Chapter 13: Ponyville Aflame, Part 2
The train station was in ruins when Fancy Pants arrived on the scene. A dragon must have loosed its fire all over the train and station in a flyby attack, judging by the lack of claw marks anywhere. Worry for his wife increased as he noticed the uncomfortable amount of sizzling charred black lumps that were all that remained of anypony caught in the flames. Doing his best to ignore the loss of so many innocent lives, he cleared some wreckage from the nearest entrance and boarded the train.
“Rarity! Rarity can you hear me!? It’s Fancy!” His theory about the dragon not actually landing was dispelled as he saw the deep rents in the ceiling and walls of the train now that he was inside. He knew his wife—even when sneaking out of the city—would likely board first class, and those cars were toward the back of the train. He began to pick his way through the thrown about luggage and other, formerly living debris.
A low moan came from the cabin he was passing, and with a firm set of his jaw, he pried the door open. Within was a pegasus stallion laying protectively over a trio of foals. The luggage rack had collapsed and pinned them all to the ground, but the foals were squirming about and seemed healthy enough. “Sir? Can you hear me?”
With a groan, the stallion cracked an eye open, nodding. “Yeah… Who’re you supposed to be? Search and rescue here already?”
With a chuckle, the unicorn stallion carefully enfolded the luggage rack in his magic, lifting it ever so slowly so he didn’t cause more damage to the car. “Of a sort. Rather unusual to see a family of pegasi on the train.”
Slowly, the wounded pegasus rose and his foals all shot out from under him, clustering about worriedly. “Kids wanted to take a ride. I was on leave and figured, why not? Didn’t expect a damn dragon attack on Ponyville of all places. Why would they even bother?”
Fancy set the rack back down once the other stallion was clear. “It’s my understanding the Queen is displeased with somepony hailing from this town. She enlisted the dragons to burn it down as punishment.”
The rescued father’s features darkened at the news. “An entire town just to punish a single pony? I’m no earth sympathizer, but that seems… harsh.” He examined Fancy Pants closer now. “You don’t look like the average train worker. And that’s a Canterlot accent. What’re you doing in Ponyville?”
“My wife is—or was—on this train somewhere. We were speaking via a spell when the attack struck. A friend teleported me here so I could get to her. I don’t suppose you noticed a white unicorn mare with a purple mane?”
“Sorry, I wish I had. The door was sealed and I was pinned pretty much right off. Are the uh… dragons still out there?”
“In force, I’m afraid. If you head to the town center, my friend is evacuating everypony to a safe place. Though it’s quite a ways from any pegasus cities, and I’m not sure when you’d be able to return to one.”
“My duty to my family is more important than my duty to the military. If you can get us someplace safe, then we’re with you. In fact, let me get my foals there and I’ll come back to help find your wife.”
It warmed the noble lord’s heart to know that even in this twisted mockery of Equestria, ponies still cared enough about one another to lend a helping hoof when needed. “I appreciate the offer sir, but I’ll be quite fine on my own. I may not look it, but I’m a fighter.” He laughed and gave the relieved looking pegasus a good natured wink. “Just see to your family, I’ll see to mine.”
With a nod, the stallion began to lead his foals from the car. “Well then thank you sir. From the bottom of my heart. And if there’s ever anything I can do to repay you…”
Fancy waved his platitudes off. “Nonsense. Just doing what any good citizen would. Help a fellow pony in need, and all that. Do be careful out there.” Waiting just long enough to see the family hurry toward the town square, Fancy turned back to his mission. Clearing a few more spots of debris away, he finally made his way into the first class cars.
Almost immediately, he realized something was wrong. The fur along the back of his neck was prickling, and he could feel a very heavy amount of magic in the air. Cautiously, he slid open the door to first class and stopped short. Every object not bolted to the ground was floating lazily through the air. Luggage, drinking glasses, and chairs from the dining car. Then there were the passengers. The ponies were floating, frozen like everything else trapped within the magical field. A magical field the stallion recognized. Frowning, he surrounded himself in a thin shield and cautiously stepped forward. He met no resistance; his wife’s released magic sliding off him like it wasn’t even there.
Carefully, Fancy navigated the train cars, keeping an eye out for Rarity. Nopony seemed hurt, for which he was thankful. Entering the next car along, it was easy to pinpoint his wife’s location now. The rear of the train was blown completely to pieces from her magical release. Shrapnel and wood hovered aimlessly, trapped in the magical time field. Following the destruction to its center, there he found Rarity.
The pain on her face was unmistakable, and given her injury, likely unimaginable too. Something heavy must have struck her horn with enough force to break it in half. When a unicorn’s horn breaks, all of their stored mana is released with wildly unpredictable results. Really, a field of frozen time wasn’t too bad considering some of the horror stories he’d heard of other unicorns breaking their horns. He found a dislodged ceiling support in front of Rarity. Lifting it aside, there was the broken half of her horn. He slid it into his breast pocket before looking to the mare.
While no Archmagister, Fancy Pants attended Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns, as most well off unicorn foals tended to do. He had more than a passing knowledge of most types of spells and how to dispel them. While time magic was normally outside his field of expertise, his newly enhanced abilities should be enough to banish the field. Slowly, he reached out with his own magic, feeling at the edges of Rarity’s unintentional spell. Smiling in satisfaction, he plucked at the field here and there, very abruptly sending the whole thing crashing down.
Time sped back to normal in a flash, and Rarity resumed the pain filled wail she’d been in the midst of when her magic froze the first class section. Fancy Pants was at her side, hooves cupping her muzzle gently. “I’m here dearest! I’m right here! It’s going to be alright! Shh…. shh…”
Rarity’s frenzied screaming dimmed to pained whimpering at her husband’s soothing words. “F— Fancy? H— how?”
“Don’t worry about how. I’m here now, and we’re going to get you someplace safe and see that you’re patched up.” He gently levitated her to his back. Frowning at the debris and now-panicking pony filled way he came, he looked to the intact wall of her car, and blew the whole thing away with a powerful burst of magic. He could feel Rarity gasp sharply at his sudden display of power, but he paid it little mind as he gently levitated she and himself to the ground from the train.
“Where’s Jubilant? You didn’t… didn’t bring her with you, did you?” Rarity’s voice was a pained whisper, but Fancy couldn’t help but smile.
“Dear, your horn broke, and you’re even now worried about others. Truly, I could not have married a finer mare. Jubilant is here, but... she’s fine. It’s… complicated.”
He began making his way toward the town square, setting a slow pace to give Rarity as easy a ride as possible. “…Jubilant is Jennifer… isn’t she?”
This brought the stallion to a startled stop. “Wh— what? What did you say?” He craned his neck around to look her in the eye.
“I…” Rarity’s pained expression was mingled with confusion. “I remember. I remember… everything! Oh! Oh, Fancy Pants! What… what has happened to Equestria? That… wretched Galaxia creature has destroyed everything! And…” Her eyes widened at a sudden realization. “…and we’re married?!”
He offered her an apologetic smile. “I’m afraid so. I hope it isn’t too disagreeable a situation. I’ll have it annulled once Princess Celestia has returned, of course.”
“O— oh yes. Yes… of course… we weren’t in our right minds, after all.” She gasped again. “My family! They’re still in Canterlot! And my friends… and… oh no… Ponyville… my home…”
He found it hard to find the words to comfort her about the things he had no control over. “Well! Applejack is safe in Appleloosa. Fluttershy has her hut in the Everfree, and even now I’m sure Jubilant is racing to safety with Pinkie Pie.”
This did seem to lift her spirits. “What about Rainbow Dash? And Twilight is stuck in Canterlot…”
“Rainbow Dash is serving in the Cloudsdale military, though last I heard she’s just fine. Obviously she and Twilight would be rather difficult to get to. Perhaps once Ponyville is evacuated we can turn our attentions to their rescue, hm?”
Slowly, the exhausted mare nodded her head. “That would be lovely…” She was finding it harder and harder to stay awake.
“Ah! Here we are. Trixie and D have the portal ready and waiting! I’ll see you off to safety, and be along soon enough myself. And look there! Here comes Pinkie Pie!”
This brought some energy to the wounded unicorn, who raised her head with a smile. Pinkie Pie was indeed galloping full tilt toward the waiting Trixie and Discord (Rarity couldn’t help but wrinkle her nose at that hideous purple pin stripe suit he was in). To their surprise however, the pink earth pony mare didn’t enter the circle herself. She slowed long enough to heave a yowling beagle and glossy eyed alligator in, before racing off toward the Everfree Forest.
“She must be going to get Fluttershy! We have to go with her!”
An incredulous Fancy Pants again looked to the mare draped over his back. “Rarity, I know you’re concerned for your friends, but your horn is broken! You can’t cast any magic; you can barely stand on your own.”
Even now she was struggling to get off his back. “Then I’ll crawl in on my belly through the dirt if I must! But I won’t run away while my friends are in danger!”
Clicking his tongue, the stallion used his magic to secure her across his back more solidly. “Well I’d be a rather poor Knight if I allowed that. I’ll try not to make the going too rough for you.” He broke into a quick trot.
“Don’t worry about me darling, worry about them. Come on now I know a strapping stallion like yourself can muster more speed than this.”
Smiling again at her inner fortitude, he could only nod and comply. “Yes dear.”
She was smiling as well now.
Umbra leapt backwards, using her wings to propel herself away from the snapping jaws of the dragon quicker. Hovering in the air, she narrowed her eyes at the red scaled monstrosity and smashed both her morning stars into its head from opposite sides. The dazed beast staggered back, shaking its head vigorously.
“You have become rather adept at using your wings, Umbra. Quite a bit of progress from the last time we were together.” Moon Dancer ducked under the dragon’s swinging tail, allowing it to pass harmlessly overhead. With a grimace, she brought the blades of Night Singer up crossways, using the momentum of the swinging appendage to shear it cleanly off.
The dragon apparently decided the two mares were more trouble than they were worth. With one last enraged roar, it leapt into the sky, winging away from them and leaving a trail of glittering blood droplets in its wake like some sort of morbid facsimile of its removed tail.
Umbra landed beside her mother, offering a faint smile. “Tak and Trixie both hounded me ceaselessly about learning to fly. They correctly pointed out that I was only limiting myself by ignoring my wings. They are as much a part of me as my horn or hooves. …of course it took them three years to convince me of this.”
Moon Dancer laughed aloud at that, running her blades through the grass to clean them before sheathing them. “Well we should continue on, I think. There’s much to do still.”
Her daughter was about to reply before a familiar armor clad form smashed through the home beside the bakery they stood in front of, impacting heavily into the dirt and groaning softly. The pair raced to Jennifer’s side as she struggled to rise. “Big… dragon…”
Mother and daughter turned to face the direction Jennifer had been hurled from. Indeed a full grown wyrm was bearing down on them, its yellow eyes flashing with fury. A long fresh cut extended the length of its snout, almost reaching its right eye. The two looked at one another before nodding and drawing their weapons, racing forward fearlessly.
This dragon was older, stronger, and far more intelligent than many of the youngsters flying about burning everything that caught their eye. While the black coated alicorn flying his way was no Princess Celestia or Luna, he knew enough of their rare breed to be mindful of the power she wielded. The unicorn moving to flank him seemed ordinary enough, but she wore armor similar to the human girl, and the blades she bore had a very powerful magical aura about them. No doubt they would sting as badly as the pink sword.
With speed belying his great size, he reared back away from the swipe of a Morningstar, swiping a claw and swatting the alicorn with a glancing blow. He couldn’t rake his claws into her, but he hit her hard enough to send her spinning through the air away from him. One threat temporarily seen to, he rounded on the unicorn, only barely managing to twist his neck away from her flashing blades. While she could get nowhere near his head physically, she didn’t need to be close to use her magic to propel her blades forward.
Wanting no part in any combat involving these strangely familiar weapons, he sucked in a breath loosing his great magical flames upon the upstart pony. Assuming her dealt with, he turned toward the recovering alicorn, intent on finishing this fight and leaving this pitiful little town. It came as no small surprise then, when he felt a curved scimitar slide into either of his hind legs, right in the meatiest part of the thigh. The wretched pony dragged them down and out, doing considerable damage to the muscle. Roaring incredulously, he rounded on the mare, his fury growing when he saw she was smoking slightly but otherwise apparently unharmed.
If his fire wasn’t up to the task, his claws and fangs most certainly would be. Doing his best to ignore the painful twinges in his hind legs, he bore down on the unicorn with all his fury. A quick stomp of his foreleg was enough to disrupt her concentration while she tried to bring those wicked swords to bear against his snout. With a bellow of triumph, he lunged forward, jaws gaping for the kill.
A sudden stabbing pain in his hindquarters brought him up short, and he reared back, bellowing in pain and fury and belching a great gout of flame into the sky. Twisting his head about, he saw the human sword rammed to the hilt in his backside. Giving his haunches a powerful shake, he sent her tumbling to the ground, the blade remaining lodged where she’d stabbed him. He realized a split second later that the human’s horn likely functioned exactly as a unicorn’s, and as she held an empty hand toward the lodged sword, it tore through his scales and flesh easily as it returned to her hand.
Rearing on his hind legs, he gave his wings several mighty flaps, whipping up a terrific wind storm. Sending the human and the once more charging alicorn hurtling backward to slam one after the other into a flaming structure, sending the whole building crumbling down atop them.
Scowling fiercely, he lifted his tail and slammed it down into the ground behind him with as much force as he could muster. He was rewarded with a startled cry from the unicorn, her invisibility shattered as she tumbled to her side. Again, his tail rose and slammed down, pinning her solidly to the ground. Twisting his body around uncomfortably while keeping the mare pinned, he leaned his head in close. “…your arms and armor. They’re familiar.”
Moon Dancer squirmed beneath his tail, her armor protecting her somewhat, but not blocking out all the pain. More than enough was getting through to keep her from focusing on her magic. Her ear flicked in surprise as the dragon spoke, and she dared to meet his gaze. “A— are they?”
Gingerly, he lifted his tail to look closer. She briefly considered scrambling to her hooves or trying to thrust her swords into his face, but that would likely only incite his anger. “They are. They smell of old magic. Familiar magic I haven’t seen in centuries.”
Eyeing him carefully she slowly climbed to her hooves, making no sudden movements. “My weapons are called Night Singer. My armor the trappings of a Knight of Harmony.”
Now the old dragon moved his tail away fully, sitting back, a look of consternation on his face. “Knight of Harmony? The order yet persists? It was my understanding it was disbanded centuries ago. Are you a pony playing at knighthood, or has the order truly returned?”
“I was inducted into the order by Starswirl the Bearded himself. Along with my sister Celestia.”
This caused the dragon to draw in its breath, bringing its head in close once more. “You make a bold claim, little unicorn. I was not close with the Princesses, but I at least knew of them. You are no regal alicorn Princess.”
“You are no doubt aware of the shift in power. The Queen is my mother, returned from her imprisonment. She deposed my sister and I. The only way I could return was to shed most of my former self. I assure you dragon, I was the alicorn known as Luna, now called Moon Dancer. I am a Knight of the Order of Harmony. As is the woman you swatted aside. She is the Commander of Harmony, in fact.”
Snorting softly, the dragon stomped over to the building Jen and Umbra had landed in. With a flick of his claws, he sent the top half tumbling aside, plucking out the smoldering pair. The unconscious human seemed to have become an alicorn mare. Poking at the mare’s leg bearing the shield, he eyed it closely. “…this was Starswirl’s, wasn’t it?”
Moon Dancer raced to keep near the dragon. “It was. It is hers now. She is Jubilant Surprise, Commander of Harmony, and my personal protégé.”
“Hrm.” He looked from her to Umbra before laying the pair gently on the ground. “You alicorns are multiplying at an alarming rate.”
“The other is my daughter, Umbra. Neither have designs on a crown, so far as I know. You have little to fear from either, so long as you are not trying to massacre their people.”
“My clan had a pact of peace with your Order of Harmony. So long as they protected Equestria and her people, the red dragons would do them no harm. I seem to have broken that pact, and brought great dishonor upon myself and my clan. We will withdraw, Lady Moon Dancer, and you have my apologies. While I will not involve my people in your political business, I will see that I make amends for our actions this day.”
Moon Dancer was frowning. “You apologize because of an ancient pact, and not for the deaths of innocents? Your code of honor is strange indeed.”
“We are predators. You are prey. It is the way of the world. If your own Queen wishes to pay us for doing what we would do naturally, I am not about to turn away the gems. The reds will aid her no longer, so long as your order remains standing. Be aware however, the other clans have no such pact, and will likely come if she bribes them. Fight well, former Princess now Knight. Truth be told, I preferred your sister’s rule to your mother’s. I find her… distasteful.”
He looked away, lifting his head and bellowing an earth-shaking roar. Every dragon in and around the town halted in their burning and pillaging. As their leader lifted from the ground, flying off as one, they hastened to follow.
Once they’d flown far enough to be but specks in the sky, Moon Dancer moved to check on the wounded alicorn mares. Jennifer was the first awake, rolling to her hooves and shaking her head groggily. “Where’s th’dragons?”
“Gone. Your fearsome skill of being rendered unconscious scared them off.” Moon Dancer was smiling teasingly, and Jen couldn’t help but laugh.
“I’m gonna go touch base with Trixie and the others. Is Umbra gonna be okay?”
Dismissing her armor, Moon Dancer moved to Umbra’s side. “She will. You girls are made of stern stuff. Go see to the others, I will get Umbra to safety.”
Without another word, Jennifer was in the air, flying toward town square. With a soft sigh, Moon Dancer removed Umbra’s helm, cupping the slumbering mare’s muzzle gently. “Well come along then, daughter of the night. Let us get you home to rest and recover.”
Jennifer ‘landed’ beside Trixie, skidding along, her face on the ground until she came to a stop. With a grunt, she stood up and shook the dirt from her fur. The sorceress quirked a brow at her entrance. “A very graceful landing.”
The Commander of Harmony just shot her a dirty look and flexed her wings. “How’s the evacuation coming?”
Discord moved toward the mares after he ushered another group through the teleportation circle. “Fine. By my count we’ve gotten nearly everypony still ah… ‘able to leave’ out. I only sense a few stragglers out there. I was just about to go collect them.”
Nodding to her uncle, she raised an eyebrow when he looked suddenly uncomfortable. “What’s wrong?”
“Ah well it’s your ah… mother. She might have, sorta, kinda not gone through.”
Jen grew very still at that. “What? What do you mean she didn’t go through?”
Now Trixie was shuffling from hoof to hoof. “Well she ran up, lobbed her dog and alligator through the portal, then raced off to the Everfree. Who keeps an alligator as a pet?”
Scowling, Jennifer spread her wings and crouched. “My mom does.” Without another word, she took off toward the forest. No doubt her mother went racing off to collect her aunt herself. Of course she wouldn’t want Jen to do it. The Everfree forest is ‘dangerous’. Despite her mom racing away from the safety of the tunnels, she had to grin and roll her eyes. She could fight dragons, but the Everfree was still too dangerous for Pinkie Pie’s little Surprise.
All amusement fled as she saw a trio of small dragons in the distance ahead over the forest. The three circled for a time before diving down in the trees. While she wasn’t one hundred percent sure, she had a good idea that they’d found Aunt Fluttershy’s cottage. Snorting angrily, she called on the same magic as before, strengthening her wings this time rather than her legs. A sudden burst of speed had her soaring over the treetops, reducing them to little more than a green blur beneath herself.
She could hear panicked screams and pained yowling coming from the forest beneath her. Heart hammering in her chest, she folded her wings back into a breakneck dive. The scene before her however, was not at all what she expected.
It was indeed her Aunt’s hut in the forest the dragons had descended upon, only it wasn’t a timid and helpless pegasus they’d cornered. Instead, it seemed to be the bulk of every monstrous creature in this region of the Everfree. Timber wolves, manticores, and giant shriek bats attacked the dragons with tooth, tail, and claw. Vividly shining will-o-wisps darted about the beleaguered reptiles’ snouts, blinding and dazzling them with bright flashes of magic. Jennifer even saw one of the trees with a face swinging its limbs about in a frenzy at the dragons.
The dragons had had enough, and—roaring in protest—took off over the treetops, being pursued by huge, loudly wailing bats. There at the center of the chaos stood a very disheveled Fluttershy. The poor mare was shaking like a leaf, and looked about ready to keel over in a dead faint any second now. With gentleness belying its size, a manticore scooped her up, laying her back inside the hut. Cautiously, Jennifer lowered herself to the ground, very much aware of the many pairs of eyes staring her down. She offered a wavering smile and made her way toward the hut. When none of the beasts made a move to stop her, she slipped inside, shutting the door softly.
There was Pinkie Pie fanning a near catatonic and weakly laughing Fluttershy. To Jennifer’s surprise however, Fancy Pants was in the hut as well, with an exhausted looking Rarity lying on the ground beside him. Jen’s eyes widened when she saw the fashionista’s horn had snapped in half. “M— miss Rarity! What happened!?”
The four other ponies started at her unexpected cry, looking to the mare in the doorway. Even Fluttershy stirred from her fright induced state. Rarity offered her a small smile. “Look at you. Little Jubilant all grown up in the blink of an eye.”
Jen felt a blush forming in her cheeks as she moved to her side. “Your horn it… it broke. I didn’t know a unicorn’s horn could break.”
“Oh it’s… well it’s not fine. It’s actually a very serious wound, but I sincerely doubt I’ll be able to get proper medical attention in Ponyville or Canterlot anytime soon, given that we’re all rebels and traitors to the crown and all.” She paused to take several slightly labored breaths. “Oh, but it’s so good to see you again Jennifer. Though I think I’ll stick with Jubilant, if you don’t mind.”
Jen laughed. “No ma’am, I don’t mind at all. But… wait, how do you remember me?”
Fancy cleared his throat. “When our horns break, it releases all of our stored mana at once. Such a huge magical explosion would be more than enough to push away the Queen’s spell. Likely many of the passengers nearby were likewise freed.”
Glancing at her aunt and seeing her offering her a warm smile, she knew Fluttershy would be alright. Tugging Fancy aside, she shot a furtive glance toward Rarity. “Just how serious is a broken horn?”
“It… is potentially fatal. Unicorns, like anypony else, need to absorb mana to survive. We draw it into ourselves through our horns. A broken horn is incapable of drawing in mana.”
Jennifer’s frown only deepened. “Well Cadence can take care of her when we get back, right?”
The stallion frowned in response. “I’m not sure, Jubilant. Typically, the only way to heal a broken horn is with a very specific compound applied to the pieces. A sort of ‘horn glue’ if you will. I have the broken piece with me, but the glue is kept in the hospitals and such. Ponyville’s was destroyed, and we can’t get into Canterlot’s. I doubt Appleloosa’s clinic is equipped to handle this either.”
‘Heart? Is this something I can heal with Mercy? Will my horn uh… regrow?’
‘Aye, Jennifer. It is, and it will. Though I must warn thee, thy release of magic will likely be rather spectacular.’
‘Well it’s a good thing we’re In the Everfree Forest where nopony will be hurt.
Moving to Rarity’s side, Jen lifted her in her magic. “Aunt Fluttershy, I need you to get all the animals away from here. I’m going to heal Miss Rarity, but it’s gonna break my own horn in the process. Bleeding Heart says my magical release is gonna be big.”
Hearing this, Rarity immediately began to resist. “What? Absolutely not! I’ll not allow you to go through such a traumatic experience on my behalf, Jubilant! You put me down this instant, young lady!”
Glancing timidly at Rarity, Fluttershy moved to Jen’s side. “I um… don’t know a whole lot about unicorn horns, but if the explosion is as big as I’ve heard in stories, we need to go someplace where none of the animals can be hurt. I know just the spot. If um… if it’s alright with you?”
Laughing softly and completely ignoring Rarity’s protests, Jen nodded. “It’s alright with me. Lead the way.” She stepped from the hut, a still protesting Rarity levitating above her, Fancy on one side and Pinkie Pie on the other.
The latter was smiling warmly at Jen. “I’m really proud of you for doing this for Rarity. Though you will be alright, right?”
Nodding, Jen followed her aunt as she led the way into the forest. “Heart says it’ll heal fine, just like any other wound I take using Mercy.” She smiled weakly at her mother though. “Can’t say I’m too excited to be doing this though. It doesn’t sound very fun. But Miss Rarity will die if I don’t. I can’t let that happen.”
Pinkie’s smile faded, and Rarity’s protests stopped at that. No doubt the latter was aware of how serious her wound was, but hearing it actually vocalized was still a sobering experience. Jen glanced to Fancy Pants. “I think you should go back and tell Trixie and Uncle D what’s going on. I know you want to be with Miss Rarity, but those two might start to freak out if they don’t hear anything from us.”
Taking a deep breath, the stallion nodded. “You’re right of course. Rarity dear, I’m afraid I have to leave you in the capable hooves of these lovely mares. I’ll see you very soon however.”
Rarity smiled wearily in return. “Of course, Fancy. I’ll be just fine. You go do what you have to do.”
With one last worried glance for both Jennifer and Rarity, he galloped back the way he’d come originally. Now that Rarity had calmed some, Jen settled her more comfortably over her back. The wounded unicorn kept glancing Fluttershy’s way. “So Fluttershy… you’ve been ah… living out in the Everfree. All by yourself. For five years.”
Giving a little eep at being unexpectedly addressed, the pegasus looked back at her friend. “Oh, well, yes. After Zecora left and I saw what happened to everypony, I thought it might be best if I um... kept to myself. I’d go into town to visit Pinkie, but that’s about it. It really isn’t so bad out here.”
Brow raised incredulously, Rarity looked to Pinkie Pie, who only shrugged in response. “But you’ve been living here for five years. Among all the wild beasts and monsters of the forest. And you forgive me for saying so; seem just as frightened of everything as ever.”
With a self-deprecating smile, Fluttershy shrugged. “Oh, well… the animals here really aren’t so different from the critters I normally care for. Just um… bigger and more fangy.”
Rarity couldn’t help but giggle softly. “It’s good to know that some things will never change.”
Jennifer kept quiet, allowing the pair the chance to reunite. Pinkie was likewise silent, though she more out of worry for her filly than anything else. Even if her little Surprise was a full grown mare, she’d still carried her and raised her for five years.
Both Rarity and Pinkie soon recognized where they were headed. Fluttershy lead the group over a rickety old rope bridge. The foursome could make out the ruins of the Royal Sisters’ old castle. “Oh how very clever of you, Fluttershy. All the ambient magic in the air here keeps the animals away, does it not.”
Smiling proudly, the pegasus nodded. “Mmhm. Nothing comes around here. Well, after us of course. It should be safe for you to heal Rarity here, Jennifer.”
Laughing a bit, the alicorn mare laid Rarity on the ground. “Everypony calling me a different name is going to get confusing. Let’s just stick with Jubilant Surprise, huh?”
The three mares shared a quiet look. “Are you sure, Jenny? That’s kinda a big deal.”
Nodding, she grinned. “I’m sure, mom. I’ve been Jubilant for the last five years; to be honest, it feels a little weird being called Jen by you all now. So! Let’s get that horn fixed, Miss Rarity.”
The mare in question sighed softly. “Alright, Jubilant. You’ve made up your mind. But I warn you, this is going to hurt. And girls, I suggest you keep well clear of her. Try and aim your horn up at the sky. With any luck, your magical release won’t be too destructive…” She trailed off sounding decidedly unsure of the last part.
Taking a deep breath, Jubilant drew Mercy. “Right! Well, no time like the present. Everypony step back.” Her mom and aunt retreated to a safe distance. She focused on her fifth rune as it shimmered gently. A pink glow surrounded Rarity’s horn. As the mare winced uncomfortably, the shattered appendage swiftly regrew, looking as pristine and perfect as always. She smiled in relief only briefly before her eyes went to Jubilant’s face. The young mare’s muzzle was contorted in a grimace of pain as her horn’s top half vanished with a soft ‘pft’ sound. Squealing in fright, Rarity dashed to Pinkie and Fluttershy’s side.
Jubilant Surprise staggered on her hooves, weaving back and forth. “Guh… huhn…. nnnn….” Her eyes snapped open, revealing solid green pools of swirling mana. The glow around her broken horn began to intensify brighter and brighter, until the watching ponies had to look away. With an anguished wail, Jubilant threw her head toward the sky as her accumulated magic was released. A massive pillar of emerald light soared into the sky, punching through the clouds and spiraling higher and higher. The release of mana continued on and on for several moments. With one last cry, it stopped and Jubilant tumbled to the ground, moaning weakly.
Pinkie Pie was the first at her side of course, nosing her fallen daughter’s muzzle in concern. “Surprise? Can you hear me, Surprise!? Are you alright!?”
Ears splayed back as Jubilant cracked an eye open. “I… I can hear you mom… Q—quit screaming in my ear…”
Pinkie laughed and cried at the same time as she hugged Jubilant tightly. “Oh, you silly filly! You had me so worried!”
Rarity laid a hoof on Pinkie’s back, gently easing her away. She lifted Jubilant in her magic, smiling softly. “My turn to carry you I think, Jubilant. We should get you to the Princess. I’m sure she’ll be able to make you comfortable while you heal.” An exhausted Jubilant Surprise could only nod silently.
“Girls… l— look… in the sky.”
Everypony looked to where Fluttershy was pointing. There in the sky shone a star. A green star, blazing brilliantly off in the distance of space. Jubilant laughed weakly. “I dub thee the Star of Jubilance!”
“Ooooh, that’s a good name! Did you just come up with that on the spot!?” Pinkie was bouncing at Rarity’s side.
“I guess so. I wonder if it’s gonna stick around.”
Fluttershy walked on Rarity’s other side, shooting Jubilant constant worried looks, but she did indeed appear to be in better shape than Rarity was. A soft pink glow was surrounding her horn, working to heal it. “We can worry about the new star you placed in Princess Luna’s sky once your horn is healed again. For now, let’s get back to Ponyville. I don’t know about you girls, but I’ve had more than enough excitement for one day. I wonder if there’s a spa in Umbra’s home.”
The three all shared a laugh at Rarity’s antics as they left the old castle behind. “What? What did I say that was funny? I was being serious…”
Unnoticed by any of the departing mares, a few wisps of twinkling green light hung in the air around the site of Jubilant’s release. Ever so slowly, as if blown on the breeze, they drifted through the air into the castle itself. Through the halls and corridors of the ancient castle. Up the stairs and through the arch to the old throne room. There their pace began to quicken as they swirled about the air faster and faster. Small black shards of broken magic and armor shuddered on the dusty old floor, rising up into the swirling whirlwind of verdant magic.
A soft green flash burst through the windows of the castle. If anything living was nearby, they may have heard the soft sinister giggles of the new creature given birth at the sight of Nightmare Moon’s defeat years ago.