//------------------------------// // Chapter 20: A Hero Falls // Story: Settling In // by pchn00 //------------------------------// Chapter 20: A Hero Falls Jennifer Allen Pie was seriously beginning to reconsider her previous choice of living in Equestria. How could she not in all honesty? Set aside the near bi-section by Discord, the bludgeoning from Umbra, fighting a pack of dog men and giant three headed hell beast, and blasts of magic melting half her face…if she hadn’t been here none of this would be happening. Cadence wouldn’t be lying on the ground next to her twitching feebly from the after effects of that creepy zombie pony’s spell. Shining Armor wouldn’t have a chunk of his flank torn away, sizzling and popping by the same magic that had left her face disfigured. Princess Luna and Celestia wouldn’t be imprisoned in the moon and sun. Sure Discord may still be running rampant but even his chaos had to be preferable to this? Pinkie and the other elements of harmony had dealt with him once before. Ugh…it would be nice if they were here. Probly whip up a magical rainbow of friendship and that’d be that for Galaxia, the changeling queen and the zombie. Jennifer if thou has time to complain, thou has time to fight. Thy friends struggle valiantly and need thine aid. Ugh…did you just give me the 'if you have time to lean you have time to clean' talk? Evidently so. Now rise knight of the order, thy country needs thy strength. Teeth grinding together she brought her hands under herself and slowly eased into a kneeling position. She could still hear Echo’s screeches as the night pony swooped back and forth over the battlefield. Flashes of magic, orange, black, and green mingled with Trixie’s soft pink. Umbra had disentangled herself from Shining Armor and was blazing with the crimson aura she’d had when she and Jennifer fought a couple months ago. A couple months? Is that all it was? It seemed like years now. Despite Luna’s previous attempts her face was throbbing again, and the icy cold needles stabbing into her back wouldn’t relent in their magical assault. Constantly sending fresh waves of agony rolling from the small of her back to the rest of her body. Focus Jennifer. Do not let thy thoughts wander; there is a task at hand. Shaking the idle musings away she forced herself to her knees. She saw Umbra deviling Galaxia. The nimble alicorn was leaping and twisting about constantly confounding the woman’s attempts at grasping her, magically or otherwise. Jen felt a quick pang of guilt. Umbra might be doing better if she hadn’t shattered her armor back on earth. Tak was locked in a duel with his fellow changeling. Both wore intense expressions of hatred as they exchanged volleys of acrid green magic. The prince was holding his own for the moment but he was beginning to look weary while Chrysalis seemed to be tiring not at all. Trixie was frantically pulling up every trick and illusion in her repertoire to stymie the Lich’s attempts at killing herself or one of her friends struggling against the seemingly insurmountable foes before them. She was hanging in there, but if Tak and Umbra were overmatched Trixie facing the Lich was like an ant trying to topple a dragon. For every illusory image she conjured they were swiftly shattered by an increasingly angry looking undead mare. Echo was swooping back and forth, her throat again raw and bleeding from overuse of her sonic screams. Arguably however, she was the only thing keeping the other three alive. When one of their enemies was about to strike a decisive blow the sharp eyed night guard would swoop in and knock them off balance with one of her screams. Jennifer took in the sight silently. Looking from one small battle to the next trying to find where she would assist the most. Trixie was the obvious first choice; she was just an ordinary pony. But one solid strike from Galaxia and Umbra would be finished. Echo and Tak seemed the best off, but the former only because their three opponents were busy with the others. Tis time to summon me Jennifer. If I do that I’ll collapse Heart. I’m barely kneeling; you want me to get in this I need everything I got just to get up. Most of the emotional energy Tak taught her to sense was being absorbed by the two changelings, but there was a hint of desperation, determination, and smugness (mostly from the three delivering the beatings to her friends) that was slowly giving her strength. She briefly considered taking Shining and Cadence’s wounds onto herself but even with Mercy quick healing her she wasn’t sure of her chances of pulling through such a stunt. Her throat was still raw and sore even with Cadence’s healing magic. Where the hell was Discord? Worthless jerk. Probably off on some tropical island sipping drinks out of a coconut or something. Shrugging aside the pointless thoughts before Heart could rebuke her again she finally found her feet. If only she had more strength! She could barely lift her legs to move forward, let alone swing her sword. That’s when the swirling gem caught her eye. Jennifer do not! The power is tainted and no good can come of it! Ignoring the spirits words for once Jen gripped the gem and snapped the string holding it to the hilt of her sword. Clenched tightly in her fist her horn flared to life as she reached out to the energy in the jewel, not tentatively like before but arms wide and welcoming. The effect was immediate. Heart’s voice was strangled into silence as her magical aura shifted from the usual green to the wild uncontrolled chaotic swirl of colors held within the gemstone. A smile found its way to the girl’s face as she felt new strength surge through her. She looked out on the battlefield with a new perspective. The hoof blows, the sizzling magic, the screams of pain…they were all so delightfully…chaotic. And she was missing out. Sheathing the sword that had begun to singe her hand a bit she tightened her fist around the jewel. With an exultant cry she kicked forward off the ground, wings beating wildly as she flung herself at the nearest opponent. Chrysalis never saw her coming. One moment the changeling queen was locked in a contest of wills with the upstart prince, the next a fist surrounded in swirling mana connected with the side of her muzzle, snapping her head around and sending her spiraling into the rubble of a nearby building. Rather than the relief she expected to see, Tak looked at her with concern. “You…ok kid?” “Super-duper! Let’s kick some flank huh?” His concern wasn’t assuaged by the wild and somewhat unbalanced look in her eyes and twisted grin…but Umbra and Trixie were still in great danger. With a faint nod to his rescuer his wings buzzed and he joined Umbra’s struggle against Galaxia. Trixie Lulamoon wasn’t a fighter. She wasn’t a warrior pony like Umbra, or a super strong changeling prince like Tak. Flicking a quick glance at the swooping Echo, Trixie would even take a pair of creepy bat wings and ear piercing screams if it meant she’d be more useful in a fight. She was a showmare, one who’d recently broadened her magical studies a bit but a showmare nonetheless. Her already stretched nerves finally snapped when she felt a rush of wind over her back, ripping her hat and cape away. The cape flapped unerringly to the lich, covering his face with the star studded fabrics. The hat…settled on an armor less, manically grinning Jennifer. “Watch and be amazed as the great and powerful Jen punches this zombie thing in the face!” The girls eyes were swirling pools of chaotic color, her body sheathed in an aura to match. Trixie licked her lips as she nervously gazed up at her savior. “Are you…alright?” “Why’s everypony keep asking me that? I’m awesome!” The grin never faltering she skipped forward. With an unearthly growl the lich’s horn blazed and burned Trixie’s beloved cape to so many ashes. Eyes blazing he whirled on the unicorn mare, prepared to repay the indignity he’d suffered in pain. Instead he barely had time to register the girls’ fist swinging in at his newly acquired face. At the last second she halted her swing, and instead flicked him in the nose. He was so stunned by the act he didn’t even try to avoid the kick. Grinning wildly all the while Jen swung her foot up and caught the monster right under the barrel. There was the expected pain, then came the added magical punch line. He was flung so high up so fast he disappeared from sight before he could so much as utter a curse. Winking up, even though he couldn’t see the gesture Jen giggled. “Gotcha!” She whirled on Trixie and plopped the hat back on her head. “Get it?! I Said I was gonna punch him…her…whatever than I kicked him!” Feeling it best not to antagonize the clearly off kilter girl Trixie offered a weak smile. “Y-yes…that was…a good one?” “Ha! It was!” Her smile faltered for just a moment as her eyes fell on Cadence and Shining Armor. “I’m gonna go help Tak and Umbra, can you get them to safety?” True relief found its way to Trixie’s face. “Of course. Be careful, please?” The horrible smile was back. “Careful shmareful! You just watch after them!” Even with the combined assault of Umbra, Tak, and Echo, Galaxia was slowly turning the tide in her favor. The longer she was free of her imprisonment the more her strength was returning. Already she was feeling the alicorns blows and changelings’ magic less and less. Echo’s wails were all but ignored at this point. Contemptuously she released a pulse of raw magic blasting the attacking trio backwards. None were terrible harmed, just thrown off balance. It was enough for Galaxia to act though. With a cry of triumph she charged at the staggered Umbra…only to step squarely on a banana peel that had appeared from thin air. With a shocked cry of alarm the godlike queen did a most spectacular face plant, drawing howls of laughter from the architect of the prank. Incredulously she looked to the source of the guffaws to see a reinvigorated Jen clutching her sides as her body was racked with her wild laughter. Growling at the indignity she began to draw the strength to strike her down, only to find the whelp had vanished. With a faint sense of alarm she sensed the girl appear directly behind her. Before she could redirect the attack she felt a foot connect solidly with her royal hind quarters, sending her skidding along the cracked and broken cobblestone street…to lodge headfirst through a still standing wall of the palace. “Bwaaahahahaha! D’you guys see that! Her head’s stuck!” Jen shrieked delightedly and actually fell over, rolling along the ground laughing hysterically. The three recovering ponies only stared in growing concern at their human ally as she seemed to lose more control over herself by the moment. Of the three only Echo could correctly guess the source of Jen’s newfound power…and she didn’t like it. Galloping to the human girl’s side Echo placed a hoof on either side of her face, forcing their eyes to meet. “Jen I know this is bad but this isn’t the way to fix things! Discord’s power is going to make you just like he was; we’ll just trade one monster for another! You have to shake it off. You have to come back to me!” For a moment it seemed like her earnest pleas were getting through. The colors settled in her eyes resuming their normal hazel…but only for a moment. Blinking rapidly they resumed their previous chaotic state and she swatted Echo aside. “Oh stop your belly aching. Such a crybaby all of a sudden.” She hadn’t MEANT to strike her at all, let alone hard enough to fling her away and crunch up against a wall hard enough to cause it to collapse in on itself. Hearing Echo’s sharp cry of pain and alarm again ripped through the haze gripping her mind and she rushed to the fallen pony’s side. “E-Echo? Are you alright? I didn’t mean to!” Flinging a particularly large bit of crystal away Jen frowned down at the prone form of her fillyfriend. A bit of blood ran from a cut on the night pony’s forehead, and her hind leg was twisted at an odd angle. “I-I’m…fine…but you…you have to stop! Before you’re out of control…” “I…” Jen’s fist tightened around the gem. “I will. I promise I just…we have to stop her now. I don’t have the strength without it. I’m sorry.” Echo struggled to rise and chase after the girl she loved as Jen turned back to the rising Galaxia. New determination burning in her eyes, every time the whispers tried to work their way in she just had to see how she hurt Echo to ignore them. Umbra and Tak had not sat on their haunches waiting for the queen to recover. While he felt a little bad about blasting the trapped woman about the backside it still had to be done. Lance after lance of magical energy battered her about the sides and rear. Umbra had no such compulsions against assaulting the tyrant and galloped forward, throwing herself into the air and slamming her hooves squarely into Galaxia’s back. Renewed howls of pain ripped from Galaxia’s throat and her knees buckled. Rather than succumb to the encroaching darkness around her mind she growled inhumanly, horn flaring brightly she released a far more powerful pulse of magic. Infused with the frigid coldness of space Umbra and Tak were struck down before they could even scream. Curled tightly clutching their hooves against their own bodies the pair twitched and shivered trying to fight off the otherworldly chills. With renewed clarity Jennifer charged the recovered Galaxia. Ready this time the older woman spun and back handed the girl just as she closed within reaching distance. Caught completely unawares the blow snapped her head around and she spun circles all the way to the ground. Snarling viciously the Galaxia worked her fingers into Jennifer’s hair, flinging her off the ground and slamming her back down tearing her hand away with a chunk of the girl’s hair and scalp. Screeching in pain Jen blindly lashed out, swatting Galaxia’s feet out from under her. She tumbled backwards landing with a grunt, but was more or less unharmed. Back on her feet in a flash she stomped down on the slowly rising girl. “Did you think borrowing the buffoons’ power would be enough? He couldn’t stand up to me at full strength and you…you do not have his full strength.” Frantically she tried to blink away but found any attempts blocked. “Oh no. No more teleporting for you girl. No more pranks, no more tricks, no more jokes.” Galaxia ground her heel deeper into Jen’s back, sending renewed spikes of pain arcing from the sight of the lich’s spell. As she rose her foot to deliver a powerful stomp, likely strong enough to snap the girls’ spine, a pink tether lasso’d around it and yanked her raised leg backward, sending the queen toppling onto her face. Face twisted in fury she whirled to the source, only to find a very nervous looking Trixie staring back wide-eyed. “Er…s-sorry?” Snarling Galaxia heaved herself to her feet. “You’re GOING to be.” Trixie conjured a dozen images of herself but the queen ignored them all storming unerringly toward the mare. Before she could run the unicorn was gripped in the queen’s horrible aura as it tightened down on her with crushing force. Slowly Jennifer raised her head. Umbra and Tak were still huddled on the ground trapped in the mind numbing chill. Echo was weakly dragging herself toward Jen from the rubble she’d been flung into. Cadence and Shining Armor were still unconscious where Trixie had stashed them, and Trixie herself was about to be killed any moment. She could see Chrysalis picking herself out of the rubble she’d been smashed into, and she wasn’t sure how but she could sense the lich was on his way back too. One indisputable fact made itself very clear in that moment. Even with Discord’s borrowed magic…they were going to lose. Galaxia was going to kill her, and all of her friends. Heart? Jennifer! Sorry I uh…kinda went crazy. …understandable given the circumstances. Thy senses are returned? I think so. I’m uh…I’m pretty sure we’re not going to win this. …aye. Hand clasped around the jewel more gently she reached out. She could feel them all. Cadence, Shining, Umbra, Tak, Trixie, and Echo. SHE couldn’t teleport away but maybe… Galaxia’s grip on the impertinent unicorn slipped as the mare vanished in a swirling flash. Outraged she whirled about only to see several more flashes erupt here and there clearing the field of all but one of her enemies. The foolish child had cast aside the gem empowering her, the flickering aura of chaos vanished abruptly and she drew the worthless sword she carried. A relieved smile spread on Jen’s face as her friends vanished, sent away to the first safe place she could think of. She recalled her armor with a soft sigh of resignation. If we’re doing this might as well look the part right? Aye. The now-familiar chill of Galaxia’s magic wormed its way into her bones as she was hauled from the ground in the queen’s aura. “Where are they?!” Gasping against the pain Jen shut her eyes tightly. The lich had finally landed with a tremendous crash, pulling his fleshless form from the crater his impact caused. He joined the two monarchs as they stared the girl down. She only smirked a little remaining silent. I think now is the right time Heart. A trifle late but as thou would say, better late than never. Jennifer’s horn flickered weakly as Bleeding Heart’s spectral form flashed into being. Before the stunned trio could react the unicorn knight’s blade struck Galaxia square in the horn, sending her reeling back dazed and disrupting her hold on Jen. The girl landed on her feet with a grunt, charging the more dangerous lich. Neither could have known the monster’s control over the undead would extend to spectral knights as well. Before her blade could shear through the undead pony’s head it was blocked by an identical copy of itself. Eyes widening in alarm Jen turned to see a blank eyed Bleeding Heart bearing down on her. She raised her shield to block the incoming buck but this left her defenseless against the blade arcing through the air. With a gasp she felt it enter her back and erupt through her chest. She looked down at the flickering spectral sword speared through her sternum, than stumbled to her knees and collapses face down in the ground. Bleeding Heart flickered away and vanished as did the sword, but the girl didn’t stir. The three villains stared down at her silently a moment before Galaxia nodded her head. “Make sure she’s done, than let’s see to business.” The lich stomped a hoof. “Where is the pureblooded alicorn? Where is Umbra? This filly is useless to me, I need Umbra!” “Calm yourself. We’ll find her in time. Soon there will be no place for her or the others who dared raise their hooves against me to hide.” Chrysalis rolled her eyes at the drama of it all. She just wanted her greatly diminished swarm fed; she could care less about revenge schemes. True it was satisfying burning a hole through Shining Armor’s flank, but such fleeting desires were utterly foolish and more often than not lead to one’s own destruction. Still she’d sworn allegiance to Galaxia in exchange for nourishment for her swarm so she casually flipped the fallen girl onto her back. Flipping the visor on her helm open the changeling queen gazed down at Jennifer’s face with interest. “Not exactly attractive even before I seared half her face away.” Bits of green scale mingled with black chitin over the surface of her skin. Idly the insectoid queen wondered if this was common for adolescent humans. Galaxia and the princess’ certainly had no such blemishes. Her musings were interrupted as the girls eyes snapped open. The reptilian orbs narrowed as she focused on the changeling. “Lemme return the favor.” Fanged jaws snapped open as a gout of pink dragon fire erupted from her mouth, point blank into Chrysalis’ face. Howling in agony the queen fell away and galloped into the darkness, her path lit by the blaze consuming her head and mane. Before the other two could react she was on her feet swinging Mercy in a back handed arc at the lich. Her blade met little resistance as it cleanly sheared through his neck, sending his skull clattering to the ground and disrupting the building spell. Spitting curses all the while, the skull rolled to a stop. “How?!” With a quick pulse of magic she sent Galaxia stumbling off balance. “Mercy can’t cut the innocent, and it sure as hell can’t cut its owner.” Strike now! Already in the process of doing so, Jennifer needed no prodding. Wings flapping to propel her forward she closed the short distance to Galaxia, blade raised to strike the staggered woman down. Several things happened all at once. There was a sharp crack from the ground beneath the leaping young knight. A spear of jet black crystal erupted from the crack in the earth, unerringly piercing through Jennifer’s breastplate and bursting from her back in a gout of very real blood. She stubbornly maintained her hold on Mercy, the blade inches from Galaxia’s horrified face. Very much against the girls will, the blade slipped from her fingers to clatter harmlessly to the ground. Jennifer! Slowly a smile spread on the spared tyrant’s face. “I seem to have forgotten somepony. Every queen needs a king does she not?” A fiercely glowering unicorn stallion stepped from the shadows. His green eyes and red horn blazing with wispy purple trails of conjured magic. She blearily took note of the regal finery adorning him but couldn’t ignore the palpable aura of evil he radiated. “Jennifer allow me to introduce King Sombra, rightful ruler of the Crystal Empire.” The king dipped into a mocking bow for the impaled girl. “A pleasure. And it is a pleasure to see you restored my queen. Though your name was lost to the ages my family spoke well of the nameless queen who once controlled this land of ours. I look forward to your return to power.” The lich was already in the process of reattaching his head. Chrysalis was nowhere to be seen. Jen took some small satisfaction in that much at least. She didn’t have the strength to scream as the crystal spear was violently yanked from her stomach. She just flopped to the ground with a soft grunt. “The girl still lives? Truly she is formidable. A good thing we dealt with her now before she could grow into her full potential.” Galaxia knelt down with surprising gentleness, lifting the girls head. With her free hand she dismissed Jennifer’s armor. “Yes. We humans are a tenacious, stubborn bunch aren’t we Jennifer?” The coppery taste of blood was filling her throat, making any retort she wished to send the queen’s way impossible. Only a distorted gurgle and fresh flood of her blood left her mouth. “Shh. Hush now. You’re fight is over young knight. You fought valiantly yes, but it was a waste of your life. You should have stood with me, as my daughters should have. We are the rightful rulers of this land, by divine right. If only you ridiculous children would open your eyes and see that.” While one hand still cupped Jennifer’s head, the other went to the wound in her chest. Galaxia’s horn shimmered as a blackness began to seep over Jen’s skin and into her body. Jen arched her back as fresh agony wormed its way through her veins. “Alas I cannot chance some surprise miracle restoring you to health. I’ve come too far to take any chances now.” Even as the spell she wrought consumed the girl from within, Galaxia gently rested her head back on the ground. Standing she turned away to look over her remaining minions. “Sombra you will organize the crystal ponies. Restore order then search every inch of the empire for Cadence and Shining Armor.” Sparing a glance at the restored lich she snorted softly. “Also search for a black pony with a white mane. She will likely appear as a unicorn, though close examination should show she is in fact an alicorn. She is to be taken alive. Any with her you may dispatch.” Jerking her head in the direction Chrysalis vanished she looked at the lich. “Find her and make sure she recovers. She’s too powerful an ally to be ignored right now, and if we isolate her the changeling swarm could prove a nuisance. I will return to Canterlot and restore Equestria to proper order. Do not fail me in any of your duties, and all I promised will be yours. Now go!” Both monstrous ponies bowed to their liege and raced off to fulfill her orders. Sparing one last glance to the child behind her Galaxia’s horn flared and she vanished. The quiet was…nice. After everything that had just happened. Her chest didn’t even hurt anymore so she had that going for her. Risking a quick glance downward she could see the blackness spreading, her flesh withering to ashes as it did. Her attention was drawn to a gentle flash of colorful light. “You look awful.” She couldn’t help but cough a weak laugh. “You…look nice.” She meant it too. It was obviously Discord; no one else would run about in that hideous purple suit of his. But he looked younger. Older than she obviously but in his mid-twenties maybe? This must be what he looked like before the big change. The pain in his eyes was clear. “I’m sorry Jennifer. I…I’m not strong enough to face Galaxia. Not even at full strength. I wish there was something I could do.” Shaking her head weakly was about all she could muster. Her voice was little more than a faint whisper. “S’okay. I did my best y’know? We all did.” “Oh I can see that.” He smiled again. He bent and reclaimed the other half of the gemstone inlaid in his cane. Careful to keep the two separate he pocketed Jennifer’s half, before taking a seat on the ground next to her. “You certainly sent Chrysalis running! A big pink fireball right to the face. No way she saw THAT coming.” He sobered slightly. “I can’t stop what Galaxia has done to you. All my magic can’t overcome one of her spells. But…is there anything I can do? To…make you more comfortable?” Jen nodded a little. “There is.” *** Pinkie Pie…was not having a good day. Oh it started off fine enough. She saw Jen off at the station but then they had that awful fight. The Cake twins were up and getting into mischief but she sorted that out quick enough. The morning slipped by with nothing else amiss, but as the afternoon rolled around she felt a little shudder. Than a twitch. Without warning her entire body vibrated heavily, and she collapsed to the floor of the kitchen, causing Mrs. Cake to rush to her side worriedly. Pinkie shrugged her concern off with a smile. After all that’s what she did for everypony. When she smiled they smiled. She just asked for the afternoon off. The kind hearted mare would never deny her hard working assistant such a request and Pinkie returned home. She’d had doozies before. The hydra, Discord, Sombra, even Nightmare Moon not that anypony had been around to see most of them. But she’d never actually been knocked on her flank before. She looked around her house with a small frown. It was getting messy again and that wouldn’t do. Jenny might be right she mused, as she began to clean up. Maybe she WAS being too overprotective? But how could she not? Jennifer had nopony to really care about her growing up. Her dad was an ok sort but he wasn’t the most attentive. Her mom was outright nasty. No wonder the filly had such a hard time accepting her affections. But she was determined to get through that protective layer she’d built for herself. If anypony could do it, it was Pinkamina Diane Pie. That was for sure! Living room? Check. Kitchen? Check. Bathroom? Check. Eyeing Jen’s door quietly she nudged it open and sighed at the clutter within. Smiling a little to herself she began flinging the laundry into the nearby hamper. How a girl who spent most of her time running around as a naked pony could get so much dirty laundry was beyond the mare’s knowledge. Jen’s dog, Izzy lay on the bed huddled beneath the covers miserably. She always got mopey when Jen was away, but Pinkie smiled seeing Gummy up there keeping her company. With little pats to both the Pie family pets she trotted to Jen’s desk and straightened that up too. Pencils back in the holders, sketch books closed and tucked away on the shelves. Jenny’s room clean she wandered back to the living room and just fell over onto the sofa with a sigh. She lay there for a time ignoring the twitches and tics that came with her pinkie sense. She didn’t rise until the sun set out of nowhere. It was only one o’clock, what was going on? Just as curious as everypony else she poked her head out the door. The sun had indeed vanished, and the moon crested high into the sky. For a moment she thought back to Nightmare Moon, but that was silly. Princess Luna must have had a good reason for bringing the moon out early. Most of Ponyville didn’t share her calm level headed opinion. A panic broke out immediately. Shouts of ‘Nightmare Moon!’ and ‘Eternal night!’ rang through the streets. Normally Pinkie would be out there working to calm everypony by putting a smile on their face…but right now she didn’t feel like her usual self. Instead she shut the door and went back to the sofa. Izzy soon trotted from Jen’s bedroom, Gummy clamped securely on her tail as the dog hopped onto the couch flopping across Pinkie’s flanks. Offering the critter a smile Pinkie gently rubbed between her ears. “She’ll be fine. She always is.” She said it…but she didn’t believe it. She FELT something was terribly wrong. She knew Jennifer was in danger, knew that she needed her but she had no way of getting to her. Maybe the elements? But no. Rarity was in Canterlot this weekend, and Rainbow Dash was visiting her folks in Cloudsdale, Scootaloo in tow. Despite her dour mood that brought a little smile to Pinkie’s face. Rainbow had been growing more attached to the little pegasus filly. Both her parents were earth ponies and sometimes when you were a different tribe than your folks rifts could form. The Pie clan had been fortunate in that every member was an earth pony so far. She was seeing that in Jenny and Dinky too. The little unicorn filly had been growing more attached to Jen, and Jen hadn’t complained about her attentions so far. For a moment Pinkie considered going to fetch Dinky. No doubt school was out and she was probably sitting alone on the front porch of her home, Ditzy off with her mysterious stallion. Oh Pinkie knew all about the shenanigans THAT one got up to, but as long as he didn’t poke his nose into her business she offered him the same courtesy. At some point she’d nodded off. She was awakened by a gentle hand nudging her shoulder. Lifting her head she smiled, expecting to see Jenny standing over her. Instead it was…Discord? Eyes widening she sat up. “What are you doing here?” Seeing the sadness on his face she felt her heart falter. “…where’s Jennifer?” “In her room.” His hand tightened as she immediately tried to dash away. “Pinkie Pie it’s…not good. She wanted to see you before…well…” Tearing herself from his grip she galloped down the hall bursting into the girl’s room. There she was, looking pale but propped up in bed. Pinkie noted with some concern her amulet was missing…as was her sword. Only the empty shield was strapped to her arm. And she looked pale. So pale…almost grey. Tentatively she crossed the distance to her bedside. Remembering who she was she forced a smile. “Heya Jenny-bean. Glad you’re home.” Up close now Pinkie could see the black veins throbbing now and again through her neck. Against her better judgment she eased the blanket away. Jennifer weakly tried to resist but she could barely lift her arms let alone fight off the concerned earth pony. The blanket fell away revealing a gaping hole in her chest and stomach. Even now small flecks of her body fell away to form a steadily growing pile of ash in the bed. Smile wavering and tears forming Pinkie looked up at her. “You don’t look so hot Jenny. Maybe a little soup?” While Pinkie’s smile was gone, Jen’s was just forming. She rested a hand on the mare’s head closing her eyes and tugging her closer. Pinkie pushed her head in resting it against Jen’s shoulder. The girl smiled wider and inhaled the sugary sweet scent of Pinkie Pie’s mane. “Sorry…about this morning…I-I didn’t…mean it.” Pinkie snorted softly. “Oh that? I already forgot all about it.” “Good…good. I…I’m really glad I…came y’know? It’s been fun…mostly.” “Just mostly huh? I can’t think of anything that hasn’t been fun!” “Heh. So…you’re really not mad? I really…didn’t mean it…I don’t want to…go.” “Oh Jenny…I don’t want you to go either.” “H-hey Pinkie…can you make me a promise?” “Of course Jenny. Anything.” Eyes closed she nodded slowly. “Ok…just promise to keep smiling alright? For…for me?” Glad her head was under Jen’s so the girl couldn’t see her tears Pinkie nodded slowly. “Cross my heart, hope to fly. Stick a cupcake in my eye.” It was the first time she’d ever made a pinkie promise she didn’t intend to keep. *** Miles away in a cavern deep beneath the ground Echo slowly stirred to wakefulness. She hissed in pain as her leg reminded her she wasn’t in any condition to be standing. Snapping her eyes open she gazed about in concern. She was in a cave; huge draconic skeletons littered the place. The others were there as well; Princess Cadence and Prince Shining Armor were huddled close together, the princess tending the wound in his flank. She saw Umbra and Tak hovering over a still unconscious Trixie. She did NOT see the only one she was really looking for. “Where’s Jen?” Cadence turned sharply at the sound of her voice. “She…didn’t come with us Echo.” Confusion formed on the night pony’s face. “What do you mean she didn’t come with us? Where is she then?” The princess couldn’t meet the young mare’s gaze. She nodded once over Shining Armor’s mostly healed flank before joining Echo, pouring warm magic focused through her scepter into the younger pony’s leg. “She stayed behind. She saved us but…I don’t think she could save herself.” Shaking her head in denial Echo forced herself to her hooves, ignoring the throbbing in her leg. “We have to go back! We have to help her!” It was Umbra who spoke up. “We cannot. We are…many weeks travel from Canterlot. These are the tunnels of my people. This is Bleeding Heart’s final resting place. She must have sent us here, knowing it was beyond Galaxia’s reach.” Echo began to breathe heavier, wings flaring. “I don’t care I’m…” She faltered and staggered to the side, clutching at the jewel around her throat. Cadence frowned in concern. “Echo…Echo you need to calm down and let me heal you.” “It-it can’t be…she can’t be…” Her hoof fell limply from the heart stone; the warm glow it had held had faded completely, leaving the small stone completely black. *** Galaxia strode over the bodies of the fallen royal guard, ignoring them as she threw open the doors to the throne room. To HER throne room. Smiling softly to herself she strode to the imposing throne and gentle settled herself upon it. “Now…to fix things.” Her magic spread from the capitol, racing across the land of Equestria. Changing everything it touched. Warping the minds and hearts of the ponies. Old racial divides reforming and splitting the tribes that had come together in harmony years ago apart once more. Mixed towns like Canterlot and Manehattan were changed. No longer were there any earth pony nobles, no earth pony wealthy. That was for unicorns. Earth ponies belonged in the dirt tilling the land. The flying cities of the pegasi became flying fortresses of old. Weather factories repurposed for producing weapons and armor. The weather would still be controlled but for a price, and at their leisure. So long as the dirt ponies had enough rain and sun to keep their army and their lords fed they had enough to do their job. Galaxia strode to the balcony overlooking the unicorn city of Canterlot and smiled. “It’s good to be home.” *** Fluttershy had ventured into the Everfree to fetch some herbs for a bit of her home made tea. Sure it was a little dangerous, but it was broad daylight out and she’d walked the familiar path dozens of times in the past. The timid pegasus picked her way through the forest slowly all the same. Ears perked and wings ready at any sign of danger. She nearly keeled over when the sun suddenly vanished and the moon appeared in the middle of the afternoon, cloaking the forest in darkness almost instantly. Squeaking in fright she immediately began to back the way she’d come, but it was a long way back to her cottage, (a long way to Fluttershy, a short gallop for most anypony else). Instead she knew of a safe haven much closer and lowering her head she plowed onward to Zecora’s hut. To her relief a light shone in the window and she wasted no time bursting inside. “I’m so sorry to barge in without knocking but its night out all of a sudden and I didn’t want to be out there!” She almost properly raised her voice no less. “S-sorry for shouting.” If the shamanistic zebra took any note of her arrival she didn’t show it. She was throwing all manner of ingredients into her cauldron, seemingly at random. “No no no! This is not how it was to go!” Shivering a little at the usually calm Zecora’s panic Fluttershy chanced a step closer. “Zecora…are you alright?” Noticing her guest at last the mare from a distant land locked eyes with Fluttershy. “Things have not progressed as they should, none of this is right! The wicked creatures of darkness have conquered our champions of light!” Normally Zecora’s words could be a bit difficult to puzzle out, but Fluttershy caught the meaning well enough. “Something’s happened? To our friends? Who? Is somepony hurt?!” She was feeling panic well up in her breast. “Hurt does not begin to describe her condition and I see her destiny unfurl, her life cut short before it’s time, I fear all is lost for the girl.” “The girl? Do you mean Jennifer? What happened? We have to help!” Sadly Zecora shook her head. “It is too late, no power can save her now great or mild. Save perhaps a kind soul aiding a grieving mother who must bury the remains of her child.” “N-no…you can’t mean that she’s…” With a growl of rage Zecora slapped her cauldron on its side spilling its contents to the ground. “I…am sorry Fluttershy, I must leave. Please make yourself at home…” Fluttershy watched astonished as the zebra left her hut, staff in arm. Was she coming back…or did she mean she was leaving for good? Wings flapping in a mild panic she looked down at the spilled brew. She didn’t notice the wave of black magic pass harmlessly over the untouchable Everfree. One of the few ponies spared Galaxia’s twisted spell. Instead her attention was drawn to the black fluid spreading across the floor. Gingerly keeping her hooves away from the mass she gazed into the cauldron itself. In the very bottom of the pool she could see a faint golden glimmer. Gathering up all the courage she could muster she thrust a hoof into the syrupy morass and caught hold of the small speck. Gently she pulled it free holding it before her nose, eyes wide in wonder. It was just a tiny speck of light, a little shimmer of a golden glow. But she felt such warmth coming from it. She felt…hope. “Oh my.” *** Jen jerked upright with a little gasp, hand rushing to her chest. There was no hole! She grinned in delight and looked about for Pinkie. “Pinkie I’m….ok?” She wasn’t in her bed. She wasn’t even in her house, and she had a sneaking suspicious she wasn’t in Equestria anymore either. Mercy was missing entirely from her arm, as were her amulet and bracelet. With a grimace she noted her clothes were gone too. She was naked…sitting in some kind of…foggy grey void? Climbing to her feet she stomped a few times experimentally. “Feels like ground even if I don’t see anything.” Gently rubbing the spit on her chest where the gaping hole had been she sighed and started walking. “This must be some kinda crazy Luna dream thing or something…” The ground was firm but not painfully hard on her bare feet. Her wings and horn were still present so that was something at least. Several times she tried to use her find it spell to lead her to anything else alive here, but was met with failure each time. She was just beginning to tire of the endless grey when a shining light in the distance caught her eye. Excitedly she ran toward it…slowing as she neared. It was…some kind of big gated arch. A golden glow bathed the area about it, and she could see a seemingly endless field of green beyond the gates. Cautiously she approached now…jumping back as the gates unhinged and swung open. Relief flooded her face as a familiar pony emerged. It we Bleeding Heart only…she looked a lot more solid than usual. “Heart! What…what is this?” “Thy reward Jennifer, for brave service to Equestria and her people. Come. Follow me to the Fields of Elysium.” Uncertainty crept back in. “Wait…is this…like…pony heaven?” “Aye. A life filled with good deeds such as yours has earned you eternal peace with us. Thou fell valiantly in battle defending the realm from darkness. A knight could ask for no greater end to her life.” A frown began to form. “So…I’m dead?” “Aye.” “What about…what about Equestria? My friends? Everypony back home?” “They are no longer thy concern Jennifer. The living world is for the living. Now come…enough dawdling.” Jen took a few steps toward the gate almost against her will before slowing. “Can…I mean do I…have to? Right this second?” Heart tilted her head. “There is no time limit I suppose, though I question thy motives on not entering. Thine life is ended child, tis time to rest now.” Slowly Jen lowered herself to the ‘ground’. “I-I get that. I just…” She frowned deeper. “Can I just sit here…for a little bit?” The mare renowned for her warmth and kindness left the shining paradise she’d only enjoyed for a short time to sit with the girl, her successor to Mercy. “Aye. There is nothing that says thou cannot.” She offered Heart a little smile. “So…I guess we’re going to have to get to know each other all over again huh?” Returning the smile with one of her own Bleeding Heart nodded. “S’truth. Shall I tell thee of my induction to the order? Tis quite a tale.” Jen smiled a little wider. “I think I’d like that.”