Prologue
Equestria
Sweet Apple Acres
In the near future…
“Granny! Granny wake up!”
Apple Bloom opened her eyes and yawned slightly as the young filly, her granddaughter, prodded her gently with a small hoof. The now elderly mare raised her head and smiled down at her granddaughter. The little one was almost her age when Apple Bloom had became a Cutie Mark Crusader, and was in many ways just as impatient to get her mark as Apple Bloom had once been.
“What is it, dear? Shouldn’t ya be asleep? It’s a big day tomorrow. Isn’t your class goin’ on that field trip?”
“Well…yeah.” The filly scuffed her hoof. “Ah was just gonna ask about…ya know…the Valley?”
Apple Bloom smiled to herself. “Ah yes…Dream Valley…Remember it like it was yesterday…when me and Scootaloo and Sweetie Bell found the gate ta the other world…now you youngin’s pass over there all the time to play with Bushwoolies and Stonebacks and all them other critters…was different back then…for both sides…” Apple Bloom trailed off, watching her granddaughter for the tell tale signs of a bored filly. But she was looking at Apple Bloom with wide, expectant eyes.
Apple Bloom settled back into her rocking chair, the some one used by her own Granny Smith all those years ago…
“I guess we got a little time for me ta tell ya the story…”
“Start with the witches! We’re gonna visit em tomorrow as well! Ah wanna hear about em first!”
“Now all that started long before we found the gate…but ah heard enough from ol’ Draggle to tell you what happened…it’s not a nice story though…but yer old enough ah reckon…” Apple Bloom’s granddaughter nodded enthusiastically. She was a big filly now, after all!
“Back before the connection was made, long ago, the world of Dream Valley was a perilous and dangerous place, like the Everfree Forest, if the forest covered the entire land. The Dream Valley ponies had to suffer from the most terrible of foes. Tirek, the Lord of Darkness, Grogar the Terrible, Arabus the Cloud Demon, but one of the most terrible foes they had to face was the Smooze, a being of pure misery summoned to that world by a trio of witches. Hydia, and her daughters, Reeka and Draggle. This story ain’t about the Smooze itself, but what came after. Two great failures would set Hydia on a path that would separate her from her daughters, forever…
Long ago, in the Volcano of Gloom…”
Dream Valley
Volcano of Gloom
The Past…
The Volcano of Gloom was a very appropriate name, for this was Dream Valley, and for the most part it was a very dangerous place. Monsters stalked the land, usually unopposed by all but the brave police force of Crabnasties, or the efforts of noble knights. Swamps, dangerous deserts, treacherous mountains, and sinister forests (where even the trees probably wanted to eat you), surrounded a few bright spots in the Valley. One of these few bright spots was called Ponyland, and it was here that the little ponies dwelled. Unlike Equestria the ponies of Dream Valley never really had an opportunity to separate into tribes. Small tribes of ponies had the tendency to be eaten, corrupted, or have their souls stolen. But despite the chaos that surrounded them, the ponies of this world had managed to surround themselves with friends and allies. The Grundles, the Bushwoolies, the Sea Ponies, and of course the Flutter Ponies. The Flutter Ponies, slender, butterfly winged ponies, ruled the neighboring kingdom of Flutter Valley, which unfortunately also put them within a day’s flutter from the Volcano of Gloom. Together, this small conclave of good aligned beings stood as a bold testament against the darkness, indeed, stood defiant against it. So far not a single foe had beaten the ponies of Dream Valley, or their friends.
And this is probably why Hydia, the matron witch of the Volcano Coven, was in such a state. It was bad enough her ‘coven’ now consisted only of her and her two incompetent daughters; in fact her own mother would had run out of patience long ago with screw ups like Reeka and Draggle! Along with this the ponies had not only taken over the land which was once hers, but had converted it to a lovely, bright, happy place full of smiles and laughter and other such useless rot. She was a witch! An evil witch aligned with the dark powers of this world! Sunlight burned her skin and made her itch. Sugar and pleasant foods made her sick to her stomach. To say nothing of what bright and cheerful songs to did to her ears! It wasn’t just a matter of disliking such frivolities; it was as if all the things the ponies stood for went entirely against her nature. And indeed, that was the truth. It was the same for all the witches of her line. It was even the same for her daughters. The ponies were the opposite of everything a witch was supposed to be, and this was the main reason Hydia wanted to get rid of them.
That and they stole her ancestral land and purified it. That rankled. A lot. And the fact that she couldn’t seem to take it back rankled even more.
After the defeat they had been handed at Flutter Valley, Hydia had put a temporary halt to their plans of domination. Her daughters were too weak. Especially Draggle. Hydia had not forgotten that the numbskull had been tricked into letting the ponies go at one point. Though punishment had to be halted, that didn’t mean Hydia had forgotten, or forgiven. So for the past year she had been training her daughters, after discovering a lack of ability from them that simply would not do. Reeka had, with some ‘encouragement’, was finally shaping up from ‘incompetent’ to ‘passable’. All it took for her was the promise of plenty of worms and bat wings to eat, and the added promise of ice cream and cookies if Reeka failed. With this method Reeka had stuck her nose firmly to the grindstone and was making progress. With her lazy nature curbed towards actual study, Hydia was, for the most part, satisfied with that daughter’s progress.
Draggle, on the hand, was an entirely different matter altogether.
“What in Tirek’s name is WRONG WITH YOU! Can’t you READ!”
“I can read!” Draggle gave her mother a sullen look that she had started to develop over the past few months. Hydia didn’t understand it. SHE had never given her own mother that pissy, bratty glare, but then Hydia had a brain when she was Draggle’s age! Although aside from the red hair they both shared it was a bit hard to tell that Draggle was related to Hydia. For one thing Draggle was the tallest of the group, even towering over her mother. She was also skinny as a beanpole, and the fact that she was a teenager added some general clumsiness to this package. Not that she had been a model of grace beforehand, but now it was worse. And even more irritating to her mother.
“Read it again! This time turn that rat inside out or I’ll pull out the cookie jar!”
Draggle grumbled and glared at the trembling rat. She frowned. She kinda liked this rat. Why did she have to hurt it? Poor little thing was giving her such a terrified look. She grumbled again and listlessly recited the spell, trying to ignore the rat’s panicked squeaking. She blinked and gasped a bit as the rat suddenly swelled to the size of a small poodle and grew bat wings. She blinked again as the rat suddenly ran, overturning a few discarded bits of trash as it went. Reeka, who had been munching a bowl of roaches, her studies done for the day, laughed and pointed as the rat leaped on Draggle’s head and launched into the air, flapping its new bat wings to safety. It ended up flying right out the door and into open air, where it confused rats and bats for the rest of its rather eventful existence. But that’s a different story.
“You IDIOT!” Hydia grabbed up one of her large potion spoons and bonked Draggle on the head. “I told you to turn it inside out!”
Draggle grumbled again and batted the spoon away with her arm. “Oh who cares, it’s a dumb spell anyway! Besides, I liked that rat.” She folded her arms and glared at Hydia. “I didn’t want to hurt it!” Draggle didn’t know why she felt way. She felt strangely hot whenever this happened, whenever she argued with her mother. It was odd, a year ago she had been so eager to please Hydia, would have done anything to gain her mother’s approval. But nothing she did worked. What was the point? Even if she had managed to hurt that rat it probably wouldn’t have been enough for Hydia anyway! Nothing was. Stupid old coot…
Reeka laughed again, stuffing her face with more squirming bugs. Reeka was about half the size of Draggle, but about double the width. She seemed to favor Hydia in appearance in all but her hair, which was black. “You still can’t even turn someone other then yourself purple! You couldn’t have done it anyway!” Reeka continued to tease.
“I could if I wanted to!” Draggle snarled at her sister. “I just didn’t want to!”
“Yeah right, and pigs fly!” Reeka laughed again. That laugh was really starting to piss Draggle off.
“You’d know about pigs, wouldn’t you.” Draggle retorted.
“At least I can tell the difference between a landslide and a landpie!”
Draggle leaped at her sister and the fight was on. The two of them seemed to erupt in a whirling mass of kicked up dust and dirt. It was easy enough to kick up dust in the Volcano. The place was never clean, always dirty, dark and with the hint of horrid smells. Just the way witches liked it. With that in mind it was no surprise that Reeka and Draggle kicked up dirt every time they fought. They fought a lot beforehand, but now it was becoming more and more frequent the more and more Draggle’s temper developed.
Hydia was sick of it.
“Enough!” She didn’t usually use magic to punish them, at least not lethal magic, but all this damn noise and struggle was getting to her. A quick fireball spell separated the two witches. Hydia, so mad at both of them, snapped.
“You!” She pointed at Reeka. “Sit down and shut up! YOU!” She turned the finger on Draggle. Out!”
Draggle blinked. “O-out?” The angry feelings she had towards her mother drained away to be replaced by panic. Was she being kicked out of the Volcano? It was the only place she had ever known!
“Just…get out. Go do something evil. Maybe practical lessons will work where study has failed. Just get out of our hair and stop messing up in here!”
“Bu-“
“OUT!” Hydia crossed the distance between them booted Draggle out of the Volcano’s door before her daughter could utter one more word of defiance. “And stay out until you’ve done something evil!” Hydia bellowed at the wood. She wasn’t even sure if Draggle was still at the door at all. More then likely Hydia had probably managed to boot Draggle right down the stairs again. It happened often enough.
Hydia turned to see Reeka making her way to the door. Hydia glared at her other daughter. “Where do you think you are going?”
Reeka paused. “Well…I always go with her, right?”
“Not today. Let her figure out how to stand on her own feet. High time she did. You, at least, have some use.” Hydia growled and stomped to her room. “You stay until I tell you you can leave!” She bellowed as she climbed the Volcano’s interior stairs to her lair, leaving a confused Reeka alone.
For a moment Reeka stared at the door, the urge to follow her sister was strong. Even though Reeka knew her sister was, well, stupid, she had always gone with her. Hell, Reeka was almost sure that Draggle would probably not last ten minutes on her own but…
But then again Draggle was supposed to be a witch, and she wasn’t supposed to need anyone, not even her own sister. Or her mother.
So after a few minutes Reeka shrugged and went back to eating. She was sure Draggle wouldn’t get into serious trouble. She was a bit to dumb after all.
Draggle had indeed ended up rolling down the outside Volcano stairs to the ground below. After grumbling and shaking a fist in the general direction of the door, although if this fist was aimed at her mother or her sibling was hard to tell, Draggle eventually dragged herself and marched into the forest. She aimed herself away from Flutter Valley, not willing to march into the bright land of flutterings. That would just make the day.
As she walked Draggle seethed. How in the world did Mama expect her to learn magic if she never stopped to explain! She never told Draggle what she really wanted. Just ‘turn this rat inside out’ or ‘turn the ponies purple’ or ‘make Ponyland dank dark and dreary’ never ‘I want you to cast a spell, this is how you cast it.’ It was like Hydia expected her to just pull the magic and the right words out of the air on total instinct! How was Draggle supposed to do that!
Hydia just didn’t understand how hard it was for Draggle. How difficult it was to direct magic, and remember the words at the same time. It was as if Draggle couldn’t do both actions, drawing the necessary magic and then directing it through spells. Reeka could do it no problem. Reeka’s only flaw was her laziness. But then she could pick up a spellbook and cast with little to no issue. If Draggle tried that it usually ended in failure.
After of a few hours of stomping and being generally annoyed, Draggle found herself next to a river. She eyed it suspiciously. You never know when a stinking Sea Pony would rear its warped head and shoo-be-doo at you. If there was a pony race out there more irritating then Flutter Ponies, it was a Sea Pony.
Ponies. Blah. She could attack them, but what would be the point? They’d just kick her back to the volcano, and then Mama would yell at her, and Reeka would laugh and the ponies would go back to their little estate and laugh at her as well. Stupid ponies. Stupid magic. Stupid everything.
Draggle kicked a loose rock into the water and watched it sink. No Sea Pony appeared. She sighed. She was just so bad at this…but what else could she do? She just wasn’t cut out to be a witch…but then again, it was what she was born as…what else could she be if not a witch? Just a failed one? That…was depressing.
Draggle sighed at the river again, and for a moment wondered what it would be like if she didn’t go back home at all. She wouldn’t have Mama and Reeka badgering her anymore. Probably would be more quiet. Maybe if things were quiet she could learn magic at her own pace? Then she could come back and show them…but where would she go…
Her thoughts were interrupted by the familiar sound of clattering hooves. Great. Looked like she was going to run into a pony anyway.
One of the little earth ponies erupted from the bushes in front of her, and even though Draggle was half expecting it from the sounds of galloping hooves, the pony still startled her a bit. She was so startled that she didn’t notice that the pony had leaped into her arms, sending her crashing to the ground and almost into the stream.
She stared at the pony. The pony stared back. A few things became apparent. One, this pony was a foal, a blueish green one, with a pink mane and a little baby rattle symbol on its flank. Two, it was clearly terrified, but Draggle didn’t think at her. Three, it was trying to talk, but was so scared that only small squeaks could emerge from her tiny muzzle.
Well…Draggle could…do something terrible to it…wait, her, it was clearly a filly…her right now. Or she could take it to Mama and she could do terrible things to it…but…why was it, she, hugging Draggle’s neck and whimpering? Awww…it was doing…something to her. Draggle wasn’t sure what. She felt odd…what kind of odd pony magic was this? Somewhere around the chest area…a warm feeling.
And then the boar stepped out of the bushes.
Most of the time the inhabitants of Dream Valley were a bit more…magical then your average boar. Granted this boar towered over Draggle, which was hard to do seeing as how Draggle was a fairly tall witch, and it also had very sharp tusks. And fangs. And big hooves. It had very wonderful rotten meat breath though.
The boar snorted. The pony screamed and clung to Draggle like a small lump of blueish moss. The boar bellowed in pure utter hate and charged them.
All thoughts escaped Draggle as the boar…well bore down on her and the little pony. Acting mostly on instinct she jumped to her feet and, still holding the baby pony, leapt over the river and started to run. The river slowed the boar down by about three seconds, just enough for Draggle to duck out of the way of its tusks. Draggle, who really had no idea where she was, or the wherewithal to figure it out, just charged into the trees. Her body, still responding to some odd instinct she didn’t know she had before, sort of hunched down to protect the filly, even though by all rights she probably should have thrown the creature at the boar. Would have given her some time. But she didn’t think about that. Or at least, that is what she would say later.
So she ran, the boar’s delightful rotten meat breath steaming over her as she dodged its tusks and fangs. The pony was wailing, and kept clinging to her as if it thought Draggle was its mother or something.
The trees thinned considerably, and the boar began to gain ground. Draggle sped up and sound found herself racing out of the trees into open ground. A cliff wall was right in front of her, towering over, offering a bit of protection. Draggle dashed towards the cliff wall and flung the pony upwards. The filly latched onto the cliff edge with her front hooves. Still wailing the pony’s back legs kicked feebly at the dirt of the cliff face.
“Oh for Tirak’s sake!” Draggle growled as she scrambled up the cliff wall herself. “Get up there you idiot!” She lifted her arm and attempted to push the pony upwards. Suddenly she felt something impact her back. The boar’s tusks ripped into her clothes and caught. The huge beast flicked his head and tossed Draggle aside. That done it put its two huge hooves on the cliff face and leaned upwards to grab the pony by the tail, or perhaps a hind hoof if he could get it. It slathered hungrily, squealing in anticipation of its next meal.
Draggle, who was only slightly scratched, sat from where she had been thrown and watched. Her mother, or Reeka, at this point, would probably had simply sat down and watched the show, perhaps with some bat wings to serve as a treat. Clearly the boar had little to no interest in witch legs for dinner. It wanted fat, chubby pony, and it was determined to get it.
Perhaps it was because she was frustrated, angry and just wanted to ruin someone’s day. Perhaps the odd feeling the pony had cursed her with had infected her brain. Perhaps a long dormant good gene unknown previously in Draggle’s make up simply activated that day. Whatever the reason, Draggle felt a strange, angry emotion erupt from her, but there was something else there as well. Something similar to her desire to not hurt the rat. It was stronger though, and Draggle could not help but follow it.
She had memorized three spells. One that turned you purple. Useless. Besides, half the time she just turned herself purple anyway. Less then useless. The second involved making water flow harder. No water, still useless. And the third, the infamous Landpie spell.
Okay, Landpie it was then.
Canting the incorrect spell for a Landslide, as she had never gotten the difference, Draggle gathered up the energy for the magic, using the confused words as the trigger. She aimed the power at the boar’s hind feet. The earth suddenly started to shift around, and the boar squealed in surprise as he dropped suddenly into the mud. The mud bounced around, attempting to get into his face. Some of it spring at Draggle and coated her with the mess, but she hardly cared. It was working! It was…
Only mud.
Roaring and squealing the boar heaved itself out of the mud and charged for the witch, letting the mud splatter against his face as he drove his snout at Draggle’s stomach, tossing her to the ground again. But this time it didn’t leave. This was too much.
The boar leapt at Draggle, who tried to skitter away on her back, but she was to slow. Her concentration broke, and the mud just kind of sloshed to the ground, useless. The next thing that Draggle felt was a resounding snap and shearing, horrible pain as the boar brought his hoof down on her left thigh, hard. She shrieked and tried to scramble away, dragging her leg, but the boar, with sadistic, patient deliberation, placed his hoof on her right knee. Pinning her to the ground. He leaned down and stared at her.
A small, childish part of Draggle really wanted to start begging. A stronger part of her made her lean forwards and sock the boar in the eye.
The boar reared back, and his leg suddenly descended. Draggle screamed in pain again as the boar’s hoof broke her knee. She cursed at the thing, and the angry boar roared at her. Deliberately he moved his hoof back and forth, crushing her knee ever further. She had never felt agony like this before. Not even her mother was so sadistic as to inflict this sort of thing on other!...or…well at least not to her kin anyway. She flailed at the thing with her fists, but the boar simply caught her left arm in its teeth and gave her a harsh bite, snapping her arm in two places. She hollered and attempted to struggle with her remaining limb, but the pain was by now overwhelming. She felt her struggles becoming more and more feeble as she started to slip into unconsciousness. She knew if she blacked out she would die…
But then again, she could also see it in the boar’s hateful eyes. She was going to die anyway. She was going to die for a pony. How…shamed her mother would be.
“…sorry Mama…” She mumbled as the boar brought his hoof against her chest and broke her ribs. It just…sort of melded with the rest of the pain. And even that was fading. She was numb. Utterly numb. It didn’t hurt as much. She could hear herself whimpering, and a detached part of her brain wondered why she had to sound so pathetic as she died…
She turned her head to look away from the boar. Oh look…the little pony was up the cliff. She was safe. Two winged figures stood on the cliff next to the pony. Other ponies. Pegasi. How…nice.
Draggle closed her eyes as the boar placed a hoof on her skull and prepared for one last stomp. She could hear shouting somewhere, but she wasn’t sure where…
A gust of wind suddenly ruffled Draggle’s hair, and the pressure was gone. She looked up. The boar was on its hind legs as huge gusts of wind brought bubbles to its eyes. Draggle felt something bite her shirt, and all of a sudden she was being dragged off. She wheezed from the movement, but the mouth wouldn’t let her go until they were well away from the boar. She gasped as her rescuer released her.
“I do apologize, Draggle, but I could not let you remain so close to the battle zone.” A soft, gentle voice came from above her. Draggle moved her head just enough to see the speaker. A pony, an adult. A Pegasus. The blue one, with the pink mane, and the whistles. What was her name? Something Whistle?
She blinked, and probably would have said something very rude to the pony…but she was so tired…her eyes slide closed, and she let the darkness take her. There was no pain there.
No pain at all.
Wind Whistler frowned slightly as the young filly witch, Draggle yes that was defiantly her name, slid into unconsciousness. She leaned down and listened to the filly witch breath. Steady. That was good. It didn’t sound like that last blow from the boar had punctured her lungs. Wind Whistler had known that was a distinct possibly if she had been moved, but the boar would have crushed her if Gusty and Fizzy were not careful, and from the way Gusty was shouting Wind Whistler knew that the unicorn would not listen to her advice. Not when she was in such a state.
Wind Whistler lifted her head to check their progress. Her compatriots were doing well. Gusty’s wind and Fizzy’s bubbles were blinding the boar, allowing North Star and Surprise time to dive bomb and pummel the boar’s head and shoulders with their hooves. Galaxy was in front of the boar, blasting it with heat from her horn, her normally calm face contorted in fury. But where was…there they were! Truly had found Baby Cuddles safely on the cliff, and was herding the little filly towards Wind Whistler and safety. Wind Whistler nodded as the two came up.
“Come on, Wind Whistler. Leave that…horrid thing and let’s go!” Truly gave Draggle a contemptuous look.
Wind Whistler opened her mouth to chastise Truly, after all the witch did save Baby Cuddles, but the little filly did her job for her. The little one threw herself next to witch and wailed.
“But she saved me! We can’t just leave her!”
“Nonsense, that’s a witch Baby Cuddles! Just leave it! Its kin will come for it!”
“And if her mother and sister don’t discover her whereabouts in time?” Wind Whistler asked calmly.
Truly huffed. “In time for what?”
“She is badly injured.” Wind Whistler pointed with her hoof. “She has sustained excessive damage to her knee and femur, as well as a crushed ribcage, and lacerations from that boar’s hooves. She will not survive an hour on her own out here without medical attention.”
“So?”
Baby Cuddles wailed again. “You aren’t gonna let her die! She saved me! Don’t let her die, Truly, please!” The filly clung to Truly’s legs and gave her the most wide eyed look a filly can give.
“Baby Cuddles is correct. We owe this witch. It would be against our very way of life to abandon her to the elements.”
“Hey! Shouldn’t you be moving! Oh never mind, we kicked that boar’s flank! It’s never coming back!” Gusty ran up to them, following by Fizzy and Galaxy. North Star and Surprise landed next to them. “Hey, is that Draggle?”
Wind Whistler nodded. “We should take her back with us.”
Gusty looked at her, then laughed. “HA! Good one! You’re getting better at the whole kidding thing!”
“I am not making a joke, Gusty. We should take her with us and give her the medical attention she needs to survive.” Wind Whistler gazed into each of her friend’s eyes. “She aided one of our young ones. We cannot simply leave her. It is wrong.”
Galaxy looked at Draggle, then at Wind Whistler, then at Cuddles. “…Baby Cuddles, did this witch really save you?”
Baby Cuddles did not need much encouragement. Sensing an ally in this debate she gave a rather rushed, though somewhat accurate, interpretation of the events, skipping over the part where the boar found her in the first place. Wind Whistler knew the young filly had been out of bounds, but right now the subject of discipline would have to be put to the side in favor of the issue of a life debt. A far more important prospect, seeing as how the life debt in question would remain unfulfilled if they could not convince the others of the rightness of the action.
Once Baby Cuddles was done, Galaxy nodded. “She’s right. We can’t leave Draggle here after she saved Baby Cuddles. We should help her. It’s our duty as Ponylanders.”
Surprise grinned and reared, flapping her wings. “Oh boy! A houseguest!”
“Now wait a minute! Are you guys forgetting the Smooze? And the Sunstone! And the bees?” Gusty argued.
“And the fact that you three tricked her once, making her believe you were a friend, whereupon you betrayed her?” Wind Whistler asked lightly as she looked from Gusty to Fizzy to Surprise.
“HEY!” Gusty stamped and turned to Wind Whistler. “First off, miss smart mouth, we only had until sundown to save Flutter Valley, and you know it! She was not going to betray her MOTHER for us, at least not in time to save the Valley! And for that matter you weren’t in that net! You weren’t in that situation. Don’t tell me you, Miss Logic, wouldn’t have done the exact same thing!”
“Exactly. I would have.” Wind Whistler said. “But I would also acknowledge that, greater priorities aside, the action itself was still cruel. Can you deny that?”
Gusty took a deep breath then sighed. “Alright…so it was underhanded. But really Wind Whistler? Why do we have to take her in?”
“I shall break it down for you all.” Wind Whistler said. “First, there is actually very low risk in this action at this time. Let me explain, you two.” Wind Whistler stopped Gusty and Truly from talking as soon as they opened their mouths. “She cannot fake these injuries. Even if she wanted to cause us harm during her stay, she could not perform any physical destruction to either us or the Estate. She is simply to injured to even walk, much less fight. Second, we all know, from your own testimonies, Gusty, Surprise and Fizzy, that she is a poor witch at best. Between the talents of our own unicorns, and Magic Star’s academic knowledge on the subject, we can keep her own magic abilities curbed until she is well enough to be released. Third, while we do not have much experience with witch magic, we know someone who does. Catrina and her friend Rep are still around, and while I know that she has experienced a sharp decrease in her power, she is likely still knowledgeable enough to know when, and if, Draggle would plan anything to harm us, as well as giving us insight into helping her. Fourth…” She paused. “Are we not supposed to be better then Hydia and her ilk? If she found one of use injured she would not come to our aid. She would probably kill that pony herself. Are we so much like her that we would do the same? Because you all know that leaving this child, yes Truly I said child, out here will be her death, correct?”
Gusty had the grace to look a bit ashamed at this last bit, though Truly still was looking at Draggle like she was a rather irritating cockroach that had crawled on her hoof. Gusty sighed. “I don’t want her wandering around the Estate.”
“I am not suggesting we give her free range and the keys to our bedrooms. I actually think we should place her in the basement.”
“Wait…the basement?” Fizzy looked appalled. “What about the guest room?”
“Because the basement has stairs, and she would not be able to climb them.” Wind Whistler said. “Plus, if you remember your own statements, these witches like dark and dreary places. Our basement, while not particularly dank or dreary, is indeed dark. She is likely more comfortable in a dark place.”
“Makes sense. I have no problem with this. And I don’t think any reasonable pony would.” Galaxy looked at Truly, who huffed and turned her head aside.
“That thing does not go near the nursery.” Truly huffed.
“Very well.” Wind Whistler agreed.
“And I ain’t taking care of it. You’re in charge of it! This isn’t some innocent puppy dog after all! You just keep that nasty thing away from me and the foals!”
“I’ll help you Wind Whistler!” Fizzy slid next to them.
“Me too! Me too!” Surprise grinned happily.
“I am sure most of us will.” Galaxy nodded.
“Yeah, I guess I will. But only to make sure she doesn’t sell us out to Hydia!” Gusty snorted, stamping again. “And how are we getting her to the Estate? I am not carrying her!”
“Fizzy.” Wind Whistler nodded at her slightly scatterbrained friend. “Can you create a sufficient amount of buoyancy to bear her to the Estate?”
“Can I do the what now?” Fizzy blinked her crystal eyes at Wind Whistler.
Gusty sighed. “She means can you make a bubble and float the witch?”
“Oh!” Fizzy thought for a moment. “I think so!”
“Good, let us be off then.” Wind Whistler stood as Fizzy created a nice cushion of bubbles for Draggle, and soon they were on their way.
North Star launched into the air, hovering over them. “I’ll go find Catrina and Rep, meet you back at the Estate.” With a small frown at Draggle North Star caught a breeze and soared into the air, turning to head for the last known location of the feline witch and her shape shifter friend.
Wind Whistler frowned slightly to herself, though she had won the argument, she still felt something…ominous. She shook herself. She needed to keep those thoughts away. They would only distract from what needed to be done. Wind Whistler depended on logic, and she knew that logic would see her through.
To bad the feeling would not go away.
To say that the residents of Paradise Estate were startled to find a witch among them was a slight understatement. Shady, Posey and Sweet Stuff ran off to the other end of the Estate, unwilling to go near Draggle. Magic Star had rushed out to examine her, mostly out of scientific curiosity. Wind Whistler didn’t object, since Magic Star didn’t get in the way. In fact, after a quick exchange of words, Magic Star managed to lure the retreating bushwoolies, who had tried to follow the trio of ponies huddling in the bushes at the far side of the Estate, to help her set up a small clinic in the basement. Spike, who sort of felt guilty for his part in tricking Draggle a year ago, took charge of taking apart a bed and carrying it down the basement, urging bushwoolies to aid him as he went. Meanwhile, Magic Star had run to her personal library and began to pull out books on bipedal medication and biology.
Cupcake had taken one look at the injured witch and rushed into the kitchen. She quickly busied herself with pots and pans, muttering ‘What do witches have for treats anyway…’ For lack of anything better to make she set about making a small pie to cheer their guest up for when she woke up.
“Hey Wind Whistler, the beds ready! You can bring her down now!” Spike’s pale pink poked out of the door and he waved the ponies over. Wind Whistler nodded her thanks and urged Fizzy to, carefully, nudge the bubbles down into the Estate, and towards the basement.
“Your control has improved greatly in the past few seasons, Fizzy. You should feel pride in this accomplishment.” Wind Whistler said. She was fairly impressed, mostly because Fizzy had not managed to lift the poor witch into the stratosphere at all.
“Huh?” Fizzy’s bizarre crystal eyes stared at Wind Whistler, and she almost lifted Draggle to the ceiling.
“I said you’re doing great.” Wind Whistler sighed. You would think that her efforts to expand pony vocabulary would pay off…
Wind Whistler winched slightly when Fizzy accidentally dumped Draggle into the bed, making the filly gasp, though she didn’t wake up. Wind Whistler walked to the edge of the bed and sniffed Draggle, mentally marking off the locations that she felt needed the most aid.
“Can one of you fetch Buttons, please? We need her telekinetic abilities.” Wind Whistler said. “Or Mimic if she is unavailable. And some bandages, and sticks.”
“I’ll go.” Galaxy trotted up the stairs, calling for Buttons or Mimic. Eventually the two unicorns appeared at the top of the stairs. Buttons had a pinched, uncertain look on her muzzle, but she was telekinetically floating a bundle of bandages in her horn’s magical grasp. She and Mimic trotted down the stairs.
“Okay…you know I’ve only done this for ponies before, right?” Buttons said. “Can’t remember the last time Megan or her siblings got injured this bad…not sure they ever did, so…not sure how all her bits should fit…”
“I can help with that. Here. Anatomy of your basic human. And she’s a human witch, right?” Magic Star trotted into the basement as well, carrying an anatomy book on her back.
“I am…fairly certain…she is not an elf or a gnome in any case.” Wind Whistler said.
“Alright, we shall go carefully then.” Mimic nodded and began to lift Draggle’s leg with her own powers. “I can feel it a bit with my own magic…I think I can fit her leg back in place…oh dear that knee looks awful…”
“Surprise, Fizzy, Gusty, please, let’s give them some space.” Wind Whistler was not sure where Truly had gone, and a part of her didn’t want to. Truly was a friend, but she was also clearly in a mood of some kind. Besides, she was probably taking care of Baby Cuddles.
The four ponies climbed out of the basement, Spike following them, though he cast a few worried glances at the still working unicorns. He was the last to exit.
“What exactly happed out there?” He asked, and a few other stray ponies and bushwoolies gathered around to hear the story. Wind Whistler recounted the tale as best she could, all the while gauging the other ponies for their reactions. To her relief most seemed inclined towards sympathy.
“Poor thing.” Paradise shook her mane. “Never thought she’d be the one to do that, but I’m glad she did. Most of the stories say witches are not inclined to help others, even neutral ones.”
“…her mother isn’t going to show up, is she? I mean, we do have her child here…” Heart Throb looked out the window nervously.
Wind Whistler nodded. “Surprise, Masquerade, can you two keep watch over the estate? Without making it to obvious.”
“Hahaha! Of course I can surprise that old crone if she comes up! I’ll let you know if I see her!” Surprise galloped out of the estate and into the air. Masquerade sneered and followed.
“Witches are nothing but trouble, but I’ll keep an eye out. They’ll never see me coming.” With a more subdued leap Masquerade followed Surprise into the clouds.
“Whizzer, are you here?” Wind Whistler asked. The speedy Pegasus darted over.
“YeahI’mherenoproblemwhatdoyouneed?”
“Do you know where Firefly, Medley and Lofty are roaming?” Wind Whistler asked.
“NotexactlybutIcanfindem.”
“Find them, we may need backup before long.”
“AlrightshouldItellthebigbrothersifIfindem? Theyshouldbeclosebyit’sthattimeofyear.”
“Yes.”
Whizzer zipped off like a pink dart. Wind Whistler turned to the last Pegasus on her list. “Heart Throb, is the rainbow path available?”
“Yes, it just showed up again.”
“Then lets go find Megan and the others. They might be able to help with a creature who’s similar to them.” She looked at Magic Star and Spike. “Do you two mind supervising here until Heart Throb and I come back?”
“Not at all.” Magic Star nodded.
“Then let us be off, Heart Throb.” Wind Whistler started to head to the door, but stopped. “Ribbon, can you send a telepathic message to Queen Rosedust?”
“Of course.”
“Tell her and the Flutter Ponies to keep an eye on the Volcano of Gloom.”
“No problem, Wind Whistler.”
Wind Whistler nodded to Hearth Throb and the two of them leapt into the air. Quickly locating the rainbow path, a unique rainbow pattern that was not in fact a rainbow at all. It was a magical bridge that would cross from their location to the other side of the world, where a colony of humans dwelled. Megan and her siblings, mere farm folk who Firefly had literally pulled to the other side of the world, had become heroes in Ponyland. Wind Whistler knew that Megan was just a child, and while she did have a good heart, that didn’t make her a leader. Oh she would be a great leader when she matured, but right now she was just learning. Wind Whistler felt a bit protective of the girl, and while she didn’t make it obvious she was guiding the little human filly to make the best of herself, she did help Megan often. She already had a gift for making friends in the oddest places.
Wind Whistler found herself thinking. If they didn’t have to worry about the witches, if they could make them allies…
Between her intellect and Megan’s natural charisma, Wind Whistler knew if Hydia arrived the witch would find herself presented with an offer that the pony thought she would not refuse. And if this worked, they would have three new allies.
Three new friends.
Wasn’t that what they were all about?
North Star landed in front of Paradise Estate, panting a bit. Catrina was heavy. The cat woman slid off North Star with an apologetic look.
“Maybe next time I should wait for Rep to come back and use him…”
“This is an emergency though.” North Star panted.
“True…still odd. A Gloom witch…never thought I would have to see them again. Nasty bunch.”
“You have met them?”
“Well, Hydia and her mother. They helped me discover the Witchweed potion…”
“Ah.” North Star’s wings fluttered, then returned to the ready position. “I bet they were not happy when you stopped.”
“Far as I know they didn’t care. But lets see…is that pie I smell?” Catrina entered the estate and strayed into the kitchen to find Cupcake finishing off her pie baking. The white Earth Pony looked up and smiled at Catrina.
“Oh hi, you think she’ll like the pie?” Cupcake asked.
Catrina studied the pie. Cherry. “Don’t…take this the wrong way, but that will probably make her sicker.”
“What?” Cupcake blinked in shock.
“The Gloom clan is a very…specialized group. Long ago their ancestors soaked themselves in so much dark Nightmare energy that their very beings are the opposite of good or even neutral creatures. They can’t tolerate sweets. Or sunlight. It goes against their nature. They aren’t evil and mean to be contrary. It’s part of their nature.”
“Oh.” Cupcake hung her head. “I can just give this to the baby ponies then…but what can I make her that she’ll like?”
“Try something disgusting to you. Worms, bugs, slime. Things like that. In the meantime, I need to use your stove.” Catrina walked over to a counter and started to line up bottles of herbs. “Can you boil me some water?”
“Sure!” Cupcake, eager to help, fetched some water and set it on the stove to boil in a large pan. “What are you making?”
“Potion. Before the Witchweed gave me my powers I would mostly work with potions.” Catrina started to dumb various ground up and sliced herbs into the steaming water. “I may not be able to summon snowstorms anymore, but I can make something that will numb her, and speed up the healing. I doubt we want her lingering here. Especially if her mother decides you ponies kidnapped her and are holding her prisoner.”
“Alright, I’ll go see if I can dig up some worms in Posey’s garden. Maybe a beetle or two.” Cupcake grabbed up a container. “Anything else we can give her?”
“Hmmm…as food goes….try vegetable soup. Vegetables are just healthy enough to be good for her, but not sweet enough to turn her stomach.”
Cupcake nodded and speed off to find the ingredients for a good vegetable broth, and some squirmy slimy things for a treat. She shuddered a bit at the thought of eating worms but…well she didn’t have to eat them! She almost collided with Gingerbread, her fellow Earth Pony chef. She stopped.
“Gingerbread, you think you can start making some vegetable soup for our guest?” Cupcake asked.
“Weren’t you making a pie, Cupcake?” Gingerbread asked.
“Catrina said that Gloom witches can’t tolerate sweet things.”
Gingerbread nodded. “Alright.” She trotted into the kitchen.
“Make sure you don’t mix it up with Catrina’s potions!”
“I won’t I won’t.” Gingerbread muttered in an annoyed tone.
Cupcake shook her mane a bit. Things were going to be tense around here. She could feel it. There was only one solution. Once Draggle was taken care of, cakes and milk for everyone! That would calm the other ponies, at least a bit. At the very least it would lure Sweet Stuff, Posey and Shady out of the bushes again.
Once outside Cupcake dug at the ground, attempting to find some worms. After a while she was approached by Cherries Jubilee, the orchard keeper.
“What…are you doing?” She asked, bemused.
“You know Wind Whistler brought home Draggle, the witch right?”
“Just about the entire Estate’s heard.” Cherries Jubilee snorted.
“Apparently her kind of witch can’t stand sweets, and Catrina said worms and gross things are better for her. I’m just digging a few up. You know, so she can feel more comfortable.”
Cherries Jubilee sighed. “Wait here.” She trotted off. A few moments later she appeared with a basket. “Here you are. Some of the rotten fruits we separated from the good ones. I think some of the apples are wormy. Will this do?”
“I’ll ask Catrina, thanks Cherries Jubilee!” Cupcake grabbed up the basket and trotted back to the Estate.
“Any time…least someone will have use for them.” The orchard mistress shrugged to herself.
Draggle groaned and slowly opened her eyes. She stared at the ceiling. It was…wood. Where was the rock ceiling of her room in the Volcano? And why did she feel like Ahgg had sat on her?
“Ah, you have awoken. Do not be alarmed. If you cause no trouble, you will be treated fairly here.”
Draggle jolted up. Or tried to at least. She gasped as her legs and left arm screamed at her. She couldn’t move them! “What did you wretched horses do to me!”
Wind Whistler snorted a bit in surprise. “The boar crushed several of your extremities, as well as your ribcage. You would not be alive now if it were not for us.”
“Why can’t I move!”
“…are you unfamiliar with the concept of a cast, Draggle?”
“A what?” Draggle looked down and found that someone, most likely a pony, had firmly encased her legs and left arm in bandages of some variety. “What is all this?”
Wind Whistler huffed. Did the girl’s mother teach her nothing? “They are casts, Draggle.” She said patiently. “They are meant to keep your bones straight and in line until they heal. They will keep you from becoming more crippled then you already are.”
“…wait, what do you mean?”
“The boar applied an excessive amount of force to your knee. He, in fact, almost completely crushed it. Mimic and Buttons did what they could, but I am afraid you will not emerge from this ordeal unscathed. It is very likely you will lame from now on.”
“…Mama already thinks I’m lame…”
“…not that kind of lame.” Wind Whistler said.
“…I won’t walk again?”
“Fortunately, Mimic’s magic was able to restore you, mostly. I apologize if I seem vague. We are uncertain how well it heal at this time. Hopefully, with luck, you will be able to walk. We hope that the worst that will happen will be a slight limp, and perhaps lingering pain if you use it to excess.”
“Let me go. I want to go home.” Draggle struggled to make her voice forceful, witchlike, and not whiny. Whining at the enemy was not a wise choice.
“I am afraid that is impossible at this time.” Wind Whistler said. “None of use are going to go to the Volcano to fetch your matron, and unless she comes here on her own you are stuck here.”
“So I’m a prisoner?”
“I would prefer you consider yourself a guest. We will make as many accommodations for you as possible, so long as these accommodations do not cause harm to any of the residents of the Estate.”
Draggle attempted to move again, but her limbs simply would not respond. She sneered and glowered at the pony, attempting to show no weakness. Though truth be told she knew inside that she probably looked pathetic, like a small helpless kitten instead of a witch. She felt pretty helpless as well. Finally, she gave up trying to sit up and act tough. She sighed, laying back and staring at the ceiling. It was no use. The pony was right. As long as they didn’t ask her to betray Mama, she could just…lay here.
“Go away, pony.”
“I shan’t.”
“What? You said you’d do what I want if I didn’t hurt you little fiends.” Draggle growled. “You ponies always lie!”
“I said we would make accommodations, but that does not include my leaving you alone.”
“So you get to be my jailer.”
“No, Draggle. I wish to be your friend.”
“…my…what?” Draggle let out a completely and utterly witchlike cackle, which jiggled her ribs, making her cackle end in a gasp. “Witches are loners! We have no friends!”
“Which is why you live with two other beings.” Wind Whistler said with a hint of amusement.
“That’s different, they’re family.”
“Not all witches are loners. I know one that has a very dear friend.”
“Not the Gloom Clan!”
“Is that why the Gloom Clan has lost all the surrounding areas to ponies?” Wind Whistler asked.
“That’s because you’re thieves! You took over my grandfather’s realm and purified it! You made it sunny and bright and unlivable!”
“At the time the first pony colonists came to this land we were unaware of the existence of your clan, seeing as how you hole up in that Volcano, never coming out unless driven so. Had your grandfather approached Queen Majesty from the start we would not have implanted ourselves so firmly here. We were also unaware that your kind are the polar opposite of ours. We may be different from you, but we mean no being, no matter how twisted their tastes from ours, harm. We made a mistake, but your kin had part in the misunderstanding as well. Do not shift blame on us.” Wind Whistler gave Draggle a firm look.
Draggle really had nothing to say to that retort.
“Now, as I said. I want to be your friend.” Wind Whistler said.
“How can you? I don’t understand half of what you say. And you’re a pony!”
“Let us start by getting to know one another. Let’s play a game.”
“Do I look like I can just leap up and start kicking balls around?” Draggle snorted.
“Not that kind of game. A word game. Actually, one of inquiry. I ask you a question, you answer, and then you ask me one. In this way we increase our familiarity with each other.”
“That sounds stupid.” Draggle complained.
“Can you not give it a try?”
Draggle grumbled.
“I shall start, shall I?” Wind Whistler said, letting her voice lift in an upbeat tone. “You do not like the things we do. What do you like to do?”
Draggle grumbled and sighed, then answered. “…I like fairy tales.”
Wind Whistler nodded. “Now it is your turn.’
Draggle looked at her. “…did that baby make it?”
“Baby Cuddles is fine.” Wind Whistler smiled. “What kind of tales do you like?”
“I like reading about the villains. I don’t like it when the good guys win.”
“Naturally.”
“You know about us?”
“Now we do.” Wind Whistler said. “That counted by the way. What is your favorite food?”
“Bat wings.” Draggle paused. “…why are you bothering?”
“Because if I am going to be your friend I wish to know more about you.” Wind Whistler said. “Do you like music?”
“Not the kind you do.” Draggle snorted. “Are you trying to turn me against Mama like those other ponies?”
“No, I wish that all of us would come to a truce.” Wind Whistler said. “Do you like studying magic?”
“No…what do I call you?”
“My name is Wind Whistler. Are you hungry?”
“Yes.”
“I think that is enough for now. Wait here.” Wind Whistler went halfway up the stair and called to someone. After a moment she came down with a tray. Sitting on the tray with a bowl of vegetable soup and a bowl of wiggly worms. “Here you go.”
Draggle looked down in astonishment. “You…got me worms? You’re not going to try to shove cupcakes down my throat?”
“Would you prefer cupcakes?”
“No!”
“Did I not say we would make accommodations?” Wind Whistler asked.
“…yes, you did.”
“Eat up, I will be back.”
“Thought you weren’t going to leave me alone.” Draggle said as she slowly started to eat the soup, saving the worm treat for later.
“I shall not crowd you, but I will be back. We still have much to learn about each other.”
“Piss off, pony.”
“Have a nice evening, Draggle.”
As Wind Whistler was going up the stairs she met Megan. The girl was frowning at her in worry.
“Are you sure you want to do this?” Megan asked.
“I am sure, Megan. I am confidant I will win her over. Give me sufficient time.”
“I just hope you’re right.”
“I know I am.”
Time passed. Weeks crawled by.
“Draggle, what does your mother like to do for fun?”
“Torture you ponies.”
“What about before?”
“…I don’t know.”
“Pony, why don’t you leave me alone?”
“You don’t really want me to leave, do you? Who else would you talk to?”
“…nobody.”
“How can you stand those Sea Ponies and their singing?”
“I like to sing.”
“You do? You don’t seem the type, pony.”
“I do not do so in public.”
“Why not? Scared?”
“A bit. I am not fond of overly emotional displays. I sing for myself. To make myself happy. Or if someone is overly sad or depressed.”
“Why don’t you like…overly…whatever you said.”
“I believe that emotions put one at risk when allowed to rule the heart. I do have emotions, of course, but I try to keep them curbed in a crisis, in favor of logic. If I feel to sad I try and think logically through it, and through this I find effective and useful solutions. It serves me much better then useless sentiment.”
“You’re lonely.”
“…perhaps I am.”
“…is that why you want to be my friend?”
“Are you lonely?”
“…yes.”
“Even with your family?”
“…yes.”
“Magic Star wanted to know how much magic you have learned.”
“Pony…I am horrible at magic. You all know it.”
“Your mother has not taught you more?”
“Oh shut up you stupid horse! I’m horrible at magic!”
“Calm down, why do you think this is so?”
“You know!”
“I don’t, Draggle.”
“It’s because I’m stupid!”
Wind Whistler paused. “Who told you this?”
“Everyone! Mama! Reeka! You ponies!”
Wind Whistler placed a hoof on Draggle’s uninjured shoulder. “Draggle, look at me.”
The witch glowered at her. Wind Whistler gazed at her, firm but kind. “You must never call yourself stupid, because you are not.”
“…then why can’t I learn magic?”
“Perhaps Hydia’s methods are not suitable for you. I have seen our own people raise our foals, and not every little filly or colt learns the exact same way. Isolated as you are your mother might not know the right way to teach you. You are not stupid, Draggle. You are just different.”
“I want her to…”
“Yes, Draggle?”
“Nothing.”
“Come now, Draggle, don’t be afraid.”
“I’m not scared.” Draggle glowered down at the floor beneath her.
“You can stand. You can walk. It will be fine.” Wind Whistler encouraged.
“Will you shut up and let me do it?” Draggle snapped, and Wind Whistler just smiled at her. Stupid pony. She slowly placed her left leg on the ground. It had healed fairly fast, mostly from the potion the cat witch Catrina kept brewing for her. Draggle mostly interacted with Wind Whistler, but other ponies and their allies had appeared. She was annoyed greatly by the bushwoolies and Megan, could tolerate Spike and most of the other ponies who came down. The others that didn’t come near her basement she probably didn’t want to talk to anyway.
Wind Whistler was the only one she could stand. Her and that little Cuddles pony. Cuddles visited often, hooves full of books to read to Draggle. At first Draggle had been grouchy and annoyed, but eventually she submitted to the baby’s attempts at friendship.
It was…strange. The ponies were so…nice. Gentle and kind. She never had someone be kind to her. Not since she was six and her mother had decided it was time to stop coddling her.
Speaking of which, time to stop stalling.
Draggle lifted herself off her bed and wobbled slightly. She grabbed the long staff that Magic Star was holding out to her and placed it on the ground, leaning on it as her crushed knee almost buckled and dumped her to the ground.
“It belonged to a wizard, you know. I thought it might help you. Who knows, it might even be magic itself.”
If the staff was magic, it was pretty dormant. Still, it made a useful crutch. The staff was simple. No runes. No crystals, just a long stick of smooth tan wood with a leather strap wrapped around the middle for gripping. Draggle grasped the strap and leaned on the staff.
With slow, deliberate steps, Draggle lifted the staff and placed it in front of her, followed by her left leg. She lifted the other, and oh it felt so strange! Wind Whistler was mostly right. The knee pained her, and while her broken femur was supporting her weight, the knee felt like it could buckle at any time. She felt ill. Was she really going to hobble around like this the rest of her life?
She managed to make it to the window, then back to her bed. Panting she sat down again.
“…when can I go home?”
“Can you stand being here another month? I do not want to send you back unless we are sure you have your strength back.”
Draggle grumbled. “Sure sure. One more month in shiny bright hell…”
Wind Whistler nudged her. “I will take you back myself.”
Draggle jerked and stared at her. “You’ve gone crazy, pony!” Even Magic Star was giving Wind Whistler an appalled look.
“I will have words with your mother, Draggle.”
“She’ll eat you for breakfast you fool!” Draggle felt an odd jolt in her heart. She didn’t want her mother to meet Wind Whistler. Or Magic Star. Or Cuddles.
“I do not think she will. I will be returning her offspring to her. She will let me live long enough to state my case.” Wind Whistler said.
“You…idiot! You stay away from her!”
“Why Draggle, one would think you are concerned for my welfare.”
Draggle grumbled and glared at the ground.
Stupid pony.
Stupid stupid pony.
“Have you flipped your lid, Wind Whistler!” Truly bellowed at the blue Pegasus. “Your gonna fly that BEAST into her lair with her evil dame lurking around! Are you asking to get killed!”
“I have no intention of being deceased, though you are correct that my chances of survival are slim. However, I believe the gain is worth the risk.”
“Look, Wind Whistler. I admit that Draggle has been…well behaved. For a witch, but this is insane!” Gusty shook her head. “At the very least take Firefly, Medley and Surprise with you! And the rest of us can follow on foot!”
“No. Draggle trusts me. I will not drag an army to her doorstep. It must be me alone.”
“But-“
“Once again, you have not let me finish. I will be going to the Volcano alone, but that does not mean I will not have support.”
“You don’t think that witch-“
“Hardly, Truly.” Wind Whistler said. “I will be taking Masquerade, and I have asked Surprise, Ribbon and Fizzy to be in the woods near the Volcano. Hydia likes long, complicated means of death. If she wishes my end I will simply open my mind to Ribbon, who will alert Surprise, Masquerade and Fizzy. They will come to my aid if need be.”
“Why Masquerade?” Gusty asked.
“Cause I can hide from the witches without Draggle knowing, so if she does turn on us, she won’t know the ace in the hole.” Masquerade’s eyes shone with anticipation.
“…Okay, so you aren’t as nuts as I thought.” Gusty nodded at Wind Whistler. “I still think it’s a big risk.”
“It is. But most worthwhile endeavors are.”
“Sometimes I think you take this ‘friendship’ thing to far.” Gusty snorted.
“Perhaps Gusty, we shall see in the morning.”
“Look down, Draggle, isn’t it an impressive sight?”
“You can let me down now, I can walk this far.” Draggle said as she clutched at the blue Pegasus’ mane. She looked at the forest that only a few months ago she had been stomping around, fuming in. The boar seemed like a lifetime ago. Now she was flying home on a bushwooly brained Pegasus who thought she could befriend a witch like Hydia! It was crazy!
“You don’t think I would let you trudge up that mountain on your own?” Wind Whistler asked in an almost playful manner.
“I think you’re gonna be pony pot pie if you don’t!”
“Ah I love alliteration, don’t you?”
“Gah! You’re worse then Reeka!”
“I am looking forwards to properly meeting your sibling.”
“GAAAAAH!”
Wind Whistler chuckled. She never knew making another being roar in rage would be funny, but for some reason seeing Draggle do it was amusing to her.
The Volcano of Gloom loomed in the distance, an angry, bubbly cauldron of fiery hate. Draggle reluctantly pointed her pony companion to the door in the side of the mountain, and Wind Whistler landed. Relieved to be off, even though she knew that this was going to be a horrible scene, Draggle slid off, leaning on her new staff to keep her balance.
“Last chance to save your hide, pony.” Draggle said.
“Shall I knock on the door, or you do want to?”
“Infuriating equine imbicile …” Although the words were muddled due to poor understanding on Draggle’s part, Wind Whistler was pleased to see that her vocabulary was rubbing off on someone. Especially since previously it seemed that long words were not Draggle’s forte.
Wind Whistler was walking to the door, and Draggle had no choice but to follow. Just as the pony was lifted a hoof to knock, the door opened, and Hydia glared at them both with a face that almost resembled a tomato it was so red. Draggle had the distinct impression that her mother would start steaming from the ears soon. Hydia grabbed Draggle and tossed her inside. Wind Whistler blinked, remaining in the door.
“Five months.”
“Yes Ma-I mean Hydia…”
“Five. Months. You have been sitting in the ponies little house for five…months…and what have you been doing in that time?”
“…being injured from-“
“From saving a wretched little foal!” Hydia bellowed. “I send you to out there and do evil, and YOU SAVED A FOAL! Then you have the gall to be injured and RESCUED BY PONIES!”
“…you saw it all in the pool.”
“OF COURSE I DID! I saw you saving that pony! I saw you fight that boar! I saw that blue beast take you in! I saw all your little conversations! Oh pony! I’m lonely! Waa waa waa! You make me sick, Draggle!”
Draggle shrank from her mother, her harsh tone a sharp contrast from the gentle pony voices she had become accustomed to. All of a sudden something blue, with a pink mane, stepped between her and Hydia. “That is quite enough of that, Hydia.”
Hydia hissed, her fangs bared at Wind Whistler. “You dare come between me and my daughter?”
“I dare. I have many things to say to you, Hydia. First…I would like to extend a formal apology from the Dream Valley colony to you. We were unaware of-“
“I know that! I saw you telling the idiot!”
“…then I will skip the formalities and get to the point. We do not wish to fight you, Hydia. Or your daughters. We would much prefer a peaceful conclusion this debacle, and extend our hooves in friendship to you and your offspring, and any other members of you clan that wish it. We wish for cooperation, and peace. We do not need to fight anymore.”
“For once, Draggle is right.”
“I am?” Draggle asked.
“You, pony, are an idiot!” Hydia pointed, and Reeka dropped down from above, holding out a net. She knocked her sister aside and wrapped Wind Whistler in the net, tying her up. The Pegasus bucked and flapped her wings, but the weight of the fat witch and her tangly net grounded Wind Whistler.
Draggle stared in horror, not knowing what to do.
Wind Whistler glared up at Hydia. “Your last chance, Hydia. There will not be another.”
“Let me tell you what I am going to do, pony. I am going to use Draggle to get to your friends. She is going to go back and lure your friends into a trap. At the very least she managed to get you fools to think of her as friendly. I will kill each and every one of you, through her. You die first. Then that little baby pony you failed to kill, Draggle! She will be the very last!”
“H-hydia wait…they helped me…they-“
“They only helped you to use you to get to us! The only reason I haven’t exiled you from this Volcano is because you are still useful! Do you want to become a liability!?”
“…you saw her hurt with your magic, and you did nothing.” Wind Whistler stated.
“So what? She’s a witch! She needs to learn to take care of herself.”
“You abandoned your own daughter to die. Reeka, was it? How does it make you feel, knowing your mother left your sister to die. Knowing that if you were in the same position she would leave you as well.”
“Aww, shut up pony!” Reeka punched Wind Whistler in the side, but the pony continued.
“You sit there and berate your child, Hydia, but when she needed you…you would not come. Now I stand before you, despite knowing what you have done, and despite knowing how you treat your daughter, and I still offer you forgiveness and friendship, yet you fling it back at me?”
“Draggle!” Hydia grabbed up the net and shoved it in Draggle’s hand. “Feed her to Ahgg! Redeem yourself!”
Draggle stared at Hydia. “But…Hydia she’s…my friend.”
“You don’t have friends, you don’t need friends! NOW DO IT!”
Draggle held the net in her hand and gave it a jerk, ripping it from Reeka’s grasp. Her sister, thinking that Draggle was going to comply, as always, grinned.
“Let’s go, Draggle. I wanna see the pony squirm.”
“…no.” Draggle whispered.
“What did you just say?” Hydia snarled.
Draggle limped backwards until she hit the door. With a flip she dropped the net, letting it fall away from Wind Whistler, who sprang up and shook the remains of the net off her back legs.
“Draggle this is your last chance! Get that pony back! If you even THINK of stepping through that door with it then you are not my daughter any more!”
“…I can escape later. You don’t have to try and save me.” Wind Whistler whispered.
Draggle looked down at her. She thought of the basement. She thought of the soup. She thought of the question game. She thought of the sounds of the annoying Sea Pony shoo-be-dooing. She thought of the rat with bat wings. She thought of her home.
And suddenly she realized what the warm feeling she felt with Wind Whistler and Magic Star and Cuddles really was. She had known all along, but now she could admit it, after she had finally said it.
She thought witches couldn’t make friends.
She was wrong.
“…Mama.”
“DON’T CALL ME THAT!”
“…I’m sorry, Mama.” Draggle’s hand found the door handle and she flung it open. “Wind Whistler! Fly!”
“Not without you!” Wind Whistler grabbed her up in her teeth and spread her wings. The heat from the Volcano lifted her upwards. A good thing as well, as Hydia shrieked and started to throw lightning at the two, not even trying to miss her own child. Reeka just stared, too shocked at this turn of events to do much except gape.
“Draggle! No! Come back!” Reeka felt sudden panic. They had always been together! They had always been…been…one. Sure they fought, but they were witches! Draggle was the only company Reeka had, and now she was flying away with some stupid useless pony! What did they have that she didn’t have!?
“You worthless little flying rat! Bring her back! I’ll get you for this! Damn you both. I’LL KILL YOU ALL FOR TAKING HER!” Reeka shrieked at the sky. Hydia stared at her daughter, then grinned.
“Well well, Reeka…you found your hate…at least this day was not a total loss.”
Wind Whistler wobbled in the sky as she landed somewhere between the Volcano and the Estate. One of her wings had been clipped by the lightning, and she stretched it out in pain.
Draggle slid off and studied her wing. “You’re hurt.”
Wind Whistler turned her head and nudged her. “So are you.”
“Naw, Mama missed me.”
“I mean here.” Wind Whistler put a hoof against Draggle’s chest. “I am so sorry, Draggle. I did not mean to cause a schism between you and your parent.”
“She never…what is that word…for when you really like someone more then anyone else.”
“…Love?”
“Yeah. That…she never did…that.”
Wind Whistler didn’t contradict her.
“I’m…banished. Forever. She won’t let me come back I…what do I do?” Draggle dropped to the ground, letting her staff clatter beside her. She felt something wet around her eyes, and without meaning to unwanted tears started to flow down her cheeks. “Where do I go?”
“You can come back with me.”
“Your ponies don’t want me!”
“I want you. Magic Star wants you. Cuddles wants you. In time, when they get to know you, many of the others will want you as well. You can learn magic with Catrina. You can be…better. The first Gloom witch to have friends.”
“…Mama would be so ashamed.”
“Do you really care what she wants after that?”
Draggle sat up and wiped her face. “…she saw me. And she didn’t even try to help me.”
“Correct.”
“…do I have to eat sweets?”
“Of course not.”
“Do I have to sing useless silly songs?”
“Only if you wish.”
“Can you find me someplace dark?”
“I think I know a few places on the Estate that would work with some fixing up.”
“…will you stay?”
“As long as I am able.”
“…alright po-…Wind Whistler.”
“You can ride me, I can still walk.” Wind Whistler smiled sadly as Draggle swung gingerly onto her. “Now…shall we go home?”
“Yeah…home.”
“An’ she did learn lotsa magic, didn’t she Granny Bloom?”
“Well…not at first. Draggle always had a bit of a thing about learnin’. Books were hard fer her. But Catrina was patient, and so was Magic Star, and between the two of em, Draggle got better. She wasn’t the perfect Ponylander, no sir. She still had a rude streak, most witches do. She still had that love for dark places. Never could get her to sing along with them bright cheery tunes. But she…adapted. And so did the Ponylanders. Even Gusty, eventually. A lot of things happened between then and when the portal opened…but if we talk about that we’ll be hear all night…”
“You found the portal, right Granny?”
“Eyup. Lets skip over to that part. I can tell you about the between times some other day. So, about three years after Draggle and Wind Whistler escaped from Hydia something happened that would change both our worlds, forever.”
“I was a filly then. A silly little thing. My friends called ourselves the Cutie Mark Crusaders. Oh we got into so much trouble, crusadin’ fer our cutie marks, but this adventure would be one for the history books…”