest.”
“Ah, don’t worry,” Zephyr said, slapping Fluttershy on the back, causing a pained grunt. “They’re old enough now to take care of themselves.”
Shooting Zephyr with a glare that forced him back a step, Fluttershy heaved in a deep breath. “You just had to get them all riled up. Now no matter what I say, they’re going to go off on a dangerous journey and run into who-knows-what on that island.”
Zephyr chanced a sheepish grin. “But… you’ve got magic now, right?”
“Magic isn’t the answer to everything! It never was!” Fluttershy made to continue, but with a colossal effort, she snapped her mouth shut. Giving one last withering look, she whirled around and stomped up the stairs.
Left behind, Zephyr let out a relieved breath. “Well, at least she only yelled at me this time.” Shrugging, he headed off to the kitchen to raid the pantry.
.o.O.o.
“I don’t suppose you’ve changed your mind?”
Sweetie Belle rolled her eyes. “Fluttershy, for the last time, we know what we’re doing.”
Fluttershy pressed on. “At least let’s get one of the others to come with us.”
Apple Bloom sighed. Her two best friends and Fluttershy had just left the house, their destination to the north. She pointed at the remains of the party from the previous night where numerous kegs and pint cups were strewn across the main square. “Reckon that ain’t gonna happen. I think Sugar Belle and Party Favor made their special drink.”
“Oh dear.” Fluttershy shook her head. Of all the times for the duo to bring out the heavy stuff, it had to be now. Anypony who drank it, and with Pinkie Pie involved it was likely everyone, they would be signing merrily during the festivities but out cold for hours afterwards. The hangover that resulted once they woke up would keep them comatose even longer.
“Relax, Fluttershy,” Scootaloo said, an easy smile on her face. “We’re pros at this now. Besides, I’m sure all Zephyr saw were some little monsters that bolted the moment he screamed and ran back here.”
“Oh, good. So it’s no big deal and we can all go back to bed.” Fluttershy stopped and turned around, but hung her head when she realized the Crusaders had kept moving. With a defeated sigh, she rushed to catch up to them. “Can’t we at least wait until morning?”
“You don’t have to come with us, you know.”
“Sweetie Belle, what about Rarity?” Fluttershy pressed. “She’ll be very upset with you.”
If anything, the mention of Rarity hardened Sweetie Belle’s features even more. “I don’t care. I’m not a foal anymore and can make my own decisions.”
They had reached the edge of town by now. Less than an hour’s travel and they’d be at the coast. “You’re not going to swim all the way there, are you?”
That finally brought the Crusaders up short. A look of trepidation passed between them. “Um, I don’t suppose there’s a boat?” Apple Bloom said.
Scootaloo shrugged. “I think there used to be one but I dunno if it’s still there.”
“Oh, good,” Fluttershy said, getting in front of them and herding them back towards the village. “That settles it, then. I’ll go prepare us some nice hot cocoa and—”
“Oh, hello. Am I interrupting something?”
Fluttershy and the Crusaders screamed. The figure standing before them was tall, insectoid, and colorful. It flinched back, folding back its ears. “Oh, sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you.”
Once the ponies got over their shock, recognition came back into their eyes. “Wait, you’re that new guy my sis brought back,” Apple Bloom said.
“Oh, good, you remember. I’m Thorax.” He smiled, inadvertently showing off his fangs.
Fluttershy swallowed and gave a tentative smile. “Um, nice to meet you again. But, um, we were just heading back—”
“Wait!” Sweetie Belle rushed up to Thorax, making him take a step back. “You said you were a changeling, right?”
“That’s right.”
“Can you change into a boat?”
Thorax blinked. “Uh… maybe?”
“Oh! Oh!” Scootaloo joined Sweetie Belle. “How about a rad sea serpent?”
“I think that’s a little more doable…”
“I got it!” Apple Bloom exclaimed. “A giant bird!”
“What?”
“Girls!”
The Crusaders shank back from Fluttershy’s shout. The pegasus let out a breath, bowing to Thorax. “I’m terribly sorry. They get very excitable. We’ll be on our way now.” Fluttershy nudged Apple Bloom, the trio grumbling as they headed back into Thamarsa.
“Wait, whatever it is you need, I can probably help,” Thorax called to them. “I don’t mind.”
The Crusaders were back in front of him in an instant. “Can you take us to the island up north?” they all said at once.
Thorax thought about it for a minute, then gave a sharp nod. “No problem.”
Fluttershy moaned and buried her head in her hooves.
.o.O.o.
Rambling Rock Island was as ordinary an island as they got. A small plot of land with a hill of rock, its edges rounded down through the years and dead center in the island. With so little land to farm, the ponies of Thamaresa largely left it alone, save for the occasional day trip. It was this unremarkable island that Thorax swam up to as a giant sea serpent, Fluttershy and the Crusaders clinging to his back fin.
With a quick dive and jump, Thorax launched himself out of the water, transforming himself back to his original shape and gliding down to the land with the ponies in his magical grip. “There. Glad that didn’t take too long. Big bodies like that take a lot out of me.”
The ponies shook off the water clinging to their coats before taking in their surroundings. There wasn’t much to see, other than the signature hill of rock and a few scattered shrubs. Apple Bloom pursed her lips. “Thanks for the ride. Now we just gotta find that cave Zephyr was talkin’ about.”
“Should we split up to look?” Scootaloo said.
“Absolutely not!” Fluttershy stomped her hoof, giving a hard stare at the fillies. “If there’s one thing I will not budge on, it’s that. We stick together until we’re done here.”
“Okay, okay. Jeez, it was just a suggestion.”
Sweetie Belle looked from one end of the island to the next. With the hill in the way, all she saw was a thin strip of land wrapping around the center. “Do we just circle around until we find it?”
Apple Bloom nodded. “Might as well. Let’s go.” Deciding to pick the direction she was currently facing, she trotted off, the others following behind.
The morning sun had already risen, giving plenty of light to see by. Even so, their trek around the island proved futile, as they reached their starting point in just over an hour having found no evidence of a cave entrance. Apple Bloom suggested they retrace their steps to see if going in the opposite direction would help. Another hour later gave the same results.
“Well, this has been a pleasant little outing, but we really should be getting back.” Fluttershy gave an encouraging smile at the frustrated Crusaders. “Chin up, girls. Zephyr most likely startled some birds and overreacted.” She turned to Thorax, who had been surprisingly easy and fascinating to talk to, and said, “Thanks for coming with us, Thorax. Sorry we took up so much of your time.”
“Oh, it was my pleasure!” Thorax beamed down at her. “I’ve learned a lot traveling with you.”
Fluttershy smiled warmly. “Me too. So, let’s say we get on our way, girls. Girls?”
Her three young charges weren’t listening. Their heads all pointed upwards, at the central rock hill. “We need to get on top,” Apple Bloom said. She twisted her head towards Thorax. “Can you get us up on top of that?”
Fluttershy leveled a frown at them. “Girls, Mr. Thorax has been extremely generous. Let’s not take advantage of that.”
“We know!” Scootaloo cried, then shrank back at the look Fluttershy gave her. “But we’ve come all this way already. Don’t you want to make sure that we tried everything?”
“Frankly, no.”
“I don’t mind.” Thorax smiled at Fluttershy. “Really, this has been kinda nice. Sure is more exciting than my average day.”
“Oh, thank you!” Sweetie Belle took hold of one of Thorax’s legs and shook it. “We promise to pay you back for this.”
Thorax chuckled. “Naw, that’s alright. Now, let me think of the best way to get up there.” A flash of green fire later transformed him into an osprey. He gave a screech and spread out his impressive wingspan. “Hop aboard.” He knelt down, laying a wing on the ground.
“Sweet!” Apple Bloom scampered up first, followed swiftly by Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo.
Fluttershy shook her head when Thorax offered the other wing to her. “No thanks. I’ll fly on my own.”
“As you wish.” With that, Thorax flapped his giant wings and took off with the three fillies clinging to his back. Fluttershy sighed and followed after them.
It took only a few seconds for Thorax to reach the top as the hill wasn’t very high. He landed on the smooth, rocky surface allowing the Crusaders to slide down his back. A flash of green later and Thorax changed form.
“Okay, I got a good feeling about this!” Apple Bloom declared. “Look for anything suspicious.” The Crusaders scattered, each taking off in a different direction.
Fluttershy landed next to Thorax just as the fillies ran off. “I really really hope they don’t find anything.”
“Good thing they have you to look after them, right?” Thorax said.
Frowning, Fluttershy let out a wistful sigh. “Honestly, they don’t really need me anymore. They’ve taken care of themselves for a while now without me, Rarity, or even Applejack to help. They’ve… grown up, for better or worse.”
Thorax nodded, letting the silence that followed linger as they watched the Crusaders scamper around the hill. A dozen minutes passed with nothing but the cool sea breeze to contend with. At last, the fillies came trudging back, each with their head down.
“Nothing,” Scootaloo announced. Her two friends sighed, confirming the same.
“At least you can say you looked everywhere, not even a stone unturned,” Fluttershy said, wearing a relieved smile.
“I guess,” Apple Bloom grunted.
“Now then, be sure you have everything and then—”
The rock underneath them fell through, plunging them into darkness.
.o.O.o.
Thorax groaned, blinking open his pupiless eyes. All encompassing darkness surrounded him, making it impossible to see even with his highly developed changeling sight. He took a moment to take stock of his body, moving different parts to see if anything was broken. Other than a few pains here and there, nothing came back that he couldn’t deal with. Thorax then extended his ears and nose, falling back on his other senses.
Shuffling, buzzing, and the smell of decay came back to him. Thorax didn’t need to guess where he had fallen. The sounds and smells were all too familiar.
In a flash of green, he morphed into a large bug with lightning crackling between its horns. A bright flash from his abdomen erupted, sending intense light through the darkness. Dark pony-like shapes with black carapaces hissed and snarled back, dropping green pods and flying away to escape from the searing light. Having gained the opening Thorax needed, he morphed back, picked up the discarded green pods in his magic, and took off down an unguarded cavern.
Thorax flew through the cave using his twin horns’ light to guide him, outpacing the creatures he had ditched. He stopped at an indentation in the wall and shoved the pods as deep as they would go. Quick as a flash, he transformed into a solid surface, covering up the pods and blending in with the rocky walls. Seconds later, he heard the telltale sound of buzzing and a breeze brush against him. Thorax waited a full minute before dropping his disguise.
Keeping his ears perked, Thorax turned to the green pods he had stolen. They were squishy and malleable, covered in slimy juices and stank of mucus. They were also partially transparent, revealing unconscious ponies within. His lips curled back into a snarl as he formed a blue blade of magic and stabbed one of the pods. Thorax followed through with a cut across the middle, spilling out copious amounts of slime and the ponies within it. He hurried to the second one, repeating his actions until four sticky, coughing ponies were deposited before him.
“It’s okay if you have to puke,” Thorax said as lowly as possible. “These things aren’t pleasant.”
Fluttershy, Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo sputtered and gagged, forcing as much of the vile fluid out of their systems. Thorax kept guard as they recovered, hurrying back as the sounds of buzzing started to echo throughout the cave. “We need to leave. Now.”
“Where… are we?” Apple Bloom coughed out. “I can’t see.”
“We’re in a changeling hive. We need to go before the queen is alerted.”
“It’s too late for that, brother.”
Thorax whirled, his horns sparkling with magic. “Pharynx!”
Black colored changelings beyond count crept out of the cave’s numerous crevices. One changeling, slightly larger than the others and sporting purple eyes and a red crest, stood out from the rest. “You should have stayed in your hidey hole, Thorax,” Pharynx said with a cruel smile. “Now we’ll finish what our queen started.” In a flash of green, Pharynx transformed into a monstrous hornet-like creature. He let out a screech which the other changelings echoed and charged.
Fluttershy and the Crusaders screamed, the fillies throwing out magical attacks at anything in range. Some of the changelings fell back, but that didn’t stop the mass from quickly overwhelming the ponies. At close quarters, the fillies resorted to kicking and bucking at countless adversaries.
Apple Bloom punched away one, seeing Sweetie Belle come close to her out of the corner of her eye. “Sweetie! Put up some kinda barrier!”
Sweetie Belle’s horn lit up, sending out a magic bolt and blasting Apple Bloom in the side. Apple Bloom cried out and fell to the floor, completely dazed. She looked up in time for Sweetie Belle’s form to shift to that of a changeling before its hoof came crashing down on her head.
Scootaloo twisted around multiple strikes, turning in time to see Apple Bloom go down and take a hit to the cranium. “No!” Her wings spread out, sending crackling lightning from her tips. The bolts struck at the changelings closest to her, giving her breathing room to run up to the downed earth filly. With a fierce yell, she body-checked the changeling impersonating Sweetie Belle, sending it flying somewhere into the darkness. With only seconds to spare, Scootaloo knelt down to check her fallen friend and didn’t like the look of the growing knot forming on her temple. “Fluttershy! I need you over here!”
Nearby, somewhere in the chaos, Fluttershy heard Scootaloo’s distressed call. Scrambling away from several pursuing changelings, she flared her wings, magic coming to her command. She sent a wave of healing she hoped was in the direction she heard Scootaloo then resumed her panicked running.
The magic flowed through the air and struck true, covering Apple Bloom’s form. “Yes!” Scootaloo reached down to hold up her groggy friend. “How are you feeling?”
“Never better,” Apple Bloom replied.
She socked Scootaloo in the chin.
Scootaloo recoiled, too shocked to utter a cry. Her guard down, Apple Bloom pounced.
Only for a second Apple Bloom to tackle the first to the floor. “You brute!” Focusing magic into her hooves, Apple Bloom slammed her duplicate down hard on the rocky ground. The impostor’s form shifted back to a changeling. Apple Bloom raised her hoof to strike again, but a surge of black bodies swept her up.
.o.O.o.
On the other side of the cave, Thorax morphed into a peeper, using his smaller mass to duck under Pharynx’s stinger. The moment it whizzed by, he changed again into a buffalax, headbutting his brother to the ground. Another flash of green and he was now a gold bear. Thorax leapt and slashed at Pharynx’s downed form. Pharynx countered with transforming into a boulder and rolling into Thorax’s attacks. Forced to dodge away or be crushed, Thorax changed back into his true form and flew over his brother. Pharynx followed Thorax’s lead, morphing into his own changeling body.
“Well, my little bro finally grew up,” Pharynx drawled as the two circled each other.
“We don’t have to fight,” Thorax said. “Just let us go.”
Pharynx sneered and shook his head. “Can’t do that. You know where our hive is now and we can’t have you go blabbing it to your little pony friends.” His sneer flipped to a grin. “Besides, I want to see how far you’ll go to protect them.” He pointed behind Thorax.
Thorax whirled around, a dozen possible bodies he could change into at the tip of his mind, but stopped as he saw that there was nothing behind him but a stone wall.
“Sucker.”
A direct hit to the back of his head sent Thorax to the ground.
.o.O.o.
Sweetie Belle was beginning to think that coming to Rambling Rock Island was a bad idea.
She screamed as changeling after changeling tried to corner her, forcing Sweetie Belle to stay on the defensive. The constant onslaught didn’t give her much time to think, only react. It didn’t help that, true to their name, the changelings kept changing into seemingly random creatures that threw off any strategy that came to mind. All she could do was keep moving and wait for an opportunity to fight back to present itself.
Her hopes fell as she heard Apple Bloom cry out somewhere in the chaos. With little to go on but sound and a prayer, Sweetie Belle surrounded herself in skin hardening magic and ran full tilt towards her friend’s location. Changelings snapped and struck at her as she passed, bruises and cuts appearing over her coat. She grit her teeth and pushed through, nearly tripping over Scootaloo in her haste.
Sending out a flash of light to buy her a few seconds, Sweetie Belle knelt down next to the pegasus. “Scoots! You alright?”
Scootaloo looked up while rubbing her jaw and saw the concerned face of Sweetie Belle looking down at her. She yelped and pushed her away. “Stay away from me, you monster!”
Blinking owlishly, Sweetie Belle’s lower lip quivered. “But… but it’s me!”
The buzzing and hissing of changelings reminded Scootaloo that they didn’t have time to play twenty questions. “Then prove it! And quick, bug!” Her wings vibrated, gathering up magic to unleash at will.
Sweetie Belle’s hurt look quickly shifted. Her eyes narrowed and she snarled through clenched teeth. “Fine!” Her horn blazing, she let out a primal yell as she cast the biggest dispel of her life. The magic cascaded throughout the cavern room, enveloping changelings and ponies alike. Any changeling disguised was forcibly wrenched back to their base form and fell to the ground, dazed. A sudden silence fell upon the room.
“Whoa. That was so rad!” Scootaloo ran up to Sweetie Belle and nudged her in the chest.
Sweetie Belle winced and rubbed the spot. “Um, thanks.”
“Now to clean up!” Scootaloo whirled around and unleashed her pent up power. The changelings holding down Apple Bloom were blasted off, crackling energy rippling across their carapaces.
Groaning, Apple Bloom picked herself up. “I hate this part of adventuring.”
“Girls!”
The Crusaders looked up, seeing Fluttershy approaching them. Numerous bite and cut marks littered her coat and her breathing was haggard. Before they could demand she was the actual Fluttershy, the pegasus sent a cleansing spell over them, banishing any doubts. “Are you all right?”
“Yeah, I think so,” Apple Bloom said. She felt sore but nothing she fretted about.
“Good.” Fluttershy gave them a hard look. “Now do you think we should leave?”
Scootaloo glanced away, idly rubbing the back of her head. “That’s probably a good idea.”
“Not so fast.”
The ponies jumped, turning towards the gravelly voice. Pharynx stood over a prone Thorax, his fangs hovering over the latter’s neck. “If you don’t want him dead, you’ll do as I say.” He sank his teeth deep enough into Thorax’s flesh to draw a trickle of blood.
“Wait! Okay!” Apple Bloom cried out. “Please don’t hurt him!”
Pharynx let go, grinning as changeling blood dripped from his mouth. “See that, Thorax? If only you had been as loyal to the queen as that, you wouldn’t be in this position.” He pointed towards a tunnel. “Get moving. Any funny business and he’s my dinner.”
Other changelings began to stir, shaking off the shock of Sweetie Belle’s dispel. They formed an open path for the ponies to walk through, blocking off the rest of the exits. The Crusaders looked to each other, then to Fluttershy. The older pegasus gulped and began walking. “Come along, girls.”
The Crusaders’ faces fell. Exchanging one last look between them, they fell in line. The changelings closed in on them as they walked, only keeping the way forward open. Behind them, a few changelings forced a groggy Thorax to his hooves and prodded him forward as Pharynx buzzed above. A tense silence, save for the occasional hiss or chitter, followed as the ponies were led deeper into the cave.
The ponies didn’t know how long they traveled before stepping into a cavern larger than the rest. Glowing green vines and pods hung everywhere, providing dim light. At the center was a raised platform of rock that at one time had been a stalagmite. The tip had been broken off and discarded, allowing for it to be used as a makeshift podium for the changeling standing on it.
“Thorax!” Chrysalis snarled. Her sneer only grew as the ponies and changeling were herded into the cave. “What is the meaning of this?!”
“I’m sorry, my queen,” Pharynx said, flying up to her. “They were snooping around topside, so we thought it best to capture them.”
“Idiots!” Chrysalis roared. “They have cutie marks! Their despicable Returner friends are going to come looking for them now!” She shoved Pharynx aside and stomped up to the cowering ponies. “And despite their puny looks, they’ve got powerful magic.”
One changeling guard rubbed the side of his head. “Yeah, kinda found that out the hard way.”
Chrysalis kicked him across the cave.
“Cocoon them!” Her orders given, she roughly pushed the ponies aside to stand before Thorax. “But you. I have no problems tearing your head off right now. I’ll deal with the Returners later.”
“No!” came Fluttershy’s frantic cry. Changelings quickly swarmed around her and the Crusaders, green spit already leaking from their mouths.
“This is for ruining my hive!” Chrysalis’ horn flared, her eyes lighting up upon seeing Thorax’s terrified face. She cackled as she let loose a powerful blast.
The shot passed through Thorax as though he weren’t even there, exploding against the far wall.
“What?” Chrysalis stepped back as Thorax’s form disappeared in a flash, only to reappear across the cavern looking confused but no worse for wear. “You can teleport? What is going on?!”
A deep sigh filled the cavern. “Really, Chryssy, you have no one to blame but yourself.”
Chrysalis paled. “Discord?”
The draconequus himself appeared in a flash of white light above her, laying on his side and looking bored. “Hello honey. I’m home.”
“What is the meaning of this?! We had a deal!”
“Yes, a deal you broke when you jumped the gun.” He snapped his fingers, freeing the bound Returners and depositing them next to Thorax. “You’re really taking all the fun out of this.”
“Liar!” Chrysalis screeched. “I did everything you said!”
Discord rolled his eyes. They popped out of their sockets, forcing Discord to catch them before they fell to the floor. He shoved them back in, appearing in front of Chrysalis with his arms crossed. “And you did a terrible job of it. Really, some master infiltrator you are.”
Chrysalis fired the most powerful magical attack she could muster, blasting Discord at point blank range. The resulting explosion threw her back but her changelings caught her before she could make impact with the cavern. Winded, she tilted her head up and smiled at seeing the smoldering remains of Discord’s neck.
That smile fell when Discord’s eagle talon was casually held out, palm up. “You done?” The smoking neck top wiggled and writhed, white stone forming out of it. The stone creaked and cracked until it fully remade Discord’s head. The eagle talon came up and flicked the stone, causing it to crack and fall like a sculpture’s mold, revealing a restored draconequus underneath. “Sorry, that was a little dramatic, but I just can’t help myself sometimes.” He giggled.
“You despicable cretin.” Chrysalis pushed away her minions, standing a little wobbly on all fours. “You promised my hive back if I impersonated that chocobo.”
Discord leveled a cool stare at her. “I did, but then you got all trigger happy and look where that got you. If you’d been a little more patient I could have thought up something to get those other changelings to rejoin you.”
“I don’t want them as they are now!” Chrysalis gathered magic, preparing for another attack. “I’d rather they all die! I have enough love from that silver chocobo to rebuild my hive on my own. I don’t need you anymore!”
Discord placed his lion paw to his chest, looking crestfallen. “You… you don’t need me?”
“Yes! Is air all that’s in that ugly head of yours?”
“Oh, such cruel words!” Discord fell backwards, his eagle talon pressed to his forehead. He stopped halfway, his body prone and a daisy held between his hands.
Apple Bloom watched the exchange with a raised eyebrow. “I swear, I don’t know what’s going on anymore.”
“Oh, it’s quite simple,” a second Discord said from behind them.
The Returners yelped, backing away from him.
“It was all just some simple espionage work,” Discord said, leaning up against a stalagmite and filling his lion claws. “You know, tossing in a monkey wrench, a spanner in the works, that sort of thing. Just to sow a little chaos into your ranks.” He shrugged, standing upright.
“But it’s all been a bust. May as well cut my losses. Have fun my dear little ponies.” With a sly grin and a snap of his fingers, Discord flashed and disappeared.
The Returners and changelings waited to see if he would come back. After a minute of nothing, Chrysalis turned her angry gaze on the intruders. “Kill them.”
Pharynx zipped up next to her. “What about the other Returners?”
“We’ll set a trap for them when they come looking for their friends. They’ll never see it coming.”
“Understood.” With a shrill screech, he flew at them, the rest of the changelings following.
“Oh no, not again!” Scootaloo’s wings buzzed, gathering up her magic.
“Discord!” Sweetie Belle called out as she too prepared a spell. “Did he just ditch us?!”
The changelings closed in, fangs gleaming in the dim green light.
Thorax jumped in front of them, transforming into a huge wall of stone. The changelings crashed against it, buckling the improvised barrier. “Go while I hold them off!”
“B-but what about you?” Fluttershy said, her ears pinned back from the horrible hissing and screeching.
“Just go!”
“Oh, no you don’t, mister!” Scootaloo, using Apple Bloom’s head as a springboard, hopped up on top of the hunk of changeling rock. Some of Chrysalis’ changelings spotted her and changed course to dive over the top. “This ain’t a time for runnin’!” Firming up her features, Scootaloo jumped and spread out her limbs as far as they would go. Lighting erupted from every feather, but instead of lancing down at the changelings, it coalesced above her.
Pony and changeling alike stopped to watch as a form began to take shape within the maelstrom. A piercing, otherworldly cry heralded a serpentine body with giant wings of electricity sprouting from its back. It shrieked again, its open mouth spewing forth torrents of lightning that crashed against the astonished changelings like a flood. Swept away by the relentless current, the changelings were strewn across the cavern, their bodies twitching uncontrollably.
The flying snake gave one last hiss, then exploded into white, sparkling particles.
Scootaloo held her position, her gaze wide and reverent. “Whoa.” Her eyes rolled back and she fell.
Fluttershy reacted quickly, flying up to the filly and catching her before she struck the floor. Thorax shifted back, his expression just as surprised as the rest.
A scream of pure rage and hatred filled the cave. “How do you ponies keep getting so strong?!” Chrysalis roared. Forgoing any strategy, she lept and dove for them, her holed horn firing bolt after bolt of green magic.
This time Sweetie Belle jumped forward, a green barrier forming around her just as the first bolts came rocketing in. “Fluttershy, keep me healed!”
“What?!” came the horrified response.
Apple Bloom took hold of Scootaloo and pushed Fluttershy towards Sweetie Belle. “Just do as she says!”
Utterly bewildered and terrified, Fluttershy nonetheless did as she was told, sending wave after wave of healing magic Sweetie Belle’s way as she took the brunt of Chrysalis’ attacks. Wincing and gritting her teeth against the non-stop onslaught, Sweetie Belle willed her remaining magic within her horn.
Chrysalis bore down on her, lifting a jagged hoof for a more direct strike. The moment Chrysalis’ blow struck against Sweetie Belle, the world went white.
The changeling queen yelled as she was blown back, raising a leg to shield her eyes from the blinding light. “Now what?!”
Swirling white mist hovered over Sweetie Belle, dispelling a gentle light that outshone the glowing green slime. The mist swirled faster, contracting in on itself then bursting outwards like a supernova. The wave of power swept over the room, enveloping the changelings with a sheen of white magic. Their black carapaces and tattered wings fell away, revealing a rainbow of colors underneath.
“No! Stop this!” Chrysalis bellowed. She charged her horn, forcing back the purifying power that threatened to consume her. “I won’t let you take them from me again!”
“Do you not wish to be converted?”
Chrysalis looked up where the deep, aged voice spoke from. A white unicorn much larger and purer than anything she’d ever seen stood over Sweetie Belle. A tuft of hair dangled from its chin.
Struggling to keep back the magic, she managed a strangle cry. “I. Would rather. DIE!”
The unicorn bowed its head. “So be it.” It lifted its horn high, the light from the magical construct sending a new surge of power throughout the cavern.
Chrysalis couldn’t force the magic back this time. A defiant roar ripped from her throat as white mist covered her, Chrysalis’ body disintegrating into fading spots of black.
With a sigh, the unicorn dissipated into a wispy cloud. It blew away on an unseen wind.
Below, Sweetie Belle collapsed.
Fluttershy and Apple Bloom were at her side in an instant. The unicorn filly’s breath came out evenly, gaining a sigh of relief from the others.
As the two fussed over both Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo, Thorax walked over to the recovering changelings. Gone were the jagged edges and holes, replaced with sleek curves and glittering wings. Each sported a different array of colors, contrasting to the uniform black and green from before. The new designs did not go unnoticed for long, creating a cacophony of chatter between them.
“Everyling, please, take your time,” Thorax said, keeping his voice level. “It took me a while as well to get used to it.”
“We’re… we’re just like you,” one of them stated. “How?”
Thorax looked over his shoulder at the ponies, then back at the changelings. “A miracle.”
A changeling larger than the others, his colors darker than the rest, ran up to Thorax and shoved him. “Why would you do this to us?!”
Thorax caught himself and peered closely. “Pharynx?”
“What happened to the queen?”
Swallowing, Thorax pointed to a black mark on the floor. “Gone.”
Pharynx ran over to the indicated spot. He stared blankly at it.
Bowing his head, Thorax said, “I’m sorry this was forced on you.” When he didn’t get any response, he sighed and walked over to the ponies. “We should go.”
Fluttershy and Apple Bloom nodded eagerly. Fluttershy took hold of Sweetie Belle while Thorax laid Scootaloo on his back. Risking one last thing, Thorax said to the changed changelings, “If any of you ever want to join the rest of us, the old hive is still there.”
Pharynx didn’t reply, his body rigid. The remaining changelings looked between him and Thorax but didn’t make any moves. With his head held high, Thorax led the ponies out of the cavern.
.o.O.o.
By the time the group made it back to Thamaresa, night had fallen. A few ponies were still awake and sober and led them straight to Fluttershy’s house. Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle were laid to bed, their soft snores music to everyones’ ears. Apple Bloom took a bed of her own and was asleep before her head hit the pillow. Thorax bid a good night and headed out to find his own place to sleep. Fluttershy trudged downstairs and flopped on the couch, barely needing a second to fall into a deep slumber.
It didn’t last.
“Sis! Sis!”
The insistent prodding and shouting from Zephyr Breeze made Fluttershy wish she knew spells to shut him up. Forcing her eyes open was the single most difficult thing she had done all day. “What is it?”
“I just heard that you got back. How did it go? What happened? Did you vanquish the monsters?”
“Zephyr, can we talk about this tomorrow? I’m not up for it.”
Huffing, Zephyr turned and stomped away. “Sure, you spend all day with your new friends but can’t spare a minute for your brother.”
Letting out a disgusted groan, Fluttershy propped herself up. “Fine. You get one minute.”
“Ah, perfect!” Zephyr grabbed a chair and set it up next to the couch. “Now, you gotta start with how you got there. It was that garish moose beast, wasn’t it?”
Fluttershy held her head in her hooves, bemoaning her fate.
.o.O.o.
With a start, Sweetie Belle jerked awake, her breathing labored.
A hoof came down on her back and began to rub. A soothing voice soon followed. “Easy there, Sweetie. It’s alright. You’re safe.”
The calming words and pleasant touch gradually brought Sweetie Belle’s breathing under control. She lay back against her pillow, giving a pleasant moan. Things stayed like that for a few minutes, Sweetie Belle breathing regularly and the pressure on her back staying constant. “Sorry, Rarity.”
Rarity, not letting up her back rub, cocked her head. “Sorry for what?”
“We… Scoots and Apple Bloom and me, we… kinda nearly died.”
Not faltering in her motions, Rarity made a thoughtful hum. “Yes, I got some of the story out of that Thorax fellow. You girls had quite the adventure.”
Sweetie Belle squirmed. “Are you… mad?”
Rarity pursed her lips, letting the silence stretch. Letting out a sigh, she said, “Not as much as I probably should be.” Seeing Sweetie Belle’s anxious look, she continued, “Mostly, I’m just glad that you and the others are alright. Frankly, I’m more disappointed that you dragged poor Fluttershy along with you.”
“We told her she didn’t have to come,” Sweetie Belle retorted.
“But she did. You know why? No, don’t answer, I’ll just tell you.” Rarity stopped her rub and sat back into her wooden chair. Folding her arms and narrowing her eyes, she said, “It’s because she was worried sick that you would get hurt and she wouldn’t be able to live with herself if that happened.”
Sweetie Belle looked away, swallowing against a dry mouth.
“You go on that you and your friends are grown up now and can take care of yourselves. That doesn’t mean you can just throw away consequences and responsibilities. I’ll concede that you three are capable, but that doesn’t mean you’re invincible. Just look at these.” Rarity held out a pristine white leg, pushing aside its fine hairs with the other.
Glancing up at Rarity then down at the leg, Sweetie Belle drew closer until her breath tickled Rarity’s hair. She blinked at seeing that the skin showing underneath wasn’t as flawless as it first appeared. Harsh, jagged red lines crisscrossed the leg with more hidden underneath the rest of Rarity’s coat.
“Those are the close calls I’ve had since becoming Mare Do Well. And there are plenty more where that came from.” Rarity lowered her arms, her face stern. “In fact, if it weren’t for Applejack, Shining Armor, or even Derpy, I probably wouldn’t be here sitting with you right now.”
Sweetie Belle huffed, turning her head to look the other way. “So what are you saying? We can’t go on any more adventures?”
“That’s not what I’m saying at all.” Rarity laid her hoof over the filly, resuming her rubbing. “I just want to make sure you understand that we’re in a dangerous world. Jumping into things without thinking is a sure way to get into the trouble you have just been through.
“I… I can’t stop you. I’m done trying to stop you. But, please, be a bit more careful?”
Twisting her head back, Sweetie Belle saw only the misty, loving eyes of her big sister. With a surge of strength, Sweetie Belle lunged forward, grabbing Rarity into a tight hug. “I will! We will!” She buried her head in Rarity’s chest, sniffling.
Rarity draped her arms over her little sister. “That’s all I ask for.”
.o.O.o.
The morning sun shone brightly down on Thamaresa, greeting the awakening ponies with refreshing, golden light. The Returners slowly gathered together in the square, some more alert than others. Trixie stood in the middle, inspecting them. “Well, did everyone get a good rest?”
Fluttershy snored atop Umaro’s shoulder, drawing a few snickers.
“Most everyone. So, let’s not dally. Discord won’t wait for us much longer.” Several nods and murmurs of agreement followed. The Returners gave their goodbyes and thanks to the citizens and marched for the airship. The Paradise was right where they left it.
The dark alicorn waiting for them at the bottom of the gangplank was not.
“Salutations. My name is Luna. I need your help with finding my sister.”