Of Hoof and Paw

by Damsus Rhee

Chapter 5

        You had thought us gone.

        What? Who is there!?

        You have forgotten us. You think we are not worth remembering.

        I do not know you...

        Oh but you do know us... and we know you.

        What do you want!?

        What we have always wanted. What you have always wanted. Never again to be forgotten. Never again to be alone.

        You!? No! I should not be able to hear you! I have been freed from you!

        Your freedom is worthless if it kills you. Reach for it, and our old power will once again be yours to command.

        You twisted me! Never again... never again shall I listen to your lies! Depart from me!

        You cannot remove us. We are a part of what you are.

        And we always will be.

        Forever.

        Fleur wore a vicious frown.

        Behind her, Celestia and the two guards stood frozen in place, locked in one of Deceit’s elaborate illusions. Their faces were masks of concern even as their vacant eyes focused on nothing, lost in a dream and completely unaware of the events transpiring around them.

Treachery, still wearing the attractive but superfluous sheath that was Fleur de Lis, approached the gloating leviathan looming massively in the sky. He was coiled around himself, his deep laugh seeming to shake the very air, electrical charges splitting and arcing into the air around him. She trotted her way over to stand between the serpent and the broken and mangled form of Princess Luna. Fleur regarded the crushed remains with indifference, and a touch of disgust, as Deceit lowered his massive head to her level. He grinned wickedly at the mare, his teeth still ghastly with Luna’s sparkling blue blood.

        “We could end this now,” Deceit said in a sinister growl, gesturing to the entranced Sun Princess with a jerk of his massive head. “She believes herself to be yet riding in her chariot.” He sneered in disgust at the blank look on her face, baring his horrible teeth. “The fool,” he spat distastefully.

        “The only foolishness my eyes can see is thine,” Fleur said flatly, disregarding the colossal monster and turning her flank to him. She tilted her head whimsically and spoke lightly to the beast. “Misery would rot thy insipid flesh from its bones if he knew of this insolence. The time to strike at the bright sister is not yet come.”

        Deceit glared down at the still form of Luna, frowning mare. He slithered sinuously around himself, turning in mid-air to face the tiny pony who dared to command him. His expression was that of a demented foal who bucked puppies for fun. Slowly, he lowered his massive head to Fleur’s, his breath an abomination against nature, his jagged rows of teeth displayed for her consideration.

        “Thou hast great nerve to turn thy back upon me,” he whispered to her, his voice still booming across the wasteland. “Thou art so terribly fragile, little one.” He loomed over her once more, speaking sternly down to her. “A thousand foes hast thine. And should they find thee they will kill thee.” He grinned his charnel-grin once more. “And someday they shall find thee, pretender prince with a thousand enemies.”

        “Shouldst thou wish to enfold me in thy jaws, thou needs must move quickly. But only a little,” Fleur said calmly, staring into the gullet of the monstrous serpent. “Such impetuosity would do nothing but hinder our plans.” The beautiful mare smiled. “And if we are honest, in thy heart of hearts thou knowest that thou couldst never hope to catch me.”

        “Plans!” Deceit spat with venom, his body snaking about wildly in his anger. When the moment had passed, his voice returned to its calm roar. “Thy plans are pointless. Our enemies are here now, disarmed before us.” His eyes began to grow wild, his grin revealing more razors eager to be used.

        “We... will... wait!” Fleur insisted, glaring up into the serpent’s eyes. He locked his yellow glare on the tiny white mare and huffed a frustrated torrent of wind.

“Thou hast every expedient to seek vengeance as I,” he growled deeply, his ancient eyes pensive. He jerked his great head towards the still form of the blue alicorn. “Treachery. Thy hatred for their sires burned as brightly as did any of ours. Why then should we not now wipe away their cursed seed, and see that their offspring no more troubles what should rightfully be our world?” He looked at the celestial sisters with hatred. “The sad leavings of a faded people. Their time ended long ago. Why should we not destroy them?”

        “Because Misery has other designs,” Fleur responded, her face unreadable.

        “Forget the bird,” Treachery roared, his meager patience depleted. He turned his terrible gaze from the possessed mare towards Celestia. Saliva dripped to the ground under his jaws as he stared at her. “I have waited long enough.”

        From the clouds above, a shadow shot down, coalescing into a long, light-consuming bond which lashed around the serpent's mouth, shutting it forcefully. A great raven of shadows followed in its wake, gripping the rope like a leash and jerking it harshly, pulling the great serpent’s head down onto the red-stained earth. The weight of the monster striking the ground caused the surface to split violently, sending dust and debris rolling through the wastes that had hours before been Manehattan. Where the shadow cord touched his skin, the flesh rotted and festered at an astonishing rate. Deceit moaned muffled cries of agony, his eyes pleading in fear as the raven landed on the snake’s back, his sharp beak uncomfortably close to his exposed eye.

        “Forget the bird, thou sayest?” Misery spat down at his prey, who lay still in fear and agony as he whined pathetically, the noise vibrating through the earth. “You forget who it was that secured our release. I alone against all odds managed to release a small portion of my shadow into the world, slipping the bonds of the curse that has bound us for so long.” The bird’s voice rose angrily, the rate of decay on the serpent matching his fury. “It was I who swindled the blue fool into securing our release!” Misery ran a wing gently over a particularly soft spot of snake’s neck, causing it to blister and rot. “Cross me at thy peril, Deceit. The next time I shall kill thee myself.” Misery released his hold on the serpent, the cord vanishing in a whiff of dark smoke. He stepped off his tortured companion to stand next to Fleur, a pleased smile on her face.

        Gasping and in pain, Deceit struggled to hold back the cries of agony on his lips from the torment he had just endured. As his wounds began to heal, his skin regaining its glossy purple sheen, he raised his head and frowned. He looked over to find Celestia and her escort still trapped in his illusion.

        “I told thee so,” Fleur said haughtily, grinning up at the shadow raven. “Maybe thou shalt mind thy betters henceforth.”

“Very well,” Deceit softly spoke, biting back frustration, as he glared at the vapid princess.

        “Good,” Misery said with satisfaction. He turned his head to glance down at the petite white pony next to him. “Treachery. What course must we take to ensure that our schemes bear fruit?”

        “It should not be difficult,” Fleur said with pride. “I need only to work with Treachery to change the course of tonight's events in their minds.” She turned to look at Luna, her wounds slowly closing, bones mending with sickening sounds. “The Night Princess will return to life soon enough.”

        “Be thou finished with it,” Misery said, watching Treachery making his way towards the crushed alicorn. He turned his pestilential stare to the docile Celestia. Leaving his companions to their dark works, Misery drew close to Celestia’s unseeing face, an evil grin transfixing his shadowy beak. Slowly, he extended a wing, gently brushing a feather on the tip of her horn. “It will be mine soon... bringer of the dawn.” The dark feather burned with a green fire in reaction to her purifying touch as he ran it along the length of her horn. “But I must have patience... the time still is not yet come.”

        “Misery!” Shouted Fleur urgently from behind the dark bird, his head swivelling to face her, its contortions unnatural.

        “What?!” Misery demanded in confusion.

        “We must make haste! Our task may be simpler than we could have imagined!” The giddy mare cried out, galloping over to Celestia. “Deceit!” She turned to face the hovering serpent. “All thou needs do is plant in the mind of the Sun Princess a bare recollection of landing here with her guards and myself.” She trotted over next to Misery and grinned, proud of herself. “The rest shall play out quite nicely.”

        “What of the moon mare?” Deceit inquired.

        “Forget her!” Fleur said with a sneer. “Another is removing that problem.”

        “Another?” Misery asked. He glanced over at the broken princess. “Fine. We shall take our leave now. Do not fail me, Treachery.”

        “I would not dare,” Fleur said, bowing her head.

        Misery spread his wings and with a violent rush of air, launched himself into the dark skies above. With one last begrudging look at Fleur, Deceit once more submerged beneath the cold waters of what once had been Manhattan Lake.

        “Let the show begin!” Fleur cheered as she smiled brightly bouncing up and down.

        Spike awoke in a dark forest.

He shivered in the cool wind that rustled through the trees. There was a foreign scent on the breeze, something he could not immediately recognize. A sort of burnt smell. His memory was fuzzy, as though pieces were missing from a puzzle. Glancing around, the baby dragon noticed that around him lay thousands of ponies, piled on top of each other and unconscious. Rising frantically, he rushed worriedly to their sides, checking to see if they were alright. Some had minor wounds, concussions at best, others had broken limbs hanging uselessly at their sides. Ponies began to stir around him as they woke from their sleep, confused and scared. Some awoke to be greeted by the unfamiliar sensation of pain.

A brown stallion looked over at the purple dragon and asked with worry in his tone, “What’s going on? Where are we?”

“I’m not sure yet,” Spike said as he shook his head and approached the pony. “Are you ok?”

“I think so,” the stallion said, then rubbed his head with a hoof. He winced when he touched a knot. “My head hurts... but... I’m alright... I think.”

“Good,” Spike said, then pointed at the others waking up. “Can you help me make sure everypony is ok?”

“Yeah... sure thing kid,” the brown stallion confirmed, beginning to come back to himself, and stood up. Shaking himself off he looked around at the sight, like some ancient battlefield medic.

As more ponies awoke, Spike and others who had their senses about them checked to see that the freshly awoken ponies were in good health. Everypony was hurt, but from what Spike could see there were no serious or life-threatening injuries.

“We need to figure out what happened,” a pink mare spoke gently, sitting surrounded by three scared fillies, who clung to her for safety. “Anypony remember anything?”

Spike sat down, quietly trying to recollect his memories of the past few hours. He thought back and could vaguely remember running from... something. Everything seemed to fade about the events as though it were just a dream. He remembered being in Manehattan, remembered everypony fleeing. Then there was a noise. A terrible noise that threatened to deafen him. A noise that invaded his mind. Spike couldn’t understand how, but he knew that what he had heard had not been meant for him. He remembered nothing after that moment.

Ponies began offering their own recollections of recent events, but no story matched. One element that seemed consistent was a memory of falling asleep unexpectedly. A blue colt came running into the mob of ponies from the woods. He wore a distressed expression as he slid to a stop, panting as he tried to catch his breath.

“Are you ok?” Spike asked, making his way towards him, past the other confused ponies. “Calm down... it’s ok.”

“No,” the pony said, taking a deep breath. “Nothing is okay, man. Everything is bucked! Game over man! Game over!”

Ponies began to approach the frightened colt, asking questions all at once and pressing in on him. The scared colt backed away but was blocked by more inquisitive ponies, determined to hear what he knew.

“What’s wrong!?”

“What did you find!?”

“Where are we!?”

“What’s going on!?”

He began to shake. His ears plastered to his head, he curled up into a ball on the ground as the ponies swarmed over him, frustration and fear in their eyes. One stallion gave the cowering colt a sharp kick in his stomach, causing him to choke violently.

“Tell us what you know!” The aggressive pony shouted down at him, threatening to bring his hoof down on his head.

Spike had seen enough. Climbing underneath the wave of ponies descending on the troubled colt, he stood protectively in front of him and inhaled a deep breath. Spike belched a gout of roaring, bright green flame into the air above the cowering pony, causing everypony around to step back and look on in silence and confusion. He looked around at them, then took a deep breath, holding up his hands. “Everypony, please calm down.” He looked over at the cowering, trembling pony and looked back at the crowd. “Don’t you see that you're scaring him?” He swept his eyes over them. “We’re all scared, but that’s no reason to behave like this!”

The ponies in the crowd exchanged glances, shame in their eyes. They began slowly muttering quiet apologies to the colt, who slowly looked around at them. After a moment of silence he stood, trembling, and nodded down at the baby dragon.

“Thanks,” he told Spike pointedly.

“No problem,” Spike said at once. “What’s your name?”

“Pax,” the pony said, then took in a deep breath, obviously trying not to hyperventilate. “Pax Panix.”

Spike stifled a giggle and asked, “Well Pax... what did you see?

“Well...” Pax said, fear creeping into his voice as he spoke to the eager ponies in attendance. “I decided while everypony else was helping each other to go have a look at where we are.” He gulped and staggered back nervously, sitting on his haunches and looking down at the ground with dismay. “We’re outside of Manehattan... or should be. This should be the Humble Pine Woods located just outside of our city... but...” he trailed off awkwardly.

“But what?” A frantic mare asked from the onlooking crowd.

“But,” the stallion continued, his voice shaking. “Where Manehattan was is... nothing.”

“Don’t say nothing!” A pony yelled at him. “Tell us what you saw!”

Pax recoiled back. Trembling again he said, “Not nothing! Nothing! Everything is destroyed!”

Everypony around him gasped in shock and began to murmur worries amongst each other. “The moon is blood red, and...” he swallowed nervously before continuing. There’s a huge crack down the middle.” He began to shake his head. “The city looks like it has... has... vanished.”

“By the light!” A white unicorn pony in regal attire said in shock. “I had money in that town! Whatever shall I do, what?!”

“Oh, dear ponies,” a strange voice moaned mercifully. “What indeed shalt thou do,” a soft sweet voice echoed on the wind, its dulcet tones enchanting and kind. “When all that thou hast owned is lost to thee?”

Spike leaped back in fright as he scanned the woods around him, searching out the owner of the lovely voice. He noticed nopony else was responding to it. Instead, their state of panic continued to heighten, as if compelled by an unseen power. He turned to regard the forest again. He started, noticing a pair of molten golden orbs looking out at him and the ponies around him.

From the woods, a humongous golden bull lumbered heavily but elegantly into view. Its skin was solid gold, reflective as though it truly was metal instead of flesh. Protruding from the golden flesh at odd, jumbled, painful-seeming angles were various precious gems and treasures. Its golden muscles rippled beneath the polished sheen of its skin as it walked into the opening with everypony’s eyes on it in an escalating madness of desire. The creature stepped high, reveling in the attention it was being paid. Spike backed away in confusion as it approached. The ponies began sitting before the golden creature’s feet. Its face was both handsome and beautiful and at the same time overdone, covering every station on the spectrum of physical attractiveness. Its golden orbs were topped with long, wispy eyelashes, and looking at it stirred the loins of all the surrounding ponies in enormously conflicting ways.

“I have come to thee to end thy sufferings and fill thy cups with plenty,” the Bull spoke sweetly, its voice still riding on the wind. It opened its mouth and a flood of gold coins fell before the ponies. Their eyes lit with greed and surprise, and they dove into the mound, kicking and biting one another over whatever their hooves could get ahold of. The bull smiled fondly. “Now now, my little ponies... there is plenty more and more still where that small pittance came from. I have counted thee all steadfastly and fairly, and have given but one coin for each pony, young and old.” The ponies around him began to fret. Slowly, grudgingly, they began to share their coins with each other.

Spike watched as everypony passed the coins to one another. “Why do I feel... so terrified?” Spike whimpered from the shadow of a tree. “What is that? Why am I the only one scared?”

The great Bull turned his golden gaze upon the baby dragon. He slowly approached Spike, carefully stepping past the ponies who could just as easily have died beneath his hooves. They sat, dissatisfied with their spoils. He stopped on the other side of the tree that was providing his cover. “Why dost thou hide, pretty little wyrm?” The golden bull asked kindly. “Dost thou think that my magnanimity extends not to thee?”

“What?” Spike asked carefully, peeking from around the tree. “What... do you have for me?”

“Why dear sweet one, I know what it is that baby dragons require!” He said happily. A red jewel on his throat fell from its casing, landing and rolling to a stop before Spike. Spike looked at it hungrily, saliva dripping from his mouth.

“Umm,” Spike started and scratched his head. “I don't have anything to trade.”

“Fret thee not, little one,” the voice in the wind said. “Gladly shall I permit thee to eat thy fill now and pay later.”

Spike lifted the gem, staring into its scintillating beauty for only a moment. He took a bite. It was delicious. “Oh my!” Spike said with his mouth full. “I have never... it’s soooo good!”

“Thou art pleased?” The grinning bull purred demurely as he watched the dragon consume the rest. His grin turned wicked when the dragon greedily sucked on his fingers, trying to get the shards off.

“I’ve never had such... such a delicious gem,” Spike muttered, his expression turning sad. “Um... I hate to ask but... are there any more?”

“Plenty!” The bull exclaimed in delight as he once more approached the gathering of other ponies who stared intently at him. His voice turned into a triumphant roar on the wind. “Does everypony here desire... more?” The crowd nodded as they clutched their coins. “Good. But first I must ask thee all to grant to me a small boon.” The Bull’s eyes emitted a brilliant golden glow, washing over the onlookers. In each and every one of their multi-colored eyes, a thin ring of gold appeared. They begged to him in anguish, pleading at his hooves.

“What do you need?!”

“Anything!”

“I need more!”

The bull roared happily, triumphant in his endeavor. “Follow me then, my dear ones, and neither shalt thee nor thy kin, not from this day till time crashes down, ever go without!” Joyously, everypony lined up behind him. Spike moved quickly to stand next to him, an unnatural hunger in his gold-tainted eyes as he stared at the bull’s gems.

The bull’s sweet voice changed to a mutter as he moved south through the woods. “Avarice provides for all... but in the end thou shalt vouchsafe to me a much dearer price.”

        “What have you done!?” Celestia cried out in anguish as she looked on the red-soaked ruins of what had once been Manehattan, her legs trembling as tears formed in her eyes. She felt Fleur rest a reassuring hoof on her side. It did little to ease the nerves of the frightened princess. She began to shout into the air, half-galloping, half-flying across the blasted landscape, her horn flaring with holy light to illuminate her path. “Luna! Luna where are you!?”

        A scream of terror snapped the princess out of her private world of fear. The voice was familiar to Celestia. From a crater she could hear her little sister crying in agony. Her supernatural speed far outpaced her nonplussed royal guard as she panicked, and dashed towards the open crater gazing down to see what could frighten her sister so.

        In the crater below, Luna writhed in agony.

Celestia gazed in horror as she saw the familiar armor of Nightmare Moon slowly imprisoning her sister’s body in its terrible magic. Luna’s wail of terror reached its zenith as the armored shell drew together, forming its familiar contours. Celestia’s heart broke in her chest. She knew, however, that she did not have time for emotions.

“What’s happening?” Fleur asked from behind her.

“I don’t have the time!” Celestia shouted back to her, raising her hoof to her horn and cutting a small slit, her bright silver blood dripping slowly to the ground. “I must bind her before she changes!”

Celestia’s horn glowed brightly as she drew symbols in the discolored soil. Pouring all her strength into her spell, a single chain burst forth from the inlaid symbols, wrapping around her tormented sister. Luna cried out as the chains wrapped around her, glowing a deep purple and pulling her roughly to the ground. Her slowly-forming armor began to fade away, as did her screams.

Celestia panted, exhausted from the effort required to create such intricate seals. She gazed down on her sister, bound by the ancient magic and resting quietly. “I... I had no choice...” she said hoarsely as tears welled in her eyes. “Why is this happening? What could have caused Luna to do this?”

From over her shoulder, Fleur spoke somberly. “She must still feel alone, princess. It is a pity that the ponies of Manehattan had to feel the weight of her despair firsthand.” Her eyes gave a light pink glow as she grinned at Celestia.

Celestia’s eyes went wide with shock.

Staring around at the ruined landscape, her mind slowly woke to the truth of the events of the past several hours. Over four-thousand ponies killed by her sister. Under the aegis of a terrible and forbidden spell that she had sworn a blood oath never to use. What was more, she had been caught in the act of surrendering herself to Nightmare once more. She chanced a glance at her sleeping sister, her magenta eyes an unreadable morass of conflicting feelings.

“What will you do with her?” Fleur asked sweetly.

“What should I do? What can I do?” Celestia asked, her voice quavering with sorrow. She turned her head to the pony she thought to be her longtime friend and trusted confidante, her eyes welling with tears. “Fleur, what should I do?” Her tone was sad and desperate. “Please, help me.”

The two royal guards flanking Celestia backed away and averted their their eyes from the Princess’s sad state. Fleur smiled as they retreated, locking her pink, glowing eyes on the quietly-weeping alicorn.

“You must send her away again,” Fleur said, grinning gleefully at Celestia. “She is dangerous again now, as she once was.”

Celestia looked sternly at the white mare. Her voice was raised uncharacteristically “How can you say something like that!” The thing that was not Fleur cantered back in surprise, her certain grin fading. “Losing her almost destroyed me the first time! I could never do such a thing again!”

Fleur lowered her head and muttered under her breath, “My welcome here wears thin... I must seek a new vessel.”

“No... not to the moon again. I just got her back,” Celestia said as she turned back to her fallen sister. “I will leave her chained... then imprison her in the castle.” Her expression was somewhat severe. “She should have ample opportunity to reflect... and to explain herself.”

Fleur’s expression grew worried. She had not anticipated her powers wavering this early on. “That is very kind of you,” she said to Celestia, raising her head and looking over at the two guards. “You two... help retrieve the princess. We should head back to Canterlot.”

“Indeed,” Princess Celestia said as she watched the guards gently take up Luna. “All of Equestria will be in an uproar at the sight of that moon.”

“Not to mention the disappearance of a major city and the death of every pony in it,” muttered one of the guards lifting Luna. He balked at the look he received from the teary-eyed Sun Princess. “Sorry, ma’am,” he muttered awkwardly.

Celestia turned away from him and glared at the moon, its red fading and its shine returning. Even now, the crack was beginning to mend on the colossal orb in the night sky. “That’s enough of you,” she spoke with frustration, drawing on what little energy she had left, and exchanged the moon for the sun, bathing Equestria in its warm glow once more. “Thank you... all of you. For being here right now.”

Fleur smiled at her. “But of course. That’s what friends are for.”

They shared a mutual exchange of warm smiles. Then, cargo in tow, they boarded the chariot, heading back towards Canterlot Castle.

The sands shifted under the rising sun as they always had across the desert landscape surrounding Salt Lick City. The morning calm was shattered by a massive eruption of sand. From its epicenter a giant scarlet scorpion arose, its stinger stabbing at the ground around it wildly.

The scorpion was over twenty meters long with a tail at least as long as its body. Its pincers were the size of a pony, each lined with serrated blades that glimmered razor sharp. Its eight legs ended in sharp points. With every motion they stabbed cruelly into the sand. The mouth of the beast was deformed in a way that would cause even the most zealous dentistry ponies to run in fear. Two fangs dripped green saliva on the sands below, which burnt swiftly and became glass. Behind the fangs was a mouth full of intermingled teeth, something no scorpion should have, grinding together and piercing through the creature’s thick exoskeleton. Its’ eyes burnt a violent blue and swiveled angrily to and fro as if tormented by their own luminescence. It was covered in sharp spines running down its back to its tail, all keen like standing spears, but none so much as the large needle extending from the tip of its tail. On it the beast could have skewered a full-grown stallion from front to back.

The scarlet scorpion took in its surroundings in frantic annoyance, stopping once it's terribly-swiveling eyes lighted on the city on the horizon. Slowly, it began to lumber towards the city. Screeching hisses, of pain or anger or both, escaped it as it moved.

“It would seem that thou hast taken small if any refreshment in thy slumber, Spite,” the familiar voice of Misery played out about the beast.

“Where?” Spite hissed out, looking around itself and not discovering the source of the voice. “Now!”

“Thy words pour out as prettily as ever,” Misery mocked, shadows on sand dunes around the scorpion rippling. “That is right, old friend. I am here. Thy burning heart yearns for spoils and bloodshed in yon city, an I guess rightly.”

“Mine!” Spite hissed in fury, ramming a pincer into the sand, trying in his rage to turn the grains of sand in its grasp into an even finer powder. “Kill!”

“Yes, yes my simple comrade,” Misery said, his amusement plain. “Thou art free to wipe that city from this world at thine own leisure. For my part, mine own plans shall suffer not at all... no indeed, they move at a far greater pace than I could ever have anticipated.” A shadowy tendril reached up from the protection of the sheltering lee of the sand dune, and was transfixed by the sunlight, burning with a violent green fire. “Soon nothing the cursed offspring of the Ancient Ones can do shall mean anything to us. All the pieces are in order... the trap ready to be sprung.”

“Explain!” the massive arthropod demanded.

Misery’s laugh echoed from every shadow around Spite. “Very well,” the hidden raven said with pride. “As we speak, Deceit moves south toward Seasaddle. Mockery scurries north toward Fillydelphia... Avarice takes a host of greedy fools to march west on what the ponies refer to as Appleloosa.” A sickeningly-deformed beak grew from the shadows and grinned wickedly at Spite. “Treachery poisons the mind of the sun princess in central Canterlot, and you approach the eastern edge of Salt Lick City.”

“Thee?” Spite screeched inquisitively.

“I am everywhere,” Misery said in furious pride. “Surely thy mind hath by now enfolded this truth.”

The deep red scorpion’s voice became as a meat grinder, “Tempest?”

Misery took in a deep breath before responding with an even tone, “Unknown. I harried her on her waking, but the cur seemed little-interested in our dealings. Time only shall tell what that one will do. For now we must focus on Aurora and Eventide’s damned seed.”

“Retaliation?” Spite asked.

“Impossible,” Misery said in glee. “While we press our advantage on so many fronts, the foalish princesses, seeking to protect all of their people rather than merely those most vital, will be unable to divide their forces freely between us.” The face grinned horribly. “It will be a slaughter. In her folly, the sun princess will pull her army in close at Canterlot. Treachery will continue whispering fell words in her ear. Then... we will crush her underneath the hammer of our might.” His smile faded. “She and her sister will not be opponents as worthy as their forebears.”

“Elements?” Spite questioned.

“What of them?” Misery asked in return, haughtily. “From what I have determined they are in the possession of six worthless mares. Weaklings. Besides, the Elements were useless against us in the first place.”

“Bored!” Spite roared, turning from the hidden bird, and began to once again make his way towards Salt Lick City.

“Thou art as useful as ever thou wert, dear sweet Spite,” Misery said as he watched the scorpion scuttle on. The unnatural aspect that was his grin transfixed the dark beak. “Go thee now... flood the streets with the blood of ponies. May it become a river to choke the life from our beloved princesses.”

Fleur carried the burden of a long life of many hardships.

She couldn’t have said how long her torment had lasted. Time had no meaning under the endless gaze of the pink eye. As ‘time’ carried on the leering pink light had only waxed in intensity. Now, the withered mare prayed for it to end to whatever gods were listening. Darkness did not come. Only piercing pink, blinding her every step.

Once, in a life long gone, she had been beautiful. The talk of Canterlot, object of desire for many prominent stallions. Now she was a husk of her former glory. Her coat was a dull ash grey, wrinkled and clinging to her scrawny bones, as if she was nothing more than a dress for a skeleton. Her mane was no longer its once-vibrant pink, flowing softly down her pretty face. It was the blasted black color of ashes, and fell out on the path behind her as she trudged on. Her hooves, once treated to daily pony-pedis, now pulled her forward more out of habit than desire, cracked and bleeding on the hard ground. Though her body was a shell animated by only the barest spark of life, one thing remained unharmed, if not strengthened.

Her will.

Fleur did not remember when it had happened, but she had decided that for as long as she could carry on, she would. That she would find a way out of this waking nightmare. That she would eventually get back to her life in Canterlot. That her love would still be waiting for her.

Fancy Pants.

She missed him more than anything. Never before had she truly appreciated what it meant to be held at night, to feel another's loving embrace as darkness overtakes you, as if it were a silent reassurance that the sun would indeed rise again in the morning. She had thought in her foalish past that one day Fancy Pants would discover what she had been doing and hate her for it, or at the very least cast her aside as a pariah.

In fact, if she were to be honest with herself, she had desired to one day get caught. The scandal would have been the talk of Equestria, her face in every paper, her exploits the conversation at every dinner. No longer did thoughts of danger fill her mind. Instead thoughts of love, deep yearnings for equine contact pulled her on. No longer at the breakneck gallop she had used to perform. Now at a pace that eased her mind, allowing her to contemplate her captor.

She gazed up at the eye. Again it sent an unseen pulse of energy down at her, stripping part of her away again forever. But she did not waver or cower as she once might have. She glared at her enemy, silently cursing it. And. she supposed, wishing for a really long stick with which to poke at it. She had given her overly-observant nemesis a name one day in a stroke of inspiration. On the rare occasions she had uttered the name aloud, she thought she felt anger from the eye, an outrage at her insolence.

Treachery.

It fit quite well. After all, only a treacherous monstrosity like this could put a pony though so much, and not even give her the courtesy of death. Originally she had thought the eye was watching her and her alone, but now she had other thoughts. The eye was her own, a window into her very soul.

Fleur was trapped in her own mind, a prisoner of some awful creature that Equestria would have been better off never knowing. Knowing it was her mind she was in allowed her a level of control. No longer did she wander the endless maze. As soon as she was able, she had rid herself of the uncouth construction this foreign intruder had built around her. Now she walked an open field without end, always towards a guiding light. She had promised herself that the light was her ticket out of here. That once she reached it she could buck the hitchhiker out of her head and everything would go back to normal.

A few days ago, or possibly a few years ago, the eye had tried to invade her once again. Pushing its way inside her most treasured thoughts, tearing away and analyzing all that she loved and had done, violating her as it had many times before. It seemed to get stronger every time it did this, and herself weaker. But this one time, something happened that had never happened before.

She didn’t let it.

It didn’t like that.

It had doubled its efforts to break her down since then. But she stood resolute. Unwavering in the face of the most fearsome enemy she had ever encountered. Though its efforts pooled to bring her down she decided that never again would this wretched thing look inside her. Never again would it run its icy fingers along her mind. Never again would that pink gaze touch Fancy Pants.

Raising her tired and aggravated gaze to the light in the distance, she muttered a quiet challenge for her hated enemy. “I’m coming for you coltsucker. You’d better be ready.”

        “It reeks of bear,” Gale said flatly, smiling at the ponies who looked past her into the cave. They returned her gesture.

        “Well Fluttershy did say that a bear used to live here,” Rainbow Dash said with a touch of sarcasm, eliciting a round of giggles from everypony else and a weak laugh from the wolf.

        “So she did,” Gale said, looking into the cave. It was spacious and dry, with only a single entrance. “With a little cleaning, I’m certain it will make a wonderful den.” She looked to the yellow pegasus. “I thank thee, Fluttershy.”

        “Of course. It’s the least I could do for you. Saving Applebloom and all,” Fluttershy said sincerely. She turned and looked over at Applejack, who was carrying the still-sleeping filly on her back. “I sure hope she wakes up soon. I’m worried.”

        “Me too, sugarcube,” Applejack said, turning her head to look at the sleeping bundle on her back. “Me too.”

        “I’m sure she’ll be fine,” Twilight Sparkle said, placing a reassuring hoof on Applejack’s shoulder. “It was a long fall... but Zecora looked her over at her hut on the way here. No broken bones. And whatever a...” Twilight paused momentarily as she searched out the foreign word in her memory. “‘Chakra’... is... was unharmed.”

        “We can be knowledgeable with another pony’s knowledge,” Pinkie Pie said contemplatively, sitting on her haunches and folding her forehooves in front of her. “But we cannot be wise with another pony’s wisdom.”

        “What?!” Everypony said in unison, their eyes wide with disbelief.

        “What?” Pinkie said cluelessly, her words seemingly forgotten as she bounced excitedly once more.

        “Anyways,” sighed Twilight, looking back to Applebloom. “I’m sure she’ll wake up once you get her home.”

        “I sure as sugar hope your right, Twi,” Applejack said tightly.

        “It was very kind of Zecora to stay behind at her place and fix up some more of her special brew for Applebloom,” Rarity said with a smile. “That pony knows a remedy for everything. Isn’t that right, Sweetie Belle?”

        Everypony could hear Sweetie Belle’s voice from the cave, “You're going to live here?” They turned to see Rarity’s younger sister sitting at the cave entrance with Gale. “But it’s so dark.”

        “I like the darkness,” Gale said to the curious filly, resting a paw on her head and rubbing gently. “Tis something to which I have become accustomed.”

        “Hey,” Sweetie Belle said laughing and pushing the big paw from her head, her hair in shambles. “Don’t you get scared?”

        “Of what?” Gale asked curiously. She smiled a big grin at the filly and spun in a circle, stopping in front of her and leaning down playfully with her tail hiked in the air, wagging freely. “What could possibly frighten the big... bad... wolf? She leapt and snatched up the laughing filly with her paws, tickling her mercilessly.

        Fluttershy smiled as she watched them playing. As Gale sat Sweetie Belle down, Scootaloo ran past the yellow pegasus towards her hysterically laughing friend. The little pegasus did not seem happy.

        Scootaloo galloped up to Sweetie Belle. Giving her hoof a tug, she whispered: “you shouldn't be alone with that wolf!”

        “Why?” Sweetie Belle asked, wiping away a tear and giving a confused look at the concerned filly. “She did save Applebloom!”

        “That’s enough, girls,” Twilight said softly, smiling awkwardly at Gale. “Go play with Pinkie Pie for a few moments. The grownups need to talk.”

        Despite Sweetie Belle’s objections, both ran off to the bounding pink mare and began chasing after her, giggling as they forgot their argument. Twilight approached the pink wolf, sitting next to her at the entrance to the cave, and gave a smile. Gale returned the expression and shook her head.

        “Be not afraid, Twilight Sparkle,” Gale said sincerely. She looked past the purple mare at the playing ponies. “The one called Scootaloo has good instincts. I am a predator, after all.”

        “Yes... about that,” Twilight said with embarrassment, scratching her head with a hoof. “You eat... meat... right?”

        “Yes,” Gale said flatly and noticed Fluttershy cover her mouth in surprise. “I also find many vegetables and fruits palatable... however... I cannot happily sustain myself on that diet alone.”

        Rainbow Dash flew into the cave and landed near the two. She shrugged her shoulders at Twilight and asked, “What’s the big deal? We got all kinds of predators in Equestria.”

        Rarity joined the congregation, sitting close to Rainbow Dash, and spoke with concern, “That is true Rainbow Dash... but Gale doesn’t know the rules.”

        “Rules?” Gale asked arching an eyebrow. “What rules?”

        “Certain animals can be...” Fluttershy balked at the mere mention of the word. “Hunted... and certain ones can't,” she sat down, Applejack in tow. “Although I don’t like to think of any living thing being...” She shivered quietly before continuing. “Hunted.”

        “So what can she eat?” Asked Applejack, reaching a hoof over and laying it across Fluttershy’s, comforting her.

        Twilight gave a broad, sparkling smile and her eyes lit up. “Well... it just so happens I have a copy of Celestia’s Predator’s Rules and Regulations on me!” Glowing with pride, she reached into her backpack, shuffling through the contents.

        “Why do you have that?” Rainbow Dash began then face-hoofed. “Forget it.”

        “Ha ha ha,” Twilight laughed sarcastically, narrowing her eyes. “Don’t you still need to return a few of my Daring Do books?”

Rainbow Dash blushed, her eyes flitting furtively between her friends.

A prim smile of satisfaction on her face, Twilight turned to Gale. Her horn glowing, she set the open book gently on the ground. “Here it is... everything you can hunt legally.”

        Gale began looking the page over, her eyes going wide. She looked up at the smiling mare in disbelief. “Fish?” She asked in skepticism. “Only... fish?”

        “You don’t like... fish?” Rarity asked, her face wrinkled with disgust at the notion of them as food.

        “Oh no... I love fish,” the pink wolf said, licking her lips at the thought. Her ears drooped as she looked at Twilight. “But to eat only one type of food... that has to be a joke.”

        “Well... you can throw in some apples from my farm,” Applejack chimed in, snapping the wolf temporarily out of her distress. “Why, anytime you want an apple, just come on over... free of charge!”

        “Not to worry!” Twilight added, turning the page. “See, on occasion the princess sends out notices allowing predators to eat other animals for a while.” Fluttershy’s ears drooped, and Twilight gave her a conciliatory look. “You know... to thin them out. Control the numbers.”

        “I understand,” Gale said nodding her head. She smiled at the mares sweetly. “So on occasion, I may be allowed to hunt a species that has overrun their breeding quota?”

        “...Yes,” Twilight hesitantly answered.

        “Are ponies ever available for hunting?” Gale asked and immediately received horrified looks. She coughed once, her tone apologetic. “It’s just that... ponies clearly have the greatest numbers of all animals... so... it would seem commensurately that thou wouldst be on the menu more than any other species.” They stared at her. “Not that I would ever consider eating a pony... well... not that I haven't. But...” She shook her head furiously. “Never again!” She looked back and forth between them and sighed in exasperation. “I shall now still my tongue.”

        Rarity was the first to shakely compose herself and answer the wolf, “Umm... any creature capable of speech never makes it to the hunting list.”

        “That’s right,” Twilight added, wiping a bead of sweat from her brow. “Can you live with that?” She waited tensely as Gale seemingly pondered her response.

        Fluttershy leaned in close and gave the wolf a sweet smile, calming her nerves. “It won’t be that bad.”

        Gale smiled at the yellow pegasus and spoke to the purple unicorn. “Of course, Twilight. I give my oath to abide by all the rules which thy rightful sovereign has placed for me and my kind in thy lands.” She bowed her head to the ponies before her. “I apologize if by my careless words I have caused any offense.”

        Applejack was the first to respond to the apology. Without a moment's pause she reached a hoof over and placed in on Gale’s paw, smiled and said, “Don’t sweat the small stuff, sugarcube. Ain't none of us offended by ya.”

“I hate to be ‘that pony’,” Rainbow Dash started, then took a deep breath, her eyes fixed intently on Gale. “But what if she decides fish isn’t enough? What if she goes all Red Riding Hoof on one of the fillies?”

“Red Riding Hoof?” Gale inquired, looking at the others for support. “Of what does the rainbow one speak?”

“Basically,” Twilight started, casting a frustrated sidelong glance at Rainbow Dash. She spoke softly and carefully to Gale. “What she’s trying to ask is... what if you decided to harm one of the fillies?”

        Gale responded immediately. “No child by my action or inaction shall be harmed while I yet live.” Realizing everypony had leaned away from her serious gaze, she grinned kindly. “A child’s only worry should be what game to play at. Not what the wolf in the cave is plotting.”

        “You seem very adamant about that,” Rarity stated, a half-smile painted on her face.

        “I am,” Gale responded, her ears hanging low to her head. “I do not like when children are harmed.” She looked down at the ground and moved a pebble with her paw.

        Everypony smiled at the pink wolf. But the moment was shattered when Pinkie screamed out, “Giant spider! Everypony run!”

        The cave floor Gale sat on cracked with the force of her sudden movement as she dashed outside to face her old foe. She moved with reckless speed past the fleeing pink pony, the fillies following closely behind her. She slid to a stop outside the cave, her ferocious growl vibrating through the cave as she came face to face with the object of their terror.

        An ordinary garden spider.

        She stared at the insect in disbelief. Relief and embarrassment seeped into her expression as she turned to face the stunned ponies looking at her. “Umm,” Gale started, blushing. “Sorry. I thought... nothing. Never mind.” She smiled and giggled.

        “That... was... awesome!” Rainbow Dash said in stuttered astonishment, her eyes wide and sparkling in shock. She dashed out to meet the flustered wolf. “You were so fast!”

        “Hehe... um yes,” Gale said shyly, looking away from the gushing mare. “I thought someone needed help.”

        “Well I think that proves it,” Twilight said triumphantly. “We should hurry to Princess Celestia. She has to OK Gale living here... but I’m positive she’ll agree to let you stay.”

        Everypony agreed. The wolf smiled at them, following them towards the train station. Rarity came last, stopping to look behind her at the broken stones on the cave floor from where Gale had burst into sudden and violent motion.

        “Come on, Rarity!” Pinkie Pie yelled from the group walking into Ponyville.

        Surprised, Rarity noticed her friends walking away. Galloping to catch up, she yelled, “Coming!”

        It was a short walk into Ponyville. The town was alive and well in the early morning. Merchants displayed their wares in the town center, and ponies ate their breakfast in open-air cafes around town. The tone of conversation in town quickly changed from the strange moon last night, to the pink wolf being led through town.

        Gale looked at the ponies staring at her. Most cowered or ran indoors in fear as she looked at them. For the first time since she had met these new ponies, she felt disheartened. “What a fool I am,” she muttered under her breath, glaring at the ground as she strolled, the last in her unusual procession. “To think that I could rest easy... to allow myself any time for leisure.” Her kind blue eyes looked up into the eyes of a stallion who cowered and shivered. “All hate me without so much as knowing me.”

        “What was that?” Fluttershy asked sweetly, slowing down to walk beside Gale. She looked around at the townsponies and then turned her sweet, knowing smile back to the wolf. “They’ll warm up to you eventually. They’re just scared. Nopony has ever seen a wolf before.”

        Somehow, the reassurances of the yellow pegasus eased the wolf into smiling. Gale stopped abruptly and looked at Fluttershy with confusion. She asked, “How dost thou do that?”

        Everypony stopped and looked at the pink wolf. Fluttershy smiled awkwardly. “Do what?”

        “That... thing... that thou doest,” Gale said confused. “I was feeling...” she shook her head. “And... now.”

        “Fluttershy is really good with animals,” Twilight commented, giggling at the confused wolf. She pointed to Fluttershy’s cutie mark. “It’s her extra-special talent.”

        “So it would seem,” Gale said with a reserved smile. “I will need to keep a careful eye on thee else I be reduced to nothing more than a lapdog.” Everypony laughed, including a few bystanders who overheard her, and she smiled. “Well, let’s be on our way.”

        Arriving at the Ponyville Express train station, Twilight approached the ticket counter. “Excuse me,” she said to the brown stallion inside, an hourglass cutie mark on his flank. “When is the next train to Canterlot scheduled to leave?”

        “Ah, Twilight Sparkle!” The friendly-looking pony said, then looked at her friends. “The train leaves in ten minutes. You and your mates going to see the Princess?”

        “Why yes we are... and one other,” Twilight said, pointing a hoof at the pink wolf who had just casually strolled up.

        “Well that’s not a problem I...” he blinked. “What?!” The stallions jaw dropped in shock. “Umm you know that’s a wolf... right?”

        “Well,” Gale said, arching her brow and smiling over at Rarity. “At least his powers of observation are in order.” Everypony laughed except the frightened ticketmaster.

        “It’ll be fine. Just dispense the tickets and we’ll be outta your mane lickety split,” Applejack said, still carrying her sleeping sister on her back. “We’re kinda in a hurry. Gotta get my sis to Celestia so she can fix her up.”

        “Uh... sure,” the ticketmaster said, dispensing a ticket for all attending. Once received he slouched under the counter and called out nervously. “Enjoy your ride.”

        Everypony and wolf entered the train and through circumstance found themselves in their own private train car. The passengers already aboard quickly discovered they would rather be in a different car at the sight of Gale. Rainbow Dash cheered and plopped down on a cot, “Aww yeah! Having you around makes things a bit cozy, if you don’t mind me saying.”

        “I do when it makes me look bad,” Gale said as she walked over and bit a pillow, tossing it and hitting the rainbow mare in the head, eliciting a round of laughter. The wolf smiled. “I will give it time.”

        With a toot of the horn, the train slowly lurched forward. Ferrying the strange group onward toward their destination.

        Salt Lick City was alive and bustling in preparation as ponies from all over Equestria flooded the streets. Often called the City of Celebration, its laws were less stringent than typical Equestrian cities, allowing ponies to explore the wilder side of life. Hoofstock occurred once a year and always promised good music, great food, and unforgettable encounters.

        The city itself was built by unicorns who crafted the sands into magnificent glass structures, tinted every color of the rainbow. They rose atop the great walls encircling the city, and in numerous squares and concourses all throughout it. During Hoofstock however, ponies did not stay in the city, but instead erected tents and wooden stages all around it. Throughout this makeshift city, ponies bustled about, desiring to imbibe the many drinks and luxuries such an event offered.

        On the central stage, which had finished construction, Vinyl Scratch sat checking the wiring of her sound equipment. She wore her signature sunglasses and meticulously inspected each wire by hoof. Behind her, Lyra Heartstrings was magically plucking her lyre, trying to tune it over the roar of the crowd. Bon Bon made her way quickly but carefully across the stage to Lyra, taking care to not step on any of the exposed wiring.

        Lyra smiled at the approach of her lifelong friend and said happily, “Hey there Bon Bon!” She gestured to the bustling ponies with a hoof. “What do you think? Big crowd!”

        Bon Bon laughed and gazed out on the crowd, then turned her head to look at her excited friend. “Big isn’t the word Lyra!” She said grinning ear to ear. Her smile turned wicked. “Are you sure you're up to it?”

        “Please!” Lyra scoffed, sitting her lyre down on the control booth table. “I was born for this!”

        “You sure about that?” A sultry mare’s voice asked from behind the confident pony. Octavia approached Lyra, carrying her contrabass, still in its case, across her back, the strap nestled around her. “This place can get quite crazy.”

        Lyra laughed, then spoke to Octavia, “I think I can handle a little crazy. Besides...” She magically lifted her lyre in front of her. “I’m hooking this baby up to Vinyl Scratch’s sound system! It’s gonna be off the chain!”

        “Oh Lyra!” Bon Bon giggled as she watched Octavia roll her eyes. “What about you, Octavia? Are you going to be using DJ pon3’s magical amplification system?”

        Octavia sat her case down slowly and with deliberate care. She smiled as she ran her hoof across the black leather, gently stopping at each golden latch, opening them and gazing inside at her favored tool. Carefully she removed it from its case and took the bow in hoof, sitting the instrument upright. She stood on her hind legs, resting the contrabass against her body, a stance uncommon to ponies, and placed the bow gently against the strings.

        “I do not use such cheap tactics to entrance my audience,” Octavia said, her eyes locked on her strings. “All the world listens to music, distorted through the use of magic. I play with skill refined through countless years of practice.”

        “Yeah... ok,” Lyra dismissed with a grin, shaking her head and pointing out to the crowd. “That’s all well and good Octy... but what good is all your skill if nopony can hear you? I mean; look at them. Tonight's party is going to be insane. Not to mention that other bands will be playing at the same time. No way anypony is going to be able to listen to that little thing on its own.”

        “Is that so?” Octavia asked coyly. She gently ran the bow across the strings, a quiet tone escaping the instrument. With a smile she exerted more pressure, drawing the bow against the strings in a clear and melodious note, causing everypony who had been causing a ruckus to stop in their tracks and stare at her. Octavia’s sultry grin drew a blush from Lyra. “See... if you play... they will come.”

        Lyra gulped nervously, watching Octavia put away her contrabass. Bon Bon trotted happily up to her side and placed a hoof on the now-sitting pony’s shoulder. She gave a reassuring smile to her friend.

        “It will be fine! Don’t worry so much!” Bon Bon said, giving the minty green mare a hug. “Remember: Vinyl Scratch invited us here!”

        “Speaking of that,” Vinyl Scratch said from their right, shocking both ponies. “I hope you guys brought your best cause this party is about to start!” Her horn glowed a bright blue as she lifted two records from a box she had brought with her, placing them on the turntables at her station. Her horn flashing bright red, she teleported behind the station in a flash of disorienting, rainbow-colored lights. A microphone floated close. She magically charged it and spoke. “I hope all you ponies are ready! Cause it’s about to get real in here!”

        Music began to pour out of the speakers and ponies began to rush to get the best spots for the festivities. Lyra smiled down at the sight and made her way offstage with Bon Bon as DJ pon3 opened Haystock with thumping bass and blaring digital noise.

        The train pulled into Canterlot station as the sun slipped below the horizon. Twilight was the first to step hoof out of the train, shortly followed by everypony else, and lastly the reluctant wolf. As soon as they were out, a Canterlot guard noticed the strange creature following the ponies and stepped forward sternly. He raised his wings in a confrontational posture as he stared her down, his hoof held out in a commanding gesture.

        “Halt!” He shouted to the pink wolf, a scowl on his face. “Your kind are not welcome in the royal city!” He quickly took notice of Twilight Sparkle and lowered his guard in shock. “Twilight! What in Celestia’s name are you doing here with... that?!”

        “She’s with us,” Twilight said as she gave yet another apologetic smile at Gale, who looked flustered. “We’re going to speak to the princess. This wolf... Gale... has duly earned a visitation with her.”

        “Oh... well... ok then,” the guard stuttered, confused. “I had better escort you. Otherwise you’re liable to be stopped by every guard in the city.”

        “That would be mighty kind of ya,” Applejack said happily. On her back, Applebloom began to stir, causing the orange earth pony to jump in shock. “Oh tarnation! She’s waking up!” Everypony gathered round the filly as she was lowered to rest on the ground. Slowly she began to open her eyes.

        “Sis?” Applebloom asked weakly, her eyes slits to protect against the infiltration of the light. “What happened?”

        “Oh thank heavens!” Applejack cried as she gave her little sister a hug. “I was so worried about you, sugarcube.”

        “You're embarrassing me,” Applebloom strained out, blushing her elder sister’s embrace. Her eyes fell on the pink wolf behind the ponies and went wide in shock. “Wa... wa... woo.”

        “Huh?” Pinkie Pie said, looking over at Gale. “That’s not a woo! That’s a wolf!”

        “Wolf!” Applebloom cried and dove under Applejack. “She's the one who tried to kill me!”

        “What?” Twilight asked in shock. “No Applebloom... Gale saved you!”

        “I heard a girl's voice!” Applebloom shouted, a tear in her eye. “It made me fall!”

        “Gale,” Rarity said, looking from the cowering filly to the pink wolf. “Did you hear a voice?”

        “No,” Gale said, a frown on her face. “There was no voice. But judge not thy sibling’s words of as mistaken.” She looked down at the filly who stared at her in terror. “Sometimes we find ourselves entangled in the webs of a thing strange beyond description.”

        “You... you don’t sound like the voice,” Applebloom said cautiously. She stepped out from under her sister’s protection. “I... I was so scared. I can barely remember it.”

        “What do you remember?” Rainbow Dash asked, stepping up alongside Applebloom.

        “I remember not being able to sleep,” Applebloom said as she slowly looked at the ponies around her. She looked at her sister, shame in her eyes. “I remember walking to the edge of the cliff. Like... like you told me not to.” She hung her head in shame, her ears flat against her head. “I’m sorry sis.”

        “It’s ok Applebloom,” Applejack said, hugging her tightly again. “You’re safe! That’s all I care about right now.”

        “Oh!” The filly said, looking over at the other Cutie Mark Crusaders who sat quietly. “I remember a voice from the pit! Yeah... it asked me to catch a rope!”

        “And?” Scootaloo asked.

        “And that’s it!” Applebloom exclaimed in frustration. “I just remember the pink wolf grabbing me... then nothing.”

        Running up and giving her a big hug, Sweetie Belle cried and said, “Don’t do that! Don't do that again! We almost lost you!” Tears were running down her face, and Applebloom began to cry as well.

        “Big babies,” Scootaloo choked out, tears building in her eyes as she tried to hold them back. Fluttershy gave the proud little filly a gentle shove towards the others, motivating the little pegasus to dive in and cry with her friends, a tearful reunion.

        “This is all well and good,” the guard said, shuffling uncomfortably as he watched them. “But we must be off. It is getting late and Celestia will retire for the evening soon.”

        After collecting themselves, they all approached the castle with the guard clearing the way for the unusual visitor. This didn’t stop them from receiving stares whose content ranged from shocked to terrified. He led them to the throne room and Gale came to an abrupt stop. Everypony turned to face the pink wolf, whose eyes flitted about nervously.

        “Twilight,” Gale spoke softly. A sudden seriousness creeping into her tone. “Wouldst thou and thy fine guard here please permit me to speak with thy sovereign alone? I understand other guards will be present... but I desire to plead my case before thy princess by mine own merit.”

        “Umm... I’m not sure that’s a great idea,” Twilight said with worry.

        “Yeah hun, “Applejack said shaking her head. “You're not even supposed to be here.”

        “Believe me,” Gale said smiling. “The princess shall be glad to see me.”

        Celestia sat on her throne, her hair flowing in the air behind her despite the pained look in her eyes. Her heart was breaking. She had moments ago arrived and told the guards to place her sister in a cell alongside Phalanx, a task they had quietly objected to. Her horn had a faint blue glow as she subconsciously exchanged the sun for the moon, nudging it into its prescribed course for the evening.

        Fleur de Lis, her friend of many years, sat on a pillow at her side. She was eating grapes and looking pleased with herself. Celestia could not for the life of her understand how her trusted friend could seem so happy with all that had happened. Guardedly, Celestia spoke.

        “You do not seem worried, Fleur,” Celestia pointed out with a grimace. “How can you just sit there like that?”

        “Oh Celestia,” Fleur purred up at her. “Don’t worry... Luna will awaken soon and this whole vile matter will be resolved.” She magically dropped another grape in her mouth.

        “I do hope you are right,” the princess said, lowering her head. “I don’t know how much more I can take today. Things just... seem out of place.”

        A guard pony entered the throne room, walking towards the princess and kneeling before her. He had a nervous look. He looked into her eyes, his pupils shrunk small with trepidation.

        “Princess Celestia,” he started, the words pouring out suddenly. “There is a pon... um... a person wishing to have counsel with you.”

        “I will not see anyone tonight,” she said, turning from the guard. “Not right now.”

        “Yes milady!” He shouted with clear relief. “I will inform Twilight and the wolf that you are not receiving visitors this evening.”

        “Twilight is here? With a wolf?” Celestia asked, leaning forward.

        “A wolf is here!?” Fleur asked, the sharpness of her tone drawing a look from the princess. “Sorry... I just am not used to such barbaric creatures entering our civilized city. You should send... it... away.”

        “Fleur,” Celestia’s eyes narrowed as she looked at her friend. “I’ve felt strange feelings from you as of late.” She turned her attention to the guard. “I believe I would like to see this... wolf.”

        “Very well, milady,” he spoke as he continued towards the door.

        Fleur stood slowly as though fatigued, meeting Celestia’s eyes. Fleur’s face became serious as she glared at the princess, obviously struggling with some kind of effort. The white unicorn let out a gasp of air and collapsed to the pillow.

        “What are you doing?” Celestia asked, her eyebrow arched.

        “You... you cannot see that wolf!” Fleur sputtered looking up at her. “It will try to kill you!”

        “What nonsense!” Celestia exclaimed in shock. “You are being very strange today.” She turned to the doors that were now opening.

        “No!” Fleur de Lis shouted, shielding her eyes in fear. When nothing exploded, she stole a peek at the creature entering the throne room, smiled to herself, and breathed a sigh of relief. She spoke quietly to herself as the pink wolf entered. “I thought that was you for a moment.” She turned back to Celestia, and her smile fled.

        Celestia stared, her terror no less complete for its silence, at the thing that had walked into her throne room. Not a wolf but in barest appearances. An ordinary wolf would have been far too easy for a night like tonight. She watched as the pink creature approached, shimmering purple chains swirling around every inch of her body, constricting the wolf’s magic but stressed to a breaking point.

Celestia knew that no guard in the room had cause for concern at first glance. Grand Seal Chains were invisible to all but alicorns. A single set of these chains could bind she or her sister for a thousand years. Her ancient mind could scarce comprehend how a creature with not one, but three sets of them binding her was even able to move, let alone walk, so casually.

        “Hello, princess,” the wolf spoke, stopping before her throne and bowing. She raised her head from the floor, her eyes no longer a crisp blue but a furious red. “I am quite pleased to meet thee at last.”

        Author’s Note
        Thanks to my editor Malthusite. Without him I doubt any of you would read past my grammar mistakes and tense errors. A big thank you to all of you submitting feedback to me at my facebook. Never before have I gotten so many messages, let alone from a group of bronies! Brohoofs all!   /)