"Hey, take it easy, anyway only we know the star seeds' location, right?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"I sincerely doubt about that" Heartbeat said. "Like roaches, the Lord of Chaos and his puppets can appear anywhere."
"Oh, wait a minute" Applejack said. "Lord of Chaos? That guy that almost destroyed my brother's relationship with my sister-in-law for sending her ex-boyfriend to Equestria? He's in on it?"
"When will you guys realize that, as the Lord of Order is responsible for all that is good, the Lord of Chaos is responsible for everything that is bad?" Heartbeat asked. "Of course he's involved. After all, he's the one who corrupted Sombra in the first attack to the Light Kingdom."
"Heartbeat is right, as well as Blue" said Twilight. "We must act quickly. That means..."
"We must separate ourselves" Heartbeat. “And I mean in number not… Well, you got it.”
"Precisely" Twilight replied, turning then to the Equestria map. "Okay, let me see. Rarity, you and Pinkie Pie can go take care of the orange star seed."
"Wait, you're leaving me with Pinkie?" Rarity asked, turning to Pinkie who smiled with the quite open smile of hers. "You're kidding, right?"
"Rarity, work with me" Twilight. "We are in a very tight situation."
Rarity then sighed and replied:
"Whatever, but I'm not responsible for any accident to happen."
"Of course not, silly billy, after all, accidents are that right: accidents" Pinkie Pie answered.
That made Rarity made a designation sigh.
"Fluttershy, you can go retrieve the green star seed with..." Twilight started.
"Actually, Twilight, if you don't mind, I'd like to go alone to the Hollow Shades" Fluttershy said.
That left everypony amazed.
"Are you sure about that, Fluttershy?" Twilight asked.
"Sure" she replied.
"Wait a minute, Fluttershy" Rainbow Dash said. "We're talking about a dark and scary forest full of dangerous animals. The only village there is right in the middle."
"For start, Rainbow, I think I can cope very well with animals" Fluttershy said. "And, besides, I know somepony there who can help me."
"Be careful, Fluttershy" Twilight said. "In this moment, it's good that our allies are really reliable. If the Lord of Chaos begins to act, we cannot trust anypony."
"Don't worry, Twilight" Fluttershy reassured. "This somepony is trustworthy, you can believe it."
"Well, if it's like this..." Twilight started.
"Wait, you're not going to allow this, are you?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"If Fluttershy says she can do it, so we should trust her" Twilight said. "Besides, I think it's best you and Applejack go retrieve the purple star seed. Both of you are strong and you can handle the swamps with ease."
"Ah'm ready tah get the job done, Twilight" said Applejack, promptly. "Ah love a good trip tah tha swamps."
"Well, I think it might be great" Rainbow said.
"And let me guess" Blue said to Twilight. "We're going to take care of..."
"The blue star seed" Twilight replied.
"If you don't mind, I'd like to go with you" said Shining. "All the available help is low."
"For us it’s fine, Shining" Blue said. "Isn't that right, Twilight?"
"Sure" she replied.
Shining turned to Cadance and said:
"Cadance, I think it's better…"
"I stay here with Gleaming" she completed. "I knew you'd say that. Don't worry, I'll stay here. After all, somepony has to take care of our daughter and the Crystal Empire."
"And what about the yellow star seed?" asked Rarity. "We can't forget about it."
"I think we can leave it for now" Heartbeat Heartbeat. "She's my brother Golden Paladin’s star seed, the leader of the Generals of Order. His star seed must be very well protected, even for the followers of Chaos. I wouldn't worry about it for now. But of course I'll have to stick around to monitor things. Don't worry, I'll keep your back."
"I don't know why, but I don't feel very comfortable with that" Rainbow Dash whispered to Applejack, causing her to give a slight chuckle.
"I'll pretend I didn't hear that, Rainbow Dash" Heartbeat answered her, leaving her quite uncomfortable for the General of Affection having heard what she had said.
"Okay, gals, let's take care of our missions" Applejack said.
They waved and Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie began heading to the exit. When Twilight, Blue and Shining began also headed to it, Cadance said:
"Twilight, can I talk to you?"
"Of course," said Twilight, turning then to her brother and to her husband. "I’ll join you in a minute."
The two waved and moved away.
"What do you want to talk to me about, Cadance?" Twilight asked.
"About your indisposition " she replied.
"Cadance, I already told you it must be from the stress. This should pass."
"You know, I've had those nauseas. And believe me, it's not from the stress."
"So what is it?" Twilight asked.
"Tell me one thing, when was your last period?" Cadance asked.
"It was almost three months ago" Twilight replied. "But then I've been nervous about the wedding and then with Blue’s departure, so I didn't give it importance. Why do you ask that?"
It looked like it had clarified Cadance definitely. Then she said:
"Twilight, you'll have to take it easy with what I'm about to say."
"What?" Twilight asked. "You're starting to scare me, Cadance."
"Twilight, I think… and this is just a guess… but I think you're pregnant" Cadance said.
That Cadance’s assertiveness made Twilight stay somewhat shocked, but then she said:
"That's ridiculous, Cadance, I can't be pregnant."
"Of course you can" Heartbeat said, approaching and joining the conversation. "And of course you are."
"And how can you be so sure?" Twilight asked.
"Because I feel it" Heartbeat answered. "Even a baby that had not yet born expresses emotions. And I can feel your baby’s emotions right now."
Twilight was stunned. She didn't even know what to say or even think.
"I’m... pregnant" she said.
"I know, it's a big shock, but believe me it's the best feeling in the world" Cadance said, putting a hoof on Twilight’s shoulder. "Being a mother... Well, I don't even have words to describe it. When I was pregnant, I felt so good when I felt Gleaming. And when she was born and I took her in my forelegs I felt myself complete."
"I’m still not in me" Twilight said. "Cadance, I… I'm not ready to be a mom."
"Twilight, being a mother is something you learn" Cadance said.
"And that's a fact" Heartbeat added.
"Heartbeat, don’t you have nothing to monitor?" Cadance asked.
"It seems that the mission already is the middle" she replied.
But receiving Cadance’s stare, she said:
"Okay, I’ll go."
And walked away. Cadance continued saying to Twilight:
"Believe me, Twilight, you're going to be a great mom. And when Blue finds out, he's going to be full of joy and I'm sure he's going to help you."
"Do you really think so?" Twilight asked.
"Of course" Cadance said.
So Twilight just smiled and Cadance returned her the smile.
"When you go to tell him?" Cadance asked. "Now?"
"Cadance, I barely received the news" Twilight replied. "I still have to internalize. Only when I feel more comfortable, I'll tell Blue. Well, but I have to go now."
"Be careful" Cadance said, while Twilight was moving away.
Twilight then reached the gate and passed it, finding Blue and Shining waiting for her.
"Is everything fine?" Blue asked.
Twilight, for a moment, though tell to Blue the conversation she and Cadance had, but then the shock of know she was pregnant made her answer:
"Yes, everything is fine."
"Well, then let's go" Shining said. "We have no time to lose."
And so the three advanced to go to Rambling Rock Ridge.
--------------------------------------
In Vanhoover, an earth pony stallion was wandering around the forest that was near the village, picking up firewood. It was then that he heard sounds, what made him look at all sides. He had the strange feeling of being watched.
"Hello?" he asked. "Is anypony there?"
But he was answered with silence. Thinking it was just his imagination, he continued to collect firewood and putting it in his wagon. It was then that he heard footsteps approaching him. He turned and then faced Fire Punch, who was approaching him with a mischievous smile.
"Hello" the pony said, retreating due to being a little intimidated by Fire Punch.
"Hello" Fire Punch greeted, continuing the approach.
"What do you want?" the pony asked, continuing to retreat.
"Nothing" Fire Punch replied. "I just need a hoof with some things I have to deal with around here."
The pony backed off in such a way that he eventually collide with a tree, making it impossible for him the retreat. He then said, nervously:
"I'll be glad to help you."
"I know that" Fire Punch answered. "But it turns out I need the help from somepony with more capacity."
And it was then that he charged his horn with magic and launched a magic beam against the pony, which began to scream in agony. It was then that he was motionless, with the hind legs fallen on the floor. A closed flower appeared above his head and then it opened up, revealing a translucent star seed with a slight white light inside of it. The star seed emitted its light for a few moments until it lost it and became completely black. It was then dark lighting left the star seed and then what appeared to be black roots arose and covered the pony and his star seed and then, when they disappeared, he emerged. He was completely unrecognizable. His coat and mane were with darker tones, his ears were more pointed, his teeth are sharper and his eyes turned red, full of evil.
"Somepony with the capacity of a dark pony" Fire Punch completed.
And then he began to laugh, while the dark pony that he had just created bent before him.