The Coming End

Chapter 1: The Coming End

“Well now, I thought I would find you here.”

Terra Heart’s ear barely flicked in acknowledgement of his leader’s voice. He had been expecting to hear from Morning Star sooner or later. However, he hadn’t been entirely expecting to have the soft-spoken unicorn come for him in pony, even if Morning was one of the few who could actually reach this spot on his own.

If there was a pony who could be said to embody the very definition of what it meant to be an earth pony in physical form, it would be Terra. His dark-brown coat, which evoked an image of the freshly-turned earth of a field ready for planting did nothing to cover up the solid, heavy muscles that stood out beneath it. Terra’s physique looked as though it had been carved from the side of a mountain. It was solid, unyielding, invincible-looking. His muscles seemed to strain against his skin and coat, as though they could barely contain the rumbling power within him. His pale-green mane swirled in the wind, looking almost like a row of freshly sprouted wheat when they were drawn upright by the drafts whirling around the two ponies.

Terra’s eyes, which had been closed before, slowly drifted open, revealing a pair of impassive gray orbs, which he slowly oriented on Morning Star.

The unicorn met Terra’s stoic gaze with an expression of faint amusement in his cyan eyes. His rosy-pink coat, accompanied by a mane that washed through different shades of orange to a sunny-yellow at the tips, stood out against the featureless white of the snow all around them. However, the off-white color of his horn was difficult to make out, given their surroundings.

Neither pony seemed to notice the whirling maelstrom of snow and ice that surrounded them. The icy blasts of wind made neither pony shiver or flinch. They both stood, completely unbothered by the inclement weather, as though they were chatting under the warm sun of a fresh spring day. Anypony who might have seen them would have been shocked by the sight. Fortunately, it was highly unlikely that anypony would stumble upon them at this place. In the spot they were standing right now, it could be said that the ponies who would be able to reach that spot and survive numbered less than twenty in the entire world…well without assistance, at least.

The mountain, ensconced deep within the range that sprawled across the country of Neighpal was known by many names, Chomolungma being one of them. Some people referred to it as the sacred “Tentpole of the Sky,” and old myths described the mountain as having been raised from the base earth to hold the tapestry of the sky in place. It stood as the highest mountain in the world, its peak punching up into the air, well beyond the height of even the highest pegasus cloud cities. Even amongst the pegasi, there were a scant hoofful that could reach this altitude without assistance and still fewer that could remain at said altitude for any length of time, much less indefinitely.

Up at this altitude, the air was exceedingly thin, without enough oxygen to support the average pony. On top of that, what air was present was often a deathly cold wind, driving snow that could freeze an unprotected traveler solid in just a few minutes. Winter was even worse, when the temperatures were at their lowest and the snows at their deepest. The powerful gusts of wind could knock an unprepared pony over. They'd been reputed to even simply lift up lighter ponies and toss them down the sides of the mountain or into crevasses, never to be seen alive again.

For the average pony, simply climbing to the summit was a life-threatening ordeal. Warm layers, several of them, were required, along with either the spells or equipment to supplement the oxygen needed to function at higher altitudes. Climbers moved in expeditions with upwards of ten members, not including guides and porters to carry valuable, life-saving equipment. Reaching the top of this mountain was an accomplishment that represented an enormous investment of time, money, and determination beyond the scope of ordinary ponies.

Terra Heart had not needed money and determination, at least. He'd simply climbed to the top as though he'd been taking an afternoon stroll through a summer field. He carried no equipment, no spells to aid his breathing, not a single stitch of thread against the cold. He stood at the peak, naked to the elements, unaided, unsupported, and unbowed.

Terra had been in this spot for at least two months, give or take a week or two, Morning Star figured. As soon as Morning Star had declared that Terra was to see to the colt, Dawn Lightwing's extermination and set a timeframe for when the event would take place, Terra had left the temple, traveled across the seas to Saddle Arabia. From there, he'd navigated his way to Neighpal, on the borders of Pachydermia, and climbed the mountain. Then...he'd waited.

Morning knew that Terra hadn't had a bite to eat since he'd headed up the mountain all those weeks ago. Nor had he drunk anything. Terra hadn't even bothered to swallow some of the abundant snow as the source of moisture that most ponies needed. Terra didn't need to. A master of the Mountain Root could sustain himself with the power of the earth alone. Terra's magic hardened his flesh against the elements, sustained him in this airless environment, and even eliminated his need to subsist on food and water. At this moment, Terra Heart seemed less a creature of flesh and blood and more a being of pure spirit, powered by his will alone, sustained by the endless magic of the world itself.

He'd spent weeks in this spot, endlessly honing that power, building upon it, preparing himself for his expected battle. It was a sign of just how seriously Terra had taken Morning's directive.

"It isn't yet time," said Terra calmly, regarding Morning Star.

Morning Star smiled at his second-in-command. Like Terra Heart, Morning Star stood naked upon the peak with no visible signs of protection against its severe conditions. Rather, he was instead sporting a more interesting feature. A pair of wings, almost like those of a pegasus, extended from his shoulders and curved outward around his body. The wings seemed to create some break in the wind so that it and the snow it drove ahead of it swirled around Morning without touching him. Those wings seemed to enrich the air in the unicorn's immediate vicinity as well, allowing Morning to breathe without difficulty.

The presence of wings on a unicorn's body would have normally served to mark Morning Star out as an alicorn, but these wings were different. Their off-white color, which matched the color of his horn, clashed harshly against the natural color of his coat. Also, while they were attached to his body, the muscle and bone structures normally present to support wings and their motion were absent from Morning's physique, giving the appendages a disconcerting, alien appearance when contrasted with the rest of his body. They looked less like actual body parts and more like replicas that had been tacked on as an afterthought. Terra knew for a fact that those wings were not composed of any mundane matter known to mortal ponies, but rather, matter of a higher order. Morning Star could do things with those wings that completely defied the laws of the world as ordinary, and even extraordinary, ponies understood them.

"I'm aware that it isn't time yet," replied Morning Star, "I merely came here to check with you on your plans for the whole affair. It will take some time for you to return to Equestria, much less reach Ponyville from this point. We are talking a journey of over a month, at least. If you leave it until too late, you might miss the ideal time to strike."

"Worry not," replied Terra cooly, "I know when I need to leave. Once I do, I will make straight for Ponyville. The Rolling Stone does not stop until it reaches the mountain's base."

"Of course," said Morning Star, "That...seems like overkill."

"I cannot take enough care," replied Terra Heart simply, "This colt has already shown himself to be dangerous, both directly and indirectly. I will take no chances. I will bring all of my strength and ability to bear in order to kill him."

Morning nodded. The Rolling Stone was a technique, if it could be called that, particular to the Mountain Root. It was the ultimate expression of one's determination to seize victory by destroying one's opponent. The technique was born from a proverb regarding a stone rolling downhill, which did not come to a stop until it had reached the base, its destination. Until then, it only continued to gather speed and inertia, building up its momentum with each successive bounce and turn. It was, in essence, a pilgrimage to the site of battle. Starting from this distant peak, where he had spent the past weeks and would continue to spend several additional ones to build and hone his power, Terra would descend and walk as straight a path to Ponyville as the journey allowed. He would walk day and night, not ceasing his journey until he reached his destination...and his target. Only after Dawn Lightwing's corpse lay upon the ground, would Terra's journey be completed.

It was aspects such as this that set the Mountain Root apart from the other Three Pillars. The Gale King might have been more versatile and mobile. The Still Way might be endlessly diverse with countless potential approaches and applications, depending on the wielder. But, of the Three Pillars, the Mountain Root was unmatched in sheer brute power and destructive strength. When Terra Heart finally began his descent, he would be nothing less than an unstoppable juggernaut of destruction. There would be no obstacle that could impede him, no pony that could waylay him, until he had fulfilled his mission.

Morning Star had no doubt, once Terra reached Ponyville, Dawn Lightwing would be dead. It's a shame really, he thought, I think he's much more useful alive. But...the die has been cast. There's nothing to be done about it now.

"If that's the case, I wish you luck," said Morning Star, "I suppose that we will speak once again after the deed has been done."

Terra nodded curtly. "Your will shall be done, Holy Father."

Morning's smile became an amused grin. "Good hunting then."

Morning Star's wings dissolved into a mass of swirling feathers that enveloped the unicorn in a whirling cyclone that dispersed the snow around him. A second later, the feathers scattered, leaving no trace of the unicorn that had been standing amidst them.

Terra's eyes closed once again as he sank into the deathly silence of the mountain's peak.

The town of Ponyville shined white beneath the sun. A thick, even layer of snow lay spread across the town, covering yards and roofs alike with several inches of the white powder. Its uniformity was broken by the occasional hillock made from snow piled from shoveled walks and cleared streets, as well as the presence of the occasional snowpony and other, even more outlandish snow sculptures.

Even though Hearth's Warming season has passed and the new year had arrived, the festive atmosphere still hung about Ponyville, evinced by the countless decorations that still hung from trees, lampposts, and the sides of houses. Most ponies wouldn't bother taking their decorations down until shortly before Winter Wrap-up. School was still out, so there was plenty of time for the foals to frolic and play in the snow before they were expected to assemble for classes once again.

From her postition, soaring above the snow-covered houses of Ponyville, Rainbow Dash drew in a deep breath of the crisp winter air, savoring it as it briefly chilled her lungs before exhaling it back out to watch it condense into mist in front of her. I'm going to miss this. She sincerely doubted that this would be the last time she spent winter in Ponyville, but it would be her final one as the head of Ponyville's Weather Team. Once Winter Wrap-Up was completed, Rainbow would be off to join the Wonderbolts full-time. She wasn't entirely certain what her full duties as a Wonderbolt would entail. Of course, there would be the shows and flight demonstrations that had enthralled her as the filly. But the Wonderbolts were a high-level emergency response team, responding rapidly to and handling the worst of natural disasters. At some point, it was even expected that they would have to follow their leader, Spitfire, into battle.

Because of all that, Rainbow expected to be moving to Cloudsdale permanently. She would, of course, drop by Ponyville to visit all her friends when she got the opportunity, but those opportunities promised to be limited and for short durations. Her time as a resident was almost done.

Shaking her head, Rainbow chased the melancholy thoughts of leaving Ponyville behind out of her head, taking the advice of her coltfriend, Soarin', to savor the good times as much as possible, rather than dwell on the fact that those particular good times were coming to an end. She had the rest of the season to spend with her friends and the ponies closest to her.

Speaking of friends, Rainbow had a promise to keep. Taking another deep breath, Rainbow tilted her wings and banked into a turn that would take her on a leisurely course to the old quarry just outside of town proper. As the town drifted away beneath her, Rainbow's sharp ears pricked upwards as she picked up a low popping noise coming from her destination.

The old quarry outside of Ponyville had not been used as an actual quarry since long before Rainbow Dash had moved to town, long before any of her friends had been born, in fact. There was nothing particularly mysterious and ominous about the place. An enterprising business had moved in some time ago to carve stone from the ground for shipment to nearby cities. Sadly, the placement of the quarry had been less than ideal. Though the stone harvested from it had been of good quality, it wasn't the pristine white marble favored by the masons and builders of Canterlot, the closest city with a high demand for stone. All the other nearby cities tended to have convenient quarries of their own that had scooped this one for business and Ponyville simply didn't have many buildings that required quarried stone for construction.

So it had closed down, the equipment had been removed and its owners had gone off in search of greener, or rather rockier, pastures. Fortunately, the open shape of the quarry precluded it being too much of a hazard for anypony that might have wandered through it, which was just as well. The other residents of Ponyville had found other uses for the quarry in the meantime. The ambient magical currents that swept through the ground seeded and produced a steady supply of high-quality gemstones, which were especially useful to ponies like Rarity and the local jewelers. Said gemstones had also had the unfortunate side effect of attracting a colony of diamond dogs in the past. Fortunately, the dogs had left after being introduced the incredible weapon that was Rarity's whining voice.

Now, the quarry served a different purpose altogether. For the past few months, Dawn Lightwing, Fluttershy's adopted son, had been taking Scootaloo out here in order to train her in the pegasus martial art, the Gale King. With its out of the way location and its level terrain, the quarry served as the perfect place for Dawn and Scootaloo to hold their practice sessions, which could potentially level buildings if they'd dared to do it in Ponyville proper. Even more recently, Dawn and Scootaloo had been joined by Storm Front, one of the mercenaries hired to help protect the town from the fallout caused by Dawn's presence, and Rumble, one of Dawn and Scootaloo's friends. The two of them were also training out in this area as well.

With the onset of winter, Dawn and Scootaloo had spent less time in the quarry, the chill air and deep snow making the prospect of hard practice uninviting while the season progressed. Still, the Gale King was not exactly made to be practiced indoors. While Dawn and Scootaloo could work on their forms and meditation in a sufficiently roomy house, actual practice was out of the question anywhere but the great outdoors.

Another popping noise, louder this time, sounded from somewhere in front of her. Rainbow's ears swiveled to pick up the sound's point of origin and she carefully angled her flight in its direction. She had no idea what Dawn and Scootaloo were working on, but she didn't want to get smacked by some technique that hit her because the two younglings hadn't seen her coming.

Another pop sounded, this one even closer than before. This time, Rainbow heard a calm voice accompanying the sound. "Again."

She recognized the voice, as soft as Fluttershy's, but deeply resonant, making it both audible and understandable even though it was at such a low volume. However, it was louder and slightly harsher this time. Rainbow recognized this as Dawn's "instructor mode" voice, the tone he used whenever he was working with Scootaloo on the Gale King. They might have been coltfriend and fillyfriend outside of training, but out here, Dawn was the teacher and Scootaloo was the student, roles that both of them respected.

At the sound of Dawn's voice, there as another pop, this one faintly softer. As Rainbow pushed through the low clouds that were blocking the vision of her descent, she saw what was happening.

A substantial portion of the ground in the quarry had been swept clean of snow. Rainbow would have been impressed, had she not already known that it was foal's play for Dawn, who had probably cleared the space with a few relatively gentle gusts. The two young martial artists stood on the flat ground, which, in addition to being cleared of snow, had also been cleared of the rocks and boulders that had originally littered the quarry grounds. This was hardly new. In the process of practicing the Gale King, the powerful winds generated by the style had smashed most of the larger stones in the vicinity and swept the smaller ones away.

Dawn Lightwing didn't look all that different from most foals his age. His ebony coat stood out starkly against the snow around him, less so the ground beneath him. His mane and tail were a light, silvery color that stood out against his coat. Though the mane wasn't particularly long, it was smooth and flowing in a way that made Rainbow wonder if Dawn was unconsciously borrowing aspects of his mother's hairstyle, though his mane wasn't nearly long enough to look totally like hers. His flank was yet unmarked by any kind of cutie mark, which was rare for a pony his age, although less rare around these parts, given the ponies he associated with.

Without question, Dawn's most captivating feature was his eyes, a pair of vivid turquoise orbs. The color wasn't all that remarkable in and of itself. What truly stood out were his pupils, which were catlike vertical slits in the center of each iris. They gave Dawn's gaze a disconcerting, unnatural quality that, the first few times Rainbow had seen them, had sent shivers down her spine. It was these eyes that were the main source of the many problems that had followed Dawn into Ponyville, namely their resemblance to the eyes of Nightmare Moon, Princess Luna's power-mad persona that Rainbow and her friends had bested at one point.

The Eyes of Nightmare, as they were known, were viewed by many ponies as unnatural and freakish. However, the real problem lay in the fact that they figured into the folklore of particular group called the Order of Celestial Light, better known to Rainbow and her friends as the Cult Solar, a group of crackpots that worshipped Princess Celestia (against her will, no less). According to the lore of the Cult Solar, ponies with the Eyes of Nightmare were actually demons, sent by Nightmare Moon (aka Princess Luna, which the Cult Solar did not bother to differentiate between) to do her bidding. Dawn's manifestation of the condition was especially unique. Whereas most ponies with the condition only manifested the Eyes during times of great emotional distress, Dawn's eyes seemed perpetually locked in their altered state, possibly since birth. This had only caused him additional problems as, wherever he went, those eyes drew trouble to him like lightning to a metal rod.

Rainbow turned her attention from Dawn to Scootaloo, Rainbow's honorary younger sister. Scootaloo had always been a rambunctious tomboy of a filly, as evinced by her constantly mussed and ruffled fuchsia mane, which showed only the barest attention to its care and maintenance.

As Rainbow came in for a landing, she noticed that Scootaloo was panting hard, sweat matting her bright-orange coat. She'd put on a lot more muscle lately, all of it compact and supple, the muscles of a martial artist. Seeing Scootaloo having grown from a small, almost runty filly, into the hardened athlete before her made Rainbow smile. Scootaloo's wings, which had once only been capable of buzzing and best served as a means of propulsion for her scooter, looked more well-developed and powerful. From what Rainbow had heard, Scootaloo's signature scooter now lay in her room, gathering a layer of dust, now that she no longer needed it.

From her position, Rainbow could easily see the newest and most significant change to Scootaloo's features. Decorating her flank was a single white swan, its wings arched and its neck curved in a posture that Fluttershy had referred to as busking. Scootaloo had recently acquired her cutie mark when demonstrating her passion and dedication to learning the Gale King. Rainbow still remembered the moment in exacting detail, quite fondly.

As Rainbow came in for a landing, she watched as Scootaloo sank into a crouch. Just as Rainbow's own booted hooves touched down on the ground, Scootaloo kicked off, lunging forward and kicking back with all four legs. At the same moment, her wings blurred in a sweeping motion that started out in front of her before whipping around in tight arcs across her sides. At that instant, her body blurred and she shot forward across the ground. Her acceleration was so swift and sudden that Rainbow briefly lost track of her and had to quickly turn her head to see Scootaloo flaring her wings out like parachutes as she reared up to kick all four hooves out in front of her, bringing her body to an abrupt halt.

Scootaloo settled back on the ground, panting and shaking. Her legs were quivering beneath her and Rainbow could see the tremors working their way through Scootaloo's entire body. Even her partially extended wings shook a little as she folded them back in. How long have they been at this? Rainbow wondered.

"Is it time already?"

Rainbow jumped at the sound of Dawn's voice. While she had been looking at Scootaloo, he had come over to stand almost directly in front of her. It took Rainbow a second to settle her nerves at having the colt unexpectedly standing so close to her. "Yeah," she said, "It's time for you two to call it a day. Scootaloo and I have plans."

"A-awesome..." said Scootaloo, her voice sounding like a relieved moan.

"You gonna be okay?" asked Rainbow, looking around. The snow had been cleared from the ground, but that didn't change the fact that the air was still cold. Already, she could see the tired tremors of Scootaloo's worn-out muscles give way to the shivers of a filly who'd just realized it was cold out. Looking around, Rainbow suddenly spied a set of saddlebags resting on the ground. She could see the end of a scarf protruding from one flap.

As she watched, Dawn trotted over the bags and opened the flap of one of the other one. He pulled out a rolled-up towel and tossed to Scootaloo, who quickly took it and used it to gratefully wipe away her sweat. As she worked, a happy sigh escaped the filly. "Oh that feels good," she moaned, "Twilight's warming stones are so awesome."

Rainbow blinked and looked back at the saddlebags again, realizing that the stone must be hidden inside to keep things warm while the foals practiced. Twilight had invented the stones, which were enchanted to absorb heat, store it, and release it later. Rainbow hadn't realized that Twilight had apparently gotten them to work so well already. It would certainly make things easier for Scootaloo and Dawn with regard to their practices. Rainbow was willing to bet that, after Scootaloo finished toweling off, her winter layers would be waiting inside one of the other saddle bags, already nice and toasty warm.

A couple of minutes later, Rainbow's guess was proven right as Scootaloo walked up to the bags and pulled out her winter jacket, as well as her scarf and a set of boots, all of which she put on with relieved groans as the warmed garments settled on her still slightly damp coat. At the other set of saddlebags, Dawn was doing likewise. Rainbow noted that he hadn't needed to towel off after the session, which suggested that he hadn't been working as hard as Scootaloo had been. She admired his resilience to stand around in the cold, even if he hadn't been exercising himself as hard as Scootaloo had been.

"You ready squirt?" asked Rainbow, grinning at her younger sister.

"Y-you bet," stammered Scootaloo, the quiver in her body finding its way into her voice, giving Rainbow pause for a moment.

"You gonna be able to fly there?" asked Rainbow, eyeing Scootaloo carefully.

"Y-yeah," said Scootaloo.

"She should be alright," added Dawn, coming up behind Scootaloo and slipping her own saddlebags over her before doing the same with his own, "An easy flight should also work as a cool-down exercise, so I'm recommending it."

Scootaloo nodded without protest and spread her wings. Rainbow raised her eyebrows, but decided that she didn't need to try and dissuade the filly yet. So long as they took it easy and didn't try to pull any fancy moves on the way to Rainbow's cloud house, they should be fine. She watched as Dawn and Scootaloo shared a gentle nuzzle before Scootaloo leaned in to peck her coltfriend on the lips.

Waving goodbye, Dawn took to the air himself, winging his way back to Ponyville and back to the home he shared with his mother and her coltfriend. Turning back to Scootaloo, Rainbow grinned down at the bright-orange filly. "Let's head out, kiddo."

"Okay," said Scootaloo, a little weakly, but with plenty of enthusiasm. She returned Rainbow's grin and the two of them lifted off.

It was a slow, easy flight back to Rainbow's cloud house...Well...It wasn't exactly Rainbow's anymore. Legally, the cloud house actually belonged to Scootaloo now, though the deed was being held by Scootaloo's mother until the filly came of age. With Scootaloo's permission, Rainbow was allowed to continue using the place for the remainder of her stay, until the time came for her to leave for Cloudsdale. Rainbow figured that that kinda made Scootaloo her landlady.

"You excited about this?" she asked as the two of them angled towards the hovering mass of white clouds in the distance.

"Oh yeah!" said Scootaloo with a cheerful grin.

Now that Scootaloo was technically the house's owner, Rainbow was taking this opportunity to give the orange filly a rundown on using and maintaining the place once Rainbow was gone. Scootaloo wouldn't actually be permitted to live there on her own until she'd come of age, but she'd still be taking care of it and would have free access to the building otherwise.

Seeing that Scootaloo was a little wobbly in the air, Rainbow resisted the urge to just swoop below the filly and carry her the rest of the way. "So what were you and Dawn working on?"

"He's teaching me that cool...super-speed skip...thingy...that he does...You know what I'm talking about, right? That thing where he looks like he's teleporting?"

Rainbow nodded at Scootaloo's words. She knew exactly what the filly was talking about. One of the skills Dawn had acquired from the Gale King was a trick that allowed him to rapidly accelerate over a short distance and come to a stop just as quickly. At times, the colt could make it look like he was teleporting, or even look like he was in two places at once. Rainbow herself was no slouch in the speed department, considering that she was rated as one of, if not the fastest flyer in all of Equestria. But even she couldn't achieve that kind of sudden acceleration, even if she was much faster in the long run. "That didn't quite look like what you were doing," she pointed out. What she'd seen Scootaloo doing had looked nothing like Dawn's trick.

"That's 'cause I haven't finished working on it yet," Scootaloo pointed out, "Right now, Dawn's just trying to get me used to pulling off the start. Then he'll have me work on making the stop smoother. It's tricky because you have to use your hooves and wings together and everything needs to be done in the right sequence or it doesn't work properly."

It went without saying that Scootaloo hadn't exactly gotten the sequence down yet. In fact, she'd made the same observations Rainbow had when Dawn had first been walking her through the maneuver...

"But that doesn't look anything like what you do," Scootaloo pointed out as Dawn's hooves settled back on the ground.

"Because it isn't," Dawn said, "In a sense, you could say that this is the beginner's version. Right now, we're working on getting you used to the mechanics of the technique."

"But you hardly move your wings at all," Scootaloo pointed out.

Dawn nodded. "The more familiar you become with the technique, the more compact and easier your movements will become. Start out large and work your way small."

"O-okay," said Scootaloo nervously. The principle behind the move was surprisingly simple. Using all four of her hooves, she would kick off the air, using her pegasus magic. At the same time, the sweeping motion of her wings would guide the air in front of her around her body to reduce her drag almost to nothing, allowing her to accelerate rapidly without having to worry about wind resistance. In practice, it wasn't so easy to do those things all together in a single technique, even though Scootaloo had practiced with each component separately.

"Alright, go ahead and give it a try," said Dawn, clearing out in front of Scootaloo, "Work on going directly forward for now. Once you have that down, we can work on the other directions."

Swallowing nervously, Scootaloo nodded and crouched slightly. As she pushed off with her legs, sending out her pegasus magic to push off against the air itself, she thrust the tips of her wings forward before sweeping them back in tight arcs, launching herself straight ahead.

For an instant, Scootaloo thought she'd hit a brick wall that broke across her face. Her eyes stung as she forced through and the resistance slammed into her shoulders and chest as well. Less than a second later, it was gone. Her wings flared out, causing her body to rear up. On reflex, Scootaloo kicked ahead of herself with all four of her legs, sending out bursts of wind that slowed her down and allowed her to drift back to the ground. At the same time, her ears caught the sound of a loud pop behind her.

"Not bad for the first time," remarked Dawn, coming up to stand by her, "Can you tell me what you think you did wrong?"

"My timing was off," said Scootaloo, "I started with my wings too soon and the air resistance returned before I was all the way through the move."

"That's part of it," agreed Dawn, "However, there is another issue."

Scootaloo blinked. "There is?"

Dawn nodded. "You are still thinking of your wings as a means of propulsion. For this technique, that is not their purpose. In order to do this, you have to rely on your hooves and legs to provide the drive. The purpose of your wings is to guide the air around your body so that you accelerate smoothly. Otherwise, you simply hit the air further ahead. At the same time, rapidly leaving your original position leaves a sort of vacuum, which creates drag, which slows you further.

"When done correctly, the air that you move out of your way ahead of you fills the space behind you so that the vacuum doesn't pull you back. That's why it's important that you keep the arc of your wingstrokes tight."

Scootaloo nodded. "Okay," she said.

"Ready to try again?" asked Dawn.

"Yeah."

"Then begin."

Now that practice was over, Scootaloo's muscles ached fiercely. Using her legs to push off so sharply had quickly begun to hurt after several repetitions and she felt the strain all the way through the muscles around her core. Her wings were sore too, given that Scootaloo wasn't used to moving them in such tight, close motions. Spreading them out to slow her down after accelerating hadn't helped either. From her perspective, Scootaloo's entire body was a mass of aches and pains.

So it was with a grateful sigh that her hooves came to rest on the packed clouds of Rainbow's front porch. Rainbow put a hoof to her mouth to stifle a chuckle when she noted that Scootaloo looked about ready to face-plant on the porch, right then and there.

"Come on squirt, let's get you inside. It's a lot warmer in there."

Scootaloo mumbled a wordless agreement, mostly in the form of noncommittal grunts and managed to get her hooves all the way back under her and walk the rest of the way to the door. When they got inside, Rainbow took their jackets and scarves, while she left the boots on the mat inside the door. When one lived in a house made of clouds, one had to make sure that there was a way to make sure non-cloud objects that weren't buoyed up by pegasus magic didn't immediately fall through.

One solution was skysteel, which was steel with cloud worked in via pegasus magic during the forging process. It was expensive and having furniture made of skysteel was usually a sign of wealth and status. For ponies with less money available to them, one had to get creative. Even if skysteel furniture was out, one could easily buy legs and supports made from skysteel to hold them up, but even those were a pretty penny and Rainbow didn't have many such accouterments. Instead, she used the same trick that most cloud-dwelling pegasi did, one that was free, but that required a fair bit of effort and commitment to maintain.

For surfaces like tables, counters, the mat that the boots rested on, the hooks that the saddlebags and winter layers hung from, Rainbow had sculpted and compacted cloud well past the usual standard for cloud furniture. Under normal circumstances, the packed cloud would precipitate. But by putting her magic into the compacted cloud, Rainbow kept it from doing so, fueling the cloud and keeping it in its current state by feeding it a stream of pegasus magic until it couldn't contain any more. Items made that way could maintain their solidity for up to six months. If Rainbow didn't recharge the magic in them by then, they would revert back to their state as highly concentrated moisture and simply rain out, dropping whatever was resting on them in the process.

Rainbow had always made sure to recharge her surfaces every two months. Under normal circumstances, a pony like her, who was usually less than well-organized, could easily lose track of the different surfaces in different rooms that had to be fixed that way. But Rainbow had a few advantages, the same as any other pegasus. Even a beginner-level cloud handler could sense the consistency and density of a cloud, just by touching it. Furthermore, the solid-state surfaces, as Rainbow called them, had been shaped and moulded into flat, smooth surfaces that stood out against the lumpy, puffy texture of normal clouds. Finally, when said surfaces were nearing the limits of their magical charge, they took on a grayish tint, like a building storm cloud. With those indicators, Rainbow had only missed recharging a surface a couple of times in the course of her ownership of the house. It also helped that Rainbow had built nearly the whole place with her own hooves, including the solid-state surfaces.

Scootaloo obviously wouldn't have those advantages when she moved in, so she'd have to learn where all the important surfaces were, how to keep track of them, how to recharge them, and figure out how to remember where they all were and made sure she got to all of them in time. Note to self: make sure Scootaloo doesn't keep anything important here until she's got the hang of that.

But that could come later. It was one of the many things that Rainbow would be teaching the filly about being the owner of a cloud house, but some things were more important than others.

"S-sooooooo..." Scootaloo's attempt to speak was cut off by her yawn. "What are we doing first."

"Right," said Rainbow with a wry smile, "The first thing I'm gonna teach ya, squirt, is how to use the shower."

"Huh?"

Rainbow chuckled. "I bet your body hurts something fierce." At Scootaloo's nod, she chuckled. "A nice warm shower will help relax those muscles so that they don't cramp up on you. Plus, it'll feel good after being out in the cold like you were. You've already done your cool-down exercises, so it'll be good for you."

Scootaloo nodded eagerly, liking the idea. "Okay."

Rainbow led Scootaloo to the bathroom. She showed the filly how to operate the shower and set the temperature. The shower stall itself was a square space, carved from the cloud walls with a raincloud hovering overhead. Said raincloud was connected to a thunderhead, which regulated the water's temperature as it rained down on the pony in the stall. It was an intricate piece of work, one few items that Rainbow had not made herself when building the house.

Leaving Scootaloo to enjoy the shower, once they'd found the right temperature for her, Rainbow headed into the kitchen and began to root around in the icebox, looking for the right stuff to fix a growing filly's post-workout meal.

Rainbow was in the midst of grating a block of cheddar when Scootalo came ambling into the kitchen, practically glowing after her shower. There was still a slight sag in the filly's posture, an indicator of just how tired she was. But she was clearly eager for more instruction about living in a cloud house.

"What's next?" she asked.

"I'm glad you ask," said Rainbow with a laugh, "Let me show you how to use the stove."

"The stove?" Scootaloo blinked and stared at her idol in stupefied amazement for a moment, "I didn't know you could cook, Rainbow Dash."

Rainbow couldn't help herself. She gave Scootaloo a flat look. "Yeah, of course I can cook. I'm not a three-star chef, but I can whip up a decent meal."

"Um..." Scootaloo blushed and grinned sheepishly. "Sorry."

Rainbow sighed. "Sorry about that. I've had ponies make those kinds of assumptions about me before. But I can cook. You kinda have to if you want to be an athlete, much less a Wonderbolt. You've gotta learn to take care of your body, which includes taking care of what you put inside of it."

Rainbow showed Scootaloo how to turn on the stove, how it worked and set a frying pan on top of one of the electrical burners to heat up while she worked. Rainbow turned to the counter and picked up one of the four eggs she'd gotten out of the icebox and cracking it on the counter. She opened it into a separator that she held over a copper bowl, setting the yolk aside in a separate vessel. She did the same with a second egg. Then, taking a whisk, she whipped the egg whites into a heady froth.

Taking the yolks, Rainbow used a fork to beat them into a light, creamy consistency before quickly folding them back into the whipped egg whites. She then quickly poured the mixture into the frying pan, swirling it about as the curds began to coagulate in the heat, forming a thin, solid layer along the bottom and sides of the pan. She then tossed the filling onto the egg curds; the grated cheddar, a few sliced artichoke hearts, and some smoked salmon. Using a spatula, Rainbow folded the eggs over so that the fillings were completely enclosed and then slid the completed omelet onto the plate.

"Whoa!" exclaimed Scootaloo as Rainbow set the omelet on the table. It looked a little different from the omelets her mother made. As she watched, Rainbow topped the whole thing off with a generous helping of salsa and a dollop of sour cream.

"There you go," said Rainbow triumphantly, "Eat up before it gets cold."

"Okay!" shouted Scootaloo eagerly, picking up her fork and diving in. The omelet was delicious. The whipped egg whites gave it a fluffy texture, almost like a soufflé. The fillings weren't Scootaloo's personal favorites, but she had to admit that they tasted really good, especially the smoked salmon. She devoured the whole thing with a gusto before settling back with a satisfied sigh, finishing just as Rainbow took a seat at the table with an omelet of her own.

"That was awesome," said Scootaloo, patting her stomach.

"Thought so," said Rainbow with a giggle, "It's good meal for after a workout. Eggs and salmon both have plenty of protein, so they're good for helping build up your muscles after you've exercised them."

"Where'd you learn to cook like that?" asked Scootaloo.

"From my dad," said Rainbow, "This was my favorite food growing up. He always made these omelets for breakfast on the weekends. We used to have fun experimenting with all the different things we'd put into them."

"Why'd you stop?" asked Scootaloo.

Rainbow raised an eyebrow. "I moved out. As much as I like dad's cooking and as much as he may have loved cooking for me, I don't think he wanted to fly to Ponyville every Saturday to make me breakfast. And, while his cooking was good, I don't quite think I'm up to flying out to him every weekend either."

That got an embarrassed chuckle from the filly. "Oh..."

"Ya gotta learn to take care of yourself, kiddo," said Rainbow, "Your mom's not gonna be able to do it forever and she shouldn't have to."

"Right," said Scootaloo, "But couldn't you just get stuff from one of those fancy health-food stores that are all the rage right now?"

Rainbow's wing extended, all of her primaries folded over, save for two. "Two things," she said sagely, "First off, eating like that is expensive. It's not the kinda thing to try on a weatherpony's budget unless you're really high up the chain. I don't know what job you'll end up with, but chances are that you aren't gonna start out at a level that'll let you eat like that regularly." The inside feather folded down. "Secondly, even health food stuff can have some questionable ingredients in it. When you make your own food, you're in full control of what goes into what you cook. That's good for a lot of reasons."

There were a lot of particulars to that last statement, but Rainbow didn't feel like going into the nitty gritty details at the moment. That could come later. She finished her omelet at a more sedate pace, watching as Scootaloo's eyelids began to droop. The filly had just finished a hard workout, taken a nice warm shower, and had a good meal. Now it was all beginning to catch up to her as her body relaxed from its previous exertions.

I guess it's a good thing I got Melon's permission for this, thought Rainbow as a fond smile played across her lips. It'd been a while since the last time she'd had Scootaloo all to herself. It'd been even longer since she'd had Scootaloo for a sleepover of some sort and never at her house before. Rainbow dearly wished she'd taken more advantage of all the opportunities she'd gotten to spend time with her little sister. But she was determined to make the most of the time that she had left.

"Alright," said Rainbow, setting down her own fork before letting out a loud belch, "Let's get this cleaned up and get ready for bed."

"Huh?" yelped Scootaloo, jerking out of her tired daze, "B-but what about the house?"

Rainbow chuckled. "I'll teach you some more about it tomorrow," she said, "We've got plenty of time, so there's no need to cram. Besides, you look like you could use some sleep."

"I guess I should head home soon," said Scootaloo, her ears drooping.

"Nope," said Rainbow proudly, "I checked with your mom earlier. You're good to stay here for the night."

The filly's ears shot back upright. "Really?"

"Yep," replied Rainbow, "So come on. Let's get this cleaned up."

It was relatively simple to show Scootaloo how the sink worked and how to clean dishes in the cloudhouse. The important part was not to let anything small slip into the drain, or it would be a straight drop to the ground for the unfortunate item. The filly fumbled a couple of times, as much from tiredness as her unfamiliarity with cloud appliances, but managed to help with the cleaning.

After that, it was back to the bathroom, so that they could brush their teeth and get cleaned up for bed. Rainbow led Scootaloo to the bedroom and helped her into the bed.

"Thanks for everything, Rainbow," said Scootaloo.

Rainbow climbed in next to the filly and pulled the covers over both of them. "You're welcome, squirt. You're the best little sister I could ever ask for."

Scootaloo wriggled around until she'd snuggled up against Rainbow, who wrapped a foreleg and wing around her. There, draped in the warmth of the clouds, the two of them drifted off to sleep.

Meeting of Minds

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Chapter 2: Meeting of Minds

"Oooh! I'm not sure about this," moaned Twilight Sparkle as she paced back and forth frantically along the platform.

"Um...not to be a jerk, but I'd like to point out that you're the one who made me send the letter," said Spike, looking none too pleased with Twilight's antics, "If you weren't sure about it, you shouldn't have accepted his offer."

"I know!" snapped Twilight, "But I can't help but wonder what angle he's working. What the hay is he after? What does he gain by coming to talk to me in Ponyville?"

"There's only one way to find out," replied Spike. He watched Twilight trot back and forth for a few more minutes before raising an eyebrow. "Are you sure you don't want me to get Arkenstone?"

"No!" shouted Twilight, freezing in place before whirling around to face Spike directly, "I already told Arky I could handle this. None of my training will be worth anything if he has to look over my shoulder all the time."

Spike snorted, sending twin emerald streams of flame spurting out his nostrils. As always, it was frustrating to watch Twilight worry herself into a fit every time something like this happened. But there was little that he could do to stop it...short of dumping a bucket of water on her head, which, given that it was in the dead of winter, wouldn't be much appreciated and would probably do more harm than good.

At least it was easier to get Twilight's attention now that he was at eye-level with her when he reared up on his hind legs. Spike's purple-scaled body had been growing all throughout the winter, his back, tail, and neck elongating a little more with each passing week. His face was quickly losing the chubby baby fat that had defined its shape for years and was slowly stretching outwards, now looking slightly more angular, with his snout morphing into something of a beak-like shape. His new wings, which had grown out of his back over the summer, were a fair bit larger now, actually stretching out past his shoulders. Though they were still too small to carry the young dragon in flight, their growth was the best marker of how much Spike had grown over the past few months.

Twilight...was still Twilight, of course. She hadn't changed all that much over the months, in looks or personality. Not even getting herself a coltfriend had done much to tone down the perpetual worrier part of her personality and she would agonize constantly over the most banal trivialities imaginable. Not to mention that Spike still didn't trust her by herself in the kitchen very much.

A whistle in the distance made Twilight freeze yet again, her head whipping around to follow the tracks that led up to the city of Canterlot. A plume of smoke in the near distance heralded the approaching train. "He's almost here!" Twilight squeaked, quivering, "Am I ready? Of course I am! I've reviewed everything five times-"

"Ten times," corrected Spike.

"Ten times. I've got this! I can do this! How do I look?"

Spike raised an eyebrow. "Like you're gonna blow a gasket if you don't calm down. I know you're worried about what this guy can do, but isn't showing so much anxiety the worst thing to do around a member of the Noble Court."

Twilight groaned. "Of course, you're right." Raising a hoof to her chest, Twilight took a deep breath, before slowly letting it out. As she did, the tension began to flow out of her body and she began to relax a little. Spike couldn't help but smirk at the sight of it. That calming technique Cadance showed her is practically a miracle worker.

A few minutes later, the Ponyville train platform began to vibrate as the train drew closer, accompanied by the squealing of brakes as they worked to slow the behemoth vehicle down. Gradually, it came to a shuddering halt next to the platform.

Spike used a hand to back Twilight up a little so that the ponies on the train would have room to disembark once the doors opened. The crowd that emerged from the cars was light. Now that Hearth's Warming was over, there weren't as many ponies with a reason to travel and even fewer who had legitimate reason to visit Ponyville. It wasn't like the village was a major tourist destination or anything.

However, Twilight and Spike's attention wasn't on the regular cars. Rather, they gravitated towards the car that had been coupled between the rest of the passenger cars and the caboose. It was one of the luxury private cars favored by ponies of the noble class, most of whom loathed the idea of sharing space with the common ponies, even those wealthy enough to afford first-class passage. The car itself was practically a hotel suite on rails. It would contain a luxurious bedroom, a sitting and dining room, and even its own kitchen where the passenger's servants could fix meals for their employer. Practically every single one of the Canterlot nobility had their own car, which could be coupled onto any train to carry them to any part of Equestria. Some even owned multiple such cars. The elaborateness of the furnishings served to declare the wealth and status of the occupant to the few privileged enough to be allowed onboard.

Even as Twilight and Spike watched, members of the station's staff were already going through the process of uncoupling the car so that it could be towed to an adjoining track, allowing the train to continue on its way without the car and so that the car could be coupled to another train heading back to Canterlot at a later time.

The doors to the private car slid open, allowing a pair of unicorns clad in light leather armor with steel edges. The steel had been colored a light-purple color, which set it apart from the brown of the leather. Twilight found herself wondering nervously just where that leather had come from.

"Ah, Dame Sparkle," said a stallion in a smooth voice as he appeared in the doorway of the car, "Thank you for being so kind as to greet me at the station."

His coat was a light-purple color, only a shade off from Twilight's own, though most of it was concealed by the stark white suit jacket that he wore. His mane, likewise, was a darker purple that, again, came close to mirroring Twilight's, albeit without the streak of hot pink that ran through Twilight's own mane and tail. His eyes, however, were a dark shade of brown, intelligent and calm as they looked out at the mare and the dragon. His expression was warm and friendly, surprisingly lacking the arrogance and condescension that seemed to characterize ponies of the noble class, particularly when they had to deal with a pony like Twilight, who had been knighted for her part in the defeat of Discord. As far as most nobles were concerned, Twilight still counted as a commoner for the most part and few of them seemed to think that the nobility she had been conferred was remotely equivalent to the nobility that they had been born with.

Twilight bowed her her head, bending her forelegs to lower her stature a little, as was appropriate for greeting a fellow noble of superior rank. "It's an honor to have you visit my humble home, Lord Baron."

Baron Elderflower of Dream Valley smiled a little bit wider at Twilight's formality, as though her display had pleased him. He lifted his head all the way up and inhaled deeply, as though he were trying to savor the fresh, country air. Exhaling back out his nostrils, he returned his attention to Twilight, still smiling. "Humble though it may be, there is certainly a quaint charm to this place. I can see why you enjoy it so. It's certainly a pleasant change of pace from Canterlot."

That was a reach, considering he hadn't even stepped outside of his private car yet, much less seen any of Ponyville up close and personal. Sure, even from a distance, the town exuded a wonderful, rustic charm that had attracted any number of visitors. However, one had to actually walk down the streets truly get a sense of the life and energy that ran through the village.

The voices of the stallion and mare working to uncouple the Baron's car reached their ears. His coming to Ponyville had created a lot of extra work for the train crew. The caboose and his private car would have be towed onto a separate track, then the caboose would have to be towed back so that it could be reattached to rear of the train. Ponyville's station, not exactly being a hub of commerce, didn't give them a lot of room to maneuver and they couldn't afford to take too long if they wanted to keep to their regular timetable.

Nonetheless, Elderflower didn't take a step past the door. In fact, a light flick of one ear was the only acknowledgement to the voices, as though he had all the time in the world and the petty concerns of the working pony didn't mean a thing to him, which they probably didn't. After all, who was he to care if some commoners got their schedules messed up? It set both Twilight and Spike's nerves on edge; one of those things that showed through the Baron's kindly, personable demeanor and showed that he was a pony who set himself apart from others and considered them beneath himself.

"Since we have this opportunity," said Elderflower, "I am more than happy to invite you to join me in here. I assure you that it is perfectly comfortable, if a bit spartan for my tastes, and that we can talk easily. I have a fine selection of drinks on offer that we can enjoy while we talk."

Twilight gave the Baron a brittle smile. "Thank you for your kind offer, My Lord. But I am more than happy to host you in my home. I understand that it is probably beneath your usual standards, but I assure you that it will serve well enough."

Elderflower inclined his head toward them in the barest hint of a suggestion of a nod. "Of course," he said, "I am here at your indulgence, Dame Sparkle. I am happy to hold our conversation in the venue of your choice. It would be rude otherwise."

Only then did he step leisurely down from the car and away from the door, giving Twilight and Spike a clear view of his cutie mark, a bookshelf full of neatly arranged books, in the process. His two guards moved with him. There was barely any delay as two powerfully-built earth ponies harnessed themselves to the caboose, pulling it and the private car away from the rear of the train. There was a sense of urgency to their movements that prompted Twilight and Spike to throw them an apologetic glance as they worked. However, the Baron's eyes didn't so much as twitch in their direction.

"I am grateful, Lord Baron," said Twilight, returning her attention to Elderflower, "Please follow me."

"By all means," said Elderflower, his polite smile still in place, "Lead on."

"Coco! Be a dear and fetch me the red velvet please," called Rarity from the far side of the workroom, where the sewing machine hummed relentlessly.

"Right away!" Coco Pommel called back as she rushed to retrieve the roll of fabric from its cubbyhole, moving carefully not to disturb or trip over the numerous items strewn across nearly every available horizontal surface as she did. Having worked as an assistant and apprentice to two other designers, Coco was more than a little familiar with the idea of "organized chaos." Every designer had their own arrangements that suited the way they worked best, even if it did look messy.

The off-white earth pony reared up so that she could clench her teeth onto the edge of the fabric and pull the roll from its resting place. Fortunately, it was low enough that she didn’t need a stepladder to retrieve it. Rarity's workroom had been designed and organized with a unicorn in mind. For a pony with telekinesis, the height of a particular shelf was less of an issue. In fact, a stepladder was the first of a fair few accommodations Rarity had needed to make in order to allow the apprentice designer to work effectively.

Coco shouldered the red velvet with a toss of her two-toned cyan mane and quickly toted it over towards Rarity. She set the roll onto the table next to where Rarity was working, but not so close that it might roll on top of the fabric Rarity was currently feeding into the sewing machine.

"How are those hems coming along?" asked Rarity without looking up.

"I'm nearly finished," replied Coco, "Only a few more stitches."

"Wonderful! I'll check your work in a little bit. When you're finished, could you take the finished pieces out and set up the displays for them?"

"Of course," replied Coco with a smile and quickly returned to finish her own task. Working for Rarity was a demanding task. Even when she wasn't working on a commission, the alabaster unicorn always seemed to be working on something, either tinkering with an existing design or playing around to come up with something new. She was always inquiring for Coco's input as well, asking the younger mare's opinion on her work and demanding honest expression.

The illusion of a faultless designer who could spin masterpieces out of thin air with nary a thought had been almost immediately dashed to pieces. Granted, Coco realized that she should have known better than to think that Rarity was some kind of maestro of effortless creativity. She soon realized that Rarity worked very hard to achieve the success for which she was renowned. It didn't diminish the respect and awe that Coco viewed Rarity with. Rather, the revelation only increased Coco's respect for Rarity. The fact that Rarity was more than willing to both solicit and listen to Coco's opinions about her work only made Coco admire her further. After all, Suri Polomare hadn't cared one wit what Coco thought (Not that Suri had done much of her own work, only what she couldn't foist off on Coco.).

Even more amazingly, Rarity allowed Coco to experiment on a few designs as well. She'd happily provided Coco with her own space in the workroom and even a supply of her own materials to allow Coco to try her hoof at her own designs. Rarity critiqued Coco's works with the very same acute attention to detail that she expected Coco to examine her own designs with. As a consequence, a few of Coco's own creations now stood on display in the Carousel Boutique's showroom, a shocking surprise to Coco, as she'd never expected Rarity to allow an apprentice's work to be showcased alongside her own.

It was the work of a few minutes to finish attaching the hem to the dress Coco had been working on. Setting it aside, she took the completed dresses Rarity had designated and carried them out into the showroom to set about hanging them on ponyquins and and setting them on display. It was less easy for Coco, who had to make do without levitation or any of the fine manipulation that magic would afford a unicorn. But it was something she was well-practiced with and it didn't take her long to get everything set up.

She was setting one of the pieces on display up to be more visible through the window when she happened to look out. There, amongst the ponies coming and going along the street, were Twilight Sparkle and her dragon assistant, Spike. Coco had been amazed to meet and talk to an actual dragon, albeit a young one. She'd found Spike a charming and erudite young fellow, with a rather sharp wit as it turned out. On the other hoof, Twilight Sparkle was an amazing pony, if rather flighty and more interested in talking about books, things she had read in books, and things she'd heard that books had been written about than anything else. Coco could see why both of them were such close friends with Rarity, despite their quirks.

However, her attention was stolen by the stallion walking along with them, a stallion who was all too familiar Coco, even though she'd only met him once, a few months ago, back in the Crystal Caverns underneath Canterlot.

With a startled squeak, Coco ducked down beneath the window, her body trembling. She felt as though her blood had turned to ice in her veins and she shivered violently from head to hoof-tip. Why is he here? What does he want? Did he see me?

Carefully, Coco raised her head so that her cyan eyes could rise above the level of the windowsill and look out into the street. Baron Elderflower, Spike, and Twilight were walking off down the street, their backs to the boutique as they headed towards the library, where Spike and Twilight lived. There seemed to be no indication that Elderflower had noticed Coco at all. She let out a quiet sigh to relief and struggled to stand back up. Fear had turned her limbs to rubber.

"Um...Miss Rarity," Coco called into the workroom.

"Yes dear? What is is it?" Rarity sang back, clearly still immersed in her own work.

"I uh...I need to take a m-moment to use the bathroom," Coco called back, her voice wavering as she fought a war against her own nerves.

"By all means, go right ahead," Rarity answered, "You know you don't have to ask me about that."

"R-right..." Coco headed up the stairs and into the living quarters above the boutique, where the bathrooms were. She stepped into the bathroom and closed the door behind her before locking it. Only when the latch clicked into place did Coco slump to the floor and let out a sound that was halfway between a sob and a sigh.

It hadn't been that long since she'd come down from Canterlot with Rarity, having transferred her apprenticeship from the aging seamstress she'd previously worked under (after Suri, of course), to the Ponyville designer. Before she'd left, Coco had endured a conversation with one Perlin Bluestreak, a mercenary in the Baron's employ. She'd first seen the young stallion deep in the caverns below Canterlot, slaughtering two-score of trained bodyguards with almost contemptuous ease, a scene that had driven a paralyzing fear of him down into the marrow of her bones. To make matters worse, Perlin had apparently taken some kind of interest in her, frequently visitng her at her new job, a position she had the Baron to thank for, and hovering behind her, often watching silently. Coco's last conversation with Perlin had made it painfully clear that Coco owed her new position as Rarity's official apprentice to the Baron's manipulations. Perlin had also made it quite clear that the Baron considered her to still be in his service.

The revelation had instilled a sense of quiet dread in Coco that hovered over her in a manner not unlike Perlin's presence had in the days since that fateful conversation. The blissful, dream-come-true sense of actually working for and with Rarity had abated that dread somewhat. But the sight of Baron Elderflower walking outside had brought that dread back out and even magnified it. She couldn't imagine what he expected her to do, but Coco knew that, when he gave the order, she would have to carry it out, or she would feel the chill of Perlin's mithril feathers soon enough. Of course, carrying out whatever sick, despicable order the Baron gave her would probably mean the end of Coco's fashion career and the termination of Rarity's regard for her.

Her life or her life's calling. Either one would come to an end the moment Baron Elderflower ordered her into action and Coco wasn't entirely sure which was worse.

She lay there, shivering on the floor for some time before forcing herself up. She couldn't afford to let Rarity start worrying about her, which Rarity almost certainly would if Coco spent too much time in the bathroom.

Please, she pleaded silently, not caring that the Baron couldn't hear her, Please don't ask anything of me yet. Let me have this dream a little longer.

Baron Elderflower followed Twilight Sparkle, hanging a little bit behind and to the right of her, through the streets of Ponyville. Walking on her left side, level to her shoulder, was the young dragon who had accompanied her. The Baron's two guards followed slightly behind them.

Elderflower hadn't been the slightest bit surprised when he realized that Twilight intended for them to walk all the way from the station. The town wasn't very large, so a carriage wouldn't have been practical anyway. The crisp, cool air was not unpleasant, though Elderflower thought himself a little underdressed for the weather. A mild warming spell had quickly remedied that problem.

He hadn't been at all disappointed that Twilight had declined to join him in his private car, her response to his offer carrying all the caution of a fish studiously avoiding taking the bait, fully aware of the hook hidden inside. It was, perhaps, an unnecessary caution on Twilight's part. Although it would have been easy to drug her and spirit her back to Canterlot while she was inside his car, Elderflower hadn't made any particular plans towards that end...Not that he hadn't entertained the possibility. If nothing else, Elderflower prided himself on his ability to improvise to take the fullest advantage of the situation. However, trying something so overt and forceful was a greater risk than he was willing to take at this juncture. But worth considering in the future, he mused, though he hoped that he could swing Twilight around with simple logic and rational argument, it was more likely that he would ultimately have to resort to other methods to make her more pliable towards his way of thinking.

Elderflower decided to turn his thoughts towards reviewing what he knew of Twilight Sparkle. Like all the nobility, he had, of course, conducted extensive research into her and her history. She had been born to common parents, neither of whom had been earmarked as being exceptionally talented. She was the younger of two foals, her older brother going on to enter the Royal Guard, become Captain, and eventually marry Princess Cadance, which linked Twilight to the royal family by blood.

Twilight herself had shown a surprising degree of intelligence and aptitude at an early age, prompting her parents to try and enroll her in Princess Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns, a difficult prospect, given her family's limited finances. During the entrance examination, Twilight's magic unexpectedly flared while being tested on a dragon's egg, hatching the egg into the baby dragon now walking by her side. Impressed by the raw potential of the filly, Princess Celestia made Twilight her personal student on the spot.

From there on, Twilight's progress through the school had been nothing short of meteoric. Between Princess Celestia's instruction and her own phenomenal talents, Twilight excelled in nearly every single one of her classes. Elderflower remembered some of this himself. He had only been two years ahead of Twilight when she'd entered the school. It had only taken her one and a half years to completely overtake him and all his peers. By the time she officially graduated from the school itself, Twilight had been recognized for earning no fewer than three Principles, an almost superequine feat of brilliance.

Not much later, she journeyed to Ponyville and managed to unlock the Elements of Harmony, defeating Nightmare Moon and restoring Princess Luna after a thousand years of absence in the process. Later on, she successfully re-imprisoned Discord after he escaped and was officially knighted, along with her helpers, by Princess Celestia. Throughout all of this, she had remained in Ponyville as its resident librarian, evidently continuing to further her education.

All of this was of little actual interest to Elderflower, as it was general minutia that just about anypony could have dug up about Twilight Sparkle. His own memories of her were rather sparse, seeing as he had only observed her in passing during the years they had spent in school together. She, of course, had been an object of fascination from the moment of her admission. The fact that she'd been made Princess Celestia's personal student, in spite of her unremarkable lineage, had marked her out to all the ponies attending the school, particularly those from noble bloodlines, more than a few of whom thought that Twilight's status was a personal insult against them.

Elderflower himself had known better, even then. It had become quickly obvious just why Celestia had taken Twilight on from the moment the lavender filly's name appeared at the top of the class rankings almost immediately after her entrance. The reason became even more apparent when Twilight was quickly advanced through classes and still managed to remain at the top amongst students a year or more her senior. Her raw magical potential was a talent not seen in centuries, possibly millennia even, along with a mind to match.

She also isn't bad to look at, noticed Elderflower, discreetly eyeing Twilight as they proceeded along. Granted, she didn't display the cultured elegance of a true Canterlot unicorn, her commoner sensibilities showing through quite clearly in her simple state of dress, which was nothing more than a jacket, scarf, and boots to ward off the winter chill. That wasn't to say that she was unappealing. The word that Elderflower would use to describe her was definitely "cute." As potential consorts went, the Baron reasoned that he could definitely do worse. Her magical talent certainly more than made up for any lack in physical appeal. He was fairly certain that a mage of her power would bear equally, if not even more powerful foals.

That was assuming, of course, that such a relationship was in the cards. Unlike Steel Flint, Elderflower knew better than to bank on such a direct approach taking advantage of Twilight's connection to the Princesses. He doubted he would have any success in that department anyway, given that she was probably still smitten with that earth pony she had attended Steel Flint's gathering with.

Elderflower knew better than to underestimate that Arkenstone fellow. For all that he was an earth pony, he had still entered into a duel with Steel Flint, a stallion known for his prowess in battle magic, and had somehow emerged victorious. There was a great deal more to Arkenstone than met the eye and Elderflower would have to mind him carefully.

Elderflower had also researched Arkenstone's history. The results had been much more spotty than Twilight Sparkle's. Arkenstone had been born to the butler of the Duchy of Paradise Estate and had been raised to be the personal butler to none other than Prince Blueblood. During his foalhood, Arkenstone had been a close friend to Twilight's older brother, and apparently Twilight by proxy. Then, for reasons unknown, Arkenstone abandoned the original career path set out by his family and journeyed to Ponyville. It had been difficult to ascertain what he'd been doing, but all the evidence seemed to suggest he'd spent his time on the farmstead that would later become famous for being home to Applejack, the Bearer of the Element of Honesty.

From there, things only got more difficult still to track. Arkenstone had seemingly wandered aimlessly, even leaving Equestria behind and traveling through Saddle Arabia, possibly as far as Guoxia, before returning. Sporadic reports had him in various communities holding any number and variety of jobs, almost all of them being utterly menial. Only recently had he returned to Ponyville and settled down to open a teahouse of all things. Ultimately, none of this was particularly useful in determining what Arkenstone was capable of. All that Elderflower could determine was that Arkenstone was a dangerous obstacle, one that needed either be circumvented or removed.

But that can wait for now, thought Elderflower, If I can convince Twilight Sparkle to see reason, then it may not even be necessary. Though his bloodline would definitely benefit from Twilight's inclusion in it, not to mention how his status would benefit from having a personal pipeline to the royal family, that was not necessary to his plans. ...Though it would be a pleasant bonus.

"And here we are," said Twilight proudly.

Elderflower couldn't keep his jaw from dropping slightly at the sight of their destination. He'd read the reports. But lifeless text on paper couldn't compare to the sight of an actual living tree with doors and windows set into it, and even a balcony protruding from an upper story. It was a marvel in its own right. Such a building, if it could even truly be called a building, would have had no place in Canterlot. But it looked right at home, here in the middle of rustic Ponyville.

Twilight opened the door wide, revealing the interior of what was unquestionably a library. That was less surprising than the nature of the building itself. Elderflower already knew that Twilight lived in a library from the reports and it was completely in-line with her character. Even when she had been a student at Celestia's School, Twilight had eschewed living in the regular student housing for a making a home for herself in one of the annexes to the Royal Archives, practically setting up her own personal library from the texts she acquired, thanks to her connections as Princess Celestia's student.

A lot of her fellow students had seen the move as arrogant, believing that Twilight was setting herself apart from the rest of them to mark herself as superior. However, Elderflower had realized, even then, that she'd been using her connections and privileges to do the only thing she really cared about, furthering her studies to the the exclusion of all else, even interaction with other ponies.

The interior of the library had been carved out of the wood of the tree itself. The ground floor was a single large room, lined with shelves. There were doors leading out, presumably to other rooms. But those other rooms seemed to be for private use, given that there was no sign that any of the library's patrons were using them. Aside from that, a single staircase wound up the wall, running along the rising tops of bookshelves to reach an alcove that formed the entirety of the second story. From his position on the ground floor, Elderflower could see the furnishings of a bedroom up above. Those were clearly Twilight's living quarters then.

They were not alone. There wasn't a huge throng, but there were a few ponies wandering about. A couple were examining titles on the shelves while a few others were reading around a single large table that occupied the center of the room.

"Right this way, My Lord," said Twilight, heading for the stairs.

Elderflower followed behind her, while his guards once again brought up the rear. He noticed that the dragon had peeled away and was making for one of the other doors. As the young drake pushed the door opened, Elderflower's eyes made out the fixtures of a kitchen that lay beyond.

He continued to follow Twilight up the stairs. The lavender mare was stripping off her winter clothes as she went, her magic floating them over to pegs to hang from, while the boots drifted to a mat by the door. They entered into the bedroom alcove, not even pausing as Twilight led them out onto the balcony.

Elderflower raised an eyebrow as he stepped, not into the biting cold of a waning winter's day, but the pleasant warmth of a sunny spring day. His eyes caught the faintest violet flickers in the air, forming a faint, almost invisible barrier that had been wrapped around the edge of the balcony. Ah, temperature wards and a climate control spell. Both of them are so finely woven as to be nearly invisible. There were probably privacy wards as well to keep the odd passerby from overhearing their conversation. It was an impressive feat, to say the least, a fine reminder of Twilight's skill as a mage.

She'd obviously prepared for their meeting. A table had been set out on the balcony, along with cushions. As meeting places went, they might as well have been sitting on rocks in the wilderness. Most nobles would have considered such arrangements to be openly insulting at best. However, Elderflower thought that the sheer novelty of the location made up for the lack of creature comforts somewhat.

Besides, this is probably the best she can do with her limited means, thought Elderflower, I'll just appreciate the effort that she went through.

Twilight and Elderflower took seats across the table from each other, sitting down nearly in unison. The two guards that had accompanied the Baron positioned themselves inside the door, looking out over the library.

"Spike will be back with some refreshments," said Twilight, "I'm sure you're tired after your journey, so I hope that they'll be to your liking."

"I am sure that anything you have to offer will be suitable," replied Elderflower, giving Twilight a patronizing smile. In truth, he was certain that anything she could provide would unimpressive, if not downright repulsive. But the Baron was prepared to suck mud through a straw if it meant increasing his chances at success. My father would probably be throwing a fit if he knew how far I was going to see this through. It was definitely above and beyond what a pony of his station would normally be expected to do. But the work was just too important to foist off on somepony else.

"Well then," said Elderflower, resting his elbows on his table so that he could set his chin down on his steepled hooves, "Let's begin, shall we."

"Of course," said Twilight, "You mentioned in your letter that you had something important to talk to me about. What is it?"

Elderflower's eyes narrowed as he watched Twilight's face. He could just barely make out the anxiety swimming just barely beneath the surface. She'd clearly practiced hard in preparation for this and was doing a very good job at maintaining a political poker face.

"Firstly, I would like to apologize on behalf of my peers and superiors who may have offended or troubled you over these past months," said Elderflower, keeping a smile up for Twilight's sake, "As the old saying goes, an idle mind is Discord's playground. Suffice to say that the nobility have little to keep them occupied but their power games. Part of what I am seeking to do is to rectify that situation."

"How so?" asked Twilight, canting her head slightly.

Elderflower sighed. "Though I can't speak well of the rest of the Noble Court's intentions, the truth is that I too would like to take advantage of your connection with the Princesses. I believe that, if you were to assist me, then we could get Princess Celestia to see reason in this matter."

Twilight's expression hardened. "What matter, exactly?"

"What I wish is to get Princess Celestia's approval to establish the Noble Court as the House of Lords to the Parliament, with the existing Parliament being designated the House of Commons. The two houses would then share responsibility for the governance of Equestria."

Twilight opened her mouth to automatically reject Elderflower’s idea. However, before she could even start speaking, her rational mind clamped down on he tongue to keep her from voicing her rebuke. That’s…actually pretty reasonable. It was certainly a far cry from what she had been expecting. It actually made a fair bit of sense. She remembered Celestia talking with her advisors about the possibility of creating a second house of Parliament as a check on their overall power and to get them to discuss the legislation they’d been creating more thoroughly.

But still…the Noble Court… She frowned as she looked over at Elderflower. “But I’m not sure the Noble Court is the best choice…” Her mind drifted back to what she remembered of the Noble Court and their behavior. She remembered Steel Flint’s attempt to overwhelm her with suggestion spells before attempting to physically force her to submit to him and attempting to kill Arkenstone after that. She remembered her visit to Canterlot being plagued by countless overtures, romantic and otherwise, by ponies who thought she would trip over her hooves to gain their favor. She remembered disparaging remarks about her friends and the town she had chosen to call home. She remembered a certain mare going so far as to take another mare hostage and threaten Dawn’s home with Fluttershy in an attempt to manipulate her. She tried to imagine ponies like those in charge of a genuine house of Equestrian government. The thought made her shudder.

“I can understand that you might be reluctant to support this,” said Elderflower, “You have suffered at the hooves of my peers, for which I apologize greatly.” He sighed. “But that is part of why I want to do this. I believe that this will solve your problems as well as mine.”

That got Twilight’s attention and she found herself staring at Elderflower in confusion. “What do you mean?”

“Ultimately, the goal of the ponies trying to control you is to enhance their status amongst their peers. This has little tangible effect on Equestria as a whole since they are not in a position of genuine governance. Sadly, as I told you before, idle minds and all that... Because they have no concerns of actual governance to keep them occupied, they instead turn their minds to amusement and the inane power games that obsess those of our class. Given something to actually apply themselves to, they will cease obsessing over such minor affairs and work towards the genuine good of our nation." Elderflower gave Twilight a warm, friendly smile. "What do you think? It would certainly be better than the situation we have now."

Twilight hummed and rubbed her chin. She had to admit that Elderflower made a very good argument. It stood to reason that a great many of the excesses of the noble class stemmed from the lack of anything worthwhile to do with their time...at least, that's how it appeared on the surface. After all, there were members of the Noble Court who were quite productive, ponies like Prince Blueblood and Fancy Pants, who had applied themselves to governmental and economic roles separate from their status as nobles. Granted, that was because they had, more or less, abandoned the statuses afforded to them as members of the Noble Court and applied themselves to fields outside what nobles were normally willing to engage in.

"You might have a point," Twilight admitted, "But I'm not entirely sure that I trust the Noble Court to be responsible with even a portion of a branch of our government." The notion that ponies would be in a position to decide the course of Equestria's legislation simply because they had been born into a particular family didn't sit well with her. After all, the entire reason Celestia had begun to marginalize the governmental powers of the Noble Court in the first place was because of petty tyrants who had used the circumstances of their birth as an excuse to do whatever they pleased with the ponies they ruled. "Even if we don't establish a House of Lords for the Parliament, there are things that those who truly want to participate in Equestria's government can do."

“That may be so,” admitted Elderflower, “However, that is an unacceptable outcome.”

“Why is that?” asked Twilight.

“What you are saying is that we should cast aside the privilege our titles grant us and operate outside the bounds of the nobility,” said Elderflower, “That is unacceptable.”

Twilight let out a disappointed sigh. “I figured as much. In other words, what’s truly important is that you take control of the government as nobles.”

“That is correct,” replied Elderflower, “It is not merely our desire. It is our obligation. Being born into the noble families of Equestria, it is our responsibility to seize the nation and guide it's course, lest all fall into chaos.

"But that obligation is being denied by Princess Celestia's misguided ideals. Thus, it falls to us to correct Equestria's course before irreversible damage is done. The games my peers have been playing with you and your friends are merely a symptom of this disorder. However, I believe that, with your help, we can change things for the better and restore history to its proper course."

Elderflower fixed Twilight with a stare, a fanatical light burning in his eyes. "Twilight Sparkle, will you help me with this?

Author's Notes:

So...a lot of you have clearly noticed that the past couple of chapters have been rather exposition-happy. That was a deliberate effort on my part, as I felt I needed to work more on building up the beginning portions of my stories. When you read a series of actual books (Jim Butcher's The Dresden Files being my go-to example, as always), you'll note that, with each book, the author doesn't simply start off expecting you to automatically know who the characters are, no matter what book of the series you're on, but instead takes the time to reintroduce the characters with each successive book. That was something that I'm trying to work on with this latest story in my series. My next effort should be to work on integrating the exposition more organically into the narrative so it doesn't feel quite so clunky.

Once again, thanks to all you wonderful people, this story has made it into the featured story lists, though not to the top this time (I think), thanks to it being overshadowed by Accidents Happen by one Majin Syeekoh, which is understandable, given that it's such a short, easy read...and really good on top of that. Granted, the numbers seem to indicate at least ninety-percent of you have already read that story, but, on the off chance that some of you haven't yet, go give it a gander. It's barely over a thousand words, so it's a quick read. It's also a textbook example of a good author doing a lot with very little, using a very small number of words to tell a quick, entertaining story, certainly worth the five or so minutes (at most) you'll spend reading it. Go on...I'll wait...
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You're back, good!

Next Chapter: Twilight and the Baron throw down...philosophically, that is...

Breakdown of Negotiations

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Chapter 3: Breakdown of Negotiations

"Are you alright?" asked Dawn, watching as Arkenstone sorted the spices for one of his tea blends for the fifth time in a row.

Arkenstone's ears swiveled in Dawn's direction. He was a well-built stallion, about average in size, but showcasing chiseled, well-defined musculature that was the envy of many bodybuilders. His coat was a mild beige color, whilst his mane and tail were a chocolate-brown shade. Arkenstone's flank was decorated by a cutie mark shaped like a pair of crossed swords, gray with black inlays. The stallion's eyes were perpetually closed and he was completely blind. Whenever those eyes opened, which was rare, they were a milky, featureless white that gave Arkenstone a fearsome, almost inequine quality that could be both unsettling and intimidating.

Normally, he was a pillar of serene calm, particularly to Dawn. Arkenstone's relaxed, easygoing attitude was a result of his immense experience as a member of the Celestial Order of Knights. The Knights were sworn to the service of Equestria, with an authority that rivaled that of Princess Celestia herself whenever she was not present. The Knights lived quiet lives, frequently masquerading as something or somepony else and never revealing themselves publicly. For that reason, very little was known about their membership and most ponies believed them to be tall tales outright. But, in fact, they were an order of the most powerful ponies in all of Equestria, each of them individually capable of routing entire armies on the battlefield. At present, there were only seven.

However, on this day, Arkenstone's normally calm demeanor was notably absent, instead replaced by an uncharacteristic nervous tension that made itself apparent as the stallion fidgeted and fretted, making otherwise easy and mundane tasks take much longer than they normally did, whether it was washing the same table three times or reorganizing the kitchen for the fourth time in a day. It was painfully clear that Arkenstone's mind was elsewhere.

"I'm fine," replied Arkenstone. His tone was calm and relaxed, but he quickly turned to restart the process of sorting that he'd just restarted...again.

"I can't help but think otherwise," said Dawn, raising an eyebrow, "You're worried about something."

It was merely a twitch, just the barest jolt from Arkenstone's muscles. But it was enough for Dawn to tell that his guess was spot on. Given the fact that Arkenstone appeared to respect Dawn's agency as a fellow martial artist, it was unlikely that whatever had the stallion so worried concerned Dawn directly. "Is it something with Miss Twilight?"

Another jolt confirmed Dawn's suspicions. He sat and waited, head slightly canted to one side, both ears pointing upright attentively.

For a moment, it looked as though Arkenstone was simply going to carry on as though Dawn hadn't said anything. Then, the blind stallion let out a resigned sigh and pulled away from the counter to sit in front of Dawn.

"She's meeting a Baron of the Noble Court right now," said Arkenstone.

Dawn's lips pressed together tightly and his brow furrowed as he thought about what that meant. It was common knowledge to Twilight's close friends that members of the Noble Court had been seeking ways to manipulate Twilight Sparkle with the goal of making use of her close relationship to Princess Celestia for their own ends. Dawn had been the subject of those machinations himself. He'd seen and experienced the full extent of the influence that certain member of the Noble Court had...

...And Twilight was meeting with one of them directly.

That most certainly was troubling news. "Shouldn't you be with her then?" asked Dawn, looking up at Arkenstone.

Arkenstone let out another sigh. "Twilight wanted to try this on her own and, as much as I would like to protect her constantly, I can't be looking over her shoulder all the time. It's for the best that she try to fend for herself as much as possible."

"But that doesn't make it easier to not worry," Dawn pointed out.

Arkenstone shook his head. "No. It doesn't."

Twilight stared incredulously at the Baron across from her. I can't believe that he'd seriously think that I'd go along with this, she thought. In front of her, Elderflower was calming himself down, clearly a bit embarrassed about having gotten so worked up there for a moment.

Behind Elderflower, the door back into the library opened and Spike came ambling out, balancing a tray with a pot of tea and a pair of cups. He set the tea down on the center of the table and left without a word, casting a nervous glance over his shoulder at Twilight as he went. She gave Spike the tiniest of nods and the dragon took his leave.

Using her magic, Twilight poured the tea for both of them and then took a sip to steady her nerves. It was her favorite oolong blend, one that Arkenstone had mixed especially for her. The heady aroma of spices swirled up into her nasal passages and calmed her slightly.

Across from her, Elderflower raised an eyebrow as he tasted from his own cup. "My," he said, "This is quite a remarkable flavor. I don't believe I've ever tasted its like and I have some of the finest teas in all of Equestria imported directly to my estate."

"It's a local product," said Twilight, unable to hide a proud smile, "Arkenstone creates his own blends and sells them at his teahouse, which is right next door."

"Ah yes, Arkenstone, your..."

"Coltfriend," said Twilight flatly, her eyes narrowing as she cut off whatever patronizing and demeaning term Elderflower was going to use to describe her special somepony.

"The earth pony, right..." Elderflower took another sip of the tea, clearly approving of the flavor even if he probably didn't approve of where it came from. Setting the cup down, Elderflower slowly shook his head. "I don't know what you are hoping to accomplish by allowing him to court you, but it surely can't be worth the price you are paying for such associations."

A few faint wisps of smoke rose out of Twilight's mane and it took all of her willpower to keep from bursting into flame on the spot. "If anything," she replied, not able to completely keep the anger humming through her veins from leaking into her tone, "I'm the one courting him."

Elderflower froze. Though her response hadn't left him completely slack-jawed, he was now looking at her with startling intensity.

"The only thing I am hoping to accomplish in our relationship is to someday settle down with somepony who cares about me, who loves me as I love him, and build a family," snarled Twilight, "There's no ulterior political motive, no sneaky power play. As far as I'm concerned, there isn't really a price I'm paying for that."

If Twilight had to compare Elderflower's expression to anything, she'd say it was like an elementary-level student who'd only just learned basic multiplication trying to grasp the principles of advanced quantum physics, as though Elderflower was trying to wrap his head around a concept that was completely beyond his comprehension at the moment.

"That...is extraordinarily unwise," said Elderflower finally, "You need to realize that the price of such things is very high, Dame Sparkle. Your name and the name of Princess Celestia are at stake. Lowering yourself to associate with ponies beneath your station in such a manner will diminish your standing-"

"My standing," snapped Twilight, glaring all the harder at Elderflower, "is just fine. The ponies whose opinions actually matter fully approve of our relationship and I haven't the least concern for what anypony else might think..." Her eyes narrowed dangerously at Elderflower. "...no matter what their rank might be. Steel Flint said a lot of same things to me. Maybe you should ask Arkenstone what happened to him."

Admittedly, using Arkenstone's combat prowess as a threat against the Baron was something of a low blow for Twilight, particularly because, if Elderflower called her bluff, then she would be forcing Arkenstone to do to Elderflower what he did to Steel Flint. She realized, at that moment, she'd made a poor decision to bring that up. If she forced Arkenstone to follow through on her threat, then she was simply turning him into a tool to use against her enemies.

Please don't go through with it, Twilight pleaded silently. It was too late to retract her words now.

Elderflower coughed somewhat nervously. "Thank you," he said, "But I think I'll take you at your word. I apologize for my harsh remarks. I sometimes forget that not everypony thinks the same way I do." He gave her an apologetic look. "I hope that you'll forgive me, but sentiments such as the feelings you speak of are something I do not have the luxury for."

I'd think that all you'd have time for was luxury, thought Twilight irritably. It wasn't as though the nobility had any actual obligations expected of them anymore. "If you consider something like being in a loving relationship to be a luxury, then perhaps you need to reconsider what's truly important to you."

The Baron frowned at her. "I'm afraid that's a commoner's perspective. However, my work is far too important to spend on the things you suggest, so they remain mere frivolities to me."

That's your loss, thought Twilight.

Elderflower sighed and shook his head. "I'm afraid we allowed the conversation to get sidetracked. My point in coming here remains. If we are to avoid disaster, Equestria's course must be corrected. Allowing current trends to continue would only lead to the country falling into mob rule. To prevent that, we need to ensure that the ponies truly suited to governance are placed in a position to do so."

Twilight's eyes narrowed. "Like you and the other members of the Noble Court, I suppose."

Elderflower shrugged. "It is in our blood," he said simply, "Though time has passsed, though we do not do as much as we used to, it is still the prerogative of our families to guide the course of Equestria. It is what we were born to do, our destiny."

Twilight couldn't stop herself. A low snort forced itself from her nostrils. Still, it was better than simply exploding into laughter in front of a Baron of the Noble Court. She could see that Elderflower was not happy with her response. The slight narrowing of his eyes and the tightening of his lips betrayed his anger. He was not happy and he was doing his absolute best not to let it slip.

Instead, he appeared to school himself back into a calm neutrality and raised an eyebrow. "Apparently you disagree."

"I do," said Twilight, taking a second to fill her cup again, "I've seen the Noble Court and the ponies of so-called superior breeding. I've seen what they're truly capable of. Ultimately, most of you are nothing more than overgrown bullies who would be utterly incapable if you didn't have your inherited wealth to spend your schemes into something resembling success.

"The idea that your bloodlines making you better suited to rule is a farce, just like the farce that being born into a particular family inherently makes you superior or inferior to anypony. You scoff at the qualifications that the members of our current Parliament have for their office, but, at the end of the day, you and yours are ultimately less-qualified to serve in positions of governance over Equestria."

Elderflower was glaring openly at her. However, he maintained his composure. "You need to learn to be more reasonable, Dame Sparkle. If ponies abandon their proper roles in the world, then order will dissolve and chaos will replace it. The ponies in Parliament are not there because they are truly the best-suited to govern, but because they have been elected. Their elections are nothing more than glorified popularity contests. The pony that better outspends her rivals on advertisements tends to be the one elected, not because she is actually the better choice to represent a region. To make matters worse, these officials then waste precious time focusing on making sure that they can be re-elected, rather than actually doing their jobs. They need to be checked and made to actually do their jobs.

"Furthermore, our government is not just being run by commoners, but by pegasi and earth ponies, ponies whose role is not meant to be governance. Only we unicorns, the members of our tribe, have cultivated the wisdom necessary to truly rule Equestria.

"The pegasi are fighters, brutes to be sure, but powerful warriors. Their society has been built upon the principles of strength, will, and a fierce competitive spirit. That outlook does not lend itself well to fostering the stability of a nation, but it does serve the cause of that nation's protection. That is why the strength of the pegasi is needed by the Guard to protect our nation from external threats.

"The earth ponies are concerned with affairs of the land and its tending. They foster the growth of our crops and support our ponies by providing the food we need to survive. Their service is so essential that we simply cannot afford to allow them to waste their talents and power in the folly of reaching above their station.

"Without everything in its proper place and everypony doing the work they were meant to, then nothing can be accomplished. We all need to embrace our destinies if Equestria is to survive and prosper. Right now, ponies are abandoning the roles assigned to them by fate to seek out whatever whim catches their interest. Our nation will collapse and our enemies shall feast upon its corpse."

He stared down at his teacup. "Your...coltfriend...is remarkably skilled if he has managed to create such an excellent blend of tea. Seeing as he has his own teahouse, I imagine he must have many more blends like it. His business is clearly successful, so he does them all well. It's clearly what he was meant to do. Imagine what it would be like if he had thrown all that potential away to pursue some ridiculous fantasy like being a scholar or an accountant. You can't deny how well he fits his role."

If the Baron had meant for that last argument to be a definitive one that would convince Twilight of his views, he was sorely mistaken as she began to giggle unabashedly in front of him. Eventually, the giggles gave way to straight out laughter as Twilight fought to keep from doubling over under the weight of her own mirth. The Baron's eyes narrowed into slits as he stared at Twilight, trying to figure out what was so funny.

"I fail to see the cause for your amusement," he said in a harsh tone.

"I can't help it," replied Twilight, managing to suppress her chortles well enough to answer him, "It's just...If that last part was meant to show how ironclad your argument was, you clearly have no idea how badly you've just lamed it."

"What?"

"I guess you haven't actually seen Arkenstone in the flesh," explained Twilight, now smirking triumphantly across at Elderflower, "Arkenstone's special talent has absolutely nothing to do with tea, whether its mixing, its brewing, or its serving. His cutie mark is completely unrelated. In fact, he is the perfect example of the pony you've been decrying. He opened his teahouse and started up his business as a means of indulging in his favorite hobby."

Elderflower's jaw dropped and he glanced down incredulously at his teacup, as though seeing it for the very first time.

"That's the problem with your worldview, Lord Baron. Ponies have far more potential than you give them credit for, regardless of the standing of their birth or their tribe. If a pony truly loves something, then they have the capacity to see it through, regardless of whether or not it falls under the purview of their cutie mark or their social standing. By trying to squash them down into your little pigeonholes you are the one who is cutting them off from the chance to realize their full potential. When we're free to choose our own way through life, we are ponies. You would have us submit mindlessly to authority and embrace whatever role is determined for us. You would have us be a hive of insects."

Elderflower's jaw snapped shut and he stared at Twilight with a grim frown of disapproval. "Surely, you of all ponies, Dame Sparkle, would know better than to scoff at the importance of destiny."

"I beg your pardon," said Twilight.

"You owe everything that you have, everything that you are to destiny, to embracing the role that has been laid out for you. You were chosen by the Elements of Harmony to wield them and your compatriots were chosen for the task, even before that."

"What?" asked Twilight, her sense of triumph fading as an uneasy knot formed in her stomach.

Now it was the Baron's turn to smirk. "I've done my homework, Dame Sparkle. It was rather simple to put events together to understand the larger picture...

"You obtained your cutie mark during the entrance examination for Princess Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns. In the process of your examination, a sudden explosion in the distance caused you to lose your composure and resulted in your magic flaring uncontrollably. That flare was what attracted Princess Celestia's attention and what led her to making you her personal student, which is what resulted in you obtaining your cutie mark.

"At roughly the same time, your friend, Miss Rarity, was drawn away from town by her magic. Shortly after that same explosion, she returned with a massive haul of gems that she used to augment the costumes for a school play that she had been working on, which led to her cutie mark in turn.

"At the same time, records hold that Miss Applejack was staying with her relatives in Manehattan. Those records show that she left and immediately purchased tickets on the next train back to Ponyville, again, after that same explosion. Shortly afterwards, she was reported as having obtained her cutie mark after returning to her family's farm.

"Miss Pinkamena Diane Pie was a bit more difficult to track during that period. However, shortly following the explosion, a local store's records showed the sudden purchase of a large number of party supplies, to be delivered to the rock farm where Miss Pie had been born and raised. Likewise, she too was soon reported to have obtained her cutie mark in that period.

"Finally, records from Cloudsdale Flight School tell, somewhat briefly, that Miss Fluttershy went missing during the period of the explosion. She was located by her parents shortly afterward and withdrew from the school almost immediately, ultimately to pursue an apprenticeship with a Miss Willowbrook here in Ponyville in order to become Ponyville's wildlife manager. interestingly, she was documented as having her cutie mark when departing from Cloudsdale.

"And then there's the thing that ties all these incidents together. Records were spotty, but eyewitness testimonies indicate that the source of the explosion was Miss Rainbow Dash performing the first Sonic Rainboom seen in centuries, something that has become her signature move of sorts, if I recall correctly. Several witnesses confirmed the emergence of her cutie mark as a consequence of it. I'm told that she's been officially admitted to the Wonderbolts. I hope you'll convey my congratulations to her."

Twilight's skin crawled. She wasn't sure what disturbed her more, the fact that Baron Elderflower had researched her life and the lives of her friends to such a detailed degree, or the fact that his reasoning was fairly correct to a certain extent. He had a point there. She'd even gone and written a friendship report about it once; that she and her friends had a special bond even before they'd met. From that perspective, she could see what Elderflower was getting at. Her closest relationships were with five special ponies, her fellow Element Bearers. They'd each been gifted with one of the Elements of Harmony when they'd gone to face down Nightmare Moon. The pieces had fallen into place as easily and surely as though each of her friends had been carved with that specific role in mind.

But something deeper down told her that there was something wrong with Elderflower's argument. There was a chink in the chains of logic that he was trying use to bind her. But she couldn't, for the life of her, see what it was.

Even now, Elderflower, having finished his recounting, was watching her with a great deal of interest, clearly amused by the sight of Twilight struggling against his reasoning. He was waiting for her response, whether her acknowledgement that he was right, or something else. Whatever the case was, it was clear that Elderflower believed that he'd successfully cornered her.

Finally, Twilight lifted her head up and she fixed Elderflower with her sternest gaze. "You do make a good point. I've always thought that it was fate that I met my friends and that we went on to take up the Elements. But my heart tells me that there's more to it than just destiny, that we didn't succeed simply because we took up roles that were assigned to us. There's more to it than that."

Elderflower sighed. "Your heart...I see...In the absence of logic, you embrace emotion. I'm most disappointed in you, Dame Sparkle. You cannot admit the fault of your own beliefs."

"No more," said Twilight, "than you can apparently admit yours." After all, Elderflower hadn't effectively thwarted the examples she'd laid out either.

"Still, I believe I've made my point," said the Baron, "So I will ask you once again, Dame Sparkle. Will you help me bring order back to Equestria?"

"My answer is no," replied Twilight evenly, "I'm not fool enough to believe that Equestria is just fine as it is, or that the government couldn't be improved. Sure, many of the ponies currently serving in Parliament may not be the best ones for the job. But the way to solve those problems is not in the solution you pose. No good will come out of trying to stamp everypony into a particular role at birth or any other point of their life. Your way is not the answer."

Elderflower closed his eyes and slowly shook his head. "And here I was hoping that we could come to an agreement." He opened his eyes and stared straight at her. "But I know, one day, you will see things my way, Dame Sparkle. Someday, you will understand the truth of my words. Then, I'm certain that you will be of great help to me."

"No," said Twilight decisively, "I won't. I think our conversation is over, Lord Baron. I'm grateful that you were willing to come so far out of your way to visit me. But it's clear that we have nothing more to discuss. I must ask you to leave for now."

Elderflower didn't look happy with her continued refusal to acknowledge even a minor victory on his part. However, he also clearly understood that this was a battle not worth fighting anymore. "I thank you for your hospitality, Dame Sparkle. Though you continue to deny it, I hold out hope that you will see reason someday. Until then..." He inclined his head politely to her, which Twilight returned.

The Baron turned and went back through the balcony door, heading through the bedroom and down the stairs into the library. His two guards fell in behind him, smoothly and without the slightest signal from their employer. Elderflower continued out the library's front door and turned down the street towards the train station.

Twilight followed the Baron to the door and stood there, watching as he marched off into the distance. He would probably be in town for another couple of hours at least, until the next train going on to Canterlot arrived and his private car could be attached to it. But, for the time being, he was no longer something she had to deal with, which was a huge relief...

So why was it that a small knot of unease continued to churn in her gut?

The snow crunched loudly beneath Baron Elderflower's hooves as they carried him away from the library. The guards trailing behind him easily noticed that the Baron was exerting more force with his steps going away than he had when coming. In other words, he was stomping like an angry foal on his way back to the station.

Neither of them said anything about it.

Neither of them was stupid enough to even think about saying anything.

They followed the Baron's course as he made his way back to the platform, from there, they navigated to the separate track where his private car was being held, waiting to take them back to Canterlot on the next train heading that way. Elderflower didn't exchange a single word with the station's staff. There was no need to. One of the staff accompanying him would have taken care of it already.

The door to the car slid open in a sheath of the baron's magic. "Stay there," he snapped at the guards behind him, "I do not want to be disturbed."

Neither of the guards moved, not even to nod in acknowledgement. Instead, they simply fell into place on either side of the door and stood rigidly, awaiting the next order to come from Elderflower.

Elderflower's nostrils flared and he let out a snort of satisfaction before he stepped back inside the car, slamming the door shut behind him. Making his way into the car's sitting room, he went to a glass-faced cabinet on one wall and opened it. A single short glass and a decanter, both made from finely cut crystal, floated out and settled onto the narrow table that dominated the center of the sitting room. Elderflower settled onto the couch that lined the wall on one side, sinking into the soft cushions as they took on his weight. He removed the stopper from the decanter and poured a stream of amber liquid into the glass.

Elderflower took a long sip from the glass, completely draining it in one pull. He savored the harsh bite of alcohol as it slid down his throat and seemed to warm him from within. However, that did not stop his mind from wandering back to recent events. He still remembered perfectly Twilight Sparkle's behavior, how she'd opposed him, disrespected him, and contradicted him. He'd known better than to believe that he could sway her so easily. He'd known that this meeting would amount to little more than a prelude to the true game.

But that knowledge did nothing to reduce the searing anger that blazed away inside of him at how blatantly she'd insulted him. By all rights, she's nothing more than a jumped up hedge-witch. She had the luck to be born with more power than she had a right to and she dares to pretend that she knows better than me. I can trace my lineage back to Equestria's foundation and beyond. My family have been part of this nation's blood and bones since its very inception. Who is Twilight Sparkle to believe that she knows better than me what is best for this nation?

His rage vented itself into his magic. The brown aura holding the glass suspended in the air began to flare and his telekinetic grip tightened until the crystal cracked, then shattered, and was then crushed into sparkling dust, which slipped away from Elderflower's magical hold to form a glittering pile on the table next to his decanter.

Elderflower regarded the pile for a moment before huffing and using his magic to sweep it away. Stewing in anger will do nothing. I'd known from the beginning that Twilight Sparkle would be uncooperative. Her attitude problems are merely an extension of that. Getting angry over it is meaningless. I'll simply have to move on.

His opening gambit had failed, but the game was merely beginning. Fetching another glass from his liquor cabinet, Elderflower settled back onto the couch and poured himself some more whiskey as he pondered his next move.

Twilight's eyes flickered from one book to another as her magic slid them back to their proper places on the shelves. Nearby, Spike ambled back and forth across the room, sweeping up the dirt and debris their various guests had tracked in over the course of the day. The two of them worked in a relaxed, easygoing silence. Nothing was said. Nothing needed to be said. In a few minutes, Spike would go start dinner and that would be that.

The creak of the library's front door made Twilight's ears perk up and she turned to look, seeing the familiar beige figure of Arkenstone as he stepped inside. She could see him faintly sniff the air a couple of times and then his body sagged in relief. The motion was barely noticeable, but Twilight knew him well enough to catch it.

The last book was sliding into place on the shelf as Twilight made her way over to Arkenstone. He barely had time to shut the door behind him before Twilight pressed her lips to his, continuing forward until she'd forced Arkenstone to settle back on his haunches. Not breaking the kiss, she lifted up her forelegs to wrap them around his shoulders, settling onto her haunches as well. She felt Arkenstone's arms rise to return the embrace and the two of them held each other tight.

Finally, they broke the kiss. Arkenstone slowly leaned forward so that his chin rested on her shoulder and his neck pressed against hers. "Rough day?" he asked softly.

"You could say that," said Twilight, a blissful smile spreading across her face as she allowed herself to relax in her coltfriend's arms, "What about you?"

"Nothing too bad," he said, "Though my nerves got the better of me a little."

"I don't blame you," she said, "That was something I don't want to repeat."

They continued to hold each other until they heard the sound of Spike opening the door and heading into the kitchen. The faint clatter of pots and pans followed as the young dragon got to work on the evening's dinner. Meanwhile, Twilight and Arkenstone made their way to the cushions by the fireplace and stretched out next to each other so that Twilight was lying up against Arkenstone's side, her head draped languidly across his forelegs as he rested his own head across hers.

Twilight sighed softly, basking in her stallion's presence. Just by being there, Arkenstone managed to chase away the anxiety that had been dogging her throughout the day. Her thoughts about the things that Baron Elderflower had said had been hounding her relentlessly through the afternoon, nestling in the back of her mind like an itch she couldn't scratch. To keep them at bay, Twilight had tried to lose herself in her work, seeing to the library and its visitors, using them as a distraction as she tried to ignore the pricking needle the Baron had slid so carefully into her thoughts.

Destiny... Her traitorous thoughts had posed the question over and over throughout the remainder of the day. Are my friends my friends just because of destiny? Are we together just because that was what was meant to be? Did we ever really have any choice in the matter?

If the Baron's assertions were correct, then what did that mean for everything else that Twilight had believed in? Were her theories about the Elements of Harmony and their nature that she'd spoken of to Sunset Shimmer incorrect? Had she been operating off of mistaken assumptions all this time?

No! That couldn't have been the case. Elderflower had a point about her friendship. To a certain degree, Twilight had forged a connection, a bond with the others before they'd even met. But, at the same time, there remained a particular flaw to Elderflower's logic that she couldn't quite puzzle out. It continued to niggle at her just as insistently as the unpleasant doubts that Elderflower's words had inspired.

"...-light...Twilight..."

"Huh?" Twilight's mind came back to the present as she felt Arkenstone's muzzle gently prodding the back of her head. She realized that she'd allowed herself to get lost in her confusion over the day's affairs and that her thoughts had wandered off.

"Spike's nearly finished with dinner," said Arkenstone softly, "We should go join him soon."

"Oh...right..." Twilight's ears drooped and she remained where she was. After all, Arkenstone had said "soon," not "now."

Slowly, Arkenstone lowered his head and planted a featherlight kiss just behind Twilight's ear, making it twitch and eliciting a giggle from the lavender mare as her body squirmed slightly against his. "Are you alright?" he asked softly, "Your mind was a long ways away."

"Just..." Twilight sighed. "I was just thinking about everything that happened today, like what Elderflower said...about things..."

"Things you want to talk about?" inquired Arkenstone.

"Not yet," said Twilight, "I'd really just like to forget about it for now, if my own mind would let me."

"If you need to be alone, let me know," said Arkenstone, "I won't bother you."

"No," said Twilight, leaning harder up against him, "I like you just where you are."

She felt Arkenstone's quiet chuckle build within his chest before it made its way out his mouth. "Very well then," he said, "I'll stay right here."

"Hey you two!" shouted Spike from the kitchen, "Dinner's ready."

Twilight jolted up, nearly catching Arkenstone in the chin with her horn at the sound of Spike's voice. The two of them froze in startled silence before turning to look at each other. In unison, they broke out into laughter before they got to their hooves and made their way to the kitchen. As they walked, Twilight felt the uneasiness continue to fade away. It didn't matter what doubts tormented her. So long as the ponies closest to her remained by her side, she'd be fine.

"Are you certain that you're alright?" asked Rarity, watching Coco carefully.

"I-I'm fine," said Coco Pommel, the faint stammer in her voice saying otherwise.

Rarity could clearly see that something was wrong. Something or somepony had given Coco a terrible fright at some point. She'd been paler than usual when she'd come back from the bathroom and her hooves had been shaking faintly, enough to throw off her work, which was usually impeccable. Most ponies might not have noticed, but Rarity's experience and talent had cultivated a keen eye for detail and she'd known immediately that something was amiss.

She'd made no attempt to force Coco to stop working. Rarity herself was no stranger to having nerves take the edge off her work. Heaven knows how many stitches she'd botched or how many ill-considered ideas she'd thrown together when something bad had rattled her cage. Her mind still tormented her over some of the things she'd made while trying to throw off the memories of Discord's influence after returning that beastly creature to stone. Letting Coco work was probably the best way to help the young mare deal with her fear and anxiety over...whatever it was that was bothering her.

"If you say so," said Rarity, a little dubiously, "But please don't feel that you have to push yourself if you don't feel well. I'd be happy to give you tomorrow off if you need."

"O-oh no!" said Coco, "P-please don't t-trouble yourself on my account." She gave Rarity a smile that was not entirely convincing, "I'll be fine."

"Very well then," said Rarity. Before Coco could react, the older mare's arms wrapped around her shoulders and Coco found herself being pulled into a tight hug. "Remember," said Rarity softly, her voice almost a whisper, "If you need to talk, I'll always be here for you."

"Th-thank you," Coco whispered back.

Finally, Rarity let her go and watched as Coco scampered out the boutique's door.

Coco broke into a gallop and didn't stop until she was well out of sight of the boutique.

When she was sure that there was no longer any chance of Rarity seeing her, Coco sought out a bench off to the side of the street and sat down on it. Only then did she break down into sobs as her heart threatened to tear itself apart in her chest. Part of her wanted to rush back to the Carousel Boutique and tell Rarity everything, tell her about Baron Elderflower's machinations, about Perlin Bluestreak's hovering presence, about the threat looming over her and everyone who associated with her. However, another part of her, a colder part, reminded her that, in doing so, she'd be signing her own death warrant. Once word got to the Baron that she'd betrayed him, Perlin would come for her and that would be the end of it. Of that, she was certain. Oh, she'd heard that some of the ponies Rarity associated with were competent fighters. But, as her mind replayed the image of the mithril-winged colt mowing down trained fighters like a scythe through wheat, she realized that none of them had a chance in Tartarus of actually saving her if Perlin came for her life.

Then somepony laid a hoof on her shoulder.

Coco froze, her entire body going rigid with momentary panic. Elderflower could still be in town. If he was here, then Perlin might be as well. Shivering violently, Coco forced herself to turn her head and look back at who was gently resting a hoof against her withers. Her eyes widened as a pair of turquoise eyes with slit pupils met her own.

"Are you alright?" asked Dawn Lightwing, his tone soft and gentle.

Coco sniffed hard and nodded. Dawn raised an eyebrow at her, but made no effort to press. Instead, he gently sidled up against her. "Come," he said, "It's cold out. You'll get sick if you stay out here too long."

His words made Coco suddenly very conscious of the ambient temperature. She shivered, thankfully not from nerves this time, and got to her hooves. Dawn walked alongside her as they made their way to the house.

The only serious complication (aside from the hidden ones that had followed Coco from Canterlot) to her apprenticeship was that Rarity did not have space for her in the Carousel Boutique. Naturally, Rarity had the master bedroom. Another room belonged to Sweetie Belle, Rarity's adorable little sister. The other bedroom was currently occupied by Flaxseed, a unicorn stallion with a gold-colored coat, whom she'd rarely seen while working at the boutique. It seemed that Flaxseed was the nervous, unsociable sort, who was a bit leery of showing himself openly. Coco occasionally caught glimpses of him peaking into the workroom or disappearing out the door of one room as she entered through another door. She didn't think they'd even exchanged even ten words since Rarity had introduced him.

As a consequence, that meant there were no more rooms to be had at the boutique. Fortunately, there had been a solution. Fluttershy, Rarity's friend, was sharing a house with her coltfriend, a pleasant, tan-colored stallion named Caramel. Dawn, Fluttershy's adopted son, was staying there as well. Fortunately, they had a guest room open and had happily agreed to allow Coco to stay there.

They arrived at the house. Coco sat back and waited for Dawn to unlock the door, watching with fascination as the colt deftly manipulated the key between the feathers of his primaries. No matter how many times she saw it, Coco never tired of seeing the strange skill in action. Once inside, Dawn and Coco stripped out of their cold weather clothing before heading to the living room. Coco noted that, though the lights were on in the kitchen, there were no other signs that anypony else was in the house.

"Mom and dad are out on another date," explained Dawn, stacking wood in the fireplace before extending his wing towards it. With a loud snap, a small bolt of lightning jumped from the outermost primary of his wing and into the wood, setting it alight. It was another strange skill that fascinated Coco. She'd never asked, but she assumed it was an extension of pegasus weather control magic. In the fashion industry, she'd worked with quite a few unicorns, but never pegasi, except for those who handled shipping and deliveries, so she knew very little about their magic.

As the flames spread to the rest of the pile, Dawn went to the closet and fetched a blanket, which he then draped over Coco's shoulders. Giving the colt a grateful smile, Coco reached up with her hooves and drew the blanket around herself. Dawn nodded at her then retreated into the kitchen.

A few minutes later, Dawn returned with a steaming cup of herbal tea. Coco sniffed it and was grateful to find a blend of spearmint and chamomile. As she slowly drank it down, the warm fumes from the tea cleared her sinuses and relaxed her breathing, sending a soothing feeling throughout her body.

"Thank you," she whispered to Dawn, who'd settled onto the couch with a book.

"You're welcome," said Dawn, "I know you don't wish to talk about what it is that's bothering you. But we are all willing to listen, should you change your mind."

"I-I'll think about it," said Coco, knowing that she never could.

Dawn simply nodded at her and turned his attention to the book. In the meantime, Coco settled back and continued to sip her tea as she watched the fire through the night.

Author's Notes:

So, another day, another chapter. Yes, Elderflower's a jerk, though I tried to give him some legitimate hits in during the...erm...conversation. Namely, he highlights some points of frustration many of us have with elected governments in the real world. No system of government is truly perfect...until the day we finally welcome our robot overlords, who may just as well exterminate us as rule benevolently with literal iron fists...um...where was I going with that?

Elderflower also gets to point out a few of my (and some other people's) gripes about The Cutie Mark Chronicles, namely that the whole thing stinks of predestination, though said things aren't gripes for Elderflower, but points in his favor. That's gonna get some additional coverage next chapter.

Now, if you're looking for some other reading while you wait for tomorrow's chapter, I have another story to recommend. This one is Chaser, by sslacyhadals. It's another interesting take on the adult pony without a cutie mark genre that I was rather taken by. There isn't a whole lot of action or anything like that, but I dig the characterization. This one looked like it was gonna be abandoned for a while (as seems to happen to a lot of promising stories...shortly after I start following them [Universe, why do you hate me so?]), but the author has now bounced back and, hopefully, we will get to see it completed.

Next chapter: Twilight dreams of ~~genie~~...er...I mean...Luna.

Dreaming of Destiny

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Chapter 4: Dreaming of Destiny

Twilight tossed and turned underneath her blankets, her eyes still closed as she pulled them tighter about herself to try and lull herself into sleep. Unfortunately, even though she was tired, the meeting with Elderflower had taken a lot out of her, sleep eluded her grasp. After dinner, she'd relaxed a little more with Arkenstone, enjoying the feeling of his presence as they read in front of the fireplace. But, all too soon it seemed, Arkenstone had to return to his own quarters in the teahouse and was time for Twilight to go to bed, Spike having already turned in an hour earlier.

However, the doubts that Twilight had managed to shelve during the evening returned in full force when she laid down and closed her eyes. It wasn't so much that it was undermining her faith in her relationship with her friends, rather that the answer to her conundrum, the refutation of what Baron Elderflower had argued, refused to let her rest. It was probably one of Twilight's greatest vices that, when she had a puzzle to ponder or a conundrum to consider, her mind just would not rest until she'd analyzed the issue to her satisfaction.

Still, exhaustion and the darkness of night took their toll and Twilight finally felt herself slipping away from the waking world. Unconsciously, she already realized that it would be a rough night for her. Falling asleep when she was so agitated rarely resulted in pleasant dreams. They weren't out and out nightmares. But often, the dreams that came to her when she was in such a state tended to be bizarre beyond reason, deliberately tormenting her with their illogical nature. It always felt as though she was trapped in a state halfway between being awake and asleep. It was never very restful.

However, as the waking world faded away, a shimmering blue light washed through her mind and drew her into darkness.

The scenery was familiar. Looking around, Twilight saw that she was now standing in a dark void. All around her, countless points of light glowed like stars dotting the night sky. Immediately, the answer came to her. After all, she had been here once before.

"Good evening Twilight Sparkle. How do you fare this night?" The starscape before Twilight's eyes swirled, seeming to come alive until a dark-blue hoof stepped out from within, followed by the rest of the alicorn's slender body. Princess Luna now stood before Twilight, standing tall and proud, her mane and tail blending seamlessly with the tapestry of stars around them while her crescent moon cutie mark shined, almost like the real thing, through the darkness.

Reflexively, Twilight bowed before Luna, who sighed. "You need not observe such formalities with me, Twilight Sparkle; especially here of all places."

Rising up, Twilight looked up at Luna, feeling a bit confused. "But why am I here?" she asked.

"I was hoping to speak with you," said Luna, "I heard that you had a busy day and that something was bothering you."

"You...did?" Twilight blinked and tilted her head.

Luna coughed awkwardly and rubbed her foreleg, averting her gaze. "Your coltfriend and young assistant may have sent Tia a letter expressing their concerns about your anxiety."

That made Twilight frown at the realization that Spike and Arkenstone had talked to Princess Celestia without asking her about it. Still, what was done was done.

Luna continued, apparently ignoring the slight agitation the facts she'd just revealed had caused Twilight. "Of course, my sister is not adverse to talking with you and is more than happy to listen to your troubles. She wouldn't be able to come to you directly for a while, as busy as she is and I don't think that you'd want to come back to Canterlot so soon."

Twilight nodded. Of course, she and Celestia could always speak through letters. But that would be a stilted, drawn-out conversation, even factoring in the fact that neither of them would have to worry about waiting for delivery, thanks to Spike's flame. But it would strain the poor dragon something awful to send and receive so many letters over such a short period of time. Spike would do it in a heartbeat of course, but Twilight didn't want to abuse her Number One Assistant's dedication like that.

"Thus, I volunteered to visit you in Tia's place, which I can fortunately do without leaving the comfort of my audience chamber," said Luna, her eyes glittering with amusement.

"I thought you couldn't hold an audience with a pony unless they were in your immediate vicinity," Twilight pointed out. After all, she'd had to come to Canterlot herself in order to speak with Luna like this before.

Luna shook her head. "To put it specifically, a pony must come to me if they seek an audience with me. However, I can seek out another pony in the dreamscape with perfect ease. The fact that your rest was troubled by your anxieties only made your presence all the more visible to me."

"I'm grateful," said Twilight, "But are you okay with taking time away from your duties to do this?"

"Who says I am neglecting my duties?" asked Luna with a sly smile, "I watch over the dreams of all my little ponies. Surely, I would do little good if I could only help them one at a time."

That made sense when Twilight considered it. Even if only a few ponies out of every thousand were having particularly troubled dreams that might require Princess Luna's intervention, the millions of ponies that made up Equestria would mean that there were hundreds, if not thousands who needed Princess Luna's attention every night. She certainly wouldn't get much done visiting each pony one at a time.

"That's amazing," said Twilight, "Princess Celestia sure can't be everywhere at once."

"Well..." said Luna, blushing from Twilight's praise, "It's not quite the same thing. The rules of the realm of dreams are different from those of the waking worlds, so I am not as limited in my options. It's nothing like omnipresence rather...it's more like..." Luna tilted her head and rolled her eyes upward in contemplation. "What is that word the hip modern ponies use...? Oh! That's right! I'm exceptionally good at multitasking...when I'm asleep, at least."

"I wish I could multitask in my sleep," said Twilight with a wry smile, prompting a giggle from Luna.

"Now then," said Luna, "Let us return to the subject at hoof. What has you so worried, Twilight Sparkle?"

Twilight sighed and turned to look at the tapestry of stars drifting around them. "Well...I had my meeting with Baron Elderflower today."

Luna nodded slowly. "Yes. Tia was quite worried about that. I trust that he did not try anything untoward."

Twilight shook her head vigorously. "No! Of course not! He wouldn't do anything that blatant. We had a nice, civilized discussion and tried to completely undermine each other's belief systems through reasonable argument."

Luna stared at Twilight with a blank expression. "That does not exactly sound like the definition of civilized conversation to me."

Twilight sighed. "For the nobility, that's what qualifies as civilized," she answered with an angry snort, "I had to be prepared to go blow for blow just to keep up."

"And...how did your...contest pan out?" asked Luna.

Twilight's ears drooped down. "I guess it was pretty much a draw," she said, "Neither of us conceded and neither of us left the table happy with the outcome either."

"It has always been said that the hallmark of a good compromise is that no one is happy with the result," mused Luna.

"Uh...that's not relevant," said Twilight, "We didn't compromise on anything. This was a philosophical slugfest where neither of us really got the upper hoof. So we've just retreated back to our corners for the next round."

"I rather like that metaphor," said Luna with an amused smile, "But I get the feeling that, in spite of your admission that it was a draw, that the Baron of Dream Valley got in some fairly substantial blows, as it were, over the course of your contest."

"You could say that," said Twilight.

"And what is it, exactly, that he said that vexes you so?" inquired Luna, leaning in closer.

"Well...Baron Elderflower researched the pasts of my friends and I," explained Twilight, "And he used that information to point out how we were all connected to each other before we even met, how our meeting was practically destiny."

Luna gave Twilight another blankly confused stare. "I am not certain that I understand how this is a blow to you," she said.

"It's just..." Twilight took a deep breath. "The Baron's philosophy is rooted in his belief that everypony has a predetermined purpose in life and that ponies straying from what their purpose is meant to be is placing Equestria in danger. He isn't just talking about cutie marks either. He believes that ponies roles are further predetermined by their tribes."

"That is...an incredibly archaic point of view," said Luna thoughtfully.

Twilight nodded her agreement. "Which explains why the plan he outlined to me was the first step to winding back the clock on the past few centuries of Equestrian social development.

"The point is that, to support his position, he used my friendships to show how my path has been determined by destiny. The Sonic Rainboom that Rainbow Dash performed was a catalyst that lead to the discovery of all of our cutie marks. Then we met in Ponyville and together we...gained the Elements of Harmony and defeated you as Nightmare Moon."

Twilight had been afraid that the reminder of her dark aspect would make Luna flinch. However, the alicorn merely nodded her agreement to Twilight's words.

"I remember when we all told the Cutie Mark Crusaders the stories of our cutie marks, how we came to realize the bond that we had." Twilight sniffed, her eyes tearing up. "I was so proud of it at the time. I even wrote a friendship report to Princess Celestia about it.

"But...now...What Elderflower said, what he insinuated...that our friendship was born from destiny, that we were meant to be together, that none of it was really by our choice, that we were just pieces in a puzzle being put in our proper places...

"I thought I'd understood the Elements of Harmony, what it was that allowed us to use them. But now..."

A hoof gently found its way beneath Twilight's chin and lifted her eyes to meet Luna's. That same hoof gently traced under Twilight's eyes, brushing away her tears as Luna smiled fondly down at her. "My dear little pony," she said, her voice as soft as the whisper of wind through the grass on a clear summer's night, "You are such a wonderful mare to think about such things."

"I don't..."

Luna's smile widened. "That Elderflower's words have caused you so much distress is a sign of how much you truly love and treasure your friends and the bond you hold with them. That is no mere construct of destiny."

"But...Isn't what Elderflower pointed out true?" asked Twilight.

"It is, somewhat," answered Luna, "And yet, you know that his argument is lacking somehow, that there is a deficiency in his reasoning. That is the real reason this conundrum troubles you so."

"But I can't figure out what it is," said Twilight, once again lowering her eyes as her mind ran through the question yet again, "It can't be that destiny is a false idea."

Luna let out a loud, bellowing laugh that echoed through the empty space around them. (Which should have been physically impossible since there should have been no objects for the sound to rebound off of, but Twilight forced herself to remember that this was a dream and conventional physics did not apply.) "Oh no," said Luna, "Destiny certainly does exist. I have known its power and felt its presence. It was destiny that led Tia and I to first stumble across the means to defeat Discord. Millennia later, you would discover those same means and use them to save me from myself. You met Tia by destiny, met your friends by destiny. However, Elderflower grossly overestimates destiny's importance."

"What do you mean?" asked Twilight.

"Let me pose it to you this way," said Luna, a merry twinkle in her eye, "What did you think when you first met the ponies who would become your closest friends?"

Twilight blinked. "Well..."

She paused when Luna held up a hoof. "When I ask, I mean, what was your first impression? This may be somewhat difficult, but I need you to strip away the layers of depth and insight added by hindsight and a greater understanding of who your friends really are. Set that all aside for a moment and give me the completely unvarnished first impression you had of each of them."

Twilight thought about her answers and...slowly looked away, feeling guilt and shame beginning to pile up in her gut.

Luna sighed. "Let me take this moment to remind you," she said, "that what is said betwixt us within the world of dreams remains in the world of dreams. Naught that you say and do here can follow you into the waking world by my actions. Remember, I have a geis that forbids me from using the knowledge I gain from the world of dreams in the world of the waking. What you say here stays here, even when next we speak again when we are both awake.

"Now...starting with the first pony you met, what did you think of them?"

"Well..." Twilight thought about it for a moment. Technically, the first pony she'd met had been Pinkie Pie. But that had been so brief it didn't really qualify as a meeting. So she went on to the next viable candidate.

"The first pony I really met was Applejack. When I met her, she was hosting a family reunion at her farm and preparing the food for the Summer Sun Celebration. When I met her I thought..." Twilight swallowed nervously. It was extremely difficult for her to imagine herself thinking of her friends this way after all that they had been through together. "I thought she was pushy, did way too much talking and not enough listening. She latched onto me and forced me to meet all of her family, even though I couldn't have cared less at the time. Then she basically force fed me a small feast of apple confections until I was almost too full to walk back to town. By the time Spike and I were done up at the farm, I just wanted to get away from her.

"Then I met Rainbow Dash. At first, I thought she was just a braggart, a pony who loved to talk big and show off. She was more interested in lazing about and fantasizing about the Wonderbolts than actually doing her job. Sure, once she got started, she did it ridiculously fast, but then she just had to rub it in...

"After that was Rarity. Just like Applejack, I thought she was way too pushy. She wouldn't let me get a word in edgewise and just dragged me back to her boutique and started planning to dress me up like I was some doll and not a pony. Even more annoying was the way that Spike completely latched onto her. I swear that crush of his was one of the biggest causes of my stress for a long time while I stayed in Ponyville. Ugh! We had to sneak away before Rarity wasted any more of my time on a game of dress-up.

"Fluttershy was next. When I first tried to talk to her, the first thought I had was that she was...weak. She couldn't even tell me her own name for Celestia's sake! I wasn't even trying to be intimidating. If anything, I was trying to be nice and avoid scaring her, but she acted like a damn coward anyway. The way she cringes when you've done absolutely nothing to deserve that behavior, slinking about like she's terrified of you even when you haven't tried to scare her...It makes you want to give her something to actually be afraid of. To make matters worse, then she noticed Spike and then I couldn't get her away from me. She tailed us all the way back to the library because she'd never seen a baby dragon before.

"And then there was Pinkie Pie. I...I just don't have the words to really describe her. I thought she was the worst. It was like important things like logic and reason didn't matter to her and she just did whatever she wanted. She went and shoved her welcome party down my throat even though the last thing I wanted to do at the moment was a party. I had important things to get done and she just wouldn't shut up about having fun and making friends!

"They, all of them, they absolutely drove me up the wall. They were nothing like me. They didn't understand me at all. Those ponies were completely crazy!"

Twilight finally settled down out of her rant, panting for breath. Digging up her memories of those first impressions had also allowed her to re-experience the all the anger and frustration the events themselves had caused. Those feelings had been unpleasantly vivid. Perhaps that vividness was due to the fact that Twilight was recalling those memories in the dreamscape.

She looked up hesitantly at Princess Luna, expecting an angry frown. After what she said, Twilight wouldn't have been surprised to see Luna being upset with her. However, when her eyes met Luna's, all she saw was calm acceptance, as though Luna didn't mind at all what Twilight had said.

"In other words," said Luna, "Your first impression of those five was that you wanted nothing to do with them. They were simply items to be crossed off your checklist so you could get back to what you really wanted to do."

Twilight sniffed and nodded. Luna strode forward and placed herself alongside Twilight. She spread a wing and laid down, the pressure from the appendage resting across Twilight's back forcing her to lay down too. Luna's wing curled inwards, pulling Twilight up against her side. For a moment, they simply lay there, Luna gently nuzzling Twilight's mane, as though she were a mother comforting her foal.

"You need not be ashamed," said Luna finally, "Because, in a way, that was the entire point of this exercise."

"What do you mean?"

"When you first met those five, you could not possibly imagine them being your friends at all. In fact, you could not imagine having friends at all, because you had far more important things to do than simply making friends."

Twilight's head sank, a blush of shame covering her features as Luna tittered lightly. "Tia told me a great deal about what you were like before you'd gone to Ponyville. I don't doubt that your first feelings regarding those five were echoed by them. They probably found you to be arrogant, condescending, and completely dismissive of the things that mattered so dearly to them."

Twilight shivered against Luna's side.

"And yet," continued Luna, "When I returned from the moon and you set out to stop me from bringing about Night Eternal, they came with you. They followed you into one of the most dangerous and treacherous places in all of Equestria, even though they didn't like you. And then, when you confronted me at the old palace, you recognized the things that drew you to them. You identified what bound you all together and affirmed those feelings within your heart. That is what allowed you to call forth the Elements of Harmony and use them to best me.

"Your meeting with the ponies that would become your friends may have been predestined. But the friendship that actually resulted was most certainly not. It may have been fate that you six met. However, it was your insight and your willingness to look beyond the flaws that stood out so starkly to you the first time you met them that allowed you to fully realize the bond between the six of you and what allowed you to wield the Elements. Destiny could not do that for you. Only you, Twilight Sparkle, could take that next, crucial step."

"What are you saying exactly?" asked Twilight.

Luna smiled. "That is how I understand destiny. It rarely works the way we think it does and almost never works the way we want it to, because it can only take us so far. Ponies like Elderflower want destiny to do all the work for them, to decide everypony's path through life so that they do not have to agonize over their own choices or doubt their own decisions. But, if you ask me, destiny cannot do that."

"Then what is it?" asked Twilight.

Luna laughed, much more quietly than last time, but a merrier sound. "Destiny is merely the starting line. It brought you and your friends together, but the rest was up to you. They could have easily chosen not to follow you into the Everfree Forest and merely looked to their own. You could have ignored the virtues that they showed through the challenges that you overcame and focused upon your own actions."

Twilight thought about Luna's words, turning them over in her head. She remembered the irritation she'd first felt about meeting those five. She then contrasted it to how her feelings had changed after everything they had faced together in their journey to acquire the Elements, a journey that had ended with Twilight not wanting to leave them. There had been no grand revelation, no magical switch that had been thrown that made her suddenly like those ponies. Even now, the faults that had been so glaring to her when she first met them still persisted. Applejack was still prone to being unbearably stubborn. Rainbow Dash was still something of a braggart and an attention hog. Rarity was needlessly overdramatic. Fluttershy was still far too retiring at times for Twilight's tastes. And Pinkie Pie...was still Pinkie Pie, completely unpredictable and illogical, a pony who frequently failed to understand that not everypony liked to have fun the same way that she did.

But, through her experiences, Twilight had come to understand what lay beneath those flaws, the things that had reached out and drawn her to them. Applejack was dependable and reliable when it really counted. Rainbow Dash never left a friend hanging, even if it meant losing the chance to advance towards her dreams. Rarity would drop everything in a heartbeat to work on a request for a friend. Fluttershy was endlessly caring, kind, and gentle. And Pinkie Pie...was still Pinkie Pie, utterly dedicated to making each day an experience new and fresh, always seeking to brighten the lives of others. They were her friends, the ponies she held closest to her heart, along with her family and coltfriend. They were her anchor of sanity, even if they were the cause of much of the opposite. She could no sooner consider breaking things off with them than she would tearing off one of her own limbs.

Luna was right. Their friendship had been born from their shared experiences, their willingness to look beyond one another's faults and embrace the things that made each of them different as something precious and special. Such a bond couldn't be attributed to a simple concept like destiny. It was brought about by understanding of each other, acknowledging one another's flaws and accepting each other as friends in spite of or even because of those very same traits.

"How do you feel now?" asked Princess Luna, smiling down at Twilight, who was now smiling back.

"Much better," said Twilight, "Thank you for your wise counsel, Princess."

"You are most welcome," said Luna, once again leaning down to nuzzle Twilight's mane, "When next you and the Baron come out of your respective corners, I suspect that you will have the edge over him."

"I'll give it my best," promised Twilight.

Luna nodded. "I shall take my leave of you now. I wish you pleasant dreams, Twilight Sparkle."

"Good night Princess Luna," said Twilight.

Luna's body once again dissolved into a mass of stars and swirled away. The stars around Twilight faded away into a warm darkness that enveloped her. Soon Twilight's dreams were filled with the warmth, affection, and colors of the ponies she held dear.

Twilight felt the sun's warmth across her face before her eyes opened and she saw the light streaming in through her library curtains. Reflexively, her mouth opened in a yawn and she stretched underneath the blankets over her bed. Given how troubled she'd been when she'd first gone to bed, she was amazed that she'd just woken up from one of the most restful sleeps she'd ever had the privilege of having. Maybe I should get more sleep counseling sessions from Princess Luna, she thought with a giggle.

Rolling out of bed, Twilight noted that she'd risen a little earlier than normal. That was fine. She spotted Spike, still curled up in his basket, snoring away. I'm going to have to get him a proper bed soon, she thought. The little dragon was getting larger quickly now. She estimated it wouldn't be long before he reached pony-size or bigger. She certainly hoped the predictions she'd made about his growth were accurate.

If her assessments of Spike's nature were correct, his growth was actually being guided by subtle and slow shapeshifting magic that would allow his body to better adapt to his surroundings. That meant that there was a likelihood that he wouldn't grow beyond a pony's size because that was the size best suited for living amongst ponies. If that was true, then all of her previous worries over what to do once Spike outgrew the library would be meaningless. It would be the best for Spike, given that he was now Apple Bloom's special somepony (Somedragon, Twilight amended). It would be much easier on their relationship if Spike remained in the same size-class as his fillyfriend.

Twilight decided to leave Spike alone for now. Just because she'd woken up early, there wasn't any reason that Spike had to as well. Besides, she had some things she could take care of on her own before her Number One Assistant woke up.

"So how does this work?" asked Dawn, eyeing his mother curiously. The two of them stood in the basement of Town Hall. Before them laid a trio of boxes about three-quarters the colt's size. They were just a few of the many boxes stored down in the basement. However, each one of this trio of boxes was marked with a border of green tape around the top of it.

"It's simple," replied Fluttershy with a smile, her silky pink locks bouncing slightly as she turned to look at her adopted son, "We just need to inspect the bells we're using for Winter Wrap-Up so that we can wake up all of our animal friends after their hibernation."

"That sounds rather easy," said Dawn, "Is there any particular reason that we need to do it so far ahead of time?" After all, Winter Wrap-Up was over a month away.

"If there are any problems, we may need to order new bells," said Fluttershy, "Twilight's always talking about how important it is to plan ahead for problems like that so that we aren't scrambling to do everything at the last minute."

"She would," said Dawn with a shrug and an amused smirk. He'd heard that, before Twilight's arrival, the ponies of Ponyville had rarely, if ever gotten spring to come on time. Once Twilight Sparkle had taken the reins of Winter Wrap-Up, she'd managed to change things around so that spring now arrived on time routinely.

Given how much Twilight valued proper preparation and pre-planning, it only made sense that she was also behind the little aspects of the work, such as the errand he and Fluttershy were running now.

As his mother opened the first of the boxes, Dawn was surprised to note that the bells were all different shapes and sizes...well, not all of them. But there was a surprising variety. "So many different ones," he said.

Fluttershy nodded. "The important thing is to wake up all the animals gently and considerately. But many animals have different ranges of hearing, so a snake might react differently to a particular sound than a bear. We have to check and make sure that they're all in working order."

Dawn frowned as he looked down at the bells. "How do we do that?" he said, "I remember you telling me that some of the sounds certain animals respond to are out of the range of equine hearing. Can we actually test the sound of something we can't hear?"

"We don't need to worry about that," said Fluttershy, her wing dipping into a saddlebag and pulling out a crystal of the same lavender color as Twilight's coat, "Twilight made this for us to test the bells with. you just ring the bell by the crystal. If the tone is correct, then the crystal turns blue. If it's wrong, then the crystal will turn red and the bell will have to be fixed. Luckily, Miss Vinyl Scratch is good at that sort of thing."

"And how does it know which bells are supposed to make which sounds?" asked Dawn.

"Magic."

"Oh..." Dawn decided to leave it at that. When it came down to magic, he tended to believe that he was better off assuming that Twilight knew what she was talking about. Fluttershy had evidently performed this task before, so it was at least fairly reliable. Dawn also noted, perhaps with a certain degree of cynicism, that Twilight seemed to be making use of a loophole in the rules that forbade the use of most kinds of unicorn magic to assist in Winter Wrap-Up.

During the time he'd spent traveling with his Master, Dawn had seen similar events in other towns they had passed through during the transition between winter and spring. It appeared to be a common fixture in many towns where unicorns were a minority of the population, particularly agricultural communities, like Ponyville. In all of those communities, it had been the same. Unicorn magic was mostly forbidden. Dawn had always been curious as to why.

Maybe Arkenstone would know the particulars, he thought, resolving to put the question to the Knight at the next opportunity. However, that would come later. Right now, what was important was helping his mother with her task. Together, the two of them began to sort the bells, separating them out according to which animal they were supposed to awaken, so that each group could be tested efficiently.

The work was pleasant and Dawn was more than happy for the opportunity to spend time with his mother. Ever since he'd gotten his job at the teahouse, he'd begun to spend less and less time with her and more with his friends. Dawn supposed that it was the norm for ponies his age. But he'd gone so long without a real parental figure in his life that he felt that every moment he got to spend in Fluttershy's company was something to be cherished.

So he worked and listened as Fluttershy cheerfully explained about which bells woke what animals, sometimes listing various interesting facts about them. He marked it as a day well spent.

“How're ya doin' kid?" asked the mare as she grinned down at Sweetie Belle, a twinkle in her magenta eyes.

Sweetie's pink and purple mane bobbed up and down as she jumped excitedly. "I'm doing great, Miss Scratch," she chirped back, her own pale-green eyes sparkling as she gazed up at the mare in front of her.

The mare and the filly shared the same white coat, but that was where the resemblance ended. Vinyl Scratch's mane was a tousled electric-blue mess that ended in uneven spikes that draped down the sides of her neck. Her tail, both similarly colored and unkempt, kept twitching back and forth to some soundless rhythm that seemed to exist only in the back of Vinyl's mind. Her flank was decorated by a cutie mark in the form of a pair of eighth notes. Her face was practically glowing with energy and enthusiasm as she grinned down at her young protege.

In contrast, Sweetie Belle's own mane and tail were much more well kept, having been curled into something something similar to her elder sister's style. At present, her flank was still quite blank, a fact that had caused no end of frustration to the filly, seeing as she was one of the last of her immediate circle of friends to obtain her cutie mark. Still, that frustration took a backseat to her enthusiasm as she grinned back up at Vinyl with a smile that simultaneously contained all the innocence that a foal could convey, along with the potential for mischief that had always made the Cutie Mark Crusaders a name that caused fear and dread in equal parts with the amusement it inspired in those who heard it.

"Ready to get started again?" asked Vinyl, already turning around to lead the filly into her house.

Not bothering with a verbal response, Sweetie merely nodded eagerly and pranced in after her new mentor. While she had been in Canterlot with her friends and family for the Hearth's Warming holiday, a certain cellist had suggested to Sweetie that she seek Vinyl's instruction when she got back to Ponyville.

Given that Vinyl Scratch was better known to Ponyville and Equestria at large as DJ-Pon3, Sweetie hadn't exactly expected a warm or enthusiastic welcome. Celebrities who might relish attention while on stage tended to react less positively to such attention when they were simply trying to live their lives. Sweetie had very much doubted that Vinyl would be excited at the prospect of having a novice filly underhoof during times when she wasn't working.

So it was something of a surprise to Sweetie when she found out that her initial expectations had been very wrong. It had taken all of a few seconds for Vinyl to warm up to her and, once Octavia's name came up, she'd immediately agreed to teach Sweetie the rare form of magic that she practiced. Not that Sweetie had taken Octavia's word alone on Vinyl's qualifications. She had also asked Twilight about Vinyl. To her surprise, Sweetie learned from Twilight that, aside from being a successful DJ, Vinyl had also graduated from the Equestrian Academy of Arts and Sciences with a degree in sono-thaumaturgy.

"Okay then," said Vinyl, leading Sweetie into her house. She led Sweetie into her studio, where a seat and a stand were waiting. Sitting on the stand was a piece of simple sheet music. Once Sweetie was in place, Vinyl stood back, still grinning. "Okay kiddo, start tuning up."

Sweetie nodded and ran through her warm-up exercises, which consisted of producing a full scale of notes with her magic. She started low and worked her way up to the highest notes on the scale before working her way back down to the low ones. Vinyl had been impressed by both Sweetie's range and accuracy, suggesting that the filly might actually be capable of accurately producing notes in the infrasonic and ultrasonic ranges in addition to those in the normal range of pony hearing.

Next, she and Vinyl worked their way through some simple sheet music, with Sweetie reproducing the notes with her magic. They were basic pieces, considering that Sweetie was only just starting to learn how to read notes, but she was learning fast. The two of them experimented with some rhythms and different sounds. Sweetie also practiced producing more than one sound from her horn at a time. She even practiced singing at the same time she used her horn to produce notes. The results were often nothing short of amazing to the filly and she was shocked whenever Vinyl would play back the brief recordings she made of some of their sessions.

Once the lesson wound down, Vinyl and Sweetie adjourned to Vinyl's living room, where Vinyl put out tea for them. It surprised Sweetie to see that Vinyl even owned a tea set, much less the charming white porcelain one decorated with pink flowers growing from green vines. It seemed very out of place with the somewhat untidy image that Vinyl herself presented, especially on stage. Admittedly, Sweetie hadn't had much experience with Vinyl's stage persona. Many of Vinyl's "gigs," as the mare referred to them, were held at venues that Sweetie wasn't quite old enough to enter yet. Thus, she was limited to the few larger public performances that Vinyl was occasionally invited to do. However, there was no question that the image of Vinyl on stage, laughing, yelling, bobbing, dancing, and working her sets was a very different image from the calm, relaxed mare sipping tea in front of her.

"Why are you so different on stage?" asked Sweetie, a bit nervous, wondering if she was traversing on territory too personal for discussion.

Vinyl shrugged. "Well, a mare on stage has gotta maintain a certain image if she wants to hold her audience. But, the truth is, I sorta feel like a different pony on stage. Standing up there, in front of the crowd, feeling their excitement, it just makes the blood start buzzing in my veins and I get into the groove."

"Oh," said Sweetie, her ears going back slightly as she tried to picture herself up on the stage like she had seen Vinyl doing. Instead of exciting her, the image of countless ponies staring up at her, watching her every movement, taking in everything that she said or did, made her skin crawl.

Vinyl seemed to notice this and gave Sweetie a small smile. "It's not for everypony, I know. You probably aren’t the sort to go up there and knock their socks off with the power of rock."

"I...I guess," admitted Sweetie, "B-but what's the point of me learning this then?"

Vinyl shrugged, as though this very important question was actually rather minor. "You have a knack for it, that's for sure. You have a really good ear for music and I can see you going far at the Academy. Both Octavia and I went there, though we were in different years and different fields. I'll have you know that I hardly had any recitals or practical demonstrations."

Sweetie cocked her head slightly to the side. "Huh? Why?"

"'Cause what I was doing were a lot of advanced theoretical courses; lots of experimenting with sound and magic. That's what sono-thaumaturgy's about after all, using music as the basis for the structure of magic and its properties."

"But why did you become a DJ then?" asked Sweetie. It sounded like Vinyl had more in common with a scientist like Twilight Sparkle than an artist like Octavia or Sweetie's own sister.

"'Cause I thought that was the best way to put what I'd learned to use," said Vinyl, rising to her hooves, grinning widely, "It's the ultimate frontier, the crossroads between science and art, studying the impact of music and how it affects the pony who hears it, how certain sounds produce certain reactions and learning to put all those together into a symphony of sensation! When you understand it, you have the power to make ponies dance in joy, you can make them laugh until their guts ache, or you make them sob like babies! It's the ultimate combination of causation and creativity, ever changing, ever expanding, always overflowing with unlimited possibilities! That is the power of music!"

Vinyl froze, one hoof pointing to the ceiling, her eyes wide as she panted slightly after her extended diatribe, only to realize that Sweetie was now staring at her like she'd grown another head. "Sorry," said Vinyl, settling back into her seat and taking another sip from her tea to calm herself down, "I get kinda carried away sometimes."

"I'm used to it," said Sweetie with a small shrug. She'd borne witness to similar outbursts from her own sister after all. What was more, she felt like Vinyl's words had ignited a spark of...something...inside of her. Her mind, instead of turning to the vision of herself on the stage, instead conjured images of Sweetie making new discoveries of her own, blazing new paths with music and the way it interacted with the hearts of minds of ponies. Those images made her pulse quicken.

Vinyl couldn't help but grin, as though she could see that faint spark in Sweetie's eyes. "You're worried about performing, but that's only one thing you can do with music," she said, "That's just how almost everypony tends to think about it because the musicians your average pony is going to know about are performers. We put our talent and skills front and center for everypony to see, so that's what they think about when they think about musicians.

"But for every performer, there's maybe half a dozen other musicians that nopony knows about. Take my friend, Buzz Skill. He's the guy who built the equipment I use in most of my performances." Vinyl jerked her head in the direction of the music room, where her turntable set and its associated speakers rested. "He and I worked together to build that beauty. It took a lot of work with applied magitech and other sciences to put that together. But we couldn't accomplish that if he wasn't almost as much of a musician as I was. The same goes for the ponies who make the other instruments we use. They're all as much musicians as we are, in their own way."

"Wow," gasped Sweetie Belle, "I had no idea there was so much you could do with that."

Vinyl nodded. "Yeah. There's a whole world of possibilities out there. You have a gift. It's just a matter of finding out what you want to do with it. That's the reason I'd like to have you learn about producing infrasonic and ultrasonic sounds."

"But I thought ponies couldn't hear those sounds," Sweetie pointed out.

"Oh we can hear them," replied Vinyl, "It's just that we can't hear them the same way we hear normal, audible sounds. They can still produce a reaction from the pony that hears them and they can have all sorts of interesting effects, depending on what sounds or what combination of sounds you might be using."

"Oh," said Sweetie, her mind already trying to come up with possibilities, though she didn't know enough to really figure what such sounds might be capable of

"We'll think of something," said Vinyl, "But not until you really have the basics down."

Sweetie nodded, looking forward to her next lessons under Vinyl.

Not Always Right

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Chapter 5: Not Always Right

Though Winter Wrap-Up was scheduled to take place over the course of a pair of days during the official transition between winter and spring, the preparations for it actually began well in advance. The Weather Team were already lightening the cloud cover and reducing the overall snowfall, slowly reducing the amount of snow that accumulated on the ground as spring approached, making it much easier to clear the rest of it away when the big day finally arrived. The leaders of the different teams were already getting organized as they mapped out the routes the migrating birds would use, which burrows would be visited first, and what order which fields would be cleared for planting.

Fluttershy visited Twilight several times over the next few days, along with Rainbow Dash and Applejack, who represented the weather and planting teams respectively. Though Fluttershy wasn't in charge of the animal team (her newfound self-confidence sadly did not extend to taking charge of other ponies in such an important situation), she was still Ponyville's primary animal expert and the pony that everypony, including her team leader, consulted on all matters fauna-related. Over the course of several hours across a week, Fluttershy and her friends hashed out the division of labor and sequence of events required for Ponyville to make a smooth transition into spring.

For the rest of Ponyville, most everything progressed as normal, with everypony quietly awaiting their assignments for Winter Wrap-Up. Many of them had carried out the same tasks every year and had little expectation for things to change now, especially since Twilight had wisely adopted the old adage "if it ain't broken, don't fix it." The only changes required came when younger ponies grew old enough to help with more arduous tasks or other ponies had gotten sufficiently old that they needed to retire. Through all of this, Twilight's skill at organization saw everything through with a minimum of fuss.

"Are you sure about this?" asked Flaxseed nervously, shifting his weight from one side to the other as Rarity sat at the sewing machine in front of him in the workroom, "I don't want to be a bother."

"As I said, it's largely up to you dear," said Rarity without looking up from her work, "I fully understand if you feel that you aren't up to joining in to help with Winter Wrap-Up. Goodness knows, even with Twilight making everything run smoothly, things can still get quite confusing and hectic at times. Nearly everypony in town will be out and about doing some task or another..."

Flaxseed shivered at the thought of ponies moving frantically all around him, with only limited means to keep track of them at all. Even if he tried to stay with Rarity, there was still every chance that he might get separated and end up surrounded by a frantic, packed mass of ponies, a situation that would not do his nerves a lick of good.

"I have spoken with Twilight at length about your situation. We both agree that we shouldn't even entertain the notion of making you do something that you aren't ready for. However, Twilight did say that she had something that might be up your alley, as it were."

"What's that?"

Rarity lifted her head up and smiled over her glasses at Flaxseed. "If you feel up to it, she would like your help in handling the logistics of the affair, keeping track of our materials, our seed stores, tools, how much we use, how much we have leftover, that sort of thing. I think it would be the perfect job for a pony of your skills. A great deal of it would be preparatory work and you wouldn't need to interact with too many ponies at once to get the job done."

"Th-that doesn't sound too bad," said Flaxseed softly, his mind turning the idea over.

"Again, it's only if you feel up to it," said Rarity as she returned to her own labor.

Flaxseed thought Rarity's words over as he watched the dress take shape beneath her skilled hooves. His nerves told him to stay inside the Boutique, to not risk stepping out during such a hectic time, when countless ponies would be all around him, wandering about on their various jobs without a thought for anyone else. Nopony would probably notice if somepony started following him, or began to slip closer to him in the crowd. Already, Flaxseed could see it in his mind's eye, a gentle bump against his side, a chill in his chest as somepony used the confusion and ruckus to slip a knife between his ribs.

Somepony had tried that on him while he'd been living in Manehattan after all. At the time, Flaxseed had been lucky that the stab had missed, glancing off his ribs rather than going between them and leaving the stallion with a scar that ran along the length of his barrel. The scar had faded and was all but invisible beneath the fur of his coat, but it was still there all the same. More importantly, Flaxseed still remembered it, that moment where somepony had drawn a line of pain across his side. He'd been lucky to get away before his attacker had made a second try.

Flaxseed shuddered and forced the memory back down. From what Rarity had told him, he wouldn't be out in the middle of things, but tucked safely off to the side, maybe in the library or Town Hall, where he could work through the numbers and only have to deal with ponies singly or a few at a time. In that situation, it would be much easier for him to keep from panicking.

He also thought about the other concerns Rarity had for him. She'd told him about her desire to get him more comfortable with the thought of going out on his own and Flaxseed had to admit that it made a certain amount of sense. He'd had fewer problems in the previous places he'd stayed, most likely because his housing had never seemed all that much safer than the streets outside.

But here, in the Carousel Boutique, Flaxseed felt secure. The Boutique was a sanctuary to him now, an island of absolute safety in the midst of an unsafe world, a place where he could truly let down his guard and not worry about anypony trying to take advantage of him. The kindness and consideration Rarity and her sister had shown him had worn through the stubborn stallion's defenses and now Flaxseed was able to feel almost completely at ease here.

Unfortunately, that meant that the world beyond the Boutique's walls seemed to become even more daunting by comparison. Now that he was able to relax, Flaxseed felt less comfortable leaving and going out into a world where he would have to put his guard back up and resume watching his surroundings for any kind of threat. Though Rarity and her friends, including Dawn, had told him that Ponyville was a safe haven, especially for ponies with his condition, Flaxseed couldn't bring himself to act upon their suggestions or take their reassurances to heart.

"There, all done," crowed Rarity, rising up from the sewing machine and draping her finished work across a ponyquin. It was a fine dress of red silk with decorations of golden thread laid around emerald chips along the hems. It was excellent work, though nothing particularly daring by Rarity's standards.

"That's the dress for your client, right?" asked Flaxseed, looking the dress over carefully.

Rarity nodded. "Yes. She should be arriving tomorrow to get it fitted and pick it up. I've been getting more orders from other towns lately. I believe my publicity is improving."

"That's good to hear," said Flaxseed. He remembered Rarity mentioning this client before. She'd been working on the design before Hearth's Warming, until she had been sidetracked by her desire to make her five closest friends special dresses for the Winter Gala. Now that she was back in Ponyville, Rarity had been working on the design on and off for the past couple of weeks, in between other more immediately demanding orders and looking after the needs of her new apprentice, who was out buying additional materials at the moment.

The sound of the front door closing echoed through the Boutique, along with Sweetie Belle's voice as she shouted an enthusiastic "I'm home!"

Folding her glasses and setting them aside, Rarity smiled as she went out into the showroom, Flaxseed in tow, to greet her younger sister. "Welcome home Sweetie," said Rarity, "I take it your latest lesson with Ms. Scratch went well."

Sweetie nodded eagerly, her head bobbing excitedly on top of her neck. "It's going amazingly. Vinyl's been teaching me all about producing infrasonic and ultrasonic tones."

Both Rarity and Flaxseed paused, blinking for a moment before shooting one another a confused glance. "Why are you learning about that?" asked Rarity.

Sweetie smiled. "Vinyl thinks that I could use my magic to make those tones and that I can do some really amazing things with them.”

“What sort of things?” asked Rarity.

“Um…” Sweetie tilted her head thoughtfully, “We’re not sure yet. But Vinyl says that it’s sure to be awesome!”

Rarity pressed her lips together into a thin line as she considered what counted as awesome in the mind of a Cutie Mark Crusader, as many of their favorite ideas seemed to have led, one way or another, into wanton (and, during one particular incident involving a takeout restaurant, wonton) destruction. She could only hope that, whatever Vinyl Scratch was teaching her, Sweetie’s efforts wouldn’t result in another bout of disaster that would have Rarity called to Town Hall to listen to one of Mayor Mare's lectures on keeping her sister from participating in the destruction of public property...or something like that.

Still, it was interesting to hear about Sweetie's lessons over dinner. The more Rarity heard, the more she had to admit that Sweetie's interests seemed to be advancing in an entirely different direction from what she had expected. Perhaps I should look into tuition fees and the like for the Academy. Ms. Scratch seems to think that Sweetie would do well there.

It wasn't an outrageous consideration. The Equestrian Academy of Arts and Sciences was a well-known institution in Trottingham. Rarity herself had left Ponyville in order to attend Trade School. Still, she worried that Sweetie might be reluctant to leave her friends behind, though it was probably inevitable. After all, it was highly likely that Rumble, if he didn't simply go straight into an apprenticeship on the Weather Team after graduation, would likely be heading to a dedicated pegasus institution on one of their cloud cities, as might Scootaloo, depending on what she wanted for her future career. Apple Bloom would likely remain in Ponyville to continue helping with the farm, possibly apprenticing with a local architect. Celestia only knew what Dawn Lightwing would be doing after he finished schooling. In any case, it was highly likely that the Crusaders would be going their separate ways eventually, for a time at least.

Still, that problem was still an issue for the future. For the time being, Rarity simply settled in to listen to Sweetie Belle as she related her latest exploits under Vinyl Scratch's tutelage.

The knot on the end of the cord hissed as it hurled through the air. Rumble swung the cord in tight circles before catching it on his shoulder and allowing it to wrap around his barrel. He caught the knot in his hoof, bringing the cord's motion to a stop for less than a second before launching it back into action with a sharp jerking motion of his body that sent the knot leaping out and away from him like a striking snake.

From there, Rumble guided the knotted cord through swings of varying speeds and directions, moving it in circles and figure-eight motions, often sending it snapping straight out again over the course of his practice. Finally, Rumble wrapped the cord around himself once again, this time eating up its entire length in the wraps and bringing the knot to rest in one of his hooves as he settled back onto the cloud, panting slightly from the exertion.

"Well done," said Storm Front with an approving smile. The pegasus stallion's coat, mane, and tail were dark gray, with dark-purple highlights that gave the impression of a heavy storm cloud. His dark-green eyes had been watching Rumble intently, carefully observing his actions and critiquing his motions as Rumble went through his practice. Storm Front's body was well-muscled, though nowhere near the level of somepony like Big Macintosh or Bulk Biceps, the particularly...bulky...pegasus flying with the Ponyville Weather Team. Rather, his musculature was slender and subtle, implying a great deal of flexibility in his motion. Most of those muscles were obscured by a long-sleeved shirt of red silk that Storm wore. Tucked inside of one of those sleeves was Storm Front's meteor hammer, his favored weapon and the one that he was currently training Rumble in.

"Thanks," said Rumble, taking a moment to unwind his practice weapon now that their training session was winding down. The dark coils of the cord stood out starkly against his light-gray coat, nearly perfectly matching his dark-gray, almost black, mane. Said mane was matted with sweat from the colt's exertions, flattening it down out of its normal smooth wave. When he was younger, Rumble's physique had been similar to that of a filly and he'd been mistaken for a filly on a couple of occasions. However, his body was now taking on a more coltish appearance, though his outline still seemed slightly effeminate.

It had been a few months since Rumble had started learning how to use the meteor hammer from Storm Front. He still remembered, a little less than fondly, smacking himself multiple times with the knotted end of the practice weapon that Storm had made for him. Presently, it had been a few weeks since the last time he’d smacked himself. It was a sign that his control over the exotic weapon was improving.

Like Dawn and Scootaloo, Rumble’s training consisted of a great many forms that practiced stringing together the individual techniques that he’d learned. He’d only recently started on the first few forms for the meteor hammer, a few of which had been devised by Storm Front himself. It was a complex weapon, tricky to master, even if it was little more than a weight on the end of a cord.

Most colts probably would have gotten frustrated with how slow their learning was progressing. However, Rumble actually enjoyed the fact that he had to work to learn to use the meteor hammer. Flying had come so naturally to him that he'd been flying as well as some adults when most foals were still learning how to take off and land without bungling it. He'd been called a prodigy by some ponies. It wasn't a designation that Rumble liked. He didn't feel all that special, even if he was a natural flyer and was afraid that being called a prodigy would split him apart from other ponies his age and make it less likely that he could maintain any friendships.

So it came as something of a relief that the meteor hammer was something that he wasn't immediately a natural at. Learning and practicing were difficult, painful even. But the experience was rewarding. Seeing that look of approval on Storm's face always made Rumble feel satisfied after a long training session, no matter how frustrating it might have been.

"Oh! Are you two finished?"

Rumble and Storm looked over and slightly down to see another pegasus fluttering up to join them on their cloud. The mare's grayish-purple coat was difficult to see in the fading light. However, her long, flowing, pale-green mane was easier to spot. Flitter alighted on the cloud, just as neatly as one of the trio of dragonflies that made up her cutie mark might land on a blade of grass.

"Yes," said Storm, turning to smile at Flitter, "We were just about to head back."

"Oh good," said Flitter, "It's nearly time for dinner and Cloud Chaser's making her special potato soup."

"Really!" exclaimed Rumble, his jaw dropping slightly as he fought to keep from drooling.

"We don't want to miss that," said Storm with a warm chuckle as he and Flitter exchanged an affectionate nuzzle. The two of them had been special someponies for a few months now. Rumble had noted that Flitter had been spending more and more time at Storm's house, rather than the house she shared with Rumble; his brother, Thunderlane; and Thunderlane's fillyfriend, Cloud Chaser, who was also Flitter's elder sister.

Although, thought Rumble, Maybe that's for the best. If she's spending more time with her coltfriend, then she won't have to deal with the rumors anymore.

Granted, Rumble hadn't heard those rumors in a long time, not even since before Flitter and Storm had started dating. However, Rumble still remembered them quite clearly. He and Thunderlane had both been born in Ponyville. Their parents had moved out to Cloudspire shortly after Thunderlane had finished his apprenticeship to the Weather Team. Thunderlane had opted to stay behind and had happily allowed Rumble to stay with him when Rumble stated he didn't want to leave Ponyville either, although convincing their parents to allow Rumble to stay had been more than a little challenging. Shortly afterwards, Thunderlane had started dating Cloud Chaser. Their relationship had been going strong for over a year when they decided to move in together. Cloud Chaser brought Flitter to join them and the four of them had shared a house ever since.

That had been when the rumors had started. Both Cloud and Flitter were attractive mares, while Thunderlane himself had been considered quite the eligible bachelor when he was still single. It was perhaps somewhat natural that some ponies would begin to conjecture that the two sisters were sharing Thunderlane's affections or, more disturbingly, that one or the other or even both of them might be forming some illicit relationship with Rumble. The rumors had amounted to nothing more than the irritated mumblings of gossipy old mares whispering about "immoral relationships" and "licentious behaviors" when they thought Rumble wasn't close enough to overhear them. Fortunately, nothing had come of it, but Rumble still shivered at the memory of the stares he'd received in those early days whenever Flitter or Cloud walked him to school or picked him up afterwards.

Not that there was much chance of that anymore. Flitter had a stallion of her own now and was spending more and more time with him. Cloud and Thunderlane were still going strong (though Thunderlane still had yet to pop the question, something that Cloud continued to grumble about to Rumble in private). It seemed that, for the time being, everything was going well. Even though Rumble had yet to get his cutie mark, he wasn't overly worried about it. He was all too happy to continue enjoying his life with his friends, working at the teashop with the other Cutie Mark Crusaders and training sessions with Storm Front. Once Winter Wrap-Up finished, school would start up again and life would continue.

All told, things were looking good.

The beads of the abacus clicked rhythmically as Flaxseed went through the Carousel Boutique's ledgers once again. Tax season was approaching after all and Rarity had made things a bit more complicated for herself this year by taking on a new hire and an apprentice in short order. Flaxseed chewed the inside of his lip as he frowned over the numbers, regretting the fact that he'd never managed to go to trade school in order to train to be a proper accountant. However, Twilight Sparkle had informed him that he could take a correspondence course. In the meantime, he would eventually have to go over to Town Hall to get the proper tax forms so that he could work out what Rarity actually owed the government.

At least they'd be able to save some money compared to the previous years, if Rarity's records were anything to go by. In fact, there was even the possibility that Rarity was eligible for a refund, given her lack of knowledge about certain factors she could take advantage of. For example, Flaxseed had noted that Sweetie Belle had spent the majority of the previous year living with Rarity rather than their parents, who were continuously traveling throughout Equestria, Rarity would be able to claim Sweetie as a dependent, which would make her eligible for a deduction at least.

There were other deductions as well; charitable commissions and donations, as well as special services to the royal family. Flaxseed was particularly proud of spotting that last one. After all, Rarity had made multiple dresses for Twilight Sparkle over the course of the previous year. Given that Twilight's brother was the husband of one Princess Cadance, Twilight technically counted as a member of the royal family as far as the government bureaucrats were concerned. The fact that Rarity had never taken a single bit for the dresses she'd made for Twilight meant that Rarity's work counted as a special service rather than a paid commission.

Flaxseed's ear twitched at faint sound of the bell echoing from the Boutique's showroom. It was barely audible over the sound of the sewing machine coming from the workroom and he wasn't sure that Rarity or Coco Pommel had heard it. Carefully, Flaxseed made his way out of his "office," which had originally been where Rarity kept her ledgers and other assorted financial documents. He stepped out into the workroom where Rarity was working furiously to sketch out another design on paper while Coco used the sewing machine work the fabric over on the other side of the room.

Stepping up behind Rarity, Flaxseed carefully tapped her on the shoulder. Rarity jumped slightly at the unexpected contact before turning to smile at the stallion. "Oh! I'm sorry. What is it?" she said with a warm smile.

Flaxseed jerked his head towards the showroom. "I heard somepony come in," he said.

"Oh!" exclaimed Rarity, jumping away from her work, "Goodness! Is it that time already? My client must be here."

Rarity immediately charged out door and into the showroom, leaving a nonplussed Flaxseed behind. Out of the corner of his eye, Flaxseed saw Coco look up from her work, then giggle slightly at his consternation. The stallion let out a sigh and returned to his office.

A few minutes later, Flaxseed heard the sound of hooves going past the door. Looking up, he saw a yellow tail flicking slightly as it went past. That must be her customer then, he thought, wondering just who Rarity was entertaining.

"I want to thank you for coming all this way to do business with me," he heard Rarity say from somewhere down the hall leading to the kitchen. Flaxseed knew that she sometimes liked to entertain her clients with tea, something she did to improve relationships with her customers.

"It was nothing," replied the other mare in a slightly grating, haughty tone, "Absolutely everypony who is anypony nowadays knows about your designs. It is very much worth my while."

Rarity said something back, but Flaxseed didn't hear it. His limbs had locked, his heart seizing within his chest at the sound of the customer's voice. A rush of terror slammed into him with all the force of a runaway freight train, causing Flaxseed to nearly topple over backwards from his seat. As it was, his chest refused to budge and he couldn't even bring himself to breathe, the sound of that voice ripping memories out of the back of his mind and bringing them directly to the forefront of his consciousness.

"What the hay is up with you? Where do you get off acting so sulky?"

"Come on now, are things really so bad?"

"You need to open up to other ponies more. If you just keep hanging around under your black little raincloud, you're just gonna end up alone."

"Oh! You want to be an accountant! That's nice. I hear that you can earn a lot of money doing that."

"Me? I'm training to be an actress. I'm gonna get my big break on Bridleway and I'll become famous Equestria-wide! Maybe I'll let you handle my finances when I make it big."

"You know, you're pretty handsome when you clean yourself up. If you keep that look, I might even let you take me out."

"Thanks for the wonderful evening. You certainly know how to make a mare feel special."
...
...
...

"Wha-what happened? Why did those muggers run? What d-did you do? F-Flax-...!"

"What's wrong with your eyes!? What are you? STAY AWAY FROM ME, YOU FREAK!"
...
...
...

"Of course not! There's no way I'd have ever started a relationship with that stallion if I'd known what he was really like. Don't you know he's some kind of monster!"

"I could barely believe my own eyes. I mean, it was hideous! Anyway, I did some digging and learned there's some kind of religious order looking to exterminate freaks like that."

"Of course I told them where they could find him! I actually went out with that scumbag. I'm trying to make it big. I can't have a disgusting relationship like that drag me down. It's best to pull things like that up by the roots."

Rarity's ears twitched as she heard a muffled thump come from Flaxseed's office. Is something wrong? she wondered.

"Excuse me Ms. Camellia," she said quickly to her customer, "I have to check up on something."

The dark-pink earth pony smiled at Rarity over the cup of tea she was drinking. "Please go ahead, Ms. Rarity," replied Camellia with a wink of her leaf-green eyes, "It sounds like somepony had an accident. It's so hard to find reliable help these days."

Rarity hid her frown as she turned around and headed for the office. Slowly, she pushed open the door and carefully looked in. The place looked empty. There wasn't much to it just yet. The naked bulb shined down over the room with a harsh, white light that cast shadows across the shelves and the single, mostly bare desk. I really need to get a proper lamp installed. There were a few sheets of paper scattered across it, along with a binder containing her financial records. However, the pony who should have been sitting behind that desk was absent from view.

"Flaxseed?" asked Rarity, taking a single step further in, "Flaxseed, darling? Are you alright?" She knew he had to be in the room. He'd been going over the accounts when Camellia had come calling. He'd returned to the office and resumed working. She knew he hadn't left, as Flaxseed never left without tidying his workspace up first. It was one of the things Rarity really appreciated about him.

At the sound of her voice, the desk suddenly jumped, coming back down with a thud that made Rarity jump in turn. He's...hiding. Why?

"Flaxseed, I'm coming over," she said as clearly as she could, cautiously stepping all the way into the room. Walking slowly and carefully, she made her way around the side of the desk and slowly peered behind it, trying not to make any sudden or startling moves.

Flaxseed was underneath the desk, hiding behind the panel that covered the front. He was curled up into a quivering ball, from which Rarity could hear faint, strangled whimpers, as though he were trying to completely silence himself, but was unable to do so.

"Flaxseed," said Rarity in a soft tone, "Flaxseed...Can you hear me?"

Slowly, almost reluctantly, the stallion's muscles loosened and Flaxseed uncurled enough to lift his head and look at Rarity. His eyes were a vivid, crimson color, with distinct vertical slit-shaped pupils. Their strange appearance did nothing to hide the absolute terror that burned behind them as Flaxseed stared up at Rarity as though she were some hideous beast.

What on earth? wondered Rarity, What could possibly have him so terrified?

"Flaxseed, dear," said Rarity, moving a little closer, "It's alright. It's me, Rarity."

She slowly lifted a hoof to reach out to him. But it had barely risen an inch off the floor before Flaxseed yelped and thrust himself away from her, slamming into the pedestal behind him and making the whole desk rattle. The impact jolted the binder and abacus off the top and sent them clattering to the floor, the sounds only seeming to worsen Flaxseed's panic.

Oh no! thought Rarity, a strong feeling of distress rising in her stomach, He's having another panic attack. This one's the worst I've ever seen. I don't know if I can help him through it. If I try to touch him, he'll probably break that desk over my head. It was clear that Flaxseed couldn't even tell it was her. His senses were addled by his fear, causing him to direct his agitation at anypony and everypony around him. Right now, she was only a threatening figure looming over him. He couldn't even see that it was her. This was worse than the first time she'd met him, and that time Flaxseed had tried to crack her skull with a tree branch. What do I do? What can I do to possibly calm him down? What even caused this in the first place?

As though in answer to her unverbalized query, Rarity saw Camellia step through the door. "Did I hear right?" asked Camellia, looking slowly around the office, the light gleaming off her flowing, blonde-mane, "Did you just say Flaxseed?"

Rarity pursed her lips, unsure how to answer. At least she knew the cause of Flaxseed's panic now. The sound of Camellia's voice caused Flaxseed to let out a much louder whimper and curl back up. Rarity glanced back and forth between her client and her accountant, simply uncertain how to react. One wrong move could switch Flaxseed from quivering indecision to mad violence in an instant. In the closed confines of the office, there was no telling how much damage he could do to the two mares.

The decision was taken out of her hooves when Camellia casually waltzed up too the desk and stepped around it, barely even noticing Rarity as she shouldered the alabaster mare aside. Her expression was one of idle curiosity as she peered around the desk. But when her gaze alit upon the gold-colored stallion staring up at her with bright-red eyes, Camellia's eyes narrowed and her face twisted into a sneer of contempt.

"Ugh! It is you," she growled, turning around and stomping towards the door, "I knew this would happen! Geez! These things always come up at the worst possible time!"

"Ms. Camellia, what in Equestria is this about?" asked Rarity, still glancing back and forth between the two of them.

Camellia turned to look back at Rarity, now wearing an expression of nauseated disgust. Shaking her head, Camellia managed to force the expression off her face as she regarded Rarity. "I'm sorry I caused such a ruckus. I had no idea that this dirtbag was still alive. I'd thought those Order ponies would have gotten him by now."

"What?" gasped Rarity, mortified by the utter contempt in Camellia's tone.

Camellia sighed. "I really inconvenienced you," she said in an apologetic tone, "But at least you know what that stallion really is now. Once we're done here, you should drop him like the sack of manure that he is and find somepony else. It's bad enough that you already have to share the town with one of those freaks. You shouldn't have to have another one hanging around your home and business too."

"Excuse me!" said Rarity, horrified by what she was hearing.

"Come on," said Camellia, once again heading for the door, "You need to finish my fittings right. Maybe the freak will see himself out in the meantime."

Rarity looked down again at Flaxseed. She flicked her ear as she heard a faint trickling sound. Then her nose twitched as a certain odor wafted up to from the floor.

"Eww," whined Camellia, apparently smelling Flaxseed's urine as well, "He's disgusting and a coward. How filthy can you get?"

That last comment made something snap inside Rarity's head. Camellia was already out of the office and heading to the workroom. Once in the workroom, she automatically stepped on the pedestal that Rarity used for her fittings, clearly eager to get things over with so she could get away from Flaxseed as soon as possible.

She looked over and spotted Coco, who had stopped working with the sewing machine and was now staring at her in confusion. "You should get a mop," said Camellia, "Cleaning up a mess like that is an apprentice's work. Ms. Rarity shouldn't have to soil her hooves by touching that freak's-"

"That. Is. Quite. Enough!" snapped Rarity as she stalked into the showroom, her eyes blazing with anger as she fixed Camellia with a withering glare.

"What the...?" gasped Camellia, staring at Rarity in clear confusion, "What are you angry about? Do you have any idea what a freak like that hanging around your boutique could do to your reputation? Ponies like him are better off dead."

Coco gasped, her hooves flying to her mouth, unable to believe what she was hearing.

"I said...That. Is. Enough!" snarled Rarity, her tail lashing behind her as she stalked forward, "I have had enough of your attitude, Ms. Camellia. You will see yourself from my Boutique this instant."

"What?" gasped Camellia, shocked by Rarity's words, "You can't be serious! You'd take the side of that freak over me! How dare you treat one of your customers like this after I paid you for that dress?"

Rarity's response wasn't verbal. Instead, there was a loud crack as something slammed into Camellia's muzzle, causing her head to snap to the side. The object hit the floor of the pedestal with the jingle of coins. Looking down, Camellia saw a bag of bits sitting in front of her. She reached a hoof up to the painful throbbing on her muzzle. It came away bloody. Her nose and lip were bleeding. "How dare you..."

"There's your money," said Rarity, her voice an angry hiss, "Take it and get out! Your bits are not welcome here."

"You..." snarled Camellia, baring her teeth at Rarity, "You think you can get away treating a paying customer like this? I'll see you ruined! You'll never sell that dress to anypony after this!"

"This dress?" asked Rarity, her magic stripping the crimson gown off its ponyquin. It hovered between Rarity and Camellia.

What happened next made Coco shriek.

Flaxseed was slowly inching his way out of the office, carefully peering around to look for the two mares that had been in the room with him. His fear had reduced their conversation to simple, furious tones in his ears that he hadn't been able to make heads or tails of. He could hear those tones again, coming from the workroom. Both mares sounded angry and their voices were going back and forth.

Then came Coco's shriek. It had been a sharp, abrupt shriek of surprise, rather than a drawn-out scream of horror. It took a few seconds for Flaxseed to process why, as his ears picked up another, softer sound under Coco's cry...the sound of tearing fabric, like a dress being torn up. Leaning so he could glance into the workroom, Flaxseed's eyes widened as he saw what was happening.

Rarity had the dress in the grip of her magic and was methodically shredding it, tearing apart into a heap of red and gold scraps right in front of Camellia, who was staring at the dress in stunned shock. Rarity's tearing apart her dress! The thought abruptly snapped Flaxseed back to reality, surprise and amazement rushing through his veins and shattering the hold that mind-numbing fear had been exerting over him.

It was an inconceivable course of action for Rarity. She invested hours in the design and creation of her dresses. She took a great deal of care in selecting the materials and paid close attention to each and every minute detail. She could have panic attacks that rivaled Flaxseed's own (though her's tended towards the dramatic, rather than violent) if an accident resulted in a single tear. She'd fret over every single snarl and misplaced stitch. Even if she were to consider unmaking one of her dresses, Flaxseed would have expected her to to carefully and precisely dismantle it so she could reuse the fabric in other works, rather than simply tearing it apart.

Thus, the sight of Rarity shredding one of her precious creations into pieces knocked him for a loop and allowed her voice to punch through the fog of fear that had been surrounding him. His eyes took it all in with a crystal clarity that he'd never thought they possessed, as though the room were brighter than before. Flaxseed seemed able to follow the faint fluttering motions of the cloth pieces as they fell to the floor. "There you go," snapped Rarity, tossing the scraps into a pile at Camellia's hooves, "If you want that dress so badly, you're welcome to it. Now get lost before I summon the Guard and have you escorted out!"

Camellia took a step back from the boiling rage in Rarity's voice. Flaxseed realized that she was bleeding, blood trickling from her nose and mouth. Did Rarity hit her?

"Why are you doing this?" demanded Camellia.

"I have two very good reasons," declared Rarity firmly with an unladylike snort, "First, you insulted, terrified, and threatened a very dear friend of mine; and, if his behavior is anything to go by, you did something extremely traumatic to him in the past. Secondly..." Her eyes narrowed sharply. "...you insulted my best friend's precious son. This affront is something that I will not abide. You will see yourself out of this place, this instant. If you have any sense in that head of yours, you'll see yourself out of the town next."

Camellia's lips pulled back in an angry snarl as she bared her teeth at Rarity. However, Rarity did not waver, merely returning the full force of Camellia's glare with one of her own. The two mares looked as though they were about to lunge at each other. However, finally, Camellia gave in, her anger not fading, but at least falling more under control.

With an angry huff, Camellia turned to the door, flicking her tail dismissively at Rarity. "You'll regret this," she snarled.

"No," said Rarity with firm resolution, "I won't."

Camellia could only snort in response before she marched out of the workroom, through the storeroom, and out the boutique's front door. Only when the sound of it slamming shut echoed through the Boutique, did Rarity let out a quiet sigh and slump to her haunches.

"M-miss Rarity...?" stammered Coco, her eyes darting about the room, from Rarity to the shredded dress, to the figure of Flaxseed lurking nervously in the doorway. Her eyes widened when they met Flaxseed's and he realized that his own Eyes must still be showing. Flaxseed shied away, shrinking back a little further behind the door. Coco's startled expression melted into one of quiet confusion. "Ms. Rarity," she said a bit more firmly, getting Rarity's attention.

Rarity looked up at Coco to see Coco slowly raise a hoof to point past her. Rarity looked over her shoulder, seeing Flaxseed still lurking at the doorway, shrinking back a little more as Rarity's eyes found him.

Right, thought Rarity a little morosely, It's not over yet. Flaxseed looked worse than she'd ever seen him. He was trembling from head to hoof, his body seeming almost on the verge of going into convulsions. His eyes were fixed on her, his gaze reminding her of the time she'd once stepped on Opal's tail when the cat was but a kitten. Opal had immediately tucked herself into a corner and had stared at Rarity with the same frightened eyes. Opal was much more jaded nowadays. However, it seemed that Flaxseed's condition was much worse than Opal's had been.

She wasn't surprised. Flaxseed had been feeling very safe and secure in the Boutique. Though she had no idea of the details, Rarity imagined that whatever had happened between Flaxseed and Camellia must have been extremely bad. Experiencing the source of such trauma in a place that he'd thought was safe must have made it feel as though the world itself had been pulled out from under him. Flaxseed was adrift in an abyss of fear and uncertainty. What he needed was a fixed point, something he could orient on, rely on, and trust in.

With a nervous swallow, Rarity realized that she had to be that point. Flaxseed had placed his trust in her by agreeing to stay in her home. She had to show him, beyond any shadow of a doubt, that his trust had not been misplaced.

Rarity heaved herself to her hooves, moving with deliberate slowness as she turned her whole body to face Flaxseed. She allowed her lips to curl up with a warm smile, a smile she conjured up from the fond memories of the time she'd spent with the stallion; memories of that sarcastic wit that broke out every once and a while when he felt safe enough; memories of that runny, sludgy, but still palatable casserole he'd made for Hearth's Warming; memories of his happy expression when he'd gotten to experience the Apples' cider for the first time. Flaxseed was more than just the sum of his fears, traumas and neuroses. Rarity had to reach past all those things to call the true Flaxseed, her Flaxseed, back out.

Still moving slowly, Rarity started to walk towards Flaxseed. As she lifted a single hoof up off the floor, the stallion let out a whimper and cringed. Rarity lowered the hoof, not moving forward an inch. I need to get past his reflexive reactions somehow, she thought. She realized that what she was doing could be considered rather dangerous. Flaxseed was whimpering and trembling now, but he could just as easily break out into screaming madness and start using his magic to try and beat her into a pulp. If it was her alone, Rarity might have been willing to take that risk. But Coco was here and Rarity didn't dare risk letting the young mare get caught in the crossfire.

"Coco," said Rarity, taking her eyes off Flaxseed for a moment and looking back at her apprentice. It was a calculated risk. Maintaining eye contact with Flaxseed while she was speaking with someone else might give Flaxseed the impression that she regarded him as too dangerous to look away from...which might have been true under the circumstances. But Rarity felt that it was better to show the stallion that she was placing a certain amount of trust in him by taking her eyes off him for a brief moment.

"Y-yes," stuttered Coco, feeling as though she were standing on a sheet of thin ice.

"Coco, I need you to go to the teahouse over by the library. Please tell Arkenstone that I need him here. I believe he'll understand."

"A-are you sure?" asked Coco, looking nervously back and forth between Rarity and Flaxseed.

Rarity nodded. "Yes," she said, "Please hurry."

"Okay," said Coco, her voice nearly a whisper as she cantered out the door.

Rarity let out a soft breath. Alright, Coco's out of the danger zone at least. Now it's time to try something risky. She turned back to Flaxseed, relieved to see that the stallion had neither retreated nor advanced, but remained exactly where he had been, still watching her with wide, crimson eyes.

Rarity lifted a hoof again. Flaxseed's eyes immediately fixed upon the motion, but he made no sound. Rarity allowed herself to smile as she moved forward and set the hoof back down. She lifted another hoof and repeated the process, slowly moving in Flaxseed's direction, one single, deliberate step at a time.

As she approached, Rarity began to speak. "Flaxseed, darling, it's alright. You're safe here. She's gone now. She can't hurt you anymore. I won't let her."

"A-a-a-" Flaxseed worked his mouth as though he'd forgotten how to speak. For a moment, Rarity was afraid that he might have regressed or even lost his capacity for conscious thought. However, the gold-colored stallion was eventually able to start formulating words. "A-are y-y-you sssure?"

Rarity nodded, keeping the motion as smooth and deliberate as everything else she had done. She continued to close the gap between them until they were within reach of each other. Only then did Rarity speak. "I promise that you're safe," she said in a soft tone, her smile widening again, "I will never hurt you if I can help it. You're safe here. You're safe and welcome."

"I-I need to stay?"

It seemed an odd question, but Rarity knew what he meant. She swallowed again and took what seemed an even greater risk than the one she was already taking. "Only if you want to," she said.

She wanted him to stay. She was afraid of what might happen to him if he left, what Flaxseed might do in his addled state, what somepony might do to him. But she had to show trust in him and she had to allow him his freedom to choose for himself. Trying to keep him here would give Flaxseed the impression that she was trying to restrain or incarcerate him, which he might regard as just as threatening an an active effort to drive him out.

Rarity lifted a single hoof and began to extend it towards Flaxseed. He watched her intently, but did not shrink away from her as she closed the last of the gap between them. She felt his muscles stiffen at the contact. However, he didn't flinch away. Rarity held her hoof there for a moment.

Finally, Rarity felt him relax under her touch and she moved in closer, raising her other foreleg and slowly wrapping both limbs around Flaxseed's withers, drawing him into a light embrace that he could easily pull out of if he wanted. Flaxseed bent like a stalk of wheat in the wind, leaning in towards her and allowing Rarity to press his face into her shoulder.

"It's okay," she whispered, "This is your home now. I'm here for you."

It was like a dam breaking. "Rarity!" Flaxseed's cry was heart-wrenching, to hear. He threw his weight against her and it took all of Rarity's strength to keep from being knocked over. But she managed to hold firm as Flaxseed threw his arms around her and sobbed into her shoulder, weeping like a foal. Rarity smiled in relief and tightened her hold of the stallion, gently nuzzling into his mane as he cried, taking a quiet solace in the feeling of his tears as they soaked into her coat.

Melody of Healing Hearts

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Chapter 6: Melody of Healing Hearts

Rarity wasn’t sure how long she and Flaxseed stayed locked together in their embrace. Her ears twitched as she heard the door opening and closing, followed by the sound of no fewer than three sets of hooves that made their way across the outer showroom and into the back workroom. She slowly pulled away from nuzzling Flaxseed's mane. Coco was there, of course, as was Arkenstone. Between the two of them was a very distraught-looking Sweetie Belle.

"Flaxseed!" she exclaimed, shifting to dash towards him. However, she was brought up short by Arkenstone, who raised a hoof and interposed it between Sweetie and the object of her concern.

"Remember..." said Arkenstone in a gentle tone, "...slowly..."

Sweetie looked up at Arkenstone and nodded before carefully making her way towards Flaxseed and Rarity. When she reached them, she gently leaned up against Flaxseed's side, rubbing her cheek against his barrel in a gesture of reassurance. "Are you okay?" she asked, "That mare didn't hurt you, did she?"

"I-I'm okay," said Flaxseed hesitantly, Rarity and Sweetie's concern touching him through the layers of anxiety.

"Come dear," said Rarity, "Let's get you to bed. Would you help me Sweetie."

"Yeah," replied Sweetie. She and Rarity managed to coax Flaxseed to his hooves. As he stood up, Rarity couldn't help but notice the damp, matted sections of coat on the inside of his hind legs. She suppressed the urge to order the stallion into the bath or shower. Getting Flaxseed comfortable and relaxed came first. She would have to shelve her normal sensibilities for the time being and simply focus on helping the stallion through this terrible experience. Rarity simply resolved to wash Flaxseed's bedding at the first possible opportunity. She also made a note to clean the office floor before the urine stained the wood.

Rarity and Sweetie escorted Flaxseed up the stairs and into his room. They helped him onto the bed before Rarity used her magic to draw up the sheets and comforter, tucking them securely around the stallion, as though she were tucking in a foal. The whole time, Flaxseed watched them anxiously through his still-crimson eyes. Only when Rarity and Sweetie stood at his bedside, watching him quietly, did he relax sufficiently for his eyes to return to their normal almond color and his pupils rounded back out.

Still moving with carefully, Rarity raised a hoof and gently caressed Flaxseed's cheek, smiling down at him. "Get some rest, darling," she whispered softly, "Do you want me or Sweetie to stay in the room with you?"

Flaxseed sniffed. "I-I don't know i-if I c-can sleep," he whimpered, "I'm afraid...they'll come for me."

"They won't," said Rarity firmly, "Arkenstone is here now. He won't let anypony hurt you."

"C-can he stop them?"

Rarity chuckled. "Trust me dear, they won't be able to lay a hoof on you."

"That's nice," said Flaxseed, "But still...I..." He sighed. "The last time something like this happened, I had nightmares for weeks. They just kept waking me up..." He let out a sound that was halfway between a sigh and a sob.

"Can I try something?" asked Sweetie softly.

"What do you mean?" asked Rarity as both she and Flaxseed looked curiously at Sweetie Belle.

"I'd like to use my magic," said Sweetie, stepping closer to the bed and rearing up so she could rest her forehooves on it, "I think I can help you sleep better."

"It won't hurt, will it?" asked Flaxseed.

Sweetie smiled and shook her head. "Will you trust me?" she asked.

Flaxseed's eyes closed tightly for a second before opening again. His gaze met Sweetie's and he nodded slowly.

Sweetie's face lit up and she stepped back away from the bed, prompting Rarity to step back as well. She cleared her throat and a tiny point of light blossomed from the end of her horn. With the light came a soft, clear tone. It was a lovely sound that made Rarity sigh happily. Sweetie used her magic to produce a different tone, then another one, then...she began to sing.

There were no words for the song. Instead, Sweetie sang simple notes that were accompanied by the tones and chords formed by her magic. Together, they seemed to mesh together to produce a warm, soothing lullaby that settled across the room like a warm blanket. Flaxseed's head slumped down into his pillow, his breathing softening and his body relaxing. The tension seemed to melt out of him little by little as the song continued. Even Rarity felt her own eyelids drooping under the melody's spell.

Sweetie continued to play and sing until Flaxseed was clearly fast asleep, the stallion's breaths only faintly stirring the corner of the pillow he rested on. Finally, Sweetie used her magic to levitate Flopsy, the old stuffed rabbit she'd given to Flaxseed to help comfort him on his first night in the Boutique, and gently tucked the stuffed animal under the covers with the stallion. Flaxseed's legs moved reflexively to hug the rabbit to his chest, the only sign of acknowledgement he gave.

Rarity had to blink furiously, then shake her head vigorously to snap out of the pleasant daze Sweetie's music had instilled in her. Rarity turned to gaze unashamedly at her little sister, who was beaming cheerfully at her success.

Rarity's mouth worked silently for a moment before she managed regain some of her composure. Finally, she and Sweetie adjourned to the hallway, where they closed the door behind them. Then, knowing that her voice was less likely to disturb Flaxseed's rest, Rarity whirled on her sister.

"Sweetie! That was amazing! How in Equestria did you do that?"

Sweetie's smile melted into a slightly confused look. "Well...I was just trying to think of a way to help Flaxseed relax when I thought about the lullaby that mom always used to sing when I had nightmares. I tried adapting it and using some of the tricks and magic that Vinyl taught me."

"That was incredible," said Rarity, "You truly have a gift for music. Ponies would adore you on the stage."

Sweetie shook her head. "I was just trying to use the things Vinyl taught me. She was telling me about how certain tones and chords can produce a relaxing effect. That's all I was aiming for. That's why I didn't use words. I didn't want Flaxseed having to think or try to understand what I was singing."

Rarity sighed. "Sweetie...I think we need to talk about this. Your talent is so amazing. It isn't fair to yourself to let it go to waste."

"I..." Sweetie tried to think of something to say. Instead she sighed and walked away from Rarity. Going into her room, Sweetie closed her door behind her, leaving Rarity alone in the hallway.

Rarity found herself sighing yet again. "What am I going to do with her?"

She made her way downstairs where she saw Coco tidying up her workspace. The sound of hooves drew Rarity's attention to the office, where Arkenstone was now stepping out, towing a mop and bucket behind him.

"I cleared up the spill," said Arkenstone simply, "I figured you had enough on your plate already."

"Thank you so much," said Rarity, feeling truly grateful. That had been one particular task she had not been looking forward to. "Would you stay the night here?" she asked, giving Arkenstone a plaintive look, even though she knew he couldn't read her expression, "It would give me some peace of mind and would probably be a comfort to Flaxseed."

"I was planning to," replied Arkenstone with a smile, "Ms. Coco has already agreed to carry some messages on my behalf explaining things to Twilight and the foals at my shop."

"Oh! Will they be alright?" asked Rarity, lifting a hoof to her mouth.

Arkenstone chuckled. "Dawn's gotten to the point where he could probably run the place by himself. He's quite taken with the work. The others are not far behind. He knows how to close the shop. I daresay things will be fine."

"That's good to know," said Rarity. She went back into the kitchen, where the tea she'd been serving Camellia was still set out. Rarity drained her cup and poured another, not caring that the tea had gone cold in the meantime. The flavor still managed to soothe her frayed nerves somewhat. Finally, she rested her chin on the table with a tired sigh. "Between Flaxseed and Sweetie Belle, I seem to spend a lot of time dealing with difficult ponies."

Akrenstone sat across from her with a soft chuckle. "Difficulties often arise when reality does not match our expectations."

A single white ear flicked as Rarity lifted her head up off the table. "What are you saying?"

"You are frustrated by Sweetie because you think she is deliberately ignoring what is right in front of her face...correct?"

Rarity stared at Arkenstone in consternation. "How did you...?"

The beige stallion raised a single eyebrow. "This has been going on for a while. My hearing is plenty sharp. I could even hear the slight argument you two had upstairs. My apologies for eavesdropping."

"I suppose it can't be helped," said Rarity, slumping down to the table again, "But I'm fairly certain that Sweetie is ignoring what she was meant to do. Her voice is magnificent, bordering on angelic even. Flaxseed climbed into bed a bundle of nerves almost incapable of resting and she sang him straight to sleep with ease."

Arkenstone grinned. "If there is one thing that life has taught me, there is no 'meant' to do that determines a pony's cutie mark. The concept of a 'special talent' is an oversimplification of the factors that determine a pony's cutie mark."

"If not talent, then what?" asked Rarity.

"Passion," replied Arkenstone, "what moves a pony and what drives them to take action, the things that make a pony feel fulfilled because she is doing something she truly loves."

"But Sweetie loves to sing," said Rarity, "It's just that she has issues whenever there's the possibility of a large audience."

"Perhaps that is because the singing is a means to an end," replied Arkenstone, "For some ponies, particularly those similar to you, music is an end in and of itself, something that is indulged in for the artistry. For others, the music itself is not important so much as what they do with it."

"And how does that apply to Sweetie's situation?" asked Rarity, "Just what does she want to use her music for? Why has she been studying and learning under Vinyl Scratch?"

Arkenstone chuckled. "That question is hers to answer. But I think that what she did tonight might very well be an important clue."

"Hmm..." mused Rarity, "You think so?"

"I'm as sure as a pony can be under circumstances like these," replied Arkenstone.

Rarity nodded. "I see...Perhaps I shall talk to Sweetie about it tomorrow. She needs her rest now as well."

"Perhaps," agreed Arkenstone, though he found himself wondering if that talk tomorrow would even be necessary.

Rarity saw Coco off and then directed Arkenstone to the couch she kept on hoof for when she needed to faint. She was too tired to make dinner and Arkenstone had not expressed any particular hunger, nor had Sweetie come down from her room. Rarity hoped she hadn't upset Sweetie too much and made a light daisy sandwich from some leftovers in the icebox before retiring to bed herself.

Sweetie Belle lay in bed, her eyes drooping. She was a little upset with Rarity, wondering why Rarity was always trying to force her onto a stage. Whenever Sweetie thought about the crowds, her body shuddered. Why can't I do something else? But what would I do?

It was a question that had tugged on her mind ever since her talk with Vinyl. She had to admit that she liked singing. She remembered the question Octavia had posed to her. Who is my audience? For Sweetie, the word conjured up visions of vast crowds watching her on stage, visions that filled her with overwhelming trepidation. Perhaps that was the problem. She was thinking of the word in too narrow a context. Perhaps her audience wasn't a crowd. Perhaps it was a single pony.

Her mind went to what she'd just done earlier that night. Flaxseed had been terrified from whatever he'd experienced earlier. His mind was shaken and he'd been unable to even think about sleeping...until she'd started her music. At that moment, as Sweetie listened to her own music and watched the spell she'd woven with it take hold, watched it sooth Flaxseed's troubled heart, seen it relax him into a gentle repose, she felt as though she had discovered something amazing. Flaxseed had been hurting and frightened. At that moment, Sweetie had been able to use her talents to help him, to ease the burden of his pain. In a sense, her magic and music had healed him; maybe not completely, but she'd managed to accomplish what Rarity, probably the pony Flaxseed trusted the most in all of Equestria right now, could not.

Maybe that's what my music should be for, thought Sweetie pensively, If my music could do that for Flaxseed, what could it do for other ponies? Could I help ponies who are suffering, who are hurt and afraid? Maybe they're my audience. Sweetie felt her lips curl up in a smile. She actually liked the sound of that. It felt...right.

With that pleasant thought in mind, Sweetie allowed herself to drift off into a peaceful sleep, completely unaware that, beneath her blankets, a spark of light had erupted from her flank.

A while later, the door to Sweetie's room slowly opened and Rarity peered in. She sighed when she saw that her younger sister had fallen asleep. Keeping quiet, Rarity crept into the room and looked over Sweetie. She'd been hoping to talk some more, possibly apologize for getting pushy regarding Sweetie's talent. But that would have to wait until the morning.

With a quiet sigh, Rarity lifted up the blankets to tuck Sweetie in more securely. However, Rarity froze when she saw what was hidden beneath those blankets. Her eyes widened and her hoof went to her mouth to stifle a gasp. After a few seconds of staring, tears began to well up in her eyes.

"Oh Sweetie...!"

Rarity wanted to wake Sweetie Belle right away. However, she ultimately decided to leave the filly to her rest and wait until the morning. Rarity would come to regret that decision when Sweetie's joyous shriek shattered half the windows in the building, along with the bathroom mirror. Still, given what had just happened, Rarity figured that a few panes of glass were worth the price of the radiant look on Sweetie Belle's face when she came rushing into the kitchen to display her brand new cutie mark.

And through it all, Flaxseed slept peacefully, without a care in the world.

Dawn and Scootaloo were at Scootaloo's house, meditating in the living room while Melon Cream, Scootaloo's mother, was working in the kitchen, preparing breakfast. However, the peaceful morning scene was interrupted by a frantic pounding on the door.

"Uh oh," muttered Scootaloo, turning towards the door and creeping cautiously towards it. The last time somepony had pounded on the portal like that, it had been a deranged cultist, trying to retaliate for some of the things she'd said about the Cult Solar after getting sick of hearing one too many insults against Dawn. She'd blown the cultist out of the house, along with part of the wall. For all she knew, the poor stallion was still in a full-body cast. She hadn't meant to hurt him that badly. However, given the situation, it was him or her.

Reluctantly, Scootaloo turned the knob and swung the door open, bracing herself to dodge in case some pony hurled herself through the opening at her. However, she blinked when she saw who was standing there instead. "Sweetie Belle...? What are you-OOF!" Scootaloo's inquiry was cut off as Sweetie tackled her and knocked her over onto her back.

"I DID IT!!!" yelled Sweetie at a volume that would have given the Canterlot Royal Voice a run for its money, "I DID IT! I'VE FINALLY DONE IT!!!"

"Gah!" gasped Scootaloo, her eardrums not able to take much more abuse, "Done what?"

That question seemed to be enough for Sweetie as she jumped off Scootaloo and turned sideways. "Look!"

"What? I don't see anythi-" Scootaloo's voice vanished when she saw the mark decorating Sweetie's flank.

It was a single red heart. A white bandage was wrapped around it, extending upwards, forming the stem and flag of a single eight-note.

"Wow!" exclaimed Scootaloo, her own level of excitement rising, "You did it! Way to go Sweetie Belle!"

"I know," said Sweetie, her voice shrill with excitement, "I can't wait to show Apple Bloom."

"Wait!" shouted Scootaloo, "This means..."

Sweetie quickly caught on. "This means that all three of us have our cutie marks now!"

"We did it!" yelled Scootaloo, jumping upwards in excitement, "The Cutie Mark Crusaders have officially gotten their cutie marks!"

"Uh..." said Sweetie, "What does that make us now?"

"Um..." Scootaloo paused and tapped a hoof to her chin. "Cutie Mark...Conquerors...?"

Sweetie raised an eyebrow. "Why conquerors?"

"Um...'cause we...I dunno...conquered our cutie marks?"

"What the hay does that mean?"

"Ugh! Never mind! How about the Cutie Mark...Graduates!?"

"No way. It has to start with a C."

"Huh? Why?"

"Because alliteration is cool!"

"Alliter-what. Geez Sweetie, you get your cutie mark and you're still such a-"

"Feathers!...Pluck!...Dress!"

"Shuttingupnow!"

Scootaloo and Sweetie were drawn out of their animated discussion by a wry snort from Dawn, who was watching from slightly behind Scootaloo in the living room. Behind Dawn stood Melon Cream, who was watching from the doorway to the kitchen. Both of them looked rather amused by the whole affair.

"Um...sorry..." said Sweetie, her cheeks practically glowing red.

"It's alright," said Melon, using one orange hoof to stifle her giggles, "But I'm wondering if you dashed out of your home without having breakfast."

Right on cue, a rumbling growl made its way out of Sweetie's stomach, prompting her blush to intensify. "Um..."

"Come in," said Melon with a chortle as she turned to head back into the kitchen, "Breakfast is almost ready and I think I can squeeze in one more."

Rarity's ear twitched as she caught the familiar sound of Flaxseed's hooves descending the stairs. She already knew that he'd been up for a while already. Her first hint was the sound of the shower running upstairs. With a faint grimace of the task she knew awaited her, Rarity had already gone upstairs and changed the sheets on Flaxseed's bed. The old ones would have to be washed before they were usable again.

After she'd brought down the sheets, Rarity had set to work making a hearty breakfast for her friend. Thus, as Flaxseed arrived in the kitchen, Rarity finished setting out a short stack of pancakes, along with a pair of eggs over-easy. "Good morning darling," she said pleasantly, "It seems as though you slept well."

"I did," said Flaxseed with a slightly sheepish smile. His voice was soft, almost reminding Rarity of Fluttershy. He was less confident in his movements as well, only coming into the room and seating himself at the table after a fair bit of dawdling and looking about nervously. She supposed that yesterday's ordeal had probably drawn several of Flaxseed's nervous habits back to the surface. Hopefully, with her and Sweetie's help, Flaxseed could recover all the faster.

"Well go ahead and eat," said Rarity with a warm smile, "You went to bed without any supper last night. I suspect you're quite famished."

Flaxseed nodded and began to tuck into the spread set out before him. Rarity kept her implements and ingredients out in case Flaxseed showed signs of being hungry for seconds. However, it seemed that what she'd set out for him had been sufficient to settle the stallion's appetite.

After he finished eating, Flaxseed settled in his seat and looked around a bit nervously. "Where's Arkenstone?"

"He went back," replied Rarity, "He does need to open up shop after all. However, both Red River and Storm Front will be nearby today, just in case. We've already confirmed that she left town last evening."

Flaxseed let out a relieved sigh and his posture relaxed a little bit more. After a moment's contemplation, he looked up at Rarity, who had taken the seat across from him at the table. "I-I'm sorry about the sheets, by the way...and the office..."

Rarity smiled. "It's fine," she said, "You were so terrified that I was afraid you'd just bolt off into the night. I'm just relieved that you're still here. After that, a little cleanup is a minor inconvenience at most."

"Thank you," said Flaxseed softly.

Rarity lifted a hoof and rested it on the table. Flaxseed did the same. In an almost perfect reenactment of Flaxseed's first night in the Boutique, the two of them linked the fetlocks of their forelegs and squeezed. This time, Flaxseed was reciprocating the gesture, which caused a warm feeling to flutter up from the pit of Rarity's stomach.

"You tore your dress apart," said Flaxseed.

"It's fine dear," said Rarity, "I was so angry, I needed to take it out on something, otherwise that mare would be in the hospital and I would probably be in Guard custody."

"But you worked so hard on it..." said Flaxseed, "You always put so much into them."

"Flaxseed," said Rarity, tightening her grip on his foreleg, "What that mare said yesterday was a heaping pile of the most disgusting dross I've heard in all my life and, believe me, I've heard some gems. Seeing her stand there insulting you after everything you've been through, after the things she apparently put you through, I couldn't stand to let that go unanswered. That dress was made for her and her alone. It was made with her colors and her sensibilities in mind. I wanted to make it absolutely clear that what she had said and done were unacceptable."

"But still..."

"Flaxseed," said Rarity, her tone softening, "You are worth far more to me than any dress will ever be. Those scraps can be replaced. An entire dress can be replaced. Weeks, months even, of work can be done over again. It's unpleasant and inconvenient, but they are all something that I can just start over on. You can't be replaced. If it meant protecting you from ponies like her, the I would shred my entire winter line in a second."

Tears began to stream down Flaxseed's face. "Thank you so much..." he said, his voice becoming heavy from choking back sobs.

Rarity let go of his foreleg and moved around the table to wrap Flaxseed up in a warm embrace. She held the stallion tightly as he sobbed against her. They stayed like that until Flaxseed's sobs subsided. For a moment, Rarity had thought that he'd cried himself back to sleep. However, she learned she was mistaken when she let him go and Flaxseed lifted his head to look at her.

"Do you want to talk about it?" asked Rarity, "About her, I mean."

Flaxseed blanched slightly beneath his coat and looked away. Rarity leaned in and gently nuzzled his cheek. "It's alright if you don't want to," she said, "It might help you to get it off your chest. But if remembering it is too painful for you, I won't force it."

"It...it might help," said Flaxseed after a moment.

Rarity nodded and made tea for both of them, hoping that having some of the soothing drink on hoof might help with Flaxseed's nerves. Once everything was ready, she sat across the table from him and waited expectantly.

For a long time, Flaxseed simply stared down into his teacup. Finally, he drank it, then looked up at Rarity and launched into his tale.

"It was about a year after I'd been forced to run away from my parents' home. I'd finally shaken off the Or-the Cult's pursuit and was looking for someplace to settle down, hopefully where they wouldn't find me. Maybe it wasn't very wise, but I didn't want to live on the run. I'd never asked for any of this. I settled into Hoofington, where I hoped that I could just blend in with all the other ponies there. I ended up working as a waiter in a small restaurant. It wasn't an upscale joint, but it wasn't a dump either. The tips were good and I made a fairly decent wage. I didn't bother trying to get to know my coworkers. I wasn't sure I could trust anypony."

He sighed. "That's when I met her..."

"Camellia?"

Flaxseed flinched at the sound of her name, then nodded. "She started working there as a waitress. I guess she was trying to raise money to go to acting school. She'd already been in a few local productions. She even gave me some tickets when we started...

"Anyway, she wasn't like the others. Most of the ponies I worked with were content to leave me alone once it was clear I didn't want to answer any questions. They figured I was just some loner freak...and I suppose I was. But Camellia...she...I don't know why she took an interest in me, but she did. She was always trying to talk to me on breaks or when our shifts were over or before they started...She liked to talk, I guess. She told me all about her dreams and ambitions, how she planned to make it big on Bridleway. She'd also needle me, try to find things out about me, ask me questions, that sort of thing.

"After a little while, I guess she just wore me down. I started talking with her, sharing some stuff about myself. I never told her about my history or my condition. That was still too raw and painful and I was certain that saying the wrong thing at the wrong time could send me on the run again. I guess I started to like her."

"She is a very attractive mare," Rarity conceded, "That doesn't surprise me."

Flaxseed nodded. "We started going out. We had fun together. We made each other laugh." He groaned. "Things were going so well. I dared to hope that I'd be able to put my past behind me, maybe settle down and start a family of my own. I was considering telling Camellia about my condition and what I'd been through.

"Then it happened. We'd been going out for a while. Camellia was looking at acting school, looking to make her big break in theater. We were on our way back from one of our dates..."

The laughter of the mare and stallion carried through the night. "I can't believe you actually did that," said Flaxseed in between guffaws as he remembered the sight of Camellia chucking a bowling ball at a pinstriped clown.(1)

"Well, it was his fault for trying slime me,(2)" protested Camellia. She froze as they came across the mouth of an alley. "Hey, I know a shortcut back to my place from here. If we take this alley and cut over to the next street, we can avoid having to take that detour two streets down."

Flaxseed glanced nervously down the alley. It looked like most city alleys, dark and dingy, with scattered overflowing trashcans resting along its length. The lights from the street they were on only reached part of the way down. The rest of the alley was shrouded in darkness. Flaxseed couldn't even make out the lights of the street on the other side. "Are you sure it's this alley?"

"Of course it is," snorted Camellia, giving Flaxseed an irritated look, "Who's the native around here, you or me?"

Flaxseed couldn't help but sigh in resignation. "Alright. Let's go."

"I knew you'd see things my way," said Camellia proudly. She began strutting down the alley.

It took Flaxseed a second to marshal his courage and follow her with a nervous swallow. As they made their way down the alleyway, the darkness deepened, making it difficult for them to see the ground in front of them. Finally, Camellia came to a halt as the way in front of them was blocked by a solid brick wall.

"It's a dead end," noted Flaxseed.

"I can see that," snapped Camellia, absently chewing on her forehoof. It was a bad habit of hers that sometimes got her scolded at work. "Dammit. I was sure that this was the right way. Maybe it was that earlier alley."

"Let's just head back," said Flaxseed, "We'll take the long way if we have to."

Camellia looked as though she didn't want to admit defeat. But no amount of protesting and complaining could make a wall not be a wall, so she ultimately had to give up and turn around. The two of them started to make their way back to the street, only to find their path impeded by a pair of brutish-looking ponies.

"Well well," said one, a unicorn mare with her mane tied into knotted dreadlocks running down the length of her neck, "Look who we have here."

Her companion, a burly pegasus who looked as though his coat had been slicked down with oil, leered at Camellia with a sick grin. "Looks to me like we've got a couple of prime donors to our charitable cause."

That got a laugh out of the mare. "Yeah, I bet these suckers have enough to keep us afloat for a week at least."

Both Flaxseed and Camellia were backing away, but quickly found their rumps against the wall. They froze in terror, realizing that they had no place to run. Flaxseed's mind was whirling, trying to figure out a way out the situation. His heart was thundering in his chest so hard that it felt as though the muscle might burst straight out through his ribcage.

"What do we do?" whispered Camellia.

Flaxseed couldn't answer. The memories of his previous experiences, nearly being cornered by ponies who were tartarus-bent on killing him, were making his mind go blank. He was certain that there was no chance he would walk away from this alive.

"Alright," said the mare, "Let's make this simple. Hoof over all the bits you've got, jewelry too lady. If you play nice, we might only rough you up a little bit."

"Or a lot," supplemented the stallion.

Flaxseed felt something snap inside his head. His fear spiked and his limbs locked up. He was prepared to grab a trashcan with his magic and start swinging away. However, the two ponies in front of him froze up first.

"What the hay!" gasped the stallion. He and the mare froze, the two of them gaping at Flaxseed as though he'd grown another head. A second later, that confusion gave way to fear.

"He's a monster!" screamed the mare.

"He's a freak!" shouted the stallion.

The two of them turned and bolted, leaving a pair of confused ponies in their wake.

"Wha-" From her place beside him, Camellia peaked out from behind her hooves. "What happened? Why did those muggers run?" She turned to look at Flaxseed. "What d-did you do?" Camellia froze in place, her jaw going slack. "F-Flax-...!"

Flaxseed raised his hoof to his face as though he could use it to feel the change that had come over his eyes. He realized what Camellia must be seeing. He'd only seen his eyes in the mirror once. He had to admit that they looked terrifying.

"What's wrong with your eyes?" gasped Camellia, now backing away from him.

"I-it's-" Flaxseed tried to explain. He wasn't completely sure what his condition was either. "Camellia...this-"

"What are you?" gasped Camellia, her rump now colliding with the wall perpendicular to the one that blocked the way through the alley.

"I'm a pony!" replied Flaxseed frantically, "Camellia! Please!" He plaintively reached a hoof out for her.

"STAY AWAY FROM ME, YOU FREAK!" Camellia bolted out of the alley, following the course of their would-be assaulters.

"Camellia..." moaned Flaxseed, watching her go with a leaden feeling settling into his stomach.

"I didn't see her for a while after that," explained Flaxseed, "She was only a couple weeks away from leaving for acting school anyway. So nopony really questioned it when she quit her job the next day. I tried going to her apartment to talk to her. But she either wasn't home or she refused to open the door. Either way, it was like she'd blocked me out of her life.

"After a few days of trying, I decided to give up and hope that she might come to me. I was almost too depressed to work. There were days I felt so sick and disgusted that I didn't want to get out of bed. Only the thought that today might be the day I saw her again kept me going. Then...one night..." Flaxseed hesitated and cringed, a faint whimper forcing its way out of his lips.

"If you want to stop..." said Rarity, watching him intently.

"No," whispered Flaxseed, "I need to finish this..."

Flaxseed sighed as he looked down at the sheets spread out on the desk in front of him. He'd taken the restaurant's ledgers home with him, his skill with numbers having garnered the attention of his managers. They were actually willing to let him go over the books and help with the budget, even paying him a few extra bits to take the accounts home with him and look them over before bringing them back the next day. He wasn't officially doing their finances, but it was a step in the right direction.

But the absence of Camellia from his life seemed to strip away all the enjoyment he got out of the job. He just couldn't stop agonizing over whether or not he'd see her again. Would she eventually come around and talk to him again? Or would he simply have to start of with somepony else...and possibly have the same thing happen again later on?

A faint click of a key in a lock made Flaxseed's ear twitch. He knew that sound. Camellia had a spare key to his apartment. He realized that she must have finally come around and had decided to talk to him.

Flaxseed didn't look away from his desk. He could hear hoofsteps approaching from behind. She'd done this nearly every time she came to visit him while he was working. She would come up behind him and then rise up to hug him around the neck from behind, giggling as she rested on his back and nuzzled his neck, occasionally pausing to kiss his ear. The thought of being able to experience that feeling again made Flaxseed quiver.

Almost too late, Flaxseed noticed that the approaching hoofsteps seemed heavier than he remembered. Camellia was a fairly light pony after all. Whoever was coming up behind him was a few dozen pounds heavier at least.

The hoofsteps paused and Flaxseed was conscious of somepony looming over him from behind. With a yelp, he pushed back from the desk. He saw something cross his vision and lifted a hoof to block it. The reflexive action saved his life as his foreleg intercepted a wire that bit into the skin beneath his coat. At the same time the wire made contact, the pony behind Flaxseed grunted and leaned back, using his weight to pull the wire towards Flaxseed's neck.

If Flaxseed lowered his hoof, the wire would bite into his neck next and probably crush his windpipe, strangling him. So he strained with all his might, pushing against the wire, willing it away from him.

"Give it up monster," snarled the stallion behind him, pulling harder on the wire, which continued to get closer and closer to Flaxseed's neck.

Flaxseed's first though was to use magic to dislodge his attacker. However, he realized that must have been what his enemy was waiting for. Once he began channeling the magic for a spell, all the pony behind him would have to do was reach forward and bite his horn. The pain would probably rob Flaxseed of the strength he needed to continue resisting the wire and allow him to be strangled.

With a growl, Flaxseed surged forward, throwing all his weight into moving the wire away from him. Blood trickled down his foreleg. The wire barely budged. However, dislodging it hadn't been Flaxseed's intention anyway.

In order to counter Flaxseed's foreward lunge, the pony behind him had been forced to shift his weight backwards to keep pulling the wire towards Flaxseed's neck. Because he was focused on pulling back, he didn't notice right away when Flaxseed dipped his head forward and lit his horn.

Levitating an entire pony took a fair bit of juice, as far as magic was concerned. However, Flaxseed didn't need to straight-up lift his opponent. Instead he applied a telekinetic shove to his attacker from behind. The other stallion, caught off-guard by the sudden shift, lost his balance and began to fall forward. Next, Flaxseed applied a levitation spell to the attacker's hind hooves even as he threw all his weight against the wire wound around the attacker's forehooves. The movement sent the stallion flipping over Flaxseed's body.

The desk Flaxseed had been working at faced a window, resting just under its sill. His improvised throw sent the other stallion into the window and through it, shattering the glass into fragments that glittered in the light thrown off by the street lamps below.

Flaxseed's apartment was on the fifth floor of the building.

The unknown stallion's scream lasted an uncomfortably long time before it was cut short by a wet crunch. Flaxseed flinched at the sound. For a moment, he could only stare dumbly at the window, conscious of the fact that he'd just ended a life. It had been frantic, carried out in the heat of the moment, but he'd killed another pony. Granted, said pony had just tried to garrote him, but that did nothing to stem the tide of revulsion in Flaxseed's gut.

Instead, the revulsion rose, carrying with it the contents of Flaxseed's stomach. He turned to the side, heaving up the remnants of his dinner, his entire body convulsing with the force of the action. For a long moment, Flaxseed simply stared at the unpleasant mess on the floor in front of him, unable to care about the stench as its fumes wafted up to his nostrils. He was a murderer. That was all that mattered to him.

There was a glint of light off metal that attracted Flaxseed's attention to another section of the floor, the section where his attacker had been standing only a moment ago. There, laying on the floor, was a single key. Flaxseed's eyes widened as he realized it was the key to his apartment and the pony that had just tried to kill him had been the one carrying it. More importantly, it was the spare key he'd given to Camellia to let herself in.

Flaxseed's nausea was canceled out by a surge of fear at the sight of that key. The attacker had Camellia's key. Just how had he gotten it? Those questions raced through Flaxseed's mind at a breakneck pace.

It must have been the thugs they encountered the other night. If they had told somepony about what they had seen and word got back to those weird zealots who'd been chasing him...then they might know about the ponies who he'd been associating with, including his fillyfriend. Camellia could be in danger!

That realization alone was enough to galvanize Flaxseed into action. He nearly smashed down his own door as he rushed out into the hallway. His ears picked up the sound of ponies coming up the stairs. If that stallion had accomplices, they would have realized that he had failed by now and were on the way up to finish the job themselves. This was no time to risk a confrontation. Instead, Flaxseed turned and bolted the other way, going out through the door that led to the fire escape and rushing down the stairs.

Rarity was quite glad for her immaculate white coat at that point. It hid just how thoroughly she had paled as Flaxseed's account went on. She carefully lifted a cup of tea to her lips and sipped it, not trusting herself to talk as she looked at the stallion in front of her, who had just admitted to killing another pony. She'd had no idea that Flaxseed had an event like that in his past. She also had no idea just what to think about it.

Certainly, it had been in self-defense. After what he'd been through, she couldn't fault Flaxseed for doing what he had done. He might not have even thought about what he was actually doing when he had done it. There were, of course, those who would have pointed out that Flaxseed's attacker had deserved his fate. But that didn't change the fact that killing was killing.

Flaxseed seemed fully aware of that. It was clear that the emotional scars left by the experience still bothered him, even now. His voice was raw and he was talking frantically, as though he could no longer stop.

Camellia's apartment was the first place Flaxseed thought to visit. It only took him a few minutes to get there. He immediately began pounding on the door, calling out her name. There was no response from within. However, after a few minutes of continuous hammering, the angry landlady approached him and sternly informed Flaxseed that Camellia had gone out and that Flaxseed was welcome to follow her and not come back if he was going to continue causing such a racket.

Having been booted out of the building, Flaxseed took a moment to think through his options. Camellia had apparently left alone, under her own power. So she hadn't been caught then. He decided to visit some of her favorite hangouts and see if there was anything he could glean from those places.

Luckily, Flaxseed found her at the first place he'd looked, a pleasant little cafe where they'd chatted over many a cup of coffee. To his surprise, he saw Camellia sitting there with one of her friends who worked at the local playhouse. Flaxseed had never been terribly fond of the other mare, having always thought she was shallow and conceited. But it was clear that she and Camellia got along very well.

Not much later, Flaxseed learned why when he learned the truth of what happened and the secret behind the large bag of bits that lay on the table.

Any trepidation Rarity felt after hearing that Flaxseed had inadvertently killed a pony vanished, replaced by a disgusted fury at the very idea that she had allowed such a disgusting, revolting, uncanny, monstrous, hideous creature into her Boutique and spoken to it as though it were a pony.

"That bitch!" The snarl that forced its way out her lips almost seemed to strike Flaxseed with tangible force. "To think that I allowed her to walk out of here with nothing more than a bloody nose. I should have shaved her tail and mane, made a rope out of them and strangled her!"

"Eep!" Flaxseed ducked down below the table, terrified at the anger radiating from the mare in front of him.

Realizing that she had frightened her friend knocked Rarity out of her angry haze. She forced herself to take several deep breaths in order to calm down. "Flaxseed...It's alright, I'm not angry at you."

"A-a-are you sure?" asked Flaxseed, carefully poking his head up above the level of the table, his eyes transformed once again, ready to duck back down again at a moment's notice.

"Yes," replied Rarity, "I'm sorry dear. I just couldn't believe that somepony would sell her coltfriend out like that. To think that she betrayed you so completely..."

"I don't like to think about it," said Flaxseed softly. His eyes returned to their normal state.

"I'm so sorry I forced you to relive such a traumatizing experience." Rarity smiled in spite of her words. "Thank you for trusting me."

"It was the least I could do," said Flaxseed, bashfully looking way from her, "After everything you've done for me, you deserve to know the truth."

Rarity went to his side again, enfolding Flaxseed in a warm embrace. "It's not obligation," she said, "You don't owe me anything. It's trust. You've finally opened up a little more. It's painful, it's frightening, but it's right and you did it."

"Thank you," said Flaxseed, leaning into her embrace, "Can we stay like this for a little while?"

"Of course we can," said Rarity, tightening her hold on him, "As long as you want. This day is for you after all."

"For me?"

Rarity nodded. "I gave Coco the day off, so there's no work for today. When you're ready, would you like to go over to the teahouse, maybe chat with Arkenstone and Dawn for a bit?"

"That sounds nice," said Flaxseed, a wry smile spreading across his face, "But didn't we already have tea?."

Rarity let out a sound that was halfway between a giggle and a rather unladylike snort. "Oh hush." She planted a light kiss on his cheek and went back to holding him tightly. She was all too happy to remain where she was. Yesterday, she'd been afraid that she'd nearly lost Flaxseed, that he would bolt out of the Boutique and out of her life at the first possible opportunity. She couldn't stand the thought of him leaving. Being able to rest there and hold him was something she was more than happy to do. Flaxseed was home and that was all that mattered.

Author's Notes:

1) You had to be there...
2) Again...You had to be there...

Apologies for the late update. I got a little caught up in real life stuff today, mostly filling out applications and going to interviews. I'm in the market for a new job, seeing as the retail company I currently work for has apparently now decided "screw you" is going to be their official stance towards longstanding employees anywhere below the management level. So I'm off in search of greener pastures where I can find more hours and, hopefully, something resembling a living wage.

So...Sweetie Belle finally has her cutie mark. She was probably the hardest one of the Cutie Mark Crusaders for me to come up with a cutie mark for...for reasons I don't completely understand. It isn't that figuring out what her cutie mark would represent was really hard, but I can't remember why (if there ever was an actual reason why) I got so hung up on making Sweetie's cutie mark be something other than just singing, which is how it goes in most fics (seeing as this is what the canon is leaning towards as well). For some reason, I really wanted to do something different with her, even though I went ahead and made Apple Bloom's cutie mark represent the usual carpenter/architect/handymare (or is it hooftymare)/whatever that she often ends up as in most fics. Oh well...

I don't have any real ideas for the real world equivalent of the song Sweetie used. If one of you can come up with a suitable one, I might post it. When it comes to music, I tend to think I do less listening and more hearing or, as I've heard it put in a music theory course in college, I'm more interested in Absolute Music, that is music itself, divorced from any particular meaning or interpretation of it. Besides the fact that I'm an anime fan, the other big reason I like J-pop and music in other foreign languages is because I don't immediately understand what the singers are saying, so I don't get distracted by the actual meaning behind a song's lyrics and I can simply listen to the singers' voices as though they were additional instruments and enjoy how they mesh with the rest of the music. Does that make me weird?

Next chapter: It's time...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9BAeyZhAdE

Wrapping Up

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Chapter 7: Wrapping Up

"But are you sure this isn't going to cause problems for you?" asked Flaxseed nervously, looking at Rarity over the cup of tea that rested on the table.

"Oh I might expect a slight slowdown on my Manehattan orders, darling," said Rarity dismissively, "But Camellia doesn't have nearly as much clout in that area as she thinks she does."

"But isn't she a successful actor?" asked Flaxseed, still feeling more than a little uncertain.

"She has experienced some success, yes," replied Rarity, "However, that success has largely been limited to supporting roles on a few major productions. She might, if she applied herself, be labeled an Up-And-Comer. But that's a far cry from the runaway success of true stardom, otherwise her visit to my Boutique would have probably been accompanied by a small swarm of paparazzi.

"But, in reality, everything I've read about her work in the theater reviews indicate that she's a middling-level performer who relies more on her talent than she does on actual effort. There are ponies in her field that are just as talented as she is and who truly invest themselves in their work. In all honesty, I probably did her a favor by forcing her to take that money back?"

"How so?" asked Flaxseed, tilting his head.

"She's invested a great deal of her money into an expensive apartment, fine dining, and expensive dresses from well-known designers," answered Rarity, "I'm careful about who I do business with, so I make sure to know certain particulars, such as whether or not they can really afford my work." There was a little more to it than that, but Rarity didn't feel the need to go into detail. For example, she was more than happy to put a great deal of work into a dress that was supposed to be cheap for a starving actress who was working her tail off and needed just such a dress to make a good impression on a prospective employer. She was less-inclined to go above and beyond what was paid for for the sake of a shallow mare who wanted to throw money that she shouldn't away on a dress for the sake of impressing her friends or to make herself look more important than she really was.

"Anyway, she's a mare who spends rather frivolously on needless luxuries that she ultimately won't be able to afford. She's the type of actress who's in the business, not because she genuinely loves her art, but because she craves what it brings her; money, fame, and recognition." Rarity shook her head. "I'm afraid that she won't get far with that attitude, especially if she doesn't have the motivation to apply herself. The damage she could do is limited."

Rarity met Flaxseed's eyes again. "But none of that really matters. Camellia could be the greatest actress in Equestrian history with enough accolades to fill the Royal Palace. None of that would have mattered after the way she treated you."

Flaxseed's cheeks turned bright red. "Th-thank you," he said, shyly looking away for a moment.

"Well it sounds like things turned out alright," commented Arkenstone as he drifted sedately past the table, a tray of tea balanced on his rump, "I must admit, at least some good seemed to have come from that mare's visit, if Sweetie Belle's scream earlier was any indicator.

"I noticed she isn't here," Rarity observed, looking around the shop. Indeed, there was no sign of the white filly moving amongst the tables. The other Crusaders could be seen attending to their duties. The only other absent one was Rumble.

"I went ahead and gave her and Rumble the day off," replied Arkenstone with a slight shrug, "I figured I wouldn't have her for long anyway. Once Pinkie Pie gets her hooves on the filly, I suspect that Sweetie will be tied up for the rest of the day."

"Quite possibly literally," agreed Rarity with a tired sigh. Pinkie would undoubtedly be ecstatic to plan the cutcenera of the last of the original three cutie mark crusaders. Now Rumble and Dawn were the only ones left who had yet to gain their cutie marks. Surprisingly, neither of them seemed to be overly bothered by that. Rumble was fairly certain what he wanted to do with his future anyway, so it was entirely possible that his cutie mark would simply come in due course. Dawn, having only recently started spending time with foals his own age, had little concern for the normal attitudes foals regarded cutie marks with.

Speaking of Dawn, he too passed the table as he went back and forth amongst the different groups of customers with their orders. His eyes met Flaxseed's frequently and Dawn always passed on a wordless nod of encouragement. It was doing wonders for the gold-colored stallion's nerves and Flaxseed was starting to relax once again.

"So," said Rarity, "What would you like to do after we're done here?"

"Well..." said Flaxseed, running a nervous hoof along his mane, "Maybe we could just take a walk around town, visit some other friends of yours...we could even go out to dinner at that one restaurant you keep telling me about."

For a second, Rarity had to fight to keep herself from gaping at the stallion. Flaxseed had been amenable to taking walks around Ponyville before. He'd even been okay to going to the occasional restaurant, so long as it wasn't too crowded and he could get a seat in the corner where he could keep an eye on the rest of the room and prevent anypony from sneaking up behind him. But this was the first time he had suggested those activities of his own volition.

Rarity had been certain that, after the previous day, the only thing Flaxseed would want to do was return to the Boutique. After what he'd been through, Rarity had been mentally preparing herself to walk Flaxseed back across the ground they'd already covered before. Instead, here he was showcasing an uncharacteristically adventurous spirit and readily suggesting something that he was normally quite uncomfortable with.

Still, she had no intention of disagreeing with this wonderful development. "It's a date then," she said cheerfully.

It only took three seconds for the two of them to realize what Rarity just said. Their cheeks flushed simultaneously.

Behind her, Rarity was unable to see Arkenstone's smile widen approvingly.

"I'm not sure I fully understand what changed?" admitted Dawn as he and Arkenstone watched Rarity

"It can be difficult to explain," said Arkenstone, "But what Flaxseed went through was something of a less violent version of what you experienced from Red River and Storm Front."

That made Dawn blink.

Arkenstone continued. "If a broken bone is not treated, it can still heal. But it might heal crookedly and the limb will be hampered. To fix it, the bone sometimes must be re-broken so that it can be set properly. Only then can it truly be healed.

"When that mare first betrayed Flaxseed, she broke his spirit. With no one to turn to but himself, Flaxseed's spirit healed crookedly and he was hampered by the result. Encountering her again yesterday broke it again. But this time, because Rarity and Sweetie Belle were there, Flaxseed's spirit received a proper treatment and he has now begun to heal properly."

"I don't follow..." said Dawn, glancing up at Arkenstone.

"When Flaxseed first came to Ponyville, he clung to the Boutique and to Rarity because they represented safety and comfort to his heart and mind. Because he had finally found that anchor, that stable, fixed point, he clung to it all the harder, which kept him from venturing away from it. When Camellia arrived yesterday, that safe place no longer seemed so safe and Flaxseed was no longer certain he would be secure with Rarity and her sister. That sense of safety and security was shattered. However, when Rarity chose to chase Camellia away and stayed true to Flaxseed, he realized that he could still depend on her, that he could truly trust in her and that his faith would be rewarded. Once you make a leap of faith like that, stepping out for a walk in the park seems like...well...a walk in the park."

"Oh..." mused Dawn, beginning to understand what Arkenstone was getting at.

"A bone, once properly set and healed," continued Arkenstone, "is stronger than it was before it was broken. Likewise, I think that Flaxseed's own spirit will emerge from this much stronger than it ever was before. In a rather unintended way, Camellia's arrival here served as a sort of karmic compensation for her original misdeeds. She departed, humiliated by the pony who was supposed to be providing her a prestigious service and she ended up inadvertently pushing Flaxseed further along the path of recovery."

Dawn found himself smirking. "When you put it like that, I suppose we have this mare to indirectly thank for Sweetie Belle's cutie mark."

That got a laugh out of Arkenstone. "Yes. That too."

"This is so amazing!" gasped Sweetie as she stared around Sugarcube Corner, which had been decked out in purple, pink, and white ribbons that seemed to cling to every available surface. Hanging across the ceiling in the middle of the room was a banner proudly displaying her new cutie mark. It had taken nearly a week for Pinkie to set up the party. The main reason for that had been because they needed the extra time to hear back from Sweetie's parents after Rarity had sent them a letter telling them about Sweetie's new cutie mark. Unfortunately, the traveling couple had ventured too far abroad to be able to return within a reasonable timeframe and had urged Sweetie to go ahead with her cutecenera without them. Sweetie hadn't exactly been all that surprised by the response, given that she'd hardly seen her parents in the past year, having spent more time as a resident of Rarity's home than theirs. But she supposed it was only polite to let them know.

"I'm happy for you," said Rumble, wrapping his wing around her as they made their way across the floor, heading for one of the many party games set out for their enjoyment.

Sweetie couldn't quite suppress her giggle. "You've been saying that several times a day."

"It's because I am," protested Rumble. His mouth snapped shut when Sweetie quickly turned and planted a kiss on his cheek.

"I know," she whispered before leaning her head against his, "Thank you."

Sweetie had been surprised to find that she had some very special guests at her cutecenera. Upon hearing about her cutie mark, Vinyl Scratch had immediately insisted upon being in charge of the music, bringing her full set of equipment into the bakery and setting up a miniature concert that had the whole building jumping (literally, if the way the floor kept bucking beneath Sweetie's hooves was any indication).

Even Flaxseed was there, showing surprising fortitude by willingly coming to a place that was crowded with ponies, even though he remained near the walls and refused to venture out into the room. Rarity mostly stayed with him, keeping him company and keeping him calm. Fortunately, he had yet to suffer any breakdowns. Even as Sweetie looked, she saw Flaxseed actually holding what seemed to be an animated conversation with the Mayor of all ponies.

"Well now," commented a familiar voice from behind Sweetie, "It seems you finally found your audience."

Jumping out from under Rumble's wing, Sweetie spun about to see Octavia standing there with a smile on her face.

"Ms. Octavia!" squealed Sweetie, "What are you doing here?"

Octavia raised an amused eyebrow. "Well, I must admit that I was quite surprised to receive an invitation to your cutecenera. I have no idea how your pink friend got my address or how she was even aware that we were acquainted."

"Um..." ventured Rumble, "That's just Pinkie. She tends to know things."

"I see..." said Octavia, her smile wavering slightly. Still, she didn't appear to be too worried. "You must be Sweetie Belle's coltfriend then."

"Yes," said the colt, "My name's Rumble. It's nice to meet you."

Octavia giggled. "So polite. It seems you've found yourself quite the catch Sweetie Belle."

"That's right," agreed Sweetie, grinning from ear to ear before she turned and planted another kiss on Rumble's cheek.

"I know you've probably been asked this a hundred times tonight," said Octavia as she fell into step next to the pair of foals, "But could you share the story of how you got your mark with me? I am quite eager to know how it turned out."

Sweetie nodded eagerly. She had been asked about the nature of her cutie mark several times already that night. But it was a story she hadn't gotten tired to telling yet, particularly because she was so proud of how she'd gotten it. Octavia led them towards a small group of cushions situated against one wall where ponies could relax and converse, giving them a place where she was able to hear Sweetie's story in its entirety.

Her expression grew stern when she heard about Camellia and just what the mare had put Flaxseed through. Still, she couldn't help but smile proudly when she learned how Sweetie had used her gift for music to ease Flaxseed's troubled mind and soul and given him a chance to heal.

"I must admit," she said when Sweetie finished, "You do indeed have a remarkable calling. It sounds like I was right to send you to Vinyl."

"You can say that again," said Vinyl Scratch, seemingly summoned by Octavia's comment, "How's it hanging Octy?"

Octavia chuckled. "I'm doing quite well, thank you very much. How about you, Vinyl? I'm glad to see you working in a respectable establishment for once."

Vinyl belted out a loud laugh that echoed over the tones of her own music, which continued to pound rhythmically through the room. "Yeah, this is a step up from the places I usually work," she admitted, "And to think that it's because I volunteered to do it for free."

"Oh!" gasped Sweetie, "I didn't realize...! I didn't mean to impose on you like that!"

"Relax kiddo," said Vinyl, running a hoof over Sweetie's mane, moving gently to avoid mussing it, "This was my idea. Celestia knows, you're certainly worth it."

"Quite true," agreed Octavia, "I trust you've already heard how Sweetie got her mark."

"Yep," replied Vinyl, "It's a good thing that Camellia mare split or I would have introduced her to my Bass Cannon."

"Your what...?"

"Don't worry about it," said Vinyl quickly, "The only downside to this is that that mare won't get what she deserves."

"Oh I think otherwise," said Octavia, an edge of malice in her voice, "I have played in the pit at a fair few Bridleway productions myself, so I have some contacts in that area. I'll make sure that word gets out about Ms. Camellia's appalling behavior. I suspect she'll have a hard time finding roles in the future."

"Good to hear," said Vinyl, a slight growl in her voice, "That mare may not have gotten her dress, but she deserves a little more than that for what she put that poor guy through."

Octavia nodded in agreement. The two of them then realized that Sweetie and Rumble were watching them with a little bit of awe and fear as they listened to the two adult mares casually discuss ruining the career of another mare, even if said mare totally deserved it.

Realizing that the foals were a bit intimidated by the conversation, Vinyl shook her head vigorously before looking again at Sweetie. Reaching up with her hoof, Vinyl tilted her trademark purple-tinted sunglasses up to rest at the base of her horn. How they hung so securely there, nopony could rightly say. Vinyl's glasses were a trademark of hers, though she actually needed them during the shows in order to protect her eyes from the strobing lights that often accompanied her music. She'd once admitted to Sweetie Belle that, if she hadn't worn them, she would've gone blind years ago.

"Sorry the conversation got a little gnarly there," said Vinyl in an apologetic tone, "I actually wanted to talk to ya so I could give you your present."

Sweetie blushed and her eyes lit up. "A present! You didn't have to."

Vinyl chuckled. "Yeah, but I wanted to. It's been a while since I've had such a blast with a student. Most of those kids are just looking for me to teach them how to be DJ-Pon3 2.0 so that they can go off and start their own flashy careers in the music biz." She sighed and shook her head. "Most of 'em don't make it very far 'cause they don't try to do anything more than imitate what I've already done."

"Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery," commented Octavia wryly.

"Or the laziest alternative to originality," countered Vinyl, "Anyway, I wanted to give you this, kiddo." Her horn sparked and she teleported in a large manilla envelope, which she set on the cushion in front of Sweetie.

"What's this?" asked Sweetie, looking at the envelope curiously.

"Its application information for the Academy of Arts and Sciences," explained Vinyl with a grin, "That's the forms and everything you need to submit the application. You're getting close to the end of your elementary years and you're gonna be looking at trade schools soon, right?"

Sweetie nodded.

Vinyl's grin widened. "That's why I figured you might like this. Amongst other things, there are quite a few classes and seminars at the school that could help you refine your skills, especially if you're planning on doing what I think you're planning on doing."

"What do you mean?" asked Sweetie.

"From the sound of things, it seems that the field you'd be most interested in is musical therapy," explained Octavia, gently rubbing Sweetie's back with her hoof, "There's been a great deal of research into using music for the purposes of promoting the healthy development in the body and mind. In other words, studying there could help you learn to help ponies like Flaxseed and many more besides."

Sweetie looked back down at the envelope, her expression pensive. "That would be wonderful," she said. However, her low tone suggested that something about the offer was troubling her.

Vinyl didn't seem to notice as she pressed on. "But that's not really my gift. You could get that information easily. That packet also contains a letter of recommendation from yours truly, personally recommending you for admission." She elbowed Octavia in the side. "I was actually planning on asking Octavia to write one too. With the two of us, you'd be eligible for a full scholarship. It's pretty convenient that she got invited to this shindig, huh?"

"Yes," agreed Octavia, raising an eyebrow and glancing at Rumble, "It is rather convenient."

Rumble merely grinned sheepishly and offered a shrug. "Pinkie Pie..." he said by way of explanation.

Octavia's eyebrow rose a little higher, but she wisely decided not to question things any further. With a sigh, she turned back to Sweetie and Vinyl. "In any case, I would certainly be happy to lend my support," she said, giving Sweetie an encouraging smile, "I think you could go quite far."

"Th-thank you," said Sweetie, "Excuse me...I need to step out for a moment."

With a speed that shocked the two mares, Sweetie quickly bolted for the door, letting it swing shut behind her. Vinyl and Octavia shared a confused glance. "What did we do wrong?" asked Octavia.

"I don't think it was anything you said or did," said Rumble as he picked up the packet and tucked it under his wing, "But I think Sweetie's a little leery of the idea of leaving Ponyville."

"I guess that makes sense," admitted Vinyl, "I probably should'a thought about that before springing this on her. It's a pretty big step after all."

"It'll be okay," said Rumble, "I'll talk to her. Thank you both." He followed Sweetie's path to the door as the two mares watched him go.

"My," observed Octavia with an approving smirk, "He's certainly a fine gentlecolt. You don't find colts that polite and observant just anywhere."

"No kidding," agreed Vinyl with a laugh, "I'd say he's a keeper."

Vinyl's gaze drifted sidelong to Octavia. "So...I hear you might've landed yourself a prince."

Octavia let out a faint giggle. "Not a prince, actually," she said with a smirk, "a duke. To be honest, I think I much prefer him to any prince."

"So..." said Vinyl, flashing a smirk of her own, "You'd better start sharing those juicy details..."

Sweetie sniffed and rubbed furiously at her eyes, trying her hardest to wipe her tears away, barely conscious of the cold seeping into her coat from the outside air. She was mortified that she was acting like this during her cutecenera. This was supposed to be a happy occasion and here she was, blubbering away like an infant. After Vinyl and Octavia had both been so generous to her, she'd repaid their kindness by running away and crying because of her own selfishness.

But... she thought, I don't want to leave Ponyville.

She was barely conscious of Rumble's arrival until she felt his wing wrap around her back and pull her up against his side. He didn't say anything as Sweetie leaned against him, but simply held her as she sniffled into his shoulder. He'd done much the same on occasions where her anxiety over not having a cutie mark had gotten the better of her.

I don't want to leave Rumble either, she thought.

Gradually, her tears subsided and silence descended on them. "Rumble," she said.

"Yeah?"

"Should I..." Sweetie swallowed. "Should I go to the Academy?"

"Yeah," said Rumble without missing a beat.

"But..." Sweetie took a second to get her voice back under control, "But I'd have to leave Ponyville. I'd have to leave you."

"That's true," admitted Rumble as he turned so that he could rest his hooves on Sweetie's shoulders, "But it's not forever and it doesn't mean the end of anything between us. You know that."

"But...what if we start growing too far apart?" asked Sweetie, "It happens all the time. Ponies move away from each other and they start growing apart and-"

"Sweetie!" snapped Rumble, the sharp tone of his voice yanking the filly out of her panicked downward spiral. His eyes peered deeply into hers until he was absolutely sure he had her attention. "Look," he said, "You're right that those things don't always work out. But that's up to us. We can make it work if we really put some effort into it. There's something more important at stake here." He opened the wing opposite the one he'd been holding her with, showing Sweetie Vinyl's packet.

"When you helped Flaxseed the other night, you learned something important about what you wanted to do with your talents and your life. I'm not exactly keen on the whole long-distance relationship thing either, but this is your future we're talking about." He leaned in and planted a kiss on Sweetie's lips, letting it linger for several seconds before pulling away. "What kind of coltfriend would I be if I held you back just because I didn't like the idea of you going to school out of town?"

"But...are we sure that this is what's best?" asked Sweetie, her voice still uncertain.

"I think so," said Rumble, "It's not like this is the first time either. Remember when you comforted me after Scootaloo turned me down?"

Sweetie nodded.

"And then there was that time after Willow came to town...you know...when I told you girls about my...accident..." Rumble blushed and averted his eyes. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Sweetie nod again.

"That's how I know," he said, turning to look at her again, "You don't like seeing other ponies hurting and you want to help them. That's what your music is for. You told me about what Octavia said about your audience. The ponies like Flaxseed, the ones who are hurting, your music is for them." He smiled and lifted his free wing to brush a tear out from under Sweetie's eye. "Don't let me keep that all to myself."

Sweetie sniffed one last time before she leaned in and tucked herself up against Rumble's chest, nuzzling in under his chin as his wing joined his arms in wrapping around her. "Thanks," she whispered.

Rumble tilted his head to plant a kiss at the base of her horn. "You're welcome," he said, "Let's go back to the party. It's cold out here."

The two foals went back inside and Sweetie was able to enjoy the remainder of her cutecenera, even agreeing to take both Vinyl and Octavia's recommendations for the Academy, though she hadn't yet stated whether or not she would apply. Still, she enjoyed herself, happy that her days as a blank flank were now behind her.

"So why is there so much emphasis on not using unicorn magic for the Winter Wrap-Up?" mused Dawn as he and Arkenstone prowled through Whitetail Woods.

Arkenstone paused, his nose sniffing before he oriented on a tree. Once there, he carefully planted a small flag, marking to position of an animal burrow nestled between the roots.

"Part of the reason is the Cultivation," explained Arkenstone, "Winter Wrap-Up is about more than just clearing the snow. When we wrap up winter, we are also laying the magical foundation for the year's growth. The act of plowing away the snow, followed by plowing the fields, followed by the planting, lays the magic of the participating earth ponies down into the earth, coaxing it back to life, sparking the first steps of growth within the newly planted seeds so that they will grow healthy and bountiful. More than a community event, Winter Wrap-Up is actually a large-scale ritual of earth pony magic. A unicorn's magic can interfere with the process and alter the results, in a manner similar to how inserting something as small as a single decimal point into an equation can drastically alter the result. Earth pony rituals aren't nearly so complicated or precise, but the overall principle is the same."

"Even for little things like bird's nests?" asked Dawn.

Arkenstone shrugged. "It's hard to say where a unicorn's might cause interference. I doubt the birds would refuse to return to those nests if they were made with the assistance of magic, but that isn't a certainty and even a small disruption could ultimately lead to dramatic results. At some point, I think ponies just gave up trying to figure out the ifs and whens of how a unicorn's magic might hinder the coming of the season and passed a general moratorium for simplicity's sake. However, because very few ponies, even earth ponies, have a formal understanding of how earth pony magic works, magical reasoning was simplified into tradition and now, many ponies hold to that tradition 'because that's the way it's always been done.

"I'm certain that, with time and study, Twilight or somepony like her could probably figure what tasks would be safe for a unicorn to use their magic on. However, between the countless ways unicorns use their magic and how those ways might interact with different aspects of the whole ritual, it would be a long a tedious process to figure things out; to say nothing of the fact that the face of unicorn magic is always growing and changing. New spells and magics are born all the time and each one would have to be examined. It comes across as a job that's far too large to bother with, especially for an event that only occurs once a year."

"And yet we pegasi are allowed to use our magic," Dawn noted.

"And pegasi always have," answered Arkenstone, "Before towns like Ponyville had a large enough pegasus population to host their own weather team, pegasi were simply called in from the nearest cloud city to to clear away the cloud cover. Pegasi have always been a part of Winter Wrap-Up since the earliest times. Besides, their magic involves the sky, which doesn't interfere with what the earth ponies are doing down below."

"I see..." mused Dawn, already in the process of marking out another burrow.

Even for a wildlife manager as dedicated and knowledgable about her charges as Fluttershy, keeping track of every den and burrow used by the hibernating creatures was a task that would outstrip what she could accomplish alone. Thus, she had simplified things. The hibernating animals were assigned zones where they could pick out locations of their choosing to settle down for the season. That way, ponies knew where to look when waking the animals up for spring.

However, even within those zones, there were any number of places where the animals could secret themselves. That was where spotters like Dawn and Arkenstone came in, tracking down said burrows and den, marking them out for the rest of the Animal Team to come by with the bells and wake the animals up. It was normally a tedious, drawn-out task. However, between Dawn's wind-sense allowing him to pick up the changes in airflow created by the burrows and Arkenstone's sense of smell, which homed in on the sleeping critters, the task was going by far more quickly. Dawn and Arkenstone had already gone through three zones in the time it had taken the rest of the Animal Team to manage one.

Scootaloo, much to her excitement, had been tapped to join the Weather Team in clearing away the cloud cover. They were primarily waiting for Twilight's signal, which would come once the animals were in the clear. Another group of the Weather Team, containing Rumble, were already on their way to guide the migrating birds back north.

Sweetie Belle was joining her sister on the nest-building detail. Sweetie wasn't feeling particularly enthusiastic about the task, but was eager to work alongside Rarity in preparing the nests that would serve as homes for the newly arriving birds.

Apple Bloom was helping with the Planting Team, first by ensuring that all of the equipment was in good working order. Then she would also be pulling a plow and planting seeds alongside her elder siblings.

Spike, naturally, was working alongside Twilight, helping to manage her lists and keep her organization...organized. His was probably the most demanding job as he was constantly having the shuffle priorities to keep up with the changing circumstances of Winter Wrap-Up. Though Twilight was in charge of making the decisions, it was Spike who helped keep track of what those decisions were and what decisions still needed to be made.

Perhaps the biggest surprise of the event was Flaxseed, who had stepped forward and volunteered to help with Twilight's organizing, keeping a detailed ledger of equipment and materials to track what they had, what was being used, and what was left over. He was mostly sequestered away in Town Hall, being somewhat hesitant to step out into the open during the flurry of activity that was going on. Still, he was participating and that was what mattered.

From Dawn's perspective, things were going smoothly. By all accounts, all the tasks were proceeding according to, or even ahead of, schedule. He suspected that, rather than coming on time, spring might be a little early this year. A smile spread across the colt's face as he realized that this was the first time in a long time that he was truly eager to greet it.

In Canterlot, the sun was already shining brilliantly in the sky. The clouds had been clear and green sprouted forth from the countless gardens around the castle. The yearly ritual to transform the city from its winter form to its spring form had barely taken half a day. Already, ponies were enjoying being able to walk about without coats or boots. Naturally, amongst the unicorns that made up most of the city's population, a great many derisive remarks had been made about the poor, unfortunate earth ponies in the towns lower down, who had to work throughout the day, and often the night as well, to bring about the change in the season.

From where he sat, Elderflower, Baron of Dream Valley, could see the clouds still hovering over the lands down below, like a fluffy blanket that seemed to stretch out for miles closer to the mountain's base. In its own way, it was every bit as beautiful as the sweeping vistas of snow-covered valleys during the clear days of winter or the rolling green fields of the spring and summer. Elderflower enjoyed being able to relax under these circumstances. It allowed him to appreciate how hard the ponies below Canterlot were toiling. They did so, not merely because they were some lesser breed, but because it was in their nature. They were fulfilling the role that had been lain down for them since time immemorial. In the earth pony towns, ponies, irrespective of what foolishly whimsical path they might follow, came together to recognize the purpose of their kind and fulfill their duty to the land.

It was a day for ponies to be reminded of their place.

"You're certainly enjoying your leisure," observed the Baron's visitor as he came into the sitting room, "I always find you impressively composed for a pony with so much on his plate."

"Of course I am," replied Elderflower, not bothering to turn his head to regard the other pony, "A stallion in my position must always maintain his composure as much as possible. It is our responsibility to not show weakness before the masses." Given his position, Elderflower's visitor didn't really deserve any more consideration than he was already being given by being allowed onto the Baron's estate in the first place. That he'd walked in and started talking without the slightest pretense of acknowledgment for Elderflower's rank was another slight that the Baron had gracefully chosen to overlook.

That was especially true, considering that the other pony should have been much more useful in his given role. He was in a position to know and hear a great deal of the information that passed amongst the highest levels of the Royal Palace. Yet, most of what he passed on was information that Elderflower could have easily learned through his own intelligence sources. And yet, every once in a while, the stallion managed to bring forth a little pearl of knowledge that convinced Elderflower that he could be useful for a little while longer.

"I admire your dedication to maintaining your image," remarked the other stallion, casually planting himself on a cushion next to Elderflower, maintaining a polite distance.

"Maintaining appearances is an important duty, no matter how shallow it may seem," said Elderflower with a sigh, "Commoners often dismiss it as little more than vanity. They talk about how action is more important than appearance. They'll say that a pony's looks are secondary to what she actually does. But the truth of the matter is that they are all too often swayed by appearances. They look up at those who lead them and evaluate said leaders according to such minor appearances. If ponies applying for a job have equivocal qualifications, it's only natural that the one who presents herself better will get the position.

"Ponies look to us nobility and expect certain things of us because of our rank. We are to be immaculate in our appearance, dignified in our bearing, and we must express our superiority as naturally as breathing. We are infallible paragons of equinity."

Elderflower's guest raised an eyebrow. "And I suppose that maintaining appearances is even more important amongst your peers."

Elderflower snorted derisively. "Of course. Just as with any game that pits you against canny opponents, losing your composure reveals your weaknesses and gives your next move away. As a baron, I am too low in the noble hierarchy to depend on my rank for protection."

"That must be why you wore such an impressive poker face when you came back from your trip to Ponyville empty-hooved."

Elderflower's nostrils flared the tiniest bit, but he refused to dignify the other pony's words with a response. Besides, even though he had not succeeded in swaying Twilight Sparkle to his cause, Elderflower had gained important insight into the way her mind worked. He now only needed to figure the best way to take advantage of the knowledge he'd gained.

Instead, Elderflower decided to guide the conversation in a more productive direction. "Since you are here, I presume that you have some relevant information for me."

The other pony nodded. "Yes. I thought you might find this interesting. The Parliament is preparing to discuss the qualifications for the Royal Warrant and the selection processes for the applicants. I already have a list of both, which is likely to make it through as-is at this juncture. As you might expect, Dame Rarity and Dame Applejack both qualify as applicants. So now it is merely a matter of successfully making the grade through the selection process."

Elderflower's eyes narrowed. "Is that all you've brought me?" he asked. Once again, his inside source had brought him information that he would have easily found through his normal channels.

"There's more," replied the other pony with a slight smirk, "Are you planning on allowing those two to obtain the Royal Warrants for their respective businesses?"

“While I’m sure it would be quite convenient if they were prevented from obtaining the Royal Warrant, I see no profit in intervening,” Elderflower pointed out, “After all, the entire reason I removed Viscount Eventide from the picture was to stop him from trying to manipulate Twilight Sparkle through her friends and loved ones. That is highly liable to be…counterproductive in the long run.”

“And yet, some are trying,” noted the other pony.

Elderflower heaved a disappointed sigh. “Whilst I have taken the lead position in this little venture, I can’t restrain my allies nearly as well as I would like. I am frequently reminded that, as a baron, I rank below many of them in terms of nobility. At least a couple of my more…well-funded allies are backing rival claimants to the Royal Warrant, assured that both Rarity and Applejack have no hope of outmaneuvering an opponent with greater resources.”

“That seems foolish,” noted Elderflower’s visitor.

“Of course it is,” conceded Elderflower, “As it has been said, necessity is the mother of invention. If anything, the fact that they are more financially limited than the competition is likely to drive them to making innovations that will turn the issue of resources on its head.”

The other pony nodded. “I’m impressed by your willingness to look beyond the obsession that most nobles have with their bit-purses. I suppose the information I have will confirm your opinion.”

This made Elderflower’s eyes narrow. “And what information is that?”

The visitor smirked. "Recently, Applejack has succeeded in domestically cultivating a new variety of apple, one of magical nature, similar to that of the zap apples her family already grow, with Twilight Sparkle’s assistance, I might add. From the sound of things, it's sure to make a profound impact once they reveal it to the world at large. In fact, I suspect she is planning on using to secure her win during the selection process.

"As for Rarity...she, also with the help of none other than Twilight Sparkle, has apparently invented a new fabric that will likely reshape the fashion industry. I daresay that nopony else in the running has anything remotely like it."

So it’s exactly as I figured, mused Elderflower. It wasn’t that big a surprise. For all that his allies had harped upon how great an advantage their money would afford Rarity and Applejack’s competitors, they overlooked the fact that Rarity and Applejack had some powerful connections of their own. That Twilight Sparkle’s influence would give them such an enormous advantage over the competition was only a sign of how important it was to have her cooperation.

Interfering with the selection process to obtain the Royal Warrant was a risky proposition. Since everything was being hammered out by the ponies in Parliament, the interference of the nobility in such an event would likely be construed as an unauthorized intervention by the Noble Court outside of the bounds of their authority. However…Elderflower wondered if, perhaps there was a way to still swing this to his advantage. Yes, he had disdained the notion of using Twilight’s friends to secure her cooperation. But that was generally through the lens of using Twilight’s concern for their wellbeing as a means of coercion. Perhaps there was another angle to exploit…

But first, thought Elderflower, I need more information. Applejack’s farm is out of my reach at the moment, so finding out about those new apples of hers is out. But Rarity… A smile slowly spread across his face. Yes, in Rarity’s case, I have somepony already in place. I love it when a plan comes together. I’m sure that, with Coco Pommel’s help, I can obtain all kinds of useful information.

“You seem to be thinking of something amusing,” noted the other pony.

“My apologies,” said Elderflower, “I was just thinking that, perhaps it is time for me to send Perlin Bluestreak on a little errand for me. He has been getting a little stir crazy, since I’ve had so little for him to do lately.”

The visitor chuckled. "Ah yes. How is he working out for you?"

Elderflower's eyes narrowed. "He is the most disagreeable pony I've ever had serving me. But he's useful nonetheless. I suppose I should be grateful to you for recommending him."

Sitting across from Elderflower rested another unicorn. His coat was a dark shade of brown that clashed harshly agains the strangely off-white color of his mane and tail. His crimson eyes always seemed to glitter, even when there was no actual light source to illuminate them. However, the stallion's most prominent feature was the horn that projected out of his head. While most unicorns sported a coat of velvet over their horn that matched the natural color of their coats, this pony's horn was an unsettling off-white color, similar to that of his mane. Seeing it always made Elderflower's skin crawl. It gave him the impression that the horn was an extension of bone growing straight out of the other stallion's skull, rather than an outgrowth of alicorn, which all unicorn horns were composed of (and from which the alicorn pony type derived their name). Rather than velvet, the horn seemed to be sheathed in a substance that seemed almost crystalline. When the light hit the stallion's horn, said light seemed to shift and refract strangely, as though there was something about the pony's horn that didn't conform to the natural laws of the world.

Wight Shade was officially the majordomo to Princess Luna. Few ponies were as close to the Princesses as he. Thus, he was in a position to learn all sorts of useful information that even Elderflower's own agents were able to glean from the Palace staff. At least, that was what Elderflower had assumed the first time they had met. However, Wight Shade had proven to be of limited usefulness. Still, at least the handicapped unicorn managed to at least provide something useful every once in a while. He had even gone so far as to arrange Elderflower's meeting with the underworld mercenary, Perlin Bluestreak. Though Perlin was a willful and capricious pony, he'd proven to be an extremely useful tool to the Baron.

It is a pity, thought Elderflower as he eyed Wight's horn, that his condition prevents him from using magic. Without that, he doesn't even qualify as a unicorn. If he could use magic, I might have still had a use for him when all of this is over.

"I'm glad that I managed to be of some help to you," said Wight, "I should be getting back to the Palace, lest Luna misses my presence. I look forward to our next conversation, My Lord."

"Yes," said Elderflower, somewhat reluctantly, "Until next time..."

The door closed behind Wight and Elderflower sighed, grateful that he was able to spend the remainder of the afternoon in peace. Perlin could be called for later.

Wight made his way through the halls of Baron Elderflower's manor. He scarcely paid any mind to the tasteful decorations that made up the decor. There were a fair few paintings, here a portrait of a long-lost ancestor, there a marble bust of the Baron himself, throw in a priceless vase carved from airavata ivory and you had just about everything you could expect from a noble's mansion. Wight had to admit that Elderflower was a good bit more...restrained in his sensibilities than many of his peers. But, like all of his ilk, there was nothing he liked more than showcasing his wealth and influence, even if it was to the few that were able to make it into this part of his home.

A rattle of metal caught Wight's attention as he approached a juncture between two corridors. Looking for the source of the sound, Wight's smile widened as he spotted the pony who'd made it.

It was a young stallion, young enough that some ponies would probably still refer to him as a colt, though he was practically an adult by this point. His coat was a light cream color, dotted with flecks of grey, though most of it wasn't visible as his body was covered by a pitch-black cloak that covered him from the shoulders all the way down to his haunches. The colt's mane was a dark, grayish-blue color. He regarded Wight with a pair of yellow, hawklike eyes.

"Hello Perlin," said Wight with an easy smile, "It's been a while since we last spoke. Are things going well for you?"

The young stallion shrugged somewhat indifferently. "Eh...It's a living. Things have been a little bit boring around here lately. I can't complain too much, I guess."

Wight's smile flattened out into a slightly more neutral expression at Perlin's rather lackluster response. Granted, Perlin had never been one for excited outbursts of emotion, but he seemed particularly subdued this time.

"Is something the matter?" asked Wight, raising an eyebrow.

Perlin sighed. "I've just been given a few things to think about lately. In some sense, I suppose I never truly appreciated how much easier it was when my late father was making all my decisions for me. True, he was fashioning me into his personal killing tool, but at least I had my future mapped out for me. Thinking for myself is hard."

Wight couldn't help but laugh at that. "I suppose it is. It's quite easy to simply play the role that others lay out for you and abandon your own thoughts and feelings. Many ponies are all too happy to just 'go with the flow' as it were. At least you're making an effort."

Perlin sighed and looked away slightly. "I...I've been thinking about your offer again."

"Have you now?" asked Wight, his eyebrow climbing higher, "You gave me a rather blasé rejection when I first made it. I'm surprised that you are reconsidering it now."

"Circumstances have changed," said Perlin, "I am...reconsidering..."

"I see," said Wight, "I won't ask what changed your mind. Of course, my offer remains open to you. Please feel free to let me know once you reach a decision in the matter."

Perlin favored Wight with a smile. "Thank you."

"Now," said Wight, "If you don't mind, I am expected back at the Palace soon. I must take my leave. Good day."

Perlin bobbed his head slightly in response to Wight's words and watched as Wight made good his departure. Once again, the young stallion sank deep into thought.

Author's Notes:

So Winter-Wrap-Up ended up being a fairly small portion of this chapter. However, I'm glad for the chance to hash out my reasoning on why unicorns aren't allowed to use their magic beyond simply defaulting to racism. It operates off of what I call the Airplane Principle, namely how with airplanes there is a prohibition on using electronic devices when taking off and landing and how there used to be a general moratorium on electronic devices period years ago. It wasn't because any of the devices used actually caused some form of interference. If I recall correctly, there are no plane crashes that actually resulted from, say, somebody using their cell pone while the plane was landing (I could be wrong of course). The prohibition is in place because the people who manage airline safety aren't sure what devices might interfere with a plane's systems and err on the side of caution. It doesn't help that technology is always evolving and changing, so there are always plenty of new things out there to be worried about. Trying to figure out what does and doesn't cause interference costs time and money, so it's both easier and cheaper to just play it safe and ban everything. You could say that the reasoning behind Winter-Wrap-Up is similar.

Next chapter: It's time to say goodbye...

So Long and Thanks for All the Cider

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Chapter 8: So Long and Thanks for All the Cider

Mayor Mare smiled proudly as she looked over Ponyville and the surrounding countryside from her vantage point. Less than a day ago, she would have seen a pure-white snowscape, marred only by the colors of the houses and the trunks of leafless trees beneath the cover of dour, gray clouds. However, now she took in the verdant greens of the grass and the foliage of the trees that had burst into life. Flowers were already blooming in a riot of color as the earth ponies' magic coursed through the ground, bringing forth the life of the new season from the deep, deathly slumber of winter. The air was filled with the song of birds and the rustling scuttling of numerous animals. No matter how many years she presided over Winter Wrap-Up, Mayor Mare knew that she would never grow tired of this sight.

Turning to the assembled ponies, the Mayor proudly proclaimed, "I hereby declare that spring has come on time!"

The mass of ponies, many of whom had worked throughout the previous day and even through the night, burst into ecstatic cheers, signifying the euphoria that could only accompany a job well-done. Still, after working so long and so hard, not everypony could maintain their energy. Amongst the crowd, Mayor Mare spied several of the older foals, who had joined their families in working through the night, stifling yawns and blinking blearily. Luckily, Winter Wrap-Up was always scheduled to start on Friday and end on Saturday, giving the foals the rest of the weekend to wrap-up before school started once again on Monday.

Still, before anything else, some business remained to be taken care of. "Before you all head off," said Mayor Mare, "I have some announcements to make."

Naturally, a few ponies groaned at being kept from going to their well-deserved rest. However, they generally took Mayor Mare's declaration with good grace and waited for her to speak.

"First," said the Mayor, "Once again, I would like to thank Twilight Sparkle for her work in keeping Winter Wrap-Up organized so that we could welcome spring on time. All of you know exactly where we would be without her."

The crowd broke out into heartfelt cheers as Twilight Sparkle, who stood at the front of the crowd, just below the ledge where the Mayor was standing, broke out into a blush and waved sheepishly to the ponies cheering her.

"Second, this year we had some additional help on the organizational front," explained Mayor Mare, "Flaxseed, who some of you have seen around town and who works for Rarity, was kind enough to help with our logistics. Thanks to him getting through this task and cleaning up after it was even easier than last year. It goes without saying that he made a great contribution to our overall efficiency. So, even though he is not here with us now, I hope you'll be grateful for all the hard work he's done. Rarity has made it clear to me that he still very uncomfortable around most other ponies, so please give him his space."

There was a polite, albeit somewhat subdued, clopping of hooves that echoed from the crowd. Though Flaxseed had immediately retreated back into the Carousel Boutique after his work was done, Mayor Mare felt it necessary to recognize his contributions, especially since he had gone so far out of his comfort zone to do so.

The Mayor's smile widened as she made her next announcement. "Now, I know what a lot of you are waiting for. Pinkie Pie has informed me that her party celebrating the completion of Winter Wrap-Up will begin promptly at five at the plaza in front of Town Hall. Naturally, everyone is invited.

"Also, Cheerilee has asked me to remind all of our foals that the new school year will be beginning on Monday and that all students will be expected to show up at eight-o-clock sharp." This last announcement was accompanied by the groans of several foals, both young and old as they realized that their winter vacation had come to an end.

Now Mayor Mare's smile faltered as she recalled the final piece of news that she had to deliver. "Finally, last but not least, it saddens me to announce that this year's Winter Wrap-Up was the last official act of Rainbow Dash in her position as Weather Manager of Ponyville." A hush fell over the crowd. "As of today, Rainbow Dash will be stepping down from her position as Ponyville's Weather Manager. Tomorrow, she will be leaving Ponyville in order to take her place as a member of the Wonderbolts."

Mayor Mare had to pause to wipe away a tear at this pronouncement. Though she'd known for months that this was coming, she was still deeply saddened to lose such an important member of the community and one who had provided such an important service. She could see that her sentiment was shared by Ponyville. She saw several ponies with moist eyes, especially amongst the foals, many of whom greatly admired Rainbow.

"As such, I would like to remind everypony that tonight's party is also Rainbow Dash's farewell party. I hope that you will all join us to thank her for the years of hard work she has done for Ponyville and wish her well as she embarks on her Wonderbolt career.

"And with that, we are finished for the day. Dismissed!"

Mayor Mare watched as the crowd began to break up, many ponies heading to their homes to catch up on lost sleep before heading to the party. Well...that's that...I suppose...

Rainbow watched from her cloud as the ponies below dispersed. She couldn't help but smirk as she watched. From the look of things, the Mayor's announcement about her leaving had a fairly big impact. It looked like a lot of ponies weren't happy to see her go. A small, tiny, infinitesimally insignificant portion of her heart took a certain vindictive satisfaction in the fact that some of those ponies had been the ones calling vehemently for her resignation during last summer's drought. But now...not a dry eye in the house. Still, that satisfaction was fleeting and faded quickly as Rainbow was once again faced with the fact that she was leaving her home and everything that was familiar to her behind.

Starting tomorrow, she would be a Wonderbolt full-time. The first year would be spent on rigorous training to bring her up to speed on all the skills that she needed to function as a member of the elite flight team, which also operated as support for Spitfire in her role as one of the seven Celestial Knights of Equestria. Who knew how many months it would be until she got to see Ponyville again. Hay! For all I know, it might be even longer. After all, Rainbow had been personally selected to train under another of the Celestial Knights, Firefly, whom she'd met at the Winter Gala. Depending on how demanding a teacher Firefly was, there was every chance it might be more than a year before Rainbow saw her old friends again.

She remembered the advice her coltfriend had given her. In the end, I just have to make the most of the time I have left. Glancing down by her side, Rainbow saw Scootaloo standing beside her. The two of them had been watching the ending announcements from up above. “So now what?” asked Scootaloo, staring expectantly up at Rainbow.

Rainbow smiled. She could see the drooping of the filly’s eyelids and the repeated workings of her jaw as she struggled to keep from yawning. “I think it’s nap-time,” replied Rainbow.

Scootaloo’s eyes went wide. “B-b-but…It’s your last day. Shouldn’t we be doing something special?”

Rainbow reached out and rested a hoof across Scootaloo’s withers. “Listen kiddo, we’ll be able to do all sorts of awesome stuff at Pinkie’s party. But you’re not gonna be able to enjoy it if you don’t get some rest first. Otherwise, you’ll just conk out tonight.”

“But…” Scootaloo’s eyes teared up.

"Just relax, squirt," said Rainbow, draping a wing across Scootaloo's back. She lowered herself, compelling Scootaloo to lay down next to her, "Just because we need a nap doesn't mean we still can't enjoy our time together."

Scootaloo's eyes widened. "You mean...?"

"Sure thing." Rainbow used her wing to pull Scootaloo up against her side. The two of them snuggled up together on that very cloud. As she drifted off to sleep, a smile spread across the filly's face.

The evening's party was a great success. Pinkie Pie had set up her usual array of activities, along with various treats and drinks for the attendees to enjoy. Vinyl Scratch had set up her DJ stand once again, broadcasting her tunes and beats across the area, prompting many a pony to twitch to the rhythm, even if they weren't actively dancing to it.

Flaxseed's eyes darted about nervously and he kept close to Rarity as they meandered through the crowd. Part of him was regretting agreeing to come out of the Boutique to this party. However, Rarity had promised that she would be with him the entire time, so he had acquiesced. So far, nopony had directed so much as a glance his way. The few that had given him any attention were Rarity's friends, the few ponies aside from Rarity and Sweetie Belle that Flaxseed felt genuinely safe around.

Out of the corner of his eye, Flaxseed caught sight of a grayish-brown earth pony approaching them. The stallion's black mane was slicked back in a look that accented its gray highlights. He was smartly dressed with a suit-jacket and tie. From the way the stallion carried himself, it was clear that he was a rather important pony.

"Ah, Ms Rarity," said the stallion as he came closer, "It's delightful to see you again."

Rarity tittered politely as she turned to face the stallion. "Filthy Rich, it's a pleasure to speak to you again."

Filthy Rich! Flaxseed was grateful for the fact that Rarity was positioned between him and the other stallion, which kept either of them from noticing that his jaw had dropped. The Filthy Rich! He lives in Ponyville? Flaxseed knew about the owner of Barnyard Bargains, in no small part because he had worked at Barnyard Bargains in the past. Their stores, particularly in the larger cities, were always looking for new hires and the interviewers rarely asked questions that were too prying. It helped that the wages were decent too.

"I've been meaning to ask," said Rarity, "How is Diamond Tiara faring? Have you gotten any more complaints about her?”

Rich blinked for a second. "Actually...I haven't. Granted, school let out for the season shortly after she finished those sessions with you. But I haven't gotten a single complaint from Cheerilee. At the very least, my daughter is no longer a bully."

Rarity frowned, sensing something amiss with Rich's words. "But..."

A sigh escaped Rich and he looked down. "However, I am afraid that my daughter has, for the most part, burned her bridges already. Even if she has turned over a new leaf, I fear that she won't have any friends aside from Silver Spoon. Nopony else in her age group has a remotely positive opinion of her and I'm afraid that they won't accept her even if she tries."

A hoof rested on Rich's shoulder. He looked up to see Rarity giving him an encouraging smile. "Have faith," she said, "During our sessions, Diamond showed herself to be a remarkable pony when she set aside that haughty attitude she inherited from her mother. If she can manage that, I'm sure that she will be able to make some friends. I'll talk to Sweetie Belle and see if she might be open to the idea."

"That would be nice," admitted Rich, "Though I should ask you not to pressure her too much. After all, she and her friends were Diamond's favorite victims before. I can't blame her if she chooses not to."

"Even so," said Rarity, "I think Sweetie and her friends probably should make some gesture. Diamond's bullying could be terrible at times and Sweetie sometimes came home in tears because of it. But I can testify that there are much worse bullies in the world. Besides, if Dawn Lightwing can forgive ponies for trying to kill him, I think Sweetie Belle can forgive a filly for calling her names."

It took a moment for Filthy Rich to register what Rarity just said. "Wait...what?" Of course, he'd read the article about Dawn. Said article had even mentioned the assassin and other ponies that had tried to take the ebony colt's life in the past. But what is all this about forgiveness?

Rarity faltered for a moment. "Oh my! I forgot that that last event wasn't widely publicized." She proceeded to explain how a former Guardsmare, one Shade Steel, had come to Ponyville in an attempt to kill Dawn, nearly succeeding in making the colt bleed out before she was stopped. After her capture, Shade was hauled straight to Canterlot, where her punishment was decided by Princess Celestia personally. Dawn and the rest of the group had encountered Shade in the Royal Palace when they went up for Hearth's Warming. To everypony's surprise, Shade and Dawn actually reconciled and Dawn went so far as to invite her to join the group for breakfast on Hearth's Warming Day.

Rich blinked in shock as he listened to the story, amazed at what he was hearing. "That's an incredible attitude for a pony to have, especially a colt like him."

A light chortle escaped from Rarity at Rich's words. "His mother's influence, I suppose," she said.

Rich nodded in agreement. "Ms. Fluttershy is a most remarkable pony if she's able to raise her adopted son so well. To think that Foal Protective Services ever doubted her qualifications."

Feeling that one story about Dawn was enough for the night, Rarity decided to keep to herself that the Department of Welfare's investigation had been a front for ponies with ulterior motives. Instead, she simply nodded in agreement with Rich's statement.

As it was, the sound of a hoof scuffing against the grass behind her caught Rarity's attention as she realized that Rich's presence had managed to distract her from the pony she was actually supposed to be escorting tonight. "Oh my goodness! Where are my manners? I'm terribly sorry!" She stepped sideways and back a little to give Rich a clear view of Flaxseed, moving to stand beside the gold-coated stallion, rather than in front of him. "I should have done this from the start. Mr. Rich, this is Flaxseed, my new accountant and tenant. Flaxseed, this is Filthy Rich, the owner of Barnyard Bargains."

"Um...uh..." Flaxseed shrank back slightly, his ears lying flat against the sides of his head. He wished that Rarity had completely forgotten about him. "It's a pleasure to meet you...sir."

Rich let out a booming laugh. "Please, no need to be so formal. This isn't the Guard after all. Please call me Rich."

Flaxseed nodded. He could feel Rich's gaze sweeping over him, silently calculating, evaluating every aspect. What Rich gleaned from his observations was a mystery, as his expression gave absolutely nothing away.

"So you are the stallion that's been staying at the Carousel Boutique," remarked Rich, "There's been quite a lot of speculation about you."

"There was...?" asked Flaxseed.

Rich nodded. "Of course. When a stallion moves in with what most ponies consider the most eligible bachelorette in Ponyville, ponies will talk."

Both Rarity's and Flaxseed's faces erupted into identical blushes as they realized what said ponies had probably been talking about. Rarity coughed into her hoof. "Well...I suppose that a certain amount of speculation is only natural," she conceded. Celestia knew, had she been the pony watching their situation, she would probably have been the one behind some of those speculations. She'd done it before in the past. I suppose turnabout is fair play.

"Still," said Rich, "I didn't realize he was an accountant."

Eager to turn the conversation in a less personal and speculative direction, Rarity nodded. "Indeed. He's been quite a wonder with the books. I daresay that I wouldn't have been able to take on Coco's apprenticeship if he hadn't been able to work out the financial details." Flaxseed's blush intensified under Rarity's praise.

"I see," mused Rich, apparently seeing Flaxseed in a new light (although, what the old light was remained a mystery), "It's a pity then. I always have a use for skilled accountants in my franchise."

"I'm afraid I'd be under-qualified, Mr. Rich," replied Flaxseed, "I have some skill and experience, but I never received a formal education beyond the elementary level."

"Is that so?" asked Rich, raising an eyebrow, "I suppose that the reason you didn't has something to do with your...condition."

Flaxseed's blush faded instantly as his face went from flushed to pale in just a few seconds. "H-how do you know about that?"

Rich stared at him for a moment. "Actually, it wasn't all that big of a secret," he said, "You had a rather public altercation with Ms. Rarity when you first arrived in town where your trait was prominently displayed in front of a number of ponies. I heard about it from them."

"Oh dear! I'd forgotten!" said Rarity, rather mortified. She hadn't forgotten the altercation itself. After all, it's not every day that your first impression of a pony is them swinging a tree branch at your head. However, she had forgotten that there had been numerous witnesses on hoof to see Flaxseed display the Eyes of Nightmare as his panicked state got the better of him.

"I see..." said Flaxseed, his voice quivering nervously.

"Given that we already have one such pony in town, I don't believe it registered as something overly important," said Rich, drawing a surprised look from Flaxseed, "I suspect that other ponies with the same condition will be visiting before long. Ms. Twilight Sparkle did basically issue an open invitation after all."

Flaxseed nodded dumbly.

"In any case, I wish you a pleasant evening," said Rich with a warm smile as he turned to make his way into the crowd.

"He seems like a nice guy," noted Flaxseed.

"Oh, he's quite pleasant," said Rarity, "His family and the Apple Family were the founders of Ponyville. I'm told he can be quite ruthless when it comes to his business, but he's nice enough in pony. I'm afraid that the same couldn't be said about his daughter until recently."

"So I heard," said Flaxseed, "She was a bully?"

Rarity nodded with a sigh. "Back when Sweetie and her friends had yet to earn their cutie marks, Diamond Tiara would torment them endlessly. It was a sad state of affairs."

"What happened to change that?" asked Flaxseed.

Rarity couldn't help but chuckle. "Dawn happened. I'm afraid that Diamond began teasing him during an extremely difficult time he was having and he snapped at her...quite severely I think. The issue came to Mr. Rich's awareness and he brought the question to me. Afterwards he sent Diamond to take some lessons under me in order to...reform her...I suppose. At least those seem to have worked."

Flaxseed nodded, looking around some more. He realized that he probably should have anticipated his secret getting out, especially after showing it in front of so many ponies on his first day in town. And yet, there was absolutely no sign that any of Ponyville's residents were plotting anything untoward. Given that Dawn had been a resident of this town for several months before Flaxseed had arrived, Flaxseed figured that, if there were anymore cultists in town, then they would have given themselves away already.

He was distracted from his musings by Rarity's excited exclamation. "Oh! They're starting. Come on, Flaxseed, we need to head for the stage."

Looking over to where Rarity was pointing, Flaxseed could see that a wooden stage had been erected. Pinkie Pie was there, along with Rainbow Dash, with the members of the Weather Team arranged behind the cerulean mare. Pinkie was signalling excitedly, clearly eager to get everypony's attention as the rest of the festivities paused for a moment.

Rainbow gulped nervously as she looked out over the growing crowd, gathering at the foot of the stage. Normally, she wouldn't mind an audience in the slightest. But that was during one of her performances. Rainbow Dash was a mare of action, not a mare of talk. Making speeches wasn't really her forte. The closest she usually got was when she was making her pep talk to her team. She would much rather put on a flight show than give a long-winded speech to a bunch of ponies.

Meanwhile, Pinkie had been surveying the crowd as well as the rest of the plaza, using everything from party noisemakers to air horns to get ponies' attention and get them to gather in front of the stage. Once she was sure that she had their attention, Pinkie broke out into an eager grin. "Alrighty then! Now that I have everypony's attention, it's time to get started. First off...Welcome to our yearly Winter Wrap-Up Wrap-Up party everyone!"

Pinkie's announcement was greeted by happy cheers as the ponies clopped their hooves against the ground.

"Don't worry," continued Pinkie, "The party's not over yet. But we have some things to get done before we can really get this party started." The smile faded from her face and she adopted a much more sober expression, catching her audience off-guard. "I know everypony knows Rainbow Dash. Tonight's gonna be her last night in Ponyville. That's 'cause, tomorrow, she's gonna be heading off to Cloudsdale to join the Wonderbolts!" As Pinkie spoke, her grin came back in full force, finishing the last sentence by throwing her hooves into the air and inflecting it like a cheer, which triggered another wave of cheers from the crowd in return.

Rainbow's heart soared, knowing all these ponies were cheering for her. Even if she wasn't showing off her moves, it still did her heart good to know so many ponies supported her decision to follow her dreams.

Once the cheers died down, Pinkie continued. "That means that tonight's party is actually two parties in one. It may be our Winter Wrap-Up Wrap-Up party, but it's also our Goodbye and Have Lots of Fun in the Wonderbolts party for Rainbow Dash! So that means that everypony needs to party twice as hard! Is that CLEAR!?"

The crowd raised their wildest cheer yet in response to Pinkie's declaration. Once the cheering died back down, she turned, this time speaking to Rainbow. "Rainbow Dash...You've been the most amazing, spectacular, awesome, super-duperific Weather Manager this town has ever had." Though Pinkie was still smiling, her eyes were beginning to leak tears as she continued to speak. "You're one of my absolute bestest best friends and my favorite pranking partner." Without warning, Pinkie abruptly lunged forward and wrapped her forelegs around Rainbow's shoulders, pulling the other mare into a tight hug. "I'm gonna miss you so much! I hope you have a super-awesome-amazing-fabulistic time with the Wonderbolts! And don't you dare forget to write this time."

Rainbow couldn't help but chuckle at Pinkie's enthusiasm as she hugged the pink mare back. "I promise," she said, nuzzling Pinkie's cheek. Pulling out of the embrace, Rainbow stepped back and silently went through the motions of a Pinkie Promise, her actions driving Pinkie to break down into sobs as she threw herself at Rainbow and wrapped her in another, even tighter hug. Amongst the crowd, more than a few ponies were sniffling and tearing up as they listened and watched.

In the back of the crowd, where she was standing with Flaxseed, Rarity was openly sobbing herself, using a hoofkerchief to wipe away her tears and occasionally blow her nose as Flaxseed awkwardly patted her shoulder, offering what little reassurance he could.

Rarity wasn't the only one. From another part of the crowd, Twilight was sniffling and trying to keep her emotions under control. Next to her, Arkenstone did his best to help, gently nuzzling up against her cheek, whispering reassurances into her ear.

Standing near Twilight and Arkenstone were Spike and Apple Bloom. Spike was trying his hardest not to cry, but couldn't stop the occasional tear from running down his face. Next to him, Bloom smiled as she watched her drakefriend and sidled up against him, trying to provide as much encouragement as she could.

Off to one side of the stage stood Applejack and Red River. Like Spike, Applejack was trying her hardest to put up a tough front...and failing miserably. She pulled the brim of her stetson low over her eyes, but even that couldn't hide the tears that ran down her cheeks and sprinkled the ground below. Red raised a hoof and ran it gently up and down Applejack's back.

Both Sweetie and Rumble were having trouble keeping their emotions in check. Rumble was especially saddened by the thought of Rainbow's departure. She'd been the one to make opportunities for him to help out his brother on the Weather Team. She'd given him encouragement during times that he'd felt low. Thus, it was Rumble who was depending on Sweetie as she lightly hugged him while he sniffed, letting out the occasional muted whimper.

Of all the ponies, Scootaloo was taking the announcement the hardest. She was doing all she could to keep from bawling as Melon Cream wrapped the filly in her arms and held her tightly. Melon shed a few tears as well, having gotten fairly close to Rainbow in the past few months. She would miss the little talks and get-togethers they'd been having.

Dawn would have liked to offer his comfort to Scootaloo. Unfortunately, he was preoccupied by his own mother. Fluttershy had wrapped her arms and wings around him, pulling him up against her chest as she buried her muzzle into his mane. Dawn could feel Fluttershy's tears soaking into his mane, but didn't bother trying to pull away. As it was, he was feeling a little low himself.

Rainbow Dash had been the first pony, after Fluttershy, that he'd met after leaving the forest. (Technically, the first pony that Dawn met after Fluttershy was an unrepentant scumbag by the name of Flash Spark, but he didn't really count by Dawn's measure.) Meeting Rainbow had been the first true indication to Dawn that Ponyville was different than all the other places he'd been to, that these ponies could accept him, that he could have a home, even a family here. They'd bonded further when Dawn had taken Scootaloo as his student, and further still when Dawn and Scootaloo had become special someponies. Furthermore, Rainbow had shown an incredible amount of trust in him by asking him to accompany her to Cloudsdale to investigate the cause of the drought that had been threatening Ponyville. Rainbow Dash was a lot of things to Dawn. She was a friend, an older sister, and a comrade in arms. It hurt to see her go.

Still...such goodbyes weren't forever. As he patted his mother's arm and allowed her to tighten her hold on him, Dawn consoled himself by keeping in mind that Rainbow would almost certainly be coming back to visit, that this wouldn't be the last that they saw of each other...especially if the Wonderbolts' Captain continued to take such an interest in him.

Dawn felt a weight lean up against them and looked over to see that Caramel had joined them, wrapping a foreleg around Fluttershy's shoulders and pulling both her and Dawn up against his side. Giving Dawn a knowing smile, Caramel started planting small kisses behind Fluttershy's ear.

Up on the stage, Rainbow finally managed to pry herself out of Pinkie's grip. Pinkie Pie hugs were wonderful, but they generally came with a doctor's recommendation against overexposure, as mild bruising and certain skeletal problems could result. It took a moment for Rainbow to gather her composure as she had to fiercely wipe her eyes to clear her own tears away.

"A-alright!" she said, stammering as her voice cracked slightly from the emotion. Rainbow had to take another second to shake her head and cough lightly to clear her throat. "Okay everypony," she said, addressing the crowd, "To be honest, I've loved this town since my first day here. This town is the best town I could ever hope to work in."

She chuckled. "I know we've had our rough spots, particularly last year..." She heard a round of chuckles from the crowd, accompanied by a few guilty looks. "...But we got past them. I'd like to claim that it was all thanks to me, since I am such an awesome Weather Manager and all..." This time, there were a few more chuckles from the crowd. "But," she continued, "I couldn't have done it without a great team behind me...and beside me...and in front of me, sometimes." Now there was outright laughter from the crowd.

Rainbow turned and addressed the Weather Team behind her. "You all are the best Weather Team a pony like me could ask for. When I made a judgment call, you girls were there to back me up. When I made a mistake, you were there to chew me out for it. I couldn't have gotten anything done if it wasn't for all of you."

Rainbow's Weather Team beamed under the praise. Like the rest of the crowd, they were not immune to the gravity of the event and several of them were facing Rainbow with tears in their eyes.

"I'm gonna miss you all," said Rainbow, her voice hitching, "But I know that, even if I'm not here, you girls are gonna be the best darn weather team in all of Equestria." She snorted and wiped her eyes before adopting a more formal, rigid posture, a stern expression on her face. "Raindrops! Get over here!"

From amongst the group of weatherponies, a single mare with a jasmine-colored coat and a turquoise mane stepped up to stand in front of Rainbow at the front of the stage. The two mares' eyes met as they stared at one another. Like Rainbow, Raindrops had wiped her eyes clear of tears, though more were still on the verge of bubbling up as she faced her soon-to-be-former boss.

Rainbow smiled at her subordinate. "You're in charge of the Weather Team now. I know you're up to the job and I know you'll do good. Hay! I know for a fact that you're better at the paperwork than I ever was."

A round of chuckles went through the assembled weatherponies. Raindrops sniffed and giggled a little. "I'll do my best," she said, "And I promise I'll never leave Ponyville hanging...just like you."

Rainbow gestured for Raindrops to come stand next to her as she turned to address the crowd again. "Everypony! I'd like you all to meet your new Weather Manager...Raindrops!"

The crowd burst into a flurry of applause and clopping hooves as Raindrops blushed and averted her gaze slightly, unused to all of the extra attention. It sure hadn't been this big of a production when the last Weather Manager had handed the reins of the department to Rainbow. But after everything that Rainbow Dash had done for Ponyville, Raindrops thought Rainbow deserved it.

Letting out a laugh, Rainbow wiped her tears away one last time. "Alright! Now that the sappy stuff is out of the way, let's PARTY!"

The assembled ponies let out a cheer and the crowd began to disperse, the ponies returning to enjoying the festivities. Behind Rainbow on the stage, the ponies of the Weather Team broke up as well, returning to their own activities. Meanwhile, Rainbow was once again tackled by a weeping Pinkie Pie, sending the pair sprawling across the stage as Pinkie cried into a sympathetic Rainbow's shoulder.

Melon Cream let go of Scootaloo and gently wiped the filly's tears away. "No more crying," said Melon with a mild tone of admonishment, "You have the rest of the evening to spend with Rainbow. You need to make the most of it. So don't waste your time on tears."

"Okay mom," said Scootaloo, wiping her eyes. She sniffled to try and clear her nose and turned to run up to the stage. Melon watched the filly go, a smile on her face, but tears still lining her eyes.

Morning Star let out a long sigh as he shuffled the pages aside. It was rare for him to feel a true sense of frustration, but he was getting that feeling now. The pressure of investigations by the Guard was only increasing and the Order was under even more scrutiny than before. Now that Celestia and Luna had found out about his ordering Terra Heart to deal with Dawn Lightwing, the Guard had put the pressure on, looking for any sign of action from the members of the Order.

As Morning had hoped, issuing the announcement that Terra would take care of the colt had brought most of the Order's members back under control before they descended on Ponyville in outraged mobs. However, now that several months had passed since Morning had put the order out and Terra had not taken action, the rank and file members were beginning to chafe, wondering when something was going to be done with the demon living amongst the Element Bearers. If things really got out of hoof, then it would be all the excuse that Celestia needed to begin uprooting the Order everywhere she could find it.

And I know that she's already monitoring the Applelossa focus, he thought. Blenheim had immediately notified Morning about Shining Armor's visit to Appleloosa. Once Celestia lost her patience completely, the Royal Guard would likely return and they would leave no stone unturned...or standing atop another. If the foci weren't finished before that happened, then the game would be up...And the last ten years would be all for naught, he added. Certainly, he would be able to start over eventually. But "eventually" was the key word in that statement. Once Celestia realized what was really going on, Morning Star doubted that she would allow him to even begin again.

I suppose that Equestria would be out, he mused, I guess I'd have to take things elsewhere. It'd be tedious to start all over...again.

There was only so much he could do to keep his followers under control. The construction of the foci had been stalled a little by the release of the newspaper article detailing Dawn's history. Morning's declaration that Terra Heart would deal with the colt had bought him some time and had gotten the construction back on track. Still, it was impossible to keep track of every single rank and file member of the Order. If one of them caused too much more of a ruckus or got a little bit lucky trying to kill Dawn Lighting then...

There's only so much I can do from this end of things, realized Morning, If that's the case, then the best thing to do would be to make some arrangements to divide the Guard and Celestia's attention.

He thought briefly about the assets he had at his disposal. Some were already in motion. Some were not useful in this sort of situation. That Fleetfoot...I really wish she hadn't jumped the gun with those artilleryheads. What in the hay am I supposed to do with a bunch of weapons of mass destruction? It'd be better off if those had gotten dismantled too. He supposed he could go ahead and order the dismantlement of the weaponized thunderclouds himself. But that would probably raise a fuss from the ponies who had put so much work into hiding and looking after them. Using the artilleryheads was out of the question. With Fleetfoot's arrest, Celestia and her subordinates had probably already deduced that the weapons were in the Order's possession. Their use now would only serve as a catalyst to kick off the very investigation he was trying to delay.

What to do then...? he thought. If none of the options he had available now were sufficient for the job then...The best thing to do would be to come up with a new one.

That brought a smile to Morning's face. The wonderful thing about being me is that, if none of the cards in my possession can do the job, then I can make a new one on the spot.

"You've got everything, right?" asked Fluttershy anxiously, "You didn't forget anything, did you?"

"No Fluttershy," said Rainbow with a tone of strained tolerance, "I've got everything I need."

"You're going to write, aren't you?" asked Pinkie, sounding just as worried as Fluttershy.

"Yes, I'm going to write," said Rainbow.

"Oh dear! Did you remember to pack your toothbrush?" asked Fluttershy.

"Yes, my toothbrush is in my bags," said Rainbow.

"You're going to write every month right?"

"Yes Pinkie."

"What about your mementos? Are they secured?"

"Yes Fluttershy."

"How about every week?"

"Sure thing Pinkie."

"What about your flight suit?"

"Got it."

"How about every half-week?"

"I think that's a little much."

"What about the dresses Rarity made for you? Did you remember them?"

"Yes."

"How about every other day?"

"I don't think so."

"What about your Wonderbolts figures?"

"Every day...?"

"Wait! Your trophies!"

"Twice a day...?"

"Oh! And your ribbons! We can't forget those!"

"Thee times-"

"GIRLS!!!" Rainbow pushed against Fluttershy and Pinkie with her hooves, pushing the other two mares away from her. "Look! I've got everything I need, Fluttershy. No, I won't write you more than once a week at most, Pinkie...unless I have a reason to."

Seeing that both Fluttershy and Pinkie were now pouting at her, Rainbow sighed and used her forelegs to draw the two of them back in for a hug. "Look you two. I understand this is hard. I'm not exactly happy to leave Ponyville behind either, but I'm going to Cloudsdale to fulfill my dream. I'm gonna miss you both so much." She nuzzled against Fluttershy's cheek, then Pinkie's. "Please don't make this any harder for us."

"I...I kn-know," whimpered Fluttershy, "B-but...I..." She was unable to finish her sentence and instead collapsed, sobbing, against Rainbow's side.

"I'm gonna miss you too Dashie!" wailed Pinkie as she wrapped Rainbow in a crushing hug, crying openly and sending twin rivers of tears streaming through the air as Rainbow struggled to breathe.

Twilight's magic wrapped around Pinkie and pried her arms away from Rainbow's neck, allowing Rainbow to breathe once more. "Pinkie...we're all gonna miss Rainbow," said Twilight, "But this is something that's truly important to her. You know that, right?"

"Yeah," said Pinkie, her ears sagging along with the rest of her body. A bright-yellow mare with a tri-colored mane came up to lean against her. Mayweather did her best to give Pinkie some additional comfort, though there was little that even she could do to raise Pinkie's spirits.

Rainbow was still hugging Fluttershy and doing her best to comfort the yellow mare. All around her, the rest of her friends had crowded in close, almost seeming to huddle in the shade cast by Rainbow's cloud house, which drifted overhead. Pinkie Pie's party had carried on late into the previous night. Rainbow had spent the evening with Scootaloo, the two of them playing games, trying different foods, and just generally hanging out. After that, Rainbow had brought Scootaloo back to the cloud house for one last sleepover. Now, on the day of her departure, all of Rainbow's closest friends had assembled to see her off.

Rainbow Dash was a pegasus of few material possessions, at least few that she wanted to bring to Cloudsdale with her. Everything she felt she needed or wanted to bring along to the Wonderbolts compound was contained within a single trunk that rested on a small wagon behind her. As soon as her escort arrived, she'd say her final goodbyes and then be off to Cloudsdale.

The sight of her friends, gathered around her, waiting to see her off, really hammered home the truth for Rainbow. This is it, she thought. After today, Ponyville would be behind her and who knew how long it would be until she could come back again. But I will come back, she promised herself.

A rush of wings preceded the sound of hooves settling onto the ground behind her. Looking over her shoulder, Rainbow saw that a pale-blue stallion had arrived. He smiled gently at her. "Hey."

"Hey yourself, said Rainbow, smiling back, "I guess this is it."

"Yep," said Soarin', "It's time to go."

Rainbow turned back to her friends and took a deep breath. "Alright. I'm going miss you girls. I love you all."

Twilight stepped forward first and hugged Rainbow tightly. "You'll be an amazing Wonderbolt," she whispered into Rainbow's ear before nuzzling her cheek.

Twilight froze when Spike coughed behind her. "Oh! I almost forgot." Her horn flared for a brief second and a half-dozen emerald-green candles flashed into existence between her and Rainbow. "I wanted to give these to you."

"What are these?" asked Rainbow, eyeing the bundle of candles curiously.

"Spike and I have been experimenting with the properties of dragonfire," explained Twilight, grinning widely, "Recently, we figured out that, if we can infuse his dragonfire into candle wax, it gives the candle flame the same properties as his fire. All you have to do is hold any letter you write over the flame and it will get sent straight to us through Spike."

"Whoa!" exclaimed Rainbow, taking the candles, "That's awesome."

"Let us know when you're running low and we'll make new ones for you," said Twilight as Rainbow quickly transferred the candles to her trunk.

Rarity was next. "Remember to let me know whenever your measurements change," she said, as she gave Rainbow her own hug, "I'll come to Cloudsdale myself and make any adjustments you need to your dresses."

After that, it was Applejack's turn. She trotted up and threw her arms around Rainbow without a word. The two of them embraced in silence before pulling away. Wordlessly, Applejack held up a hoof. Rainbow matched the movement and the two of them bumped hooves.

As Applejack pulled back, Pinkie Pie bounded in, practically throwing herself on top of Rainbow, sobbing hysterically. "I'll miss you Dashie!" she wailed, "Please write me as much as you can!"

Twilight's magic lifted Pinkie away for the second time as Rainbow turned to her oldest friend. Fluttershy was sobbing softly. Dawn had pressed himself up against her side and was doing his best to comfort her. However, it seemed that even his efforts were insufficient as Fluttershy couldn't even be bothered to acknowledge his presence at the moment. Rainbow stepped in lifted a forehoof to Fluttershy's chin, tilting her head up until Fluttershy's eyes were meeting Rainbow's.

For a moment, they said nothing. Rainbow merely stared into Fluttershy's eyes and Fluttershy stared back. Rainbow had to fight for the words she wanted to say. This was Fluttershy, her oldest friend, whom she'd known since they were foals. They had shared many times together, wonderful times and dark times both. Finally, Rainbow spoke, her words soft and whispery. "I'm gonna miss ya 'Shy."

"I'm going to miss you too, Rainbow," Fluttershy said back, hiccuping, "I...I don't want you to go...b-but...I don't want to hold you back either."

"'Shy," said Rainbow, "You don't need to worry. You're not alone anymore. You have so many ponies here who love and care for you, Dawn and Caramel especially."

"B-but...I'm not as strong as you," whispered Fluttershy.

Rainbow couldn't help but laugh at that. "Of course you're not as strong as me, Fluttershy. You're way stronger." Lifting her other hoof, Rainbow cupped Fluttershy's face from both sides and looked her straight in the eyes. "Fluttershy, you're a mom. You've given a colt a home and a family. You're trying your hardest to raise him right. Compared to that, being a Wonderbolt is easy. You'll be fine."

Fluttershy sniffled weakly. "Thank you Rainbow."

After giving Fluttershy one last hug, Rainbow pulled away and looked down at Dawn. "Be good, kiddo."

Dawn nodded gravely as Rainbow turned to the rest of the ponies she had to say goodbye to. Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom were accompanying their sisters. Though the two of them had never been especially close to Rainbow (at least, not as close as Scootaloo was), they were both in tears at the thought of her departure. Rainbow gave each of them a silent smile before she turned to Spike.

"Take good care of Twilight for me," said Rainbow, giving Spike a mischievous grin, "Make sure you drag her out of the library once in a while."

"No problem," said Spike with a wry grin.

"Hey!" exclaimed Twilight. Her indignant outburst was ignored by Rainbow and Spike.

"Oh...and thanks for lending me your comics," added Rainbow as she turned away from the young dragon.

"I'm going to get them back...right?"

Rainbow coughed and continued to walk away from him.

"Rainbow...? I'm going to get them back, aren't I?"

"Yeah," said Rainbow over her shoulder, after an uncomfortably long hesitation, "Sure."

"I wonder about that," muttered Spike. But he decided to let the issue of his issues go...for now.

At last, there were only two ponies left in the gathering. Melon Cream had been sitting behind the rest of the girls, holding a sobbing Scootaloo in her arms as they waited for Rainbow to finish saying her goodbyes to everypony else. Melon smiled warmly at Rainbow. "Thank you...for everything."

Rainbow nodded at her. Melon looked down at Scootaloo. "Scootaloo...It's time..."

She slowly released Scootaloo from her arms. The orange filly reluctantly turned away from her mother's embrace to look at Rainbow, unable to stop the tears flowing freely from her eyes. With a wailing cry, Scootaloo threw herself at Rainbow, knocking the mare back onto her haunches as she caught the filly in her arms, wrapping Scootaloo in a tight hug.

"Oh Scoots," murmured Rainbow, "I'm gonna miss ya."

"I...I don't want you to go Rainbow," whimpered Scootaloo.

Tears came to Rainbow's own eyes as she held the filly tighter. "I know...I know you don't squirt. But I'm still going. But...you know what?"

Scootaloo pulled her face away from Rainbow's chest far enough to tilt her head up to meet Rainbow's gaze. "What?"

"Even if I'm not physically here in Ponyville, I'll still be here for ya kiddo." Rainbow lifted a hoof and lightly tapped Scootaloo in the chest. "Right there. As long as you remember that, I'll never leave ya hanging."

Scootaloo's tears didn't stop, but her lips curled up in a smile and she let out a watery laugh. "That was so cheesy."

That got a laugh out of Rainbow too. "Yeah...It was pretty cheesy. Just remember..." She leaned down and planted a lingering kiss against Scootaloo's forehead. "I love ya squirt. No matter what happens; where you go, what you do, you'll always be my one and only little sister."

"I love you too, Rainbow," said Scootaloo, pulling herself into Rainbow's embrace one last time before they finally let go of each other.

Rainbow walked over to where Soarin' was waiting. The stallion had already harnessed himself up to the wagon containing the few possessions Rainbow needed to take with her. "Ready?" he asked.

"As I'll ever be," she answered.

Turning around, Rainbow looked out over her friends one last time. Spreading her wings, she took to the air, Soarin' not far behind her. In the air, Rainbow paused and turned around. "See you everypony," she shouted down, waving at them before turning to gain some more altitude.

As she pulled away from the ground and oriented herself on Cloudsdale, Rainbow spotted a cloud hovering nearby. Waiting there was Storm Front, along with Rumble. Rumble was waving frantically as Rainbow and Soarin' flew past them. Rainbow waved back. As her eyes met Storm's, she and the stallion traded nods.. The last of her goodbyes said, Rainbow left Ponyville behind, Cloudsdale and her future looming ahead.

Night Visitor

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Chapter 9: Night Visitor

"Have a lovely evening, Coco," said Rarity with a fond smile as she watched her apprentice head for the door.

"Thank you, Miss Rarity," said Coco, waving over her shoulder as she made her exit. Winter Wrap-Up had been an exhilarating experience for Coco, particularly because she had never experienced anything like it. Though the majority of her contribution had been helping Rarity prepare the nests for the returning birds, it had still been amazing to see the seasons shift as ponies worked, drawing winter back with the kind of care and efficiency she'd seen stagehooves move about props and change the scenery at Bridleway productions.

....Except...there had been something more to Winter Wrap-Up. Coco could feel it in her hooves, thrumming waves of power spreading throughout the town and the surrounding countryside like the ripples caused by countless stones being thrown into a pond. She'd felt that power moving through the earth, coaxing it back to life beneath her very hooves. The feeling was amazing and beautiful. Perhaps it was just her sensibilities as an earth pony speaking, but Coco had never felt anything so spectacular in the large cities she'd used to live in, like Canterlot and Manehattan, where unicorns used a showy blaze of magic to draw winter back like the curtain on a play.

If I don't end up staying in Ponyville, thought Coco, I think I want to settle in a place that has a tradition like this one. I could be a part of that every year and never get tired of it. She figured that the beauty of the occasion was probably not noticeable to unicorns like Rarity, who regarded her own part of the affair as something akin to another of her commissions that she wasn't personally invested in; a job to be completed, granted, with her usual standard of perfection, but without the passion and artistry she displayed for projects she was more personally invested in.

Coco, on the other hoof, had been inspired by the experience. A whirl of potential designs danced in her head and she was having difficulty just trying to get them all down on paper. As designs went, Coco noticed that they were more subdued and lacked the degree of panache that Rarity often integrated in her own designs, but Coco felt truly driven to try her hoof at them herself. Transferring to Ponyville is the most amazing thing that's ever happened to me!

Approaching Caramel's house, Coco noted that most of the lights were off and the house had an empty, almost forlorn feeling to it as she approached. A slight depression settled on Coco as she remembered why. That's right, Dawn and Fluttershy are moving back out...

Now that spring had arrived and Fluttershy had to once again attend to the needs of her animal friends, she was moving back to her cottage and taking Dawn with her. It was clear that Dawn, Fluttershy, and Caramel were unhappy to part, but were resigned to the course of action they had decided well before winter had even come to Equestria. It was obvious that they had grown very close over the season, becoming a true family in most senses. Now that family was splitting up. Granted, they would still be living in the same town. But until Caramel figured out what to do with his own house, they wouldn't be able to spend as much time together as they'd grown accustomed to during the winter.

Numerous plans had been discussed. Caramel's initial intention had been to put his house on the market, find a buyer, and then move in with Fluttershy and Dawn. However, the more he'd discussed it with his friends and loved ones, the more Caramel's original intentions for the house had wavered. One thing was clear, even though Caramel and Fluttershy had more than enough between them to maintain ownership of both properties, the thought of letting his original home simply sit unused for almost three-quarters of the year didn't exactly sit well with Caramel.

There had been a whirlwind of suggestions and ideas. Applejack, ever the entrepreneur, had suggested Caramel turn his home into a Bed & Breakfast, catering to ponies who were just passing through town on business or other assorted travelers who wanted to spend a day (and a night) in Ponyville. Caramel had considered the idea, but thought that he was too likely to be closed out by competition from the local inn, save for times where it was crowded beyond capacity (like it had been during the Running of the Leaves). Applejack had suggested that he simply compete by providing a homier, more personal touch, but Caramel pointed out that he would be living at Fluttershy's, which would mean hiring somepony to manage the place, which, depending on various factors, could bankrupt Caramel even more quickly than simply trying to hold onto the property as-is.

There had been a great many other suggestions offered, but Caramel had yet to decide either way. There had been other issues as well. Twilight Sparkle had astutely pointed out that, while Caramel's little "experiment" to see if he, Fluttershy, and Dawn could function as a family had been a rousing success by all accounts, he had yet to truly appreciate the experience that would be living in Fluttershy's cottage, especially while it was fully occupied. There were more challenges to living with Fluttershy than the extended commute to work. Caramel would have to get used to the experience of having animals around him constantly, both overhead and underhoof. Though they might have backed off and given the couple some distance for the occasional private evening, Fluttershy's cottage was as much their home as it was hers.

All of this barely registered to Coco's mind. She was slightly saddened by Fluttershy and Dawn's departure. Like Caramel, the two of them had welcomed her like family. She'd even felt the stirrings of sisterly affection for Dawn. Granted, there were plenty of occasions where Dawn seemed the elder, rather than the younger sibling, often looking after Coco's well-being rather than her looking after his. But Coco had grown used to their relationship and missed him already. The fact that the reassuring warmth of his presence always seemed to stave off the shuddering fear conjured by the specters of Baron Elderflower and Perlin Bluestreak that loomed in the back of her mind was also a factor. She still didn't dare tell anypony just what had her tossing and turning at night, but Dawn's presence afforded a minor comfort at least.

A chill went down Coco’s spine, a chill that had nothing to do with the brisk spring evening. It was a chill that she’d become all too familiar with during her time in Canterlot. Oh no, she whimpered silently to herself, No no no nononononononono!

She could scarcely bring herself to turn around at the sound of hooves thudding onto the ground and the metallic rattle of mithril feathers as Perlin Bluestreak came in for a landing right behind her.

“Good evening,” said the young stallion, his tone polite and friendly, as though he were a passerby tossing off a simple greeting to a minor acquaintance.

Coco faced him, feeling sick to her stomach. This is it, she thought, It’s over. Perlin was obviously here to relate instructions from Baron Elderflower and to ensure that those instructions were carried out…or to see to her punishment if they weren’t. Depending on what she was being ordered to do, Coco’s apprenticeship under Rarity was likely to come to an untimely end. No doubt Rarity would refuse to allow somepony who would betray her to somepony else to continue working under her. But if Coco refused…then she was dead.

She couldn’t hide the tears as she looked hopelessly at Perlin. The young stallion’s cheery smile slowly began to fade as he took in the tableau of absolute despair painted across Coco’s face.

“What is it?” asked Coco, barely able to raise her voice beyond a whisper.

Perlin sighed. “The Baron desires a sample of Miss Rarity’s new fabric. From what he has told me, he has no intention of sharing it with her competitors, so I can’t rightly say what he intends to do with it.”

Coco had a few ideas about what Baron Elderflower might want with a sample of Rarity’s shimmersilk. Though she was uncertain about the particulars, Coco knew that the fabric had to be treated with a special formula of alchemical reagents in order to gain its properties. Apparently, Twilight and Rarity had gotten some assistance from a zebra living in the Everfree Forest for that. Even if Elderflower had no intention of giving the fabric to Rarity’s competitors, she could easily see him trying to corner the market on one or more of the required reagents, possibly dangling them like a carrot in front of Rarity’s nose.

Perlin chewed his lip as he watched Coco, uncertain of what to say. Elderflower's instructions had been clear and Perlin was still beholden to his employer, unless he wanted to violate his contract. That had been important to him before. But now...

Coco squeezed her eyes shut. "Follow me," she said, her voice emerging in a strangled whimper.

She led Perlin back to the Carousel Boutique. From there, they watched until the lights that still burned in the windows went out. They had already been working late when Coco had first left, so she knew that Rarity wasn't intending on staying up much longer. I can't do this, she thought. It would be a complete betrayal of everything Rarity had done for her.

Behind her, Perlin had gone silent. At first, Coco thought he'd simply been trying to keep himself concealed. But, as she looked over her shoulder, she noticed an uncharacteristic look of concentration, the furrowed brow and pensive frown looking almost comical on Perlin's face. What is he thinking about?

Reluctantly, Coco went up to the door and unlocked it with the spare key Rarity had given her. From there, she made her way into the backroom and to the supply closet where Rarity kept her most important materials, including the single roll of shimmersilk that Rarity and Twilight had made so far. Even though they had already obtained spectacular results with it, Rarity and Twilight were still modifying the formula in order to find even more improvements for the fabric. This particular roll was the latest version. Coco carefully slid it out of its cubbyhole and showed it to Perlin.

Perlin unrolled a little and used his wing to cut away a single, long strip of the fabric, which he then wound carelessly around his hoof as Coco put the rest of the roll away. Perlin examined the fabric carefully with his eyes as he tested the feel of it against his coat. "My...this is rather interesting," he observed, "I'd almost like to ask Miss Rarity to make me a new cloak if I thought she might use this material for it."

Coco shut the closet and turned to face Perlin. Her fear was still there, churning in the center of her gut. But now, there was a simmering anger layered atop it. She'd just betrayed the mare she idolized and who had shown her an incredible degree of warmth and generosity. Rarity was everything that Coco had ever aspired to be and had been happily showing Coco exactly what she needed to do to reach that point for herself. And now, here she was betraying Rarity, handing over Rarity's greatest creation to a sick, bloodthirsty mercenary working for swindling baron. She was furious.

"You have what you came for," said Coco, her voice almost a snarl as hot tears ran from her eyes, "Shouldn't you be going?"

Perlin was silent for an uncomfortably long time. Then his eyes widened and he blinked for a second before finally returning her gaze. "I suppose I should," he said, "However..." The hem of his cloak pulled back as he extended a single, silvery wing. "...I still require one last thing from you."

Coco's anger vanished as she watched Perlin's wing slide out, her pupils contracting as she tried desperately to back away from him. However, her hind legs gave out and her haunches smacked into the floor with a low thud. "W-w-wha-what...?" she stammered, still trying to scoot away from Perlin. It was obvious what he wanted now. After all, she had served her purpose to Baron Elderflower. Now she was a liability, a loose end to be cleaned up. No!

Perlin's wing extended inexorably towards her, a slight smile playing on his lips. "I need you...to scream."

A loud, terrified shriek cut through the night's silence, startling Rarity and prompting her to fall out of her bed, releasing an unladylike grunt as she hit the floor hard, the impact driving the wind from her lungs. From down the hall, she heard Sweetie Belle let out a startled yell of her own. From the guest room, Rarity heard a much more troubling noise, the rumbling and grinding of something large and heavy being shifted about.

She quickly forced herself onto her hooves and dashed for the door to the hallway. As she threw the door open, several things happened at once. From Flaxseed's door, just across the hall from her own, came a loud slamming noise and an impact that made the door shudder against its hinges. At the same time, her ears picked up the sound of breaking glass from down below as the scream that had started everything was unexpectedly cut off. Rarity's mind, still addled at being jolted from her slumber so suddenly, finally recognized the source of that scream. After all, she'd heard it before when she'd shredded the dress she'd made for Camellia. "Coco!"

Sweetie's door swung open, sending another slam echoing down the hallway. "Wha-what's going on?" asked Sweetie, her voice panicky as she frantically looked up and down the hallway.

"I..." Rarity was torn between what to do. She'd heard Coco scream from down below, a scream that was now frighteningly silent. But it was also clear that something had happened with Flaxseed as well.

Gritting her teeth, Rarity made her decision. "Sweetie, I'm going downstairs to check what's going on. Stay here."

"But what about...?" Sweetie gave Flaxseed's door a worried look.

Rarity glared at Sweetie, putting every ounce of authority that she could into her voice. "Stay! Here!" The last thing she wanted was for Sweetie to inadvertently walk into one of Flaxseed's panic attacks.

Rarity dashed down the stairs, nearly tripping on the hem of her nightgown as she reached the bottom floor. From the bottom of the stairs, she looked across her workroom to see moonlight spilling in through a broken window, illuminating a still figure on the floor. "Coco!"

Rarity was at the younger mare's side in an instant, desperately checking for any injury, but already fearing the worst. Please! Please no! She jumped when Coco's body shuddered at the touch of her hoof. There was no sign of any bleeding...so far and she couldn't see any bruises. But the moonlight was only of so much use in this scenario. Rarity quickly used her magic to switch on the lights in the workroom in order to get a better assessment of Coco's status.

Coco was laying on the floor, her entire body shuddering with tremors as she hid her head beneath her forehooves, whimpering and crying, her tears forming puddles that spread across the floor.

"Coco!" said Rarity, struggling to keep from shouting, "Coco! Are you alright?"

Already, she could hear sounds from outside, the voices of other ponies. The sound of her window breaking had probably woken up half the ponies in the neighborhood. Still, she couldn't afford to be distracted. "Coco! Are you hurt? Please speak to me!"

Coco's eyelids flickered and slowly opened. She looked up at Rarity lowering her hooves. However, as her eyes met Rarity, fresh tears exploded outwards and Coco collapsed back to the floor, sobbing openly. "I'm sorry!" she cried, "I'm so sorry!"

What in Celestia's name happened? Rarity wanted to ask that question out loud. From outside, her ears picked up a new sound, this one the roar of wind. Is that...Dawn?

Perlin shook his head vigorously as he beat his wings furiously to gain altitude, the town of Ponyville falling away below his hooves. His head ached from where he had slammed it into, and subsequently through, the window, while his ears were still ringing from Coco's scream, which had been much louder than he'd been counting on. It had actually thrown him off his game enough that he'd used his head to break the window, rather than a safer part of his body.

But it should be convincing enough, he thought, After a scream like that, nopony would think that she'd helped me willingly. That's method acting for you.

Something else hurt. It was like a stinging piece of ice had lodged itself into Perlin's heart when he thought of the look of horror on Coco's face and played her scream over in his mind. He should have been proud of how well he'd accomplished what he set out to do. It had seemed like rather brilliant plan, especially for one he'd come up on the spur of the moment. But he didn't feel satisfied at all. He hadn't liked the sound of Coco's scream. He hadn't liked the idea of her screaming at all. He liked it even less that he had been the one to make her scream. He much preferred seeing the happy expression on her face and the animation in her voice on those few occasions where she'd forgotten her fear of him, however briefly, in the enthusiasm of being able to talk about her craft. Compared to that, her shriek and terrified expression were almost painful to think of.

Perlin's flight faltered slightly as he tried to ponder what all of this meant. Why did that hurt so much? he wondered.

His musings were cut short by a loud roar. The sound was the only warning he had. In the scant light of the moon and the stars, Perlin's eyes couldn't make out the faint rippling effect of the light refraction caused by the sudden change in air pressure as a column of compressed air hurtled at him like a cannonball. He only just barely managed to bring his wing around to intercept the attack. Even then, his angle wasn't completely correct and the mithril feathers only managed to blunt some of the blow. A portion of the strike slammed directly into his barrel and drove the breath from his lungs, sending the young stallion spinning off through the air.

Even as he struggled to right himself and regain control over his flight, Perlin had already noticed something was off. He'd been taken completely off-guard and his defense had failed to stop the attack completely. But it was wrong that he had taken so little damage. Perlin knew from experience that Dawn Lightwing's attacks carried enough force to easily injure or even kill him, even if he blocked part of it. The force that had made it past his wing should have crushed his ribcage, or at least cracked it, not simply knocked the wind out of him. The blow hadn't been focused enough to do any real damage. Judging by the time difference between when Perlin's ears had picked up the sound and when the wind itself had arrived, the attack had been slightly slower than Dawn's usual as well.

Finally managing to get himself righted, Perlin oriented to face the direction the attack had come from. However, his opponent was already out of his line of sight and was shifting to attack from a different angle. He caught a blur of orange, standing starkly out against the darkness of the night. He barely managed to catch sight of the orange filly as she came at him from overhead, twisting her entire body into a roll to put her full strength into her wing as she swept it downwards, aiming another blast of air straight down between his shoulder blades.

This time, Perlin was ready. He rolled himself, interposing his wing directly between himself and Scootaloo, easily catching the full force of her strike with it this time. Using the same technique he'd developed against Dawn's own attacks, Perlin shifted the axis of his roll, allowing him to roll out of the way of the attack, rather than be driven down into the ground by it. Once again, he noticed that Scootaloo's attack had less focus and much of the force scattered as it came into contact with his wing. Even if he hadn't rolled to deflect it, the force of the blow wouldn't have driven him very far.

She's still green, he realized. However long Scootaloo had been practicing the Gale King, she hadn't been at it nearly as long as Dawn. Perlin knew that Dawn had taken the filly as his student, so it had probably been less than a year at this point. While her attacks had plenty of power, she hadn't refined her control as much as Dawn had. During their first fight, Dawn had launched similar attacks from a point so distant that he'd nearly been a speck in Perlin's vision. And yet, Dawn's attacks hadn't lost an ounce of their power over that distance. Scootaloo, on the other hoof, was much closer, but she wasn't making Perlin work near as much to block her strikes.

At the moment, that fact actually worked out to Perlin's disadvantage. His roll, meant to deflect a much more powerful strike, was meant to use the incoming attack's power to speed his movement and allow him to move in and launch his own counterstrike. Had Dawn's power been behind the strike, Perlin would have already completed the roll and used the rest of his momentum to swing upwards in a swooping climb that would bring Dawn within reach of his wings. Even if Dawn could react quickly enough to counter his approach, Perlin could still strike with the wired feathers that he could launch at will. However, because Scootaloo's attack lacked the impact Dawn's had, Perlin was still upside down, his belly and legs facing upwards when the next attack came.

This time, Scootaloo used both of her wings, swinging them downwards with a loud shout, driving another heavy column of air down at Perlin's exposed underbelly. Her aim was good. In this position, Perlin would be hard pressed to roll far enough to completely block this strike especially now that the momentum of his deflection had petered out. Instead, Perlin swung both his wings in front of him and extended them so that the tips of his primaries met in front of him, forming his wings into a wedge between him and the incoming attack.

The blast of air was split by the mithril feathers, sending it rushing past Perlin on either side. As it did, Perlin noted that this strike, at least, was much more focused than the last two had been. This technique, at least, had clearly been one that Scootaloo had spent much more time and effort on refining. His mind idly filed those details away as he swept his wings outward, tearing the remainder of the attack apart. As he did so, he came face to face with Scootaloo, who had used the attack to come in close.

Perlin's eyes widened. Is she mad? It was clear that Scootaloo hadn't yet fully mastered Dawn's technique for swiftly moving over short distances. She was still outside the reach of his wings, whereas Dawn would have already been within inches of Perlin by now. If she tried to close in the rest of the way at this point, he'd easily be able to slice her to ribbons.

However, Scootaloo surprised him once again. Instead of charging in, she lashed out with a single hoof, thrusting it straight towards Perlin. For the second time that night, the young stallion had the breath driven from his lungs as a small, but very compact burst of air slammed directly into his unprotected stomach. Out of the corner of his eye, Perlin caught a flash of white and noted that the ribbon of fabric he'd cut from Rarity's roll, which had been wound carelessly about his foreleg without so much as a knot to keep it secure, had come loose and was now fluttering off into the open air. Oops!

Even as the force of the blow drove him back, Perlin reflexively launched his secret weapon. A primary from his right wing detached itself and, with a flick of said wing, Perlin launched it straight for Scootaloo's neck like a silvery dart. The blade barely glittered in the starlight and Perlin knew from experience that the wind-sense employed by users of the Gale King couldn't detect the feathers, which barely disturbed the currents of air as they sliced cleanly through them. Scootaloo had no hope of seeing the attack coming. However, Perlin changed his mind even as he struck, twisting his wing slightly so that the feather's flight drifted off course to sail harmlessly by Scootaloo's neck. At most, it would give her a tiny scratch to remember him by.

It proved a futile gesture anyway.

However, the feather was less than an inch from her throat when something else impacted it with a loud ring of metal on metal, knocking the feather away. Perlin's eyes caught a fast-moving shape bouncing away from the impact and he heard the faint hissing sound that usually accompanied a small object moving at high speed through the air.

A tug of his wing pulled the feather back to him by its wire tether, allowing Perlin to reattach it to his wing in less than a second. Already, he was maneuvering to face the new threat as it approached. Storm Front was whipping his meteor hammer through complex circles before a twist and a light tug sent the weapon's metal weight whipping towards Perlin's head in a sideways arc. Perlin barely managed to duck beneath the swipe. But, as it passed over his head, he felt a heavy buzz off the weapon that made his teeth rattle and his vision swim.

Backwinging furiously, Perlin fought for distance as Storm began launching a rapid series of blows with the meteor hammer, which seemed to come from every conceivable direction. The weight clanged harshly against Perlin's feathers as he fell back from the onslaught. As he did so, Perlin spied the shimmering strip of fabric drifting in the wind. It was only getting further away from each passing second and trying to go for it would bring him dangerously close to Storm Front. As much as Perlin relished a challenge, he wasn't here to fight.

Besides, he thought, this might work out for the best.

As he deflected the last ringing blow from the meteor hammer, Perlin twisted and beat his wings hard, accelerating away and heading away from Ponyville, flying in the general direction of Canterlot as fast as he dared. Edlerflower would not be pleased with his failure. The shimmersilk sample that Perlin had come to collect was lost and he had nothing to show for his efforts.

In spite of that, Perlin's heart felt much lighter as he continued his flight towards Canterlot. Perhaps the fact that the sample she'd betrayed Rarity to give to him would not be making it into the Baron's hooves would provide some comfort to Coco after all the distress he had caused. Furthermore, Perlin's heart was pounding...and not simply because of his recent exertions either. Even though it had been brief, his fight with Scootaloo had been exhilarating. Though her technique required a great deal of polish before she'd be ready for a more serious fight, he'd seen some signs that she was advancing very quickly.

There had been no hesitation in her attack. She had pressed her advantage and held nothing back. Even more importantly, though her attack had struck home, Scootaloo hadn't hesitated in the slightest and had immediately pressed her advantage. It was clear that she had a basic understanding of just how dangerous Perlin was and that her best hope of beating him was to not give him a chance to recover, launching a fierce offensive and even daring to come in close in order to deliver what could have been a decisive blow. That kind of insight and initiative wouldn't have come from a filly who had only been passively learning the lessons that Dawn had taught her directly.

If I recall, thought Perlin, she was watching my last fight with Dawn. She had not merely been a passive observer, but had used the fight between Dawn and him as a learning opportunity and subsequently applied what she had learned in tonight's bout. She had taken the initiative to further her own understanding of how to fight, which was something quite distinct from simply learning the Gale King. The thought actually made Perlin's heart beat even faster as an eager grin spread across his face. What incredible potential, he thought, Before long, she'll become a pony that will truly be worth fighting. It was a good idea to not kill her tonight.

Thus, it was with a much lighter heart that Perlin commenced his ascent towards Canterlot. The night had proven not to be such an unpleasant affair after all.

Scootaloo caught the strip of windblown shimmersilk, letting the fabric fold across her arm as she eyed it curiously. Is this what all that noise was about?

"That was reckless," said Storm Front, his voice making Scootaloo yelp as she spun about to face him. Already, her wind sense could pick up the air currents being produced by other approaching pegasi. It seemed that all the noise from the fight had drawn the attention of the entire town.

"What?" asked Scootaloo.

"You attacked him," Storm noted, "That was foolish. You aren't nearly ready for that kind of fight."

"Are you kidding?" demanded Scootaloo, flaring her wings indignantly, "I had him on the ropes!"

Storm shook his head. "Did you see his feather?"

Scootaloo froze, blinking in shock. "N-no..." She remembered hearing a loud ring of metal on metal only inches away from her, but had only just barely seen Storm's Meteor hammer being retracted. Out of the corner of her eye, she had seen a flash of silver as something was pulled back to Perlin's wing. Reaching further into her memory, she remembered what she had seen of Perlin's fight with Dawn, right before the pair of them had left for Diamond Mountain. She remembered flashes of light glittering off feathers that had seemed to fly off Perlin's wings of their own accord. However, upon careful observation, Scootaloo had realized that they were still connected to his wing with thin, nearly invisible wires. Perlin had wielded those feathers with blinding speed. Then that means...that noise was...

Storm's eyes narrowed. "That feather was barely an inch away from your throat. Had I not arrived, you would have been killed."

"What was that?" Dawn's voice was heavy with both shock and horror. Scootaloo and Storm were taken a bit off-guard by his sudden arrival. Scootaloo had been so distracted by the conversation, she hadn't even noticed his approach. "Who nearly killed Scootaloo?"

"Perlin Bluestreak," replied Storm Front.

Dawn immediately whipped his head around to look at Scootaloo, his eyes narrowing fiercely. The intensity of his gaze caused Scootaloo to flinch back. "Explain!"

Scootaloo suddenly felt uncharacteristically nervous. She remembered how nervous Dawn had looked whenever she'd been angry with him. Is this what that feels like?

Storm looked around, noting that there was a crowd of curious pegasi gathering around them. "Perhaps we should take this elsewhere," he suggested.

"There there dear," said Rarity as she held Coco close, gently rocking back and forth, doing her best to comfort the younger mare, "It's alright. Everything is alright."

"I-it's not, Miss Rarity," whimpered Coco, "A-after everything you d-did for me...I-I..."

Rarity levitated a tissue and used it to dab the tears away from Coco's eyes. "Come now," said Rarity, giving Coco an encouraging smile, "It's not as bad as that. Tell me what happened."

Reluctantly, Coco explained what happened...or rather...explained events in the manner that Perlin had suggested she do. He had approached her on her way back to Caramel's house, threatened her to get her to let them into the boutique so that Perlin could steal a sample of Rarity's shimmersilk. Then, before leaving, Perlin had been about to kill her...

"I-I screamed," she said, "It...it must have startled him, since he went straight out through the window."

Rarity's eyes widened. "That brute was here...in my home!" While Sweetie was here no less. The realization horrified her.

"I'm sorry," sobbed Coco, breaking down again.

"Shh," hushed Rarity, hugging Coco tighter and stroking her mane, "It's alright. He didn't hurt you. You're safe now."

"B-but your..."

Rarity clicked her tongue. "Now really, darling. That's not what's important right now. I can't waste time worrying about a strip of fabric when there are more important issues at stake." The question of why Perlin had come to steal a sample of her newest creation...and at whose behest...would probably come back to gnaw at her mind later on. But Coco's wellbeing was much more important than that.

"But...all the work you put in..." whispered Coco.

Rarity smiled and used her hooves to cup Coco's cheeks. "Look at me," she said. She guided Coco's face up so that Coco could look her in the eyes. Rarity met Coco's fearful gaze with a warm, smiling one. "Coco, I'm going to share something very important with you, something that I've learned about this trade. It's knowledge I've arrived at after years of experience and after many mistakes.

"If there's one thing I've truly learned about fashion, about tailoring and dressmaking, it's that the dresses themselves aren't what's truly important."

Coco gasped, as though what Rarity had said was inconceivable.

Rarity's smile widened and she giggled a little. "Remember this...Your dresses can be as spectacular as the stars in Luna's sky. You can use any number of advanced techniques in their creation and finish them off with all kinds of fancy embellishments, but that will all count for nothing if all they do is sit on a ponyquin or hang from a rack. A dress only shows its true value when its worn by a real pony. Our art only shines when they wear it, because it exists to make them shine. That's why, before you worry about my fabric, my creations, or anything else, you need to think about the ponies first.

"The same goes for you." Rarity nuzzled against Coco, gently rubbing their cheeks together, not bothering to worry about the wetness of Coco's tears as it seeped into Rarity's own coat. "You are far more precious to me than any dress or fabric I make Coco. That's because you are a pony. You are my apprentice, my peer, my fellow artist, and my friend. If it's for your safety, I would trade away a whole roll of my shimmersilk without a second thought."

"R-really?" gasped Coco, staring at Rarity with an open mouth, stunned by the idea.

"Yes," said Rarity. She leaned in to plant a kiss on Coco's forehead. "So please, don't worry about my fabric right now. What's important is that you're unhurt. I can always make more shimmersilk."

"Thank you," whispered Coco. Now that her fear had been mostly abated, her eyelids had begun to fall. Her entire body was sagging as the night's events took their toll. Coco faded away into sleep in Rarity's arms.

With a sigh halfway between exasperation and amusement, Rarity lifted Coco in a glittering cloud of magic and deposited the young mare gently on her fainting couch. Rarity fetched a spare blanket from the closet and draped it over Coco's form.

"Really," said Rarity, raising an eyebrow as she watched Coco with a wry smile, "Between you and Flaxseed, I'm going to have to get another couch for myself." Still, she supposed it wasn't all bad. Rarity couldn't recall the last time she'd had a major dramatic breakdown of her own in recent months. The last incident would have been the Cutie Mark Crusaders' sleepover in Dawn's quinzhee, which had triggered Rarity's dramatic tendencies when she'd learned that Rumble would be there. Being responsible for other ponies had forced her to check her more impulsive tendencies.

It is quite harrying at times, she thought, It was so much simpler when it was just Sweetie Belle. But now I have three ponies to look after. I never imagined that my family would get so large this quickly. I wonder what mother and father will think the next time they visit.

With a sigh, Rarity reminded herself that Coco wasn't the only pony who needed her attention at this time. She proceeded upstairs to deal with an infinitely more delicate issue. Sweetie was still there, waiting just outside the door to her own room.

"Is everything okay, Rarity?" asked Sweetie.

"For the most part," said Rarity, "Nopony was hurt. Poor Coco was given a very bad fright. She's sleeping it off right now."

"Okay," said Sweetie, looking over at the door to Flaxseed's room, "Do you want me to help."

"Let me try first," said Rarity, "But we may need your assistance yet."

Walking up to the door, Rarity gently tapped her hoof against it. "Flaxseed...Flaxseed, dear, are you there?"

Silence was the response. Taking a deep breath, Rarity leaned up against the door. "Flaxseed...it's me. I know you're still in there. I just need to know that you're alright. I won't try to open the door without your permission. But...please...answer me."

"R-Rarity?" came Flaxseed's nervous voice from within, "Wha-what's going on?"

Letting out a relieved breath, Rarity lowered her hoof from the door. "Thank goodness," she whispered. Returning her attention to the stallion on the other side of the portal, she said, "There was a thief. He forced Coco to let him into the Boutique and stole a sample of one of my fabrics. That scream you heard was Coco after he threatened her."

"Is she okay?" asked Flaxseed.

Rarity's smile widened. It comforted her to know that Flaxseed was thinking about somepony else in this situation. Given his history, she couldn't exactly blame him if his first concerns were whether or not the fabric had really been the intruder's target.

"She's fine," said Rarity, "She's resting right now."

"So...it wasn't..."

"No darling. As far as I can tell, it had nothing to do with you. The thief is gone now. Are you alright with letting me in?"

"Um..." There was a grunting noise, followed by a low rumble as something heavy shifted...slightly. "Uh..."

Rarity couldn't keep the deadpan from her expression or her voice as she stared at the door. "You can't move the bed back, can you?"

"Uh...sorry..."

It made a certain amount of sense to Rarity. When he was in his panicked state, Flaxseed could unleash an impressive amount of brute force that allowed him to turn heavy objects that ordinary unicorns would struggle to move into deadly projectiles. Naturally, when he'd heard Coco's scream and the sound of glass breaking below, his first thought had been to block the door. With the panic fueling his magical reserves, he'd slid the bed up against the wall with enough force to make the door rattle. But now that he was more calm and relaxed, that bed wasn't going anywhere. I'm going to need Twilight's help with this, she thought. Twilight was probably the only pony in Ponyville with enough raw power (at will at least), to move the bed.

"Do you need to get out of there right now?" asked Rarity. She didn't really want to disturb Twilight at such a late hour. But then again, given that racket outside, she might have been disturbed anyway. If Flaxseed didn't mind being stuck in the room for the night, she could go get Twilight and secure her help first thing in the morning.

"...I think I'll be fine," said Flaxseed. There was a certain apologetic quality to his tone.

Rarity sighed. Her body began to shake. Finally, she began to giggle, sinking to the floor as her body quivered from her mirth and tears began to leak from her eyes.

"Um...Rarity? Is everything okay?" asked Sweetie, eyeing Rarity nervously.

"It's...It's fine," said Rarity, wiping her eyes, "There's just been a lot to deal with this evening."

"...Sorry," said Flaxseed from behind the door.

"It's fine dear," said Rarity, "We'll get Twilight to move the bed and help you out in the morning."

"...'Kay."

"Are you going to sleep alright?" asked Rarity, smiling at the door, "Do you need Sweetie to sing you to sleep again."

"I think I'll be fine," said Flaxseed.

"Alright then," said Rarity. She turned to regard Sweetie. "It's time for bed."

Sweetie blinked. "But what about the window?"

"I think we'll be fine," said Rarity, "I'll see to it in the morning."

With that, silence descended on the boutique once more. Rarity wasn't overly worried about there being any other intruders that night as she'd glimpsed a familiar figure outside the broken window, the silhouette of a certain Knight she knew, diligently standing guard. I'll need to make sure he gets a proper breakfast in the morning.

Dawn did not look happy. That fact alone made Scootaloo's heart thud alarmingly in her chest as her anxiety grew. She'd seen him angry, of course. She'd once seen him exhibit a precise, terrifying rage that had driven him to honestly consider mutilating another pony. Said pony had been her father, who had tried to attack Scootaloo and Dawn at the filly's First Flight party. Had Storm Front not intervened back then, Cirrus Stratus would have been down one set of wings and doomed to a life of perpetual grounding, a nightmare for any pegasus.

Dawn's rage had been terrifying back then. It had been enough that Scootaloo had kept her distance from him for several days. So...to have even a fraction of that anger directed at her was a nerve-wracking experience.

"How could you be so foolish?" demanded Dawn, "You saw for yourself just how dangerous Perlin is. What on earth were you thinking, attacking him like that?"

"I..." Scootaloo looked down at the table. Melon Cream and Storm Front watched the pair of foals from the other sides of the kitchen table, the two adults staying out of the conversation for now.

"What you did was reckless. You could have been killed! I told you you weren't ready for a real fight yet."

Dawn's words made Scootaloo's ears stand on end, anger rising to push aside her nervousness. "Hey! Where do you get off calling me reckless?" She slammed her hooves down on the table, actually making it jump. "I'm not the one with a room on standby at the hospital!"

Her words made Dawn flinch backwards. The ebony colt blinked in surprise, caught off-guard by Scootaloo's sudden outburst. "I..."

"You don't have any right to talk when you keep landing yourself in the emergency room beat halfway to Tartarus." Scootaloo glared across the table at Dawn. "You're the one always sneaking off to do dangerous stuff and making me and Fluttershy worry. You don't get to talk to me about being reckless!"

Recovering his composure, Dawn's eyes narrowed and he glared back at Scootaloo, his distinct eyes giving the angry stare an impressive degree of intensity. It was likely that, someday, he might even surpass his mother in the eventual future when it came to Staring. "I may court serious injury and even death with the things I've done. But I've always known the risks. I have experience to properly judge the situation. You don't."

"And just where did you get that experience, huh?" demanded Scootaloo, leaning forward, refusing to be cowed by Dawn's gaze, "You got it because you went out there and did stuff. You fought ponies. You fought monsters. How am I gonna get any experience if you're gonna keep me under a hundred layers of bubblewrap? I'm starting to think you don't actually want me to learn anything. You just want a student to boss around so that you can feel superior."

"Wha-?" gasped Melon, gaping at her daughter, "Scootaloo! That's-"

"Well if you're going to do something as suicidally stupid as what you just did, then maybe you don't deserve any further instruction," Dawn retorted, cutting Melon off.

"Now hold on-" began Storm, raising a hoof in an attempt at placation.

"Well maybe I don't need your 'instruction,'" Scootaloo snarled back, using her feathers to form air quotes for the last word. "I'm probably better off on my own than being stuck with a self-righteous hypocrite like you!"

"If that's what you want, then go ahead and do it!" growled Dawn, "But don't expect anymore help from me."

"That's fine with me!" snapped Scootaloo, "Like I need your help anyway!"

"Fine!"

Dawn turned abruptly and stalked towards the door out, slamming it shut behind him. In the meantime, Scootaloo rushed upstairs and slammed her own door shut.

Silence descended on the kitchen as Melon and Storm stared each other for a long moment. Finally, a blinking Storm spoke. "What just happened?"

Joining the Team

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Chapter 10: Joining the Team

"So...what do you think?" asked Soarin' as he and Rainbow made their way down the hallways of the Wonderbolt Headquarters, "You like your new room?"

"It's nice," said Rainbow, feeling a bit underwhelmed, "But it's not home...yet."

"Give it time," said Soarin' with a laugh.

Rainbow frowned. Granted, while she hadn't been expecting luxury accommodations, she had figured that she'd end up with something more substantial than the room she had now.

And a room it was; not a suite, not a set of rooms...a room...singular. Rainbow supposed she could consider it two if she counted the small closet as a second room. The whole affair was smaller than her own bedroom back in Ponyville. Besides her bed (also smaller than her old one), there was barely enough room for a small desk and a single empty set of shelves that took up half of one wall, the other half of said wall being occupied by the small closet that currently held the dresses Rarity had made for her and her flight suit, which Soarin' told her she didn't need just yet. There was a bathroom down the hall, shared by everypony on her floor.

At least it's better than the Academy, Rainbow admitted to herself. At the Academy, all she'd had was a bunk in the recruit barracks, along with a single hooflocker. She supposed that having a room to herself was a step up. On the plus side, she was still living in the Wonderbolt Headquarters...as an actual Wonderbolt! That awesomeness had to count for something.

"So..." she mused, "Is it just because I'm a newbie that I have a room like that?"

"Sorta," said Soarin', "You could call it a "beginner's set." Because our rooms are made out of cloud, we can add to them pretty easily. It's just a matter of getting materials and then getting it built. You should see some of the others' rooms. Though, while you're in training, I doubt you'll have the energy to do anything to your room yet."

"Makes sense," admitted Rainbow, already looking forward to seeing what the other Wonderbolts had done to their rooms, "What about when we travel?"

Soarin' shrugged. "It depends a bit. Spitfire doesn't like to put us up anywhere too ritzy. But, a lot of times, having the Wonderbolts coming to town is such a big deal that the mayor or somepony in the local government insists in putting you up in the best place they have."

"Nice perks," noted Rainbow.

"Eh," said Soarin' "Seen one fancy hotel room, seen 'em all. Since we hardly spend any time in them and a lot of their features are geared towards ponies who are a lot fancier we are, it's not like we get a whole lot out of them."

"I guess so," said Rainbow, though she wouldn't mind a fancy room if it came with its own hot tub...Especially if I can share that hot tub with Soarin', she thought, trying to keep her tail from lashing too eagerly at the image that popped up in her head.

Shaking her head to clear out the potentially naughty imagery her brain was conjuring up, Rainbow turned her attention back to Soarin'. "So where are we heading now?"

"Spitfire's office," said Soarin', "She's going to be letting you know about how your training is going to work and go over the rules with you." He grinned. "Don't worry, the Wonderbolts aren't big on ceremony and protocol the way the Guard is."

"Okay," said Rainbow, feeling a bit anxious about it nonetheless. Part of her was worried about what this would do to her relationship with Soarin'. Though they were officially together, the fact that they were now both Wonderbolts was probably bound to make their relationship a little...tricky. Part of her worried that there'd be some sort of rule against fraternizing between members. But that was ridiculous, considering Spitfire herself had encouraged the relationship between Soarin' and Rainbow.

I guess I'm about to find out, she thought as Soarin' stopped at one of the doors and knocked sharply against the hardened cloud construct.

"Come in," said Spitfire from within.

Soarin' opened the door so that he and Rainbow could step inside before closing it behind them. Spitfire was seated at her desk, looking over a stack of papers. Once she heard the door close, she set the stack aside. "Well now," she said, giving Rainbow a sly smile, "If it isn't my newest recruit and her coltfriend."

"I resent that," said Soarin', puffing up and adopting a pompous tone, "Just because I'm a stallion doesn't mean I'll just stand by being labeled as some mare's accessory."

Unable to conceal her giggle, Rainbow elbowed Soarin' in the side, prompting him to expel the air he'd taken in with a loud whoosh.

"I don't know," said Spitfire, "Seems like she's got your number. Besides, you make a nice accessory."

"Ha! That's true!" said Rainbow with a guffaw as Soarin' grumbled and turned sharply away from her.

Spitfire coughed down her own laughter. "Anyway," she said, "Setting that aside for the moment, let's talk business." She looked a bit more serious now. "For starters, let's go over what's going to happen to you over the next few months, Rainbow Dash."

"Right," said Rainbow, focusing her attention on Spitfire.

"For the first three months, you're going to be going through our standard training regimen for new recruits," explained Spitfire, "You'll get physical training, flight training, maneuvering training, formation training, advanced weather manipulation training, advanced magical training, and advanced combat training."

"Okay..." said Rainbow, feeling a bit nervous. Granted, she was no stranger to intense training regimens. Celestia knew, she'd put herself through more than a few of them for most of her life. However, Spitfire's list had seemed more than a little daunting.

"The physical stuff should be pretty easy for you," said Spitfire, "It's mostly checking off boxes to make sure that your physical attributes are up to snuff. You've already got a good grasp of formation flying and you know most of our standard formations, so that should go pretty quick too. Some of the others are a bit outside of your regular weather courses or even anything you'd find in the Academy.

"You'll learn how to fly during extreme weather conditions, such as severe blizzards, hurricanes, tornadoes, and even under the conditions of volcanic eruptions."

"You do that stuff?" asked Rainbow.

"The Wonderbolts are an emergency response team for natural disasters," said Spitfire, "We're often first on the scene after the local authorities for any large-scale disaster. Our job is usually to keep the weather clear for the other workers or aid in rescue work. You have to be able to fly in severe conditions and be able to perform a variety of tasks that are already difficult enough on their own at the same time. It's no walk in the park, I'll tell you that."

Rainbow gulped nervously. It certainly didn't sound like a walk in the park.

"You'll also receive rescue worker training," continued Spitfire, "That includes medical training equivalent to that of standard medical first-responder teams. We're expected to go places that normal EMT teams can't, but we still have to provide the same level of treatment that they can."

"Right," said Rainbow, sweating a little bit now. Her first aid courses back in Flight School and during her training period in the Ponyville Weather Team were a long ways behind her and said courses had been far from her favorites.

"What about the weather training?" asked Rainbow, a bit curious. She'd always been at the top of her class, in the practicum at least. She wondered what Wonderbolt-level weather manipulation consisted of.

"That's related to the advanced flight training," replied Spitfire, "You're gonna be training to help handle severe conditions. Trust me, clearing away an ash cloud or deflecting a Category-3 hurricane is a bit different than your typical cloudbusting."

"...Oh..." Rainbow's legs began to shake. It was a lot to take in.

"Naturally, magical training should be right up your alley," said Spitfire, "It's tied in to building a deeper understanding of how your pegasus magic works and how to make that work for you. Since you've been spending a lot of time around Dawn Lightwing, I think you'll probably be able to pick it up fairly quickly."

"I hope so," said Rainbow.

"Finally, there's the combat training," said Spitfire, "I know that you've already got a fair bit of training in some basic martial arts. What you'll get here is more intensive training, but a lot of it will be building off of stuff that you already know."

"Okay," said Rainbow. That didn't sound so bad.

"Now that's your first three months," said Spitfire, "For the three months following that, you get the special training."

"Let me guess," said Rainbow, "That's when Firefly takes over, right?"

Spitfire nodded. "Once she takes the reins, you'll be training separately from the rest of us. I don't know exactly what plans Firefly has, but she'll probably take you a ways away to carry out your training."

"Then, once it's over, I come back, right?" asked Rainbow, canting her head slightly.

Spitfire nodded. "Granted, I don't know if three months is gonna be long enough for Firefly to teach you what she wants to. At this point, it's just a supremely optimistic estimate. It might even be a couple years or longer."

"And...uh...you girls are okay with that?"

Spitfire shrugged. "I figure it'll be worth it in the end. Besides, I owe it to Firefly. She was the one who mentored me when I first joined the Knights."

"Mentored?"

"Not in the direct sense, mind you," said Spitfire, "but sort of what me and Arkenstone are doing with Dawn. She kept tabs on me, helped me figure out some rough spots and generally acted as a guide. I certainly wasn't her student."

"Oh..." said Rainbow, mulling Spitfire's words over. Part of her was beginning to feel extremely anxious. Just how long was this all going to take? Rainbow had been fairly confident that it wouldn't be more than a year before she'd finish her training and get to see her friends again, much less start doing actual Wonderbolt stuff. But now...it was seeming as though her dream was starting to drift away again.

She felt Soarin's hoof rest on her shoulder. "Hey," he said, "Don't worry too much about it. I know you'll get the hang of things really fast."

"You think so?" she asked.

Soarin' grinned and nodded. "I know so...Besides, I've got fifty bits on you taking no longer than six months total, so I kinda need you to do your best."

Rainbow gave the stallion a deadpan stare.

"Wait!" snapped Spitfire, "You bet on six months!?"

"That's right," said Soarin', giving his captain a sly grin, "That means if Rainbow beats that deadline by any margin, I get the pot...Unless you think she can do it even faster."

Spitfire rubbed her chin thoughtfully, but was interrupted by the sight of Rainbow's hoof clonking against Soarin's skull.

"Ow!" cried Soarin', rubbing his bruised noggin as Rainbow turned sharply away from him muttering under her breath.

Spitfire couldn't help but laugh at her second-in-command's consternation. "I see the two of you are still getting along swimmingly."

"As well as can be expected," said Soarin' with a groan, while Rainbow glared at him over her shoulder.

The smile fell from Spitfire's face. "Actually, I need to talk to you two about that too."

"Whoo boy," said Soarin' as he faced Spitfire with a nervous expression. Rainbow, feeling a bit worried herself, sat down and waited to hear what her captain had to say.

"Now, here's the deal," said Spitfire, "The idea of Wonderbolts being in a relationship isn't exactly new. Since we don't operate with as strict a hierarchy as the Guard, the fact that Soarin' is technically dating a subordinate isn't much of an issue either. Under normal circumstances, that kind of relationship might create friction or difficulties in a situation where you have to defer to Soarin's authority, Rainbow. But I trust the two of you and I hope that you'll overcome any problems in that area and emerge as better Wonderbolts because of it."

Both Rainbow and Soarin' nodded gravely.

"Part of that is because the Wonderbolts train to work seamlessly as a team without automatically defaulting hierarchy. A lot of the time, you'll be expected to do a lot of your own thinking and seeing where the team needs you and what you can do to support your teammates. That's not an easy skill to acquire and it takes a lot of experience to master, but you'll need it and I expect...No!...I demand that you acquire it. Wonderbolts think for themselves and act together. That may seem oxymoronic, but that doesn't make it any less true."

"Um..." Rainbow swallowed. This sounded way harder than what had been expected of her as a Weather Manager. But she was determined to rise to the challenge. I got in, that means that Spitfire believes I can do this.

Spitfire sighed. "That said, I'm sorry to say this, but Soarin' won't be involved in your training."

Soarin' blinked. "Huh! But I'm her close-combat instructor, aren't I?"

"Nope," said Spitfire flatly, "Misty Fly has Rainbow's close-combat training."

"But I always do close-combat training," Soarin' whined, "I've got the highest rating, don't I?"

"You do," said Spitfire, "But there is no way in Tartarus I'm letting you handle Rainbow's close combat training."

"Aww! Why not?" groaned Soarin'.

Rainbow felt a bit let down as well. After having already spent most of her relationship with Soarin' at quite a distance, she was a little disappointed to find out that he wouldn't be one of the ponies training her.

Spitfire raised an eyebrow and gave Soarin' her best "you're an idiot" look. "I want you to think very hard about my reasoning when I say that I don't want the two of you spending an extended period of time in close quarters, getting extremely sweaty as you grapple forcefully with one another, putting your hooves on each other's bodies..." Her eyebrow lifted incrementally higher as she saw the bright blushes spreading across Soarin' and Rainbow's faces as the two of them envisioned exactly just such a situation. "Needless to say, since I don't want to have to change out the cumulus padding in the practice room after each of your...sessions, and I want to be sure that what you're doing is actual training, I'm going to have the next best pony on the team handle Rainbow's training."

Um...When she puts it that way...I guess it makes sense, thought Rainbow, Though I certainly wouldn't mind a few intensive sessions with Soarin'.

"You see my point?" asked Spitfire, prompting a nod from her audience, "Good! This brings us to our last topic...Sex."

"What?" gasped Rainbow.

"Have you done it?" asked Spitfire, not even bothering to beat around the bush.

"No!" cried out Rainbow, "We haven't even shared a room or a bed yet!"

"That's what I thought," said Spitfire in a relieved tone, "Which makes it a lot easier for me to tell you two won’t be doing it from now until however long your training lasts."

Soarin' nodded, as though he were completely unsurprised by the idea.

"But why not?" asked Rainbow, not that she was desperate to have sex with Soarin'...But after Spitfire had been so accepting and even encouraging of their relationship, Rainbow was surprised to hear Spitfire categorically deny a part of it like that.

"Sex is distracting," said Spitfire simply, "For a while, at least. It's a big step in a relationship and one that can occupy a lot of your time and attention, both before and after the act. That kind of distraction is the last thing you need when you're in the middle of intensive training. Once you've finished your training and are actually part of the team, then you'll be free to work those things out with Soarin'. That includes all of the baggage that comes with a sexual relationship, including any...eventualities...that might pop up."

Rainbow gulped yet again. "Eventualities...?"

Spitfire shrugged. "You know, pregnancy, a little bundle of joy on the way, a bun in the oven-"

"I get the idea."

"In any case," said Spitfire, "I obviously wouldn't have allowed or encouraged a relationship between the two of you if I hadn't thought about things like that, including maternity leave. There are no real requirements in terms of eligibility and the like, but I imagine that becoming parents might make being active Wonderbolts difficult."

Rainbow frowned. She didn't like the idea of trying to balance being a mom and being a Wonderbolt at all. She couldn't imagine how difficult it would be for their foal if either she or Soarin, or worse, both of them, were constantly away on deployment. What kind of life was that to subject a foal to? On the other hoof, spending the time to properly see to a foal's needs would generally rule out being a Wonderbolt, which would probably mean that either Rainbow or Soarin', possibly both of them, would have to give up their place on the team to properly care for said foal. Neither option was particularly pleasant.

Spitfire smiled, apparently noticing Rainbow's chain of thought. "Yeah, that's not gonna be an easy issue. It's not as though you're obligated to become a mother at some point. Hay! Some couples are perfectly happy going throughout their lives without foals of their own. But you need to remember, however reliable modern contraception and birth-control techniques have become, there's still always a margin of error...which is the other reason sex is off the table during your training. You can't get pregnant from all the sex you don't have."

"I figured that," deadpanned Rainbow.

"Any particulars in that area will be for you and Soarin' to work out," said Spitfire, "That's assuming your relationship ever gets that far." She broke out into a grin. "But hey, we're breaking new ground after all. It's bound to be rocky."

"New ground?" asked Rainbow.

"You two are the first Wonderbolts members to be in a relationship with each other since I took over the team," said Spitfire, "Rapidfire is married, but his wife isn't on the team. She has a regular job at the Weather Factory. A couple of the others are in some pretty serious relationships too. But again, none of them are in a relationship with a fellow Wonderbolt."

"You mean this has never happened before?" asked Rainbow.

"It happened a few times before I took over," said Spitfire, "But back then, since the Wonderbolts was a cushy job for 'elite flyers' who only needed to strut their stuff at the occasional show, it was nowhere near as much of an issue."

"Makes sense, I guess," said Rainbow. It was a lot to take in at once. It was also a lot to think about. There would be plenty of tough decisions to make...even after her training was complete.

"That's about all I had to say," said Spitfire, "You're dismissed. You have the rest of today and tomorrow to yourself."

"Thanks," said Rainbow. She turned to go, but hesitated when she noticed that Soarin' wasn't following her.

"I have to talk to Spitfire for a bit," said Soarin', giving his fillyfriend a grin, "I'll join up with you in a bit."

"Okay," said Rainbow, letting herself out the room.

For a long moment, Soarin' and Spitfire were silent. Finally, the pale-blue stallion broke that silence. "So...I noticed you didn't tell her about the training."

Spitfire smirked. "Nope. And if you have any sense in your head, you won't tell her either."

"Tell her that she's expected to do in three months what's expected of normal initiates during their first six," said Soarin', "I wouldn't want to put her under that kind of pressure. She's got enough of that as it is."

"Physically, she's more than up to snuff," said Spitfire, "For most new recruits, that's the longest part of the process." Conditioning the body took both time and care. Wonderbolts were expected to have substantial strength, stamina, agility, and reflexes. Cultivating those things was not a fast process, since rushing could easily do more harm than good. However, all of both Spitfire and Soarin's experience with Rainbow Dash told them that Rainbow was in top shape, even by Wonderbolt standards...

...Which was the only reason Spitfire would even consider accelerating Rainbow's training in the first place. Spitfire fully expected Rainbow to complete in three months what was expected of most new recruits in six. It was a gamble, an incredibly risky one at that. It would mean riding Rainbow hard for the next three months and not letting up. There was a fair chance that Rainbow would snap and break under the strain.

But Spitfire had faith that she wouldn't. When push came to shove, Rainbow Dash was a pony who rose to the challenge and met it head on...even when she didn't actually know said challenge was coming. "Nothing more to do but get to it."

Scootaloo was awake even before the sun was cresting the horizon. It was Monday, meaning that the first day of the new school term was about to begin. In spite of being out late the night before, Scootaloo didn't feel all that drowsy as she rolled out of bed and made her way to the bathroom. She'd gotten used to getting up early. Besides, as the year progressed, the sun would start rising earlier and, pretty soon, it wouldn't be dark at all outside when she got up for her morning routine.

As she reached the bottom of the stairs, Scootaloo was already looking around expectantly. On the days where they met at her house, Dawn was usually there already, waiting for her so that they could run through their forms.

Oh... thought Scootaloo, her enthusiasm fading away as the memory of what happened last night rushed through her, He's not gonna be here anymore.

Coming down to an empty living room with no sign of her coltfriend made Scootaloo feel as empty as the room itself. Her stomach churned as she remembered their fight, her storming off to her room and Dawn to his and Fluttershy's cottage. Is that it? Is it really over between us?

Her pain faded and was replaced by anger as she remembered what Dawn had said last night. I don't need that jerk. He scolds me for being reckless after going off and nearly getting himself killed how many times now. I don't need a coltfriend or a teacher who isn't gonna respect me.

With an angry snarl, Scootaloo went out into the front yard to go through her forms without Dawn. It took less than ten minutes for her to realize that something was wrong. Her movements, usually smooth and flowing, were sharp and jerky. Her steps were halting and her wings seemed to jab out carelessly. Nothing about her forms felt right. What was more, no matter how hard she tried, she just couldn't clear her head. Instead, her mind would once again go over the events of the previous evening and conjure up that strange melange of sadness, guilt, and anger in her gut. No matter how hard she tried, it wouldn't go away.

With an angry groan, Scootaloo gave up trying to go through her forms again and instead stalked inside to wait for breakfast. She settled onto the couch until Melon Cream came down. Melon froze when she caught sight of her daughter sulking in the living room.

"Scootaloo? What are you doing sitting there? Aren't you usually out practicing right now?" Melon stared at the filly, trying to make sense of what she was seeing.

"Yeah," Scootaloo groaned, "But I just can't seem to do it." She rested her head in her hooves. "I can't think straight. I can't focus. I just...I just can't..." She let out an angry sob.

Melon wrapped Scootaloo in a tight hug. "I understand. It's hard, having your first big fight with your coltfriend."

"He's not my coltfriend anymore," said Scootaloo, though her heart wasn't in it.

"Of course he is," said Melon, "Your bond is too strong to be broken by a silly fight like this."

"A silly fight!?" gasped Scootaloo, "How can you call that silly? He doesn't respect me at all. He wants to treat me like some helpless filly who can't do anything for herself, no matter how much progress I make. He just wants to keep me safe and out of the way."

Melon sighed. "Yes, you're definitely being silly about it. You said those things, not him."

"But he was still getting on my case about what I did."

"Because he was scared, you silly filly," said Melon in a teasing tone, "How many times have you scolded and shouted at Dawn when he'd gone off to do something similar?"

"Um..." Scootaloo frowned. "But..."

"I'm not saying that Dawn was wholly right," said Melon, "He could certainly trust you more. After all, in spite of everything, you came back unhurt, which shows that you can fight your own battles...to a certain extent. And Dawn certainly is one to talk when it comes to scolding ponies about doing reckless things. But..."

"But what?" asked Scootaloo, looking up at her mother.

"Think about all the times Dawn did do something reckless that got him hurt or put him at risk," suggested Melon, a faint hint of a smile playing across her lips.

Scootaloo frowned, thinking back. Her first thought was of Dawn's fight with Storm Front and Red River after the stallions had declared their intent to "execute" him. That had been undeniably stupid and reckless and a fight that Dawn should have simply walked away from. But he hadn't been in the proper frame of mind to do that at the time. So that one probably didn't count. As for the others...

Dawn had gone to Cloudsdale with Rainbow Dash, which had been the first time he'd met Perlin Bluestreak in battle. He'd ended up getting several lacerations that had required stitches and a healing spell. However, he'd only done that because Rainbow had asked for his help, feeling that the situation was too much and too dangerous to handle on her own. Thus, in spite knowing it could be dangerous, Dawn had gone with her, seeking to do what he could to help a friend.

After that had been Dawn's fight with Willow, the assassin who had come specifically to kill him. She'd plunged Ponyville into an impenetrable fog in order to isolate and incapacitate him. Even though it had been extremely dangerous and ill-advised, Dawn had left the safety of the schoolhouse to go out and confront her. However, he'd only done that because he was worried about what would happen if Willow had taken the fight inside, which would have put all the other foals in the schoolhouse, along with Miss Cheerilee in danger. Dawn had gone out because staying in would have put others at risk.

Then there had been his trip to Diamond Mountain. He'd come back uninjured that time, but he'd also been through a hard-fought battle. It was a dangerous battle in a far-away place. However, Dawn had gone because it was a way to defuse a situation where Foal Protective Services were trying to find a way to declare Fluttershy ineligible to be his mother as part of some noble's convoluted scheme and because said noble had taken an innocent mare hostage to set those events into motion.

Finally, there had been his fight with Shade Steel. Dawn had gone to face the former Guardsmare because she had taken Dinky Doo hostage in order to lure him out. That fight had ended with Dawn nearly bleeding out. Only quick thinking and quicker acting by Scootaloo and Storm Front had saved him. Scootaloo had never been more terrified than she had been on that day, fearing that it might be the last day she saw Dawn alive.

But all of those occasions had something in common. Dawn had gone out and put his life at risk because there was something else, someone else's wellbeing, at stake. He'd put his life on the line to help and protect others, not because he'd seen an opportunity for a fight and jumped on it.

"Do you see?" said Melon as she watched the realization dawn on her daughter's face.

"Yeah," said Scootaloo.

"Now, you told me about what you did last night," said Melon, "Why exactly did you attack Perlin?"

"I..." Scootaloo replayed the events of the night before over her head. She'd been in her bedroom when she'd heard the sound of breaking glass and a scream in the distance. She'd immediately leapt out her open window to try and find out the source of the sound. However, her eyes had caught the glimmer of moonlight off of metal wings and zeroed in on the form of Perlin Bluestreak as he winged his way through the sky.

At that moment, Scootaloo's concerns about what she'd heard had immediately faded into the background. The moment she recognized Perlin, she saw him as an enemy and she attacked. Her confidence had risen when she realized that she'd actually gotten the drop on the young stallion and had entertained the notion that she could win if she didn't let up and allow the opportunity slip through her hooves. Her conversation with Storm after the fight had quickly disabused her of that notion.

However, when she thought back to her reasons for attacking Perlin, her heart sank. Perlin had been flying away from Ponyville, not even heading in the direction of Fluttershy's cottage. He had clearly been leaving and wasn't attacking or threatening anypony at the moment. Granted, he was still a criminal, but Scootaloo realized that she knew better than to think she could try to take down or apprehend him. So what had been at stake?

She knew the answer. Nothing... There was nothing wrong with putting your life at risk when it was to protect somepony else. But attacking a superior enemy who wasn't posing an immediate threat, rather than leaving it to ponies who were more experienced and better able to handle him was simply more likely to add her name to the list of his victims. Scootaloo had been lucky that Storm had arrived in time to deflect Perlin's last attack or she would have been dead. She could have rationalized it by saying that she couldn't afford to let Perlin get away to threaten ponies in the future. However, she knew better, considering the thought hadn't entered her mind when she'd attacked him.

Granted, when Perlin had come to Ponyville during the Diamond Mountain affair, Dawn had attacked him for no real reason either. But that had been because Dawn had believed that Perlin was there to continue the fight they'd started in Cloudsdale. It wasn't unreasonable and Perlin had been all too eager to oblige him. Once Dawn had learned Perlin's real reason for being in Ponyville, he'd immediately given up on fighting the older colt and their uneasy partnership had apparently persisted throughout the journey to Diamond Mountain and back.

"I guess I didn't really have a good reason," said Scootaloo, "I mean, other than the fact that I knew he was Dawn's enemy."

Melon nodded. "It seems to me that Dawn knew just how strong Perlin was. No wonder he was angry and afraid for you. He would have a better idea than just about anypony else how much danger you were in."

Scootaloo nodded.

"So..." said Melon, resting her forehooves on her daughter's shoulders, "What are you going to do when you see Dawn again?"

"I owe him an apology," said Scootaloo.

Fluttershy frowned as she set the bowl of porridge in front of Dawn. The ebony colt had been silent ever since he had returned home the previous night. His silence had persisted through the morning, when he'd gotten up to practice his forms, which had surprised Fluttershy, seeing as he hadn't flown off to join Scootaloo. Furthermore, having watched Dawn go through his forms countless times, Fluttershy could tell that he was troubled by something. His movements weren't as smooth and graceful as they usually were.

"Dawn," she said, inflecting her voice with an uncharacteristically stern tone, "What happened last night?"

Dawn looked up at her. Seeing her gaze was not flinching, he sighed and explained the events of the previous night to his mother. Fluttershy mostly listened silently, but couldn't stifle a gasp of shock when she heard that Scootaloo had traded blows with Perlin Bluestreak. Dawn then explained the circumstances of their fight and how he'd left Scootaloo's home in a fit of anger and come straight back.

Letting out a sigh, Fluttershy lowered her head. "Oh Dawn..."

"It was her decision," said Dawn in a low tone, "She obviously has no intention of listening any longer."

"That's enough," said Fluttershy sternly. The rebuke in her voice caused Dawn's head to snap back up to see that she was looking at him from across the table, unsmiling. Fluttershy sighed and shook her head. "Dawn. You can be so foolish sometimes."

"Foolish...?"

"I understand that you were worried about Scootaloo and that what she did was reckless," explained Fluttershy, "It's even more frightening because she's your fillyfriend too."

Dawn nodded slowly.

"But you need to also show her some trust and respect. She's getting stronger and you know it. You've even told me that she's probably more talented than you when it comes to the martial arts."

Again, Dawn nodded.

Fluttershy smiled at him. "You can't change what happened last night anymore than Scootaloo or I could wish away all the times you were hurt and we had to just stand by and watch. But if you simply stand by and try to ignore her from now on, Scootaloo will only get hurt worse in the future. You can't help her by walking away and leaving her to herself."

"But..." Dawn looked down, "What if she doesn't listen?”

"I think she will," said Fluttershy warmly, "Scootaloo made a mistake last night. It's only a matter of time before she realizes it. But the most important thing you can do is help her learn from it, don't you think?"

"Yes," admitted Dawn.

"Good," said Fluttershy, "So...what are you going to do when you see her again?"

"I'm going to apologize," said Dawn.

"That's what I thought."

Smiling to herself, Fluttershy tucked into her own breakfast, watching as Dawn did the same. She was glad that she was able to handle the situation on her own. She would have felt much better if Caramel had been there as well. It had been bad enough to be alone in her bed for the first time in months. Getting used to it being just her and Dawn again was going to take a little while. But, hopefully, it wouldn't be too long before Caramel joined them.

Hopefully, she thought, Dawn and Scootaloo can work their problems out before school starts. I would hate for them to go back to school while they're still fighting.

Scootaloo paused, swallowing hard as the schoolhouse came into sight. It was still a few minutes until the bell, signaling the beginning of classes, would ring. Until then, she and the other students would be mingling in the yard. Dawn will be there. She wasn't certain that she could face him after everything that had happened the previous night. But her mother was right, an apology was needed. What she and Dawn had was far too important to be thrown away over a single disagreement, even such a serious one as this.

With a sigh, she continued walking towards the schoolhouse, a part of her desperately wanting to postpone the inevitably uncomfortable situation for as long as possible. Eventually, the yard came into view and Scootaloo could see that her friends were already there. Apple Bloom had already spotted her and was waving excitedly.

"Heya Scootaloo," said Bloom as the orange filly trotted up to join the group, "Ya ready to start school again?"

"I guess..." said Scootaloo, looking away.

"Are you okay?" asked Sweetie, noting her friend's uncharacteristic behavior, "You look worried about something."

"Um...well..." Scootaloo frowned, looking down at the ground, "I...I..."

"Wow," said Bloom, looking Scootaloo over, "It looks like Sweetie wasn't the only pony who had a rough night."

"Yeah," agreed Scootaloo before freezing and blinking in surprise at Bloom and Sweetie, "Wait! What?"

"Somepony broke into the Boutique last night," said Sweetie, "He stole a sample of Rarity's new fabric!"

"What?" Even as she spoke, Scootaloo's mind traced her memories of the event. She remembered the scream, the sound of breaking glass. Also, she remembered the strip of fabric she'd recovered from the fight with Perlin, which was sitting inside her saddlebag even now.

"Yeah," said Sweetie, "It was really freaky. That thief scared poor Coco Pommel out of her mind and Flaxseed had a panic attack when she screamed and all that. He shoved the bed up against his door and we had to get Twilight Sparkle's help to move it back out of the way."

Scootaloo shifted nervously. Now she understood what Perlin had been doing. He had been the thief and had been making his getaway with a sample of Rarity's fabric.

Before she could fish for more details, Scootaloo's wind-sense picked up the approach of another pegasus through the air. Turning, she faced Dawn as he came in for a landing. As she laid eyes on him, her surroundings seemed to fade. The energetic voices of the other foals, the sound of the morning breeze winding its way through the newly sprouted leaves of the trees seemed to drift into the background. Even the presence of Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom retreated from the fore as all of her attention focused on Dawn.

It was clear that he was in a similar state. His eyes had not left her since he'd landed. His expression was neutral, giving nothing away. Slowly, almost painfully so, he began to walk towards her. Just as he got within arm's reach of her, Dawn paused and looked down. Scootaloo found herself averting her gaze as well.

"D-Dawn..." Scootaloo found herself barely able to force his name out of her mouth, as though something was choking her and trying to stop her from talking.

Dawn looked up to her, his mouth working as though he was fighting through the same difficulties she was. In the next instant, they spoke in unison.

"I'm sorry."

Both Scootaloo and Dawn froze, caught off-guard by their mutual apology. However, that hesitation lasted for only a second before they threw their arms around each other and hugged tightly.

"You were right," whispered Scootaloo, "I was being stupid and reckless."

"You were right too," said Dawn, "I was being a little too protective and controlling."

Scootaloo couldn't help but smile. "So...does this mean we're okay?"

Dawn smiled back. "I should think so. We might need to talk more about it later. But I'm just glad that's over. I was miserable."

"Yeah," agreed Scootaloo, "Me too." Before she could stop herself, a light giggle forced its way up and out of her throat. "But geez...apologizing at the same time as me...you have got to be the lamest coltfriend ever."

"But still yours," said Dawn amusedly.

"Yeah," said Scootaloo, leaning into his embrace, "Still mine."

As the two of them finally pulled away from each other, they noticed that Sweetie and Bloom had been watching, their eyes wide in confusion.

"Okay..." said Sweetie, "What the hay was that all about?"

"Um..." said Scootaloo, sheepishly rubbing the back of her head, "We sorta had a fight last night."

"A fight?" gasped Sweetie, her hooves going to her mouth, "He didn't hurt you, did he?"

"Not that kind of fight!" exclaimed Scootaloo, "Geez Sweetie! Whatever gave you that idea?"

"Sorry!" squeaked Sweetie.

"So ya two had one 'o them couple-like shoutin'-type fights?" asked Apple Bloom.

"Uh...more or less," said Dawn, blushing slightly, "We had a serious disagreement over how Scootaloo handled the situation last night. In a sense, I got a taste of my own medicine when I learned that she'd nearly been killed."

"What?" exclaimed Sweetie and Bloom in unison, gaping at Scootaloo, who was blushing even more brightly than her coltfriend.

"It wasn't that bad!" snapped Scootaloo at her friends, "Perlin didn't even touch me anyway!"

"Wait! Perlin...?" Sweetie tilted her head. "Isn't he that guy with the metal wings who keeps picking fights with Dawn?"

"That's right," said Scootaloo, "He was the thief in your Boutique last night."

Sweetie's hooves flew to her mouth again as she gasped. "No wonder Coco was scared so badly."

"Is that what it was all about?" asked Dawn, leaning in, "Perlin stole something from the Carousel Boutique?"

"Uh huh," said Sweetie, nodding, "He stole a sample of Rarity's new shimmersilk."

"Is that what this stuff is?" asked Scootaloo, withdrawing the strip of fabric from her saddlebag.

"That's it!" shouted Sweetie, nearly bowling over the other foals with the force of her voice, "Where did you get that?"

"Perlin had it wrapped around his leg," said Scootaloo, "I guess it came loose during our fight, 'cause I found it drifting around in the air after he booked it."

"Oh wow," gasped Sweetie, taking the fabric in her hooves, "Rarity is going to be so happy! Not only did nopony get hurt, but you managed to get her fabric back. That's great!"

"Good goin' sugarcube," added Bloom with an approving smile.

Scootaloo found herself blushing again as she looked back at Dawn, who merely raised an eyebrow at her. "I suppose you have a trophy of sorts for surviving a round with Perlin."

There was a rush of air and the thud of hooves smacking into the ground as Rumble came to a stumbling, halting stop a short distance away from the group before galloping the rest of the way towards them. "I'm not late am I?"

"Ya just made it," said Bloom, turning to look at the schoolhouse. The first bell of the day was only a minute or so away from ringing.

"I overslept," said Rumble, "I'm so sorry!"

Bloom couldn't help but chuckle. "If ya'd missed the bell, ya sure would've been."

"So..." said Rumble, “What'd I miss?"

Dark Designs

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Chapter 11: Dark Designs

The stallion's eye slowly pried itself open. He glared angrily at his surroundings, taking in the sight of a dingy Fillydelphia back-alley. A low growl of frustration forced its way out of his throat. Opening his eye was a disgusting feeling, as the lid felt as though it had been glued into place. It was a filthy feeling...for a filthy stallion. His neon-green body was covered in dirt and filth. He was glad that he couldn't smell himself, because he probably stank to high heaven.

His stomach let out a low gurgling grumble. The stallion didn't care. After all, he didn't have the strength to get up and look for food anymore. His legs, thin and gaunt probably didn't even have the strength to bear his weight anymore. Besides, it wasn't as though he had any reason to keep trying to prolong his life. It was best to just let it end. It wasn't like he had anything to live for. The world and its ponies had simply taken too much from him for him to care anymore.

At least it didn't hurt any longer. Earlier on, his hunger had been painful to the point that he'd occasionally been left writhing on the ground as the pangs assaulted him. Fortunately, those had faded, though only because his body, in its desperation, had turned to devouring itself in order to maintain its functions. The past winter had been especially hard, as the bitter cold had driven him from sifting through the refuse for any form of sustenance and forced him to shelter where he was now. At least eating the snow had kept him from dying of dehydration. But now, the stallion would have to wait until the first scheduled rainstorm of spring for more water. It would be a contest to see whether dehydration or starvation claimed him first.

He shifted his weight a little, the action drawing pained protests from his body. But he didn't care anymore. A low buzzing sounded in his ear, followed by the itchy feeling of minuscule legs alighting on its tip. The stallion flicked his ear irritably, prompting the buzzing to resume as the insect was dislodged from its perch...only to come swooping about to land on the tip of his muzzle. The stallion's nostrils flared as he snorted, blowing the fly away. However, the fly simply returned...with friends.

It wasn't surprising to see them there. The stallion supposed that he would soon just be another pile of rotting meat before long. He certainly figured that he smelled like it now...not that he smelled much of anything anymore. But, until he finally expired, the flies were an annoyance.

Another fly came in for a landing a little ways on top of the stallion's wing. The wing twitched to dislodge the pest. However, doing so sent pain lancing down the stallion's spine as the twitching disturbed the wrecked joint partway down the wing. Said joint had been shattered to a degree that not even a skilled unicorn doctor had been able to restore it to proper working form. The bones had set awkwardly, generating a painful, grating feeling whenever the stallion moved his wings at all and, worse still, made any attempt to flap them debilitatingly painful. His opposite wing had been injured almost identically. As a consequence, the sky had been closed off from him forever.

It was these injuries that had sealed the fate of the pegasus stallion known as Flash Spark. Ever since that night in Ponyville, he had not been able to take to the skies again. Flash Spark's eyes narrowed as the pain reminded him of the reason behind his that injury.

He'd once been a useful member of the Ponyville Weather Team, serving underneath Rainbow Dash. On one occasion, Flash had apparently gotten a bit too frisky for her tastes, which had resulted in her subduing him and threatening to pull his wings clean off if he ever tried anything with her again. After that, she'd forced demeaning, often frustrating jobs on him, one after the other. Seeing that the feisty cerulean mare was far too dangerous to court in his usual...extremely forward fashion, Flash Spark had set his sights on an easier target.

Fortunately, Ponyville was not short on attractive, single mares. Flash's attention had been caught by the quiet, graceful figure of Fluttershy. Compared to Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy was practically the perfect choice for Flash's sensibilities. She was a former model, quiet, and submissive. The last part had been especially important to Flash Spark, as he figured he'd be free to do as he pleased with her. The only downside had been that Fluttershy was under Rainbow's "protection," which made it difficult for Flash to find the right time to make Fluttershy his.

However, he'd found his moment and taken it. But, just when he was about to finally succeed, he'd been stopped by some strange, freaky colt. An angry fire blazed through Flash's veins at the thought of that colt. He could only vaguely recall the colt's appearance. All he remembered clearly was the colt's eyes; those blueish-green orbs with catlike, slit-shaped pupils. In an instant, the colt had struck him, shattering the joints in both of Flash Spark's wings, rendering them useless and making Flash into a helpless cripple.

After that, Flash had been collected by the Ponyville Guard and had been held in their custody after getting his wings treated, which had included the devastating prognosis that he would never fly again. After spending a few months in prison, Flash had been turned loose, free, but exiled from Ponyville.

The exile was bad enough, but even worse was the knowledge that his hooves would never leave the ground again. Flash had always been proud of his wings. He'd enjoyed mocking the worthless groundpounders and the annoying screwheads who tramped about on the earth. Being a pegasus meant that he was above all that. But now, he was stuck on the ground too. It was mortifying.

Flash had wandered his way into Fillydelphia. His efforts to find some sort of employment were always derailed by the fact that he was useless as a pegasus. Flash was sure that a great many of his prospective employers took a certain perverse pleasure in turning him down because he was a pegasus who could not fly. A more rational pony might have pointed out that Flash's habit of drinking himself into a stupor and showing up for interviews suffering from a nasty hangover had probably done much more harm than any amount of prejudice his condition might have inspired. But Flash Spark was always too busy drowning his sorrow over the latest rejection to care.

Before he'd known it, Flash drank the remainder of his funds away. Unable to pay for food or housing...or additional liquor...Flash found himself out on the streets, sifting through garbage for edibles and sleeping in alleyways like this one, huddled beneath newspaper or inside of a cardboard box. That was where the unforgiving winter had found him. During winter, food had been scarce on the few occasions Flash had been able to muster up enough energy to go out looking for it, which had taken its toll, leaving him where he lay now, at the edge of death, simply watching as the last of his life ebbed away.

Lazily, Flash's ice-blue eye rolled up to trace the meandering circles of a fly hovering overhead, clearly waiting for him to expire.

"Pathetic, aren't they?"

Flash blinked. The sound of another pony's voice was so strange and unexpected that it was incomprehensible to him for a moment. He hadn't actually been spoken to in so long that the other pony's voice sounded like so much gibberish to him. The voices of ponies passing by in the streets had faded into so much white noise. It actually took a few seconds for the language centers in Flash's brain to engage and begin the laborious process of interpreting the series of sounds emerging from the other pony's mouth into actual words.

Flash's gaze drifted down to find the source of the voice, a pinkish unicorn stallion with a mane of layered orange and yellow. Flash's eyes lingered on the unicorn's cyan ones before drifting up to see his horn, off-white and sheathed in some sort of crystalline substance. It looked unnervingly out of place on the unicorn's head.

"What?" croaked Flash, his throat so dry, he could barely speak.

The unicorn held out a hoof, holding it still enough for a nearby fly to land on it. "Their lifespans can be measured in mere days. The sole impetus of their existence is to find an object to supply sustenance for their brood before they pass away. They are short-lived, small, insignificant...pathetic." His eyes turned back to Flash Spark. "And yet...even they are capable of something that is far beyond you."

"What's that?" asked Flash, his anger rising, feeling as though he already had an idea of the answer.

The unicorn's smile widened. "They can fly. For all the pointlessness of their existence, they can spread their wings, leave the ground behind, and take to the air, as free as any pegasus. Freer, if you think about it. The capability of their wings is magnificent. An ordinary housefly has almost complete freedom of movement, able to move in virtually any direction at will, reacting with speed that allows it to avoid all but the swiftest of swatting hooves. Were you to take one of these insects and expand it to a pony's size, it would be repulsive, but it would also be a flyer capable of putting even the Wonderbolts to shame."

He turned an empty smile on Flash. "And...seeing as they have working wings, they are more than you are at the moment."

A wordless snarl exploded from Flash's lips. Here he was, at the end of his rope, about to shuffle off this mortal coil, and this screwhead was mocking him, saying that even bugs were better off than he was. "Is that all you've got to say?" asked Flash, beginning to wonder if he could marshal enough strength to lunge at the infuriating unicorn.

"I was merely illuminating your situation," explained the unicorn. There was no sense of mockery in his tone, only pure, unvarnished truth. "When you know full-well where you are, then you begin to see where you need to go."

Flash grunted irritably. Stupid screwheads...Always talking in circles and saying nothing.

The unicorn continued. "I wanted to make your position clear so that you can fully understand the path I am opening up before you." He turned his attention back to the fly, which still stood on his outstretched hoof. "I am fully aware of your condition and have an offer for you to consider."

"What's that?" asked Flash, his eyes narrowing.

The unicorn's eyes narrowed as he studied the fly. "You know...when I spoke of how pathetic these creatures were, that was pure vanity. True, they do not experience life beyond the propagation of their own kind, yet they live. In fact, they live quite well. Of all the animals in this world, none can match the kindred of insects for their sheer tenacity. They have diversified far beyond a mere three tribes and have spread and, indeed, thrived in nearly every environment imaginable. We call the more inconvenient ones pests and try to root them out at every possible opportunity. And yet, they always seem to come back. That power of tenacity is unmatched by any other type of animal in existence, a persistent power that refuses to allow their kind to fade from the world."

"Get to the point," snarled Flash.

The unicorn stallion turned his attention back to Flash and lowered his hoof, prompting the fly to take to the air again. "It is within my power to impart some of that tenacity to you. It would reverse your circumstances and place the sky back within your grasp."

"My wings?" gasped Flash Spark, his annoyance with the unicorn fading as a simmering feeling of hope clawed its way up from the pit of his stomach, "You can fix them?" He felt a faint tickling sensation from one of the bugs that landed on his back as it paced up his spine. For some reason, the sensation almost seemed to be coaxing his leaden limbs back to life.

"Not fix them, as such," replied the stallion, "Rather, I will replace them with a superior form, one that will make you unmatched in the skies. I am sure that you could easily imagine what you could do with such power."

The tickling of the insect's legs sent flashes of sensation shooting up and down Flash Spark's body, rushing down to the tips of his hooves and back. The sensations chased away the heavy feeling of his impending demise and a new sense of energy and purpose flooded into Flash Spark's spirit. He began to imagine the faces of those who wronged him: that colt from Ponyville, Fluttershy, her groundpounder lover, and Rainbow Dash. As Rainbow's face came up before his mind's eye, the insect on his back seemed to shift in its motion, the tickling sensation becoming irritable and itchy. The simmering hope in his gut boiled over into rage and anger. Yeah, I can imagine a thing or two I'd like to use that power for.

A low growl issued forth from Flash Spark. His legs twitched, then began to move as he tucked them underneath his body and pushed. With agonizing slowness, Flash Spark rose to his hooves and looked the other stallion straight in the eye.

"I'll take that offer," he said.

Morning Star gave Flash a friendly smile. "I thought you might."

Two patches of white formed on Morning's shoulders, swelling outward like blisters before seeming to erupt into a pair of feathery appendages. They seemed less like wings and more like a stream of feathers that began to extend around to envelop the two ponies. "Well then..." said Morning, "Let us be on our way. I have my work cut out for me to remake you."

The feathers swirled about the two of them and then dispersed. The two stallions were gone, at though they had never been there to begin with. Only a small swarm of buzzing flies remained, bobbing in irregular patterns through the air. Amongst them was an unusual specimen, a fly with a strange, off-white color and pale-blue, glasslike eyes. It lingered amongst its darker-colored kin for but a moment before seeming to crumble away into nothingness.

"I don't appreciate the fact that you came back with empty hooves," said Baron Elderflower in a low, dangerous tone.

Standing across the desk from him, Perlin Bluestreak shrugged idly. "My apologies. I have no excuse for my failure."

"No excuse...but I would like an explanation," said Elderflower, pressing his forehooves together and resting his chin upon them.

Perlin chuckled, looking a bit sheepish. "I'm afraid that Dawn Lightwing's protege got the drop on me. She managed to force me to lose my grip on the sample. Before I could deal with her and recover it, a much more dangerous pony arrived on the scene and forced my retreat."

"You shied away from a battle?" asked Elderflower, his eye brow rising, "That doesn't sound like the colt who brazenly walked into Canterlot and laid low an entire squad of the Royal Guard, along with their Captain, when he first arrived."

"I enjoy my fights," said Perlin, "But I prefer to hold fights on my terms. It was not my mission at the time, also, I wouldn't have been able to enjoy it, as additional help would have arrived before long and I would have been forced into a battle that was too one-sided against me for me to enjoy. I deemed retrieval of the sample to be an impossible task and retreated, lest I risk capture and being forced to give up information on my employer."

Elderflower's nostrils flared, but it was the only outward sign of his frustration that he showed. "I suppose there is nothing more that can be done about it," he said, his voice almost a mumble, "I am most disappointed in you, Perlin Bluestreak."

"I apologize," said Perlin, dipping his head, "If you wish to dismiss me from your service, I shall depart without delay."

Elderflower pressed his lips together in a thin line. For all the frustration he caused, Perlin was a useful tool, one the Baron couldn't afford to relinquish just yet. Although he had failed this time, Perlin was still far too useful to simply cast aside. "I shall forgive you," said Elderflower, "But I shall withhold payment of your salary for the next three periods as punishment."

Perlin bobbed his head. "I shall accept that," he said with a smile, "I shall await your next order at your leisure...My Lord." Perlin turned and made his exit.

Elderflower sighed and leaned back into his seat, wondering if he needed to reconsider Perlin's usefulness.

As the door to the Baron's office shut behind him, Perlin finally flinched. "Owww...." Sitting down, he looked at his stomach and raised a hoof to inspect the patch of dark blooming beneath his coat. "That filly certainly got in quite the shot," he said as he prodded the tender spot. The bruise was large and sore. For all that she was a novice, she'd done excellently.

Perlin couldn't help but smile. "At least this gives me something to look forward to."

"A greenhorn like you can't have much of anything to look forward to."

Perlin's ears perked as he turned towards the source of the noise. Two ponies, a stallion and a mare were approaching him. The stallion, a pegasus, had a coat that had once been a vivid, emerald green. However, age appeared to have dulled it into mottled patches of darker and lighter shades all across his body. Parts of it were interrupted regularly by scars that ran in crisscrossing networks across his barrel and down his legs. Furthermore, the stallion's sky-blue mane was ragged and uneven, with patches of gray. One of his ears was slightly shorter, mostly because it was missing the very tip. Last, one of his pale-gray eyes was covered by a black eyepatch. He was considerably older than most stallions Perlin had met, tough and grizzled. Yet he still managed to carry himself with a youthful air of arrogance, as though he were still at that young age where most stallions thought themselves invincible. His lips pulled back in a mocking grin as his remaining good eye fixed on Perlin.

His companion, the mare, was a unicorn. Her coat was a dirty shade of white, with patches of brown as though it had been stained by dirt and other...unmentionable substances. Her mane was pitch black and uneven. Rather than looking dry and ragged like the stallion's, here mane instead hung in smooth, greasy strips, like it had been soaked in oil. Her tail practically looked more like a flowing stream of liquid than anything resembling hair. She stared at Perlin with empty-looking eyes. Her irises were the same black as her pupils, giving her an eerie, lifeless stare, one that was almost akin to the uneasy feeling that eyes like Dawn's eyes inspired in other ponies. The white color of her horn was marred by several black lines from the cracks that ran up and down its length.

“Ah hello,” said Perlin, turning to face the new arrivals, “I was not aware that the Lord Baron had been hiring additional help.”

The stallion’s lips curled up in a derisive sneer. “I can’t imagine how a whelp like you managed to get hired at all. Those fancy wings are nothing more than cheap window-dressings if you ask me.”

“As it was, I happened to have been supplied with excellent references,” replied Perlin, his tone still amicable, “I have been ‘highly recommended’…or so I’m told.”

The pegasus laughed harshly. “I’m sure you believe that youngster. Obviously, your references don’t count for much, seeing as you failed your latest assignment.”

Perlin bobbed his head in acknowledgement. "Admittedly, results speak for themselves. However, mistakes can be learned from and rectified."

The older pegasus hacked and then spat a wad of saliva off to one side. Perlin raised an eyebrow, but didn't really bother otherwise. It wasn't his mansion after all.

"I don't care about your mistakes," said the stallion, "I just don't want some wet-behind-the-ears brat getting in my way."

"I shall endeavor not to," said Perlin, tilting his head, "Unless, of course, that's what I'm paid to do." After all, these two weren't worth picking a fight with.

The mare, who had shown almost no reaction until now, narrowed her eyes, fixing him with a glare that would have paralyzed most ponies. "I'd watch my tongue if I were you." Her voice was a serpentine hiss, filled with violent malice, all of which was directed at Perlin. At the same time, a paradoxically black light crawled its way up the sides of her horn, shining out from within the cracks along its length. Some of her velvet began to burn, sending curling wisps of smoke rising up from the horn, giving the mare a fierce, almost demonic look.

Now she's interesting, thought Perlin, smiling slightly. "That's an interesting phrase; watch my tongue." He took a step forward and slowly spread his wings out from under his coat. "And just what will happen if I don't?"

The stallion stepped back slightly, his good eye widening at first, then narrowing, as though he were looking at Perlin in a new light. Still, he didn't back down and instead intensified his glare, though Perlin seemed to brush it off without a thought.

In contrast, the mare's eyes narrowed dangerously and her horn lowered in Perlin's direction, the black light emanating from the cracks in her horn intensifying. She looked as though she were about to attack.

The door to the Baron's study slammed open and Elderflower stormed out, practically throwing himself between Perlin and the two older ponies. "What in Celestia's name is going on here?" he demanded, "Are you three trying to start a war in my home?"

The older stallion's demeanor changed with a speed that was startling. "Terribly sorry sir," he said, addressing Elderflower, all smiles and sheepish laughter, "Inkwell and I were simply giving junior here some sage advice from his elders."

Perlin folded his wings back up, noting that, while her magic had dissipated, Inkwell's eyes had not left him. Even as her companion tried to cajole and calm the Baron, she was still looking for her opening, her opportunity, to attack.

"Fine," snapped Elderflower, "But get in here now! You're late."

"Right," said the stallion, "Come along, Inkwell."

The mare's sinister gaze finally left Perlin and she walked into the office ahead of the pegasus stallion, following the Baron in. As he was about to step in himself, the stallion regarded Perlin one last time. "Kid...you're pretty damn stupid to try and pick a fight with Greenblight and the Bonehammers. I've been around the block more times than you can count and my skills speak for themselves."

"So do your scars," Perlin noted with a wintry smile. "Scars are a sign of weakness. They show where your defenses have failed. To have acquired so many over the course of your career shows just how haphazard your way of fighting is." With that, he headed off down the hall, leaving a glaring Greenblight in his wake.

"You certainly don't waste time when it comes to picking fights," observed a pony as Perlin came to an intersection of corridors. Looking to his right, Perlin saw Wight Shade standing there.

"Normally you don't show up for weeks at a time. But now it seems that I'm seeing you every other day," noted Perlin.

Wight grinned. "As it so happens, with the Baron's plans picking up momentum, he's needed to consult me more and more often. As it is, I am well-connected, which he has taken advantage of to bring additional ponies into his service."

"Like them?" Perlin cast a dubious glance back down the hallway in the direction of the Baron's office.

"Ah yes...Greenblight and his crew," noted Wight, "An entertaining bunch."

"More mercenaries," mused Perlin, "Even though he usually disdains overt force, the Baron seems to be intent on hiring a lot more muscle lately."

"I think that his little exchange with Twilight Sparkle stung his pride," said Wight, "Like all nobles, he cannot stand insult or belittlement, especially not from those beneath his station. For the time being, I believe the new hires are more of a Plan B than anything else."

The corners of Perlin's lips turned downward. "Considering the things he's had me do in order to set up his Plan A, Plan B promises to be especially unpleasant."

With a chuckle, Wight shook his had in a sad gesture. "Part of me suspects that the Baron is hoping that he'll get the chance to put Plan B into action. Whatever it is, it's likely to have a greater promise of catharsis than his original plan."

"And what of those two?" asked Perlin, thinking back to Greenblight and Inkwell, "Who are they?"

"Mercenaries," replied Wight with a shrug, "Just as you supposed. Granted, while most mercenaries, like that pair currently in Ponyville, have scruples about who they work for and what jobs they will take, that pair, and the crew that follow them, are considerably less discriminating in their choice of employers and jobs.

"Greenblight seems to fancy himself a berserker from the annals of ancient pegasus culture. I've heard that he throws himself into battle with nothing but his blade, frothing at the mouth and lashing out wildly. Some ponies say that he feels no pain and suffers no fear. On the battlefield, he is rage and wrath incarnate, wilder than the most savage of beasts."

"No wonder he has so many scars," muttered Perlin.

"As for the mare, she is Greenblight's second-in-command. At one time, she was supposed to have been a skilled tactician and a fearsome battle mage. However, a few years ago, she overchanneled during a battle and cracked her horn as a result. The event also scrambled the meridians around her eyes, which is the cause of their unusual color."

"So that wasn't natural," said Perlin, "Did she go blind?"

"You saw for yourself that her eyesight is fully functional," replied Wight, "Her condition is actually similar in nature to that of your friend, Dawn Lightwing, in that the activation and alteration of the meridians around her eyes caused the magic flowing through them to act like a continuous transformation spell on her eyes. Inkwell is both nearsighted and farsighted and she can switch from one to the other at will. When nearsighted, she can see anything within a certain range with crystal clarity and can even follow objects moving at very high speeds. When farsighted, she can pinpoint the location of a target nearly a kilometer distant.

"Such a skill would probably be a major asset to a battle mage. However, because she never received proper treatment for cracking her horn, the damage to the alicorn never healed properly and she can no longer use anything but the most basic telekinesis. However, she has refined that skill with single-minded dedication and turned it into something very dangerous indeed."

"I'm guessing that that single-minded dedication you referred to is also a product of her injury," observed Perlin, remembering the intensity with which she had been watching him.

Wight nodded in agreement. "It would seem so. Under normal circumstances, Inkwell would have probably been the leader of the Bonehammers. Her tactical acumen made her well-suited to the role of commander. However, she no longer seems to care for tactics and instead has developed something of a one-track mind. She sets her sights on something and does not think much of anything else until she has achieved whatever she has set out to do. It's possible that there was some damage to her brain from the injury that heightened her ability to focus on tasks and see them through, but rendered her unable to consider the wider context. As such, she has been relegated to Greenblight's second."

"And the rest of these...Bonehammers?" pressed Perlin.

Wight shrugged. "Thugs mostly. They're skilled and experienced, but are the sort who are used to solving all their problems with force. They are the classic sellswords, only caring about the money and their next contract."

Perlin frowned. "Well...Elderflower's Plan B is sounding more and more unpleasant by the second."

"Very true," agreed Wight.

Considering that, in allowing himself to be parted from the sample that Elderflower wanted so easily, Perlin had been essentially undermining Elderflower's original plan, he wondered if the actions he'd chosen the previous night were such a good idea after all.

"So this was what all the hubbub was about?" asked Apple Bloom as she stared down at the glittering ribbon of fabric that lay atop the table. All around the five Crusaders were the sounds of ponies chatting and frolicking as the rest of the school enjoyed their recess and lunch.

"It's what Perlin was after," said Sweetie Belle, "That's why he made Coco let him into the Boutique."

"Isn't that the new fabric Rarity made?" asked Rumble, "The one she made Miss Trixie's dress from?"

"Uh huh," said Sweetie, "But I don't understand why that Perlin guy would want it so badly."

Everypony in the group looked to Dawn, who merely shrugged. "I doubt Perlin has any interest in the fabric itself. He was simply retrieving it for whoever hired him. As for their reasons..."

"Do you think it has to do with those nobles in Canterlot that Twilight and everypony is worried about?" asked Rumble.

"Possibly," mused Dawn, "He was working for one of them when we went to Diamond Mountain. If he is still working for the same pony, it is entirely possible. But there's no way to be sure of why anypony would want this fabric without finding out who ordered Perlin to steal it and finding out why from them directly."

"Ah can think 'o some reasons why," said Apple Bloom, "It's why Granny Smith's so gosh darn protective of the Zap Apple Jam recipe. The zap apples aside, if any 'o our competitors were able to get ahold 'o that recipe, they could try to choke off our supplies."

"You mean the ingredients you put in the jam?" asked Scootaloo.

Apple Bloom nodded in response.

"That makes sense," said Sweetie, "Rarity has to use some fancy al...uh...alch...alchemical stuff that she and Twilight came up with to make the fabric."

"That's possible," admitted Dawn, "Though it's doubtful that's the exact reason. Rarity hasn't marketed this yet and even most ponies in Ponyville don't know about its existence. Most likely, whoever wanted it simply heard about the fabric somewhere and wanted to find out more about how it was made."

"So what do we do about it?" asked Scootaloo.

"For now, we can return this to Rarity," said Dawn, who looked at Sweetie, "I'll bet having it back will help Coco feel better after she was forced to help steal it in the first place."

Sweetie nodded fervently. Coco Pommel had still been a mess, completely distraught over the affair, when Sweetie had left for school. She hoped that bringing the fabric back would help Coco feel better.

"But what about Perlin?" pressed Scootaloo, "What do we do about him...and the pony who hired him?"

Dawn frowned at her. "There's nothing we can do at the moment. Perlin is long gone and without knowing who hired him, we can't figure out where to look or what else to do. However, I think the important thing is to keep a close eye out. After a failure like this, I doubt that whoever is pulling the strings would be stupid enough to try the same thing twice. But we still need to be careful."

Scootaloo found herself pouting. Part of her chafed at the sting in Dawn's words, which hid yet another rebuke of her actions the previous night. She'd forgiven Dawn for his, sometimes, smothering protectiveness of her, and apologized for her own outburst and recklessness. But it irritated her that he still seemed to feel the need to chastise her.

But another part of her reminded her that, if he didn't continue to remind her, she might make the same mistake again. Next time, she might not get off with just a small scare and a bruised ego. Next time, Storm Front or some other pony might not be there to bail her out.

Looking over, she noticed that Dawn looked vaguely guilty as well. It seemed he realized the criticism hidden in his words and regretted it. Scootaloo reached out with a hoof and gently rested it on Dawn's. The ebony colt looked up and met her eyes. She smiled at him and leaned in to nuzzle up against him. Dawn relaxed and reciprocated.

The other Crusaders were too occupied with the conversation to notice the interaction between Dawn and Scootaloo. Soon after, the bell sounding the continuation of classes rang and they had to proceed back in to resume their lessons.

"Oh thank goodness!" gasped Rarity as she held the strip of shimmersilk in her hooves, "Poor Coco has just been an absolute wreck since last night. I hope this will help improve her mood."

"Where is she now?" asked Sweetie as she, Dawn, and Scootaloo looked up at Rarity. After school, they had immediately headed over to the Boutique to give the shimmersilk back to Rarity. Apple Bloom had to return to the farm to help with chores, while Storm Front had whisked away Rumble as soon as the gray colt was out the gates.

Rarity glanced over her shoulder at the workroom behind her. "She's been working up a storm in there. Right now she's just going over some scraps I have and practicing her stitching. Since leaving her to stew over what had happened seemed to be doing more harm than good, I figured giving her something to do might help her feel better." She smiled down at Sweetie. "Let me go see if this can help her cheer up."

Rarity went into the workroom, the foals following at a distance. "Coco, darling, I have something to show you."

Coco looked up from the two pieces of fabric she was stitching together. Her eyes were still slightly red from the extensive crying. They widened when she saw the strip of fabric hanging from Rarity's outstretched hoof. "That's..."

Rarity nodded, "You see...everything's alright Coco." Setting the fabric aside, Rarity went over and wrapped the younger mare in a hug. "So please, cheer up."

Coco still sniffled, but she leaned into the embrace. When they parted, she looked at the fabric again. "But how did you get it?"

"That would be Scootaloo," said Dawn, as the three foals entered the workroom, "She intercepted Perlin and forced him to lose his grip on the fabric."

Coco stared at Scootaloo, who blushed and shied away from the unexpected praise.

"Oh my!" gasped Rarity, putting a hoof to her mouth, "I had no idea it was Scootaloo...hmm..." A large smile broke out on her face. "Idea!" Her horn flared and the strip of cloth levitated over to wrap itself lightly about Scootaloo's neck.

"Wha-what's this?" asked Scootaloo, lifting an end of the improvised scarf.

"Think of it as a trophy of sorts, dear," said Rarity fondly, "You did Coco and I a tremendous favor by keeping that brute from getting away with that fabric. Think of it as commemorating your first successful sortie." Granted, Rarity wasn't normally one to acknowledge something she considered so...brutish. However, she thought that Scootaloo's efforts merited some acknowledgement, especially since Scootaloo had gone up against somepony as dangerous as Perlin Bluestreak.

Scootaloo looked down at the shimmersilk and her blush faded. "I...I can't," she said. She carefully unwound the shimmersilk from around her neck and held it back out to Rarity.

"I don't understand," said Rarity, "I thought this would be a moment you'd be proud of."

"I..." Scootaloo's mind went back to the events of the previous night. She could remember clearly now, the sound of Storm Front's meteor hammer intercepting Perlin's feather scant inches away from her neck. She hadn't even seen the feather, nor noticed Perlin launching it. If Storm hadn't been there, she would probably have been dead.

Perhaps it would have been different if Perlin had been in the middle of attacking or threatening somepony else. But he'd been flying away. She'd let her own eagerness to fight put herself at unnecessary risk. Dying wouldn't have helped anypony. Neither Rarity nor Coco would have been happy to get the shimmersilk back if Scootaloo had gotten herself injured getting it.

"What I did was stupid," said Scootaloo, "Dawn's right. I could've been killed! I didn't even know what Perlin had done when I'd confronted him. I just saw him and decided to attack him. I didn't think at all! I..." Tears streamed from her eyes. "I don't deserve this and I don't deserve to be rewarded for doing something like that."

Silence descended on the workroom as Rarity, Coco, and Sweetie Belle looked on in shock. Scootaloo couldn't bear to look them in the eyes, instead forcing herself to stare down at the shimmersilk draped over her hoof. Then, to her surprise, an ebony foreleg slowly reached over and rested itself atop her outstretched arm, gently pressing the fabric down against her fur. Lifting her eyes, Scootaloo looked over at Dawn, who gave her a small smile.

"You should keep it," he said.

"Wha-? But I..." Scootaloo's gaze darted between Dawn's face and his hoof in her confusion.

Dawn curled his fetlock around her own, gripping Scootaloo's arm so that the shimmersilk strip was held between them. "You were reckless. But, in the end, you did help somepony. Do you remember the look on Rarity and Coco's faces when they saw that it had been retrieved?”

Scootaloo nodded.

"Then instead of keeping this silk as a reminder of your fight itself, keep it as a reminder of why we fight," said Dawn, "Use it to remind yourself of what's at stake..." He directed Scootaloo's gaze over to Coco and Rarity, "...and what ponies like us should be fighting for.”

Scootaloo took one last look at the shimmersilk before looking back up at Dawn. "Okay," she said, her lips twitching upwards in a smile.

Just as she was about to wrap it around her neck once again, Rarity's magic yanked it from her grip. "Really! Just leaving it as is...What was I thinking?" Rarity was already heading over to her own workspace. "I just need to do a little touching up before I give this back to you, dear. I can't stand to leave something unfinished."

A little behind Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle broke out into giggles.

THWAK!

The sound of impact echoed through the quarry as the knotted end of Rumble's cord bounced away from the wooden target. The knot bounced away. Rumble yanked at the cord, but it was unexpectedly slack. Instead of returning towards him, the knot fell to the ground and Rumble had to pull again in order to reel it in properly.

"The difficult aspect of flexible weapons is control," explained Storm Front as he stood behind and at a slight angle to Rumble, "The strike does not end at impact, but at the recoil instead. You must learn to respond and regain control of the end after it has made contact with the target."

Motioning Rumble aside, Storm stepped forward and drew his own meteor hammer, a real one with a steel weight on the end, as opposed to Rumble's own practice weapon, from out of his sleeve. He sent the weight snapping straight out like a striking snake. It slammed dead center into the target. Yanking hard backwards on the cord, Storm pulled in the slack and sent the weight whirling around him. A second later, he went in to a barrage of swinging strikes that came at the wooden training dummy from almost every possible direction before nailing it in the center once again with another lightning-fast throw.

Storm turned to Rumble, who was watching, slack-jawed. "Maintaining control both before and after impact is essential to mastering this weapon."

Rumble nodded and stepped forward to resume the practice. It was a tricky skill to get the hang of. Until now, all of his practice had been about maintaining control of the cord and the knot at the end. He'd learned and then practiced forms endlessly, working on being able to launch the knot of his own weapon with nearly any limb on his body, including his wings, hind legs, and even his neck. When he'd started, the greatest challenge had been learning to control the weapon and keep it from smacking into his own body. That was less of a problem nowadays. It seemed that Storm had decided to move Rumble's training to the next stage, namely practicing hitting actual objects.

As he continued to practice, Rumble noticed that Storm seemed strangely anxious. "Is something wrong?" he asked, pausing his practice to look at his teacher.

"No," said Storm flatly, "Nothing..." He smiled at Rumble. "Everything is fine. I just wanted to make the best use of the time we have."

Drawing back from Rumble, Storm frowned. "While we still have it."

Training Interrupted

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Chapter 12: Training Interrupted

Rainbow Dash slumped down to the packed clouds of the staging area, gasping for breath. Her wings ached from the constant strain of battling the intense winds. The hairs of her coat stood on end after so many near misses from lightning strikes. Her ears were still sore from the sound of thunder, which, all too often, felt as though it were going off right next to her head. From the tip of her snout to the ends of her tail, Rainbow's body felt like a single giant mass of pain.

"Ow..." she groaned. Dang. The Academy training didn't even come close to this.

"That was good work," said a stallion standing somewhere off to Rainbow's right, just outside of her peripheral vision, "It takes most recruits a half-dozen tries to get that right."

With a grunt, Rainbow forced herself up onto her hooves. With a grimace, she turned her eyes up at the dark, almost pitch-black mass of storm clouds that hovered above her. That had been her training area for the past three hours. While they looked like a solid mass from the outside, inside the clouds was an empty space with constantly shifting obstacles, sudden crosswinds, and devastating lightning strikes...with real lightning, not the simulated lightning strikes she'd had to deal with in the Academy. The interior was nearly lightless. What little sunlight seeped in was barely enough to provide a clear view of a couple of meters in front of her nose. The lightning strikes occasionally threw everything into stark relief, but they were too irregular in their timing for Rainbow to depend on them to see her surroundings.

Within that storm, she'd been given different objectives to fulfill, depending on the exercise. When she'd started, the interior had been arranged into an obstacle course and she'd been forced to fly as many circles as she could around it while the winds constantly shifted speed and direction, occasionally blowing hard enough to toss her about like a leaf before she managed to regain control, to seeking and catching targets. Said targets ran the gamut from heavy iron balls that she had to catch and then haul out to a safe zone in a particular time, to light willow rings, which she had to chase down and snag as they danced about. It was hard, grueling work. The required times got shorter and shorter with each session and the artificial storms inside were pumped into greater, more chaotic, intensity.

"So...what's next?" asked Rainbow, slowly turning her head, so as not to strain the fatigued muscles in her neck, to look at her current instructor.

Lightning Streak grinned at her. He had a light-blue coat, a shade similar to that of Soarin's. However, his mane and tail were alternating streaks of orange, yellow, then orange again. His eyes were a warm, surprisingly earthy shade of brown. He was always cheerful, always smiling. Even when Rainbow was in the midst of another training session, Lightning Streak's smile never dropped. He never swore or used an angry tone. Instead, he seemed to prefer humorous taunts, which, in their own way, were even better in motivating Rainbow than the most heavy-hoofed, profanity laden, drill sergeant diatribe.

"You're finished," said Lightning with a chuckle, "I'm impressed. Most newbies are still working on getting past their first hour in there by this point. The usual session runs for an hour and a half."

"What?" gasped Rainbow, her gaze jumping from Lightning to the practice zone and back down to him again.

"Don't get cocky though," said Lightning, "This is just the beginning. The final exam is gonna have you in there for a minimum of six hours."

Rainbow's jaw dropped. "Six..." Six hours in that little airborne slice of Tartarus... Just the thought of it was making her muscles numb all over again.

"That's right," replied Lightning, "Of course, that's assuming you survive Surprise's training regimen." His grin adopted a menacing quality. "Trust me, one session with her and you'll wish you could spend twelve hours in my little playground."

"What does Surprise do?" asked Rainbow.

"Surprise's version simulates flying in volcanic ash. Don't worry!" Lightning spoke sharply upon seeing the dismayed look on Rainbow's face. "That's a ways down the road. You have some advanced magic and weather techniques to learn before you try flying Surprise's course. Fortunately, she doesn't use real ash. That would be kinda hard to bring up here and we aren't about to go looking for an active volcano just for your training."

"Then what does she use?" asked Rainbow, canting her head.

Lightning's grin got a little wider. "Chili powder."

"What?"

"Chili powder," repeated Lightning, "I don't know how she does it, but she infuses her clouds with chili powder and lets the stuff loose in the interior. If your magic isn't up to snuff, you're gonna be in for a world of pain."

Rainbow's jaw snapped shut and she swallowed hard.

Lightning Streak patted her back consolingly. "Hey, it's not that bad. You'll be learning how to use your magic to deal with environments like that before you actually go in."

That's nice, I guess, thought Rainbow ruefully. She had enough on her plate without having to worry about being stuck in a hot-pepper-cloud. Granted, it was probably a lot better, not to mention a lot safer, than working with actual volcanic ash. But that didn't change the fact that any mistakes on her part were going to be painful ones. I guess I'll have to make sure that I don't make mistakes...or learn from them pretty damn quick.

"That's it for the day," said Lightning, consulting a clipboard he held in the curl of one fetlock, "You're dismissed."

With a relieved sigh, Rainbow let her posture sag and slowly trudged in the direction of her quarters to get the things she needed for her shower. In her current state, she couldn't even think about flying anywhere. Her wings ached fiercely now, but after the shower they'd feel like two pieces of limp rubber had been glued to her side.

The upside to training with the actual Wonderbolts was that there weren't a lot of restrictions and regulations to worry about. Even though she was a newbie trainee, Rainbow didn't have to worry about being punished if she didn't report to the mess hall at a specific time, or worry about Spitfire or somepony else coming to inspect her quarters. Compared to the heavily regimented setting of the Wonderbolt's Academy, this place was paradise. The Wonderbolts were a laid-back bunch most of the time. They didn't care one wit about protocol. She wasn't required to address anypony, not even her trainers, as "Sir" or "Ma'am." During her free time, Rainbow was even free to come and go as she saw fit. If she wanted to, she could have made the flight to Ponyville for a visit and come back at any time in the past week. She could wander around Cloudsdale, visit any of its shops and stores, even eat at a local restaurant if she didn't feel like the chow in the mess hall. Life as a Wonderbolt, on the surface at least, was pretty easygoing.

The training more than made up for it though. Whether it was reporting to the storm simulator to practice severe-weather flight skills with Lightning Streak or to the training hall where Misty Fly would toss her around like a parade baton in close-combat training, simply getting through her scheduled rounds for the day completely drained Rainbow of all the energy that she had. Sure, she could go out and enjoy a night out on the town. But right now, she didn't feel like she could manage more than a hot shower and a warm meal before collapsing into bed so that she could get up early enough to enjoy a hearty breakfast before doing it all over again.

What made things worse was the academic aspect of the training. Rainbow had never been much for studying. Granted, part of it was because she'd internalized the insults her old Flight School teachers had always taunted her with, insinuating that she was stupid or slow in the head. However, the other part of it was that Rainbow was a physical pony. Moving, using her body, exerting herself were the things that she did. Reading was something that she usually did for fun, and even that was a relatively new development on her part. Textbooks and written exams were not her thing...even on her best days.

Making matters worse was how the academics had been worked into her schedule. A full half of her training in a given day was devoted to the classroom, while the other half was devoted to the physical. Her schedule alternated on a daily basis so that, on one day, she'd spend the morning trying to pay attention to somepony's lecture and take attentive notes before going to get the tar beaten out of her in the afternoon. Then, on the next day, she'd spend the morning feeling like she'd been thrown in a grinder and spat back out before going to spend the second half of the day trying to stay awake for class while she felt like a wrung-out towel.

So either she got to take classes in the morning, when she was still trying to wake up from...waking up...or she got to take classes in the afternoon, when she was too worn out from spending the morning getting pounded to stay focused. Wonderful...

Rainbow had been forced to put every ounce of her energy into just keeping up. At this rate, it was hard to see if she could make it to the end of the three-month training period. But Rainbow planned on doing it. She planned on sticking it out and she planned on succeeding. It was clear what the Wonderbolts were trying to do here. Spitfire's team was composed of the very best of the best, the select few ponies who could be trusted to accompany a Knight of the Celestial Order into the field and hold their own. Even catching Spitfire's eye and getting invited into the Wonderbolts wasn't enough. Only the most determined and focused ponies would make it through to the end to actually join the team. A pony couldn't handle this kind of abuse if they didn't really want it...

And Rainbow wanted it. She wanted it more than she'd ever wanted anything in her entire life. All of her work, her endless hours spent training herself to be a better flyer, all the work put into managing Ponyville's weather, all of it had been for this. I'm not gonna drop out, she snarled to herself as she finally made it to the hall her room was on. She didn't even pause as she stepped into her room, grabbing her towel and soap before heading right back out. As she approached the showers, Rainbow's eyes narrowed in determination. She needed a shower now, then a solid meal before bed. I've got another day ahead of me after all.

"Alright then," said Spitfire as she paced in front a few select members of her team, "Let me hear it. How's she doing?"

Standing behind Spitfire, Soarin' gulped nervously as he awaited the responses from Rainbow's instructors. Their words here could decide Rainbow's fate. He was already chiding himself that Rainbow wouldn't let them down. But he couldn't help but worry, especially since Rainbow's accelerated training regimen was so new and uncertain.

"Well...she's been struggling a fair bit with the books," commented High Winds, the eldest member of the team and their chief scholar, insomuch as they needed a specialized scholar, "She has difficulty remaining focused in the classroom. I can see why her Flight School academics were so poor. In a typical classroom scenario, it would be difficult to keep her attention and minister to the needs of other students at the same time...to say nothing of the Cloudsdale school's way of doing things back then."

Spitfire nodded. "I figured as much. What do you suggest?"

"I'm going to integrate more practical work into her curriculum," answered High Winds, "Holding classes outside will probably be better for her and demonstrating the effects of the weather systems she needs to learn about directly will probably be the best course of action. When we begin her medical training, I'll have her start working with the dummies right off the bat. By my assessment, she's primarily a kinesthetic learner with some tendencies towards visual learning. Textbooks and lectures are going to be of little help here."

"Good," said Spitfire, smiling slightly. It was good to know that the ponies who worked under her were a better class of teacher than those found at Cloudsdale's so-called "elite" Flight School.

"I'll second that motion," said Lightning Streak with a grin, "That girl's been killing the stormnaseum exercises."

"That so?" asked Spitfire, giving Lightning a sidelong glance.

Lightning grinned back at her. "Oh yeah. It's been pretty clear the lectures haven't been sinking in. When she first set hoof in the cloud bank, she wasn't even trying to remember what ole Windsy here covered in the classroom. She got tossed around like a juggling ball and nearly ate a couple of lightning bolts."

"That doesn't sound good," mused Spitfire, her smile drooping.

"That's 'cause it was just her first try," said Lightning, his grin not faltering for a second, "It gets better 'cause it only took her a couple more tries to get a feel for it. It helps that she doesn't back down or give up. Pretty soon, she was plowing through those exercises. Even if they pay attention in class, it usually takes the new blood a couple of weeks to do what that girl is doing. She's definitely a 'learn by doing' type."

"I take it she's doing well in your training," commented Spitfire.

"You can say that again," said Lightning with a laugh, "Today, she was in the stormnaseum for a full three hours and was still making time on all her exercises when we finished."

Even Spitfire couldn't stop herself from letting out an impressed whistle.

"I sure as hay thought she was gonna keel over and pass out on the spot when I dismissed her," continued Lightning, "But she still got through it. Captain, you can't let this one go."

"You're telling me," whispered Spitfire, smiling to herself. She turned to the last member of the present group of trainers. "Well, Misty Fly...how's she handling your training?"

In spite of himself, Soarin' pouted a little as the mare who had supplanted him as Rainbow's close-combat instructor stepped forward to speak.

"She has a pretty good grounding in basic combat," said Misty, her expression calmly neutral, "What's more, she tends to learn quickly. Even just sparring with her does a lot, since she learns from each session. I don't foresee any problems on my end."

"Good to know," said Spitfire, "Do you think she can meet our expectations within the projected timeframe?"

Rainbow's current group of instructors shared glances before nodding in unison. Behind Spitfire, Soarin's face split in a happy grin. He wasn't all that surprised that Rainbow was doing so well, but it was a particularly satisfying feeling to hear it for himself. It was also good to know that Rainbow wasn't buckling under the intense pressure of the accelerated curriculum, though she didn't know that it was accelerated yet.

"Alright. You're dismissed," declared Spitfire. The three instructors split and Spitfire turned her attention to Soarin'. "And now for you."

"Um...What about me?" asked Soarin' nervously.

Spitfire's eyes narrowed. "I just had a brilliant idea. I'm assigning you to be Rainbow's morale officer. That means you're in charge of keeping her spirits up and helping her cope with the extra pressure. If we aren't careful about that, Rainbow will snap sooner or later and we'll be out the most promising Wonderbolt I've seen since I took over this outfit." Her expression relaxed and she grinned. "Besides, as her coltfriend, that's what you're supposed to be doing anyway. I'm even doing you two a favor by giving you more time together. You're lucky to have such a generous mare for a Captain. I really hope you don't let me down."

"Right..." said Soarin', gulping. Geez...No pressure...

Rainbow Dash chewed slowly, grinding down the mound of fresh-grilled trout with lemon butter in her mouth. Part of her was really debating whether or not she wanted to take the next bite, or the one after that. She wasn't certain that she could clean her plate at this rate.

It wasn't that she didn't like the food. It wasn't bad. It wasn't even bland. In fact, it was pretty good. The chefs of the Wonderbolts' mess hall clearly knew their stuff. The real nice thing was that there always seemed to be fresh fish on the menu, something Rainbow genuinely appreciated. Fish was a good source of protein and healthy oils after all, just the sort of thing a mare who'd been putting her body through one hay of a workout might need to continue building muscle and keep up her energy.

Of course, it was the energy part that was the problem. It was all Rainbow could do to keep from face-planting into her plate. Right now, the only thing she wanted to do was head back to her room, crawl into her bed and get as much sleep as she possibly could before the next morning's sessions started again.

However, the more rational part of her mind, along with her stomach, were insisting that she eat first. All the sleep in the world wouldn't do her body a single bit of good if she couldn't keep it nourished. The other thing that the Wonderbolts' chefs were good at was making sure that the nutritional value of the meals they made reflected the needs of the ponies that ate them. The spread currently in front of Rainbow included all the vitamins and minerals she needed.

"I know that you like salmon better, but the trout's really good."

Rainbow looked up, smiling tiredly at Soarin' as he slid into the seat next to her and set down his own tray. "And here I was thinking I wouldn't see you for a while."

Her stallion chuckled and prodded a small pile of peas on his plate before lifting a up a forkful and transferring them to his mouth. After chewing and swallowing, he laid the fork down. "Spitfire basically assigned me to be your morale officer. My job is to keep your spirits up."

"Is it working?" asked Rainbow.

"You tell me," said Soarin', raising an eyebrow.

That got a laugh out of her. Rainbow looked back down at her plate and took another bite. "I feel wrung out," she admitted, "It's taking everything I've got just to get through the day. I'm not sure if I can keep this up for three months."

Soarin' pursed his lips, fighting desperately to keep from telling her the truth. He hoped, he prayed, that he and Spitfire were doing the right thing. "I know you can do it," he said, "Spitfire just had a talk with your current instructors and they're pretty impressed with your progress."

"Really?" asked Rainbow, staring at him with wide eyes, "Even High Winds?"

"Even him," said Soarin', "He just needs to fix his teaching style to best accommodate the way you learn. Once he does, you should find your academic sessions a lot easier."

"That's great," said Rainbow, heaving a sigh.

Soarin' grinned and gently elbowed her in the side. "Come on. Finish your food and we'll do something fun."

Rainbow sighed. "I'm not sure I'm up for much of anything."

"I said fun, not strenuous," replied Soarin', "You need to finish eating. Trust me, I've been where you are now. Fun's something you need too. I figure we can pay a visit to the library after you finish and we can find a couple books. I'll even read to you if you like."

"You'd do that?" asked Rainbow.

"Sure," said Soarin', "I know your eyes are tired. I'll just read until you're asleep and that'll be that. It'll help you sleep better too."

"Thanks," said Rainbow, turning back to her food.

"You're welcome...You like Daring Do, right?"

"Eh, I've read them all," said Rainbow in between bites of her dinner, "Besides, after meeting the real pony, I don't feel up to a retread. I'll let you choose."

"Okay," said Soarin', "I know a few good ones."

His wing slowly extended to wrap around her and Rainbow relaxed up against him. The two of them finished their dinner and Soarin' led Rainbow to the library to select a book for her. A few minutes later, Rainbow relaxed on her bed, Soarin' laid out next to her, his wing over her back. Soarin' started reading the story, his voice low and soothing. Rainbow did her best to follow along with him, but quickly found her eyes drooping as the low drone of Soarin's voice lulled her into a peaceful doze. Finally, she dropped off entirely.

Seeing that his audience was now fast asleep, Soarin' marked his place and closed the book, setting it aside on Rainbow's desk. Taking the cumulus blanket, he gently tucked her in before planting a light kiss on Rainbow's cheek.

"Sleep tight, Dashie," he said before turning off the light and taking his leave, "I believe in you."

The next few days were just as grueling and demanding as the past ones. However, Rainbow found them more bearable. High Winds had indeed made changes to his teaching style in order to better accommodate Rainbow, which made it much easier for her to keep up with the academic requirements. One day might find him demonstrating how the interaction of tropical currents could result in a hurricane over the seas. The next, he would have her practicing various rescue procedures on a dummy rigged up to resemble a pony's body. Actually getting to put her hooves to work helped Rainbow stay focused, no matter how tired she was.

She was also working to refine her magic as well. Like all Wonderbolts, Rainbow needed to learn how to create her own personal cold front and maintain it while flying. The technique was good for creating a pocket of clean, breathable air around her by filtering out unwanted particles. She'd also been told that further refinement would be able to keep out various poisonous chemicals she might encounter in the air, such as the fumes put out by a volcanic eruption.

However, its primary purpose was to stabilize the temperature around her so that she, like the rest of the team, could fight alongside Spitfire when the Captain was going all-out. When Spitfire merged with Ouranos, her phoenix companion, she generated an intense heat that slowly raised the temperature of the air around her via convection. Without the ability to create her own pocket of temperate air around herself, Rainbow would be knocked out by heat exhaustion a few minutes into any fight that Spitfire was taking part in.

There were other magics to master as well. She needed to learn how to read air currents with her body in order to better understand the best way to manipulate various weather patterns, if not disperse them entirely. She realized that this was akin to, if not simply a variation of the same skill that Dawn and Scootaloo had talked about continuously. Rainbow wasn't sure she could ever master it to such an extent that she'd have perfect awareness of her surroundings, but she did feel that it would allow her to get a better hang of reading weather patterns in her vicinity, as well as how to affect them more easily. If she ever gave up being a Wonderbolt and went back to being Ponyville's Weather Manager, she'd be able to do the same job with only a little more than half of the effort she'd originally needed.

It was a lot to take in, especially all at once. Fortunately, Rainbow had Soarin'. Though he wasn't able to make her training any easier, just having him around, eating dinner together, hanging out with him until she drifted off to sleep, enabled her to cope with the strain better and gave her something to look forward to once her training was finished.

By the time her second week had passed, Rainbow had become so absorbed in the routine of her training that her first day off took her completely by surprise.

"Really? Tomorrow?" gasped Rainbow, staring at Soarin' over her plate.

Nodding, Soarin' swallowed his current mouthful of food and grinned at her. "That's right."

"Is it really okay?" asked Rainbow, "There's so much to still cover."

"It's fine," said Soarin', "Rest, real rest, can be just as important as the training itself. You're eating well and sleeping well at night, which is one reason you've been able to push yourself this far. You need at least one full day every once and a while to pull yourself all the way back together. Not only does it let you recover, it also allows your body and mind to rebound so you'll be able to push yourself even harder for the next round of training." What Soarin' neglected to mention was that new recruits usually had a free day every week, instead of every other week the way Rainbow did. However, in the interest of ensuring that she could make the most of the three-month training course, Spitfire had opted to push Rainbow's free days as far apart as she dared before it would start having an adverse effect on Rainbow's health.

"So it'll really be okay?" asked Rainbow, "I'm not sure I'd feel right lazing around all day."

"You don't have to," said Soarin', "In fact, it's recommended that you do something. Some light exercise is a good way to keep your body active so that you're in top form when training resumes the day after tomorrow. Fortunately, I have just the thing for that."

"What?" asked Rainbow, a slight blush rising to her cheeks as her traitorous imagination turned to her ideas of what kind of light exercise she might like to pursue with Soarin'.

If Soarin' noticed Rainbow's turn of thoughts, he gave no indicator. Instead, he chuckled. "We actually have a show scheduled over at the Cloudeseum tomorrow. It's in the afternoon, so you'd have time to sleep in and get a proper rest. Then you can join us for the performance."

Rainbow's eyes widened. "A performance!" She'd gotten so wrapped up in the Wonderbolts' training and all the things that said training was supposed to prepare her for that she'd almost forgotten that the Wonderbolts did performances too...which was ironic, considering said performances were what had drawn her to the Wonderbolts in the first place.

"Yep," said Soarin', "After what you've been through, flying with the rest of us for a show counts as light exercise. As long as you don't push yourself too hard during the individual sections, you'll be fine. But Spitfire's told me to tell you...No Sonic Rainbooms."

"Right," said Rainbow with a grimace. Even though she'd gotten the process down, the Sonic Rainboom wasn't an easy trick for her to perform. On its own, it required a harder exertion on her part than even the most strenuous exercises she'd done with Lightning Streak. Granted, said exertion took place over a much shorter period, so it wasn't as taxing to her stamina as the longer training exercises were. But such strain wouldn't be a good idea for her body, considering she was supposed to be resting.

"So..." said Soarin', "You up for a performance?"

Rainbow blinked. "I can choose?" she asked, feeling a bit confused. Though she was still in training, she was officially a Wonderbolt, so Spitfire or Soarin' could have simply told her to take part...not that she didn't want to.

"Of course," said Soarin', "Even though you're a Wonderbolt, your designated free time is your own. Only a national emergency would cause Spitfire to cancel any time off you might have. We'd planned things out this way because she figured you might have fun doing another performance."

"It sounds like fun," said Rainbow, her excitement building, managing to overshadow even her fatigue from the day's work, "I'm in!"

"Great!" said Soarin' before giving her a slightly warmer smile, "I figured, after the show, I could take you on another date. It's been a while."

Rainbow's blush returned. "That sounds good," she said, "But I don't think I should stay out too late tomorrow, even if it is my day off."

"Of course not, Miss Dash," said Soarin' with a laugh, "I promise to have you back before curfew."

Rainbow's eyes narrowed in a playful glare. "Wise guy," she muttered, even though she was still smiling.

Rainbow Dash ended up not waking up much later than usual the next morning. In fact, she was only a few minutes behind her usual time, the past weeks having gotten her into the habit of getting up early enough to get a shower and meal before she had to head off to her first training session of the day. On this day, however, Rainbow was able to take her time, not being faced with the grueling schedule of her usual daily training. She took a leisurely shower before heading to the mess hall for a hearty breakfast, which she now had the opportunity to enjoy to the fullest, not being too tired or too rushed to really appreciate the skills of the chefs.

The show wasn't going to start until two in the afternoon, so Rainbow had the remainder of the morning to herself. Soarin', Spitfire, and most of the other Wonderbolts had already headed off to the Cloudeseum to get things ready. Rainbow felt a bit guilty that she wasn't there with them, but Soarin' had already told her that there wouldn't be anything for her to do over there and she was supposed to be getting some rest on her day off.

Fortunately, she wasn't alone at Headquarters. Instead Rainbow spent her time getting to know some of her new teammates better. At one point, she walked in on Blaze, who was chilling in one of the lounges that were scattered throughout the different sections of the building, to find the older mare engrossed in a comic book that Rainbow could have sworn she'd seen Spike reading once. Blaze wasn't even the slightest bit ashamed of her hobby and happily spent the next hour chewing Rainbow's ears off about quirky characters and twisting plot-lines that Rainbow could scarcely follow. Once she finally managed to get away from Blaze, Rainbow resolved to put the other mare in touch with Spike and see if their shared enthusiasm couldn't be the start of a beautiful friendship.

After getting away from Blaze, Rainbow accidentally stumbled into Wave Chill's room, which was down at the end of the same hallway her room was located on. Rainbow was surprised to find that Wave's room was much larger than her own, or any other Wonderbolt's that she knew of for that matter. It probably wasn't all that special in and of itself, given how easily cloud buildings could be modified. Wave had probably just requested the extra space and gotten some ponies to shift and manipulate the clouds that made up his room and extended them, if he hadn't done the job himself. However, what was truly amazing was the reason Wave needed all that extra space.

When Rainbow stumbled into the room, her eyes widened when she found herself staring up at a wall of clarified stratus, which served as glass in cloud buildings. On the other side of the glass was a massive tank at least the size of an Equestria Games standard swimming pool, possibly larger. The walls and floor of the tank were contained by solid-state clouds, which supported a layer of sand and rocks, forming artificial reefs, through which swam schools of fish in a riot of colors, even including a few moderately-sized sharks. She was even more shocked to see the swift form of a pegasus swimming amongst the fish with such ease and grace that he was practically flying through the water.

The stallion caught sight of Rainbow as she gaped up at him from the room of the floor. Rainbow recognized Wave Chill, of course. His mane was a deep cobalt-blue color, with a coat that was a slightly lighter shade. His sea-green eyes, slightly obscured by the goggles he was wearing, fixed on hers and he smiled at her through the glass before sweeping his wings downward and shooting to the surface of the tank with enough force that he actually launched himself into the air. Sweeping his wings outward, Wave shook the water out of his feathers with a single motion before turning his breach into a glide and drifting down to join Rainbow.

"Whoa!" gasped Rainbow...before remembering that she'd essentially barged into her teammate's room without permission, "Ack! I'm sorry! I didn't mean to come in here like this! I lost track of where I was!"

"Hey hey," said Wave, raising his hooves in a placating gesture, "It's okay. Take it easy." He was still smiling at her. "It's not a problem. Trust me, there are worse times you could walk in. When I don't want company, I lock the door."

"Oh..." said Rainbow, blushing slightly, "Thanks." She stared up at the tank. "Is this yours?"

"Yep," said Wave, "Pretty sweet, isn't it?"

"It's incredible," said Rainbow, her eyes following the glittering scales of a fish as it darted amongst the rocks. As it went past an opening, her eyes caught a flash of bright green and she saw the sinuous shape of an eel winding amongst the crags of the artificial reef. "Did you make this yourself?"

"I had a little help," said Wave, straightening up and puffing out his chest a little, "Silver Lining's the one who took care of most of the cloud engineering that made this beauty possible. Of course, I designed the interior and I'm the one who stocked it."

"So you know what all these fish are?" asked Rainbow, her eyes darting from one to the next.

"Yep," answered Wave, looking prouder by the second, "Let me tell ya, getting these guys to Cloudsdale was no easy feat.”

“Especially the sharks, I bet,” Rainbow noted, her eyes practically gluing themselves to one of the graceful predators as it cruised in slow circles near the tank’s perimeter.

“Well, they were a lot smaller when I put them in,” said Wave, chuckling as one of the sharks, the size of a full-grown pony, came drifting past the glass, “But they sorta grew on me…literally.”

Rainbow couldn’t contain the snort that burst out of her nose. “It’s amazing. How do you look after them all?”

“Believe it or not, they do a lot of their own looking after,” replied Wave, “I have a couple of buddies at the Polyneighsian College of Marine Sciences who helped me set this beast up. They thought I was crazy when I told them I wanted to make a cloud aquarium.”

Rainbow could understand that. Here she was looking at the thing and she still thought it was impossibly crazy. She found herself wondering just how Wave kept those sharks fed. Did he simply let them chow down on the other fish?

"It's a miniature, self-contained ecosystem," explained Wave, "All the fish look after themselves and the larger fish eat the smaller fish and the smaller fish feed off the plankton and algae in the tank. Most of my work involves just keeping the solid-state clouds charged."

Rainbow was amazed to think that something like that was even possible. "What were you doing in there then?"

"Just swimming about," replied Wave with a laugh, "The whole reason I went through the trouble of setting this sucker up was so that I'd have a small slice of home here in Cloudsdale."

"That's..." Rainbow took another look at the tank, a marvel of engineering that would have had Twilight Sparkle frothing at the mouth and would have probably been the envy of nearly any public aquarium in Equestria, "...kinda crazy."

"Too true," agreed Wave without missing a beat.

"You swim with sharks!" exclaimed Rainbow.

"Oh yeah," said Wave, "These girls are just small fry compared to some of the sharks we get down in Polyneighsia, let me tell you. They're not all that dangerous...so long as you don't smell like food to them."

"I'll...take your word for it," said Rainbow.

"Naw, it's pretty simple," said Wave, grabbing her hoof and leading her up into the air above the open water of the tank, "Let me tell you about these girls..."

Wave Chill, it seemed, sure knew his sharks. And though Rainbow knew she wouldn't be taking a dip in his aquarium anytime soon, she had to admit she didn't feel that he was quite as suicidal as she'd first thought. As it turned out, Wave was the Wonderbolts' resident marine weather expert, brought in for his knowledge and skill in handling hurricanes, typhoons, and all other manner of seaborne weather. She had to admit, listening to him describe the habits and nature of pony-sized sharks, while said shark was cruising lazily beneath them, was more interesting than listening to Blaze chat about comics.

In turn, Wave introduced Rainbow to the pony who'd helped him design the cloudborne aquarium tank, Silver Lining. The gray stallion with the curly silver and white mane was an expert in cloud construction and had been the principal architect of the Wonderbolts' Headquarters. Silver's room was also larger than Rainbow's, in which he'd installed a full studio for designing some of his cloud creations. It also served as a showroom of sorts for his art projects, as he also dabbled in cloud sculpting.

Rainbow wished she had the time to get to know more of the Wonderbolts personally. Before she'd actually joined the team, she'd never really given them all that much thought as individuals, aside from Spitfire and Soarin'. As far as the rest of the team went, Rainbow had never really thought about separating them from the uniformly dressed pegasi flying in formation during their shows.

Silver and Wave accompanied Rainbow to lunch where, following their advice to her, she ate lightly in order to avoid making herself sick during the show while still keeping up the energy she needed to perform. After lunch, she and the other Wonderbolts remaining at Headquarters suited up and made their way over to the Cloudeseum. There was still a little while until the show began, which she spent in the company of the other Wonderbolts. Rainbow appreciated how willing they were to make her feel like a part of the team, even though she was still in training. Even her current instructors: Lightning Streak, High Winds, and Misty Fly, didn't treat her any differently than they did their other teammates.

In all honesty, Rainbow was quite grateful for how willing the other members of the team were to accept her. She'd been worried that she'd be nothing more than Soarin's fillyfriend to them. But, as she mingled with the other members backstage while they waited for the opening of the flight show, they saw her as one of them. It was a great comfort to her as the minutes ticked away until Rainbow's first flight show since she joined the team for their performance during the Autumn Festival in Ponyville.

"ALRIGHT CLOUDSDALE! ARE YOU READY?!"

A bevy of cheers accompanied the announcer's words, swelling into a roar that broke over Rainbow's ears in a crashing wave.

"THEN, WITHOUT FURTHER ADO! ALLOW ME TO INTRODUCE THE GREATEST AERIAL TEAM IN EQUESTRIAN HISTORY...THE WONDERBOLTS!!!"

Rainbow and the others sprang into motion, their wings snapping out in perfect unison as they took to the air and swooped out into the open space of the Cloudeseum, wheeling around in a single line in a brilliant display of precision. Rainbow knew all the classic formations by heart and went through them without missing a beat. Up here, she truly felt as though she belonged with the Wonderolts, flawlessly moving from one formation to the next.

As they lined up for a sweeping flight along the Cloudeseum's perimeter, Rainbow's ear twitched as she heard a sound...which made no sense when she thought about it. The air was filled with all kinds of sounds, from the rushing wind to the roar of the crowd to the synchronized beat of pegasus wings. But this sound was distinct from all the others and it seemed to lodge itself into her ear like the buzz of an annoying fly that just wouldn't go away. In fact, the noise was a buzz. And it was getting louder.

Rainbow tried to push it to the side and stay focused on the performance, but as the volume of the noise grew, it began to make her ears ache. Finally, unable to take any more, Rainbow broke from formation, casting her eyes about for the source of the noise.

It only took a heartbeat for the other Wonderbolts to realize that she had broken from formation. Without waiting for any kind of signal from Spitfire, they split apart and dispersed, arcing gracefully through the air to distance themselves from one another in order to avoid accidental collisions. Spitfire and Soarin' were already closing in on Rainbow.

"What's wrong?" asked Spitfire as she and Soarin' came near Rainbow, who was rubbing her hooves vigorously against her ears.

"Can't you hear it?" asked Rainbow, "That damn buzzing is driving me crazy."

"Buzzing...?" Spitfire and Soarin' shared a confused look. Their ears stood upright as they strained to hear what Rainbow was listening to.

"Yeah," said Soarin' after a second, "I hear it too."

"Me too," agreed Spitfire, now looking around herself, "But where's it coming from?"

Frowning in concentration Rainbow closed her eyes and began to sweep her ears around, trying to identify the noise's source. Finally, she managed to get a fix on its direction. It was coming from the open sky beyond the Cloudeseum wall, out past Cloudsdale's city limits. Turning in the general direction of the noise, Rainbow's eyes swept the skyline.

She was able to pick out the source, though she nearly missed it at first. The approaching object was a strange off-white color that nearly made Rainbow dismiss it as a tiny cloud fragment amongst the blue of the sky. There was a faint shimmer in the air around it that betrayed the fact that it wasn't actually a cloud...that and the fact that it was approaching them at a substantial speed.

All the while, that infernal buzzing was getting louder and louder. Now Rainbow wasn't the only pony in pain. The murmurs of the crowd, whose cheering had died down upon the unexpected cessation of the Wonderbolts' performance, had switched from confusion, to discontent, and then to worry as the buzzing noise began to get louder. Now, here and there, the murmurs were punctuated by yelps of pain and the wails of foals, whose sensitive ears were more vulnerable than those of their parents or the other adults.

"Gah!" cried Rainbow, clamping her hooves down over her ears in a desperate effort to cut off the noise. Her efforts were only moderately successful, as the buzzing was muted somewhat, but the vibrations still made her skull hum. All around her, the other Wonderbolts were reacting in a similar manner.

Spitfire flared her wings out and Rainbow felt a breeze wash over her body and the pain began to reside. Cautiously taking her hooves away from her ears, Rainbow noticed she couldn't hear the buzzing sound anymore. She could sense a faint displacement in the air around her that reminded her of the technique she and the other Wonderbolts were required to learn in order to keep the air around them at a stable temperature when Spitfire was fighting.

"What was that?' asked Rainbow, looking back at the approaching object.

"A sonic attack of some kind, I guess," said Spitfire, casting a concerned glance down at the crowds in the stadium below them. Though she couldn't hear them anymore, she could still see ponies writhing in agony as the sound continued to wash over them. "This is bad. We need to put a stop to that thing."

"Yeah...about that..." said Soarin', the only pony flying near enough to be inside of Spitfire's little protective bubble as well, "That thing is almost here."

Rainbow and Spitfire whirled to face the incoming object. As she saw it, Rainbow's eyes widened in shock. At first, she thought it was a changeling. However, she remembered that Celestia had reported that the changelings had been wiped out by a Guard task force, preferring death to surrender. Besides...this creature didn't look anything like the changelings Rainbow had seen in the past.

It had the form of a pony, but its body was encased in a bone-white carapace, with streaks of bright red showing out from between the joints. There were no holes or cavities on its legs like there had been on the changelings. In fact, Rainbow thought it looked like a pony covered in some kind of special armored suit. The obvious difference was in the wings. Instead of the feathered wings of a pegasus or an alicorn, a pair of translucent, insectile wings blurred rapidly. As the light of the sun hit those wings, it refracted into a spectrum of colors that were at once familiar to Rainbow and yet alien enough to churn her stomach. There was no horn projecting from its head, just a smooth dome running over the top, covering the area where the ears of a pony would be, before running down its neck in segments. In fact, its entire head looked like a single piece, with no sign of a mouth, nose, or any other orifice. It regarded them with pale-blue, glassy eyes. Finally, its tail was a segmented, blade-like object that terminated in something that vaguely resembled a scorpion's stinger.

Rainbow's eyes noticed a faint shift in the nature of the light refracting off its buzzing wings. At first, she wondered if it was about to attack, but the creature instead came to a complete halt, the motion abrupt and sudden. As it did so, Spitfire dispersed the bubble of air protecting them from the vile buzzing noise.

"Wait-!" Rainbow protested before realizing that the buzzing was no longer invading her skull in agonizing waves. Instead, it now resembled something more like the typical drone of insect wings.

"Alright," said Spitfire, glaring at the new arrival, "Who or what are you and what do you want?"

Rainbow felt the strange creature's intensity. If were a pony, she was sure its eyes would be narrowing in a hostile glare. However, there was nothing resembling an expression on that featureless face...yet.

Slowly, a black seam opened up along the end of the creature's muzzle, slowly widening and dividing, until a pair of strips peeled back away like the mandibles of those creepy jungle ants Rainbow had seen pictures of in one of Twilight's books. As the mandibles pulled away, Rainbow could make out the lips, mouth, and teeth of an actual pony in the space the mandibles left behind. The sight sickened her. It looked wrong...unnatural...hideous.

Those lips pulled back in a sneer. "You know...I'd always wondered what it would be like to meet the Wonderbolts in pony..." Its voice had an alien quality that made Rainbow cringe. At the same time, she heard something vaguely familiar, a familiarity that stirred up further feelings of revulsion in her stomach.

That was when it hit her. This thing actually was a pony! Not only that, it was a pony she'd met before. Now if only she could remember just who it was.

Spitfire merely raised an eyebrow, bidding the unknown stallion to continue. Through the gap in the pony's helmet, his sneer widened. "I used to admire you. Now I know that you're nothing. You're supposed to be something that all pegasi aspire to. But now I've found something better."

"Good for you," said Spitfire in a deadpan tone, "Now that you've made it clear you don't like us, why don't you get lost?"

"Not just yet," said the insectile stallion, "I'm not just here to show you Wonderbolts what a bunch of losers you are. I wanted to pay a visit to a very special pony."

The head turned and those soulless eyes focused themselves specifically on Rainbow Dash. Before she could react, the intruder zipped in close, his armored hoof coming to rest against the mithril mail over her cheek. The touch was gentle, but it made Rainbow's skin crawl, as there was something she recognized in the gesture.

"Just you wait," said the stallion, his voice almost a whisper, "Some day, I'm gonna come to taste that rainbow of yours."

It finally clicked in Rainbow's head. She knew that tone, the tone of a stallion who'd once gotten way too pushy with her, who'd thought she'd just submit and let him have his way with her. It had been a few years ago, but she'd put him down and nearly pulled his wings off. Then, at one point last year, he'd tried something similar with Fluttershy, only to have both his wings broken by Dawn Lightwing. Said stallion had been arrested and ultimately exiled from Ponyville. Now, here he was, hovering in front of her with wings that were not his own.

"Flash Spark," she hissed.

"That's right," replied the stallion, his hideous grin looking all the more disgusting when it seemed to be hidden behind a pair of insect mandibles, "I'm back and, one of these days, I'm gonna make you mine."

"I'd like to see you try," said Rainbow, her eyes narrowing. Her hoof blurred in a punch straight for Flash Spark's face. It was swift, putting into practice all she'd learned in the course of her sessions with Misty Fly, along with all her previous training in the martial arts. However, as her hoof reached Flash's head, he wasn't there anymore.

Moving with a speed and abruptness that nearly matched Dawn's moves, Flash zipped upwards and sideways at a diagonal, his body blurring so that her hoof instead crossed through empty air. Flash had barely come to a stop before another blue bolt of a pony flashed at him and he zipped straight backwards to avoid a strike from Soarin', who came to a stop hovering protectively between Flash and Rainbow. Spitfire joined Soarin', the two of them forming a screen between the armored stallion and Rainbow Dash, with the rest of the Wonderbolts swooping in to join them.

However, Flash Spark showed no sign that he was frightened of the Wonderbolts' threat. "I think I'll leave for now," he said.

"After you threatened one of ours, you think we'll let you?" asked Spitfire.

"I think you're gonna have better things to do in a second," replied Flash.

His wings stopped buzzing. It was for less than a second, but the pair of insectile wings froze, becoming completely still in the air by his side. In that instant, it was clear that they truly did resemble insect wings, with faint, almost invisible veins running up and down their length, running in unnatural straight lines and splitting at sharp angles. The instant that his wings froze, those veins seemed to shift, angles changing and lines realigning, causing a faint, but recognizable change in the way that the sunlight was refracted through them. Then, before Flash's body could even begin to feel the effects of gravity, the wings resumed their buzzing motion. The insectile droning noise had changed again, this time with a high, keening buzz that made Rainbow's teeth rattle.

At first, she was afraid that Flash was about to use that ear-splitting buzz that he'd been using during his approach. However, this sound was clearly different. At the same time, Rainbow was able to see a shimmering ripple forming in the air around Flash's wings. The ripples seemed to converge into a single location on either side of the stallion's armored body, forming a point that began to glow with a strange, unearthly light.

At once, the buzz elevated into a shriek and the light blazed into a pair of brilliant yellow lances that stabbed down and away from Flash's body, driving straight into the walls of the Cloudeseum. Then, with another flash, the screaming lances of yellow light swept in arcs across the entire circular wall of the stadium. Less than a second later, they vanished, the noise having been cut off as Flash's wings froze again, with another split-second shift.

"Later!" In an instant, Flash Spark was a white blur vanishing in the distance.

Rainbow's first impulse was to give chase. Though Flash Spark's acceleration was insane, there was no way he could possibly match her top speed. However, all thoughts of pursuit evaporated from her mind when she looked down to see what Flash had wrought.

The Cloudeseum was disintegrating.

Shuffling Priorities

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Chapter 13: Shuffling Priorities

Rainbow Dash immediately went into a sharp dive, her flight taking her through the open bottom of the stadium, her eyes locking onto her targets. There was no time to wait for orders or even warn Spitfire and Soarin' about the situation. She needed to act now or there would be no recovering what was lost...

...Because Rainbow's eyes had spotted them almost instantly as the outer cumulus layers and the stratus-sheet core of the Cloudeseum structure unraveled into intangible mist, completely incapable of supporting even pegasus ponies. Most of the crowd quickly spread their wings and took to the air, easily recovering from the fact that their footing had been stolen away. But certain members of the crowd were not so lucky. From above, they looked like little multi-colored specks dropping away, but Rainbow realized what they were instantly...foals...dozens of them! The young pegasi weren't yet old enough to fly and were now dropping like rocks with wings towards the unforgiving ground far below. Some of the parents had already realized their children's plight and were stooping down to catch their kids themselves. However, for some foals, it wasn't nearly enough.

Rainbow shot downward, passing other diving adult pegasi as though they were sitting still. She also dove past some of the foals, aiming for those who were already closest to the ground and at the greatest risk. Even as she did so, she knew she couldn't save them all. She'd once saved Rarity and three other adult pegasi (her fellow Wonderbolts in fact) and carried them all to safety. However, at the time, she'd had the momentum granted by performing a Sonic Rainboom. While the maneuver would give her the speed she needed to save more ponies, with so many other ponies in the sky, Rainbow realized it would do more harm than good. Instead, she angled her flight, ultimately aiming for the foal closest to the ground and working out a path to snatch up as many others as she could on the way.

Her ears picked up the rushing sound of other ponies joining her in her dive, ponies who were almost as fast as she was. The Wonderbolts hadn't waited for orders from Spitfire either. Either they were following her lead or they'd simply seen the foals and acted on their own initiative. Either way, with twenty of the best flyers in Equestria on the scene, Rainbow felt the hope that, maybe, they could save everypony.

But I have to do my part, she thought, locking onto the nearest foal and twisting into a roll that brought her around behind the flailing filly. She remembered all too well what had happened when the Wonderbolts had tried to save Rarity from a similar fate and had ended up knocked out and in need of rescuing themselves. Rainbow had no intention of switching teams from the rescuers to the rescued.

"I gotcha," she said as she wrapped an arm around the filly and brought her in close. Hearing Rainbow's words and feeling her touch calmed the filly down, prompting her to relax and press up against Rainbow's side. "Hold on tight kiddo," said Rainbow, taking just a second to give the filly a reassuring smile, "You're about to have some company."

With a twitch of her wings, Rainbow rapidly angled her flight towards the next foal, a colt, and caught up with him as well, carefully depositing him on her back before aiming for the next one. Two more fillies joined her passengers and Rainbow as definitely starting to feel the strain. The last one left ahead of her was the filly closest to hitting the ground. Even though the added drag of carrying four other foals was slowing her down, Rainbow didn't let up. The ground was getting closer with each passing second, a revelation that only prompted Rainbow to push herself harder.

Finally, her arms closed around the last filly. Rainbow flared out her wings and used all her strength to pull out of her dive. Now she was really feeling the strain of all five of her extra passengers. She had to be careful not to pull out too sharply or the resulting g-force could do serious harm to her little passengers...or simply pry them off and send them into free-fall again.

It was a near thing. Rainbow estimated that she barely had a couple of meters to spare as she leveled out and finally began the long climb back to Cloudsdale. Her wings were on fire and the added weight of her riders was not helping things. However, as she rose upwards, her ears picked up new sounds that made her body feel as though it weighed nothing at all.

"That was awesome! I got saved by a Wonderbolt!"

"You're the coolest ever!"

"I wanna be like you girls when you grow up!"

"Can I fly like that someday?"

Heh...kids... One minute they were screaming in terror at the prospect of an imminent death, the next they were laughing like nothing happened. Granted, aside from the "nearly falling to their deaths" part, that was a pretty awesome thing to happen to them. In spite of herself, Rainbow couldn't quite keep a dopey grin from her face and was exceedingly grateful that her flight suit did an effective job of concealing her blush as her passengers sang her praises to the high heavens.

Getting back up to Cloudsdale was a bit harder task than diving down from it, especially with five extra passengers. Ahead of her, she saw the rising shapes of other pegasi, including her fellow Wonderbolts, many of them loaded down with passengers of their own heading back above. Reminded of the gravity of the situation, Rainbow cast her eyes around, hoping with all her heart that she wouldn't see what she was looking for.

She didn't. There were no unmoving figures laid out against the ground, surrounded by mourning families. The green fields below were unmarred by the red of blood. From what Rainbow could see, everyone seemed to have been rescued safely. Thank goodness.

Pumping her wings a little harder, Rainbow ascended through the final distance up to the city. The Cloudeseum had disintegrated entirely, its structure having dissolved into streaming wisps of clouds that, even now, were trailing away. A landing area had apparently been established in the space where the entrance leading up to the Cloudeseum had originally been. Rainbow could see several ponies, including the other members of her team, landing and disembarking their passengers there.

"Alright kids, we're here," said Rainbow, trying her hardest not to feel too amused by the disappointed "aaaaaaaw" let out by the foals she'd caught at the realization that their awesome ride was coming to an end.

Even as Rainbow came in for a landing, she could hear the shouts of the adults as frantic parents called out to their children. She let out a quiet "Oof!" as five foals jumped away from her, inadvertently kicking off a little harder than they intended as they rushed into their parents' arms. Rainbow watched the happy reunions, a warm feeling of satisfaction welling up in her stomach.

"Thank you so much for saving my filly!" said an older mare, cuddling her daughter tightly as she spoke.

"Uh...you're welcome," said Rainbow, beginning to feel a bit sheepish as the other parents joined in heaping even further praise on her, quickly joined by the foals themselves, who were excitedly describing their experience, complete with sound effects and gesturing hooves. Rainbow tried her hardest to listen, but was losing individual voices to the overall din of conversation surrounding her. As she looked from one pony to another, she noticed at least one pony wasn't part of the crowd.

A bright-pink filly with an orange mane was hanging back at the edge of the crowd, not even looking at anypony else. Instead, she seemed to be staring forlornly at the edge of the clouds, where the mighty stadium had once floated. Though Rainbow couldn't see the filly's face from her position, her slumped posture betrayed her mood all too well. Furthermore, Rainbow recognized the filly as the one that had fallen the furthest before Rainbow had caught her.

Doing her best to be diplomatic about it, Rainbow disentangled herself from her admirers and made her way over to the filly. "Hey," she said softly, "Are you okay?"

"Oh!" squeaked the filly, turning sharply at Rainbow, who had clearly startled her out of some deep thought, "I'm...fine..." she said, slowly turning back to look at the edge of the clouds and the empty space looming beyond.

Rainbow didn't want to pry too deeply, but the last thing she wanted to do was leave anypony feeling down, especially after what had just happened. "You don't sound fine," she said.

The filly said nothing.

With a quiet sigh at how tired her body felt after the unexpected exercise, Rainbow settled onto her haunches next to the filly. "Pretty scary, wasn't it?"

"Y-yeah..." said the filly, still staring straight ahead, "I know it's wrong but..."

"Huh? What's wrong?" asked Rainbow, "Being scared?"

"W-well...yeah!" replied thee filly, "I mean, you weren't scared after all."

"Whoa! Hold on squirt!" protested Rainbow, "Who are you kidding? I wasn't just scared. I was terrified!"

The filly went rigid at Rainbow's words, looking up at Rainbow with wide eyes. "Y-you were scared? But you're a Wonderbolt!"

"You bet I was scared," replied Rainbow, "Being a Wonderbolt doesn't mean you stop being scared kiddo. I was scared out of my mind when I saw you and the others down there. I thought about what would happen if I let even just one of you down and failed to save you. That scared the hay out of me. That's why I did what I did, because I didn't want to see the thing I was afraid of happen."

"R-really?" asked the filly.

"Yeah," said Rainbow, reaching out with a hoof and gently brushing a tear away from the filly's cheek.

"I'm sorry..." said the filly, looking down again.

"For what?" asked Rainbow.

"I...I'm old enough that I should be flying," said the filly, sniffing hard, "You shouldn't have had to save me like that. But instead...instead I was the one in the most trouble."

Rainbow blinked. For the first time, she took a good look at the filly...a really good look. The filly was a little larger and probably older than the other foals Rainbow had rescued. She was at that age where most foals were really starting to really get off the ground, moving beyond brief fluttering, hovering bursts and into true sustained flight.

"I'm slow and weak," said the filly, sniffling harder, her voice cracking as she came dangerously close to breaking into outright sobs, "I can't fly like a real pegasus."

"Hey there," said Rainbow, "Don't talk like that." She reached out with her wing and gently wrapped it around the filly, pulling the little pony up against her side, using a primary to flick away another of the filly's tears as she did so. "Who's been telling you that...your family?"

"No," said the filly, "But some of my classmates tease me when the teachers aren't watching. They're always saying that I'll never be a real pegasus, that I'll be a failure all my life."

"Don't listen to them," said Rainbow, "Let me tell you something...you don't have to be a good flyer to be a great pegasus."

The filly looked at Rainbow as though she'd started speaking in another language.

"It's true," said Rainbow, her chest puffing out a little, "One of my best friends in the whole wide world is a pretty weak flyer overall. Even when she was a good bit older than you are now, she had trouble just getting into the air. All our classmates used to taunt her all the time. But you know what?"

"What?" asked the filly, now hanging on Rainbow's every word.

Rainbow grinned, "She's an amazing pony and it has absolutely nothing to do with how good a flyer she is. She can do a whole ton of things that I can't and, in a lot of ways, she's way braver than I could ever be. I'm pretty jealous of her sometimes."

"How?" gasped the filly.

"She didn't get hung up on just flying," said Rainbow, giving the filly a light squeeze with her wing, "You don't have to be a great flyer or even an average one to be a good pony. Don't get hung up on that and don't lose sight of the things you love to do.

"Besides, I know you can get the hang of flying. For some ponies, it takes longer than others. My little sister is older than you are now and she only started really flying just last year. So I know you can do it."

"Really?" gasped the filly, "But how could she go so long without learning to fly?"

"She just wasn't doing it the right way for her," replied Rainbow, "The usual way a pegasus learns how to fly wasn't working for her and she wasn't getting anywhere. It took somepony else to show her a way that worked for her. That's all you need to do too. Just don't get too worked up over it or you could you hurt yourself."

The filly paused for a moment after listening to Rainbow's advice. "Okay."

"Feel better now?" asked Rainbow, beaming down at the filly.

"Yeah...I think so," said the filly.

"Good to hear," said Rainbow, gently ruffling the filly's mane.

Standing up, Rainbow let the filly go so that she could run back to her parents, who gave Rainbow a grateful look before leading their daughter away, presumably back home.

"Not bad."

"Eek!" Rainbow jumped as Spitfire practically spoke straight into her ear. Spinning around, Rainbow saw that Spitfire and Soarin' were standing behind her, both of them grinning. "Give a mare some warning before you do that!"

Soarin' let out a laugh. "But you're so cute when you squeak like that."

"I'll show you cute," muttered Rainbow petulantly.

"Save it for later," said Spitfire with a chuckle, "We need to get back to Headquarters and debrief."

"Yes Ma'am!" snapped Rainbow.

As a single unit, the Wonderbolts took their leave and headed back to their Headquarters. Once there, they assembled in the main briefing room as Spitfire paced in front of them.

"Alright," she said, "Good work everypony. That was a completely unexpected situation and you all exceeded my expectations. The perpetrator may have gotten away, but we won't let him remain on the loose for long."

"Are we going after him then?" asked Rapidfire.

"Sooner or later," said Spitfire, "But we need to get more information on him first. On that note...Rainbow Dash!"

"Yes?" yelped Rainbow, sitting up a little straighter now that she was unexpectedly at the center of attention. She felt Soarin's wing brush against her back in an unspoken gesture of support.

"From the sound of things, you know that pony," said Spitfire, "Who is he?"

Rainbow swallowed. "His name is Flash Spark," she said, "He used to serve under me in the Ponyville Weather Team." She explained her turbulent history with the stallion, which had ended with him getting his wings broken by Dawn for trying to rape Fluttershy.

"Hold on," interjected Wave Chill, "If that guy had his wings irreparably broken, how was he flying out there today?"

"Well, they obviously weren't pegasus wings," remarked Soarin', "If I had to hazard a guess, he got the new wings along with the freaky armor."

"He's definitely got the whole insect theme going," observed Misty Fly, nodding sagely, "But none of that makes any sense. Just what are those wings and what is that armor? I've never even seen or heard of anything remotely like it."

"We'll have to find out," said Spitfire, "It's clear that he's extremely dangerous. Upon arrival, he was already using his wings to generate some kind of sound-based attack. In fact, what he did at the end there was probably sonic in nature too. Either way, he's way too dangerous for the regular Guard or even the Royal Guard to tackle. So it's gonna fall to us.

"We'll work out a strategy tomorrow. For tonight, you're dismissed. Get some rest everypony."

The Wonderbolts stood up and began to file out of the briefing room. "Hold on Rainbow," said Spitfire, fixing Rainbow with a stare, "I want you to stick around for a moment."

Pausing, Rainbow nodded nervously, sitting herself back down. Soarin' also stayed, remaining seated next to her. Once the other ponies filed out, Spitfire came to sit down in front of Rainbow.

"First off," said Spitfire, "I'd like to start out by saying that you were fantastic out there."

Rainbow blinked and blushed. "I was?"

Spitfire nodded, smiling proudly. "Remember what I told you when you first got here? Wonderbolts think for themselves and act together. That was what you did today. You didn't waste time looking to me for orders or trying to see what everypony else was doing. You saw what needed to be done and you did it. You immediately marked out the ponies closest to hitting the ground as your priorities and took action because you know that your speed is the highest of the current Wonderbolts while you trusted your comrades to help the others."

Rainbow nodded, blushing a little harder and feeling a pleasant tingle in your stomach.

Spitfire's expression became warmer. "And then there was what you did with that filly after you landed. I'm very impressed with how you handled that situation. It's the little things like that that tell you the most about a pony."

"Really..." said Rainbow, actually feeling a bit bashful, "It wasn't that big of a deal."

Soarin' chuckled next to her. "You were in the middle of a crowd, getting heaped with praise that nopony would argue you didn't deserve. But, despite that, you still took the time to console a filly who was feeling down about herself. After what she'd been through already today, that probably meant the world to her.”

Still blushing, Rainbow looked down, not sure how to feel about all the praise being heaped on her by experienced Wonderbolts. She supposed that she should feel pleased and elated. I am pretty awesome after all. But, at the same time, she'd had experience with a few occasions where her fame had gone to her head.

"Now for the hard part," said Spitfire, snapping Rainbow back to reality.

Rainbow looked up sharply at Spitfire, along with Soarin', who was also looking uneasy.

With a sigh, Spitfire said, "Unfortunately, with things as they are now, I have no choice but to cancel your training program."

Rainbow froze, her eyes wide as she stared at Spitfire in stunned shock.

"Wait! What?" gasped Soarin', "When did you decide this?"

"When I heard that Rainbow knew that nutjob personally," replied Spitfire in a cool tone that brooked no argument, "And, to make matters worse, he's made it perfectly clear that he's gunning for Rainbow specifically."

Remembering the feeling of Flash Spark's hoof against her cheek made Rainbow shiver and she reflexively raised her own hoof to the spot.

"That guy was a pegasus," said Spitfire, "But those clearly weren't pegasus wings. Those abilities of his aren't in the scope of anything I've ever seen before. I've got a really bad feeling about it. Because of that, I don't think regular Wonderbolt training is gonna cut it."

"So...we're doing what then?" asked Soarin', tilting his head.

"Before I even started the briefing, I sent Ouranos out," explained Spitfire, "I'm calling Firefly in so she can take over Rainbow's training. If everything goes well, Rainbow can return here and resume her Wonderbolts training, but I want to be absolutely sure that she can handle herself against a guy who clearly won't be threatened by regular methods. That and I'll feel better if she's with Firefly. She's a way more experienced Knight than I am, so I think Rainbow will be safer with her."

"Are you sure about this?" asked Soarin'.

"As sure as I can be," replied Spitfire. She focused intently on Rainbow. "Do you understand what I'm telling you to do?"

Rainbow nodded dumbly. She wasn't exactly sure how she felt about her Wonderbolt training getting delayed so abruptly, but she could understand Spitfire's reasoning.

Spitfire gave Rainbow a sad smile. "I'm sorry that things aren't going the way we wanted. But this is for the best. I wouldn't be able to look at myself in the mirror if I didn't do everything in my power to make sure my teammates are safe. That means making sure that you're prepared to face a serious threat, which this creep clearly is."

"I understand, Captain," said Rainbow.

"Good," said Spitfire, "I don't know how long it's gonna take for us to track down Firefly and get her back here. But we'll continue your regular training until then. But...I think another day off is in order, since this one turned out to be a bust."

"I guess," Rainbow admitted. Her entire body did feel worn out. She felt almost as tired as she usually did after her regular training sessions. She was learning to cope with that tired feeling better now, but it didn't change the fact that her session of light exercise promised by the performance had been replaced by a strenuous rescue operation.

"Get some rest," said Spitfire, nodding to Soarin' before stepping out of the briefing room. "If you two go out, keep a sharp eye out in case that stallion comes back and tries to make good on his threat. If you encounter him, get back here on the double, whatever it takes." Soarin' nodded back and Spitfire took her leave.

Soarin' rested a hoof lightly between Rainbow's wings. "How do you feel?" he asked.

"Pretty tired," Rainbow admitted.

"Well, you've got another day off tomorrow," said Soarin', "So...are we still on for dinner tonight?"

Remembering that she was supposed to go on a date with her coltfriend, Rainbow perked up. "I think I'd be up for that."

Soarin' gave her a grin. "That's the Rainbow I know. I still have reservations at a nice place."

"That'd be great," said Rainbow, "Let's get cleaned up." The two of them left the briefing room to change out of their flight suits and get washed up. I just hope Flash Spark doesn't try to crash our date. She froze as something extremely troubling occurred to her. But first...I need to send a letter.

The day had begun like any other for Dawn and Scootaloo. As it was the weekend, neither of them had to worry about school. They did, however, have a shift at the teahouse later on in the morning, which would be followed by a, hopefully, peaceful afternoon with their friends. Scootaloo and the other three members of the Crusaders had obtained their cutie marks. However, that had not completely stopped their scheming as they tried to come up with different ways for Dawn and Rumble to obtain their own cutie marks, much to the distress of the colts in question.

After coming in from practice in the front yard of Scootaloo's home, Dawn and his fillyfriend seated themselves at the table in the kitchen as they waited for Melon Cream to finish breakfast. Melon slid a pair of omelets in front of the foals just as the thump of the newspaper hitting the front porch echoed through the house. Melon trotted out to pick up the morning paper while the foals tucked into their meal.

A few seconds later, Melon came bounding back into the kitchen, her eyes wide. "Scootaloo! Dawn!"

Looking up from their meals, Dawn and Scootaloo looked at Melon with confusion and worry. Melon had gone slightly pale beneath her coat as she threw the newspaper on the center of the table, which unfolded so that the paper's headline was clearly readable.

Both Dawn and Scootaloo turned to look at the paper, trying to figure out what had the filly's mother so agitated.

UNIDENTIFIED ATTACKER INTERRUPTS WONDERBOLT PERFOMRANCE!
Cloudsdale's Cloudeseum Destroyed:
A performance by the Wonderbolts aerial team was interrupted by an attack by an unidentified individual who then went on to destroy Cloudsdale's iconic Cloudeseum via methods currently unknown.
The Wonderbolts' performance began as planned at two in the afternoon. However, early on into their whole-team formation maneuvers, the performance was interrupted by a strange, unidentified noise that prompted the Wonderbolts to disperse in an attempt to identify its source. The source was later confirmed to be a pony of unidentified type, who flew in over the stadium's outer wall.
The perpetrator proceeded to engage in a verbal exchange with Captain Spitfire and other Wonderbolts before launching an attack that destroyed the integrity of the Cloudeseum's structure, prompting it to disintegrate entirely. Only swift actions by the Wonderbolts on the scene prevented any injuries and loss of life, rescuing those too young or infirm for sustained flight from falling to their deaths. Thanks to the Wonderbolts' prompt actions, there were no casualties and no serious injuries.
Though testimony from the Wonderbolts on the scene, including Captain Spitfire, indicated that the perpetrator was indeed a pony, critical facts regarding the perpetrator's identity remain unconfirmed. Though the perpetrator was in flight, witnesses reported that the unidentified pony sported some form of insect-like wings as opposed to pegasus wings. This, combined with eyewitness testimony stating that the perpetrator was covered in some form of carapace or armor have led to speculation that a changeling was responsible, despite Princess Celestia's recent assertions that the changelings no longer pose a threat to Equestria.
Captain Spitfire has vowed that she will use all of the resources available to her and her team to track down the perpetrator and bring him to justice. Furthermore, the Cloudsdale Guard will also be participating in the investigation, as will the Guard units in neighboring areas if it is determined that the perpetrator has hidden himself outside of Cloudsdale's jurisdiction.
When pressed for a comment, Princess Celestia declared that she had complete faith in Captain Spitfire's efforts and that the Royal Guard would supply assistance as needed. Much remains uncertain about the incident and more information shall be published as it is made available.

Scootaloo and Dawn stared for a second at the words of the article before looking at each other. "What do you think that's all about?" asked the filly.

Dawn shrugged. "It's hard to say," he admitted, "It's fairly obvious what happened, but it seems that Rainbow Dash is fine. There is nothing in the article stating that any of the Wonderbolts were hurt."

"Yeah...but..." Scootaloo frowned pensively. "Something about this whole thing seems weird."

"There isn't a whole lot we can do with the information that we have," said Dawn, "Rainbow Dash will probably send us more information in due time. In the meantime, let's not worry about it too much. She's alright and that's all we really need to know at this point."

"I guess..." said Scootaloo, her tone uncertain. There was something bothering her about the article and the events it was describing, something she didn't like one bit. With all thee things that had been happening lately, just having somepony with weird powers show up out of nowhere seemed way too contrived for Scootaloo's tastes, though she couldn't figure out how it was contrived. Maybe I'm thinking too hard about this, she thought.

Still, there was nothing to be done at the moment. She was worried about Rainbow, of course. But, as Dawn had pointed out, there was no indication that Rainbow had been hurt and the article had actually stated specifically that nopony had been injured. Scootaloo supposed that the only thing to do right now was carry on like normal until they got more information.

In spite of her knowledge that no amount of worrying would do any good, Scootaloo felt as though she couldn't do anything but. Dawn was forced to keep a careful eye on her during their shift at the teahouse, lest Scootaloo, in a fit of inattentiveness, accidentally drop and break a cup or teapot, or worse...spill hot tea on a customer. There had been a couple of close calls over the course of the day, but Dawn and the others managed to head off any disasters on Scootaloo's part.

Once the shift ended, Scootaloo bolted out the teahouse's door and made straight for the library, leaving so quickly that she forgot to take her saddlebags in the rush. Danw picked her bags up along with his own and followed the filly across the way after pausing to give Arkenstone a brief apology for all the trouble. Rumble, Sweetie Belle, and Apple Bloom exchanged nervous glances before deciding to follow.

Scootaloo slammed open the door to the library as she barged in. The impact made the door shudder in its frame, which knocked over a small number of books and sent them toppling off the shelves and onto the floor.

"Scootaloo!" snapped Twilight, who had been reading at the table, "What have I told you about slamming the door?"

Freezing, the filly managed to recover her composure. "Sorry," she squeaked.

Twilight sighed. "Let me guess...you found out about Rainbow."

Scootaloo nodded. "Mom showed me the article."

"I understand you're worried," said Twilight, "So am I. That's why Spike and I are waiting here for now. I'm hoping Rainbow will send us a letter soon and maybe give us a bit more information about what's going on."

"Who knows," said Spike bringing a tray of snacks out of the kitchen and setting it out in the large table in the library's center, "Maybe she'll need Dawn's help again."

"At this point, anything's possible," said Twilight.

The door behind Scootaloo opened again, more gently this time, and the other Crusaders came inside. Dawn quickly went over to give Scootaloo her saddlebags back, which prompted a blush from the orange filly as Apple Bloom quickly went over to exchange a nuzzle with Spike.

"I figured you'd all come over here after work," said Spike, gesturing to the tray on the table, "That's why I made snacks."

The other Crusaders, even Dawn, fell upon the snacks rather eagerly. Spike was an able chef after all. Dawn was especially fond of his smoked salmon pinwheels.

"What do ya think happened?" asked Bloom as she swallowed down an apple with a layer of smoked gouda melted on top of it.

"I'm not sure," said Twilight, "The article is all that we have to go on at the moment. The description of the pony responsible makes it extremely unclear. Though he was flying, he can't possibly be a pegasus if he has insect wings."

"I'm surprised details were so scarce," observed Dawn.

"Maybe they didn't want to cause a panic," suggested Rumble, "I mean, whatever's going on, it's pretty clear that it's really strange. The description almost sounds like a changeling. Maybe they're trying to invade again."

"No." Twilight's tone was sharp, resolute and...faintly angry. Her outburst caused everypony to look over at her in surprise. Realizing that she'd accidentally drawn more attention than she'd intended, Twilight looked away from the foals and her draconic younger brother. "The changelings aren't a problem anymore. They won't ever be."

"What do you mean?" asked Sweetie, tilting her head in confusion.

"They just aren't. That's all there is to it." Twilight frowned, clearly indicating that they should stop that particular line of conversation from going anywhere.

Though motivated by the classic curiosity of the young, the Crusaders silently decided not to press the issue.

"If I had to guess, Spitfire limited the information she gave to the press," explained Twilight, "She clearly spoke to them, but I think she didn't share everything."

"Why would she do that?" asked Spike.

"Possibly because there's something more personal about this incident," guessed Twilight, "Like if the attacker is somepony she knows and she's trying to settle things before they really get out of hoof."

"This guy destroyed the Cloudeseum," Spike pointed out, "If you ask me things are already-HURK!"

"Spike!" exclaimed Bloom as the young dragon's stomach swelled and his cheeks bulged before he cut loose with a belch of flame that congealed into a letter, which dropped down onto the center of the table.

"Ya okay sugarcube?" asked a concerned Apple Bloom as she rushed to steady Spike, who was looking a bit woozy.

"That was unexpected," said Spike, "Looks like those candles are a bit rougher than Princess Celestia's spell."

"I'm sorry," said Twilight, "I'll let Rainbow know that she should send the candles back until we can get it right."

"It's fine," said Spike, "I was caught off guard. It didn't actually hurt or anything. It feels different from Celestia's spell, so I wasn't really ready for it. It's sorta like when you try to teleport when you're all distracted by another panic attack."

"Spike..." said Twilight in a warning tone, though the relieved smile on her face belied her irritated voice.

Instead of taking things any further, Twilight instead turned her attention to the letter on the table, unrolling and reading it, her eyes moving quickly. The foals and Spike watched and waited. To their unease, they saw Twilight's eyes widening with each successive line. Beneath her coat, her skin was growing pale and her breathing was getting faster.

"Twilight...?" inquired Spike nervously, not liking the panicked look on her face at all.

"Dawn!" Twilight's shout was accompanied by the letter, once again rolled up, being smacked against the surface of the table, the decisive tone in Twilight's voice catching Dawn's complete attention.

"Y-yes...?" asked Dawn, a bit nervous at the unexpected steel in Twilight's voice.

"Get your mom and bring her here...right now!" Twilight gave Dawn a terrified look. "Hurry! I don't want to leave her alone any longer than I have to."

"What do you mean?"

Twilight swallowed hard. "It's Flash Spark. He's the pony who attacked Rainbow and the Wonderbolts."

The door to the library slammed open for the second time that day as a black and silver streak rammed it aside, flashing out and streaking across Ponyville's sky with a rush of wind.

When he'd first awoken with his new wings, Flash Spark had been irritated by the constant drone that accompanied him whenever he took to the air. Now however, it sounded like a comforting hum to his ears as he zipped through the sky with more speed and agility than he'd ever known on his old wings. Truly, this was what it felt like to be a first-rate flyer. This was freedom. This was real power.

He was practically brimming with excitement. He'd confronted the Wonderbolts themselves, the ponies held up as the greatest fliers Equestria's pegasi had produced. They were heralded as representing the best of the pegasus tribes, held up as an example, something to aspire to, something deserving respect. He'd slapped them in the face, stolen their show out from under their wings and destroyed their sway over the crowds. He had done that. He...Flash Spark...

Once he was finished with them, Equestria would see the Wonderbolts for what they really were...losers. They thought they were such a big deal in their pretty uniforms, flying in their neat little formations, basking in the adoration of the crowds. It was no big deal. He could've been a Wonderbolt if he'd wanted. After all, if Rainbow Dash could make it in, then it couldn't be that big a deal.

Rainbow Dash... At the memory of her face, the delicious look of shock she'd been wearing when she'd recognized him, Flash Spark felt a pleasant tickling sensation trickle in from the spots where his wings joined his back, further down the length of his spine from where his old wings had originally been. That tickling sensation made him giggle and shiver. Oh yes! Rainbow's look of shock had been delicious. Flash couldn't wait until he saw her expression once he tore apart the Wonderbolts before her eyes. Then he'd pay her back for the humiliation he'd suffered at her hooves, the humiliation of her rejection. He'd get payback in spades.

The mysterious unicorn had honored his word. He'd given Flash the power of flight once again. The process had been painful as the foreign material was bonded to his body on a cellular level. He'd spent days writhing in agony as the off-white material had slowly crawled its way up his body like some kind of malicious infection, consuming his coat and skin, replacing it with a new shell to hold his organs. It was alive, a living shell that now existed in place of his skin and coat. His eyes were now hidden by lenses that had grown over them, lenses that sharpened and broadened his vision. He could nearly see all the way behind him. His mouth lay concealed behind razor-sharp mandibles, capable of biting through plate steel and into flesh, slicing through tendons and bones with ease. Every part of him was a weapon. Even his tail had been replaced by a segmented, bladed whip.

The wings were the most amazing thing. They caught the light and broke it into countless colors that Flash didn't even have names for. With but a thought, he could change their formation and the sound they emitted became his weapon.

Soon, he thought, soon I'll show all of Equestria just how weak the Wonderbolts really are. I'll make sure everypony sees... As his thoughts continued along this vein, he did not consciously notice the increasingly pleasant vibrations that seemed to transmit themselves from his wing straight up his spine. As it was, he simply continued to enjoy the pleasure and went on his way, gleefully planning his next effort to show the Wonderbolts up.

Caramel gently rubbed his hoof up and down Fluttershy's spine as she leaned up against him, shaking slightly. Upon Dawn's revelation that Flash Spark was on the loose once again, her memories of that night so many months ago came rushing back. She remembered the arrogant stallion's voice, the feeling of him pressing her down onto her stomach. Though Dawn had stopped it from happening, the fear lurked within the depths of Fluttershy's heart.

"Are you sure it's him?" asked Caramel.

"Rainbow's sure," said Twilight, gesturing to the letter, "She said that Flash Spark practically identified himself to her."

"B-but how?" asked Fluttershy.

"None of us have any idea," said Twilight solemnly, "All that we know is that he's much more dangerous than he was before and we probably don't know half of what he can do now. Whatever happened to him, it's changed him radically."

"What took Rainbow so long to write us about it?" asked Dawn, "I would have thought she'd want to let us know immediately about something like this."

Twilight pursed her lips. "I actually think this was written last night." She sighed. "There might still be a few kinks to work out with those candles...but that's a problem for another time."

"So what should we do?" asked Caramel.

"Well...for the time being..." Twilight looked down. "I'm honestly not sure. When I called Fluttershy here, my first plan was to have her move back in with you. I'd feel better if I knew that Fluttershy wasn't spending most of her time in a cottage on the outskirts of town. That was part of what made Flash Spark decide she was a suitable target in the first place."

"I can't," said Fluttershy, "I have my responsibilities to the animals. I can't just leave them."

"But-"

"No," said Fluttershy, her voice unexpectely firm, "Flash Spark scares me, but I won't let him dictate how I live my life. I won't let my fear control how I live."

"Are you sure?" asked Twilight.

Fluttershy nodded. "I have Dawn now. I know that he'll keep me safe."

"But he'll be at school during the weekdays," Twilight pointed out, "Even if he gives up his job at the teahouse, he won't be able to protect you all the time."

"Perhaps we should ask Storm Front and Red River for assistance," suggested Dawn, "After all, this sort of situation is why they are here in Ponyville to begin with. Granted, I'm not the root cause of it this time. But it is still right up their alley..."

Abruptly, the colt froze, an idea suddenly occurred to him. Twilight watched in confusion as Dawn's smile slowly widened into an uncharacteristically mischievous smirk that actually unsettled Twilight and everypony else. Dawn seemed strangely pleased with himself.

"Actually..." he said, "...on second thought, there may not be any need to request extra work from Storm and Red."

"What do you mean?" asked Fluttershy.

"I need to write to Spitfire about something," said Dawn, "I think I know who can help us in this situation."

"You know somepony who can help?" asked Caramel.

"Well..." said Dawn in a cryptic tone, "not exactly somepony..." He explained his idea and laid out his plans.

Twilight didn't look entirely pleased with the idea, but it was clear that she couldn't think of anything better. "I guess that'll work," she said, "If you're really sure we can trust them..." She could only hope that Spitfire, Rainbow, and the Wonderbolts managed to catch Flash Spark soon.

Loving the Sky

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Chapter 14: Loving the Sky

"Captain!" exclaimed Estelle as she scrambled into Spitfire's office, "Firefly's here!"

Spitfire let out a relieved breath. "Thank goodness." It had only been a couple of days since the attack on the Cloudeseum. There had been no word from anypony in the area around Cloudsdale regarding a pony of Flash Spark's rather unique description. That only served to make Spitfire all the more nervous. Granted, there was plenty of empty, unoccupied space in Equestria, especially in the skies above it, where a pony like Flash could hide. But her Wonderbolts had been searching non-stop, aided by the Guard complements of the localities throughout the region, as well as assistance from the Royal Guard. Shining Armor had even been kind enough to put the SES at her disposal.

However, no leads had been found. Wherever Flash Spark was hiding, he was doing a good job of it. Although, for all that she knew, that armor of his was something that he could shed or disguise very easily. It was almost impossible to anticipate what he was capable of when they didn't know what they were dealing with.

"Call Rainbow Dash. I want to get her training started right away."

At Spitfire's command, the pure-white mare with a glittering, platinum mane darted back out the door. Estelle was the Wonderbolts' expert on high-altitude operations and currently held the record for the world's highest flight, having reached all the way to the stratosphere, at an altitude where the average pegasus couldn't even breathe without some form of physical or magical assistance. She also had keen eyesight. Soarin' had once eloquently described her as having "eyes that would make an eagle jealous." She frequently flew high-altitude reconnaissance for the Wonderbolts, her unique pairing of skill and talent making her infinitely useful for spying on situations from high above. Before Rainbow Dash had arrived, she had also been the Wonderbolts' most recent member.

"You seem to be in quite the tizzy," observed Firefly as she calmly strode into the room, as though she didn't have a care in the world, "Did that stallion really scare you that much?"

Firefly was considerably older than Spitfire. Her face was decorated with shallow wrinkles, especially around the corners of her mouth, the hallmark of a mare who spent a lot of her time smiling. It gave her a warm, almost grandmotherly quality when she wanted. Of course, that didn't change the fact that beneath the faint wrinkles in her skin lay muscles of steel, the envy of ponies a quarter her age. Her wings were immaculate, with not a single feather out of place, their leading edges decorated with taut, wiry muscle. Spitfire remembered that Rainbow had once described Firefly as looking the very definition of what it meant to "age gracefully." In spite of her age, her light-blue mane and pale-pink coat showed no sign of fading in color, without so much as a streak of gray in sight. The blue lightning bolts decorating her flank were just as bright and clear as ever.

"He scared me enough," replied Spitfire flatly, "I have no intention of allowing him to get close to Rainbow Dash again if I can help it."

"So I'm here as her bodyguard and her trainer," quipped Firefly.

"Until I'm sure Rainbow can guard herself," said Spitfire, "It may also give us a chance to apprehend that jerk if he makes a move while you're here too."

Firefly shrugged indifferently. "Worth a try, I suppose. I hope Rainbow's up to my training. I haven't seen a pony like her in years."

"I have confidence in her," said Spitfire, "Take as long as you need."

Their conversation was interrupted by Rainbow Dash herself as the cerulean mare poked her head around the side of the doorway. When she saw her Captain and her soon-to-be personal instructor there, she quickly pulled back before marching in. "Reporting for duty," said Rainbow, stopping and saluting crisply, her most serious expression in place.

Firefly's face scrunched up, a faint snort escaping her before she finally gave up and starting laughing. "Oh this is rich!" she crowed, "Spitfire must have tightened things up since the last time I was here."

"I didn't," said Spitfire, here eyebrow twitching, "Rainbow Dash just hasn't gotten the formality we used in the Academy out of her system."

Flinching a little before relaxing, Rainbow tilted her head as she stared past Firefly at her Captain. "Actually...why was protocol such a big deal at the Academy?"

Spitfire chuckled. "It's one thing when you're actually training with us as an actual member and another when you're simply training under us as a prospective member. Keep in mind that attending and even getting through the Academy training is no guarantee of membership. If we didn't draw the line somewhere, everypony who made it into the Academy would be convinced that they'd already made it into the Wonderbolts and would let their egos run away with the idea."

"That makes sense, I guess," said Rainbow. It was an attitude that reminded the ponies that attended the Academy that they were there to learn and that the Wonderbolts who were present were their instructors, not their peers.

"In any case, Spitfire's decided to reshuffle your schedule a little," said Firefly, "So I'm going to take over your physical training for the time being. However, I want you to continue your academic courses as though nothing had changed."

"Really?" exclaimed Spitfire and Rainbow at the same time, causing Firefly to look back and forth between them.

"Why are you surprised?" she asked.

"I figured you'd want to take Rainbow somewhere out of the way to train," said Spitfire.

"Oh please," scoffed Firefly, flicking her hoof in a dismissive gesture, "It's not as though I'm teaching her some kind of destructive technique that needs to be done somewhere far away from everypony else. I can train her right here at the Wonderbolt headquarters without any extra fuss."

"Speaking of what I'm learning..." said Rainbow, staring at Firefly, "What...am I learning...exactly?"

That made Firefly pause. "Oh, that's right. You haven't seen it yet." She gave Rainbow a delighted grin. "Then it's time to show you exactly what you're in for."

Rainbow, Spitfire, and Firefly stood on a cloud overlooking the Wonderbolts' training grounds. Situated on the same plateau that also hosted the Wonderbolts Academy, the grounds were only a short flight from the Headquarters in Cloudsdale proper. The extensive airspace around them was a rigorously enforced no-fly-zone for ponies without proper authorization (even more rigorously enforced since that time five mares decided it would be a brilliant idea to fly a hot-air ballon into the often heavily-turbulent airspace without so much as a "by your leave"). Furthermore, it was also surrounded by what was probably one of the most ingenious pieces of cloud construction that Rainbow had ever seen in her life...the privacy screen.

Sure...the name and its ultimate purpose were perfectly ordinary when described. However, the issue of enforcing such privacy to keep away the prying eyes of ponies who could fly to observe from a variety of angles and distances was not a mundane problem, especially in an area of sky that frequently hosted turbulent simulated weather patterns. Towards that end, the cloud engineers of the Wonderbolts had come up with one of the most brilliant and complex cloud constructs ever created. From within, there was no indication that a privacy screen was in place. The skies were blue and dotted with clusters of clouds. Looking up, Rainbow could even easily pick out Cloudsdale in the near distance. However, suspended between the clusters of clouds that dotted the skies was a paper-thin screen of fog particles, held in place by the pegasus magic that had molded them. From an outside angle, the fog particles caught and dispersed the sunlight, giving the impression that the training grounds were perpetually shrouded in a thick bank of clouds, through which no observation was possible. In its own way, it was an illusion ever bit as excellent as any unicorn glamour.

As Rainbow waited for Firefly's demonstration to begin, she began to notice a variety of pegasi zipping in through the privacy screen and taking up places on the surrounding clouds or even on the landing strip of the plateau itself. It seemed that every member of the Wonderbolts, along with their support staff, was coming over to watch.

Rainbow felt the cloud beneath her hooves jump slightly as another pony joined them. Looking over, she saw Soarin' folding his wings before coming up to stand next to her, grinning like a foal.

"What's all the hubbub about?" asked Rainbow, looking around at the still-growing audience, "Is this really such a big deal?"

"Oh yeah," replied Soarin', "It's not every day Firefly puts on a show. When she does, you definitely don't want to miss it."

"Pay attention rookie," said Spitfire in a stern tone, "This is what she's gonna be teaching you."

Looking around and seeing all the first-rate fliers who seemed to think that it was worth their time to drop everything that they'd been doing to come and watch, Rainbow swallowed hard, feeling a bit light in the head and heavy in the stomach. She imagined herself standing where Firefly was now, all those ponies waiting to see her display what she could do and felt a bit of that anxiety from the Young Fliers Competition rush back into her.

A warm feeling settled across her back and Rainbow noticed that Firefly had wrapped a wing around her, pulling Rainbow up against the older mare's side. "Just relax," she said in a pleasant tone, "Remember, this isn't a performance move. The eyes of other ponies have nothing to do with it." Using a hoof, she turned and tilted Rainbow's head so that their eyes met. Firefly gave the younger mare a motherly smile. "Right now, the only eyes I care about are yours. I want you to watch me."

Rainbow slowly nodded, feeling her anxiety ebb away. This had nothing to do with being a Wonderbolt. This was something different, something special, something meant for her alone. Feeling that actually made a warm feeling rise up in Rainbow's stomach, replacing the earlier anxiety. She would learn this skill from Firefly, become its master, and, someday, pass it down to another pony.

Firefly lifted her wing and walked away from Rainbow towards a clear portion of the cloud. "You've learned a bit, haven't you, of the magic of the different tribes?"

Rainbow found herself nodding. It wasn't just her instruction with High Winds. Rainbow remembered lectures Twilight had given, as well as Storm Front, Red River, Arkenstone, and even Dawn. She remembered some of what they had told her, about the properties of the magic of each of the three tribes.

"Pegasus magic will always be pegasus magic," said Firefly, "Just as a unicorn's magic will always be a unicorn's magic and an earth pony's and earth pony's. Thus, only a pegasus can use pegasus magic." She gave Rainbow a playful wink. "Unless you're an alicorn of course. But that's neither here nor there.

"However, just because we can't use a unicorn's magic or an earth pony's magic doesn't mean we can't apply the principles of their magic to our own. An earth pony's magic uses physical substance as a medium. Using that principle, we can apply it to things like the clouds we work with, our own bodies, or even things we consider an extension of our bodies, like weapons. This is especially true with our favored medium, the clouds."

Reaching down, Firefly scooped up a hoofful of the cloud they were currently standing on. "Back in the days before the harmony between the three tribes, before the windigoes came, pegasus cloud constructs and cloud cities were flimsy, unstable, and unable to last. Only after we recognized the wisdom of our sibling tribes and incorporated that wisdom into our own magic, were we able to create stable, permanent cities of clouds. The Cloudsdale that you were born and raised in is a product of that shared knowledge.

"The basis of unicorn magic is creating an image in one's mind and then using one's will to project that image outward into the world. Ultimately, what they do is a good bit more complex than that, but that is its fundamental principle. Likewise, such a thing is possible for us pegasi. While it is our adaptations of the principles earth pony magic that hold the privacy screen around this area in place, it is that combination of image and will that allows the pegasi maintaining it to create the privacy screen's illusory qualities."

Rainbow found herself recalling another time a pegasus pony had tapped into the principles of unicorn magic. An assassin after Dawn had shrouded Ponyville in an impenetrable fog that made it impossible to tell what direction one was facing or even up from down if a pony weren't touching the ground. The memory made her shiver.

Firefly had evidently ignored Rainbow's discomfort, instead choosing to walk towards the edge of the cloud. "The skill I'm going to teach you has been called the pinnacle of pegasus magic by some ponies." She gave Spitfire and Soarin' a wry glance. "But the truth is that it is the ultimate culmination of drawing upon the knowledge and wisdom of all three tribes. It exists because of the harmony between us. Because of that, I also believe it exists to protect that harmony." She nodded once at Rainbow before leaping from the cloud and taking to the air.

Firefly swooped downwards before curving her flight path back upwards. She soared up towards the peak of the training zone that was defined by the curving path of the privacy screen overhead. Drifting to a halt in the air, Firefly flared out her wings to their fullest, spreading out every feather as far as she possibly could. Rainbow saw her inhale deeply as her eyes slowly drifted shut.

In the next second, Rainbow's eyes nearly leapt out of her head as the sky blazed with light, bright enough to blind her. Normally, her instincts would have made her flinch away, but Rainbow couldn't wrench her eyes from the display. The light seemed to penetrate past her eyes, through her brain, and pierce all the way down into the depths of her heart, where it touched...something...something primitive and instinctual, something that she had known all her life.

It was a feeling that had been buried by countless other feelings, by the weight of triumph and failure, by the dreams she had pursued and realized. It had been lurking there all along, smothered by all the things that were the life of Rainbow Dash and yet, at the same time, was also the very thing that had carried her through that life. She had almost forgotten it, even though it formed the very deepest core of who she really was.

The demonstration didn't even last three minutes. Before Rainbow realized it, it was over and Firefly was already descending back towards the cloud, a contented smile on her face. Even though things were back to normal, Rainbow still felt as though she couldn't keep her eyes off of Firefly.

"That was something else," sighed Soarin' from beside her, abruptly reminding Rainbow that she wasn't alone on the cloud. Both Soarin' and Spitfire were there with her after all. She had gotten so wrapped up in the demonstration that she'd completely forgotten they were there at all. Looking over, Rainbow noticed something was off. Both Soarin' and Spitfire looked slightly dazed, as though they had witnessed something truly amazing that they couldn't quite believe. But...at the same time, what captivated them was merely the outward beauty of what Firefly had done. It hadn't touched them on the same level that it had touched her. Suddenly, Rainbow had an inkling of why Firefly had specifically chosen her.

"Well," said Firefly as she touched down, "It looks like you liked what you saw."

"You can say that again!" exclaimed Rainbow, "And you're really going to teach me how to do that?"

"Well...I can teach," said Firefly, "But it will be up to you to learn. But..." Her smile widened. "...I think you have the best chance of anypony I've ever met of learning this."

"I guess that's our cue to bail," said Spitfire, nudging Soarin', who followed reluctantly.

He paused just long enough to give Rainbow a kiss on the cheek. "Good luck Dashie," he whispered before taking off after Spitfire.

Taking a deep breath, Rainbow did her best to compose herself as she turned back to face Firefly once again.

"Well then," said Firefly, "Shall we begin?"

"Um...a-are you sure about this, Dawn?" asked Fluttershy, looking anxiously up at the sky as she and her son waited in their front yard. It was a beautiful spring day, which was to be expected after all. The sky was blue, dotted with white tufts of clouds that hung around like a faint reassurance that the events of the previous year's drought would not repeat themselves. And yet, in spite of this, Fluttershy couldn't feel completely at ease. After all, it wasn't every day that she made the acquaintance of someone who had nearly killed her son.

"I'm fairly certain," replied Dawn, his tone and posture relaxed, as though he had no notion of how tense his mother was, "They are honorable individuals and they did not treat me all that unpleasantly..." He paused and directed a sheepish grin up at Fluttershy. "For all that they were trying to kill me at the time, of course."

"Of course," said Fluttershy a bit uneasily. While she was all for forgiving other ponies and other creatures for their transgressions, she had to admit that even she thought Dawn was taking things a little far at times. It had been hard enough to sit there and share a Hearth's Warming breakfast with the former Guardsmare that had kidnapped a filly to lure him into an ambush. But that seemed almost normal compared to what Dawn was planning now.

Abruptly, Dawn sat up a little straighter, his ears standing upright and his wings flaring slightly. By now, Fluttershy recognized the signs of the colt spreading his awareness out into the air around him. A second later, he relaxed. "Never mind," he said after a second, "It's just Scootaloo."

The bright-orange filly dropped down out of the sky and landed next to Dawn in the yard. "Am I late?" she asked.

"Not yet," replied Dawn, "I was expecting Miss Twilight out here sooner though."

"I think she's coming," said Scootaloo, "But she had some things to settle with Red and Storm first."

For the second time that afternoon, Dawn once again went on alert. "They're here," he said after a second.

As if on cue, two figures swept past the sun overhead, casting large shadows across the ground. Fluttershy and Scootaloo looked up, their eyes following the pair of winged figures as they swooped around in a wide arc before dipping down towards the open ground between the cottage and the Everfree Forest. All three pegasi watched as the pair of griffons came in for a graceful landing.

Fluttershy shuddered at the sight of them. She particularly remembered one past interaction with a griffon that had not gone well. The last thing she wanted was to repeat her experience with Gilda all over again. Even worse, these griffons had an intimidating presence that made Gilda look like a kitten in comparison.

One of them was a male of exceptional size. He completely dwarfed any pony in Ponyville, actually appearing to be roughly equal to Princess Luna in size, albeit with a great deal more bulk. His front half was covered in ebony feathers that faded away to a matching coat of fur over his hindquarters. His back was supporting a heavy haversack that had evidently been stuffed with something large and bulky, but did not seem to encumber him in the slightest. His eyes swept over the three ponies before stopping to focus on Dawn, his lips curling up in a warm smile at the sight of the colt.

The other griffon was a female. She was considerably smaller than her companion, even smaller than Fluttershy remembered Gilda being. However, in spite of her lack of stature, her body was still covered with lithe musculature that seemed to flow like water whenever she moved. Her forepaws ended in fingers with shorter, stubbier claws than the other griffon, but appeared more flexible and dextrous. Her feathers were rust-colored, fading into a patch of white on her underbelly and transitioning into a brindled pattern on the coat of her feline half. Unlike her companion, her head twisted about, surveying the scenery with a keen interest. She also carried a haversack on her back, but one considerably smaller than her companion's.

"Well now," said the large black one, "It's good to see you again, Little Cub. I see that you've grown some since we last met."

"I'm glad to see you as well," replied Dawn, standing up and walking over towards the griffons, "I said before that I would have liked us to meet again as friends."

Reaching the griffons, Dawn held up a hoof, to which the griffon raised a forepaw, wrapping the clawed fingers of the eagle-like limb, dwarfing Dawn's hoof. A slight twitch of the black griffon's muscles would have likely sliced Dawn's leg to the bone, if not clean off, but Dawn's limb didn't betray the slightest tremor at the contact.

"Now then, who are these ponies?" asked the griffon as he released Dawn's hoof.

Dawn smiled and gestured towards Fluttershy. "This is my mother, Fluttershy. The one next to her is my fillyfriend and student, Scootaloo."

"Ah! I see," said the black griffon, smiling wider at the two other ponies. He lowered himself into a bow, spreading his wings as he lowered his beak almost to the ground. "It's an honor to meet you ladies."

"U-uh...th-thank you v-very m-much," stammered Fluttershy, still a bit troubled by the black griffon's sheer size.

"I don't think she likes us very much," observed the female griffon, her tone neutral, but a faintly disappointed expression on her face.

"Please don't hold it against her," said Dawn, "She has a great deal of difficulty meeting new people. She tends to get nervous in these situations." Walking back to Fluttershy's side, he turned and gestured towards the griffons. "Mom, Scootaloo, this is Skan and Zhan. They are the griffons that I encountered on Diamond Mountain."

"Nice to meet you," said Scootaloo cooly. Even without her tutelage under Dawn in the martial arts, she could easily tell that this pair of griffons were seriously tough customers, even the small one. She wasn't sure how she felt, considering that she knew that these two griffons had, at one point, tried to kill her coltfriend. According to Dawn, it had been nothing personal. But that didn't change the fact that it made Scootaloo feel distinctly uncomfortable, especially since she had once upbraided Dawn severely about his habit of forgiving enemies over Hearth's Warming.

"I think she likes us even less," commented Zhan with a wry smile of her own.

"Ah...well..." Dawn gave Scootaloo a somewhat troubled look, not sure what he'd do about the situation if she held his past conflict with the pair of griffons against them.

An awkward silence descended on the gathering as all of the participants struggled to find something to say. Finally, it was Skan who broke the ice. "I noticed the town when we passed over it," he said, "It seems like a fine place."

"It is," said Dawn, a small smile breaking out on his face.

Leaning over and down, Skan gently ran the tip of his beak through the feathered ruff behind Zhan's head. "What do you think, dear? This seems like a good place to settle down."

Zhan didn't break away from what seemed to be a staring contest between her and Scootaloo. "It certainly looks nice. But if the remainder of our reception is this frosty, we may need to to reconsider."

"Hey!" snapped Scootaloo, "You tried to kill my coltfriend! You're lucky we even allowed you to land here."

"That was business," replied Zhan with an indifferent shrug, "We were hired to protect a certain location that this colt and his friend then tried to break into. If you can't accept that, then there's really nothing to say."

"Uh..." Scootaloo was at a loss for words after a moment. "...But did you have to try and kill him?"

"Our orders were quite clear on the matter," said Zhan, looking slightly miffed, "If I were given the option, I would have rather not."

"So that's it," growled Scootaloo, "It's all about following orders, huh. I guess jerks like you will do anything for money."

"Um..." Dawn looked between Zhan and Scootaloo, feeling the tension beginning to ratchet up. He looked over at Skan and was surprised that the male griffon's smile hadn't faded. If anything, it was widening and he looked like he was fit to burst out laughing at any second.

Fluttershy was similarly distressed by the situation, watching the interplay between Zhan and Scootaloo. She'd seen something similar to this when Rainbow Dash had been arguing with Gilda. The end result of that had been Gilda storming off, never to show her face in Ponyville again. From the look of things, things between Scootaloo and Zhan could be even uglier.

"It's cute that you think you have the right to sit in judgment over us," retorted Zhan, "You talk so loftily about money, but you don't know what it means to put your pride and honor on the line to fulfill the duty that has been assigned to you. You practice your martial arts as a hobby, but to us, it is a means of putting food on the table. Our art is your life, so don't be so quick to judge us just because we ply our skills for the means to live you spoiled brat."

"Oh yeah!" snapped Scootaloo, her wings flaring as she stalked towards Zhan.

"Yeah!" retorted Zhan as she stalked forward as well.

Dawn was fighting down the urge to panic (something he rarely experienced) as he watched the tensions rising between Scootaloo and Zhan. Another glance at Skan seemed to confirm that the big male still seemed content to sit back and enjoy the show. By the time he turned his attention back to his fillyfriend and Skan's mate, the two were practically nose to beak, glaring into each other's eye

Zhan might have been small by griffon standards, but that still made her a fair bit larger than Scootaloo. Still, the filly didn't back down and matched her older, stronger opponent glare for glare.

It went on like that for a few almost unbearable minutes before something seemed to change. Slowly, Zhan's lips peeled back into a smile behind her beak. "Heh..." She began to laugh loudly, breaking off her glare and settling onto haunches.

"Huh?" Scootaloo blinked, bewildered by the sudden change in her opponent's attitude.

"I like this filly," said Zhan after she managed to recover some of her composure, "You don't see many ponies with that kind of spunk."

"She comes by it honestly," mused Dawn, thinking of Scootaloo's big sister.

Nopony was more surprised than Scootaloo when Zhan reached out with her forepaw and gently tousled the filly's mane, running her short, blunt claws through the strands of fuchsia. "You have a strong will, little one. I can see why your coltfriend likes you so much."

"Um...thanks?" said Scootaloo, still completely baffled, her anger having been replaced by confusion.

"I'm sorry about what happened with him," said Zhan, "But, as I said, it is how we earn our living. We have known no other way. Even now, your coltfriend has called us here for the same purpose that nearly led us to kill him."

"That much is true," agreed Dawn, "Scootaloo, this is different than how it was with Shade Steel. I invited my battle with them as much as the other way around."

"Are you sure?" asked Scootaloo, giving Dawn a concerned and confused glance.

Dawn nodded. "I am. Please don't hold it against them."

It took her a moment, but Scootaloo finally let out a sigh and relaxed. "Fine," she groaned. A second later, she whirled around, whipping her head up so that she was nose to beak with Zhan again, the action causing the griffoness to actually flinch back in surprise and confusion as Scootaloo's eyes narrowed. "But I'm watching you."

Zhan backed off laughing. "My...it's easy to forget just how fierce these ponies can be."

"Very true," agreed Skan amiably.

"Sorry we're late, everypony," declared Twilight Sparkle as she arrived along with Storm Front and Red River.

"It's just as well, we're still doing introductions," said Dawn. He gestured towards the new arrivals. "The mare is Twilight Sparkle, Princess Celestia's personal student."

Skan's eyes widened as he took a harder look at the lavender-colored unicorn. "Oh! So this is the mare that Viscountess Sweet Water was always talking about whenever she deigned to visit us."

Twilight flinched at the Viscountess' name. After all, Sweet Water had been the one who arranged the fiasco with the Foal Protective Services that had sent Dawn to Diamond Mountain in the first place. It had all been part of an elaborate scheme to open her up to the Viscountess' manipulations, which had only been thwarted when Dawn had dealt with the situation himself...Or rather, Sweet Water was suspected of arranging the situation. Despite investigations, no tangible evidence had surfaced as proof that Sweet Water was actually responsible for what had happened, much to Twilight's chagrin.

The two griffons turned and bowed politely to Twilight, who blushed at the unexpectedly formal act. "U-uh...I don't really hold any important rank or anything," she said, "There's no need to be so formal."

"If you insist," said Skan, relaxing visibly as he and Zhan settled back onto their haunches.

"Did Spitfire brief you about your reason for coming here?" asked Twilight.

The two griffons nodded in unison. "She explained matters in detail," said Skan, "She also provided us detailed information regarding the assailant to share with you in the event he attempts something here in Ponyville. She is hoping that you may be able to discern something about this Flash Spark fellow's abilities that might help stop him." He reached into his bulging haversack and withdrew a sealed tube, which he held out to Twilight.

An aura of violet energy wrapped around the tube and pulled it over to Twilight. "I'll look it over," she promised. She gestured to the two stallions that had accompanied her. "This is Red River..." The azure earth pony with the crimson mane bowed politely. "...and Storm Front..." The dark-gray pegasus did the same. "They are also staying here on assignment. You will be working with them for the duration of your stay."

The two pairs of mercenaries sized each other up with a glance. "That is acceptable," said Skan in an easy tone. "Since we are acting as official agents of the Wonderbolts, even though we aren't actually members, Spitfire has provided us with a substantial retainer."

"In that case, I'll leave you to work out details with Storm and Red," said Twilight with a smile, "We're counting on you to keep Fluttershy safe."

"She is in good claws," promised Zhan with a sidelong glance at the mare in question. Fluttershy was blushing furiously, especially as she thought about the fact that the reason these two formidable griffons were in Ponyville was for her personal safety.

"I'll leave you to it then," said Twilight, already turning back to Ponyville, "I need to get back to the library and try to figure this situation out."

Her horn blazed and she vanished in a burst of light.

"Well now," said Red as the sparks of Twilight's teleportation spell faded away, "shall we begin?"

"So...how do I do...that?" asked Rainbow, waving her hooves in vague gestures.

Firefly chuckled. "In spite of the fact that it looks complicated, like all powerful techniques, it is actually very simple at its core."

"If it's simple, couldn't anypony learn it?" wondered Rainbow. She couldn't imagine that anypony wouldn't want to learn such a skill.

"Simple doesn't equal easy," replied Firefly as she trotted to the edge of their cloud, "Come. Sit and talk with me."

"Um...shouldn't we be training?"

"If you don't have a proper understanding of the technique, then all the training in the world won't do you any good," replied Firefly, "That's true with any technique, whether in combat, aerial maneuvers, or weather magic. But it's especially true in this case. Understanding is not just important. It's essential. You could say that this technique is born from pure understanding that is then put into action."

"I...I don't get it..." said Rainbow.

That got another chuckle from her teacher, who once again patted the cloud next to her. With a sigh, Rainbow settled down onto the cloud, laying down next to the pink pegasus. It felt odd to her. After spending so many days undertaking rigorous academic courses either preceeded or followed by periods of intense physical training, it felt weird to just sit down and chat with her teacher as though they were just talking about the weather.

"You are right when you say that almost anypony, or anypegasus rather, could learn this technique. It is within all pegasi to obtain the skill that I showed you. True, talent and inclination would shape and develop the skill differently in just about anypony who used it. However, what most ponies are lacking is a certain awareness, a certain feeling if you will, that allows them to truly understand the core of the technique.

"When you saw me demonstrate it earlier, you felt something, didn't you?"

"Yeah," said Rainbow a bit nervously.

"That is the difference between you and most other pegasi," said Firefly, "The reason my demonstration resonated with you is the personal quality you possess, your underlying motivation. It is your drive, what drove you to perfect your flight skills, what made you seek to become a Wonderbolt, the thing you love and treasure more than anything."

Rainbow blinked and stared uncomprehendingly at her mentor. "What's that?"

"The sky."

Rainbow froze. "What?"

Firefly couldn't quite contain her giggles at her student's consternation. "Let me put it this way. To most pegasi, even your fellow Wonderbolts, flying is more of a means to an end. Some of them may enjoy flying and many of them have refined it to an art form, some pegasi even consider their ability to fly to be a sign of inherent superiority. However, only a few love flying for what it truly is, that which connects them to the sky.

"You are one of those ponies. Everything about you, from your cutie mark to your goals, to your endless drive to improve is born from your connection with and your love for the sky. Therefore, you could say that love forms the core of this technique."

"I don't get it," said Rainbow. Something about what Firefly had said certainly did connect with how she felt. It was true, she loved flying, even if it was just for flying's sake. She loved the feeling of the wind flowing through her mane and over her feathers. She adored soaring through the wide, endless blue of the sky. She relished in that feeling of freedom that flight brought her. But how did that translate into what Firefly had demonstrated?

"Helping you understand is going to be the most difficult part," said Firefly, "Because, there's only so much I can teach in that respect. Most of this is going to be something that you discover on your own, through your own efforts and understanding. You are going to have to look inside yourself to discover what you need. Only then will you be capable of that technique."

"Uh...what am I looking for?" asked Rainbow.

She felt a gentle pressure over her back as Firefly laid a motherly wing across it. "I can't tell you exactly what you are looking for. Remember what I said before I showed you my technique?" At Rainbow's nod, she continued. "This is where the concept of unicorn magic comes in. What you are looking for is an image that represents your feelings about flying, your love of the sky...your Wings of the Heart."

For a second, Rainbow was silent as Firefly's words sunk in. Then, unable to help herself, she began to giggle. "That sounds so corny."

That got a laugh from Firefly. "It does, doesn't it. You need to remember though, that for all that it sounds corny, the Wings of the Heart that are born from your love of the sky is a very real source of power. Love is a tremendous power, after all. You remember how the love of Cadance and Shining Armor was able to drive the changelings away from Canterlot?"

Rainbow nodded.

"That is the power that love is capable of. Once you have the image, you channel it out, using your own wings as the medium for your power. That's the earth pony aspect of this technique, by the way. Thus, the technique is born."

Rainbow found herself frowning pensively. Firefly was right. It did sound rather simple, all told. It also sounded difficult as hay. Of all the words that Rainbow would use to describe herself, introspective wasn't one of them. It sounded as though mastering this technique would require some real soul searching on her part and Rainbow didn't think she had it in herself to do it.

"There must be some kind of way to do this," she muttered, "I have no idea of how to look for these Wings you're talking about."

"Well...the best way to start would be to get you more in touch with your magic," said Firefly, tapping her chin.

"How did you do it?" asked Rainbow.

"Well I happened on this technique when I was studying the Gale King," replied Firefly, "My teacher had been saying many of the things about magic that I told you earlier. That was what got me on the idea to explore that concept to its limits."

"So I guess I have to start learning the Gale King," muttered Rainbow. She wasn't sure that would work out from her. From what she had seen when she'd watched Dawn teach Scootaloo, it was something that started by contradicting the way most pegasi learned how to fly.

"We don't have to go that far," said Firefly, "Just the absolute basics will be best. Luckily, I'm going to be in charge of your physical training until you learn this, so we don't have to worry about this impacting your regular training. Once you learn this, it should actually help with your regular training.

Rainbow perked up at that. If anything, that sounded even better to her. By the time she finished learning Firefly's technique, she might be finished with the academic portion of her Wonderbolt training, which would only make it easier to focus on the physical training. Furthermore, Firefly's lessons would probably be less strenuous than her basic training, at least physically, which would make it easier to keep her focus during the Academic portion.

"Awesome! Let's do it!"

In spite of her original optimism, Rainbow felt her stomach drop when she saw Firefly's lips stretch into a grin that promised nothing but trouble.

Soarin' looked around as he stepped into the mess hall. According to the regular training schedule, Rainbow's training should be finished by this point. Normally she stopped off at the living quarters for a shower before coming in. So he wasn't surprised to see her seated at one of the tables, a tray of food resting in front her.

What did surprise him was that she wasn't eating. She wasn't even looking at it really. Rather, as he stepped around to get a better view on Rainbow's condition, he saw her vacant eyes staring past the food on her tray and blankly at the wall, though she probably wasn't even seeing the wall either. This was completely different from the exhausted state he normally found her in. Rainbow almost looked as though her brain had shut down. That she clearly had enough mental wherewithal to get her food, but not enough to actually eat it seemed to suggest that her current state of exhaustion was less physical and more mental. Or magical, he thought, remembering what Rainbow's new training under Firefly was supposed to be for.

Remembering who Rainbow was training under, Soarin' looked around, trying to see if Firefly was actually in the mess hall. However, there was no sign of the vibrant pink mare. There were only a couple other Wonderbolts and a few members of the support staff scattered throughout the room.

I hope I can help her through this, he thought. Getting his own food, Soarin' returned to the table and sat down next to Rainbow.

"Hey," he said whispering the word into Rainbow's ear before blowing gently on it. The ear twitched reflexively.

There was a whole second's delay between that twitch before Rainbow shot upright. "AH!" Her shout echoed across the room, drawing the attention of the few ponies there. However, Rainbow paid them no mind as she whirled to glare tiredly at Soarin', her eyes still looking slightly glazed and unfocused. The way she shifted her head seemed to indicate that she couldn't quite see him clearly and was trying to get her eyes to focus.

"Rough day?" he asked, trying his hardest to hide his grin before Rainbow could see well enough again to notice it.

With a sigh, Rainbow sagged down, staring at the table. "I thought this would be easy," she said, "Or that it would be less work than my regular training at least."

"I'm guessing you were mistaken," ventured Soarin'. He had no idea what Firefly's training entailed. That she often (at least two or three times a year) visited the the Wonderbolts' Headquarters and Academy to look for potential students indicated that she wasn't reluctant to share her skill with other ponies. However, the fact that she had never before found a pony she could teach seemed to indicate that said skill wasn't something she could pass down to just anypony.

"Was I ever," said Rainbow with a groan, "Imagine you've been doing something your entire life and that you'd been good at it." At Soarin's nod, she continued. "Now imagine being told that you've basically been doing it the wrong way the whole time and you have to learn the whole thing over from scratch, all while trying not to do it the way you've always been doing it."

"Ouch," said Soarin' with a sympathetic wince. That would be hard.

"That's basically what Firefly started on with me," said Rainbow, "In order to learn her technique, I have to get in touch with my magic, really in touch with my magic. All the stuff I'd been learning during regular training doesn't even come close."

Soarin' nodded gravely. That might account for her mental exhaustion. Not only was she having to learn a completely new skill, but she was having to stop herself from going about it the wrong way. That kind of constant mental effort would wear down one's nerves until she could barely think straight. To make matters harder, Rainbow was practicing using her magic, which might not have taxed her body as much, but would have done a number on her concentration.

They ate in silence for a little while. Soarin' kept one eye on Rainbow the whole time, trying to make sure that she didn't end up dropping into a stupor again before finishing her meal. He could already tell that she wouldn't be up to their usual activity of reading before bed. Rainbow was likely to conk out the moment her head hit the pillow. Besides that, her mind was clearly elsewhere and he got the impression that he shouldn't distract her from whatever she was thinking about.

Once they finished eating, Soarin' walked Rainbow back to her room and helped her into bed. Laying out and resting her head on the pillow, Rainbow blinked blearily at her coltfriend.

"Hey...Soarin'..."

"Yeah..."

"What made you decide that you wanted to be a Wonderbolt?"

He hadn't been expecting that. Rainbow clearly looked like she was about to drop off at any second. And yet...the way she was looking at him made it clear that hearing his answer was very important to her.

"Well...it's not anything big..." he began, "When I started out, I was like you. I wanted to be a Wonderbolt because I thought it was cool. Of course, this was during the time of the old Wonderbolts, back when they were a bunch of Royal Guard members who got special treatment for doing a little fancy flying every once in a while. As a colt, I didn't really know any better. I just thought they were cool.

"Later, after I got out of school, I joined the Cloudsdale Guard, hoping to earn my way onto the team from there. While I was in the Guard, I learned what the Wonderbolts were really all about. Whenever we had to intervene to help with some weather-related disaster or handle a serious incident, those 'elites' would just sit back and let us regular grunts take care of it. They thought that everything was beneath them, so they didn't bother trying to do anything while ponies were in danger, even if there was something they could do about it. It was always that they 'had to be careful of their wings' or 'avoid activities that were too strenuous, lest their flight skills fall below the team standard.' That left me feeling kinda jaded about the whole thing. So I gave up on them for a while.

"Then, just a little while later, a new mare named Spitfire took charge of the team. She changed things completely. She didn't want the Wonderbolts to be just for show anymore. She insisted on newer, tougher training regimens, higher standards for membership, the whole shebang. This ended up pissing off a lot of the old guard. Pretty much all of them just up and quit. Any who stuck around afterwards ended up quitting later on simply because they just couldn't keep up with Spitfire's demands.

"Because of that, Spitfire basically had to rebuild the team from scratch. She went to the Royal Guard. She went out to weather teams all around Equestria. She searched high and low for ponies that were suitable members. I ended up being one of the ponies she tapped."

"And you accepted?" asked Rainbow, "Just like that?"

Soarin' puffed out his chest a little. "Well, I like to think that I wasn't that eager to get picked. Naturally, with how much she was shaking things up, word of all the changes Spitfire was making to the Wonderbolts got around. I didn't want to get my hopes up. I figured that it wouldn't last and she'd give up once the reality of the situation set in and she couldn't find any ponies to take her up on her offer. I figured that, sooner or later, she'd have to start relaxing her standards and making exceptions and, from there, it would only be a hop skip and a jump to get back to business as usual for the 'elite flyers of Equestria.' I didn't want to be a part of that. I dreaded the idea of being the only pony on the team who actually tried to make a difference. Worse, I dreaded the idea of becoming just another lazy slob who didn't feel like he had to do anything so long as he could wow the crowds with a little fancy flying every once and a while."

"What made you change your mind?" asked Rainbow.

"Well...I decided to at least see what the training was like. If it didn't look like all of Spitfire's work was gonna lead anywhere, I was out. So I joined up." He chuckled wryly. "Wow! It was every bit as harsh as what you're going through now. Compared to Spitfire's setup, regular Guard training was a cakewalk. She pushed me and the others that took her up on her offer to our absolute limits. I'd never worked so hard in all my life."

"And you all stuck with it?" asked Rainbow.

"I did...so did some of the others. A lot of the hopefuls dropped out. By the time Spitfire's first round of training ended, there were seven of us left. Given how few had made the grade by that point, I was feeling pretty certain that the other horseshoe was gonna drop at some point. Then it happened..."

"What?"

"A rogue tornado up north. It was a piece of wild weather that came down from the Griffon Aeries. That sucker was powerful. Not only that, it had been going for nearly a week by the time we got to it. Stuff like that happens sometimes when wild weather mixes with the remnants of our weather.(1) Fortunately, settlements were pretty sparse up there and it didn't do as much damage as it could've if it had gone through a more densely populated region. It did smash up a couple of small villages real good though. More than a few ponies died because of that." He sighed. "The second Spitfire heard about the tornado, she gathered up all seven of us that had lasted through the training and took us straight north. From there, we joined a detachment of the Royal Guard sent to help with the situation. Spitfire set us to coordinating the effort to finally stop and dissipate the tornado. It was a huge task because that sucker was a real monster.

"Afterwards, I was sure that we'd end up heading straight back to Cloudsdale. But Spitfire refused to leave. We went to each of the villages that had been hit and started helping with the cleanup, digging out survivors, keeping the weather stable for ponies stuck without shelter, helping distribute relief supplies, fending off opportunistic monsters, and keeping up communications with the disaster relief offices in Canterlot. I must've made at least three round trips there and back in a week.

"Though it all, I got a picture of just how serious Spitfire was about reforming the Wonderbolts. Only seven of us had made the grade. But she already considered us to be her team and completely put her faith in us to do everything in our power to help ponies in need."

Soarin' sighed and rested his head on the bed so that he was looking Rainbow straight in the eyes. "It was there, covered in grime from head to hoof, so tired that sometimes I just wanted to lay down on the spot and pass out, that I came to realize just how important doing that job was. That feeling I got when I reached a little deeper and drew out a little more will to keep going as long as my help was needed, that feeling of knowing I was making a difference...I really fell in love with it. So I stayed. I decided that this was the kind of Wonderbolt I was hoping to be and that Spitfire was making the team into everything that I dreamed it would be. She was my Captain and I decided to follow her to the end of the sky if I needed to.

"So that's how I ended up becoming a Wonderbolt," Soarin' finished, gazing at Rainbow, losing himself in her cerise eyes and the adorably sleepy look she currently had.

Rainbow leaned over and gently kissed Soarin' on the lips. "You," she said in a soft, whispery tone, "are awesome."

Soarin' chuckled. "Thanks." He saw her eyes drifting shut and he stretched his neck to give her another kiss. "Goodnight Dashie."

Now that Rainbow was asleep, Soarin' took his leave, closing the door behind him. In the darkness of her room, Rainbow slept and dreamed. In those dreams, she could only think about the image Firefly's wings had etched against the sky.

Author's Notes:

1) The interaction between wild weather and the remnants of pegasus weather magic can have unpredictable effects. Most often, the results are rather minor and hardly noticeable. However, every so often, such a collision can cause deadly abnormal weather patterns. In this case, a wild weather tornado from griffon lands mixed with the remnants of a pegasus-crafted storm, which expanded both its power and duration exponentially.

And so Rainbow's training continues. For those of you who may have hazy memories of what happened back in Rescue on Diamond Mountain, after Skan and Zhan were beaten, Dawn sent them Spitfire's way in hopes that she would be able to help them, which was how he was able to get back in touch with them now.

Next chapter: Good news and bad news are a packaged deal.

Mounting Perils

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Chapter 15: Mounting Perils

"You've returned, I see," observed Morning Star.

Standing across the room from him was none other than Terra Heart. The dark-brown stallion's mane was tattered and his tail was tangled. Despite that, he didn't look like a pony who'd spent the past few weeks meditating on top of the tallest mountain in the world.

"Yes...I told you that I would return when the time was right," said Terra, his voice low. It had been a long journey back from the mountain. He had traveled by hoof as much as was feasible. Only when his path had been broken by the seas between Saddle Arabia and Equestria, had Terra resorted to using air travel. "I will make for Ponyville on the morrow. By the time I arrive, it will be the equinox, the ideal time to strike."

"Indeed," said Morning with a nod of agreement, "At that point, when day and night are at their tipping point. It will be the point at which the day exceeds the night and the demon's power will be thrown into disorder. The hold he has over his thralls will weaken and should shatter entirely upon his destruction."

Terra nodded. "And what of things on your end?" he asked, "Are your preparations complete?"

"The temples are almost ready," said Morning with a smile, "I was worried for a bit, but it seems that the Guard has other problems to deal with now."

Terra pursed his lips and let out a grunt of acknowledgment. He'd heard about some kind of incident in Cloudsdale. He wondered if Morning had anything to do with that or if it was some sort of fortuitous circumstance. Perhaps it is a sign that Her Radiance wishes to bring this matter to a close. Taking solace in that idea, Terra took his leave.

Morning waited until the door had swung shut and he knew that Terra could no longer hear him before letting out a low sigh of relief. "I was afraid we weren't going to make it in time."

"I guess telling the right lies at the right time will do that for you."

Morning Star turned to regard the other pony in the room, who had been there the entire time without Terra Heart, skilled though he was, noticing. Such total concealment from the awareness of others was truly the hallmark of the greatest warriors in Equestria, if not the world. It certainly befitted the pony who was known as the strongest amongst the Knights of the Celestial Order.

The other pony was another earth pony. His coat was a light, khaki color that was almost completely obscured by the loose-fitting clothes of black silk that covered him from shoulders to haunches. Beyond that, only the pale-gray color of his spiky mane and his tail, which was similar in shape to a fox's, were visible as well. Around his barrel was wrapped a long sash, the two ends of which always trailed behind him like an extra pair of tails. It was virtually impossible to tell the color of his eyes, given that they were always so squinted that they looked closed much of the time.

"Is that the opinion of Equestria's most accomplished liar?" asked Morning with a wan smile.

Swift Stride, Knight of the Celestial Order, gave Morning Star a cheeky grin. "You could say that. Your lies need more work though. They have a whole bunch of holes in them. If a pony notices those holes, you need to cover them up with more lies, which've got holes of their own. The more lies you tell, the harder it is to hold the whole thing together."

"I'll take your opinion under advisement," said Morning, "Though things seem to be going well enough. The power of blind faith is enough that ponies will overlook the occasional inconsistency so long as the center of their belief holds."

"It also helps to have a power that breaks the rules," commented Swift, his tone becoming more serious.

"Indeed," said Morning, "Or rather, the power to create my own rules." He smiled. "If you truly want to stop me, now is the time. After all, once the foci are completed, there is no force on earth that will be able to harm them. However, while under construction, their state is considerably more delicate."

Swift chuckled. "I thought I told you, I was on your side through thick and thin." He turned with a wave. "I've got a few things to see to. I'll chat with ya later." Swift vanished in a blur, almost as though he'd never been there to begin with.

Morning Star let out another sigh. "Really. After all that you've been lecturing me, I had hoped that you would be able to tell a better lie yourself."

"You look worried."

"Oh!" Fluttershy jumped at her friend's words, having almost forgotten that she was even there. "I'm sorry. I got a bit distracted."

Zhan clucked. "There's distracted and there's completely forgetting where you are." She looked around, checking to make sure that nopony was about to run into them.

The two of them had gone into town; Fluttershy to get the necessary feed for her animals and Zhan for supplies for the new home she and Skan were sharing a short distance from Fluttershy's cottage. It made Fluttershy a bit nervous, especially when she thought about the main reason why Zhan was accompanying her on her forays into town. However, in a vague way, there was a comforting sense to it as well.

Zhan was much quieter than her more boisterous mate. The fact that she was smaller as well made it easier for Fluttershy to be around her. Zhan never tried to start up conversations simply for the sake of talking. If anything, being with her was accompanied by a companionable silence that allowed Fluttershy to relax and feel as though she didn’t have to talk about anything if she didn’t want to.

Still, Zhan was right. Fluttershy was getting distracted. For a moment there, she’d blanked out right in the middle of the street. She was fortunate that Zhan was there to ward off anypony who might run into them. As it was, Fluttershy kept finding it harder and harder to stay focused on whatever task was at hoof. Her mind was constantly straying to all the problems that had been adding up lately…one of which was the reason for Zhan’s presence to begin with.

In addition to the revelation that Flash Spark had resurfaced and was apparently more dangerous than ever, there were all the other myriad threats looming. Somepony, most likely one of the nobles in Canterlot, had sent Perlin Bluestreak to Rarity’s boutique in an attempt to steal a sample of her new fabric. Also, even though there had been no sign of activity from the Cult Solar recently, Princess Luna’s ominous report that somepony they referred to as the Cardinal was apparently coming for Dawn at some point made that silence all the more disquieting. It didn’t help that the Guard’s investigations into the threat were now being distracted by the more imminent and tangible threat presented by Flash Spark.

“Ah! Fluttershy!”

“Eep!” Fluttershy jumped, realizing that she’d just let herself zone out again. Beside the jittery mare, Zhan rolled her eyes and the two of them directed their attention to one of the nearby cafes, where a gray mare was waving at them enthusiastically from one of the tables.

“Oh! Ditzy!” Fluttershy felt her mood lift just looking at her friend and mailmare.

For the most part, Ditzy Doo was about as unremarkable as a pegasus could get. Her gray coat was offset by a blonde mane and tail that always looked slightly ruffled. Nopony had ever truly deciphered the meaning behind the bubble cutie mark on her flanks and Ditzy was apparently in no hurry to explain. However, she did have one feature that attracted a substantial amount of attention wherever she went. Ditzy was afflicted by a peculiar eye-condition that seemed to result in her eyes never quite lining up properly. As a result, they always seemed to be pointing in two different directions whenever they weren’t rolling around completely at random.

In the past, Ditzy’s condition had caused her a fair number of problems. The constant shifting of her field of vision was dizzying and disorienting. The fact that her eyes could never stay in alignment meant that her depth perception was almost nonexistent. As a consequence, Ditzy had once been best known for her spectacular crashes and other sundry accidents that seemed to accompany her like a plague. It had earned the ire of many of Ponyville’s residents and callous remarks from more than a few of them, most of them attributing Ditzy’s clumsiness to a lack of intelligence on her part, rather than her poor eyesight.

However, in recent times, Ditzy’s situation had improved. Rather fittingly, it had been Dawn (who had a unique eye condition of his own) that had helped her. He had taught Ditzy how to sense her surroundings through the air, thus allowing her to navigate without needing to rely on her faulty eyesight. As a consequence, the number of crashes and accidents Ditzy had been involved in had taken a drastic nosedive over the past few months.

There was another reason that Ditzy’s situation had improved markedly, a reason that was all too apparent with the gold pendant that hung on a silver chain around her neck, a pendant decorated with a bright-green apple.

“Hi Ditzy,” chirped Fluttershy as she trotted over to the table to join the gray mare, “Are you done for the day?”

“That’s right,” said Ditzy with a happy sigh, “There were no big packages or any unusual deliveries today. So, once I finished my route, I was done. Now all I have to do is wait for Dinky to get out of school.”

Zhan raised an eyebrow. “I’m guessing you’re happy about something else too.”

Ditzy blinked and looked over at the griffoness, apparently noticing her for the first time.

“Ditzy, this is Zhan,” said Fluttershy, her voice quieting, “She’s my new neighbor and we’re doing some shopping in town.”

“Oh my goodness!” gasped Ditzy, her excited wingbeats nearly lifting her up off the stool, “I’m so sorry! I didn’t even realize you were there!” Ditzy was mortified that she’d practically ignored Zhan’s presence without bothering to wonder why she hadn’t noticed the brindled griffoness standing right next to Fluttershy.

“It’s alright,” said Zhan, not giving the slightest impression that she was offended in any way, “I’m used to it.”

“Still…that was very rude of me, I’m sorry,” said Ditzy.

“Apology accepted,” said Zhan, faintly amused. It was clear that no other response would really satisfy Ditzy. “Anyway, there seems to be something else you’re rather pleased about.”

Happy to get away from the topic of her social faux-pas, Ditzy was more than willing to embrace Zhan’s line of inquiry. With a happy sigh, she cupped her cheeks with her hooves. “Well…the wedding is almost here. I’m just so happy I could fly.”

“Um…you can fly,” Fluttershy pointed out lamely, though she couldn’t conceal her smile either.

“Wedding…?” asked Zhan.

“Ditzy is marrying Big Macintosh,” explained Fluttershy, “He proposed to her last autumn.”

“Oh…Big red guy…? Applejack’s brother, right?” Seeing Ditzy and Fluttershy nod, Zhan let out an impressed trill. “Wow. Nice catch.” Macintosh and Applejack had both worked to help build Zhan and Skan’s new home in Ponyville, which rested only a short distance away from Fluttershy’s cottage.

Ditzy giggled shyly before freezing, then looking oddly at Zhan.

Seeing Ditzy’s befuddled look, Zhan shrugged. “What? He may not be a griffon, but he’s certainly nice to look at. Where do you think hippogriffs come from?”

“Oh! I’ve heard of them,” said Fluttershy, her eyes widening in recognition, “I’d forgotten all about that.”

Ditzy looked back and forth between Fluttershy and Zhan, clearly a bit perplexed with how at ease Fluttershy seemed to be with the brindled griffoness. As could be attested by the fact that Zhan’s name and address were still being registered by the Post Office and she wasn’t even on one of the regular delivery routes yet, Zhan was clearly new in town. And yet here she was, going shopping with Fluttershy, behaving as though this was just a casual outing, even though Fluttershy, who couldn’t have met Zhan more than a couple of days ago, was notorious for her shyness when meeting new people.

Unaware of Ditzy’s confusion, Fluttershy looked excitedly at her. “So…is everything going well for the wedding?”

Ditzy nodded eagerly. “Oh yes! The dress Rarity’s made for me is fantastic and the Apples are going to be flocking in from all across Equestria.”

That made Fluttershy giggle. It seemed that the Apple family members were always looking for some excuse or other to gather as many members of their extended family together in one spot as often as possible. Just as it had been for that fateful Summer Sun Celebration, they were just chomping at the bit for a reason to turn an affair into another of their family reunions.

“What about your family?” asked Zhan.

An uncomfortable silence fell over the table at that question. Zhan quailed slightly, realizing that she had apparently trodden on, if not forbidden, then at least restricted territory.

After a long moment, Ditzy let out a long low sigh. “I don’t know,” she said, “I haven’t heard back from them yet.”

Zhan blinked, but decided that it was clearly best to drop that line of questioning. Instead, she coughed awkwardly. “So…who’s officiating?”

“Mayor Mare,” said Ditzy, her mood lightening a little as the conversation swerved away from dangerous territory.

And so the conversation went. Fluttershy and Zhan politely inquired about the details of the wedding and its overall progress and Ditzy answered to the best of her abilities. As it was, her wedding was set to take place in the next few days. After which, she and Macintosh would head off on their honeymoon. They were set to return just as Applejack would be leaving for Canterlot to take part in the selection process for the Royal Warrant. Fluttershy and Zhan ended up joining Ditzy for lunch, eating as they conversed.

They parted ways as Ditzy left to pick up Dinky, while Fluttershy and Zhan resumed their shopping excursion.

“She’s nice,” Zhan observed as she watched Ditzy flutter off in the direction of the schoolhouse.

Fluttershy nodded in agreement.

Thinking back to that brief uncomfortable moment, Zhan frowned. “I take it her relationship with her parents isn’t the best.”

“It’s…” Fluttershy struggled to find the right words to describe it. “It’s hard to say…They’re distant. I’ve never met them. We went to Flight School together, but we didn’t really get to know each other until we met up in Ponyville later.” Back then, Fluttershy had been mercilessly bullied by the students as well as the instructors, albeit more indirectly by the latter, for her weak flying abilities, as well as her meek and submissive nature. Ditzy, who had tremendous difficulties of her own, thanks to her eye condition, was in a similar position. However, the two of them had kept their distance from each other, despite their mutual position as outcasts, mostly due to the shared fear that one being associated with the other would only heap more abuse on them. However, for all of her difficulties, Ditzy had been better off, thanks to her greater enthusiasm for flying and her willingness to put more of an effort in spite of her problems.

As a consequence, Ditzy had actually managed to succeed where Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy had both failed and had actually graduated from Flight School…barely. The staff of the school had offered her no special consideration for her disability and Ditzy had only barely squeaked through the final exams thanks to the fact that her parents were substantial donors to the school.

From what Ditzy had told Fluttershy, her parents hadn’t exactly been happy with the narrow margin by which Ditzy had succeeded. They were even less happy when she took up a job in Ponyville as a humble mailmare. Ditzy’s family was certainly well off. While they weren’t counted amongst the ranks of Cloudsdale’s oldest and and most respected families, they were still substantially wealthy. Despite that, they’d never offered a shred of monetary support after Ditzy moved to Ponyville, not even after Dinky was born. From what Fluttershy had heard, Ditzy had hardly spoken with them at all.

Fluttershy sighed. "It's sad. Ditzy's parents should want to be with their daughter on their wedding day."

"I think it'll be fine," observed Zhan, smiling wryly at Fluttershy, "Even if it's not by blood, it seems she has plenty of family down here already."

That remark brought a smile to Fluttershy's face as the pair continued with their shopping excursion.

"Ah!" Rainbow Dash collapsed on the cloud. Her entire body felt limp and her wings felt as though they were being stuck through by countless needles every second. Her mane, plastered with sweat, hung in straggly strands across her face, barely moving with her head as she panted fiercely. Even her feathers seemed to droop like the petals of a wilting flower.

"Not that easy, huh?" asked Firefly with a sardonic grin as she watched her student huff and puff in front of her.

Rainbow had to suppress a grimace at Firefly's words. After everything, she was barely managing to lift a few inches off her chosen platform. I can't believe the squirt managed to get the hang of this so quickly.

Firefly frowned as she watched. Rainbow was pushing herself extremely hard, especially for a pony who was just beginning to work on fully harnessing her magic. The techniques taught by the Wonderbolts were well-suited to a pony who'd learned to fly by conventional means. However, Firefly's method, which was derived from the basics of the Gale King, was not as easy to learn for a pony who already had their own way of flying. Rainbow's greatest difficulty was to keep her wings from moving as she lifted off. Because of that, her focus was divided by the need to repress years of carefully-honed reflexive actions. It would be a difficult task for anypony, which only served to make it monumental one for Rainbow on the basis of how ingrained the habit was for her.

In spite of that, Rainbow was making progress, much faster than most ponies in her situation would. Her determination was driving her to continue practicing until she almost completely drained her magic to the point that Firefly had to carry her back to the Wonderbolt Headquarters once their training session was complete.

I guess it's that Flash Spark guy who's making her do this, she thought, Her determination is almost frantic, since she believes a friend of hers might be in danger.

Still, rushing things any faster would be dangerous. Because she's pushing herself so hard, I have the feeling she'll be ready a lot sooner than I initially thought. If push comes to shove, we can do this the hard way. The only pony I ever tested that method on was myself and it was after I learned the technique. We need to focus on building her magical reserves. As exercises go, this one is plenty good.

As proof of Firefly's observations, Rainbow forced herself back up into the standing position and stretched out her wings once again. "One...more...time..." she grunted. Her eyes closed and her face furrowed in concentration. A few seconds later, the clouds beneath her hooves began to ripple as an invisible force pressed down against them. Slowly, Rainbow's hooves rose clear of the cloud and she began to lift up into the open air.

A strained grunt escaped the cerulean mare. Firefly could see the muscles along her wing tensing with the urge, almost a need, to flap. But still, Rainbow held them rigid. Instead, her eyes clenched shut all the more tightly and she began to rise a little higher. Firefly's lips stretched into a tight line as she watched. Come on...push harder. Rainbow obliged her silent plea and lifted a little further still. This was a new record as far as Rainbow Dash was concerned. She was now hovering at least twice her own height in the air.

"Good," said Firefly, "Hold it there. Maintain that as long as you possibly can, until you can't hold it anymore. Then hold it a little longer."

"G-got it," grunted Rainbow, struggling her hardest to not be distracted simply by the sound of her mentor's voice. It was frustrating in the extreme. She felt like a foal all over again. The pins and needles in her wings had dissolved into a constant heat that burned through them, the fire slowly spreading down into her back. Her muscles ached, not with exertion, but with the need to exert themselves, protesting being held inactive for so long and in a situation like this. After so many years of training, her wings practically had minds of their own. If she let her concentration waver for even a second, they would begin to flap and she'd be back to square one.

Instead, she held them as still as she possibly could and focused her remaining attention on the feeling of pushing downward without moving. That's what I need to develop, she thought, This feels unnatural, but I need to work on it until it feels natural.

For the briefest of instants, the image of Scootaloo practicing slipped into her mind's eye. Rainbow remembered watching the orange filly go through her forms, dancing across thin air as her hooves carried her without any assistance from her wings. Hay! She'd seen the little filly hovering in place the way Rainbow was now, looking completely natural at it. Rainbow found herself more than a little envious of how easy it had seemed for Scootaloo at the time. Now that's an ironic reversal.

"Hmm?" Firefly raised an eyebrow as Rainbow's body seemed to relax, her muscles loosening. Her wings stretched out a little further as Rainbow released her hold over them, yet remained still. What have we here, she wondered, a breakthrough of some sort?

Even as Firefly had realized it, Rainbow was also coming to consciously recognize that her body was feeling more at ease. I guess all it took was thinking about Scootaloo to get through it, she thought, Thanks squirt.

Opening her eyes, Rainbow let out a relieved breath. Her wing muscles still wanted to flap, but she had them under control without having to think too hard about it. More importantly, it felt easier to hold herself aloft now. Then...without any warning whatsoever, the lift disappeared beneath her wings. "What the-?"

Before Rainbow could finish her sentence, she dropped. However, Firefly simply tapped the cloud beneath her hooves. The packed cumulous seemed to burst outward. Rainbow dropped into it and sank down into the now much softer cloud before coming to a rest.

"Good work," said Firefly with a warm smile as she helped her protege up, "You're starting to get the hang of it now. We'll practice a while longer to build your magic more, but we've passed a big hurdle."

"That's...good..." Rainbow's voice trailed off as her exhaustion caught up with her. She began to slump until she was lying down.

Firefly felt a breeze ruffle her mane and she looked up to see Soarin' swooping overhead before coming in for a landing.

"How are things going?" he asked.

"Much better than I could have hoped for," said Firefly, "Your fillyfriend really knows how to push her limits."

"That she does," said Soarin' with a good-natured chuckle.

"Hey," protested Rainbow weakly from where she was laying.

"I think we can wrap up for the day," said Firefly, "I'll leave it to you to get her back."

"Sure thing," said Soarin'. He was already lifting Rainbow up onto his back. "Come on Dashie. Let's get back home."

"Again," said Dawn as Scootaloo's hooves touched down on the ground.

A quick nod was the only response Scootaloo gave before she once again focused her gaze forward and pushed off. Her wings swept in tight arcs around her body and she slipped through the opening in the air that they created, only feeling the faintest tug on the hairs of her tail as the world blurred around her. Then she flared out her wings and kicked out with her hooves to bring herself to an abrupt halt.

"Much better..." observed Dawn quietly, "...but not quite. Again."

With another nod, Scootaloo pushed off again, her for blurring until it appeared to stretch to the point where she flared her wings to stop herself again.

"Most impressive," mused Skan as he watched from the top of the ridge. Even at this distance, his keen eyes had no difficulty discerning the details of Scootaloo's technique. Having fought Dawn himself, he could easily understand just what she was practicing. The swift movement technique used by practitioners of the Gale King could make the user seem to teleport. However, Scootaloo was a ways away from that point. And yet, even in the time since Skan had started observing, he could tell that she had improved markedly.

Dawn had since ceased to give particular advice to the filly in order to correct her technique. Rather, he simply stood to the side and ordered repetition after repetition. In spite of that lack of advice, Scootaloo's form seemed to improve with every attempt.

Having only started less than a year ago, thought Skan, thinking back to what Dawn had told him, she's already learned how to listen to the voice of her own body. Through her practice, she's learned to continually refine her technique without any further input from her instructor. The Little Cub was formidable enough, but the Little Kitten is catching up.

He watched as Scootaloo blurred into motion again before stopping herself. This time, she didn't even wait for Dawn's words before kicking off again. There was no trace of frustration in her expression. Instead, there was an intense degree of concentration and focus. She had completely shut out outside influences and was entirely within her own world as she repeated the technique again and again.

She's going to go at it until she drops, thought Skan.

"Hey! You've got mail." Soarin' waved an envelope at Rainbow.

"Oh..." With a yawn, Rainbow grabbed the envelope from him and carefully opened it. Her tired eyes slowly passed over the letter as her mouth mumbled out the words it contained. However, the mumbling slowly trailed off and Rainbow's tiredness seemed to fade in the face of surprise and she read through the letter with renewed intensity. "Oh my gosh!"

"What's up?" asked Soarin', crawling into the bed so he could read over her shoulder.

"I can't believe it! Ditzy's wedding is coming up!" exclaimed Rainbow, "It's in just a few days!"

"Ditzy..." The memory clicked in Soarin's head as he remembered the gray mailmare from Ponyville. "Oh! Her!"

"Yeah," said Rainbow, "Oh my gosh! It's actually happening! I'd totally forgotten! Oh my gosh!"

"Take it easy Rainbow," said Soarin', resting a wing over her back and trying to calm her down.

"I need to go," said Rainbow, "I can't miss this..." She froze. "Wait! I can't go! My training...! Argh!!"

"Rainbow!" snapped Soarin' tightening his hold over her, "Easy! It's okay. Calm down."

"Soarin', what do I do?" asked Rainbow, giving her coltfriend a pleading look.

"Listen," said Soarin', "It's not like this hasn't happened before. These kind of scheduling conflicts come up. Let's talk to Spitfire about it."

"R-right," stammered Rainbow, getting out of the bed to stand unsteadily on the floor.

With a sigh, Soarin' followed her, doing his best to make sure she didn't fall over as they made their way to where he hoped Spitfire would be. At this time of the evening, she was usually either in the library or in her room. She wouldn't be in bed yet.

Fortunately, Spitfire's room was fairly close and the door opened when Soarin' knocked.

"Hey you two," said Spitfire, staring out at them in mild confusion, "What's up?"

"Well...something's come up in Ponyville," said Soarin'. Rainbow laid out the situation and Spitfire listened politely.

"So you want permission to head back to Ponyville for a day to attend the wedding?" asked Spitfire.

Rainbow nodded.

"Normally I'd say that's fine," said Spitfire, "But there are some things to consider."

"I can try to talk to Firefly about it," said Rainbow.

"It's not Firefly I'm worried about," replied Spitfire, "I hope you're not forgetting the reason you're going through Firefly's training now."

"Oh..." said Rainbow, remembering Flash Spark, "Right..."

Spitfire sighed. "Come in you two."

At her beckoning, the other two ponies entered their Captain's room. Rainbow looked around, taking in the room of a Wonderbolt Captain and Knight of the Celestial Order for the first time. Spitfire's room was a good bit larger than Rainbow's, but obviously not near as large as Wave Chill's, considering she didn't have her own personal aquarium. It was roomy to be sure, with an arched ceiling high enough that Rainbow could take to the air, had her wings not felt like lead weights. There was a fair-sized desk over by the window, which opened out onto a balcony that seemed to look over the whole of Cloudsdale. By the window stood a perch, where Ouranos, Spitfire's phoenix companion currently rested.

As phoenixes went, Ouranos was a magnificent specimen. His form seemed to be some combination of peacock, swan, and eagle. Like an eagle, he sported broad wings and formidable-looking, taloned feet. He also sported an eagle's hooked beak. However, the long, graceful curve of his neck was definitely more like a swan's. Finally, his head sported a colorful crest and brilliant plumes, like chains of varicolored jewels, dangled from his tail, similar to the decorative feathers of the peacock, but much more colorful. From what she'd heard from Twilight, Rainbow knew that Ouranos was a male phoenix and, as with most birds, his plumage and colors were much more vibrant than the females of the species.

He was Spitfire's closest companion. When the two of the two of them fought, Ouranos and Spitfire could merge into a being of color and flame that was practically invulnerable against any form of attack, thanks to the fact that any wounds they received in that state tended to heal almost instantly. Rainbow had only been lucky enough to witness Spitfire in that form once, during her official induction into the Wonderbolts.

"Hi," said Rainbow as the phoenix looked at her. Ouranos cooed a greeting back and ducked his head back down.

"Have a seat," instructed Spitfire as she finished fluffing a couple of portions on the floor into cumulous cushions. Rainbow and Soarin' settled down together while Spitfire took her own cushion across from them.

"So..." she said, "...obviously, things are a bit complicated right now. What worries me is that Flash Spark made it quite clear he intends to go after you, Rainbow."

Rainbow nodded, resisting an urge to bring her hoof up to the cheek that Flash had pawed during their brief encounter at the performance a few days ago.

"Despite that, he hasn't made another appearance since," continued Spitfire, "I half-expected him to at least try something by now, but we haven't found a single clue to his whereabouts and he hasn't popped up anywhere, much less here in Cloudsdale."

"You think he's waiting for a time when Rainbow might be out in the open?" asked Soarin'.

Spitfire's expression became grim. "I'm thinking that he's biding his time. When he showed up last time, it was during our performance. It was less any real declaration of his intent and more of a chance for him to show off and go 'Hey everybody! Look at me! I can do whatever I please right in front of the Wonderbolts and they can't do a thing to stop me!'"

"You think he wants to make a public spectacle?" asked Soarin'.

"I think he likes having an audience," said Spitfire.

Rainbow frowned. She was worried. The strange new abilities and insect-like appearance that Flash Spark had acquired seemed out of her league. Maybe, once she finished her training under Firefly, things would be different. But until then, Flash Spark was probably too much to handle. However, that wasn't what really worried her. If he attacked while she was at the wedding...

"I think you're getting what I'm saying," said Spitfire, seeing the comprehension dawning on Rainbow, "A wedding might not be a Wonderbolts show, but it's an audience all the same. To make matters worse, your friend, Fluttershy, will be there along with the colt who broke Flash Spark's wings. With that many ponies whom he has a grievance against there, I think the probability of him attacking is pretty high."

Pursing her lips, Rainbow nodded reluctantly. There was no telling how well informed Flash Spark was about what was going on or how he'd be able to track her movements. The simplest assumption would be that, if she left the Wonderbolt Headquarters and went somewhere else, he would know.

"Can I suggest something?" asked Soarin', raising a hoof. At Spitfire's acknowledgement, he began to speak. "Even assuming Rainbow doesn't go to Ponyville, there's still a pretty good chance that he might show up. Dawn and Fluttershy will still be there after all."

"That's true," said Spitfire, "Which is why we sent those two griffons Dawn recommended."

"But..." said Soarin', "If he does show up, doesn't that make it a chance for us?"

Rainbow and Spitfire both stared at the stallion, tensing nervously. "You're not thinking-" began Rainbow.

"-of making it a trap, are you?" finished Spitfire.

"I suppose so," said Soarin' with a shrug, "But I was thinking more along the lines that, if there's already such a good chance of him showing up anyway, we should probably use this opportunity to the fullest."

"If he shows up, we can get the drop on him," mused Spitfire, "If he doesn't, we'll just have to go back to looking."

"Hey! Hold on!" protested Rainbow, "What about Ditzy's wedding? After what he did to the Cloudeseum, I'd say Flash Spark can do a lot of damage. A lot of ponies could get hurt." To make matters worse, it would probably ruin Ditzy's wedding. Rainbow didn't want that to happen to a good friend of hers.

"If he shows up, things will go to Tartarus regardless of whether we are there or not," Soarin' pointed out, "If we manage to catch him coming in, we may be able to head him off before he can crash the wedding."

A tired hiss escaped Rainbow's lips. Soarin' was right. Besides, it was more important to catch Flash Spark before he could harm Celestia knew how many other ponies and keep him from causing any more damage. Ditzy's wedding could always be rescheduled if things went wrong, but the important thing would be to keep Flash Spark from hurting anypony.

With a quiet sigh, Rainbow looked up at her coltfriend and nodded. "Okay."

The two of them turned to Spitfire, who looked to be deep in thought. "I don't see a whole lot of other options," she said finally, "It's best to draw him out and nab him if we can."

Flash Spark was ravenous. He didn't even bother to taste the food that he stuffed into his maw. The mandibles worked in tandem with his hooves, spearing fruits and vegetables before bringing them to his mouth so that he could wolf them down. Apples, cabbages, carrots, potatoes, and celery all vanished into his mouth, completely raw. A single uncooked trout slid down his throat, fins, scales and all. It should have tasted revolting, but Flash couldn't even bring himself to even notice any taste whatsoever. It was as though his stomach had become a furnace, burning everything that he dropped into it almost instantly.

"I warned you that your metabolism has been accelerated," observed Morning Star as he walked in, "Even just flying around consumes a great deal of your energy. You might not feel it while you are in the air, but when you come to a rest, you're sure to notice."

"What the hay!" protested Flash in between bites, "I thought this was supposed to make me better."

"I am still fine-tuning your physiology," said Morning, "I needed the data from your activities in order to fully streamline the energy consumption of the augmentations. Once I finish those adjustments, this appetite of yours should be a thing of the past."

"Good...to...hear..." said Flash as he wolfed down three more trout. The aching hunger was slowly fading with each bite he took. Fortunately, there was plenty of food available to sate his appetite. Even during that lean winter, Flash had never felt this hungry.

"So...once we've finished with the adjustments, what do you have planned?" asked Morning.

"Isn't it obvious?" retorted Flash, "I'm gonna head to Cloudsdale and tear the Wonderbolts a new one. Then I'll take Rainbow Dash with me and have some fun with her. Then it'll be Fluttershy's turn. I'll let her watch while I gut that colt who broke my wings, then I'll make her my toy as well." A pleasant tickling sensation went down his spine as those thoughts ran through his mind.

"All well and good," said Morning with a chuckle, "But you should know that there is an upcoming event that you might be interested in."

"What's that?" asked Flash as more food disappeared down his throat.

"Recently, I got word that a certain mare is getting married in Ponyville," said Morning, "Her name is Ditzy Doo and she is supposed to be a friend of both Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy. I believe that they shall both be in attendance at her wedding and the colt with them."

Flash's lips pulled back into a grin through the opening in his carapace. "That sounds like the perfect opportunity," he whispered, "Will those adjustments you've been talking about be finished in time?"

"They should be," said Morning, "I am sure that the wedding will prove to be an exciting affair."

"You know it's a trap, but you're letting him go anyway," observed Swift Stride after Morning had closed the door to leave Flash to his meal in peace.

"True enough," conceded Morning with a small smirk of his own, "But even if the Wonderbolts consolidate their efforts, I doubt they will have much success in apprehending or even really injuring him. The most I expect is for them to drive him off so that he can fight another day."

"That's pretty cruel of you," said Swift with a smirk, "You could've outfitted him so that he'd wipe the floor with all the Wonderbolts and anypony short of the Princesses who tried to get in his way."

"Well...at this point, there's only so much I can do with his body," replied Morning, "Any more than this would have required a complete rebuild from a cellular level. My skills with producing organic matter are not yet that fully refined." He lifted a foreleg, showing Swift a splintering crack that ran up its length, as though his skin were composed of some sort of glass. "Even with myself, I am still refining things. I am not yet quite ready to try that method with another pony. Besides, it's not as though he'd need that much power."

Swift's smile faded and his eyes opened a little wider, revealing pale-blue irises. "You're setting him up to lose, aren't you?"

That earned a chuckle from Morning. "I suppose you could say that. Flash Spark's vendetta is useful fodder to direct his actions. However, in spite of encouraging his enmity with Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy, I do ultimately require them well and whole. I do not want to risk losing two of the Element Bearers at this juncture."

Swift barked out a harsh laugh. "And here I thought that you weren't actually interested in destroying Princess Luna."

"The Elements of Harmony wouldn't be very harmonious if the only things they were good for were destruction and imprisonment," countered Morning, "After my observations of their energy, I believe that there is a great deal more to them than that."

Morning walked past Swift. As he did, Swift tilted his head to the side, watching the white-horned unicorn out of the corner of his eye. "There's one other possibility you didn't mention," said Swift.

"And what's that?"

"That things won't go at all the way you calculated them, that things will completely go awry. Flash could end up captured or killed."

Pausing, Morning tapped his chin. "Admittedly, I very much doubt that possibility. I have calculated things out very carefully."

"But if they don't go the way you planned?"

"Then that would be...exciting," said Morning, a wide grin breaking out across his face.

Swift's eyes widened again. "Exciting?"

"Yes," replied Morning, "It would mean that there are variables I wasn't able to account for, that the ponies who will be pitted against Flash Spark are capable of exceeding even my calculations and expectations, that there is far more to the situation than I first understood."

"And that's a good thing?"

"Of course," replied Morning, "After all, that would suggest that there is so much more for me to learn. As a scientist, the most daunting prospect is the idea that I might one day learn everything that there is to know. But as long as such unexpected wrinkles occur, then that means there are gaps in my knowledge, new avenues of research and investigation to pursue, new possibilities unfolding. For a true scientist like myself, such a revelation would be...euphoric."

Morning continued on his way, leaving Swift stewing in the hallway. "This guy's a tough nut to crack," muttered the Knight.

Author's Notes:

So...there was a lot of confusion in the last chapter over Firefly's technique. That's understandable, considering I didn't actually depict the technique itself. The effect I was aiming for was kinda like Rainbow's imagine spot during The Ticket Master, where she's describing the various stunts she'd pull to get the Wonderbolts' attention, which includes the Buccaneer Blaze, where all we see is some kind of flash off-screen and the Wonderbolts' jaws drop. That was the overall effect I was aiming for. I haven't actually described Firefly's technique itself or what it actually does (that's gonna come later). All that I did describe were some of the peripheral effects of it.

Oh and, hey, Swift Stride's back. He seems to be in a bit of an awkward position though...

Next chapter: The Wonderbolts swarm a bug.

Bug Hunting

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Chapter 16: Bug Hunting

"Please hold still Ditzy," said Rarity as she worked to shift Ditzy's dress slightly, "I know you're excited, but I can't finish your fitting if you keep bouncing around like that."

"I'm sorry," said Ditzy, "But I'm so excited. The wedding's tomorrow!"

"Really," said Rarity sardonically, "I had no idea. And here I thought that I was outfitting you for a bridal-themed fashion show. Really darling! If you don't hold still, I will cast a freezing spell that I learned from Twilight on you."

That seemed to get Ditzy's attention and she froze in place. In spite of her earlier frustrations, Rarity smiled to herself. The truth was that she knew no such freezing spell and that, even if she did, there was no way she'd use it on another pony, much less one so pleasant and friendly as Ditzy. Still, the bluff had served it's purpose, leaving Rarity free to finish her work in peace as she went about the final steps of adjusting Ditzy's wedding gown.

As far as gowns went, it was a pleasantly simple affair. Rarity had actually gotten quite a bit of input from Coco, who had worked on the dress just as much as Rarity had. Rather than white, they'd gone with a darker silver, something not too far removed from the gray of Ditzy's coat. The hems were decorated with gold embroidery with a few cultured pearls sewed in for good measure, the gold doing a good job of complimenting Ditzy's blonde mane. The final touch was the veil, which consisted of a white gossamer fabric so light that it seemed to drift in the breeze.

All told, Ditzy would cut a fine figure at her wedding. It wasn't just her dress that Rarity had been working on. She was also responsible for the dresses of the bridesmaids. Lyra, Bon Bon, and Carrot Top were all old friends of Ditzy's, going back to when the mailmare had first come to Ponyville. It had ben a delicate process to design dresses that would look fabulous for each of them while making sure that said dresses harmonized with and didn't upstage Ditzy's own.

On top of that, there was Big Macintosh's suit as well as Applejack's dress. Fortunately, Coco had taken the reins on those projects and was doing quite well with them, from everything that Rarity had seen.

The scale of the wedding was surprising, given that the betrothed were a simple apple farmer and one of the town's mailmares. However, the Apple Family was one of the oldest and most respected families in town, with branches ranging across the whole of Equestria. Prior to the engagement, Big Macintosh was the most widely sought after stallion in all of Ponyville. Rarity herself suspected that a great many mares were still wringing and biting their hoofkerchiefs in frustration over not being chosen by him.

While Ditzy might not have been as well-connected as her husband-to-be, she had made quite a few friends over the course of years spent delivering letters and packages hither and yon. It helped that, in spite of her accident-prone nature, Ditzy's record at the Post Office was impeccable, with scarcely a single mis-delivered letter or damaged package to her name. With Dawn teaching her how to read the wind and avoid obstacles, thus overcoming the difficulties her eye-condition caused her, most of the town's neighsayers had fallen quiet over the past few months, with a few even offering up apologies for their previous remarks.

As such, the wedding was slated to be packed, though the reception (planned by Pinkie Pie, of course) promised to be a smaller, more intimate affair.

In the process of thinking all about this, Rarity realized that Ditzy had been talking to her. "I'm sorry dear," she said quickly, "What was that? I was miles away."

Ditzy giggled. "I was just wondering how your work for the Royal Warrant was going. I heard you've been nominated."

Rarity was unable to stop herself from beaming. The official notification of her nomination had arrived in the mail barely a day after Parliament had convened for its spring session and approved the final list of qualifications. Though she'd known that she would be nominated, getting notified officially still made her giddy.

"Ah yes, things have been going swimmingly," she said, "Coco and I are nearly finished with the dresses we want to present at the selection."

Ditzy sagged a little. "I'm sorry," she said, "You're already working so hard and then you have to do my dress and the dresses of my friends on top of that."

A light slap across her rump drew a sharp yelp from Ditzy before she stared with wide eyes at Rarity. "None of that," chided Rarity, a playful smirk hovering on her lips, "A mare's wedding is not an occasion for feeling guilty and selfish...within certain boundaries, of course. I'll have you remember that I did volunteer my services after all." Rarity kept it to herself that she had volunteered at Applejack's request, though she would have turned said request down if she felt that it was adding too much to her workload. Her friends had grown much more diligent in chiding her for overworking.

"Thank you for that," said Ditzy.

"You're quite welcome," said Rarity, "In fact, I'm grateful to you. This is an excellent opportunity for Coco to work on designs of her own. I'm happy that she could get the opportunity to gain experience."

Ditzy nodded. One of her eyes slid to the side, allowing her to see where Applejack was currently being fitted by Rarity's apprentice. The country mare was clearly even more uncomfortable with being stuck as a living ponyquin than Ditzy was. However, Coco had apparently mastered a technique similar to the wide-eyed puppy-dog look wielded with ruthless efficiency by foals everywhere to guilt and goad Applejack into cooperating. Coco's earnestness was so convincing that Ditzy wasn't sure whether it was genuine or simply a shrewd method of keeping her subject under control. Either way, it was working wonders.

"Just a little longer," muttered Rarity as she returned her full attention to her work, "I'm almost done here."

Ditzy resisted the urge to squeal. Before long, she would be getting married to the stallion of her dreams. Her daughter would get a father and she would get a family and a new home in the bargain. It was everything she could have hoped for after she'd left Cloudsdale. The wedding was promising to be the happiest moment in her life.

"This can't be a good idea," said Twilight, glaring across the table at her coltfriend.

"Admittedly, it is most certainly an unpleasant one," Arkenstone conceded, "But it may be our best chance to keep Flash Spark from becoming a threat to too many other ponies. He hasn't resurfaced since his attack on the Cloudeseum. If we can't locate him before he strikes a second time, untold numbers of ponies could die. This is a chance to draw him out and deal with him."

"Yes! But we're still talking about turning poor Ditzy's wedding into a military operation!" snapped Twilight, clearly agitated, "This is supposed to be the happiest day of her life. But if this thing goes wrong, it could turn into the worst and many ponies could still be hurt or killed."

"We are fully aware of that," admitted Red River, who was sitting at Arkenstone's right, "In all honesty, it would be best to avoid provoking Flash Spark at all unless we can present a scenario where no innocent ponies are being threatened. However, Spitfire's analysis of the situation places a high probability on Flash Spark showing up regardless, seeing as two of the ponies whom he has grudges against will be attending anyway."

Twilight pursed her lips, clearly not being happy with the idea. However, since the only solution to that particular issue would be to keep Fluttershy and Dawn from attending (a decision that Ditzy would never accept), it might not be enough, given that Flash Spark could be operating on the simple assumption that they would be attending, which might be enough to motivate him into action on his own.

"By taking this measure, we also ensure the best opportunity of bringing the matter to a close without harming anypony," added Storm Front, who was sitting to Arkenstone's left, "Spitfire and the Wonderbolts will be present after all. Besides them, the three of us shall also be there as well as the two griffons currently protecting Fluttershy."

Red nodded in agreement. "All told, we have two Celestial Knights, one Knight's hoofpicked team of flyers, and four skilled mercenaries. This is probably our best chance to bring a substantial amount of strength to bear against an adversary like Flash Spark."

Twilight sighed and sagged. "I'm still against it," she said, "But I can't stop you." She gave Arkenstone a half-hearted glare across the table.

Arkenstone, for his part, merely flattened his ears and nodded. As much as he wanted to leave and give Twilight some time to calm down, there was still one other matter to be discussed. "Should we tell Ditzy and Macintosh about it?"

Twilight's glare intensified for a moment. But then she sighed and sagged. "I honestly don't know," she admitted, "This isn't like Dawn. Ditzy's not a fighter and neither is Macintosh. I don't want to cause them extra stress with the wedding already causing enough as it is. But...at the same time..."

"Learning that your friends have been keeping secrets from you, particularly ones concerning the safety of you, your family, and your friends, can be even more troubling," Storm suggested, earning Twilight's glare in Arkenstone's stead.

"Ugh!" Twilight planted her face on the table. "I give up! Just do whatever you feel is right! You're just going to end up doing that anyway."

Arkenstone slowly nodded and stepped away from the table, the two mercenaries falling in behind him as they left the library in silence.

"I didn't expect her to be so vehemently opposed to the whole idea," commented Red as they made the short trek across to the teahouse.

"Admittedly, I didn't either," said Arkenstone, "After all, it's not so far removed from the gambit we pulled with Dawn." Said gambit involved publishing an interview with Dawn in a nationwide newspaper in order to draw the Cult Solar further into the open with the intent of exposing their influence and undermining their support, as well as providing official justifications for Princess Celestia to legally sanction, if not disband, the organization. The gambit had only partially worked, mostly attracting errant fanatics to Ponyville in poorly-planned attempts to kill Dawn. However, prompt and decisive action by the Cult's leader had clamped down on anything more overt. That said, the gambit had proved to be quite dangerous for Dawn and was probably still drawing danger towards him even now.

"Can you think of why she might be so upset over it?" asked Storm.

"Perhaps," admitted Arkenstone, "I believe the fact that it's a wedding was upsetting to her."

"A wedding...?" inquired Red, canting his head slightly. A second later, something clicked in his head and his ears shot upright. "Oh! That's right! The Royal Wedding!"

Arkenstone nodded. "Yes. While the events of those few days ultimately led to the wedding's successful conclusion, Twilight was still fairly traumatized by the whole affair. Between her concerns about being rejected by her friends and Celestia and being captured by Queen...Chrysalis...Twilight has some fairly painful memories of what should have been an extremely happy occasion for her and her family.

"Because this wedding is for close friends of hers, she undoubtedly would rather it went well. More importantly, she is upset because we all know that there is a possibility of somepony threatening it and we even know where that threat is coming from. Yet, we seem to be actively inviting it."

"Not that there's anything we can do to prevent it unless we can somehow magically trip over wherever Flash Spark's been hiding between now and then," said Red irritably.

"Twilight's aware of that," said Arkenstone, "Which is why she isn't trying to stop us, however upset she may be over the whole affair."

"Let's just hope everything goes well," muttered Red unhappily.

As the wedding approached, things gradually grew more frantic as the preparations for it, both overt and covert, picked up the pace. Rainbow Dash arrived that very night, much to the joy of her friends, receiving especially enthusiastic welcomes from Ditzy and Scootaloo, the latter naturally letting Rainbow stay at her former cloud house for the night.

What Rainbow didn't inform her friends was that the Wonderbolts had arrived as well and were secretly stationing themselves in the skies around Ponyville, watching warily for any sign of the approaching Flash Spark.

Still, as the day of the wedding dawned, the weather was mild and peaceful, just as Ditzy and Macintosh had requested from the Weather Team. The clouds provided a light shade and a mild breeze kept everypony cool without being too chilly. The participants and their audience gathered in the orchard, where benches had been laid out with an altar at the base of the oldest apple tree on the farm. According to Granny Smith, said tree was the first grown from the first seed she'd planted when she'd arrived on the farm. It had been where she'd said her own wedding vows and she was more than happy that her grandson would be using it for his (along with many sly hints that her granddaughter would be using it for hers...to Applejack's blushing irritation).

As the musicians, accompanied by Fluttershy's bird choir, began to play, a few ponies in the audience kept a nervous eye on the skies...waiting for the first signs of trouble.

"Ya feelin' nervous Mac?" asked Applejack.

Glancing sidelong at the best mare, Coco Pommel suppressed a smirk. The faint twitching of Applejack's tail beneath her skirt indicated her own nervousness. It was clear she was simply trying to alleviate her own nerves by needling her older brother.

Macintosh's placid gaze drifted over to Applejack before settling back again to the front with rigid stoicism as Coco tugged lightly on the collar of his suit to make sure it settled right before he went down the aisle. He seemed to mull over Applejack's question silently for a moment before answering. "Eeyup."

Coco couldn't quite stop herself from giggling. Macintosh didn't look nervous. However, through her hooves, she could feel the tautness of the muscles underneath the suit, which were clearly drawn tight with tension. Despite that, one would never be able to tell from his expression, which was just as calm and serenely neutral as always.

"Ah think yer gonna be fine coz," commented Braeburn with his usual easygoing drawl.

Braeburn had been the only member of the family to come down from Appleloosa. Applejack had been wondering if Blenheim was going to show up, but he apparently had too much work to do. Braeburn's comments on the subject had been a little troubling, considering that a great deal of Blenheim's work seemed to revolve around the Cult Solar and their construction project in Appleloosa. He also seemed to have been avoiding Braeburn as much as possible.

Applejack's ears twitched as she picked up the first strains of music and birdsong. "There's our cue," she said, "Let's go, Mac."

"Eeeyup."

The groom's party trotted off, leaving Coco to her own devices as she packed up her things and prepared to join Rarity in the audience.

"They looked good. You do good work."

"Eep!" Coco jumped and whirled around to glare at the black-cloaked figure of Perlin, who smiled politely at her as he stepped out from behind a tree. "What are you doing here?" she demanded harshly. Her fear was temporarily crushed beneath righteous indignation that Perlin and, through him, his employer would try to interfere in such a personal and happy event. Can't they ever just leave me alone?

"As it so happens, I am not...on the clock, as it were," said Perlin, a bit taken aback by Coco's anger, "A little bird told me that some interesting things were afoot down in Ponyville. So I thought I would come down and see for myself, seeing as the Baron does not have any jobs for me at the moment."

For a moment, Coco stewed over Perlin's words. "What do you mean?" she asked nervously. She was glad that Perlin hadn't come to give her further instructions on Elderflower's behalf, but slightly confused as well.

"I don't know many of the details myself," said Perlin, "But quite a few formidable ponies have been assembling around the perimeter of this little ceremony. Getting in undetected was tricky."

It would have been even better if you'd just gotten caught, thought Coco sourly. However, for some reason, her anger and fear were waning. There was something about Perlin's presence that was almost...reassuring. Perhaps it was the warning in his tone, the fact that he'd apparently come in specifically to speak to her about the trouble that had been brewing, as though he wanted to make sure she was forewarned. "Shouldn't you be out where those other ponies you were talking about are if you want to see what's going on."

To her surprise, Perlin actually shifted uncomfortably, averting his gaze slightly...bashfully even. "Well...I'm thinking that I could benefit from a different viewpoint this time. The situation should be quite interesting from this location."

Is he saying he wants to stay nearby? Coco wondered, Is it so he can protect me? She wasn't sure whether to be troubled or pleased by the development. If something dangerous was indeed occurring, then having Perlin close by would probably be an advantage. Given how dangerous she knew he was, she honestly felt a lot less worried if those mithril feathers of his were being placed between her, her friends and whatever threat was approaching.

"You should probably go join your friends in the audience," said Perlin as the tone of music shifted, indicating that it was now Ditzy's turn to make her way down the aisle, "You don't want to miss the ceremony after all."

Hesitating slightly, Coco nodded and began to make her way out from the small grove of trees that had served as Macintosh and Applejack's dressing room to take her seat, part of her desperately hoping that Perlin really was there to protect her.

Rainbow Dash hummed the wedding theme to herself as it drifted up from the orchard below. Just a little longer and Ditzy would be married to Macintosh and the whole affair would move to one of the Apple Family's barns for the reception. There was no sign of Flash Spark yet and Rainbow found herself desperately hoping that maybe...just maybe...they were wrong about him and that he wouldn't take the bait. Given how painful the buzzing of his wings had been when he'd arrived at the show in Cloudsdale, she didn't like the idea of the wedding below being disrupted by the same noise.

The Wonderbolts had debated vigorously over whether or not to have Twilight erect a sound-dampening barrier over the wedding, arguing over whether it was best to make sure that Ditzy and Macintosh's ceremony went as undisturbed as possible or risking their safety by keeping them completely ignorant of any approaching danger. In the end, Spitfire had decided to err on the side of caution and skip the barrier, instead picketing the Wonderbolts as far out as she dared in hopes that they could intercept Flash Spark before he was noticed and then lead him away from the wedding.

Thus, each of the Wonderbolts on the outer perimeter was stationed on a cloud with a small thunderhead within reach, which could be triggered with a light kick and would be clearly heard all the way on the other side of the perimeter. The signal had been cleared with the Weather Team to ensure that nopony thought a rogue storm was wandering in.

"Try to relax a little more," whispered Soarin' as he nuzzled Rainbow's cheek, "We'll get the jerk before he gets close."

"I hope so," muttered Rainbow, trying to will the tension out of her body. It wasn't exactly working. On her other side, Storm Front waited patiently, his eyes closed. Dawn was down in the audience with Red River and Arkenstone, the three of them serving as a final line of defence should Flash Spark make it through in spite of all their preparations.

"We've thought of everything we could," said Soarin' as reassuringly as he possibly could, "This Flash Spark guy is a lot of things, but stealthy ain't one of them. He wants to cause as much of a ruckus as he can so that he can draw all kinds of attention. He won't try to sneak in."

Biting the inside of her lip, Rainbow nodded. The Wonderbolts had even considered the possibility that Flash Spark might come in high and try to dive down from above. The Perimeter had been laid out in a full three dimensions to ensure that his approach could be detected at any altitude.

"Okay-ack!" Rainbow yelped as Dawn's head abruptly erupted from the cloud between her and Soarin', making both her and her stallion jump in surprise.

"Message for you," said Dawn a bit breathlessly, having clearly raced up to their cloud as fast as he could, "Pinkie Pie said to tell you 'Twitchy tail.'"

"Twitchy tail..." Soarin' tapped his chin, trying to reason it out. He remembered Pinkie Pie's infamous Pinkie Sense from the time he'd spent in Ponyville. It was real enough, having successfully guided them through the fog created by an assassin specifically for the purpose of confusing and misdirecting ponies. However, he couldn't remember which signals correlated to what.

However, Rainbow's response was much faster. "Above!" Her head shot up and she spun in a circle, her ears stretched up as high as they would go as she tried to see and hear Flash Spark coming.

At that instant, a loud crack echoed from one of the clouds in the upper layer of the perimeter, which was shortly followed by a low, droning buzz.

"There he is!" shouted Rainbow, leaping off the cloud and making straight for the source of the noise.

"Hey! Hold on!" protested Soarin', leaping in the air to follow her. But he rapidly fell behind as Rainbow accelerated to her top speed, determined to catch Flash Spark before he could disturb the wedding below.

"And they're off," muttered Arkenstone as his ears picked up the signal.

"Where is it coming from?" Twilight muttered back.

"Northeast," replied Arkenstone quickly, "and higher up."

Twilight tensed and a glimmer of silver flashed at the base of her horn, revealing a silvery ring that hadn't been there before. It had been a gift from Arkenstone back when he'd first come to stay in Ponyville. The ring had formerly been her brother's, composed of a rare alloy known as arcanasteel. At its most basic capability, the ring could be used to create armored barding for Twilight from her materialized magic, granting the armor qualities that any normal physical material would never be capable of. However, after spending a great deal of time investigating its full capabilities, Twilight knew it was actually capable of much more. If things went completely wrong, it would serve as the final line of defense against Flash Spark's attack. Twilight hoped she wouldn't need it.

As it was, the ceremony was progressing smoothly, with no signs that anypony had picked up on anything wrong occurring. Nopony seemed to notice as Dawn drifted back down to his seat beside Fluttershy. Mayor Mare was finishing up her scripted speech and, before long, it would be time for the vows. Biting the inside of her lip, Twilight tried to keep one eye on the wedding and the other on the skies.

Rainbow's keen eyes picked Flash Spark out almost instantly, though the ear-splitting drone of his wings had given him away well before that. The last time he'd shown up, the sound alone had nearly knocked some pegasi out of the skies, being dangerous in its own right. However, Spitfire had quickly compensated for this issue and had arranged for special earplugs that the Wonderbolts were supposed to put on at the first sign of Flash Spark's approach. The plugs didn't block out the noise entirely, but did muffle it sufficiently that it became little more than an annoyance, even this close to the source.

By the time she'd reached him, the insectile pegasus was already being mobbed by three Wonderbolts, who were taking turns making runs at him, timing their attacks to keep Flash from targeting any particular pony. For his part, Flash's wings showed their mettle as he bobbed and dipped, flipped and rolled, moving in any direction he pleased with nary a loss in speed. It was an uncanny level of agility that rivaled Dawn's when he used his Gale King techniques to skip from one spot to another so fast he seemed to be teleporting.

The razor edges of the segmented whip that had replaced his tail lashed through the air, trying to strike down the mare that came at him from behind. However, she managed to roll and drop beneath the slash, her pass now taking her beneath Flash's belly. Twisting her body so that she was now facing straight downwards, the mare bucked straight up, aiming for Flash's stomach. However, Flash simply shot straight up without changing his orientation in the slightest.

The drone of his wings rose sharply in pitch and Rainbow began to see a rippling motion forming in the air near one of his wings. She remembered the mysterious shrieking beams that had completely demolished the Cloudeseum in a single pass. There was no telling what an attack like that would do to a pony's body. She immediately darted straight in, aiming her hoof right for Flash's face.

Flash rotated his body, whipping his head out of the way of her swing even as he skidded back away from her through the air. The same movement brought that deadly tail whipping around. Rainbow ducked her head with a yelp and actually felt the edges of the tail clip the very top of her mane, slicing off a few strands. However, her attack managed to accomplish her actual objective as the scream of the building beam attack faded back down into his wings' usual drone.

Not wanting to give him the option of trying that move again, Rainbow pressed the attack, chasing after Flash, jabbing fiercely with her forelegs to try and catch him off-balance. Flash let out a harsh, grating laugh and jumped from side to side, avoiding her punches with contemptuous ease.

"Come on Rainbow Dash! I know you can do better than that!" he taunted.

With a growl, Rainbow was about to surge forward to press the attack when, with a faint whistle of his wings, Soarin' dropped in from above. One wing extended fully, a flash of blue magic playing across his primaries as he aimed them straight for Flash's back. Flash simply dodged back diagonally, not even turning away from Rainbow as he moved.

"Damn! It's like he's got eyes in the back of his head," Rainbow heard one of the other Wonderbolts, whom she recognized as Silver Lining, complain.

"He might, if he's taking this insect theme of his all the way," supplemented Misty Fly, one of the three that had originally intercepted Flash.

Soarin' made quick eye contact with Rainbow before nodding sharply at her. Rainbow nodded slightly back. She knew her role in this scenario. Having effectively stopped Flash Spark and stalled his attack on the wedding, they now planned to use his fixation on her to draw him away from other ponies, where there would be less danger of innocents being drawn into the conflict.

With a loud yell, Rainbow charged at Flash once again. At the last second, she shifted the angle of her charge, darting away from him before doubling back to come at him straight from the side...or she would have if Flash hadn't simply started flying sideways at the same speed as her. Rainbow saw his head lunge forward, those fearsome mandibles over his mouth opening to jab at her. At that moment, Misty Fly came barreling in on an opposing course as Rainbow dropped down to duck beneath Flash's attack.

Flash darted upwards, dodging above Misty and giving Rainbow the time needed to reverse her dive and come straight at him from below. Her forehooves connected solidly with Flash's stomach, managing to get a hit in on him for the first time.

Rainbow immediately regretted it. Rather than fur and soft tissue, her hooves instead slammed into chitin that was possibly harder than steel. The force of impact rattled through Rainbow's legs and she felt her hoof crack slightly from the force. Flash was merely thrown farther up. However, he'd lost some of his control from the impact and was spinning slightly.

That was all the opening the other Wonderbolts needed. They swarmed on Flash like the insects that he so resembled. Soarin' came straight in from the front, the glowing feathers of his wing hitting Flash right in the throat. Misty had reversed her previous charge and caught Flash with a slash across the barrel. Silver Lining and Blaze charged down from above, side by side, their glowing wings catching Flash with two strikes along his spine.

All four Daisy Cutter attacks hit home, their impact turning Flash into a whirling dervish. Rainbow winced at the sight. She'd seen that technique shear through solid steel like it was paper. There was no way that Flash would be able to survive catching four of them, all in vital points.

"Ow..." Soarin's pained groan caught Rainbow's attention she whirled to see her coltfriend shaking his wing out and wincing in pain. His lead primary looked considerably more ragged, reminding Rainbow of the chipped and pitted blade of a worn-out knife.

Her eyes widening, she turned to look at Flash again as he regained his control. He was completely unhurt. At most, she could see that the impacts of the four Daisy Cutters had left scratches in the carapace that encased his body. However, that was the extent of the damage. Flash looked as though he wasn't even feeling any pain from that.

"Is that the best the Wonderbolts can manage?" crowed Flash, his wings buzzing excitedly.

Out of the corner of her eye, Rainbow saw Misty frantically mouth "Stick to the plan," to her silently. Rainbow nodded and focused her glare on Flash Spark.

"You think you're tough," she snarled, "But you're still the same pathetic stallion you were the last time I saw you. All that armor shows just how weak you really are." She gave Flash her most taunting smile. "What's the matter? Can't take on a mare without a crutch...big boy?"

A hiss that sounded more like an insect than a pony forced its way out of Flash's mouth. "I'll show you weak," he retorted, "when I have you screaming underneath me, we'll see who's weak then."

"You'll have to actually beat me first," Rainbow taunted, giving him a teasing smirk, "We know how well that worked out for you the last time you tried."

The buzzing of Flash's wings grew in intensity and his body blurred into motion with no cue from his posture. One second, he was hovering there, the next he was barreling straight at her.

Instead of trying to dodge him, Rainbow charged at him herself. Dodging was a tricky thing when he could simply shift his flight to match her movement without even changing direction. Moreover, in a collision between the two of them, she would lose, hooves down. Whatever material that carapace was made of would probably snap her bones like twigs. While the mithril rings of her flight suit could easily turn aside a blade, they tended not to fare as well against pure, blunt impact, seeing as the suit lacked any kind of padding and lay right up against her skin. However, if she could time her movements just right...

Raising her forehooves, Rainbow accelerated further, her own charge carrying her even faster at Flash. Before he could react to the change, she brought her hooves down right on top of his head. However, instead of trying to throw her weight behind the blow, she instead used his head as a platform to vault over the rest of his body. As he passed beneath her, she bucked out with her hind legs, catching him right in the poll, knocking his head down.

Flash's tail lashed upward and dragged its edges along Rainbow's stomach, but her mithril mail caught the attack and deflected it. Thank goodness he's not that tough, she thought with relief. Pumping her wings, she accelerated away from Flash. A glance over her shoulder told her that he'd reversed direction and was now coming after her.

For all that he'd gained in maneuverability Flash was still no match for Rainbow when it came to sheer speed and she could have outpaced him easily. Instead, she put her speed to a different use, accelerating into a loop and coming at Flash from the side. However, he easily oriented on her without losing even a little speed, now sliding sideways through the air as he turned to face her.

The droning of Flash's wings rose to a pitch that made Rainbow's teeth rattle. She saw converging ripples of air form in front of his wings before igniting into lancing beams that stabbed out towards her. Rainbow twisted and rolled to slip between them as Flash swept them across each other. At the same instant, Flash changed the direction his flight and began to charge straight at her. The beams spent, he lunged forward, his mandibles spreading out in preparation to catch her.

Rainbow rushed straight at him in a dangerous game of chicken. At the last second, she dipped down to fly below him, kicking up her acceleration to maximum. Flash might have been able to change direction at will, but his reflexes still wouldn't allow him to keep up with her sheer speed. He tried to drop down on her from directly above as she passed below him, but his hooves passed through the space she'd gone through without even brushing her tail.

Again, the rising pitch of the buzzing wings signaled another set of beams. Rainbow rolled and pulled into a tight arc. The two beams passed on either side of her and she managed to twist out from between them. They seemed to fade before more beams stabbed out, a constant barrage of screaming energy that forced Rainbow to continually evade even as she tried to circle around for another angle of attack.

"Knock that off!" yelled Soarin' as he attacked Flash from behind, slicing at the base of Flash's wing with one of his glowing blue feathers. Once again, the Daisy Cutter failed to do any real damage and the only consequence was that Flash was sent into another erratic spin. On the bright side, he had ceased attacking with those beams of his while he tried to regain control of his flight.

"Nice save," said Rainbow as Soarin' came up by her.

"That bastard," hissed Soarin', "He was aiming for your wings."

A chill ran down Rainbow's spine at those words. Now she realized why Flash Spark's shots had always seemed to be on either side of her. It wasn't because his aim was off. Rather, he was aiming for two much more difficult targets. She was lucky that his aim wasn't all that spectacular to begin with.

Flash Spark let out a growl and once again turned to attack, but was forced to evade as Blaze, Silver, and Misty all charged him from different directions, forcing him to juke wildly in order to evade their strikes. The three of them moved so that whenever Flash tried to hit one, one of the others would rush in from a different angle and force him to defend or avoid. Even though the Wonderbolts' Daisy Cutters couldn't get through that strange armor of his, the brute force behind those attacks continued to force Flash to correct and adjust, which may have been why he was avoiding attacks as much as possible in the first place.

In the meantime, Rainbow took a moment to get her breath back. They were still in the process of leading the fight out away from Ponyville and the Apples' orchards, where the wedding was still in progress.

"Don't push yourself too hard," said Soarin', "One mistake with those beams he's firing off and you're as good as dead."

"Do you know what they do?" asked Rainbow as she and Soarin' followed along in the battle's wake.

"Not for sure," he said, "But my best guess is that they're basically concentrated beams of sonic energy. I'm not sure what the light is, maybe it's from friction between vibrating molecules, but a sonic beam like that'll cut through even our flight suits like butter."

"Where are the others?" Rainbow wondered aloud, trying her best to get her mind off of fixating on what those beams would have done to her wings if they'd actually hit their mark.

"They're almost in position," said Soarin', "We just have to finish leading Flash Spark into the target zone and we'll be set."

Rainbow nodded. In order to be sure that Spitfire could cut loose with her full strength, they had to be absolutely sure that they were a certain distance from anywhere ponies might be before she entered the fray. They would also want a substantial buffer to account for the extensive amount of movement that took place during aerial battles, so simply setting up at the bare minimum distance was no good either.

The plan to lure Flash Spark away from Ponyville was a difficult one to carry out. Had Rainbow simply tried to taunt him into chasing her, he might have cottoned on to the fact that he was being led away. Instead, they were to engage Flash with hit and run tactics and slowly use their evasions to guide the battle away from Ponyville and into the target zone.

Looking around, Soarin' noticed another quartet of Wonderbolts approaching. "The second team's here," he said, "Ready to get back in the fray."

"Yeah," said Rainbow, taking a deep breath and setting her shoulders, "Time to get back to work."

The four new arrivals circled the outer perimeter of the fight. Then, as Misty pulled out of her latest charge, one of the members of the second squad dived in to replace her as she took his position circling the fight. One by one, the members of the original group that had intercepted Flash switched places with their reinforcements and took up circling around the outside. With their identical flight suits and only their manes and tails to tell them apart, Flash Spark didn't even notice that the ponies he'd been fighting against previously had been replaced.

Taking a deep breath, Rainbow pumped her wings before she plunged into the fray herself. Her world became one of diving and dodging as she attacked and was attacked in turn. Even though she had four other Wonderbolts supporting her, she still felt that she couldn't let up at all. If she gave Flash Spark even a moment's opening, it would be all over for her. However, she remembered what was at stake. Ditzy Doo was celebrating one of the most important days in her life just a few miles away. Rainbow would be damned if she let this freak ruin that for her.

"Do you, Ditzy Doo, take Big Macintosh to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold in sickness and in health, until death do you part?" asked Mayor Mare, smiling genially down from the podium at the bride.

Ditzy turned to beam at Macintosh. "I do."

Next, the mayor turned her attention to the groom. "And do you, Big Macintosh, take Ditzy Doo to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, until death do you part?"

"Eeyup," replied Big Macintosh automatically before freezing and blinking as he realized what he'd just blurted out. The audience chuckled behind him and Ditzy also burst into giggles. Rubbing his mane, Macintosh grinned sheepishly. "Er...Ah do."

Once she got her mirth back under control, Mayor Mare moved on to the next part of the ceremony. "Then I now pronounce you husband and wife." A twinkle sparked in her eye. "Now kiss!"

Ditzy didn't need any further prompting, throwing her arms around Macintosh's neck and kissing him deeply. The move took her new husband by surprise as his eyes widened and he leaned back from the force of her enthusiasm. For a moment, the crowd was so spellbound that everypony forgot to cheer.

"YAY!" squealed Dinky, jumping up and down excitedly from her position just behind Ditzy where she and the bridesmaids had been standing.

Like a breaking dam, cheers flooded the orchard as ponies stamped their hooves in applause.

"Oh! That was wonderful!" gasped Rarity, dabbing at her eyes with a hoofkerchief, "I'm so glad the ceremony went off without a hitch."

"I don't get it," said Pinkie, "I mean, they got hitched, so doesn't that count as a hitch then?"

"That's..." Rarity frowned.

"A figure of speech at cross-purposes with itself," suggested Spike lamely.

Rarity coughed lamely. "Yes...something like that."

Twilight smiled and wiped her own eyes. In spite of her anxiety about the situation, she was glad to see Ditzy so happy. More importantly, nopony at the ceremony had noticed anything wrong. Hopefully that meant that the situation with Flash Spark was contained at least.

"How are things going?" she asked softly to Arkenstone.

"They've moved beyond my range," he said, "I can't say. The fact that Flash Spark hasn't suddenly crashed the party seems to suggest that they are still fighting or Rainbow Dash and Storm Front would be back by now."

Around them, ponies shifted and began to move. The affair was moving slowly to the barn, where the reception was to be held. Ditzy and Macintosh weren't leading the way, but they were near the front of the group. Twilight could see Ditzy looking around expectantly. She realized that Ditzy was probably seeing who was staying for the reception. However, as she looked around more, a faintly worried look came across Ditzy's face. She's noticed Rainbow's missing, thought Twilight nervously. She wondered just how they were going to account for Rainbow's absence without giving everything way.

Dawn stepped up beside her. "I'll go check on the situation," he volunteered, "Let mom know I'll be back soon."

"Okay," said Twilight, "Be careful."

Dawn nodded and seemed to vanish.

Nearby, Coco was also making her way to the barn. She'd allowed herself to be carried to the fringes of the crowd and now trailed in the back, looking around anxiously.

"It would seem things are alright for the time being," commented Perlin casually as he slipped in next to her.

Coco fought the urge to jump and scream again. She was getting used to the young stallion sneaking up on her. "What's going on?"

"It would seem that somepony was trying to crash the wedding. However, the Wonderbolts have intercepted him and are now in the process of either apprehending him or driving him off.

"W-will they be okay?"

"I can't say," said Perlin with a shrug, "I didn't dare try to go in for a closer look. I figured my presence would be a fatal distraction to them, so I opted to simply observe what I could from a distance, which, unfortunately, was not much."

"Then you're staying here?" asked Coco nervously.

"In the vicinity, yes," replied Perlin, "But I can't accompany you into the barn. I'm afraid that there are ponies who would notice me in such close quarters, in spite of my best efforts."

Coco's eyebrow went up at that. If Perlin was wary of these ponies he was talking about, then, perhaps, these were ponies he didn't feel up to fighting. Coco couldn't imagine who could stand up to the young stallion, whose mithril wings she'd once see carve up two-score trained bodyguards. However, Perlin clearly thought somepony here, multiple ponies even, warranted some degree of caution on his part. If I find out who, then...

A faint spark of hope fluttered in Coco's heart. Maybe this was her chance to break Baron Elderflower's hold over her. If she could find out who Perlin was wary of, then perhaps those ponies would be able to protect her from the inevitable reprisal that would come with betraying Elderflower's trust, a reprisal that was likely to come on silvery wings, regardless of how nicely Perlin behaved around her.

Coco was so enraptured by her thoughts on the matter, she failed to notice when Perlin slipped away, leaving her alone in the crowd again.

Author's Notes:

Flash Spark may look like a bug, but he doesn't squish like one. Fight scenes in three dimensions are tough to write.

Considering the whole "Let Ditzy have her day," vs "Use the opportunity to take down a crazy stallion" was a hard debate, even for me, and I'm the one who wrote this thing. I guess that's the way life works sometimes.

Finally saw the first episodes of Season 5 and I want to start with one thing. Fuck Dailymotion...in the ass...with a rusty tailpipe. Seriously, it wasn't worth being able to watch on Monday (since the youtubers apparently took theirs down before the weekend was done) seeing as I spent the better part of two hours trying to watch a forty-minute video, wherein I waited for the video to load, a process which took twice as long as it took the video to run, and was subsequently interrupted as the video stopped itself and spent ten to fifteen minutes at a time trying to run a single fifteen-second advertisement. Seriously! Fuck that site.

Sorry...had to rant about that a bit. Ahem...The episode was fun. Maybe I'll do a blog about it. In fact, I probably will. There are some very interesting things to consider about it.

Next chapter: A youtube video will probably appear in the comments...possibly more than once.

Hammer Time

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Chapter 17: Hammer Time

The buzz of Flash Spark's wings climbed into a full-blown shriek as he loosed another lance of sonic energy at Rainbow Dash, only for her to once again slip easily between his shots. He'd been trying to clip her wings for nearly half an hour now, but she always managed to evade him. Her friends didn't help. Whenever Flash was certain he had a sure hit, one of the other Wonderbolts always came charging in from some different angle, forcing him to dodge or sending him into a tumble if their attack managed to hit home. The fact that none of their strikes could penetrate the armored carapace that enclosed his body was of little consequence to Flash's mind.

It was maddeningly frustrating. With his new wings, he could outfly any of the Wonderbolts on their best day. He should have been able to fly circles around Rainbow Dash...backwards...and upside down. He would have taken any of these Wonderbolts down one-on-one. But instead of fighting properly, they were ganging up on him, distracting him, and sucker-punching him.

Perhaps, had his mind been more rational, it would have been cognizant of the fact that he had, at one time, been more than happy to believe that he could have taken the Wonderbolts all at once, that he'd spent many an hours fantasizing about mowing them down like the herd of losers that he knew they were. However, that rational capacity had been shut down by the fact that the Wonderbolts weren't playing fair.

They were toying with him, playing him for a fool. Flash couldn't stand it. What was more, they'd apparently blocked up their ears so that the normally incapacitating buzz his wings emitted wasn't getting through to them. I've got to start taking them out. In spite of his singular belief in his superiority, Flash still remembered his limits. After all, Morning Star had made sure that they had been drilled into his head. He had only so much time until the energy reserves he'd built up from all the food that he'd eaten gave out. He needed to finish this fight with enough strength left to make the flight back to his hideout.

Flash growled again as a hoof crashed into the side of his head and the back of his neck took another hit from that weird, glowing wing attack that the Wonderbolts seemed to favor. So far, it had only barely scratched his armor, but the fact they were hitting him at all was annoying enough. That he could never seem to land a blow in return only made matters worse. Damn them! They make this look easy.

Contrary to Flash Spark's beliefs, the Wonderbolts were not enjoying lording their superiority over the insectile stallion. With the progression of the fight, the other members of the team had joined up and now harried Flash in squads of four while the rest circled about the periphery of the battle, switching out in sequence in order to stretch their stamina and hopefully wear the stubborn stallion down. With this pace, they could easily go all night if they needed to...except for one of them.

Rainbow Dash was panting hard and sweating heavily. She was sure that, if she slowed down enough, she'd be overwhelmed by the stink that must be permeating her flight suit by now. As Flash's most prominent fixation and his main reason for nearly attacking Ditzy's wedding, she needed to be in the battle as much as possible, if only to keep Flash engaged as they continued to lure him farther and farther away from Ponyville. Already, the neatly organized rows of apple trees that marked the Apple family's orchards had given way to the impenetrable canopy of the Everfree Forest. Ponyville and its outlying sections had dwindled to a minor blur on the horizon. But that still wasn't far enough. If Spitfire was to join the battle, they needed to get farther still.

Because of her role, Rainbow wasn't able to switch in and out of the fight the way the other squads were. The most she managed were a few quick breathers to get her wind back as the attacking squads of Wonderbolts switched with one another. She couldn't stay away too long or Flash might decide he'd had enough of being toyed with and head back to the wedding. The task was calling forth every ounce of stamina Rainbow had built up in the grueling training she'd endured up to this point. Fortunately, she was up to the task. However, all it would take was one slip and the flashing, screaming lances of sound that Flash was launching at her would slice a wing clean off.

To make matters worse, even though she and her teammates were getting hits in, they seemed to have virtually no effect. Flash might have been mildly disoriented after getting smacked upside the head with a hoof, but the impact always seemed to hurt the hitter more than the one who was hit. Even the Daisy Cutter, a strike that Rainbow had seen cut through solid steel, barely left a scratch on that carapace, which was now covered in such scratches and showing no sign of giving way.

Sweat forced its way into her eyes and Rainbow peeled away from the fight, pulling her goggles away from her eyes and wiping vigorously at them before her own perspiration blinded her. Unfortunately, Flash noticed and immediately went into pursuit, zipping after her and weaving between a pair of attacking Wonderbolts, who nearly collided with each other. His wings howled and a barrage of yellow lances zipped after Rainbow, who struggled to weave around and between them as she continued to try and get the sweat from her eyes. Not good...

The other Wonderbolts did their best to harry Flash as he doggedly pursued her, but the insectile stallion had grown almost single-minded in his focus on Rainbow, charging after her while slipping one way and then another to avoid attacks coming in from all directions.

Abruptly, the mobbing Wonderbolts pulled away as a roar of wind drowned out the screaming buzz of Flash's wings. His modified eyes barely caught the slight distortion of light as a faint ripple in the air to one side of him before he was hit by a battering ram of compressed air. Flash Spark was knocked tail over teakettle and thrown away like a foal's toy by the awesome force of the strike, which would have shattered a normal pony's bones.

"Need to trade out?" asked Dawn as he came in to hover next to Rainbow. He was still dressed smartly in the suit Rarity had made for him back before the Autumn Festival. From one of its pockets, he fished out a hoofkerchief and passed it to Rainbow, who accepted it gratefully before using the square of cloth to mop the sweat from her eyes.

"I could use a breather, yeah," said Rainbow.

"You've been fighting hard," said Dawn, "Is Spitfire ready yet?"

"We're not far enough away," said Rainbow.

Dawn frowned. He knew from firsthoof experience what Spitfire was capable of when she was serious. During his first fight with Perlin, back during the conflict with the tribalists who had taken over Cloudsdale, she had separated him from his opponent with a wave of flame that had stretched over a kilometer in length. If she threw that kind of power around this close to Ponyville, especially with a very flammable forest beneath them, then there was every chance the town might be reduced to ashes by the very pony who was supposed to be protecting it.

That wouldn't do. Dawn wanted to end the fight as quickly as possible so that, at the very least, Rainbow would be able to enjoy some of the reception before she had to return to Cloudsdale. At the same time, his place wasn't here on the battlefield...this time...the Wonderbolts already had their plan and, as far as that plan was concerned, he belonged back at Sweet Apple Acres, where he could help serve as the final line of defense.

Still...there was no harm in...accelerating the Wonderbolts' plan a little. "Let me take over for a little bit," said Dawn as he began to fly towards Flash, who was starting to get his bearings again.

"Careful," said Rainbow, "That guy's a tank. He just seems to soak up everything we throw at him."

"Let him soak up this then," said Dawn as he surged forward.

Up ahead, Flash had managed to right himself. As he reoriented, he saw Dawn charging in and his lips curled up in a sneer. His mouth opened up, probably to spit out some sort of taunt or insult at the colt who had once taken the sky away from him. However, he didn't even manage a single syllable before Dawn's next blow slammed into him with the force of an out-of-control train. Flash's taunt transformed into a surprised yell as he was propelled through the air.

Before Flash could right himself again, Dawn was there, right in front of him, wings blurring with yet another blast of wind that launched Flash further still. The Wonderbolts had already scattered and were now fanning out behind the colt as he batted Flash Spark through the air like a ball. Rainbow held the center of their formation, coasting along in Dawn's wake and enjoying a much needed breather.

"Why didn't we think to ask him to do this in the first place?" muttered Soarin', earning a giggle from Rainbow.

"We're here!" she shouted as Flash came to a rest from the latest toss. It was clear that the blows, while having not done any actual damage to his body, had taken their toll. Flash bobbed unsteadily in the air, clearly disoriented from being knocked for a loop so many times.

"Up!" Soarin' shouted from his place next to Rainbow.

Dawn nodded and charged Flash once again. Flash saw the colt coming and moved to avoid the next strike, but found himself unable to when Dawn swept one wing around in a wide arc, putting the force of his body behind the move. In an instant, Flash was pulled into a swirling maelstrom that sent him hurtling upward like a shot. The tornado lasted only a few seconds, but those seconds that sent Flash much higher into the sky, above the level of most of the naturally forming clouds in the Everfree Forest.

Before he departed, Dawn had one last thing he wanted to do. He had followed Flash up from the lower altitude. As he flew, the tip of the outermost primary on his left wing began to spark, trailing arcs of electrical energy as Dawn drew it through the air. The energy being formed by the sparks was kept circulating at the tip of dawn's feather, accumulating and building, forming a glowing sphere of white-hot plasma. As Flash once again tried to reorient after the last attack, Dawn launched the bolt, aiming for one of Flash's fragile-looking wings.

Flash saw the attack coming at the last second. He shifted, turning to pull his wing out of the path of the attack. However, this had the consequence of putting his own body in the way and the bolt of plasma slammed home against his barrel. The orb of energy exploded in a spray of arcing electricity that seemed to crawl across Flash's body, leaving scorch-marks in their wake. However, when the energy faded away, those scorch marks were the only signs of the attack's impact. A few seconds later, the downdraft from Flash's own wings blew away the light coat of soot, leaving his carapace unmarked by the attack.

"I see what you mean when you call him a tank," Dawn said to Rainbow, "That armor is impressive, even if his fighting ability is not.

Coughing, Flash fixed Dawn with a glare through the lenses of those strange, multifaceted eyes of his. "I've had about enough of this. Even after everything I've shown you, you fools don't take me seriously."

"On the contrary, we're taking you very seriously," said Soarin' as he hovered next to Rainbow, "We just needed to make sure we were well away from anything important before we really cut loose. But now that we've got you where we want you, it's time to hit you with everything we have." Even though his mouth was the only part of Flash's face that was actually visible, the sudden frown on his lips told Soarin' that he clearly hadn't been expecting this.

A nearby cloud exploded, scattering into transient vapor as a massive black shape burst out from within it. With a sound that was halfway between an eagle's cry and a lion's roar, a burly black griffon, clad in equally black armor, hurtled like a meteor at Flash. Seeing the attack coming, Flash yelped in surprise and dodged sharply away. However, Skan read the move and was already swinging with one taloned forepaw to intercept the evading stallion. His blow slammed full force into Flash's shoulder. Skan's body shifted to allow him to project all his strength and weight into the blow.

Flash cried out. However, this cry had a different quality from the past ones, which had always indicated surprise and shock. This was a cry of pain. All of the fighters' ears perked up at that. All the previous attacks that had connected had merely juggled Flash around. None of them had penetrated his armor and done any actual harm. What had Skan done that was so different?

Before that question could be pondered for too long, another shape bolted in. This time, it was the brindled figure of Zhan as she swooped down on Flash from above, her dive too fast for most ponies to track with their eyes. Even the trained eyes of the Wonderbolts were hard pressed to keep up with her movement as she zipped in on a separate angle from her mate. She came directly in at Flash's face and, before he could even attempt to recover his balance and think about counterattacking, she had already delivered half a dozen slashes to his armored face. The mandibles that had opened up in front of Flash's mouth folded closed to protect the one soft, fleshy part still exposed on his body. Zhan's fighting claws, forged from an alloy that could match mithril for hardness and strength, rang as she rained blows down on Flash's head. However, although her attacks had the effect of snapping Flash's head back and forth, her claws failed to actually penetrate that white carapace.

Having clearly had enough of being the griffoness' scratching post, Flash's wings shifted and the buzzing noise they emitted climbed several octaves. Taking that as a signal to disengage, Zhan dropped away, trying to escape before Flash could draw a bead on her and strike her down with a sonic lance.

Before he could fire, Flash's attack was interrupted. This time, a metal weight, attached to a cord, slammed into his stomach from directly below. Flash's form blurred slightly as the weight impacted. The mandibles concealing his mouth flew open as Flash spit a spray of blood into the air.

"What the hay?" gasped Rainbow as she stared at the spectacle. She and her fellow Wonderbolts had slammed into Flash with their hooves, carved at him with their wings, and just generally hit him with everything that they had without the slightest effect, save for knocking him about. And yet, just two blows from Storm Front and Skan and now Flash was spitting up blood.

"I thought it might have an effect," commented Spitfire as she came to hover near Dawn and Rainbow.

"What's going on?" asked Dawn.

"That carapace of his might be some sort of unbreakable material," said Spitfire, "But underneath it is regular flesh and blood. Skan and Storm are aiming for the joints along his body and using the force of their blows to drive that unbreakable material into the less-than-unbreakable parts of his body."

"Oh!" said Dawn, apparently getting the idea, "I get it now."

"You do?" asked Rainbow.

"Yes," replied Dawn, "It's very simple...like..."

"Basically, it's like trying to hold a balsa wood structure together with steel bolts," explained Spitfire, "If you hit the bolts right, then, because they're a lot stronger than than the material they're holding together, they do plenty of damage on their own."

"Oh!" said Rainbow, finally getting the idea.

"In any case, you've done enough," said Spitfire, "I'll take over here. So take a break."

Without waiting for a response, Spitfire surged forward to join in the attack. A loud shriek echoed from above as Ouranos dived down into Spitfire's path, the two of them intersecting in a blast of flame. Both Skan and Storm retreated as the fiery form of Spitfire rushed in at Flash like a blazing comet. When her hooves slammed home on Flash's flank, an explosion rocked the air around them, engulfing the two ponies in fire, the roar of the blast drowning out Flash Spark's screams, which only worsened his situation as he inhaled and drew superheated air into his lungs, practically cooking himself from the inside out. Spitfire flew out of the blast. Behind her, the jeweled plumes that had replaced her tail lashed like whips, their edges drawing golden lines across Flash's Carapace. However, those lines quickly faded as whatever material Flash's shell was composed of ablated the heat.

Spitfire's retreat opened the way for Skan to come barreling in again, unleashing another shrieking roar as he drove his claws into the point where Flash's buzzing wing joined with his body. Once again, Flash cried out and lurched away from his attacker, only to scream again as Storm's meteor hammer slammed into the same spot on his opposite wing. Reeling from the two separate attacks, Flash was practically helpless as Spitfire came around for another pass.

Rainbow couldn't keep the grin from her face. They were going to win this. Flash was practically helpless now and they had him exactly where they wanted him. He wouldn't be able to keep this up much longer. Once they finally took him down, he wouldn't be able to threaten or hurt another pony ever again, once they figured out how to get that weird shell off of him. We've got this in the bag!

As Spitfire closed in, Flash's body twitched strangely. Dawn's eyes widened and his ears snapped straight upright. "SPITFIRE!" he yelled at the top of his lungs, "STOP!"

Unable to believe what she was hearing, Rainbow gaped at Dawn, only to have her attention drawn quickly back to Flash as he screamed and his entire body was wracked with spasms. His limbs were twitching randomly and his whole form seemed to bob unevenly through the air. The wings that held him aloft stopped their constant buzzing for a brief second, just long enough for Rainbow to see their configuration change again, before resuming their blurring motion.

Having heard Dawn's warning, Spitfire swerved to miss Flash Spark as some new vibration generated by his wings launched outward in a spherical burst through the air, visible as an expanding ripple around Flash's lurching figure. As soon as the ripple came in contact with Spitfire's flames, they seemed to dissolve or disintegrate. Rainbow, Dawn, and the others backed away, but were unable to escape completely as the same ripple washed over them. Rainbow felt the air under her wings become strangely thin and she had to adjust quickly to keep from dropping due to the sudden pocket of severe low pressure that seemed to have been magically conjured around Flash. At the same time, the air grew inexplicably cold.

Spitfire was affected the most dramatically by this strange new attack. Her flames extinguished and Ouranos emerged and was thrown away from her with a pained shriek. Spitfire immediately looped around to catch her companion and cradle him gently in her arms. She quickly turned to face Flash, expecting to have to retreat once he resumed his attack.

However, attacking did not seem to be what Flash Spark had in mind anymore...if he had anything in mind at all. He was still screaming, bloody spittle flying from his lips as his body writhed. Then, something bulged out from the center of his forehead. A strip of white material seemed to practically shoot out from his skull, looking like a thin white ribbon that tapered into a pointed tip. The ribbon began to wind, coiling about itself until it formed a perverse approximation of a unicorn's horn. As it emerged, Flash's limbs ceased their twitching and his entire body went limp, hanging lifelessly between those two humming wings.

"Well..." hummed a voice that was most certainly not Flash's, "That was more than I expected."

Rainbow stared. She couldn't do much else. Flash's mouth, still visible between the limp and motionless mandibles, was not moving at all. Instead, Rainbow's eyes were drawn to the stallion's wings, which were still blurring. But as the mysterious voice spoke again, the rhythm of their motion seemed to shift slightly, each shift producing a syllable that stood out against the constant drone in the background.

"You all fared much better than I expected. It never even occurred to me that you might take advantage of that particular weakness."

"Who are you?" demanded Rainbow, "And what in the hay are you trying to do with this jerk?"

"Well...what I was doing was a simple test," replied the speaker, ignoring Rainbow's first question, "something slightly whimsical, not even worthy of being called a proper experiment. This was more along the lines of throwing some chemicals together to see what might happen."

"Why?" asked Dawn, raising an eyebrow.

"To pass the time," answered the voice, "This was mostly an undertaking of idle curiosity. I was wondering just how far my newest creation would go. Admittedly, he didn't get nearly as far as I thought he would. I am clearly going to have to make some...adjustments...with his design if he's to maintain any kind of function in a scenario such as this. I had predicted that he would fail to do much damage during this attack. But I had simply figured that he would give up out of frustration at his own impotence and leave long before you made any progress towards doing actual damage to him. Imagine my surprise when you succeeded. Even though this can't even be called a real experiment, I managed to obtain some very valuable data."

Spitfire now came to a hover in front of Dawn and Rainbow, staying between them and the now limp form of Flash Spark. "You have a lot of nerve," she said, "A lot of ponies could have been hurt thanks to you. Identify yourself and turn over Flash Spark and I might not burn your face off when we meet in pony."

"Sadly, as much as I would like to reward you for your magnificent efforts on this day, I cannot turn this specimen over to you," replied the voice, "As for identifying myself...I don't think I need to give a name. If you ask the right pony, I'm sure that you'll learn about me soon enough."

"And who is the pony we should be asking?" demanded Spitfire.

"A pony who knows about making that which does not exist,"answered the voice cryptically.

"You think I'm just going to let you leave after a half-assed answer like that?" demanded Spitfire.

"I won't be leaving, I'm not even here to begin with," replied the voice, "Using the qualities of the Dark Matter I created, I simply assumed control of its functions and overrode Flash Spark for the time being. You could say he is being operated by remote control now."

"Fine," snorted Spitfire, "You think I'm just going to let you take Flash Spark without a fight. We're taking him into our custody."

"Like I said, I cannot hoof over this specimen," answered the voice, "You did quite well today. For that, you have my greatest respect. Farewell."

"Move in!" snapped Spitfire. The Wonderbolts immediately surged forward to try and capture Flash. However, Flash's body began to shift, looking to all the world like a figure in a drawing where the ink was beginning to run, except that ink was being sucked away in a spiraling vortex, drawn into the grooves of his own horn. Before the Wonderbolts had even closed half the distance, Flash's entire body had been drawn in before the horn itself vanished into a spiraling oblivion.

For a moment, nothing was said or done. The Wonderbolts, the two griffons, Dawn, and Storm Front simply stared at the empty space that Flash Spark had been hovering in. Finally, it was Rainbow who broke the silence, giving voice to the feelings of everypony present.

"What. The. HAY!"

After the fight, everything seemed to go back to normal for the evening. Having nothing more she could do about the situation, Spitfire had decided to withdraw the Wonderbolts, seeing that Flash had been neutralized as a threat for the time being, but had given Rainbow one of Ouranos's feathers, just in case they were wrong. The Wonderbolts headed back to Cloudsdale to rest after the grueling battle, while Rainbow borrowed the bathroom at the Apple Family's house to clean herself up after spending so much time on the move and fighting.

If Ditzy was upset that Rainbow was late to the reception, she didn't show it, but instead greeted the cerulean mare enthusiastically. Rainbow did her best to enjoy the party, but was distracted by the lingering frustration caused by Flash Spark's escape. Soarin' had opted to stay with her and did his best to help her cope with the situation.

"We can't win all the time," had been what he'd said, "But we did do something that counted," as he jerked his head in the direction of the revelers, many of whom were enjoying themselves out on the dance floor.

Rainbow nodded, getting what Soarin' was saying. They'd kept Flash away from the wedding and made sure that he didn't ruin Ditzy's special day. That counted for something at least. As she watched Dawn and Scootaloo make their own awkward, halting attempt at dancing to the music together, she couldn't help but smile, glad that she'd at least managed to come through for her friends.

"Okay," said Twilight Sparkle, rubbing her temples, "Tell me everything about what happened, every detail you can remember."

The morning after the wedding, Rainbow and Twilight were in the library. Soarin' had come with Rainbow to help give an account of the battle. Along with them were the rest of the Element Bearers and Spike, along with Dawn, who would be able to supplement the story with the parts he had been privy to. Storm Front was there as well, along with the two griffons assigned to protect Fluttershy. Arkenstone was there as well. Scootaloo would have been there too, had she had any say in the matter. However, Dawn missing morning classes, and possibly the rest of the day as well, was enough, especially given that Scootaloo had stayed with the wedding party, leaving her with no salient details to contribute.

Rainbow nodded, shivering slightly as she felt Applejack's eyes on her. Applejack had not been happy when she'd learned the reason for Rainbow's late arrival at the reception. She was especially upset that Ditzy and Macintosh's wedding had essentially been used as bait to lure in a dangerous criminal. Only Twilight pointing out, somewhat reluctantly, that Flash Spark could have very well attacked anyway had mollified her at all.

Rainbow and Soarin' began to tell their story, explaining about how they'd intercepted and engaged Flash Spark, right up to the point where they'd actually started doing damage to him. Dawn had supplied additional details when needed. Finally, they described the last few minutes of the fight and the conversation that had taken place there.

"Let me get this straight," said Twilight, once they finish, "So somepony took remote control of Flash Spark, made him grow a unicorn horn, and then made him teleport out."

"Uh...sort of..." said Rainbow.

"Sort of...?"

"It seemed to me that the horn that grew from Flash Spark's armor was the instrument whomever was behind this used to seize direct control," commented Dawn, "Immediately before that, it seemed as though something, besides the beating he was receiving, was causing him pain."

"In other words, the process of having his control taken by someone else must have been extremely painful," mused Twilight, pausing to take a sip of the tea that Arkenstone had brewed for everypony.

Dawn shrugged. "That's what it seemed like."

"What about the other things Flash Spark did?" asked Soarin.

Twilight frowned. "That's what really bothers me. Flash Spark's primary attack appears to have been some kind of sonic cutter. I'm guessing it used high-frequency vibrations focused along a very tight path as a cutting tool, producing a destructive resonance effect along its path, essentially dissolving the molecular bonds via vibrations with any material it encounters. Something like that would be as sharp as the Gale King's vacuum blades. The light you observed is almost certainly a byproduct of the friction between vibrating air molecules.

"However, producing that effect via the vibration of his wings is almost impossible from a physical standpoint. We're talking about focusing sonic vibrations into a tight line, like a ray and projecting it along a path. That would normally require a physical apparatus of some sort with a physical means of redirecting the sonic waves, seeing as they don't just bounce back off of nothing, You're describing a convergence effect that's taking place without any physical apparatus to enable it."

"I'm not sure I even got half of that," muttered Rainbow.

"The point is," said Twilight with an irritated huff, "What you're describing should be physically impossible. It certainly isn't something a pegasus can do if you only just give him insect wings."

"What about the other effect we observed?" asked Storm, leaning forward, "At the end of the battle."

"That..." Twilight sighed. "That's almost even more improbable. Given what you've described, I can only assumed that somehow Flash, or whoever was controlling him at the time, used vibrations to generate an auto-refrigeration effect."

"A what?" asked Spike, tilting his head in confusion.

"Auto-refrigeration," said Twilight, "By subjecting matter to a drastic phase change, usually from a liquid to a gas, by introducing it to a drastic drop in pressure, causes said matter to absorb a tremendous amount of energy from its surroundings, usually heat."

"Okay...and why is that so impossible?" asked Soarin'.

"Because the matter in question needs to be compressed first," explained Twilight, "Given what was going on at the time, you're essentially saying that Flash drew the heat out of the air by initiating phase change from a gas phase...to a gas phase. There's no way that should have been able to produce the effect you're talking about. More importantly, that doesn't explain how it managed to counter Spitfire and Ouranos so effectively."

"Why not?" asked Soarin', "That's how fire extinguishers work, right?"

"No...it's a side effect," said Twilight, "Fire extinguishers expel a stream of carbon-dioxide, which displaces the oxygen a fire needs to burn and smothering it. The cooling effect doesn't actually do all that much to put out the flames at all. I can't figure out how anything like that would have affected Spitfire."

"Maybe it was something in the vibration itself," suggested Dawn.

"Maybe," said Twilight, clearly frustrated by all the apparent contradictions of the situation. "Urgh! None of this makes sense! It's almost as though Flash Spark or whatever he's made of is completely capable of violating physical laws. And then there's what that voice said..." Twilight froze, her eyes growing wide as her pupils contracted diagonally, a horrified look spreading across her face as the color drained away from underneath her coat.

"Twi...?" Applejack leaned forward to give Twilight a worried look. "Ya okay sugarcube?"

"I..." Twilight swallowed, her body beginning to quiver. "I need to write a letter," she said quickly.

Before anypony could say anything else, she had darted upstairs to her room. From there, everypony could hear the sounds of rummaging as Twilight looked frantically for ink, quill, and parchment.

"What on earth?" mused Rarity, shooting Spike a questioning look.

The little dragon shrugged. "I haven't the slightest idea what she's so worked up about," he said.

"I do," said Arkenstone, speaking up for the first time since the meeting had started.

"What is it?" asked Dawn.

Arkenstone's eyes opened slightly, revealing a pair of milky-white orbs as his lips pressed into a tight line. "Do you remember when Twilight and I went to Canterlot to do additional research on your condition?"

Dawn nodded slowly.

"During that excursion, we were shown something...important," said Arkenstone, "A secret vault in the archives, housing knowledge compiled by one of Princess Celestia's previous students, a criminal whose crime was apparently heinous enough that he was completely wiped from the annals of Equestrian history."

"What does that have anything to do with what happened?" demanded Rainbow.

"That mage's specialty was the creation of matter," explained Arkenstone, "More than that, his magic was focused on the creation of matter of a type that did not exist in this world before, matter that behaved according to its own physical laws and, when interacting with the physical laws of this world, produced abnormal effects in a manner similar to the things you described Flash Spark doing would be considered to be impossible."

"So...you're suggesting that this pony...this criminal, may be the one responsible for the unique attributes this Flash Spark character possessed," rumbled Skan, his eyes narrowing.

"Either him or somepony like him or somepony with access to his knowledge," said Arkenstone, "At least, that appears to be what Twilight thinks."

"But surely this criminal was imprisoned," said Rarity, "There's no way Princess Celestia would allow a pony so dangerous to just run about on the lam."

"Part of his punishment was that his horn was removed," Arkenstone pointed out, causing Rarity to shriek, her hooves flying to the base of her own horn, "And he was subsequently banished."

"But why go so far as to erase all knowledge of his existence?" inquired Dawn.

"That...is another matter..." said Arkenstone.

"What do you mean?"

Arkenstone's ears laid flat against the side of his head. "It is...apparently...the severest punishment the Princesses are capable of meting out. It is called Excommunicare-Equestris, complete exclusion from Equestria. Unicorns have their horns removed, pegasi are plucked, and earth ponies have the tendons in their hind legs damaged. Said pony is then physically expelled from Equestria. Finally, all records of the criminal's existence: birth, family relations, any accomplishments she might have made; everything is erased so that, by the conclusion, the pony in question might as well not have existed at all."

Silence fell over the table. "That's...horrible..." said Fluttershy finally, her wing extending reflexively to curl around Dawn and pull him against her, "Why would Princess Celestia ever use a punishment like that."

"It is the very worst punishment she can inflict," said Arkenstone, "Primarily because the ponies who would most likely find themselves subjected to it would not even consider death a punishment."

"What kind of ponies would do that?" asked Rainbow.

"A few types," explained Arkenstone, "I can't give any specific examples because I don't know them. Naturally, I was not made aware of the existence of these ponies either. It took a great deal of effort on my part to actually convince Princess Celestia to explain the nature of this punishment when we were at the Royal Palace during the Hearth's Warming season."

The conversation was interrupted as Twilight nearly tripped over her hooves coming back down the stairs. Arkenstone nearly leapt out of his spot to try and catch her, but paused as she regained her balance and continued her way down at a more cautious, but still hurried, pace.

"Spike!" she snapped, hefting a scroll in her magic, "I need you to send this letter to Princess Celestia immediately!"

Swallowing at the intensity in Twilight's tone, Spike took the scroll without a word of protest and used his flame to immolate it. The glittering cloud of ashes quickly made its way out the window and streamed towards Canterlot.

"What did you tell her?" asked Rainbow.

"I wrote a quick report of the incident," said Twilight, "Including a description of what that voice said. It should only take a few minutes for Princess Celestia to send back a reply. I suggest we get ready."

"Wha-what do you mean?" asked Fluttershy.

"The Princess is probably going to want to see us," Twilight explained, "Possibly immediately. It's likely we'll have to leave before the day is out."

"B-but..." Fluttershy squeaked, looking more than a bit reluctant.

"Are we gonna take the train?" asked Applejack, talking over Fluttershy.

"Maybe," said Twilight, "Though, if the situation is urgent as I think it is, the Princess may send chariots for us."

"We might want to wait for her re-re-ULP!" Spike's stomach bulged and he released a burst of flame, which transformed into Celestia's reply.

Twilight wasted no time in unrolling the scroll and reading its contents. "I was right," she said, "But not everypony has to come. Princess Celestia has asked for me and Arkenstone specifically. The rest are welcome on a volunteer basis. She's sending a chariot large enough for everyone though."

To Twilight's surprise, Rainbow raised her hoof. "I'll pass," she said, "I have to get back to Cloudsdale and get my training back on track. Keep me posted on what's going on."

"Ah'll go," said Applejack, "The plantin's all done, so there ain't much but the regular chores. Bloom and Red can handle those. It sounds like we ain't gonna be there long."

"Probably not," agreed Twilight.

"I suppose I can come along," said Rarity, "Most of my work for the time being is close to being finished and I can trust Coco and Flaxseed with the shop for a day or so." She made a mental note to make sure she could trust them with each other first before she fully committed.

"I...I...don't think I should go," whispered Fluttershy, "I n-need to stay..."

"I can look after myself and the animals for a short time," said Dawn, "But you shouldn't go if you feel you don't want to. After all, nothing in the letter said that you have to."

Fluttershy nodded and wrapped her colt in a tight hug, cuddling him for her own comfort.

"Ooh! Ooh! I'll go! I'll go!" shouted Pinkie Pie, bouncing in place eagerly.

"I guess that'll do," said Twilight, looking at the other ponies in the group.

Skan and Zhan shared a glance. "We'll stay here," said the ebony griffon, "Our responsibility is to our ward after all."

"I'll stay too," said Storm Front, "There doesn't seem to be anything useful that I can contribute for the time being."

"I'll go," said Soarin', getting a surprised look from Rainbow in the process, "Somepony who was actually part of the battle should be there to answer any questions the Princess might have about it. I was there for almost the entire thing." Seeing Rainbow's guilty look, he gave her a warm smile. "Rainbow's right about her training though. We can't afford to let that slide too much." That seemed to reassure the cerulean mare, who leaned against her coltfriend, looking a little more relaxed.

"Well, I guess that's that then," said Twilight. She didn't bother asking Dawn if he was coming. The colt clearly intended to stay, possibly so that he didn't miss any more school. Since Soarin' was coming, Dawn's presence wasn't really needed, so it was fine to let him go.

They settled into preparing for the departure. Dawn was sent back to school for the remainder of the day, while Storm Front carried a message from Applejack to Sweet Apple Acres explaining the situation. Rarity made a quick trip to her Boutique to do the same with Coco Pommel and Flaxseed. Pinkie Pie also zipped over to Sugarcube Corner to tell the Cakes. Arkenstone had already made arrangements with Dawn regarding the teahouse. Dawn and the rest of the Crusaders would open it up after they got out of school and close it again at the end of the day. The reduced hours might upset some of his customers, but it was a small price to pay. Finally, Rainbow Dash said her goodbyes before heading back to Cloudsdale on her own.

About two hours later, the chariot, pulled by a pair of pegasi from the Royal Guard arrived to pick up the group. Twilight, Applejack, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, and Arkenstone all climbed in while Soarin' decided to fly alongside the group. A few minutes later, they held on tight as the chariot climbed through the skies, heading for Canterlot.

Flash Spark's limp, unmoving form was dropped with an unpleasant thud onto the square of stone set in the center of the room. Any ordinary pony who saw him at that moment would have been deeply disturbed by the sight. Flash Spark was motionless, yet did not seem quite dead. Rather it seemed more like he was some sort of automaton or golem that had simply been switched off. Naturally, as the pony who had "switched" Flash off, Morning Star wasn't overly concerned by the sight.

"Fascinating," he muttered, "I hadn't really thought of that particular weakness. I had thought that the strength of the armor was sufficient to keep impact from reaching inside of him. I really hadn't considered that they would turn its own strength against him. I wonder..."

"Looks like I was right," commented Swift Stride as he examined Flash from the other side of the table, "Those Wonderbolts sure did a number on the poor guy."

"Not just the Wonderbolts," commented Morning, "They fielded assets I wasn't aware of. I suppose it was negligent of me not to do more research into the forces that have been arrayed in Ponyville."

"Well...your heavy hitter is set to come in, of course they're gonna start gathering their strongest," said Swift, "How far is he from there, by the way?"

"A couple weeks out," said Morning, "He intends to arrive on the day after the equinox."

"And do you think he'll succeed?"

"Maybe," said Morning with and indifferent shrug, "maybe not. It doesn't really matter in any case. Thanks to this arrangement, the rest of the Order gave me the time I needed. Once all is said in done, what happens in Ponyville will be immaterial."

"A rather pointless roll of the dice, don't you think?" mused Swift.

"Well yes...." admitted Morning with a shrug, "It is pointless in the sense that whatever result is produced, whatever number comes up, it doesn't matter in the slightest."

"Then what does?"

A chuckle bubbled up out of Morning Star's throat. "What matters is that, regardless of the result of the roll, everypony is watching the dice."

The Ultimate Punishment

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Chapter 18: The Ultimate Punishment

The flight to Canterlot was uneventful. The two pegasi pulling the chariot didn't seem bothered by the fact that they were pulling five passengers. Celestia had probably selected her strongest flyers to handle the load. They were fast as well. The flight to Canterlot was fairly brisk, taking no more than around an hour and a half. For a few minutes, the mountainside city of Canterlot sprawled out beneath them in all its tiered glory as the chariot made straight for the Royal Palace.

However, at the last second, the pullers veered off-course, angling their flight towards a building that Twilight knew very well, the archives. It was here that she and Arkenstone had researched ponies who shared Dawn's condition, as well as where Wight Shade had shown them the secret room that contained the accumulated knowledge of one of the worst criminals in Equestrian history, a criminal so terrible that he'd been written out of history.

I guess it makes sense that the Princess would want to meet us here, thought Twilight. She hadn't mentioned the fact that she'd already seen Morning Star's hidden archive room in her letter. Celestia would probably take them down through that hidden door, thinking it was the first time all of them had been there. Should I tell her? It was the honest thing to do and Applejack would probably be all for it. But Twilight didn't want to put Wight Shade on the spot if she didn't have to. Ultimately, he'd done them a favor by showing them the archive and warning them about Morning Star. Otherwise Twilight wouldn't have known enough to think about contacting Celestia in the first place. Perhaps knowing that would get him off the hook if she did end up telling Celestia. Twilight didn't plan on explaining unless the subject came up. She just hoped that Arkenstone did the same.

Celestia was waiting for them at the entrance to the archives, her expression mostly neutral, but showing a slight strain at just how much this situation was troubling her. Twilight didn't envy her mentor's position. In addition to this latest problem, she'd spent the past few months trying to manage the Noble Court's increasingly dangerous machinations while trying to track down the leadership of a cult that seemed to focus most of its energy towards hating her younger sister.

Twilight, her friends, Arkenstone, and Soarin' all came to a stop after approaching Celestia and bowed before her.

"Rise please," said Celestia, "There is much we need to talk about."

"Ah'll say. Ah'm right peeved after learnin' just how close mah new sister-in-law's weddin' came to bein' crashed by that jerk," said Applejack in a surly tone, shooting Soarin' a dirty look. The Wonderbolt gave her an apologetic one in return.

"Yes...it's true that this issue with the stallion named Flash Spark is a much greater threat than any of us anticipated," said Celtestia, "But, ultimately, he is but a part of a much larger and much more severe problem."

"What is it, Princess?" asked Twilight, eyeing Celestia nervously as she began to lead them through the archive hallways. Twilight already recognized the route they were following to the secret door that would lead to Morning Star's "wing" of the building.

Princess Celestia sighed. "In truth, I was hoping that I would never need to bring this matter up with other ponies again, but it seems my hoof has been forced." She gave Twilight a stern look. "But then, I think you already know all about that."

Twilight felt her stomach clench under that look. There was no question now. Celestia knew. "I know some of it," she conceded.

Coming to a halt, Celestia looked away from Twilight and let out a melancholy sigh. "I shouldn't be surprised. I had been debating revealing Morning Star's existence to you myself when Luna's majordomo went ahead and did just that."

"He's not in trouble, is he?" asked Twilight.

"I am quite cross with him for going behind my back like that," said Celestia, "However, though I can reprimand him and recommend that Luna might consider somepony else for his position, the decision ultimately rests with her. She decided that it was not sufficient reason to dismiss him. She even pointed out that Wight Shade was, more or less, anticipating my own thoughts on the matter."

"Why would you show that information to me?" asked Twilight, "Why keep all that information at all. I thought your punishment should have erased everything that he left behind."

"I wanted to but..." Celestia's head lowered and Twilight could see the guilt and frustration that struggled for dominance on her face. "...Morning Star was different from any other pony I have ever had to levy Excommunicare-Equestris against. Even during the worst of it, even when he turned the very materials he'd developed into weapons against me, it didn't feel like he was truly evil."

"Why do you say that?" asked Rarity, "If what he did was terrible enough to warrant such a heavy punishment, surely he must have been a malicious creature at heart."

Shaking her head, Celestia continued to lead the way down the halls. "I wish it was so simple. In truth, I couldn't really fit Morning Star into a category of "good" or "evil," because he just didn't seem to perceive the world in that way. From a standpoint of morality and ethics, it was almost as though he was viewing the world through a completely different spectrum than anypony else. Ultimately, it wasn't what Morning Star did that earned him the Excommunicare. It was what he almost did. For, if he had succeeded, there was every chance that no one would be around to levy any punishment against him at all."

Twilight gulped. It was one thing to sentence a criminal for terrible crimes against her fellow ponies. But to pass such a severe sentence for a crime he hadn't committed yet... Just what was he trying to do? Even if it was punishment for attempting a crime, that generally carried less weight than a crime that had actually been carried out.

"There is a lot of explaining in order for you to fully understand the situation," said Celestia, looking over at the ponies that had accompanied Twilight, "Much of it involves advanced magical theories that might be a little over your heads."

"Why do you even have a punishment like that?" asked Soarin', "I mean, that sounds ridiculously harsh."

"It was harsh because, more often than not, it was what such ponies deserved," said Celestia, "Morning Star was not entirely unique...at least, not in the nature of the crime he was going to commit. There have always been those in the fields of scientific development who have let their zeal for their work override the ethical implications of their actions.

"One of the ponies I excommunicated was planning to unleash a plague upon a city of hundreds of thousands of innocents, simply to study its effects and prove a theory of hers. Said theory would end up proven many years later through safer methods, but that mare did not want to wait. She would have turned a major population center into a graveyard, simply because she wanted credit and adoration for the work she had done. Even though I put a stop to it, hundreds had already died. She fully believed that the ends justified the means and was more than happy to tell me so when I confronted her. Even more, she was willing to go to her death, absolutely certain that, even though I had killed her, her name would resound through Equestria's history.

"It wasn't just ponies like her. Back when Equestria was still largely governed with a feudal system, there had been a certain noble who had taken up a hobby of kidnapping his own peasantry and playing a sick game of cat and mouse with them before killing them in a monstrous fashion. He was almost delighted to see me when I arrived to dispense justice, sure that nopony would forget his name once I was finished.

"There were others...not many...I haven't had to use excommunication more than ten times since Luna and I took the throne. In all of those cases, I opted not to take the criminal's life, but instead strip away something that they valued far more...their posterity. I first rendered them powerless, then forced them to watch as I stripped away every memory, every remnant of their existence; destroying records, erasing birth certificates, even modifying the memories of those who had once been close to them if necessary. Mothers were made to forget that they had a certain foal. A school was never attended by a particular student. A shop never employed a specific pony. All of it was wiped away, never to be seen again as I made the entire world forget those ponies even existed. Only then did I banish them, ensuring that they knew that all their efforts left them with nothing, not even their own identities."

"Th-that's so sad," said Pinkie Pie with a slight whimper, her body shivering, "Nopony would ever know it was your birthday, you'd never get any presents on Hearth's Warming...nopony would remember anything that you did..."

"It is, perhaps, the cruelest punishment I am capable of," said Celestia, "one that is reserved for only the worst of ponies who commit the most terrible of deeds."

"Just what was it this stallion did that warranted such a punishment?" asked Rarity, "It was obviously quite awful."

Celestia paused. They had reached the location of the secret door that led down to the hidden room. Using her hoof, Celestia pushed against a section of the wall, causing it to swing open soundlessly, eliciting a gasp from everypony except Twilight and Arkenstone, who had seen the hidden portal before. Not saying a word, Celestia led them down the steps and into the room, illuminated by glowing crystals that washed everything with a strange, unearthly light. Even having seen it already, Twilight still felt her skin crawl as her mind and body completely absorbed the impression that the light was not of this world. Looking over, she could see that her friends and even Soarin' were just as discomforted by the eerie scene.

"Morning Star's crime, one that he almost committed, was opening a way beyond the world," intoned Celestia softly, eliciting a gasp from Twilight, whilst the others cocked their heads, clearly not quite assimilating the meaning of Celestia's statement.

"Um...that certainly sounds bad and all," said Applejack uncertainly, clearly not really believing her own words, "but what in the hay does that even mean?"

Again, Celestia sighed. "Like I said, Twilight is probably the only pony here with the background to fully understand this, but I will do my best to explain." She gestured to the crystals scattered around the room, illuminating shelves and cubicles containing thousands, possibly tens of thousands of scrolls, all meticulously organized. "This is the sum total of Morning Star's work when he was still my student. He was a mage beyond any other I have ever seen, well beyond even the likes of Starswirl or Clover."

Twilight let out a shocked gasp. "Princess! Even if he did create completely new kinds of matter...how could that...?"

Celestia shook her head. "Clearly, whatever you read during your first visit only merely scratched the surface of what Morning Star accomplished. He did not merely create new matter...he invented entire worlds."

"Worlds?" asked Arkenstone, raising an eyebrow.

"Soarin'," said Celestia, abruptly turning to the Wonderbolt, who looked more than a little overwhelmed by the situation, "The alterations to Flash Spark, please describe them to the best of your abilities."

Soarin' laid out his explanations as best he could, with Twilight chiming in to help supplement his explanations. As she listened, Celestia sent her magic dancing across the room, her aura picking scrolls from shelves and drifting them over, laying them out with each new detail revealed. By the time Soarin' finished, three scrolls lay unrolled upon one of the reading tables scattered throughout the archive.

"Read these, Twilight," said Celestia, gesturing to the scrolls.

Nodding, Twilight began to scan the first one. The roll was incredibly thick, the rolled-up scroll containing enough information to fill two or even three of the larger tomes that occupied her own library back in Ponyville. Even as she began to read, Twilight's eyes were widening. The one scroll she'd scanned the last time she was here had clearly been nothing more than a brief primer. She absorbed the text, which went on at length about the composition and materials of an entire world. It was clearly a much simpler model than a similar text about Equestria would have been. However, it was still meticulously detailed in describing the materials of that world and the physics that governed them. Furthermore, it also calculated how said materials and physics would interact if they came into contact with the materials and physics of the world Twilight knew, the world she was living in. As she read, she noticed a passage about vibrations generated by certain types of matter producing sonic convergence effects in the open air...exactly the phenomenon that had been utilized by Flash Spark's wings.

"This is..." she whispered, prying her eyes away from the scroll and gazing up at her teacher. Had she not been here for such dire reasons, Twilight would have been delighted to continue losing herself in the scroll's contents. This was beyond anything she had ever conceived as being possible. "It's amazing...beautiful even."

Celestia nodded, clearly agreeing with Twilight's sentiments. "That was the amazing thing about Morning Star. For the most part, his only use of magic was to create the matter in question and manipulate it. Every other phenomenon that resulted was a consequence of the physics that governed the matter he created interacting with the physics of our world. In order to fully conceive of such matter, he had to not only create the matter itself, but the physics that governed that matter, thus engineering an entire world's worth of physics to support his creation. He worked constantly, sometimes for days, even weeks at a time. His drive was incredible...possibly even mad..." Her eyes drifted shut. "...No...most certainly mad."

In a sense, Twilight could understand. To be able to conceive of such matter, produce it and utilize it to the extent that Morning Star did, his mind could not have operated in the same manner that the mind of any pony who might technically be called sane did. Thinking outside the box was one thing, but this was well beyond that.

"You understand now," said Celestia, once again gesturing to the room at large, "Morning Star's magic allowed him to create matter that did not exist in this world before and matter that was not of this world at that. This was both his genius and his downfall."

"Why is that?" asked Rarity.

"Are you familiar with the concept of the Akashic Records?"

"I'm afraid not," said Rarity.

"I know!" exclaimed Twilight, "That's the theory that there exists a repository of the sum total of all knowledge in existence, past, present, and future."

"Ooh! That's so cool!" exclaimed Pinkie, bouncing eagerly, "That means the birthdays of everybody in the world are listed there. If I knew all that, I could throw parties for everyone."

Celestia giggled at Pinkie's logic. "I suppose that would be possible."

"But..." Twilight's expression fell. "The Akashic Records are purely a theoretical concept. There's no scientific proof of their existence at at all."

"What exactly are we talkin' about here?" asked Applejack in a skeptical tone, "Some kinda big honkin' book?"

"Not really," said Twilight, "The Akashic Records are thought to be contained in a non-physical plane of reality beyond the reaches of our own. There's no proof of their existence at all. At best, there are anecdotes of some ponies supposedly being able to access the Records while in a trance or under the influence of drugs."

"Sounds like a whole lotta hooey to me," said Applejack.

Twilight shrugged. "That's why I said it's only theoretical. I've never really believed in their existence myself." She shot Celestia a questioning glance.

"I did not ascribe any credence to the theory either," said Celestia, "For the most part, I believe the idea of the Records to be a fantasy conceived by ponies who wanted to believe that there was a means of learning everything quickly and easily, with no real effort on their parts."

"I take it Morning Star was something of a believer though," said Rarity.

A slight smile appeared on Celestia's face. "Yes...he was...though he sought them for different reasons than most ponies..."

"Hello there, Morning Star. Are you ready for today's lesson?"

The rosy-pink coated colt looked up from the book he'd been reading. "Hi Princess! I sure am ready."

"Excellent." Celestia's eyes glided over the cover on the book as Morning closed it. "I am not familiar with that text. What are you reading?"

The young colt's eyes lit up. "It's talking about this place where you can see everything that's ever been known or ever will be known."

"I see..." said Celestia, "You're talking about the Akashic Records then?"

Morning nodded eagerly. "Yeah! That's it!"

"You do realize that it's highly unlikely that such a place exists, right?"

Morning nodded, though it was clear that he was reluctant to part with the idea. "Yeah. It would be kind of sad anyway."

That got Celestia's interest. "Sad? How so?"

"Well...if there's some kinda big library of knowledge out there with all the information about everything, then everything's technically already known." Celestia had a bit of trouble following the colt's logic, but she nodded, prompting him to continue. "Then...if everything that's going to be known is already known in that place, then, when we discover something or make something new, then we aren't really discovering or making it ourselves, because it all already existed there to begin with."

Celestia was surprised by Morning's manner of thinking. "I suppose that would be true..." she mused, unsure if that was the appropriate way to think about it. It was moot anyway. It wasn't as though the Akashic Records really existed.

"But..." continued Morning, clearly still dwelling on the subject, "If something like that did exist then...what if you could add something new to it yourself?"

"Come again?" asked Celestia, staring at the colt in surprise.

"You know," said Morning, waving his hooves, "What if you could just put something new in the record, like...like writing an extra chapter in a book...something like that."

"That would truly be something," Celestia conceded, smiling warmly at Morning's desire to always push the boundaries of what was possible.

So that's what Wight Shade meant, thought Twilight, remembering how Luna's chief steward had described Morning Star's obsession, That would be looking at the blueprints of the world.

"I believe that was where Morning Star's fascination, his obsession, with creating that which did not exist before began," said Celestia, "He never truly let go of his belief in the Akashic Records. He wanted to access them himself, not merely to access the knowledge he believed was contained there, but to give birth to truly new knowledge that had never before existed and never would have, save for his own intervention."

"Yer kinda right 'bout this bein' over our heads," admitted Applejack with a shrug, "But where does this crime ya punished him fer come in?"

"That..." Celestia said, her tone heavy with sadness, "came about as the ultimate culmination of Morning Star's obsession."

"He was trying to open a way beyond the world," said Twilight, "In other words, he was trying to rip open a hole in the fabric of reality."

"Is that really so dangerous?" asked Rarity.

Celestia nodded. "There are some things that are far too dangerous to tamper with. The integrity of our reality is one of them. It is one thing to alter and shift it at will, as Discord did, but even he wouldn't dare try to break through the essence of reality itself."

"Why not?" asked Pinkie.

"It's a bit tricky to explain," said Twilight, before looking at Rarity, "Let's say somepony tore a hole in a sheet of fabric...if you didn't mend it, what would happen?"

"That's rather simple," said Rarity, "The fabric would begin to unravel at the point of the break. If it isn't mended then, eventually, the entire thing could come undone...depending on the weave.

Twilight nodded. "Reality is like that. A small breach causes the integrity of our very dimension to suffer. Even if the break is a small one, it will quickly become larger until it's either stopped or..."

"...Or until it consumes the world entirely," finished Celestia, "A long time ago, shortly after Luna and I ascended the throne, a group of unicorn mages researching the matter created a breach less than a millimeter across. By the time Luna and I intervened and used the Elements of Harmony to close the rift barely two hours later, it had swallowed an area approximately five miles in diameter and had wiped nearly two-hundred ponies out of existence."

A collective shudder went through the group at the idea.

"There are theories that a more stable portal could be created," continued Celestia, "one that wouldn't instantly grow out of control and swallow everything around it. However, in order to achieve that aim..."

"...Experiments would have to be conducted," said Twilight, growing pale, "And each failed attempt could cause untold damage on its own. And if even one of them ended up not being stopped..."

"...It could mean no less than the end of the world itself," finished Celestia, nodding in agreement with her student's deductions.

"Well...that certainly sounds bad," said Applejack a little shakily.

"Is that what this Morning Star guy was trying to do?" asked Pinkie.

"Yes," replied Celestia, "As I told you, he grew obsessed with the idea of accessing the Akashic Records. He spent a great deal of time researching them. He was especially interested in using the matter that he created in ways that might allow him to reconstruct the manner in which the Records could theoretically acquire and store information. He conceived of miniature archives, which could store the information of entire libraries in tiny crystals less than an inch across. None of his creations ever satisfied him.

"He came to the conclusion that records were embodied in a non-physical plane of reality that could only be accessed by a conscious being if said being had physically left this reality. In other words, he wanted to switch his perspective to that of someone looking in on our reality from outside. In order to do that, he needed to open a way, a stable one and large enough to enable a full-grown pony to pass through."

"That's impossible!" exclaimed Twilight, "The energy requirements would be immense. The energy needed to produce even a tiny breach, much less contain it, uses nearly as much power as you use to move the sun."

Celestia nodded in agreement. "It certainly requires power beyond the scope of ordinary ponies. However, Morning Star had a way around that limitation."

"Oh!" exclaimed Twilight, looking at the archive around them, "His created materials!"

Celestia sighed. "Naturally, when I learned what he was planning, I forbade it. I told him that it was foolish to even think about attempting something so dangerous. If such a rift were opened, it would swallow the whole of our world in a matter of days, if not hours. And...with Luna gone and the Elements inert at the time, there would have been no way for me to close it."

"If ya ended up banishin' him, Ah'm guessing he went and tried it anyway," said Applejack.

Celestia nodded again. "Yes. Creating that rift required the construction of an extremely large and complex apparatus composed of the unique matter that Morning Star produced with his magic. Naturally, Morning Star could not build such a device just anywhere. Space would need to be acquired and, unless he wanted to assemble the whole thing by himself, a process that he admitted would take decades, he would need to hire ponies to assist him in construction. That was how I found out about it..."

The doors to Morning Star's private study slammed open with enough force to shake the room, possibly the entire Palace. The doors themselves were smashed to splinters by their subsequent impacts against the walls. Looking up from the document he'd been working through, Morning Star blinked owlishly at the furious Princess now storming through the sundered portal.

"Is something wrong?"

Celestia's eyes blazed with fiery light, practically miniature suns in their own right, as she glared directly at her student. The normal swirling aura of colors that formed her mane and tail had been replaced with billowing flames of blue and white. Her magic lofted a large envelope before slapping it down on the desk right in front of the impertinent stallion. "Morning Star! I specifically forbade you from making any attempt to carry out your experiment in any form! And yet, here I find proof that you have been bidding for a large plot of land outside of Trottingham."

"Well...yes..." said Morning Star, scratching the side of his head, "I was thinking of maybe a summer home-"

"DO NOT LIE TO ME!" roared Celestia, the force of her voice making the entire Palace shake down to its foundations, "You deliberately attempted to go behind my back and carry out your experiment in direct defiance of my instructions."

Seeming nonplussed, rather than frightened, Morning Star merely blinked, barely even flinching at the force of his teacher's voice. "Well...I guess I was fair caught," he admitted with a sigh.

"So you intend to press forward on this, regardless of what I have said," growled Celestia.

"Hence the whole going behind your back thing," said Morning Star in a plain tone. There was nothing mocking or contemptuous in his manner of speaking. Rather, it was a tone of somepony simply laying out the facts.

"I will not allow it," said Celestia, her eyes narrowing, "Your experiment could doom the entire world."

"Emphasis on 'could,'" said Morning Star, "I have run the numbers and I believe that I can contain and stabilize the rift using the effects of my Dark Matter...mostly..." He shrugged. "Granted...things often work out just fine on paper, but prove considerably harder to manage in reality. I suppose that the risk of something going catastrophically wrong is rather high..."

"And yet you persist anyway," said Celestia, her anger fading, replaced by an overwhelming sadness, "Why?" She didn't want to fight her student. Morning Star had been, by far, the most promising student she had taken under her wing in the entire course of her life.

"Because...I want to see if what I create is truly my own creation," said Morning Star, "I want to know that what I create is truly my own and I am not merely discovering some facet of the world that already existed. Even if the Records do exist and even if my creations are a part of them, then...if I reach the Records, then I will be in a position to add to them and truly create something that is truly my own."

"What you speak of...are you trying to become a god?" asked Celestia, truly distressed by the depth of her student's obsession.

"If creating something that is truly my own is the act of a god then..." Morning paused and thought it over for a moment. "...then I guess that a god would be what I am aiming to be. I didn't actually think of it like that."

"Please don't do this," begged Celestia, "Don't lose yourself chasing after phantoms. The Records are a myth, nothing more. Do not waste your life. Do not endanger the world pursuing a fiction. You've already changed everything with your creations. Imagine all the good you will be responsible for once the world understands what your Dark Matter is capable of. Don't throw all that away."

"I haven't really given much though to the overall uses of my Dark Matter besides how it might be relevant to me," said Morning, "How it benefits the world does not truly interest me."

"Morning! Please!"

"Sorry Princess," said Morning with another shrug, "I suppose that, in the end, you're right. You usually are. You're right to try and stop me. However, I have no intention of stopping myself."

Celestia squeezed her eyes shut, twin steams of tears leaking out to run down her face. "Than you leave me with no choice, my ex-student. I will stop you."

"If you can," said Morning, "I'm afraid that you're going to have a rather hard time of it." He bobbed his head politely. "Thank you for your guidance and instruction all this time. I'm afraid I will be leaving your tutelage now."

Celestia did not answer...not with words at least. Instead, her horn blazed with golden light as she threw a lance of pure sunfire straight at Morning. A single powerful ray slammed into the stallion, throwing him through the desk he'd been sitting at and the wall behind it...and the wall behind that one...and the next wall...and on, plowing through barriers of solid marble as though they were made of paper. Morning's flight ended with him slamming into the courtyard, digging a trench through the ground as though he were a falling meteor, rather than a pony as he left a trail of glowing-hot destruction behind him.

Her horn glowing yet again, Celestia vanished in a burst of golden energy before she reappeared in the courtyard, standing at the start of the trench that had been dug through the manicured lawn before vanishing into the hedge maze outside. There, nearby, rested Discord's imprisoned form. As always, the mismatched creature seemed perpetually locked in a bout of amusement, as though he was delighted by this violent disagreement between teacher and former student.

"That was impressive," said Morning, not even sounding winded as he stepped forward out of swath of destruction his body had carved out of the maze, "The power of the one who moves the sun is not to be trifled with."

The fluttering of wings, the clack of hooves, the clank of armor, and the hum of magic indicated that the members of the Royal Guard had arrived on the scene, arraying themselves behind Celestia in an arc as they moved to provide her with support. Their eyes narrowed as they glared past their ruler at Morning Star as he strode nonchalantly out of the maze, seeming untouched by the ferocious assault.

"Your orders, Princess?" asked the leader, glancing up at Celestia. He was not so foolish as to suggest that the Princess step back so that they could fight in her stead. She had clearly started this fight, so she would most likely insist on being a participant, maybe even the only participant.

"Leave us," said Celestia in the cool tone of a commander, "Secure the area and make sure that nopony approaches. Other than that, do not interfere."

The frown that crossed the Guard's face suggested he was not happy with the idea, but he was not about to argue with Celestia when she was using that tone. "As you wish." The Guards dispersed to carry out her orders.

"Ever since you took the position of the mover of the sun, you've relied on the sun's power to fuel your attacks," said Morning as he continued to step forward, "It certainly is a force to be reckoned with. The fires of the sun are hotter than anything else in the world. Not even a dragon's flames can compare. Those flames will burn through any magical protection and turn everything to ash within an instant.

"However, what if those flames encountered something that did not react to heat as a destructive force, but merely altered it into another form of energy that was less dangerous? Such materials exist in this world, but their efficiency is not enough to completely neutralize one of your attacks. However, such rules do not apply to my Dark Matter."

Celestia gritted her teeth. Morning Star must have coated his body in some material that had done exactly what he had described. Given the way he'd been thrown all the way out of the Palace by that strike, it must have transformed the heat of her sunfire into kinetic energy, which had propelled him through and subsequently shattered every obstruction in the way...maybe.

On either side of Morning's shoulders, shimmering white protrusions forced their way up and out of his skin, swelling like pustules before bursting like they had been ruptured. However, what sprayed out was not pus, but feathers, which steamed through the air, forming a pair of wings...and then a second pair...and a third. Standing there, Morning Star now sported no fewer than six wings as he faced Celestia, all of them white, yet shimmering with strange shades of color that were disturbingly alien to Celestia's eyes. The light of her sun above seemed to filter down into them, passing through before exiting, mutated into some other form.

They were at once beautiful and hideous to look at. Their shimmering white shapes, combined with the dancing colors of the light that passed through them were mesmerizing to look at. However...they did not belong on Morning Star's body. Unlike pegasus or alicorn wings, there were none of the muscles where those extra limbs joined the body. Instead, they looked as though they had been cut and pasted on Morning Star as an afterthought. Furthermore, they did not move like flesh in blood wings, bending in impossible ways, like they had neither bones nor muscles of their own, instead seeming to be masses of feathers that had been glued together in a vaguely wing-like shape. They swelled and shrank, the feathers multiplying or dwindling in number, sometimes changing size and orientation. Celestia found herself unable to stand looking at them for long.

Lowering her horn, Celestia unleashed another blast of solar energy, aiming squarely for the center of Morning Star's chest. Morning barely seemed to even see the attack. Instead, his wings reacted as though they had minds of their own, all six converging downwards and inwards to intercept the blast. The tips of the feathers that might have been called the outermost primaries on a normal set of wings, crossed together directly in front of the blast. The solar energy Celestia had conjured hit those feathers and seemed to bend several directions at once, its entire spectrum shattering into random rays of color that streamed off in separate directions. Three streams, blazing with colors that Celestia could not put names to, came straight at her.

She'd expected a counterattack in some form or another, so Celestia already had a shield spell ready to go. A flick of her horn called a curved wall of golden light into being directly in front of her. Two of the incoming rays were stopped. One simply ceased to exist as it came into contact with the shield. The other vanished in a blaze of sparks and shimmering smoke. The third passed through her shield as though it wasn't even there. It hit Celestia just off to one side of her chest.

Nothing happened. Looking down, Celestia saw no mark or sign. The ray of light had passed through her shield without seeming to have touched it. She blinked in confusion. Her heart had stopped for an instant, but it seemed that the beam was harmless. Just to be safe, she performed a quick diagnostic scan of herself, but found no signs of harm.

"Interesting," said Morning, "I've never participated in anything resembling actual combat before. This will be a useful experience for me."

All six of his wings flapped and he surged toward Celestia at speeds that would have impressed a Wonderbolt. Rather than try to meet his attack head on, Celestia instead beat her own wings and threw herself to the side. Another beat launched her up into the air so that she was now in an arcing flight up above Morning. Once again, she launched another bolt of sunfire, this time aiming for the back of his head. At this angle, he couldn't possibly see her attack coming. No matter how fast his wings were, there was no way he'd be able to use them to block an attack he didn't know was coming.

She was wrong. One pair of wings continued beating to keep Morning's body on the move. But, at the same time, the two other pairs seemed to rotate around the first pair, as though all three wings had been mounted on some sort of ball and socket joint, then curved upwards and inwards, forming something like a protective umbrella over Morning's back. Once again, Celestia's attack hit the wings and shattered, this time into an even more brilliant display of colors, which seemed to manifest as a spray of particles that blasted back towards her like wind-blown sand.

Again, the shield came blazed to life. Most of the incoming particles rebounded or disappeared with a variety of effects. But a number once again slipped through the shield, one or two seeming to completely burn their way through, and Celestia got the feeling of being hit by a light spray of sand. However, the impact of one of the particles sent the sensation of something like an insect's sting from the point of impact. Fortunately, it had done practically no damage and even the pain was nothing write home about. Celestia had suffered more from mosquito bites.

Morning was evidently done with bantering, as he said nothing after that. Instead, the four wings that had shielded him swept downward, the remaining pair joining them so that all six wings completed their powerful strokes in unison, launching Morning back-first straight at Celestia, his head, rump, and legs dangling as though his body was simply being dragged along by his wings' power.

Rolling to the side, Celestia's eyes tracked Morning as he shot past like a missile. She turned to follow him, preparing to unleash another spell, trying to come up with something different that might be able to get through or around those wings. Looking up, she saw that Morning had stopped his rapid ascent, spreading all six wings wide like massive airbrakes to stop his body. The angle of his flight had taken him on a path directly in front of the sun, so that it now shined past him and straight into Celestia's eyes.

If he had been aiming to blind her with the maneuver, that was a serious mistake on his part. The sun was Celestia's after all. She could stare at it as long as she pleased with practically no ill-effects. Instead, she selected another spell from her repertoire of battle magic, assembled through centuries of on and off study, far longer than any ordinary unicorn could hope to spend learning magic, to hurtle at him.

Before she could cast, however, the sunlight shining between Morning's wings seemed to dim, as though the light itself was being sucked into those weird, artificial appendages. The wings themselves blazed with a light of their own, seeming to extend into blade-like shapes of light that then slashed downwards at Celestia. She immediately switched to a defensive spell, calling her shield into being once again. Four of the wings bounced away, one halted against the shield with a burning hiss as the light shining from the feathers seemed to burn its way through. But the sixth and last wing passed completely unimpeded by the obstruction and slashed its way across Celestia's chest.

A searing line of agony burned itself along the path of the attack and Celestia felt as though she had been hit by a hammer. Her body was thrown downard by the fantastic force of the blow. She barely had the presence of mind to conjure another shield between herself and the ground before she hit, throwing up a spray of earth. Chest burning, Celestia heaved herself onto her hooves, panting hard. Her legs were shaking. I must be getting rusty if getting hit once takes that much out of me, she thought ruefully. It had been a long time since she had been in battle and an even longer time, not since her and Luna's battle with Discord in fact, that she'd actually taken a real hit by an opponent actually aiming to take her life.

"Calibration nearly completed," muttered Morning, his voice barely audible as he began to drift downwards towards Celestia.

Pursing her lips, Celesta watched Morning warily, trying to discern his next move, as well as how he'd managed to get an attack past her defenses. However, his words gave her pause to think. He'd said something about calibrating, which would mean that he'd been adjusting his attacks in order to find something that would get through her shields. But just what he was doing that had made something like that possible escaped her.

Fortunately, Morning did not seem keen to press his advantage. Rather, he stood in place, staring pensively at Celestia, as though he was trying to puzzle out a difficult equation. His inexperience on the battlefield was telling if he was willing to remain idle so long with an enemy directly in front of him.

Once again, Celestia went on the attack. However, instead of launching another blast of sunfire at her adversary, she instead charged straight for him, her wings beating as her hooves slammed into the ground. Using the earth pony aspect of her nature, Celestia drew the magic into herself and hardened her body, channeling the majority of her strength into her horn, hardening the alicorn's....alicorn, so that it was now nothing less than a spear that was capable of piercing through anything in the world. It was a tactic that would be unthinkable to a unicorn, but for one such as Celestia, who possessed the capacity of all three tribes, it was an unstoppable attack.

Once again, the wings seemed to move without any conscious input on Morning's part. Sweeping around, one wing intercepted Celestia's horn, the tip of which bounced off without so much as scratching the unearthly material. Undeterred, Celestia continued onward, switching from channeling her power into her horn and instead went into a shoulder rush. She ducked her head to avoid the wing itself and dove straight in at Morning's chest, which was now wide open.

A trio of hammer-force blows slammed into her side, knocking Celestia away just before her shoulder made contact with Morning's unprotected body. Three of the wings on one side of Morning's body had arced around to strike her. The force of the blows was enough to to slam Celestia into the ground, digging another trench. As she did, she whipped her head around and lashed out with the simplest attack spell she knew, a telekinetic bolt.

Morning's defense proved to be just as impenetrable as before, one of his wings intercepting the shot and batting it away.

Celestia frowned. Just how was it that Morning was blocking all of her attacks so flawlessly? He had no knowledge of actual battle, yet his wings always seemed to be able to defend against her attacks without difficulty.

"Um...this is more awkward than I thought," muttered Morning to himself, his words only barely audible to Celestia's ears, "What to do...?"

She must have been pressing him harder than she'd thought if he was at a loss as to how to conclude the battle. Perhaps if she pushed just a little bit harder...

Getting onto her hooves, Celestia stared at Morning sternly. "Your magic has been most impressive," she said, "It saddens me that I've been forced to this."

Morning's expression seemed to betray the fact that he'd made a difficult decision. "I can understand that," he said, "What's done is done."

Celestia nodded. Her horn blazed once again as a single thin shaft of light lanced out towards Morning. However, just as it was about to enter within reach of his wings, the shaft of light suddenly branched out in several directions at once, the branching beams of energy bending at sharp angles as they raced outwards before reorienting to come at Morning from several directions simultaneously.

Morning's wings became indistinct blurs as they whirled faster than Celestia's eyes could track. They moved with flawless speed and precision, casually swatting her attacks down as they came in. Celestia's eyes widened, expecting the incoming counterattack to come at any second. It was another failure...

Unexpectedly, as Morning's wings went though the process of intercepting all of Celestia's attacks, they abruptly burst, scattering white feathers through the air, their forms seeming to disintegrate and dissolve, leaving Morning by himself, a regular unicorn once more. He blinked in confusion and looked back over his shoulder at where his wings had been. "Oops..."

Celestia did not let the opening go to waste. Before Morning could fully comprehend the dire nature of his situation, she slammed into him. Celestia used a grappling technique, using her greater weight and strength to slam into Morning's upper body even she hooked a foreleg around Morning's own forelegs and wrenched them out from under him. Her other forehoof went to the side of Morning's head, not striking a blow, but instead guiding the unicorn's head downwards as Morning fell...guiding it so that the horn met the unyielding stone Morning Star had been standing on with all the force of his weight and Celestia's.

The horn hit the stone and snapped. Morning Star's howl of pain echoed through the courtyard, filled to overflowing with his agony. Celestia's tears rolled freely down her cheeks as she looked at the pony, her student, the one she had placed so many of her hopes in, writhed in agony beneath her, agony that she had inflicted with her own hooves. "I'm sorry," she whispered.

The Morning Star Falling

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Chapter 19: The Morning Star Falling

Twilight Sparkle covered her mouth with her hooves as she stared in horror at Celestia. She'd never thought her teacher was capable of executing such a brutal move as deliberately breaking an opponent's horn. She fought down the desire to reach up to her own horn, as though she wanted to confirm that it was still there.

"That's terrible!" gasped Rarity.

For any unicorn, the possibility of having their horn broken was a terrifying prospect. It was unbelievably painful, even worse than having the horn struck mid-cast. To make matters worse, it rendered a unicorn's magic unusable. The vast majority of a unicorn's outlets were located in their horn. It was, more or less, their only means of projecting their innate magical energy out into the world around them. Without it, they were incapable of magic...helpless...handicapped.

"I am not proud of what I did," said Celestia, "Given the nature of his crime, I had planned to remove his horn anyway, but not so violently. However, it was the best recourse I could think of. His Dark Matter was too dangerous and I couldn't give him the chance to recreate it, lest he tip the balance in his favor."

"He was pressing you that hard?" asked Soarin' nervously.

"He was," said Celestia, "In retrospect, I believe he may have programmed his creations, somehow, to react automatically to incoming attacks without his input, which would explain why they protected him from all of my strikes, regardless of how aware he was of them. However, because he relied on that to fight, he had no experience in actually reading the course of the battle himself, so he was completely helpless during that interval when his Dark Matter actually failed him. Given the opening he presented, I opted to finish the fight before he had a chance to recover."

"What happened next?" asked Pinkie in an unusually somber tone.

"After that...I took Morning Star into custody and passed judgment on him," said Celestia, her eyes glazing over as she remembered the scene once more.

Celestia looked down from her throne at Morning Star, her gaze stern and unyielding. The unicorn, her ex-student, stood before her, not merely shackled, but bound and muzzled so that his every movement was restricted. It was the garb reserved for the most dangerous and unruly inmates in mental institutions throughout Equestria. The ensemble certainly gave him the appearance of a madpony. It was not the first time she'd forced a pony into such bindings and it probably wouldn't be the last. Celestia was used to their glaring and growling as they looked up at her while she pronounced their sentences. Others had retreated from reality, their eyes glazed over and their gazes vacant as they lost themselves completely to the horror of their situation.

Except...there was none of that in Morning Star's gaze as he stared up at her. Rather, his eyes were calm and placid, as though he didn't even realize he'd been bound or that an uneven stump rested where his horn had once been. It was as though nothing about this situation mattered to him in the slightest. There was no anger in his gaze as he looked up at his former teacher, no sadness, no regret, no remorse. Nor was there any sign that he'd sought refuge by retreating from reality. His eyes remained as clear and lucid as Celestia had ever recalled them being.

"You are guilty of attempting to plunge Equestria, and the world with it, into untold devastation by attempting to breach the borders of reality," declared Celestia, "You have shown neither remorse nor restraint in your actions, despite fully knowing the implications of what you were attempting to do. Because of that, I have no other choice but to pronounce you Excommunicare-Equestris. All records of your existence shall be erased, along without all records of your accomplishments and everything that you have left behind. When I am finished, you will be an unpony, completely unrecognized by your fellow ponies. To them, you may as well not exist."

Once again, Celestia braced herself against a storm of anger and bile. Though the imprisoned could not speak through the muzzle, they were more than capable of inarticulate snarls and shouts of rage, trying their hardest to curse her through the restraints placed over their mouths. However, the storm she'd readied herself for did not come. Instead, Morning continued to stare impassively at her, as though he didn't care at all.

Seeing that he was seemingly unfazed by her announcement, Celestia decided to continue with the procedure. "It's over," she said, "Get him out of my sight."

At her command, the two Guards standing at the door pulled on the leashes they held, which were tied to Morning's back. They guided him out of the throne room. Before the day was out, their memories would be erased and they would have no idea what they had done nor the prisoner they had tended to. Such was the nature of this punishment. By the time it was carried out, no trace of the condemned would remain.

"After that, Morning Star was escorted to the outermost boundaries of Equestria and turned loose," said Celestia, "I haven't heard anything about him since...save for now."

"Do ya think he's comin' back fer revenge or some-such?" asked Applejack.

"I cannot say," said Celestia, "Morning was never really one with much of a pokerface. Anger, sadness, any emotion at all, he was never very good at hiding it. Rather, what made him difficult to read was that he would not react emotionally to a given situation in the same way other ponies would. Things that would make other ponies rage wouldn't bother him in the slightest.

"In retrospect, the Excommunicare-Equestris might not have been the ideal punishment to use against him. As he was, Morning Star cared nothing for what other ponies thought of him, nor did he care if they remembered or forgot him. He was not interested in his posterity or what he might leave behind, for good or for ill. Instead...if he truly is plotting something, I may have done him a favor instead."

"Instead of punishing him by stripping him of everything other ponies would remember him by," whispered Twilight, "you gave him complete anonymity. No pony would know he was a criminal or that they needed to watch out for him. He could go anywhere and do anything and nopony would be any the wiser."

"Yes..." agreed Celestia, "Normally, when they learn their fate, the condemned are broken then and there. By the time they are left to their own devices, their minds have been completely shattered by the implications of their sentence and they are unable to conceive of doing anything. But...as he has always been, Morning Star was different."

"Well, it's not like he can do any crazy stuff anymore," said Pinkie Pie, giving the Princess a halfhearted grin, "I mean...you took his horn away, so it's not like he can ever use his magic again or create any of that nasty Dark Mattery stuff anymore."

"Except that he clearly can," countered Soarin', "Otherwise, Flash Spark wouldn't be such a problem."

"Either that or Morning Star has taught the means of creating Dark Matter to another pony," said Celestia, "I had hoped that, bereft of his research materials and all the accumulated records of the materials he developed, he wouldn't have anything to teach with and be forced to give up. Many scientists give up when they are force all the way back to square one, especially when they had come as far as Morning Star did."

"But what does he want?" asked Twilight, "What's the point of picking up a washed-up stallion with a grudge, outfitting him with some kind of supernatural augmentation, and turning him loose? Even if he's planning on carrying out his experiment in some shape or form, Flash Spark wouldn't have any role to play in it...I think."

"That's what I don't understand," said Celestia, "Morning was the sort of pony to often play with his Dark Matter in different ways to simply see what happened. It is possible he is simply doing that with Flash Spark. However, I couldn't see him being willing to risk the fact that he's still active coming to my notice without reason. He must know that such a thing would force me into action."

"So maybe it is somepony else who's learned his particular brand of magic," suggested Soarin' calmly, "After all, it's not as though somepony else would have the same thoughts for or against using the Dark Matter that Morning Star did, especially if she thought that doing so openly would send us off in the wrong direction."

"Perhaps," agreed Celestia.

"So what do we do?" asked Twilight.

"It is little different from what we have been doing since the moment Flash Spark made his reappearance," said Celestia, "The Guard will search thoroughly for any sign of Flash Spark and the one who sent him. However, in the meantime, I want you to use this..." She gestured to the archive around them. "...to gain a thorough understanding of Morning Star's Dark Matter and its different forms. If possible, I would like you to come up with a means of detecting it so that we can then home in on the offenders' location."

"Do you want me to stay in Canterlot then?" asked Twilight.

Celestia shook her head. "No. Rather, I will arrange to have the contents of this archive to be sent to you in Ponyville so that you may peruse them at your leisure and in familiar and comfortable surroundings. The fact of the matter is, it is still potentially dangerous for you to remain in Canterlot for longer than necessary."

Twilight nodded in agreement. "I'll get started right away," she promised.

"Take whatever scrolls you would like to start with," said Celestia, "I will send the rest."

"I guess we're done here then," said Soarin'.

Celestia nodded and made her way to the door.

"Princess!"

At the sound of Pinkie's voice, Celestia paused and looked over her shoulder at the party pony.

"Um...If you really wanted to make Morning Star disappear," said Pinkie, "why did you just hide all of this..." She waved at the assembled mass around them. "...here? Weren't you supposed to get rid of this stuff too?"

For a moment, Celestia was silent as all eyes turned to her. "I had feared that Morning might someday teach his magic to others and that they might turn it against Equestria. He did have...students of his own during his later years under my tutelage, though he had never gotten around to teaching them how to create or harness Dark Matter. However, I worried that that might not be the case or that I might have missed some of them when I purged all evidence of Morning Star's existence. If that was so, then I wanted this knowledge to be available in the event that I or somepony else was forced to oppose them." She sighed. "I say that. But the truth is that I simply could not bring myself to destroy Morning's work. So much of what he had done was truly marvelous beyond description. I hope that, someday, what he did leave behind may be of some benefit to the world, even if his memory is gone, I want ponies to be able to get something out of all that he created."

Apparently unwilling to continue the conversation any longer, Celestia took her leave. With nothing more to discuss, Twilight took charge and began to select the scrolls she would bring back with her to Ponyville.

"Is something wrong?"

"Huh?" Twilight blinked and she wrenched her eyes away from the scroll, the same lines that she'd been staring at for the past half hour in fact. She'd wanted to get a head start on her studies during the right back, but her mind had wandered and she'd found herself unable to concentrate on her work. Evidently, Arkenstone had noticed.

"You were miles away," said Arkenstone, gently nuzzling Twilight's cheek, "Do you need to talk about it?"

"No..." said Twilight quickly, before freezing and reconsidering, "Yes...Maybe...I need to think about this first."

"I'm here whenever you're ready," said Arkenstone softly, letting Twilight rest her head on his shoulder.

"Thank you," whispered Twilight. Behind them, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, and Rarity were wrapped up in a conversation of their own. Soarin' had already parted from the group, heading directly back to Cloudsdale, rather than returning to Ponyville.

Taking solace in her coltfriend's presence, Twilight sank back into the uncomfortable mire of her own thoughts. She was deeply conflicted about what she had learned on this trip, both about Morning Star and about what Celestia had done to him. While she didn't doubt that Morning Star had almost done was heinous, the fact of the matter was that Celestia had passed judgment on him and then erased every trace of his existence. She had obliterated a pony, not from life or from the world itself, but from history. Not only that, but this was a punishment that she had used multiple times. Celestia claimed that she'd used it less than ten times over the course of her entire rule...but there was no proof of that. After all, if all evidence of those ponies' existence had been wiped away, then there was nothing that would suggest that Celestia hadn't used that punishment more than ten times...or a hundred...or a thousand...

The other thing about it that truly troubled Twilight was the absoluteness of it all. By erasing all records and memory of a pony, Celestia took absolute control of issuing their punishment, took everything into her own hooves. It was an act that veered perilously close to the boundaries of the godlike behavior, the kind of behavior ponies like the members of the Cult Solar expected from her in fact, that Celestia so deplored, even possibly crossing those boundaries outright. Perhaps that was why Celestia had used it as rarely as she did, assuming she'd actually only used it as many times as she'd said she had...

A strangled groan forced its way out of Twilight's mouth. Thinking in circles like that made her head hurt. It was similar to how she'd felt when she'd been unable to refute Elderflower's reasoning regarding the destinies of herself and her friends. Quietly, she confided her uncertainties in her coltfriend.

Arkenstone listened silently to Twilight's thoughts.

"What do you think?" she asked.

"I think...a certain degree of trust is needed," said Arkenstone, "Celestia did wield the Elements of Harmony...meaning that honesty is one of them."

"But..." said Twilight, "How can that possibly work? What she's doing is deceiving ponies on a massive scale, lying to change history to suit her goals? That's a fundamentally dishonest act."

"One of the most difficult aspects about honesty," said Arkenstone, "is understanding there are times when it should not be used. All of the Elements are like that, in my opinion. They are powerful, but they are not absolutes in and of themselves. There are times when those virtues can become vices if they are applied inappropriately. Sometimes...the truth is something that should be left buried...and forgotten."

A shiver traveled down Twilight's spine at the weary, depressed tone in Arkenstone's voice. She'd nearly forgotten, in her own personal confusion, that Arkenstone himself had a depressing truth buried in the past, a truth that only she was privy to. If that was the case, just what hideous facts was Celestia keeping her little ponies from being exposed to?

"More importantly, I believe we both have more faith in the Princess than that," said Arkenstone, the corners of his mouth turning upwards, "Celestia has always detested the idea of exercising absolute power over her ponies. She would not have an authority so completely open to the possibility of abuse without something to check it."

Twilight nodded. She remembered that, amongst other things, Arkenstone and the other Knights of the Celestial Order were a check to Celestia's power in and of themselves, that she'd founded their Order as a means of fostering ponies powerful enough to do battle with her, should she lose herself the way Luna had. Did Celestia have another such check in place against her "ultimate punishment?"

"Above all else," said Arkenstone, "Princess Celestia is our friend. Have faith in her."

Twilight nodded against Arkenstone's shoulder. Her mind, weary from swimming through her own confusion for so long, was beginning to get hazy. She let go of her worries for the time being and forgot the scroll that was still laying open in front of her and gently let herself drift off, leaning against Arkenstone's side.

The days passed quietly. There were no further signs of activity from Flash Spark, who had, once again, seemingly dropped off the map. Nor were there any signs of the pony behind Flash Spark. The quiet was unsettling for some, but welcome for others. Likewise, there had been little sign of activity from the Cult Solar, with no further indication that any of their members were coming to harass Dawn or those close to him.

Instead of foreboding, the air was beginning to fill with excitement as the date approached for the selection of the recipients of the Royal Warrant. Rarity and Coco Pommel were working themselves to the bone in the Carousel Boutique, moving quickly to finish the pieces Rarity intended to enter into the competition. Out on Sweet Apple Acres, Applejack was likewise working hard as she went through all the apple recipes she knew, working on the best ways to promote her products.

A week after the wedding and the carefully concealed battle that had taken place during the wedding, Big Macintosh and Ditzy returned from their honeymoon, flush with the giddy happiness that two ponies could only have after successfully consummating their union. Only two days later, as Macintosh began work on an extension to the Apple Family homestead, Applejack and Rarity were at the train station, waiting for the ride that would take them to Canterlot.

"Ya got enough luggage there?" asked Applejack, raising a wary eyebrow at the stack of suitcases that loomed behind Rarity, the small mountain of baggage seemingly on the verge of toppling over.

"Just barely," said Rarity with a complete sincerity that drew a deadpan reaction from her friend, "I have to showcase an entire line at the competition. I have to make sure that everything is ready and that I have materials on hoof in case I need to make any alterations or additions. I'm a little worried that I might have forgotten anything."

"Everything is accounted for," said Coco, coming up to stand next to Rarity, "Flaxseed and I went over the list with a fine-tooth comb."

That seemed to ease the alabaster mare's tension somewhat. "I'm glad for that," said Rarity with a warm smile, "Both you and Flaxseed have been too good at putting up with me for the past few weeks. I was a right terror."

"It's fine," said Coco. A second later, a faint blush colored her cheeks. "By the way, thank you for bringing me along. I never thought I would get the chance to attend a prestigious event like this while I'm still an apprentice."

With a demure giggle, Rarity gently rubbed Coco's back. "It's perfectly fine dear. This will be a good experience for you." Rarity's smile took on a slightly sly quality. "Yes...a very good experience for you indeed."

Turning back to Applejack, Rarity gave her friend a victorious smirk. "Besides, I wouldn't be commenting on another pony's luggage if I were you," she said, taking a long look at the stack of crates and barrels behind Applejack, which she and Red River had hauled into town by wagon.

"Ah've got to have ingredients," said Applejack, "Part 'o the competition is showin' that ya know what to do with the fruit ya farm. We've all got to bring our own, 'cause that shows how resourceful-like we are when it comes to gettin' the things we can't grow ourselves. Not to mention there's a full display 'o the range of our products here."

Rarity nodded, conceding the point, even though she still thought Applejack's earlier comment was rather hypocritical. After all, with all that she'd needed to bring in order to make sure she was ready to compete, Rarity had opted to forgo many of her personal supplies for the trip, resigning herself to make do with what was on hoof at the hotel when she arrived.

"Good morning."

Rarity, Applejack, and Coco turned to regard the new arrivals as Arkenstone and Twilight joined them on the platform. The two were accompanying them to the competition. Arkenstone and Twillight would be providing security of a sort, trying to ensure that nopony tried any underhoofed tactics to interfere with Rarity and Applejack's chances of securing their respective Royal Warrants.

"Good morning to you as well," said Rarity as she regarded Twilight. The librarian's normally lavender coat was looking a bit darker underneath her eyes. Rarity suspected that Twilight had been indulging in a few too many late-night reading sessions ever since the bulk of the materials from Morning Star's secret archive had come down from Canterlot. She quietly hoped that Twilight hadn't brought too many scrolls with her and that she might get some sleep on the ride up.

On that note, Twilight was looking rather surly at the moment, grumbling faintly under her breath and throwing sidelong glares at her coltfriend, who was affecting an expression as innocent as a newborn foal's.

"Okay, Ah'll bite," said Applejack after a moment, "Who put the bee up yer bonnet, Twilight?"

Snorting irritably, Twilight averted her gaze from Applejack, glaring off to the side. "Arky's making me leave all the scrolls behind."

"Think of it as something of an enforced break from your studies," said Arkenstone, "You've been pushing yourself much too hard lately with researching the Dark Matter. I think it's best if you took some time off from that. Besides, the situation we're going into will require that we keep our wits about us. I don't think having Morning Star's scrolls along would help with that."

Though she clearly didn't like it, Twilight obviously couldn't think of an effective argument to make and instead settled for glowering sourly at the boards beneath her hooves.

"Do you really think it's going to be all that bad?" asked Rarity, unaware that Coco had quietly tensed up next to her.

"It's hard to say," said Arkenstone, "Both Fancy Pants and Blueblood are doing their best to ensure that outside interference is kept to a minimum. However, they have their limits. There's no way to account for absolutely everything. That's why Twilight and I are coming along."

Applejack's ears perked up as she heard a faint whistle in the distance. "Sounds like the train's almost here," she said.

As she, Rarity, Coco, and Twilight all turned to look for the approaching train, Red River quietly pulled Arkenstone off to the side.

"Are you sure about this?" asked Red, his tone more nervous than usual.

"More or less," said Arkenstone, "Twilight was insistent that we do everything that we can. If she goes to Canterlot, then I go with her. My responsibility is to her, technically. That means leaving Ponyville to you and Storm."

Red didn't look reassured by the Knight's words. "It's just...if what we gleaned from Shining Armor's investigation in Appleloosa was true then...it's almost time."

"Perhaps," said Arkenstone, "We don't have an exact date. However, the selection process should not take all that long. I am sure that we can make it back by mid-season." He frowned darkly. "If all else fails, make sure that somepony is able to get to the library. Spitfire gave Twilight a small number of Ouranos' feathers. If what we fear comes to pass while I'm still away, have somepony send word to her immediately."

"I'll set things up with Spike," said Red, still sounding slightly nervous. However, he quickly schooled himself back to calm as Applejack came trotting back over. "Okay, it's time," said Applejack, smiling at her coltfriend, clearly unaware of Red's nervous train of thought, "Let's get get loaded up. Ah don't want to hold up the train."

"Of course," said Red.

It was a lot of work getting the crates and barrels loaded onto the train, even as the staff worked to help Rarity and Coco load their own luggage. Twilight and Arkenstone lent a horn and hoof respectively, helping the process along a bit more quickly. As soon as everything was stowed away, it was time for everypony to say their goodbyes.

"Ya gonna take care 'o things fer me, Sugarcube?" asked Applejack as she gently nuzzled Red.

"I'll do my best," said the mercenary stallion, leaning forward to rest his neck up against Applejack's, "Be careful up there. I don't really mind if you get the Royal Warrant or not, but I do want you to come back safely."

"'Course Ah will," said Applejack in full confidence. Her expression sobered and she gave Red a grave look. "Ya make sure to look after yerself while Ah'm gone. Ah know yer gettin' mighty tense that somethin's gonna happen."

Red snorted and laughed softly to himself. "I should have known better than to try and hide something from you," he admitted quietly, "I'll do the best I can. However, it very well might be time for me to do the job I truly came here to do."

"Be safe hun," said Applejack, "Ah'm gonna do mah level best to make it back to ya. Ah want ya to do yer best to make sure that Ah have somepony special to come back to."

"I will," said Red.

Applejack leaned forward and gently pecked the azure stallion on the lips. "That's a promise then," she said, "Don't ya go breakin' it. Tell Storm to take care too. Flitter won't be none too happy if he gets himself busted up either."

"I'll tell him," Red promised.

The final boarding call echoed throughout the station, forcing the two of them to pull back. Applejack followed Rarity and Coco as she climbed onto the train. She smiled fondly at Red as the train pulled out of the station, waving as the cars were pulled out of sight with slowly gathering speed.

When the train was gone, he took a deep breath. "I sincerely hope I can keep that promise," he whispered to himself.

Step by step, the miles continued to vanish beneath Terra Heart's hooves. Distances that would have taken ponies weeks to cover took him days. The lack of a need to stop for rest or food meant that he could keep going when others could not. That simple fact allowed him to eat up distance at a prodigious rate, even if he never moved faster than a brisk walking pace.

The only reason Terra could maintain this state so long was that he had truly immersed himself in the earth's power. It flowed through him, sustaining him, empowering him. With each breath, he drew in still more. Most other ponies, even amongst the other practitioners of the Mountain Root, had not Cultivated their power to this extent. It was power born from boundless determination and unwavering discipline, born of years spent practicing but a single thing. And yet, that one thing made all the difference. It had transformed Terra Heart into a practically indestructible juggernaut.

While the power of the earth was nothing to be scoffed at, the earth could hardly be considered truly indestructible. After all, rocks would erode from the wind and water and even diamonds might shatter if they were hit at the proper point. However, an earth pony could refine that power to produce something stronger, harder, more enduring than what the earth could produce on its own. Such was the nature of ponies. Such was the extent of their true ability.

The sun set, the sky grew dark, the stars came out, and the cursed moon began to rise. It mattered not. Terra Heart would not be stopped not be swayed. The sun would rise again, it would set again, rise again, and set again, all the way up until the appointed day...the day of the equinox...the day of the end.

Prepare yourself, Dawn Lightwing. I come. Your end comes.

Dawn felt a faint shiver run down his spine. It was tiny, barely noticeable, but it set his hair to standing on end as he tensed unconsciously.

"Is everything alright?" asked Fluttershy, looking up from the books she'd been quietly reading so that she could regard the ebony colt, tucked securely under her wing.

Dawn had been working on his homework when the feeling had struck. It had been something of a relief to fall back into the easy pattern of going to school, spending the afternoons with his friends, and working his way through the assignments. For him and Scootaloo, there was morning and afternoon training, along with shifts at the teahouse. Dawn and Scootaloo still went, but the others could only help out sporadically as they all found different claims to their time. Right now though, the teahouse was going to be closed while Arkenstone was away in Canterlot with Twilight and the others.

"I'm not sure," Dawn said in answer to his mother's query, "Something felt wrong for a moment. But it doesn't seem to be something immediate."

"Could it be somepony hiding?" asked Fluttershy, "Something like what Shade Steel did?"

Dawn thought it over. "No...it feels different," he said, "Distant...almost as though somepony far away was wishing me ill."

Fluttershy felt a shiver of her own and tightened the hold of her wing around Dawn. Given his circumstances, it was, unfortunately, all too easy for her to accept that there were plenty of ponies across Equestria who had reason to think dark thoughts about her son. Ever since he had first crossed the path of the Cult Solar, he had been on the receiving end of more than his fair share of ill intent. It both frightened and angered her that, even when he was safe at home, Dawn might still be troubled by the feelings of superstitious fools.

In the meantime, Dawn had grown more pensive. He'd felt such intent before, but never so briefly or distantly. Just what kind of grudge would a pony have to bear in order to project his intent on someone who is leagues away? he wondered. A pony capable of something like that would not be an opponent to be trifled with. His mind turned to the conversation he'd had with Princess Luna on Nightmare Night. By the Supreme Pontiff of the Cult Solar's order, somepony named Terra Heart, a master of the Mountain Root, the ultimate earth pony martial art, was coming for him. Arkenstone, Red River, and Storm Front had discerned that Terra would arrive sometime during the spring season, possibly during the middle of the season. That knowledge had come from Shining Armor's investigation of the Cult temple in Appleloosa. However, the timetable was largely based on conjecture. There was no guarantee that Terra would show up when they said he would, if the rumors they'd heard from the captured cultists were actually true.

At this point, there isn't much I can do but wait, thought Dawn glumly. He doubted he had the strength to face a true master of one of the Three Pillars, least of all the Pillar that was described as being the most brutally powerful and destructive of the three. But he'd promised his mother and Scootaloo that he wouldn't think about trying to run away again. According to Princess Celestia, the Guard was on the lookout for both Terra Heart and the pony who commanded him. However, in recent days, they'd been forced to redirect their search for signs of the more immediate threat that Flash Spark had presented.

If...or rather, when...Terra came, Dawn knew that he would have to do everything in his power to lead the fight away from Ponyville. He didn't consider himself a full master of the Gale King yet. However, he knew full well that, if he tried to fight with his full strength, the battle could easily destroy anything nearby. If he clashed with a pony that was even stronger than him, then all of Ponyville might end up as collateral damage.

Taking a deep breath, Dawn centered himself and allowed his fears and worries to slowly bleed away. They were still there, just barely swimming beneath the surface of his skin, but he wasn't about to let them take control of him. Instead, he acknowledged their presence and drew them into himself. When the time came, they could guide his actions and help him stay safe. That was what such emotions were there for.

If you're coming, then come, Dawn thought resolutely, thinking of his anonymous opponent, I'm waiting right here. I'm not going anywhere. I won't run away.

Giving his mother a reassuring nuzzle, Dawn returned to his homework, feeling a bit more at ease now.

Morning Star stared. For the past few hours, he could barely take his eyes off of the device. It hung like a grotesque stalactite from the ceiling of the temple. The giant mechanism was composed of materials that shined with various shades of white, most of which glared harshly under the light issuing in from above, appearing unearthly and unnatural, even to his eyes, though he was the pony who had created them. Its structure was no less bizarre and unsettling. It was blocks and levers, rods and gears of strange shapes that didn't conform to the regular rules of geometry, meeting at angles that didn't look right to pony eyes. Ordinary ponies who looked at the mechanism for too long often complained that doing so gave them headaches and made their eyes hurt.

Right now, it was incomplete. Ladders and scaffolding ran up and down its sides. Ponies swarmed across its surface like ants. Earth ponies hauled in the material components, the pegasi lifted them to their destinations, and unicorns set them into place. They had been working on this project for years, carefully fitting each piece, which had been painstakingly designed by Morning himself, into place. The same project was being executed at five different locations across Equestria, forming the foundation of an array that would enclose the nation in its entirety. It was the pinnacle of Morning Star's work.

It was nearly complete.

If he gauged it correctly, they were mere hours away from fitting the final piece. Through his connection to the material of the other arrays, Morning knew that they were nearing completion as well. In fact, by his reckoning, the component right in front of him would be the last one finished. Once that was done...well...there would still be some more work to do, but the greatest hurdle would be overcome and he wouldn't have to worry about much anymore.

"You're looking mighty tense for somepony who's so close to finishing his pet project," observed Swift Stride as he came up behind Morning.

"Perhaps it has something to do with Equestria's greatest meddler being so close to it that has me drawn so tautly," mused Morning.

"Oh come on!" protested Swift, "What could I possibly do? If I try to break those things, I might end up setting off something worse than what they were meant to do in the first place. I don't even remotely get the principles they work under and you aren't going to tell me."

Morning didn't even need to work to see through the transparent lie. The truth was that he'd already discovered numerous small explosives that had been secreted throughout the structure. Given that his created materials were as much a part of him as his own body at this point, he'd been able to feel the presence of the foreign materials easily and removed them discreetly. Granted, he'd never confronted Swift directly about it, nor had he tried to have the Celestial Knight removed from the temple. Either one would disrupt the work of Morning's subordinates and delay the project further, which might have been what Swift had been hoping for.

There had been other ways that Swift could have conceivably disrupted or even destroyed Morning's work, but the Supreme Pontiff had blocked them off, one by one. Out here, well away from any civilized areas, Swift would have no way of getting word to Princess Celestia that wouldn't take days or even weeks, assuming that he was able to send word at all. After all, the Order had plenty of agents in the closest town to ensure that any letter of Swift's to be sent by courier never made it to Canterlot.

Morning had seen through the Knight's deception when Swift had first arrived. Morning had made it a point to uncover the identities of all the Celestial Knights, in case he ever had to deal with or, more likely, run away from them. While Morning could have had Swift driven from the temple, he had instead welcomed Swift Stride as the initiate the Knight was pretending to be and had quickly taken measures to ensure that Swift was unable to do anything to damage the project...not for a lack of trying on Swift's part.

There had been a suspicious number of accidents in recent months. Carts were damaged, stacks of materials suddenly toppled over, a section of scaffolding unexpectedly gave way. Fortunately, none of the workers had been seriously hurt...yet. They were minor setbacks, all told. Morning considered them to be a surprisingly pointless effort on Swift's part.

The sound of something cracking drew Morning's attention to the floor. Two carts had come out of the storeroom at the same time, which was suspicious in and of itself. Morning had drawn up the schedule to specifically to avoid just such an incident. At this instant, the wheel on one of the carts gave way, causing it to topple against its neighbor. The contents of the damaged cart, a pile of broad cylinders, spilled over into the second cart, which was filled objects that resembled indented tiles, said indentation matching the circumference of the cylinders currently spilling over into them. Morning's eyes had just barely enough time to widen before they were nearly blinded as the colliding components exploded spectacularly.

The pullers were launched away from the cart and sent skidding across the ground. The fragments of Dark Matter scattered across the room, peppering the other workers. One of the scaffolds snapped a support and began to teeter dangerously, barely giving the unicorn atop it enough time to scramble to an adjoining platform before it gave way.

"Geez!" exclaimed Swift, "What was that?"

Morning pursed his lips, frowning. The reaction itself was not unexpected. Within the confines of the mechanism, those two pieces of Dark Matter were brought together, producing a burst of energy that would help power the device. However, that energy was contained by the apparatus itself. Out here on the floor, the unrestrained reaction between the two had been nothing short of explosive.

But it was wrong. Morning had been meticulous in scheduling what components were on the floor at what times, specifically setting it up so that materials that were meant to react to one another in such a volatile manner were never out at the same time. Somepony had altered the schedules for at least some of his workers to bring about this accident. Morning glanced at Swift, who was still gaping at the chaos down below. The Knight was incredibly cunning, perhaps one of the most dangerous minds in Equestria. He might have noticed that the schedule had been written to keep certain materials apart during the construction process. A little tampering would then allow him to arrange for just such an accident.

But even he couldn't have predicted this exact reaction, mused Morning, Was he just fishing for possible responses? Is he looking for something specific?

"Well now what?" asked Swift, finally looking back up at Morning.

Morning let out a sigh. "I'll need to get that cleaned up. I can replace those components easily enough. It's hardly a major setback."

"Huh," said Swift, "Too bad about the broken ones."

"They are of no concern," said Morning dismissively as he began to make his way down, "I don't have the time to worry about wasted materials."

"If you say so," said Swift, once again turning to survey the scene. Though he hid it well, Morning could still see the hint of frustration that swept across Swift's face.

As he made his way down, Morning couldn't help but smirk. It was a nice effort. But you'll have to do better than that.

"Amazing!" gasped Coco as she stepped onto the platform in Canterlot, "Are all of these ponies here to compete?"

"Probably not all of them," said Rarity, "There are only a few dozen competitors at most. As far as I know, most of them have arrived already. However, I'm willing to bet that more than a few of these ponies are movers and shakers in the various industries being represented in Canterlot right now."

Confirming her suspicions, she spotted none other than Hoity Toity and his entourage making their way to one of the station exits, pulling a train of luggage even larger than Rarity's own.

"Ah'll say," said Applejack, staring excitedly from place to place, "That there's Chef Ram Say!" She pointed excitedly towards a the wooly form of a bighorn sheep hefting a satchel of his own as he stepped off a train that had pulled in from Manehattan.

"Ooh!" squealed Rarity, "Didn't he used to be one of the chefs in the Royal Palace's kitchen."

"He still is," said Twilight, "part time at least; but he spends a lot of time now splitting his efforts between a few restaurants and a couple of culinary schools. Some of his best students end up in the Palace kitchens though."

"Ah wonder what competitions he'll be judgin'," mused Applejack.

"He might judge yours," Twilight pointed out, "After all, ingredient selection is very important to chefs. So identifying the best purveyors of particular foodstuffs is probably something he'd want to have a hoof in."

"Not all of them will be judging, of course," said Rarity as she spied another familiar face. Sapphire Shores was giving her a friendly wave from halfway across the station. Rarity returned the gesture politely. "Quite a few of these ponies are simply interested in finding out who the winners will be. They want to know who the best ponies to do business with in the coming year will be." Amongst the fashion community, many of those ponies would probably be Rarity's customers...she hoped...as long as everything went well.

"The luggage is unloaded," said Arkenstone as he approached the group. He was harnessed to a wagon that contained the sum total of both Rarity and Applejack's possessions. Despite the impressive weight he was hauling, the beige stallion showed no sign of strain as he came to a halt by the group.

"Let's be off to the hotel then," said Rarity, "I made certain to secure an appropriate venue for our lodgings."

"Ya didn't put us up somewhere too fancy, now did ya?" asked Applejack skeptically, "Ah didn't bring enough money to stay in some five-star hoosegow."

"Don't trouble yourself, darling," said Rarity as she began to lead the group out of the station, "Affordability was my foremost concern. After all, with my expenditures in recent months, I am not exactly swimming in disposable income at the moment. The appropriate application of thrift can be an excellent indicator of class as well."

Looking at her apprentice, Rarity noted that Coco was looking a bit crestfallen. "Now now dear," she said, gently bumping her shoulder against Coco's, "You aren't an expenditure. You're an investment, one that I expect an excellent return on." Smiling to herself, she thought, If things go according to plan, it will be an excellent return indeed.

Twilight had volunteered her parents' home as a place to stay, for politeness' sake. Rarity had turned that down quickly. Twilight's parents were certainly well-off, but they didn't have enough room for everypony and all the luggage they'd brought. Similarly, the thought of staying in the Palace had also been turned down as it wouldn't do for Celestia and Luna to be seen showing favoritism to any of the competitors. Because of that, Rarity had turned her efforts to finding the most affordable and functional hotels she could.

In a way, she experienced an ironic stroke of fortune. Many of the competitors were much more financially liquid than she or Applejack were at the moment and had immediately gravitated towards the more high-class venues, along with many of the meaningful spectators and judges. As a consequence, Rarity, with some help from Flaxseed, had been able to get a very good deal on a smaller hotel close to the venue where her competition would be held. it was also close to the space where Applejack would be showcasing her wares. There was storage space in both of the venues. In Rarity's case, she would be keeping her work in the room with her and Coco so that they could continue to make final adjustments. Applejack's own supplies would have to be hauled directly to the warehouse though.

"I hope everything goes alright," said Twilight in a quiet aside to Arkenstone.

"So do I," said Arkenstone, already sensing eyes following their movements. They had only just arrived and things were already beginning to move.

Passing Judgment

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Chapter 20: Passing Judgment

"So...what is the plan...exactly?" asked Perlin as he stood with Elderflower.

The two of them were currently seated in a private booth in one of Canterlot's elite restaurants. Granted, it was neither the most extravagant restaurant in the city, nor had they booked the nicest room. Elderflower was only a Baron after all. However, Elderflower liked the food in this place just fine; liked it more, in fact, than some of the higher tier establishments that could be found in the city. It helped that the owner was tight lipped, perhaps out of accommodation for Elderflower's generous patronage. As such, the Baron was not overly concerned that anypony who worked here would leak word to the Guard that Elderflower was in the company of a wanted criminal.

"The plan is to wait," said Elderflower calmly, "The Royal Warrant selection is a much too obvious time to act. All of my current rivals will try much more heavy-hoofed approaches to the affair and will likely end up overextending themselves."

"And if one of them actually succeeds?" asked Perlin.

"Succeeds in what...precisely?" retorted Elderflower, "Most of them seem to think that backing Applejack and Rarity's competitors is a means of securing victory. At most, that will simply maintain the status-quo, but it won't gain them any additional leverage over Twilight Sparkle. Perhaps one or two of them might actively try to assist Dame Sparkle's friends in obtaining their Royal Warrants, but I wouldn't put any stock in them actually succeeding."

"I admittedly doubt they would have much luck with that," agreed Perlin, "In that case, what is it exactly that you intend to do?"

"At this point, I intend to stay out of it, for the most part," said Elderflower, dabbing lightly at his lips with a napkin, "After approaching Twilight Sparkle so brazenly after Hearth's Warming, practically everypony is expecting some sort of move from me."

"Especially after you returned without anything to show from your little expedition to Ponyville," noted Perlin wryly, his barb drawing an angry twitch from Elderflower's eyebrow.

"There is...that...to consider as well," said Elderflower through gritted teeth as he was clearly biting down on an angry remark, "But I don't need to prove anything to my peers or my superiors. They don't understand the greater issues at stake yet. Besides, it will be much more to my benefit if Rarity and Applejack obtain their Warrants and do so fairly."

"Because it proves your philosophy," ventured Perlin.

Elderflower smiled and nodded. "Exactly. Applejack, the earth pony farmer from the country town of Ponyville...if she obtains the Royal Warrant in the agricultural products division, she can be held up as a sterling example of the pinnacle of what earth ponies are capable of, should they apply themselves to their proper field. Likewise, Rarity, a designer of high fashion, one who would set the trends for the elite of the nation, is a unicorn. In many ways, they will serve as excellent examples to the nation as we move forward."

Perlin bit back an annoyed sigh. He had to admit that it was his fault for bringing the topic up in the first place. However, that didn't mean he enjoyed hearing the Baron's lecture every. single. time anything remotely related to his ideals came into the conversation. It was an obsession bordering on fanaticism, something Perlin found more annoying than anything else.

"So...what are you planning then?" he asked.

Elderflower smiled. It was a chilly expression that seemed to lower the ambient temperature of the room. "Simply put, I expect for Rarity and Applejack to obtain the Royal Warrants without too much struggle. However, what is important is what comes after that. Both of them shall attract a powerful new customer base for their respective products. With that customer base and with their confidence that they will no longer be under the threat of constant attempts at manipulation, their guards will drop."

"And what will that do for you then?" asked Perlin.

"Nothing too special," said Elderflower, "Just a minor disaster."

"A disaster, you say," said Perlin, "Do your new mercenaries have something to do with that?"

"They are an insurance policy for a...different plan," said Elderflower, "I don't expect to need their, admittedly blunt, skill-set unless every other means at my disposal has failed me. You could say they are a tool for the truly desperate."

"In other words, the fact that you've gone through the trouble of obtaining them ahead of time seems to suggest that you anticipate the possibility of you being truly desperate in the future being quite strong," mused Perlin.

That drew a sigh from his employer. "Yes...but that is ultimately more for safety's sake than anything else. The allies we've acquired recently have been making similar acquisitions; hiring mercenaries, both domestic and foreign; increasing the ranks of their mares at arms; looking into new forms of battle magic...If our hooves are truly forced..."

"You really think that a coup would succeed, much less allow you to maintain your power for any length of time?" asked Perlin with a raised eyebrow.

"If a simple coup is what we were planning," said Elderflower, "But the truth is that our ultimate goal in that case will be a mission of acquisition. We are aiming to seize something important that we can then use to truly bring about the era that we seek. I would much prefer to bring about a more stable, subtle change that will allow us to maintain the Princesses' rule, but the others are a bit more eager to challenge them directly."

"So you are using your current schemes to attempt to waylay that plan," said Perlin.

Elderflower nodded. "It would be for the best if we could reestablish control of the nation while leaving its governmental infrastructure intact. That would simplify matters considerably."

"I see..." said Perlin, silently wondering to himself just what kind of disaster Baron Elderflower had in mind.

Dawn relaxed, taking a deep breath before letting it out as he allowed his mind to empty of thoughts. The feeling of his body grew distant, his senses fading from his awareness. Then...slowly, his awareness itself began to fade. It was a state not dissimilar from simple unconsciousness. In this state, he could scarcely feel anything from his body. Coherent thought was impossible.

In this state, there was the Art and nothing else.

Dawn's body went slowly into motion. His wings folding and extending, his steps moving fluidly from one stance to the next. Feathers agitated the air beneath his wings, creating a faint buzz that built until crackling sparks began to leap from one feather to the next, forming a chain between his extended primaries until it lashed out in a bolt with but a flick of his wing, striking a distant target with a thunderous boom. The power circulated around and through his body, never stopping, never slowing. He didn't try to contain it or force it to conform to a particular path. Rather, he instead guided its movement by providing it with a path. By forming a closed circle with it, he could essentially keep it in place indefinitely and even build its power to make the next release all the more devastating.

A nimbus of blue-white electrical energy began to swirl about Dawn's ebony body. Directed by his wings, it swirled in circular patterns while he danced in the center of the strange calm of his self-created storm. All the while, without thinking, his body slipped from one movement to the next, one form to the next, never stopping, repeating endlessly.

Scootaloo watched from a safe distance, carefully peeking out from behind a nearby boulder, just in case Dawn's control faltered. Watching him made her eyes water a little as she strained to keep her focus on her coltfriend and teacher. At times, his form was indistinct, blurred by the constant arcs of lightning that surrounded him. At times, it seemed difficult to figure out where the colt ended and where the lightning began. Dawn's body seemed to blur, fade, and morph, at times becoming one with the swirling energy around him.

That energy was changing too. With each repetition, the arcs became less harsh and wild. Instead of jumping from one feather to the next or arcing outwards before jumping back in, they instead seemed to bleed together into a sort of haze that collected in the air around Dawn, moving in much the same way that the wind he usually controlled moved for him. It was as though he was taking the lightning and turning it into something else.

Licking her lips, Scootaloo swallowed hard when she realized the truth of Dawn's movements. He wasn't thinking about them at all. Rather, the countless hours upon days upon years of endless repetitions had embedded the forms into the fabric of Dawn's body, until their movements were no different for the colt than breathing. Going through the forms did not require conscious input on his part, which was why he was capable of doing this now. Enviously, Scootaloo hoped that, someday, she could obtain that same level of mastery for herself.

Finally, Dawn slowly came to a stop. The haze of energy that surrounded him seemed to disperse into the air with a faint buzz. His wings lowered slightly before he folded them back in. His eyes opened and blinked a few times, looking dazed and distant, as though he had trouble recalling his awareness back to the present.

Seeing that it was safe to approach, Scootaloo crept out from behind her cover and approached the colt. As she got closer, she could see that the intense practice session had taken its toll. Dawn's mane was matted down with sweat and his coat was similarly damp.

"Wow," she said as she came up to him, "Does this mean you're a master now?"

"I don't think so," said Dawn simply, "It still takes too much work to enter into the proper state of mind. Until I can do it immediately and without any need for preparation, I can't really call it true mastery."

"But it's getting close," said Scootaloo, "That was amazing. What was that thing you did with the lightning?"

"That..." Dawn lifted out one of his wings and inspected it. Scootaloo was impressed to note that it wasn't the slightest bit scorched. But, then again, it had been a while since Dawn had accidentally burnt one of his feathers while practicing with lightning. "That was...trying something Arkenstone suggested to me."

"What's that?" asked Scootaloo.

"Well..."

"So...what exactly does it mean to be a master?" asked Dawn as he looked across the table at Arkenstone.

The beige stallion shrugged with a chuckle. "Some say true mastery is understanding that you are never truly a master, but always a student." Feeling Dawn's deadpan glare, Arkenstone grinned. "Ultimately, mastery is a study in contradictions. In certain circles, it is referred to as the Void, Nothingness, and other such names."

"The erasure of the Self?" asked Dawn.

"Not so much an erasure as a gestalt," said Arkenstone, "It is difficult to describe using words because much of it seems quite contradictory when using crude language.

"However, suffice to say it is the complete absorption of the Self; thoughts, emotions, sensation...They are at once at the forefront and yet nonexistent. You do not think, yet you move as though you've thought a hundred moves ahead. The world itself seems to grow distant, and yet you become one with its nature."

"How does one reach that state?' asked Dawn.

"You've touched upon it yourself," Arkenstone pointed out, "Especially recently. You first approached it when you discovered how to wield lightning. You came further during your recent battles, particularly against Willow and those griffon mercenaries. What lies ahead is a more complete immersion. You've only managed it briefly or managed to prolong it for a particular purpose. Only when you reach that state, irrespective of your situation and aims, will you be able to truly claim to have obtained mastery."

"Is there a way for me to get closer?" asked Dawn.

"Practice," said Arkenstone, getting a clear "I knew that already" glare from Dawn. "In truth, the best way to approach it would be to continue working with your forms. The great strength of the Gale King, of all the Three Pillars is that the foundations, the basics you first learned, are the key to reaching the art's pinnacle. All the fancy tricks you can perform with your Art are mere window dressings in a sense. The true way to mastering it lies in that constant drive to polish that which you already have learned."

"I'd figured as much," said Dawn, "After all, the forms are the same, regardless of which of the wind techniques I use them for."

Arkenstone's smile widened. "In those words lies a deeper truth," he said, "Think about it...why would the forms be the same regardless of your chosen technique?"

"Simplicity," said Dawn, "The simplest way to learn a technique is through a slight variation on a way you already know."

"Let me put it another way," said Arkenstone, "What does it say about those techniques that they can be learned through the same five forms?"

"That they..." Dawn frowned, his brow furrowing. "...are...the same...?"

"Exactly," said Arkenstone, sounding more than a little pleased, "Whether it is through the projection of the air, its formation into a blade, or the generation and manipulation of lightning, the truth of those three root techniques of the Gale King is not merely that they stem from the same basic movements but rather, at a fundamental level, the divisions between them do not truly exist. Once you truly understand that, there will not be three separate techniques, but one single technique that can be wielded in a thousand different ways. True mastery of the Gale King will emerge when your separate techniques become one and the same.”

"One and the same...?" said Dawn, canting his head and perking his ears in confusion.

"To put it in a more simple parlance, try to do everything at once," said Arkenstone with an enigmatic smile, "In any case, my best advice is for you to continue doing what you already have. You are making excellent progress. At times, it may seem slow, painfully slow. But you must simply continue to push forward as you always have. Remember, if you try to rush it, you will only end up undoing all the hard work that you've done up to this point."

Dawn bowed his head in acknowledgment of Arkenstone's words.

"That doesn't make a lot of sense," said Scootaloo.

"Not to me either," said Dawn, "Arkenstone has never not given me sound advice. But that is a matter for another time. Right now...are you ready to continue?"

"Yeah," said Scootaloo. Taking a second, she took a deep breath to calm her nerves and relax her body, "Let's do this."

Dawn smiled at her. "Then let us resume your rapid-movement training. Take the stance and begin."

"Phew..." Applejack took a moment to swipe her arm across her forehead. The heat from the stoves and ovens was really starting to get to her. While Sweet Apple Acres marketed baked goods as well as fresh produce, Applejack didn't have the kind of experience in the kitchen that her friend Pinkie Pie did. Using the Apple Family homestead's kitchen was a far cry from working the kitchen of a more professional establishment and minding multiple ovens and stoves at the same time. She counted herself an excellent baker, second only to her grandmother in that respect. However, when it came to producing baked goods in bulk...

Applejack counted herself lucky that this wasn't anything resembling a formal cooking competition. After all, she wasn't a chef or a restaurant owner. She was an apple farmer. Thus, the goal of the competition wasn't to show her skills as a chef and produce dishes to wow the judges. Rather, it was to produce a range of products that would best showcase the advantages of her produce. She, like the other competitors had been given time to make the preparations they needed, a generous allotment of about three hours. While it was perfectly acceptable to use pre-made products, provided it could be proven that their main ingredients had been produced on the competitor's farm, some things worked best if they were made fresh.

A piping-hot apple pie landed on the table. A short bit later, Applejack's own version of her grandmother's famous apple cake came to rest next to it, followed by apple tarts, apple bread, apple muffins (a staple, now that Ditzy was a member of the household), apple cupcakes (courtesy of Pinkie Pie), and even a bowl of applesauce. That last item was made using a combination of regular apples and wintersilk apples that Applejack had spent the winter season refining. The spices had come courtesy of Arkenstone, who had happily allowed Applejack access to the stocks his teahouse used in order to experiment with her recipes. He had even offered to help set her up with the spice dealers who worked out of Saddle Arabia and supplied him with his ingredients. Normally not one for charity, Applejack was quite happy she'd accepted the generosity of Twilight's coltfriend. She needed every edge she could get in this competition.

Also on display were bushels of some of Sweet Apple Acres' best cultivars, including the wintersilk apples. Applejack wished she'd had some zap apples to work with, but all of those had been used at the conclusion of the last Zap Apple Season. She did have a couple jars of her farm's signature zap apple jam, which had been made by Apple Bloom. Finally, there were some of Applejack's bestselling products, including Sweet Apple Acres' cider, both hard and not, as well as her namesake liquor and, finally, her brand new wintersilk cider and wintersilk applejack, both of which were made from a blend of different apples to help offset the incredible sweetness of the wintersilk apples. Like the applesauce, Applejack had spent the better part of the winter season refining those recipes, using an ecstatic Rainbow Dash as her taste tester.

Finally, there was a bottle of her secret weapon. Every year, apples from over a hundred different varieties, all grown on Sweet Apple Acres, were pressed into a cider and then distilled before being put into a barrel to age. The resulting drink was often aged for two years or longer. The contents, known as calvados, were bottled and sold to several upscale restaurants across the country. Granny Smith and Big Macintosh had always handled the particulars of that specific facet of the family business. For this occasion, Granny Smith had tapped one of the family's oldest barrels, furnishing Applejack with a bottle of calvados that had been aged for twenty years.

With the last of her finished works sliding into place, Applejack took a second to relax herself after the tension of working so hard and so quickly. This was a much different task from applebucking, especially considering the number of factors she had to pay attention to and the precise timing to ensure nothing was burned or over/undercooked. Fortunately, she'd spent the days leading up to the competition working with her grandmother, who had much more practice in the kitchen and especially in the art of preparing multiple dishes. Thanks to that, Applejack was able to bring her A-game.

And she needed it. As much as she would have liked to think she had this competition all trussed up, she had to admit that she was facing some pretty stiff competition. There was a Manehattan company that owned several farms abroad that furnished the royal kitchens with a variety of fruits and vegetables that simply couldn't be grown in Equestria. There was the owner of a plantation in the Polyneighsian Islands that grew a variety of tropical fruits. From a small seaside town Applejack had never heard of, was the owner of a rather successful kelp farm. Also, there were the purveyors of carrots, cabbages, and alfalfa (which, contrary to certain rumors, the Princesses actually enjoyed quite a bit). The majority of them, Applejack had noted, were much bigger, from a financial standpoint, than her country orchard. Many of them had entire teams of hired hooves working the fields all year round to ensure a variety of crops made it to the market each season. Out of all of them, only a couple, like Applejack herself, actually still sold their produce at local markets. Pretty much all of them were better-funded than her, most of them having hired professional chefs to do any cooking that was required.

"I see that you're ready."

"Huh?" Looking up, Applejack blinked in surprise as she regarded the pony who stood across the table from her. A spindly-looking unicorn was smiling politely across the table at her. His coat was an orangish-brown color, over which he wore a dark-green sweater. His mane and tail were a pale-yellow with a streak of white running through them. Brilliant-purple eyes looked out at her from behind the tinted lenses of his glasses.

"Are ya one 'o the judges then?" asked Applejack, eyeing the stranger warily. He wasn't the first pony to approach her since the competition began. Many of the other competitors, feeling free to leave the actual work to their hired professionals, had wandered throughout the convention hall that had been booked for the event, scoping out the competition, exchanging friendly greetings and polite jabs with one another. More than a few of them had passed by Applejack's stall, happy to either compliment her on her work ethic or subtly tease her for having to do all the work herself (while subtly trying to disrupt her rhythm and undermine her efforts). Applejack had tuned them out, having been too busy moving from one task to the next to answer them.

"That would be correct," said the stallion, still smiling, "The name's Trenderhoof, travel writer extraordinaire! You've probably heard of me or read one of my articles." He gave Applejack a winning grin, the light reflecting off his polished teeth so perfectly that Applejack could have sworn that she heard a faint ping at the same time.

"Ah can't say Ah have," said Applejack, her words prompting the smile to fall like a rock from the stallion's face, "Ah don't read too many magazines and the like," she said, "The best Ah do is the mornin' paper. Sorry."

Trenderhoof coughed delicately. "It's perfectly alright," he conceded, "I understand that you might be a bit too busy for such things. I will be one of the judges for this competition. I've tried the fare at numerous restaurants across Equestria and beyond it. I've even eaten some things that just about any normal Equestrian would balk at."

"Like what?" asked Applejack, raising an eyebrow.

"Such as batter-fried grub worms and grilled spider-kabobs, for just a couple of examples," said Trenderhoof, chuckling at the brief look of revulsion that washed across Applejack's face, "I can't say they were the best things I've ever eaten, but they do have a unique flavor that has a charm all its own...if you can get your mind past the package that it comes in."

"Ah'll...take yer word fer it," said Applejack, her face taking on a slightly greenish cast.

"Sorry," said Trenderhoof, "I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable. Suffice to say, I have a great deal of experience when it comes to judging foods, their ingredients, and the ponies that cook them."

"That's good to hear," said Applejack, "So are ya gonna start judgin' right now."

"I'd love to," said Trenderhoof, already selecting an apple for himself. Because this wasn't a competition between chefs, the time-limit given was more for the purposes of keeping the competition to a manageable time. Competitors were free to submit their work for judgment when they were ready.

Trenderhoof started with the apples directly, tasting a few different varieties to get an idea of the range of flavors that Sweet Apple Acres offered. After that, he began trying tastes of the different foods Applejack had prepared with them to see just how well the apples could be used. His every expression was suitably impressed and it was clear that he was enjoying himself greatly. Finally, he finished his judgment by trying samples of Applejack's ciders and other drinks. He was especially impressed by the family calvados.

"Excellent," said Trenderhoof, levitating up a notepad and using a quill to write on it, "Your apples are clearly of the highest quality. I'd estimate that your farm has been established for five, maybe six generations, given the degree of flavor. These are from last year's harvests, correct?"

"That's right," said Applejack, genuinely impressed by the fact that the writer was able to discern so much from just tasting her fare.

"As I thought," said Trenderhoof, "The fact that they still taste so fresh is a testament to the level of your farm's Cultivation. In some ways, it's an advantage to have a smaller establishment that has been in one family for several generations as opposed to larger operations that might be worked by ponies from multiple lines, many of whom are temporary hires."

"That so?" said Applejack, a little surprised, "Ah thought that earth pony magic was the same wherever ya went?"

"A common misconception, even among earth ponies," said Trenderhoof, "While every earth pony working in a given area can contribute to the Cultivation, the fact is that earth ponies from the same family will have magic that is complementary to one another, which amplifies the effect, while land that is worked by ponies who, individually, don't invest a great deal of time, typically on the order of years, will have their individual magics, which won't mesh as well and thus weaken the overall effect. Cultivation will still occur, of course, but its effects won't be as pronounced as they are on family farms."

"Ah see..." said Applejack, surprised that a unicorn like this fellow would know so much about earth pony magic, even more than she did in fact. Likely, it was a consequence of his wide-ranging travels and meeting with a great number of ponies and non-ponies that had given him such an impressive range of knowledge. She wondered if Twilight or Arkenstone knew half as much about this particular detail of earth pony magic.

In the meantime, Trenderhoof was moving on in his assessment. "Clearly, your skills as a baker are first-class and your work definitely showcases the flavor of your apples, rather than covering them up with other ingredients. Your apple pie was divine, of course, but I was rather taken with the muffins myself."

"Thanks," said Applejack with a slight giggle, "Ah've gotten a lot 'o practice in makin' 'em lately." After all, it was Ditzy's favorite breakfast food. On top of that, they were nice and portable, which meant that Apple Bloom and Dinky could take some to school with them.

"Next, your beverages," said Trenderhoof, "Your family's cider is unquestionably some of the best that I've ever had the opportunity to drink. I'm especially impressed that you went for a blend of cultivars to produce a rather robust flavor. A great many cider-makers try to emphasize a particular flavor, usually sweetness, too much and neglect some of the options different apples bring to the table. Your liquors are all top-class and I could see them being sold in some of the finest bars across Equestria. Finally, your calvados..." Trenderhoof coughed delicately. "...I haven't tasted anything like it in all of my travels. I've had many fine brandies, but yours is definitely one of the best."

"Thanks," said Applejack, smiling warmly. From the sound of things, this was going very well. Granted, Trenderhoof was only one of the judges, but he was clearly enjoying her work a great deal.

"Finally," said Trenderhoof, "There are your two more...unique products. You have the zap apples and the wintersilk apples, which, if I understand correctly, are grown on your farm and nowhere else."

"That's right," said Applejack, "Our zap apple jam is what led to Ponyville's foundin' back in the day..." She laid out the story of how Granny Smith had discovered that particular strain of apple.

"Yes...I've heard of your family's signature zap apple jam," said Trenderhoof, "I must say that it doesn't disappoint. Then there are your wintersilk apples, which I understand you've only just started growing recently."

"That's right," said Applejack.

"It must be difficult managing two such magical strains of apple," observed the stallion.

"Not so much," said Applejack, "Them zap apples only have their season once a year. The wintersilks are easier, 'cause they ain't as fussy. But they grow durin' the dead 'o winter, so it's no picnic. But at least we don't have to worry 'bout tryin' to grow both at the same time."

Trenderhoof nodded, making more notes before putting his notebook and quill away. "I am very impressed with your products, Miss Applejack. I simply must acknowledge the skill of the mare who managed to do such an excellent job."

Applejack nodded, blushing faintly at his praise. If she wasn't mistaken, she might have heard something of a flirtatious tone in Trenderhoof's voice. She didn't really expect anything to come of it. Hopefully he was too professional to try and proposition her while the competition was ongoing. Besides, he didn't seem like her type and, more importantly, she had a special somepony that suited her just fine already.

Saying farewell, Trenderhoof went off to continue the judgment elsewhere as Applejack braced herself for the next pony to come by and assess the literal fruits of her labors.

"Let's see..." said Rarity, her magic gently tugging at a hem to make sure it was properly in place, "There! Perfect!" Looking up at the clock, she noticed that there were only a few more minutes for her and Coco to finish their preparations. They had six models to work with. Two from each tribe to best demonstrate the designer's ability to accommodate different body types and color-sets. Right off the bat, Rarity noticed that she had an advantage. Given that the field of fashion was typically unicorn-dominated, a great many of her competitors had shown up mostly focusing on dresses for unicorns, which had resulted in more than a few pegasi hitting the stage with dresses that covered up their wings and earth ponies strutting out wearing garments that didn't suit them or show off their natural attributes at all. The consequences had left her rivals neatly hamstrung, despite the fact that many of them had the resources to acquire expensive foreign fabrics and exotic extras.

There were a few others who were more on the ball, but Rarity was willing to bet that her secret weapon would definitely give her the advantage.

Checking to make sure that Coco was suitably distracted by the fittings she was performing, Rarity turned to the two models who most concerned her at the moment, the two earth ponies. Rarity wanted to be absolutely sure that they were looking their best. It was a bit tricky, mostly because her own inner perfectionist wanted desperately to modify the dresses to give them a bit more flair. However, Rarity steadfastly refused to touch the designs, save to make sure they were fitted properly, partly because both dresses were already excellent, if a bit understated for her tastes, but mostly because those dresses weren't hers.

A few minutes later, their time was up. Rarity and Coco watched from off to the side as the announcer called Rarity's name. All things considered, the tone of the affair was a bit more subdued than most fashion shows Rarity attended, partly due to an overwhelming absence of the press. Photographers from a few noteworthy newspapers were present. However, the majority of the audience, which would have normally included any number of reporters and photographers, representing everything from high-end magazines to supermarket tabloids, had been replaced by the ponies who were most heavily vested in seeing the talents on display. There were high-ranking socialites of every stripe, from Canterlot nobles to wealthy business magnates from Manehattan and Trottingham. Here and there, she spotted notable directors and costumers from Bridleway, as well as major stars, many of whom were looking for the pony whose work they most looked forward to acquiring.(1)

"And now...hailing from the town of Ponyville, which rests just a short distance away from our fair city, comes the works of the proprietor of Carousel Boutique, Miss Rarity!" called the announcer in his usual enthusiastic tone. Coming up to stand next to him, Rarity proceeded to provide commentary, explaining the attributes of each model's dress as she took the stage.

As a consequence, there was much less ambient noise as the models took the stage. The pegasi came first. Rarity had looked to her friends, Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy, for inspiration when it came to designing this particular pair of dresses. The first mare, a pegasus with a coat of a lovely robin's egg-blue and a dark pink mane strutted out, the folds of her skirt, a drifting white number composed of light fabric that was slightly transparent, spreading out behind her like a second pair of wings, which perfectly complemented the ones she already had. The mare had been surprised to find that she needed to preen her feathers back into shape after spending the last three runs with her wings tightly enclosed by ill-fitting dresses designed by other competitors. However, the preening done, those wings were now spread proudly as the mare showed them off to the spectators with a great deal of enthusiasm. The second pegasus was a dark, rose-red, which nicely contrasted with the pale blue of the silky dress that clung to her shapely body, seeming to flow like water in her wake as she sailed along the runway.

Already, Rarity could see the stirrings of interest in the judges' eyes as they watched the show. They'd already seen so many missteps today that seeing somepony actually showcasing a range of products for ponies of all three tribes was a genuine breath of fresh air. However, Rarity had decided to save the knockout punch for last.

Next were the unicorns. With these dresses, Rarity had gone for the gusto when it came to embellishment. The mare currently stepping out on the runway was decked out in a white lace miniskirt that barely came past her haunches with clear gemstone fragments woven into the fabric, glittering fantastically in the light. It was one of Rarity's more risqué designs. Behind her came came another unicorn, this one decked out in a more conservative dress of dark ruffles, using different designs to change both the texture and shading of the skirt in subtle ways.

On all four of these dresses, Rarity had exercised her greatest skills, utilizing everything she had developed whilst designing her friends' dresses for the Winter Gala. She happily regaled the judges and the audience with how each dress not only sported its own unique look, but a texture, sound, and scent all its own that brought its wearer's beauty to to the forefront in nearly all of the viewer's senses. Prim Hemline, one of the three main judges, was leaning across her desk, staring in fascination at Rarity's work.

Unable to keep the grin off her face, Rarity chortled as the first of the two unicorns reached the end of the runway. As the mare came to a stop, her magic pulsed and the dressed suddenly morphed, its entire design and form shifting. Now she was clad in a shimmering ballgown, suitable for the Grand Galloping Gala. The transformation drew startled gasps from the audience and the judges. Hoity Toity was actually taken so severely by surprise that he pushed sharply backward from his seat and ended up on his back.

As Rarity explained the attributes of her new shimmersilk, the second unicorn model arrived at the end of the runway. Likewise, her magic flared and the ruffled, subtly-shaded dress suddenly seemed to burst into a feathery ensemble in a riot of carefully coordinated colors.

In both cases, Rarity had designed the dresses to highlight the extent to which her shimmersilk's transformative capabilities could alter the dress. As such, she had mostly gone for contrast when coming up with the alternate forms for each dress. However, that was only scratching the surface of what her new fabric was capable of.

The display had completely shocked the audience into silence as they stared in awe at the two unicorn mares making their way back towards backstage. Steeling herself, Rarity forced herself to keep from breaking into an exuberant, Pinkie Pie-style grin, as the final pair of models took the stage.

"Now then," she said, "I've regaled you about the qualities of my work. However, for the final two pieces I am displaying, I believe that it is best to let them speak for themselves. Ladies! If you please..."

Rarity got a certain sense of satisfaction as she heard Coco's gasp of surprise from offstage as the first of the two earth pony models came trotting out. The first mare was a lovely shade of yellow with a light-blue mane. Rarity had decked her out in a surprisingly simple-looking affair. However, it suited the mare quite perfectly. The lime-green bodice gave way to a pale-pink skirt composed of three smooth, overlapping sections that draped across and down her backside like the petals of a flower. It was a good bit more understated than Rarity's usual work, which was fine, given that it wasn't Rarity's.

The second mare was a light, silvery gray in color. Rather than bright, vibrant colors, she was decked out in a rather simple dress with dark greens and browns, with a faint frosting of silver embroidery along the hem. For Rarity, it called to mind the image of a pine tree shedding the last vestiges of melting snow during the onset of spring. Once again, it was simple, understated, and obviously not Rarity's work.

From her position, Rarity could see Coco Pommel just barely leaning in slightly from offstage. Coco was clearly mortified, her hooves pressed to her mouth as the two earth pony models made their way proudly up and down the stage to a silent reception. Glancing at the audience, Rarity could see that their reaction was one of confusion. The judges, the stars, and industry figureheads could clearly see these dresses and understood immediately that they were not Rarity's work.

As the last two models disappeared behind the stage, Rarity stood and waited, wondering just how the question would be asked. While it wasn't always done, the judges did sometimes ask the competitor questions before she left the stage if there was something they were curious about or interested in. It was usually a good sign, because it meant that something had piqued the judges' interest.

"A moment please, Miss Rarity," said Prim Hemline, raising her hoof, "I believe that we have some questions to ask you about those last two dresses."

"I would certainly say so," said Rarity, stepping down from her place on the stage to stand in front of the judges.

"I'd like to start by saying that I'm very impressed with your work," said Prim, looking at Rarity sternly, "Save for those last two."

"Was their quality lacking?" asked Rarity.

"Not as such," said Prim, "They were excellent, especially given the theme of this overall competition. I would be very pleased to see somepony who is capable of designing excellent dresses for ponies of all types. However, those last two ensembles were clearly not your work."

"That is true," said Rarity, beaming, "Would you like to meet the actual designer of those dresses?"

"I most certainly would," said Hoity Toity, lifting his shades slightly to look carefully at Rarity.

"Of course," said Rarity before turning to look over her shoulder. "Coco, dear! Come out please."

There was something of an uncomfortable pause before Coco made her way out from backstage, step by shaky step. Slowly, moving so delicately that it seemed she was afraid she would shatter her own body if she moved too hard, Coco made her way down off the stage to stand next to Rarity, who didn't hesitate to rest a gentle, reassuring hoof across Coco's withers.

"This is Coco Pommel," said Rarity, "Just recently, I took her on as my apprentice. Well...she is my apprentice in name, but she already has a great deal of experience working professionally, even if her skills haven't been officially recognized. At this stage, finishing her apprenticeship is largely a formality. To that end, I wanted to give her the opportunity to express her own creativity and try her hoof at designing her own dresses. Of the ones that she created, I picked those that I thought worked best to bring to the show today."

In the silence that followed Rarity's explanation, one could have heard a pin drop. Finally, Prim Hemline coughed slightly before seeming to find the words to speak. "Well...I for one found Miss Pommel's designs to be excellent. I assume you were going with a spring theme."

Shocked to actually be addressed as though she were actually in the room, it took Coco a moment to register that Prim was speaking to her. "A-ah! Yes! I-I was inspired by Ponyville's Winter Wrap Up. I th-thought that would make an excellent theme for the d-dresses."

"I must say that your work was indeed inspired," said Hoity, throwing his own two bits in, "I must agree with Miss Rarity that your work is most certainly at a professional level. That said, while I enjoyed your willingness to employ more subtlety and understatement than most designers, I noticed a certain hesitance to experiment with a little more variations in your design that could have helped those dresses realize their full potential."

Even though Hoity had been slightly critical of her dresses, Coco was too stunned by what was happening to care. In her own mind, she was an apprentice first and last. By all rights, she was lucky to have even been allowed to accompany Rarity backstage. And yet, here she was, her work being critiqued by professionals in the fashion industry as though she were a full professional herself.

"While I do agree with Hoity Toity's assessment," said Prim, "I do admire your boldness to utilize such simplicity in your designs. It is a rare and unconventional move in this day and age and you use it well." The normally stern and unflinching judge actually smiled fondly at Coco. "I suspect that, with a little more practice, you will definitely find your voice as an artist. I believe you will go far, Miss Pommel."

"As do I," agreed Hoity..

"Do you have any more questions for her or me?" asked Rarity, trying her hardest to keep from sounding smug.

"No...I believe we are finished for now," said Prim after a quick consultation with her fellow judges, "You may go."

"Thank you very much," said Rarity as she carefully led Coco backstage once more.

There was nothing more to say or do. The die had been cast and all that was left was to see whether or not her gamble had paid off.

Author's Notes:

1) Rarity was secretly quite pleased to notice the distinct absence of a particular actress of her acquaintance, who, if the recent news was to be believed, was having a rather difficult time securing any significant roles and was suffering from several financial problems in the process.

I'd been excited to write that scene for Rarity ever since I introduced Coco Pommel into this series. One of the things I like is the juxtaposition of Rarity's philosophy vs. Suri's philosophy (even if Suri doesn't actually appear in the story). Suri is the sort of character who steals other ponies' work and touts it as her own or, in Coco's case, touts the work of those who work under her as her own. In this chapter, we get to see the savvy side of generosity, namely when it can be used to the great benefit, not only of the pony on the receiving end, but how it can help the pony on the giving end as well.

Applejack's end of things was far more simple to execute, given that there isn't a lot of conflict on her end of the story right now. I used Trenderhoof as one of the judges because he seemed an appropriate choice of character (particularly since one of the descriptions for him was "Equestria's Anthony Bourdain"). He's obviously a bit different from his canon personality...although that could just be chalked up to him not getting the chance to see Applejack get "down and dirty" like he did in the show. As such, his role in the story is very minor.

Next chapter: Swift Stride makes big boom!

Arrival

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Chapter 21: Arrival

Normally able to maintain an affectation of calm and reserve even during the most harrowing of occasions, Morning Star could not quite keep himself from leaning forward eagerly as he watched the workers slide the last pieces of the mechanism into place. In a few minutes, it would be complete and his plan, ten years in the making, would be ready to put into action. He'd already learned that the other temples across Equestria had completed construction. This was the last one. The devices were vulnerable while they were under construction and inert. However, once they were activated, they would move beyond any form of interference from any mundane source, even power at an alicorn's level. However, they would not be able to be activated until all five of them were complete.

"It looks like everything's going well," observed Swift Stride, who was standing on the platform next to Morning, "I certainly hope your measurements aren't off or anything. I mean, this is completely untested, unverified technology here. Who knows what could happen."

"Thank you for your observations," said Morning, "However, I know for a fact that the effects the array produces will be stable. I was able to simulate that effectively, at least."

"Good for you, I suppose," said Swift, "I certainly hope they'll work the way you want them to."

Morning frowned as he glanced sidelong at the narrow-eyed earth pony. He'd checked the structure over several times for any signs of hidden explosives, which Swift had tried before. There had been none. There was no sense of any kind of foreign body in the mechanism's structure at all. Everything looked ready. If anything, that only increased Morning's apprehension all the more. Swift Stride was up to something, no doubt about it. But what?

Then he felt it. Down below, a unicorn carefully levitated the final piece into place. The component slid in with a faint click. For an instant, the entire structure hummed to Morning's senses. He was the only pony who could feel the sensation as the device's individual pieces meshed together and truly became one. It was like watching a smattering of disparate cells merge together into a single, distinctive organism; the sensation of parts coming together to make a whole.

"Excellent," he said, projecting his voice so that everypony in the chamber could here him, "Please clear away all unnecessary materials from the device and stand back. I will begin its activation momentarily."

Admittedly, there was no real reason for Morning to worry about the workers' safety now that he no longer had any need for them. However, it was best not to alienate them before he was absolutely sure that everything was in working order.

...Besides, getting blood on the gears would only make an unpleasant mess...

The scaffolding was pulled away and the workers went about moving back to make room as Morning reared up to rest his forehooves on the railing in front of him. Staring at the material in front of him, he silently willed it into motion.

It was faint at first. A clicking sound emanated from the interior of the apparatus. Slowly, gears began to turn, rods pulled and twisted. Rectangular blocks shifted and changed their orientation, the whole structure seeming to come to life, twisting and reshaping itself with every passing second as the mechanism went through the opening stages of its activation. Morning's smile slowly widened as he realized that it was working.

Then his ears picked up another faint sound, something that sounded wrong. It sounded as though some object had gotten caught between two pieces of the machine. But his senses told him there was no foreign material to be found. There was a faint shudder that rattled out from within as something stopped moving the way it was supposed to, even as the components of the rest of the mechanism tried to grind on without it...

"No," said Morning, his voice barely a whisper.

Then came the explosion. Within the endlessly complex machine, there was a flash of white and a strange, twisting ripple in the air as a shockwave blasted outwards knocking everypony nearby off their hooves, Morning included. Reaching out, Morning willed the machine to stop before it tore itself to pieces by trying to continue functioning in spite of the cataclysmic happenings. Several other, smaller explosions rocked the chamber, cracking the stone walls around the mechanism as it slowly came to a halt.

Forcing himself up, Morning stared at the devastation that had been wrought. A section of the interior of the mechanism had come bursting out, the interlocking components holding together in a mesh, giving him the erie impression of some living thing's entrails hanging out of it.

How? Two things occurred to Morning Star at once. First, this was not accident. It was not the result of some miscalculation or error on his part. This had been been made clear to him by the second thing he realized at that instant. Swift Stride was suddenly nowhere to be seen. But how did he manage it? I didn't sense any components out of place. There were no foreign substances in the device. Just how did he do this?

The sound of some object falling next to Morning provided the answer. Looking down, he saw a broken piece of the machine. However, he recognized the piece. It was one of the pieces that had triggered an explosion the previous day, the minor setback that Swift's sabotage had caused. Somehow, Swift Stride had observed that and retrieved the broken pieces that had been tossed aside and figured out how to recreate the effect. He'd then created new bombs and inserted them into the machine. Because they had not registered as a foreign material to Morning Star's senses, he had overlooked them.

But there was more, everything Morning had said that day, right down to not concerning himself with broken detritus had been carefully filed away by that stallion's mind. He'd made fearsome use of that information and, as a result, undone years of careful work in an instant. Without using anything more than his powers of observation and simple creativity, he did an untold amount of damage, thought Morning, feeling a faint twinge of admiration for Swift, If he can do this much without even exercising his real power, then it's no wonder that the other Knights consider him to be the strongest.

However, there was no time to waste on his foe. Swift had accomplished multiple things in the space of that instant. Not only had he derailed Morning's efforts to finish the device before the deadline of the spring equinox, he'd also arranged the perfect opportunity for him to escape and report back to Celestia. They had to finish work before she came in pony to undo everything.

No! The deadline is even tighter than that, thought Morning. If they didn't finish the device by the time the spring equinox had passed, then Celestia would already be in motion, regardless of whether or not Swift got word to her. Until this component was operational, the remaining four pieces of the array were still vulnerable to destruction. Terra Heart's hoof could not be staid any longer. One way or another, time was almost up.

Hearing the sounds and cries of distress and fear from below, Morning took a second to calm himself. He was concerned about the machine first and foremost. However, Morning Star, Supreme Pontiff of the Order of Celestial Light was also concerned about the well being of the ponies working under him. He would need them to give it their all if there was to be any hope of salvaging this situation.

"Is everypony alright?" he asked, coming back to the railing so that he could look down below.

"There are no serious injuries to report," said a stallion from below, "What is happening Holy Father?"

It took Morning a few extra seconds to debate options in his head. Finally he decided to settle on what actually happened. "A saboteur placed explosive devices amongst the mechanism's components."

"Who?" demanded an enraged mare from down below, "Where is this traitor?"

"Already fled," said Morning. He stepped off the railing and allowed himself to drop down to the bottom level of the temple. Feathers swirled about him, slowing his fall and he touched down lightly on the stone floor. "I am sure that many of you bore witness to the newcomer. I am sad to report that, in spite of his honeyed words, he was actually an agent of our Enemy, come to undo us. I apologize for keeping this knowledge to you, but I had feared that provoking a confrontation with him would do more harm than good. Sadly, my caution appears to have worked against us as he was much more resourceful than I realized."

"Where is the swine?" demanded one of the other ponies, "We need to hunt him down and bring him to justice."

"As I said, he has already fled, though he probably hasn't gone far yet." Morning raised a hoof to forestall the inevitable rush towards the stairs as the angry mob prepared to chase down the fleeing Swift Stride. "I understand your anger. However, avenging ourselves on this stallion is not the immediate concern. He will not be able to make his report to Nightmare Moon for some time. In that time..." Morning looked up at the ruined machine. "...No! Even faster than that...we must repair the damage and get this component of the array fully operational. We cannot afford to waste a single moment."

Already, Morning's senses were exploring the ruined structure of the mechanism and he realized that, in spite of his initial fears and overall appearances, there was not as much damage as he'd originally thought. The spilled innards of the machine were all undamaged and could be tucked back into place without any need for adjustment, if they were moved carefully. There were numerous damaged and broken components throughout the whole body of the machine, but Morning would be able to have replacements ready in a matter of hours. If they hurried and they worked without pause, they might...just maybe...succeed.

"Let's get to work my little ponies," he said, his tone calm and assured.

Naturally, they heard and obeyed.

"Phew...that was tough," said Swift Stride as he looked back over his shoulder. The domed structure of the temple still loomed menacingly in the distance. However, there appeared to be no signs of pursuit. Morning Star must be prioritizing repairs over chasing after me, he thought. That could be both good and bad. On one hoof, he wouldn't have to worry about being harassed as he made his way to someplace where he could send a message to Princess Celestia. On the other hoof, it meant that Morning Star probably felt that he could complete repairs in whatever timeframe he had left, so long as he kept his ponies focused on that goal. Looks like I didn't do much damage after all, he thought glumly. That only served to make matters more urgent.

It was a shame. He'd actually been quite proud of what he'd managed to accomplish. He'd been able to discern the properties of at least some of the strange materials that Morning had created. Granted, his understanding had been equivalent to that of a foal who understood what would happen if she mixed vinegar and baking soda together, without knowing why the subsequent reaction occurred. But he'd still managed to apply it, even with the limited knowledge at his disposal.

There was an upside to this as well. So long as Morning thought he could meet his goals, he would remain in place. That would be better than completely ruining his plans, which would simply result in the mysterious stallion dropping off the face of the earth and setting up shop somewhere else, possibly even outside of Equestria, where nopony would probably be able to find him in time. As long as he still thought he could manage here, he would stay put.

That said, he's definitely out of my league, thought Swift, That guy is completely unfair.

There was nothing more to be done though. Turning back to his present course, Swift Stride broke into a full gallop, using the legs for which he'd been named to carry him to a place where he could finish fulfilling his duty.

"...and in the field of culinary arts, the Royal Warrant is hereby awarded to Colton Brown for his distinguished contributions to the fields of culinary science and education..."

"I must say, I haven't been this tense in a long time," observed Fancy Pants as he watched the bespectacled stallion who'd just been named make his way up to the stage.

"I thought you'd said that Rarity's showing at her competition was nothing short of exceptional," Prince Blueblood pointed out, "How did you put it...? 'The judges would have to be blind, deaf, and dead stupid not to award the Warrant to Rarity.'"

"I did say that, didn't I," sighed Fancy, "However, no judge is perfect."

"I wouldn't worry about Dame Rarity," declared another pony coming in to join them. Both Blueblood and Fancy looked up to see Baron Elderflower slide politely into the seat next to theirs in the box.

"Lord Baron," said Fancy in a cautious greeting, "I wasn't expecting you to attend."

"I was certain that you were rooting for one of Miss Rarity's competitors," added Blueblood bluntly, "if not backing one or more of them yourself."

"There's no need for such suspicion, Your Grace," said Elderflower with an amused smile, "Admittedly, a few other members of the Court are backing some of the participants. However, because the ponies they favored tended to share a similar bent to their sponsors, they mostly slipped up when the time came to present. Very few of them were prepared for models other than unicorns. As a consequence, Dame Rarity could have easily secured the Warrant by simple virtue of the fact that she simply didn't bungle anything when it was her turn. That she went the extra mile has practically made it a certainty."

"You keep mentioning this extra thing that she did," muttered Blueblood, "What is it, exactly?"

Fancy and Elderflower exchanged glances. "Should we tell him?"

"I was keeping it a secret," said Fancy, sounding the slightest bit smug, "She has grown so much since I first met her. That wonderful young mare with such inspiring aspirations has truly grown up."

"Careful there," said a mare's voice with a titter as Fleur de Lis, Fancy's wife, came into the box to join them, "I'm starting to think that you've been eyeing Rarity . You aren't considering cheating on me, are you?"

That got a laugh from Fancy as he leaned over to kiss his wife on the cheek. "Of course not, dear. I'm just expressing my admiration for how far she has come."

Looking over, Fleur nodded at the two other stallions in turn. "Blueblood," she said pleasantly, getting a smile and a nod in return from the Duke. "Lord Baron." Though her tone cooled considerably as she greeted Elderflower, he didn't seem at all troubled by the shift in her attitude.

"In any case, you'll be impressed," said Fancy to Blueblood, returning to their original topic.

"I hope so," said Blueblood, "I'm afraid Miss Applejack's prospects don't look quite as good. She faced some very stiff competition. I think that Purple Cape from Cabbage Corp might have a very good chance at victory."

"Ah yes," said Fancy, "Those cabbages are hard to beat. It's amazing that one particular line of plants can have so much variety to it."

"More importantly, if Miss Rarity wins the Warrant in her field, the judges might be reluctant to give the award to another pony from Ponyville. It could be seen as favoritism," added Blueblood glumly.

"Though that idea might be bandied about by the masses, anypony with a lick of understanding about how this competition works will see through it in an instant," said Elderflower dismissively, "Each of the divisions being evaluated has its own set of judges who have no contact with their peers in the other divisions. The reason this whole affair was set up that way was to completely thwart any chance of just such a thing from happening."

Even as he spoke, Elderflower noted that Fleur was staring at him, clearly not enjoying his presence. He supposed that the ponies in this particular box did make up the chief opposition to his plans amongst his peers, even if those present didn't realize the extent to which they were opposing him. "I believe it's getting rather crowded here," observed Elderflower, "I think I shall take my leave for the time being. Perhaps there is more room with Viscountess Sweet Water. I know she is watching." Bowing politely to the others, he made good his departure.

Fleur waited until the door closed. "I can't stand him."

"He's definitely somepony to keep an eye on," said Fancy Pants, "However, his actions have been much more restrained than any of the other members of the nobility."

"Sweet Water," mused Blueblood, "She has been unusually inactive recently."

"She was the mare responsible for that whole farce involving Dawn Lightwing, wasn't she?" asked Fancy.

"She wasn't," said Blueblood sarcastically, "According to her and any verifiable sources, her estate was misappropriated by uncouth ponies in her absence and she was as much of a victim as that poor mare that had been taken hostage." He snorted irritably, making it clear what he thought of the situation.

"That sweet colt?" said Fleur, remembering meeting Dawn when he and a group of Rarity's other friends had been staying in the Palace for the Hearth's Warming season.

"Yes," said Blueblood with dry amusement, "That 'sweet' colt who then proceeded to go to Sweet Water's stronghold on Diamond Mountain, spring her hostage and then return said hostage to Canterlot, fighting off teams of hired mercenaries in the process. He may be a polite, well-behaved fellow, but he's not to be underestimated." His amusement melted away. "However, ever since she joined up with Baron Elderflower, I've noticed that the Viscountess has refrained from any further machinations. The same is apparently true of a few others."

"You think that Elderflower is deliberately restraining them?" asked Fancy.

"More or less," said Blueblood, "It helps that his interests are much more serious and far-reaching. Most members of the Noble Court can't be bothered to look past the ends of their own upturned noses. However, Elderflower has always had a broader interest in...reforming...Equestria. He has some rather old-fashioned but well-entrenched beliefs about the way things should be and an almost fanatical, if rather understated, devotion to bringing those old ways back."

"Ah, I see," said Fancy.

"That makes him more dangerous," said Blueblood, "Because he's looking much farther than simply taking control of Twilight Sparkle for purely self-serving ends, its entirely possible that he will attempt to bring about his great changes to Equestria with or without her cooperation. And, depending on how he chooses to go about it, things could potentially get very ugly."

"I take it you are keeping an eye on him," said Fancy.

"I am," said Blueblood, "But he's a slippery one. All I do know is that he and his allies have been slowly and carefully recruiting extra muscle. I've been keeping the Princesses apprised of the situation. Hopefully we can find out what his objective is and head him off before things get out of hoof."

"I'll help as best I can," said Fancy, "My more unscrupulous resources aren't what they used to be, but I can still monitor things from the economic end and see if the Baron is making any suspicious investments lately."

"Ah!" shouted Fleur, butting into the conversation, "Look! It's her turn!"

Neither of the stallions needed to ask who as they turned to look down into the auditorium. On the stage, Prim Hemline was stiffly making her way up to the microphone. As she spoke, the device magically augmented her voice so that it could be carried throughout the entire auditorium.

"For this year's selection for the Royal Warrant amongst the garment industries, we looked to designers and artists with an eye for style and the endlessly variable potential of Equestria's citizens," began Prim, "Suffice to say, we were not impressed by most of this year's competitors, who were clearly too narrow in their vision and unable to appreciate the beauty that all of Equestria's ponies have to offer."

There was some uncomfortable shifting amongst the ponies in the audience as Prim cleared her throat to continue. "However, there were a few participants who managed to stand out, one in particular. In all likelihood, with a simple display of her boundless skill, innovation, and creativity she could have easily obtained our approval through the simple fact that she hadn't fallen into the same trap that many of her competitors had.

"Instead, however, she went far above and beyond what was required of her for this competition. It takes a great deal of dedication and skill to become worthy of being considered for the Royal Warrant. But it takes an even greater level of dedication to use this as an opportunity to foster the next generation of artists who will one day shape the future of our industry. This mare not only showed an artistic brilliance worthy of a bearer of the Royal Warrant, but the courage to use this competition as an opportunity to to promote the work of her worthy apprentice and turn it into a valuable experience.

"Because of that, it is my pleasure to present the Royal Warrant to none other than Dame Rarity of Ponyville!"

Applause and the clopping of hooves swept through the audience as an ecstatic Rarity made her way up to the stage, flush with success as she stood on the stage. Prim presented her with an envelope that contained the seal designating her as the recipient of the award.

"With the authority vested in me by the Parliament of Equestria and Their Royal Highnesses, I hereby present you with the Royal Warrant," said Prim, holding the envelope out to Rarity, who took it tentatively in her magic.

"Thank you for this honor," said Rarity, bowing her head politely.

The applause started up again as Rarity made her way off the stage and back to her seat, where a tearful Coco was waiting, her mouth covered.

"She displayed her apprentice's work?" asked Blueblood, still staring at Rarity.

"She did," said Fancy, "It was quite a shock; a rather risky move I daresay. Had I not already been aware that Miss Coco Pommel had both considerable talent and experience, my poor heart would have probably failed me right then and there."

"She has grown," admitted Blueblood, remembering the mare who'd once pursued him so doggedly during the Grand Galloping Gala.

A short while later, it was time for Applejack's division. This time, a pair of judges made their way to the center of the stage. One of them was Trenderhoof, the other was Chef Ram Say, the bighorn sheep who'd once held the title of Head Chef in the Royal Palace's kitchens.

Surprisingly, it was the travel writer who made his way to the microphone. "I would like to begin with some clarifications," he said, "Chef Ram Say here was, of course, our chief judge for the agricultural products division of the Royal Warrant selection. However, because my esteemed colleague's accent is rather thick, we decided that it would be best if I made the announcement."

The sheep beside him barked out a loud laugh that echoed without the need for the microphone's assistance. "Tis true, laddie," said the sheep in good humor.

"Anyway," said Trenderhoof, "Speaking for myself, I have traveled across Equestria and beyond it and sampled foods of nearly every shape and size, many of which a pony would never even think of eating. I have tasted foods so divine that they beggar description, as well as things so foul that I'm amazed my tongue didn't rot off. I am, at least, proud to say that, for this year's selection, none of the participants fell into the latter category."

There was a smattering of good-humored laughter at Trenderhoof's remark. Smirking, Trenderhoof resumed his speech. "This year's winner of the Royal Warrant for the Agricultural Products division is something of a specialist. She appropriately displayed the uniqueness and potential of her products, showcasing some varieties of her main produce that no other farm in Equestria has managed to tame. It is my great pleasure tonight to award the Royal Warrant for this division to Dame Applejack of Sweet Apple Acres in Ponyville!"

As Trenderhoof made his pronouncement, there was a slight hesitation before applause began to spread throughout the auditorium. It was clear that ponies were a bit surprised to hear that a second pony from the small town of Ponyville had successfully obtained a Royal Warrant. It was one thing for ponies from the same big cities throughout Equestria to obtain such an honor. But for a smaller town like Ponyville, it seemed unlikely.

Still...the hesitation was only for a second before the applause began to ring out as Applejack made her way to the stage to collect her prize.

"Admittedly, that was a bit more dramatic than I expected," said Fancy Pants as he watched Applejack humbly accept the Royal Warrant from Chef Ram Say.

"I think it was mostly just surprise," said Blueblood, "Very few ponies from most of Equestria's larger population center care much about small towns like Ponyville, to the point of some of them not even realizing it exists.. It will seem an unusual occurrence. Though, in spite of what Elderflower said, I think that I can foresee the next avenue of attack that some of the members of the Noble Court will be using in the near future."

"We will just have to have faith in the preparations that Parliament made," said Fancy, "Fortunately, those two will have some very influential ponies...and sheep... vouching for them, so I don't think we have much to fear."

"I certainly hope so," said Blueblood as he settled in to watch the remainder of the ceremony.

Terra Heart crested the hill and saw Ponyville stretching out before him. The hour was early, the sun having not yet risen. The small town's lanterns were still lit, glittering like a small swarm of stationary fireflies. It was a lovely thing to see. However, the beauty of the town was all but ignored by Terra as he paused for the first time since he'd left the Supreme Pontiff to come here. Somewhere amongst those glittering lamps, resting in one of those quaint country houses, was a demon who'd been hunted by the Order of Celestial Light for years now. He'd escaped every trap, evaded every effort to end his evil life and, even now, cowered behind those who should be protected from him.

If I recall properly, thought Terra, he is currently staying with the Element of Kindness.

Though Terra knew Ponyville's layout to a certain extent, he hadn't been there in several years. Not since... He shook his head vigorously, trying to rid himself of any lurking, traitorous thoughts. He wasn't in Ponyville for a reunion, but because he had a sacred duty to perform.

She's probably dead by now anyway, thought Terra dismissively, After all, she was old even when I started learning under her. By now, she's probably passed away.

The sky to the east began to glow faintly, gaining a pink tint that slowly began to wash with orange, than yellow as the sun began to rise. A new day was dawning, the day of the equinox, the day when the demon's power would be disrupted and his thralls could be freed from their enslavement with minimal harm. That was how the Supreme Pontiff had described it anyway.

It is time.

Terra took his first steps toward Ponyville...
...
...
...

...and froze in place as his hooves locked themselves to the ground as surely as though they'd become the trunks of old trees and put down roots...or maybe it would be more apt to say as though the ground had grown roots that had anchored themselves into all four of his legs, locking him in place. Either way, Terra couldn't move. That seizing sensation spread up through his haunches and withers, locking his entire body into position as a familiar sensation washed over him...the sensation of power...old power...her power.

Just a few meters down the path was a tree growing right by it. It was one of many, but this one was closest to the edge of the dirt road leading into Ponyville. From behind it stepped an elderly, wrinkled crone of a mare. Her coat, once a vibrant green, had dulled slightly from the weight of years, not failing to hide the deep wrinkles in her skin. Her mane, once a flowing platinum blonde, was now white, tied into a bun behind her head. Her heavily lidded eyes gave her a wizened look and the corners of her mouth were turned up in a slight smile as she made her way to the road. Though she looked old and feeble, there was no sign of weakness in her stride as she slowly walked towards Terra, her aged orange eyes locking onto Terra's gray ones.

"Well well," said Granny, "It sure has been a long time since ya decided to come an' visit." She chuckled dryly.

"You know I have not visited since I left," said Terra humorlessly. He had little tolerance for jokes even during the best of time.

"'Course not," said Granny her tone still easygoing in spite of Terra's obvious hostility, "Ya haven't changed a lick since Ah last saw ya. Yer still as unbendin' as ever."

Terra snorted, his nostrils flaring with the motion. Aside from speech, it seemed that there was little else he was capable of doing at the moment. Granny Smith might have been old, but her grip was still more solid than steel. "Every time," he said, "the same tired argument. Is it any wonder that I realized I would never attain mastery studying under you?"

Now it was Smith's turn to snort derisively. "That's only 'cause ya ain't got it in ya to master anythin' at all," she said, "Yer too rigid and unbendin' Terra. Ya think everythin's gotta be a certain way and if it ain't the way ya think it should be, ya always try and make it into what ya think it should be. Ah'm guessin' that attitude of yers is why ya ended up with them nuts from the Cult Solar."

"It's proper name is the Order of Celestial Light!" snapped Terra, glaring fiercely, "You mock it with that condescending title created by our enemies to slander us."

"That title was made by the very pony ya think's a god," said Smith, "Ah gotta wonder what kinda respect ya have fer her when ya don't want to listen to a single thing she says."

"Lies!" snarled Terra.

"Ya ain't changed a bit," said Smith again, shaking her head sadly, "No give at all in ya. Didn't Ah tell ya sonny, the tree that don't bend'll break someday. Fer you, that day might be today."

"I will not bend, I will not yield," said Terra, "The mountain does not bow before the elements."

"Oh it does," said Smith, "Time, the wind, the rain, they all wear it down until it ain't a mountain no more." She stared hard at Terra. "Yer mountain ain't nowhere near as tall and mighty as ya think it is. That attitude of yers has worn it down."

"As nostalgic as it has been to trade platitudes with you, my former teacher, I have something to do. You will grant me passage." Terra narrowed his eyes and glared, all the power of his malice, his killing intent crashing over Granny Smith like waves against the beach.

All that powerful intent, which would have shattered the heart and mind of any ordinary pony, simply washed over Smith, who stood unbowed, as though she hadn't even noticed it. Instead, Terra found himself on the receiving end of a will just as strong, something so powerful that it locked him up even more tightly.

"Claimin' to be a master after so long and still makin' all the same mistakes," said Smith with a chuckle, "Throw around all the killin' intent ya want, but it ain't gonna make a lick 'o difference. If yer still dependin' on that, ya can't even touch me. Ah taught ya once that the essence of the Mountain Root is stillness. Ya become one with all and yer self dissolves into nothin'. There's nothin fer yer killin' intent to react to, so it ends up comin' back to ya."

A wordless snarl exploded out of Terra's mouth as his muscles tightened to surge forward...and froze, still locked tightly in place. Try as he might, no amount of exertion on his part could break the mysterious hold the elderly mare seemed to have over him. Terra strained and strived, but was unable to budge a single inch.

Smith gave him a sad, disappointed look. “It’s a mighty shame to see ya wound so tight. Yer gonna snap someday soon, maybe even today. In a way, ya remind me ‘o a certain colt Ah met not too long ago.”

Terra’s eyes narrowed as he stared at Granny Smith. He got the slight inkling that he knew exactly which colt she was talking about.

“‘Course,” continued Smith, seemingly oblivious to Terra’s growing rage, “He had to the good sense to listen when all was said and done…unlike a certain stallion Ah know.”

Terra knew his former teacher well. In her own way, she was completely stubborn and unshakable. If she was knowingly associating with Dawn Lightwing, then there was no way that she would be under his thrall. “Apostate,” he hissed, “You’ve truly fallen if you knowingly help such a foul creature.”

“Ha!” barked Smith, “Ah saw yer creature, looked ‘im straight in the eyes. Know what Ah saw?” Her expression softened. “Ah saw somethin’ better ’n what Ah saw in you. In you, Ah saw greatness. In him…Ah saw goodness. Ah have the good sense to know which is better.”

Gritting his teeth, Terra continued to strain against the power that held him in place. The ground beneath his hooves rumbled and cracked slightly, but the restraint showed no signs of slackening. Looking more closely at his opponent, he noticed something interesting. He noticed sweat gathering on her brow. He noticed her breath getting shorter and harsher with each passing moment. His anger began to dissolve and he smiled.

“You’re at your limit already,” observed Terra, “Holding me like this must be taking the entirety of your strength. No matter how much power you’ve hoarded, no matter how much experience you possess, you can’t change the fact that you are old. You’re a fragment of your former self, clinging feebly to what remains of your life. I doubt you can hold me for another two hours like this…Not so far from the place of power you’ve built in that little orchard you love so much.”

“Ya might be right ‘bout that,” Granny Smith conceded, showing no sign of distress, despite the fact that she’d apparently been seen through, “Mah time’s been comin’ fer a while. If Ah’m gonna die today, Ah’m glad Ah’ll be passin’ while doin’ somethin’ worthwhile.”

“And you think protecting Dawn Lightwing is worth giving up your own life?” inquired Terra Heart, pushing even harder still.

“A few months ago, Ah did him a mighty piece ‘o mischief,” said Granny with a warm smile, “Ah’d seen how close he was to breakin’ and Ah wanted to stop that, before he hurt himself or somepony he cared about. Ah didn’t want ‘im turnin’ out like you after all. But…what Ah did, what Ah had ‘im put through isn’t the kinda thing that a normal pony’d consider right. He got hurt mighty bad ‘cause ‘o that. Even if it was to help ‘im, that still don’t change the fact Ah did ‘im a terrible wrong.” She gave Terra a wintry smile. “So if Ah can spend what’s left ‘o mah life here to buy that colt a little more time, then maybe that’ll even the scales a little bit.”

“Time…” Terra hissed, “That’s all you’re doing? You’re forestalling the inevitable. Whether it is sooner or later, I will end that demon’s life. You gain nothing by trying to keep me here.”

“That’s what you think,” said Smith with a throaty chuckle, “But let me tell ya, mah little sour apple, ya weren’t mah last student and ya sure as hay weren’t mah best student. Yer gonna find that out the hard way before the day is out; that’s fer sure.”

“We’ll see,” said Terra grimly as he redoubled his efforts to break free. Granny Smith forestalled any further attempts at conversation as she bent the entirety of her will to keeping the powerful stallion from moving another step. To the east, the new day continued to dawn as the rising sun continued upon its designated path, the pony responsible for its rising oblivious to the silent struggle commencing in the town below.

As morning arrived across all of Ponyville, it soon became clear that something was wrong. It started with the animals. All across town, birds burst from the trees, abandoning nests and darkening the skies as they gathered in a single tremendous flock, rushing away over the horizon. Among the fields and farms, the cows, sheep, and pigs were all troubled by a feeling of obscure dread that they were unable to articulate.

Even the ponies of Ponyville were not oblivious to the feeling of unease that seemed to seep out of the ground and into the air. It was a beautiful spring day. The sky was clear, with a few sparse clouds distributed by the weather team. The town's inhabitants went about their usual business, but with a feeling of extra tension, as though something was consistently mere moments away from going horribly wrong. That simmering tension set nerves on edge and made tempers flare. The atmosphere was one of a collective holding of breath as the day dragged on.

Despite the uneasy feeling, the morning remained uneventful as the sun continued to climb into the sky. However, on one of the roads leading into town, something had changed that would transform the remainder of the day.

Terra Heart took his first steps, leaving the spot he had been anchored to for the past several hours. As he walked, he didn't even bother to cast a single glance at the dusty road behind him, where a limp, unmoving figure rested.

Red River surveyed the crowd of ponies roaming the marketplace, his senses alert for any sign of trouble. Already, he'd broken up three fights that had started over relatively minor disputes that would have normally not even provoked ponies to raise their voices. A feeling of impending doom seemed suspended in the air, disrupting what would have otherwise been a normal day.

"It looks like our time is up," commented Storm Front as he dropped in to land next to Red.

"I'm hoping that we can last just a little bit longer before everything goes to Tartarus," commented Red, "Arkenstone and the others should be getting back from Canterlot sometime this afternoon, probably no more than another hour or so. We just need to hold on until then."

"That's going to be hard," said Storm, a faint tremor in the normally unflappable stallion's voice, "This is beyond anything we've ever faced before."

Red also felt the faint trembling in his own muscles as he nodded. The two of them had been mercenaries for years now. They had guarded caravans loaded with wealth over some of the most dangerous stretches of the Silk Road, enduring harsh environments, fierce bandits, and terrible monsters. The breadth of their experience was hard to contest. And yet...in spite of all of that...the two of them now felt hopelessly outmatched by an opponent that they had yet to lay eyes upon; an opponent whose aura was like the advance of a natural disaster. It gave the impression, not of somepony that could be faced and opposed, but something that could only be survived...at best. What a grim feeling.

"By the way, I notice you didn't set up the stall this morning," said Storm, glancing sidelong at his old friend and companion.

Red smiled and reached up to wipe away the sweat that had gathered on his brow. "No. Today isn't the day to burden myself with a second job. I also told Big Macintosh and Ditzy to keep the foals on the farm. I have the feeling they're going to have extra company from town before long."

"What about Granny Smith?" asked Storm, "Did she have anything to contribute?"

The nervous looking smile on Red's face vanished. "I haven't seen her at all," he said, "Nopony has...at the farm or anywhere else."

"Should I go look for her?"

"No. At this point, we need to trust that she knows what she's doing and stay focused on our own work-"

Red's entire body went tense. Storm felt the change as well. The atmosphere surrounding the market had changed. The flow of the crowds of ponies as they moved from one stall to another had shifted as well, moving like a school of fish parting before a massive, advancing predator, subconsciously getting out of the way of the terrible thing that they were only half-aware was coming. The air surged as though it were being displaced by something enormous, much how an oncoming train entering a tunnel forces a concentrated wave of air in front of itself.

"He's coming," said Red.

"He's here," said Storm.

Sure enough, upon looking in the direction of the source of the strange and terrible feeling, they were able to lay eyes upon their opponent for the first time that day, a massive stallion even more imposing than Big Macintosh in both size and stature, his body the color of freshly-turned earth. He moved forward with deliberate, measured steps, his eyes not even seeming to notice the two mercenaries, as though he was looking beyond them at his true target. His advance was slow and inexorable.

"This fight will either be over extremely quickly or it will drag out for a long time," said Red, his fetlock already curling around the collapsed handle of his spear and tightening.

"It would serve us best if we managed to make it the latter," said Storm, spreading his wings and fluttering a short distance off of the ground.

"We'll have to try our hardest to survive the first exchange then," said Red, taking a moment to steady himself with a deep breath, allowing the power of the earth to flow into him, granting him extra stability as he centered himself. Sorry AJ...I don't think I'm going to come out of this one piece.

"I'll go inform the Weather Team," said Storm, "They can get the evacuation started. Try to hold out until I get back."

"I'll do my best," said Red, giving his friend a tight smile as the storm cloud-colored pegasus took to the sky. Turning to face the adversary, Red River braced himself. "Time to earn my keep."

"Dang it! Where's Apple Bloom?" asked Scootaloo irritably, looking around the schoolyard.

"Looking for her isn't gonna make her magically pop up," Rumble pointed out sourly, "If she didn't show up this morning, she probably isn't gonna show up now."

"What do you know?" snapped Scootaloo, glaring at the gray colt, her wings flaring.

"Stop!" shouted Sweetie Belle, jumping between her two bickering friends, "What are you two getting so angry about anyway?"

Rumble immediately wilted. "Sorry," he said.

It took Scootaloo a second longer to back down. It helped that Dawn rested a gentle wing on her back, which calmed her a little. "Yeah...sorry," she said, "I just feel really bad today, like there's something really wrong. That's why I'm worried about Bloom not being here."

"I understand," said Dawn, "Today...is not going to be pleasant."

"You too, huh?" asked Scootaloo, giving him a worried look.

"Everypony, I think," said Sweetie.

The Crusaders (minus the absent Bloom) took a moment to look around the schoolyard. Normally, during the lunch and recess period, it would be overflowing with noise as foals played, laughed, and chatted with their friends. However, today, a subdued silence hung over the place. Foals spoke in softer voices than usual. Nopony seemed up for doing much of anything. It had been that way for the whole morning. Class had been unusually subdued as the students seemed to not have much interest in participating. Even Cheerilee, normally an irrepressible source of excitement and enthusiasm for education, had been unusually troubled and distracted.

"The animals as well," said Dawn, recalling his experience earlier that morning. He and Fluttershy had gotten up as usual, performing their morning chores seeing to the bevy of animals that called the quaint, comfortable cottage home. However, the place had been strangely deserted, with only a few of Fluttershy's most steadfast and loyal animal friends remaining. And even they had been acting strangely, huddling in their dens, reluctant to emerge, even at the promise of food.

"Is there anything we can do?" asked Sweetie.

"Not unless we can figure out what's causing all of this," said Rumble, "But I get the feeling we'll find that out whether we want to or not."

Even as he spoke, a fast-moving shadow swept over the schoolyard. The group of friends looked up to see a low-flying pegasus swooping down to land at the door to the schoolhouse. They recognized it as Cloud Chaser, a member of the Weather Team and the fillyfriend of Rumble's older brother.

"What's going on?" mused Rumble as Cloud Chaser knocked hard on the door, drawing out a surprised Cheerilee. The pegasus spoke to her in hushed, hurried tones.

Before anypony could move to find out anything more, a loud cracking noise echoed through the air, sounding very much like an explosion. The sound was accompanied by a jolt through the ground that made everypony in contact with it jump. Frightened exclamations echoed through the schoolyard as foals leapt to their hooves, looking around frantically for the source of the noise.

"Uh oh," said Scootaloo.

The initial explosion was followed by the sound of another...and another...

Cheerilee clapped her hooves together as hard as she could. "Everypony!" she shouted, desperate to be heard over the din, "There's an emergency. Right now, I need everypony to form up like we do for our fire drills and we'll head straight to Sweet Apple Acres." Though her directions seemed somewhat unusual, the tone of authority in her voice brooked no argument and the foals immediately rushed to obey her as a sound like the roaring of wind filled the air.

Scootaloo leaned over towards Dawn. "You think Bloom's absence has something to do with this?"

"Maybe," said Dawn. If Red River had the same feelings about today that everypony else did, he'd probably kept Bloom and Dinky from straying away from the farm.

They didn't have much time to reflect on it further as another explosion of impact sounded from the direction of Ponyville's market place. This time, the sound was accompanied by a crash and the crunch of breaking wood. The ground shuddered, like the aftershock of a passing earthquake. There was a terrible sense of finality in that sound. After that...silence.

Everypony hesitated. The sounds had ceased. A cloud of dust was rising from Ponyville's market district. Now that the noise had faded, they could faintly hear the screams and cries of fleeing ponies. In the sky above the town, weather ponies flitted about, rising and falling, apparently doing their best to direct the traffic of frightened equines and get them all heading to one place.

"Is it over?" asked Sweetie, nervously sidling up against Rumble, who wrapped his wing around her and pulled her tight against his side, almost as much for his reassurance as her own.

The bottom dropped out of Dawn's stomach. "I don't think so," he said, "If anything...the worst is yet to come." Unfortunately, he had a fairly good idea of just what the worst might be.

As if in response to his words, he felt a sharp jolt through the ground that ran up his legs to his spine. It was followed by another…and another…and another…and so on in a repeating pattern that was clearly a sign of approaching hoofsteps.

“That doesn’t feel good,” said Scootaloo nervously, unconsciously backing away from the perceived source of the jolts. Dawn moved to put her behind him, slowly extending his wings as his eyes watched for the one responsible for the tremors.

“Dawn?”

The sound of Cheerilee’s voice shook him out of his focus and Dawn turned to regard his teacher, who was watching him with a familiar, agonized expression. She’d looked like that when he’d gone out to confront Willow in spite of her entreaties for him to stop. Now she was watching him, clearly terrified that her student was going to throw himself into danger yet again with nothing that she could do about it.

“It’s probably best if you went,” said Dawn softly.

“Please?” said Cheerilee, her voice nearly a whisper. However, there was a certain amount of resignation to her tone. This was an argument she would not win.

“This one will probably simply follow me,” said Dawn, “It’s best to keep this away from others as much as possible. Go.”

“Dawn!”

At Scootaloo’s warning, Dawn whirled back around to see a stallion slowly approaching from the direction of the markets. The massive stallion approached in slow, even steps. Every time his hoof impacted the ground, Dawn felt another sharp tremor. This then was the pony that had come for him on this day. Without even exchanging words, Dawn knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that this was Terra Heart, Cardinal of the Order of Celestial Light and a high-level practitioner, if not outright master, of the Mountain Root.

The stallion stopped outside of the schoolyard, his cold, gray eyes meeting Dawn’s before narrowing. There was nothing but cold determination and pure, relentless killing intent in those eyes.

“I’ve found you,” said Terra, “Prepare to die.”

Faltering Wind

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Chapter 22: Faltering Wind

“I’ve got a bad feeling,” said Twilight, shifting nervously to press her side against Arkenstone.

“You too?” said Arkenstone, feeling his own muscles tense.

Around them, the train rattled and rumbled. Both Applejack and Rarity were sitting on another bench, chatting away excitedly as they discussed their successes in obtaining the Royal Warrants, while Coco Pommel listened in silently. Having left Canterlot the day before, they were due back in Ponyville almost anytime now. However, the feeling of warmth and security that Twilight normally felt when returning to her home was curiously absent.

It made Twilight seriously uneasy. After all, given that everything in Canterlot had gone off without a hitch and they’d managed to leave without being harassed, everything should have been alright. However, the closer they got to Ponyville, the worse Twilight was feeling. Some vague feeling of dread settled in her heart, making her wonder if something was seriously wrong at home.

She decided to take a look out the window, hoping that the familiar sight of the town would help calm her nerves. Instead, she noticed several things at once. Flocks of birds had taken to the air and were winging their way away from town as fast as they could, looking like swarms of bugs as they filled the sky. From her position, she could see Ponyville itself. Her eyes picked out a faint spiral of dust coming from near the town’s center.

“Something’s wrong,” she said, whipping her head around to give Arkenstone a distressed look, “There’s some kind of disaster in Ponyville.”

To her surprise, Twilight saw her normally unflappable coltfriend pale slightly, his eyes opening wide to reveal the featureless, white orbs his lids normally concealed.

“It must be him,” said Arkenstone, “Terra Heart.”

“That pony from the Cult Solar?” asked Twilight, her heart hammering in her ribs.

Applejack and Rarity had fallen silent, the two of them realizing that something was wrong. Now they were listening to Arkenstone and Twilight, their ears standing upright on their heads and their eyes wide with shock.

“I can’t think of anypony else who would be capable of inflicting such a grim feeling,” said Arkenstone, “especially at this distance.” He shot to his hooves.

“Where are you going?” asked Twilight.

“I’m going to talk to the conductor,” said Arkenstone over his shoulder, “I need him to wring every ounce of speed he can out of this train. The sooner we get back to Ponyville, the better.”

“What can I do to help?” asked Twilight, moving to follow him.

“Nothing for now,” said Arkenstone, “I get the feeling we might need your magic for something else in the near future, so we shouldn’t squander it now. I can only pray we aren’t too late.”

They left the car, sliding the door shut behind them, practically forgetting about their friends who were still there.

Applejack swallowed hard and turned to look at Rarity. “Red was worried somethin’ fierce when Ah left,” she said, “Ya don’t think…”

“I’m sure he’s fine, darling,” said Rarity, gently patting Applejack’s arm, “Red River is a most capable stallion. But if that brute is even half as dangerous as Arkenstone seems to fear, then…” Rarity’s hoof flew to her mouth. “Oh no! Flaxseed! He’s still in Ponyville! What if that monster finds him?”

Now it was Applejack’s turn to be the reassuring one as she rubbed a hoof up and down Rarity’s back. “Take it easy there, sugarcube,” she said, “That jerk’s probably there for Dawn. Dawn ain’t gonna let that guy know about Flaxseed. He’ll be fine.”

“I hope so,” said Rarity, turning to look out the window and watch Ponyville as it got closer. Despite their encouraging words to one another, neither of them could completely stamp out the feeling of dread that continued to swirl in their hearts.

“Dawn…” said Scootaloo, shuffling nervously behind him.

“Get back,” said Dawn softly, not daring to take his eyes off the stallion in front of him.

Already, Cheerilee was doing her best to usher the foals away. Dawn prayed fervently that Terra Heart’s single-minded determination to kill him wouldn’t drive the stallion to attack before his classmates were clear.

“I’m not leaving you,” said Scootaloo.

“Scootaloo! You’re going to make things harder if you stay,” said Rumble as he and Sweetie Belle did their best to try and tug the orange filly along with them.

“I didn’t say I was going to try and fight,” said Scootaloo, “But I’m not gonna leave him alone like this.”

“If you’re going to stay, then stay clear,” said Dawn, risking a glance back at Scootaloo, “I can’t guarantee anything ab-!” His voice cut off as he felt a surge of air approaching him from the front. Dawn barely managed to wrench his eyes back to his opponent just in time to see Terra standing directly in front of him. It was the same type of technique he’d seen Red River use in their past fight and sparring matches. Terra almost seemed to close the distance in a single step, arriving even before the sound of cracking and splintering wood that signaled the destruction of the schoolyard fence that had been between them.

The surge of air was the only warning Dawn had gotten as Terra’s forehoof was already a blur, lashing out with blinding speed, aiming straight for Dawn’s chest. Unable to do anything else, Dawn threw himself backward with every ounce of speed he could muster, his body seeming to be in two places at once, with Terra’s hoof actually passing through the afterimage he’d left behind.

In actuality, Terra’s hoof came within mere millimeters of connecting with Dawn’s flesh, so close that it grazed the hairs of his coat. Skidding to a halt several meters back, Dawn was aware of a searing pain in his chest. A second later, he coughed and spat out a bit of blood, the action shocking Scootaloo, who was now standing level with him.

“Dawn!” she exclaimed, shocked at the sight of blood. She’d been sure that Terra’s strike had missed.

“Get back!” said Dawn sharply, unable to think of saying anything else to her under the circumstances. It was clear that even a minor distraction could prove to be fatal. He barely even grazed me, but still… Even without pressing his hoof to his chest, Dawn suspected that there might even be small fractures in his ribs from the impact, even though Terra’s hoof had only barely brushed past him. It reminded Dawn of his fight against Skan, where allowing even the slightest contact with his opponent’s blows would be fatal. However, Terra was clearly stronger than Skan by an order of magnitude. If his hoof made even the slightest contact with Dawn’s actual body, Dawn had the feeling that he would crumple like a paper cup.

The sound of fluttering wings told him that Scootaloo was following his advice and putting some distance between herself and the fight that was about to begin in earnest. Now that she wasn’t in obvious danger anymore, Dawn allowed himself to return all of his focus to Terra, who was still facing Dawn with that same, stony expression.

Once again, Terra moved, taking a single step that seemed to eat up all the distance between the two of them all on its own. In reality, it was several steps at once, as the sound of ringing impacts that followed in Terra’s wake told Dawn. But Dawn was in no position to quibble over such details as he ducked beneath another lightning-fast punch that Terra had sent hooking in from the side. Even as Dawn ducked beneath it, Terra planted that hoof back down, the movement of the punch itself bringing the stallion’s shoulder in line with Dawn. When the hoof came down, it completely shattered the ground beneath it as Terra surged forward, thrusting his shoulder at Dawn like a battering ram.

Dawn’s wings beat downward as he kicked off with all four of his hooves, shooting upward out of the line of Terra’s attack. To Dawn’s amazement, the strike didn’t simply end with Terra’s shoulder, but actually sent a shockwave ahead of itself that tore a trench along the ground. Such a blow would have allowed Terra to kill Dawn without even touching him.

Dawn responded with an attack of his own. From above, Dawn beat his wings downward again, lashing out with his hooves to steady himself as he sent a blast of compressed air, capable of shattering rock, straight down at Terra’s head.

Terra didn’t even flinch as the blow slammed into him. The ground around his body exploded in a flurry of dirt and torn up grass as the blast of wind scattered and vented its force on Terra’s surroundings rather than the stallion himself. From the blast, a single stream of wind whipped out randomly and slammed into the side of the schoolhouse, slashing through the wall and practically cutting the building in two. With a roar of shattering timber, the upper half of the building sagged and toppled over, the tower with its bell slamming to the earth in a ringing cacophony.

Well…that didn’t work, thought Dawn as he looked down at his opponent. Terra had shrugged off the blow as though it hadn’t even been there. Dawn knew that hardening the body was supposed to be one of the most basic skills of the Mountain Root and earth pony martial arts in general. A master like Terra could probably withstand the most powerful strikes Dawn could use against him without difficulty. There was little point in taking the offensive if that was the case. It would only be a waste of stamina on Dawn’s part.

Perhaps I can wait him out, thought Dawn. After all, from what he knew, the Mountain Root was based almost entirely on physical contact. If Terra’s blows couldn’t reach him, then there was no way that the stallion could inflict any damage. If Dawn could wait outside of Terra’s reach and play for time, then maybe he could keep this going until Arkenstone arrived.

"Do you think you're safe up there?" asked Terra coldly, his eyes narrowing.

Before Dawn could even think about answering, Terra seemed to vanish and reappear not only in front of, but above Dawn. Out of reflex, Dawn jumped to the side as Terra thrust a hoof out at him. Dawn swung a wing across his body, bringing a hammer of air slamming into Terra's flank. However, Dawn was the one who was thrown away as the force of his own strike seemed to rebound against him. Luckily, the force was scattered somewhat, so he was spared being smashed and was instead sent into a disorienting tumble. Barely managing to right himself, Dawn got upright just in time to see Terra Heart seemingly walking across the empty air at fantastic speed straight at him. How?

Once again, Terra struck, this time twisting his body around to kick his hind hooves at Dawn, who barely managed to force himself up above the line of attack. However, to Dawn's dismay, the force of the kick seemed to disperse the air directly beneath his wings, sending the colt into a fall. Dawn managed to arrest his descent right before hitting the ground, but still landed hard enough to buckle his legs slightly. A faint whistle was the only warning he had before he threw himself to the side to avoid Terra, who descended from above with the force of a meteor.

Kicking off the ground again, Dawn used his legs and wings to propel himself back away from Terra as the stallion hit with an explosion that threw dirt and stones in the air. Before Dawn could actually try to leave the ground, he felt a faint pulse of...something...through the earth that seemed to flow up the one hoof he currently had connected to the ground. All of a sudden, Dawn's body, wings and all, felt as though it were made of lead. His liftoff aborted and he dropped down onto all four hooves. The feeling vanished almost immediately afterward, but it had halted Dawn's movement just enough for Terra to come rushing in once again.

Desperately, Dawn swept both his wings forward so that the outermost primaries pointed out past his head straight at the incoming Terra. Even as he flapped, Dawn also lunged, putting the full force of his body into the motion of one of the first techniques he'd taught Scootaloo. The Forward Wing Strike sent a wave of air that pulverized the ground ahead of it, turning rocks into dust and digging a trench through the earth as its full force slammed straight on into Terra.

It didn't even slow the massive stallion down. Instead, the cannon-blast of compressed air exploded outward on impact, tearing apart the ground all around the two combatants. On one side, the remnants of the schoolhouse crumbled into fragments while the fence on the other side vanished in a storm of splinters. Through it all, the roar of the wind filled the two combatants' ears as Terra blurred closer to Dawn.

Once again, Terra lashed out with a forehoof in another hooking strike that came at the side of Dawn's head. Dawn's own body blurred and vanished as he jumped sideways, moving in such perfect time with his opponent that Terra's hoof suddenly seemed to hang still in the air in front of his very eyes. Dancing around to Terra's flank, Dawn attempted to attack again, using a wing to drive another battering ram of air into Terra's side. However, once again, the force of the attack seemed to simply rebound against him. This time, Dawn let out a grunt of pain as he felt nearly the full force of his own attack slam back into him, launching him through the air. He only barely managed to avoid serious injury by relaxing his body to allow the force of the attack to knock him away rather than break him. Even so, the pain from the impact he'd received on his chest earlier redoubled.

Folding his wings tightly against his sides, Dawn hit the ground shoulder first and quickly went into roll to bleed out his excess momentum. The roll also carried him back onto his hooves. Using the remainder of his inertia, Dawn pushed off the ground before he could allow himself to be dragged to a stop and beat his wings to quickly take to the air once more.

That was what saved him as Terra's front hooves came crashing down on the very spot Dawn had hit. Once again, the earth shattered. Dawn grunted again as he was pelted with tiny stones that had been thrown up from the impact. The hail of tiny projectiles peppered his body, one or two even drawing blood.

This is no good, thought Dawn as he saw Terra already going into motion again. The stallion was relentless. If it was at all in his power, he would not let Dawn get into the air. Even worse, he could apparently follow Dawn into the sky if he needed to. How was something Dawn had yet to determine. Furthermore, Terra was doing everything in his power to keep Dawn from gaining distance on him. Every move Dawn made was being matched by Terra in order to keep him in the stallion's range. Finally, the constant motion and the need to remain alert and aware of Terra Heart's every movement were slowly taking their toll. Even though the fight had barely begun, Dawn already felt as though he'd been through half a dozen training sessions in a row with barely any time for a breather in between them. In contrast, he couldn't even make out the faintest trace of sweat across Terra's brow as the stallion came at him again. This is a master of the Mountain Root...

Dawn knew he couldn't afford to pull his punches any longer. Terra Heart was just too strong an opponent to even think about holding back against. Even as the realization occurred to him, Dawn flicked out one wing, holding it with its feathers splayed out so that it resembled a blade's edge. Slashing his wing through the air, Dawn seemed to carve a line through the world itself as a slim, crescent-shaped blade of vacuum whistled faintly through the air, straight for Terra's chest. Terra Heart didn't even see the strike coming and was in no position to avoid it as it hit dead on...and simply seemed to break in two across his chest, not so much as drawing a single drop of blood.

Only the sheer intensity of the fight kept Dawn's jaw from hanging slack as he dodged a flurry of strikes from Terra, moving so quickly that his body seemed to be in several places at once. His swiftest, deadliest attack, capable of slicing even through nigh-indestructible metals like mithril, hadn't even scratched Terra's hide. Desperately, Dawn launched a flurry of vacuum blades at Terra, trying to find some way to penetrate the stallion's unyielding defense. But they all scattered uselessly as Terra came on.

Continuing to give way in a fighting retreat, Dawn's wind-sense told him that something large and inanimate was looming up behind him. Not even bothering to look, his wings blurred, sending another barrage of blades, this time behind himself. The wings sliced through wood and plaster, cutting the corner of the house Dawn had been about to ram into to pieces. Kicking off both the ground and air as hard as he could, Dawn dashed backwards, using his wings to shift the air out of his way to allow him to accelerate away from Terra and put the crumbling walls of the house between them. A second later, Dawn's wings beat again, this time sending a wave of air that turned the fragments of the house's wall into a deadly rain of shrapnel. Driven by tornado-force winds, they rushed with blinding speed at Terra with enough force to shred flesh and shatter bone.

Shifting the angle of his body slightly, Terra brought his hooves down to the ground with enough force to crush stone and thrust his shoulder straight at the oncoming barrage. The house fragments shattered and scattered in all directions, along with the wind that had been driving them. The remainder of the house simply seemed to explode like a balloon, throwing debris everywhere.

Dawn's let his mind empty of thought relinquishing complete control to his body. Spinning and flipping, he managed to slip between the flying pieces of wood, glass, and plaster that had originally been driven by his own attack as they buzzed and zipped around him like a swarm of angry hornets. Even as he dodged, he began to agitate the air around his wings, producing a faint hum as bolts of electricity arced between his feathers. Snapping a wing out, Dawn pointed his leading primary at Terra and sent a bolt of pure electrical energy lashing out with a loud crack.

The bolt exploded against Terra's body in a shower of sparks, but failed to do anything. Not letting up, Dawn wheeled his wings, moving them through exaggerated circles as though they were joined together by a bar running across his shoulders. The power built in both his wings through their movements. As Terra came pressing on through the storm of their own colliding attacks, Dawn sent the electricity from his left wing rippling across his shoulders to add to the power he'd been building on his right wing. Continuing the circular motion he'd started with, Dawn swept his right wing upwards in an arcing motion that sent a stream of lightning curling out in a whiplike motion. Larger and much more powerful than his first strike, the bolt of lightning carved a fiery line across the ground, leaving a trail of glowing-hot earth in its wake.

Terra swept a forehoof inwards, upwards, and across his front in a blocking motion. It intercepted the incoming bolt of lightning and swatted it away, sending the redirected energy lancing into a nearby tree, which exploded in a shower of fiery splinters. Not even missing a beat, Terra came on once again, his hooves moving relentlessly to crush the life from Dawn's body.

Without even thinking about it, Dawn swept one wing out and around in an arcing motion, throwing the force of his entire body behind it. A roaring funnel cloud twisted around both combatants, seeming to swallow them whole as it rose up into the sky.

Fluttershy pressed herself up against Caramel's side, trembling like a leaf as she watched the tornado ascend upward. "Dawn..." she whispered. Like the rest of Ponyville, she had gone straight to Sweet Apple Acres when word had reached her about what was happening in town. Her first thought had been to go to her son's side. However, her bodyguards' words and her own experience told her that she would be more of a hinderance than a help in that situation.

"Can't ya do anything?" asked Apple Bloom, looking imploringly at the two griffons that stood nearby.

Skan curled his forepaws, gouging lines in the dirt with his deadly talons. "We would only get in the way," he said, frustration evident in his voice, "That colt beat me the last time we fought. If he's up against a pony that can press him this hard, then I doubt I'd last more than a minute."

"Besides," said Zhan softly, "We can't abandon our charge. That would be betraying Dawn's trust."

Her eyes watering, Bloom turned to watch the tornado as it gradually began to abate.

"They're tearing apart the town," observed Mayor Mare grimly, "Now I understand why they went through the trouble of having us evacuate."

"Looks like Dawn's tryin' to lead the fight to the park," said Big Macintosh, "Less stuff to smash up around there." Dinky Doo cowered between his hooves, taking shelter beneath the red stallion's hefty form. In the air above them, Ditzy tried to observe what was going on as best she could. However, between the distance and her own irregular vision, she was unable to discern any details.

"Only if he can keep it in the park," Mayor Mare pointed out.

"Ah think that's the least 'o our concerns," said Macintosh darkly.

"Help!"

Several head turned a once as the assembled ponies saw a frantic Flitter diving towards them, her eyes leaving a trail of tears in the air behind her as she rushed down.

"What's wrong?" asked Macintosh as Flitter barely managed to land upright in front of them.

"It's Red and Storm," said the weathermare in a tone that clearly indicated she was seconds away from panicking, "They're badly hurt! They need help!"

"Doc!" shouted Macintosh, turning towards the barn. He'd arranged for the barn to be used to house the patients from the hospital, who were being evacuated as quickly as they could while the fight progressed.

Doctor Stable, who'd heard Flitter's shouts was already giving orders to his staff. "Redheart, Tenderheart, take charge of unloading the patients! Triage, Gauze Roll, get back to the hospital on the double!" His orders given, he came galloping up to where Macintosh and the others were waiting. "I'm afraid all the ambulances are currently in use. Do you have a wagon we can use to collect the patients?"

"Eeyup," said Macintosh, "Ah reckon we do." The wagon, in fact, was the one that Red River would have normally used to haul the produce to market. But on this day, the azure stallion had left the wagon unloaded and gone into town without it. Macintosh found himself wondering if Red had foreseen just this sort of situation and left the empty wagon ready, just in case.

"I'll need you to pull it," said Dr. Stable, "I'll come along to make sure the patients are moved safely."

Macintosh was already hitching himself to the wagon, leaving a reluctant Dinky to cling to her mother as he and Dr. Stable prepared to head dangerously close to the battle still raging.

"Lead the way," said Macintosh to Flitter, who nodded and took to the air, flying ahead of the two stallions as they headed back into the town.

The locomotive hadn't even fully slowed down, coming into Ponyville's station at a much higher speed than it should have. The brakes had been applied much later than usual. As a consequence, it was likely that the train would be well past the station when it finally coasted to a stop. Before it reached the station, Arkenstone bounded out from the locomotive itself, hitting the ground at a gallop. Over the screeching of the train's brakes, Arkenstone could hear the sound of roaring wind and crashing wood. His nose filled with the scents of fear, exertion...and blood.

He came to a halt, realizing that he was now in Ponyville's market district. His ears swiveled around even as he sniffed the air, trying to find out where the scent of blood was the strongest. Time was of the essence, but the continuing roar of wind, punctuated by the crack and buzz of lightning, indicated that Dawn was still fighting. As long as Dawn was still fighting, it was Arkenstone's duty to ensure that any innocents and injured were away from the zone of conflict. After all, once Arkenstone himself entered the battle, it was highly unlikely that there would be anything that could be saved for several miles around.

Finally, he managed to pinpoint the location of the first body. Coming over, Arkenstone's eyes opened once again, betraying his shock as he realized whose blood he was smelling.

"Red River!"

The azure stallion was practically embedded in the wall of the local florist. One side of him had sunken deeply into the plaster wall, while two of his legs bent at unnatural angles. Hearing the sound of his name, Red slowly pried one eye open and focused it on Arkenstone.

"Hey...you made...it back..."

"Don't talk," said Arkenstone softly, "I'll make sure you get treatment."

"D-don't worry a-about me," said Red, his chest heaving with the effort it took to speak, "Find Storm...I...I think he's in a real bad way."

Frowning, Arkenstone stepped away and tried to home in on the scent of the other mercenary. It took him a little bit of work, but he found it. Just as Red had said, Storm was in much worse condition. His body had been thrown into a back alley, where he now lay, motionless. Only the faintest twitching rise and fall of his chest indicated he was still alive. However, there were signs of several fractures and one of his wings appeared to have had its bones completely shattered. The foreleg that normally anchored his meteor hammer had been snapped in several places and wrenched into a very bad position.

Will either of them be able to fight...or even stand again after this? wondered Arkensone, anger building inside of him. There hadn't been any need to break either of his opponents so completely. Terra could have easily done much less physical harm to them if the gulf in power between him and them was so great. However, he hadn't merely defeated them, he had crushed them. Arkenstone realized what Terra had done. Terra Heart had "passed judgment" on these two stallions for daring to impede his mission. He had struck them, not with the intent to defeat or disable, but to maim them, potentially for life, assuming they lived at all. It was an even more extreme version of what Dawn had once done to Flash Spark. However, unlike Dawn, Terra clearly had no intention of ever feeling remorse for this act.

Arkenstone couldn't move them in their current state. He had no way of knowing if any damage had been done to their spines. Until he managed to get a doctor to assist him, it was probably for the best to leave the two stallions as they were for the time being, so long as their lives weren't in immediate danger.

"Mr. Arkenstone!"

Arkenstone's ears perked up and swiveled at the sound of Flitter's voice. She was flying down the street towards him. Behind her were Big Macintosh and Dr. Stable, the former pulling a wagon.

"Excellent!" said Arkenstone, turning to face them. He quickly explained to Stable and Macintosh the situation. Stable used his magic to scan both stallions and then carefully levitate them into the cart without aggravating their injuries.

Flitter was distraught, weeping openly as she watched the doctor settle Storm into the cart. "He'll live," said the doctor, giving Flitter a reassuring smile, "I can promise that much at least."

Arkenstone noted that Stable had neglected to mention just what kind of life Storm would have beyond that point. Still, the doctor's tone wasn't completely grim, so there might have been hope yet.

"Are ya gonna jump in'ta that?" asked Macintosh, pointing his muzzle in the direction of the park, where the sounds of the battle still echoed.

"Yes," said Arkenstone, "I doubt Dawn will last much longer. I'll delay as much as possible to give you and the others time to get situated at Sweet Apple Acres." Turning, he faintly opened his eyes as he regarded Macintosh. "Once you're there, gather all the earth ponies you can and have them Stand Firm. Use their power to anchor the ground. Otherwise..."

"Ah don't know if it'll be enough," said Macintosh, "Ah don't know where Granny went off to."

"If she's not there, it'll have to be you," said Arkenstone solemnly, "Go!"

Macintosh nodded. Moving with careful deliberateness, he pulled the cart around to to take it back the way he came, trying to strike a balance between moving swiftly and avoiding any defects in the road that would cause it to jar his passengers and aggravate their delicate state. Stable followed along behind him, using his magic to smooth out the ride as much as possible.

"Flitter," said Arkenstone, his voice causing the mare to free in place as she was just about to fly after the others, "Did you see what happened here?"

"Y-yes," said Flitter, her body quivering at the memory.

"I need you to tell me everything you remember," said Arkenstone, "Any detail might be important."

"A-alright..." said Flitter.

In a smooth motion, Red River whipped his weapon out of its sheath. The motion extended the spear's handle as he swept it in an arc in front of him, the motion actually releasing a harsh breeze that washed over the ponies in his immediate vicinity, drawing their attention to him.

"All of you!" Red shouted to the ponies around the market, "This is an emergency situation. You all need to get to Sweet Apple Acres as quickly as possible. Do what you can to make sure that everypony makes it there safely...NOW!"

Even as he pronounced the final syllable of his message, Red released an incredible wave of killing intent that made it perfectly clear that he was not posturing or bluffing. Nervously, ponies pulled back away from him as Red focused the entirety of his attention on the one pony that hadn't heeded his warning, the massive stallion still advancing towards him.

The crowds of ponies pulled back away from the two of them as they faced each other, many already heading for the farm outside the town limits. However, most of them hesitated, watching and wondering just what was going on. In the meantime, at Storm Front's urging, the weather ponies were scattering across town and carrying word to everypony not currently in the market. Even though Ponyville was a relatively small town, that still left several hundred ponies who needed to be warned and moved.

An oppressive silence descended on the street as Red faced Terra Heart, his spear still stretched out to one side, angle slightly downward so that its shaft stretched over his shoulders.

Terra came to a halt a short distance away from Red River. "Hail warrior," he said, his voice dripping with formality, "I am an agent of Her Radiance, here on a sacred mission to exterminate evil. I-"

"I know who you are, Terra Heart," said Red River, his eyes narrowing, "You are an agent of the Cult Solar, here with the intent of committing the act of equicide. You and yours have repeatedly ignored Princess Celestia's real wishes in favor of erecting a delusion in her image and worshiping it in her stead. You have persecuted, threatened, and attacked innocent ponies on the basis of mere appearances. While I stand here, I stand between you and the object of your malice and you will not advance past this point."

For a moment, Terra actually looked taken aback by Red's words and tone. Then his eyes narrowed in anger. "I see you for what you are now," he said, his voice a low rumble that seemed to make the ground around him shake, "My course is clear to me, blasphemer. You will not obstruct my mission. Either stand aside or be thrown aside."

"I will not yield to you," said Red grimly.

Terra's expression hardened. "Thrice I ask and done. Get out of my way."

"No."

Slowly, Terra's eyes drifted shut. "So be it." He inhaled deeply. To everypony in the immediate vicinity, it felt as though the ground suddenly tilted sharply in the direction of the massive stallion, as though they were on the verge of falling into a pit that he stood at the center of. Reflexively, their audience backed away further.

In the blink of an eye, Red lashed out with his spear, thrusting straight towards Terra's chest. His other forehoof slammed down, actually embedding itself in the ground as he lunged forward.

Terra's eyes snapped back open and he swept a forehoof upwards and outwards, knocking the thrust to the side. A short distance behind him, the wooden wall of one of the market stalls suddenly had a hole punched through it before the whole structure shattered like glass. Ponies screamed and scattered as the truth of what was going on finally sunk in on a visceral level.

Unwilling to allow Terra a chance to seize any more momentum, Red retracted the spear and launched a barrage of lightning-fast thrusts, the spear seeming to be multiple places at once, appearing to twist and writhe like a living creature as it jabbed relentlessly at Terra's body. Terra reared up on his hind legs, his two forelegs working in tandem to parry Red's thrusts before any of them so much as touched his flesh. Even as he defended, Terra slowly fell back, retreating from the sheer ferocity of the attack.

Even as Red pushed forward, pressing his attack, it was clear to him that he was outmatched. Though Terra was on the defensive, Red still clearly felt the vast gulf that seemed to represent the difference in their respective strengths. Still, he pressed on. If he let up even for the tiniest sliver of a fraction of a second, then Terra would go on the attack and the fight would be over.

A whistling sound came from overhead and Terra looked up to see a flash of something metallic plummeting at him from above. As Terra looked away, Red took the advantage of the distraction, accelerating his next thrust so that the spear practically seemed to vanish, thanks to its sheer speed.

Without taking his eyes off the falling metal weight, Terra's foreleg snapped out and parried the attack automatically, knocking it off course so that the blade of Red's spear intercepted the weight of Storm Front's meteor hammer. Upon impact there was a loud ringing sound, like that of a gigantic bell that burst out from the weight. The wave of sound slammed into Terra and forced its way into his ear, causing him to reel back with a grunt of pain. He fell back down onto all fours.

Storm pulled the meteor hammer back towards himself, wrapping its cord around his body several times. With each wrap, the weight of the hammer seemed to gather the surrounding air around itself in a swirling vortex that enlarged the overall size of the weight. Then, with a shift of his body, Storm launched the weight straight out and down at Terra like a striking snake, the wight surrounded by a veil of twisting winds. At the same time, Red had pulled back his spear, taking advantage of Terra's momentarily stunned state to spin and rotate it fiercely.

The two attacks came at Terra simultaneously. However, Terra made no effort to defend against them, his head lowered and his eyes closed. Both the spear and the meteor hammer struck home.

The first thing Storm Front noticed was a sound like a cracking whip...followed by the popping and cracking of bone. His eyes widened as he saw his wright arm wrench around backwards, nearly every joint dislocating at once. At the same time, his arm twisted and Storm felt the bones snapping. At the instant of the weight's impact against Terra, the massive stallion had shifted and a rippling wave traveled back up the length of the cord to Storm, where the cord itself had somehow snapped his arm.

Meanwhile, the blade of Red River's spear struck its target...and shattered into pieces, also splintering the next foot or so of the shaft behind the blade. The red tassel was sent tumbling through the air, as Red pulled back the broken remnants of his weapon.

Terra wasn't done yet. Before the meteor hammer could fall away from his body, he reached up with a foreleg and curled his fetlock around the weight before moving fluidly to wrap a short length of the cord around his arm. Terra gave a powerful yank. Storm screamed in agony as he was pulled straight down towards Terra by the arm that had just been broken. His fall resulted in him coming down right next to Terra, who turned and let out a mighty buck just as Storm was about to hit the ground.

Terra's hooves connected with Storm's side, all but completely crushing the wing there and launching Storm into an alleyway, where he hit with a loud crash. Contemptuously, Terra uncurled the meteor hammer from around his hoof and let it fall to the ground.

"As expected from filth that would dare protect a demon," said Terra, turning to face Red. "Now that your weapon has been disabled, I will give you one last opportunity to withdraw unharmed."

Red River began to spin what remained of his spear around one leg, twirling it like a baton. "I think not," he said. As it spun, the spear's shaft began to glow. "The blade may be broken. The shaft may be shattered. But, in the end, a spear is still a spear. As long as I have that idea in my hooves, it doesn't matter whether it's a real spear or a twig or even a blade of grass. I still have a spear capable of piercing you."

The spear's spin halted as Red assumed an attacking stance once again, crouching down on one foreleg while the other hefted the shining shaft of the spear so that it was angled slightly downward. The light seemed to curl out of the wooden shaft, swirling about, taking form. The light formed itself into a massive phantasmal spear formed from glowing lines of hardened light. It was larger than Red should have been able to wield, its shaft to thick for him to actually wrap his fetlock around, but Red still held it, his grip actually still holding the original shaft at the center of the spear of light.

"An impressive parlor trick," observed Terra in a bored tone, "But your dependence on weapons and sullying your Art with concepts from outside sources will not amount to anything."

Red's eyes narrowed and he pushed his three free hooves down into the ground his entire body blurring into the motion as he thrust the glowing spear, which seemed to become a ray of light as it rushed straight for Terra's body.

Terra's eyes widened and, at the last second, he threw himself to the side. The shaft of light rushed past him, cleaving a clean line through the ground as it went, until it impacted the side of a building halfway down the street, piercing straight through it as though its walls were made of paper.

Red retracted his arm and the spear of light shrank down to its original proportions as he prepared to attack again. However, as Red took the first step to make his next thrust, the shining spear suddenly seemed to dissolve, leaving behind a broken shaft once again.

Red's eyes widened as Terra's body blurred, crossing the distance between them in an instant. Terra's forehoof came down as he turned and slammed his shoulder into Red River's own shoulder and side. The bones at the point of impact shattered almost instantly and Red barely had time to cry out as he was thrown off his hooves and sent flying through the side of a nearby storefront, where he impacted against one of the interior walls and found himself all but imbedded there.

Terra Heart snorted once and surveyed his surroundings. The last few ponies that had been there to watch the event had fled. He made his way to the alley to inspect the first of the opponents he'd taken down. Storm Front still lay there, his body twitching feebly. Terra stopped, idly contemplating whether or not to finish the pegasus off.

"Stop!" A grayish blur flashed downwards and Flitter landed between Terra and Storm, glaring at Terra with tears in her eyes. "You've done enough," she said, "Leave him alone."

Terra clearly disagreed. However, his objective wasn't here. Instead, he silently turned and went back to making his way down the now deserted street in search of his target.

"So that's what happened," Arkenstone muttered to himself as Flitter finished her story. She had talked as quickly as she could, clearly feeling the urgency of the situation. However, Arkenstone noted that the sounds of battle from the park still hadn't quieted down. Dawn was still fighting. But, against an enemy like Terra Heart, he must have been nearing his limit. The colt likely wouldn't be able to keep up the fight for much longer. The fact that he'd held on this long was incredibly remarkable on its own.

"Did that help?" asked Flitter worriedly, "Can you beat him?"

"It did help," said Arkenstone, giving the mare a reassuring smile, "But I don't dare claim victory just yet. You've been a great help to me. Go with Storm and the others now."

Flitter nodded and took off into the sky.

Arkenstone began making his way toward the park, his nose and ears guiding him. His mind was carefully processing what he'd learned from Flitter's story. She'd told him more than she realized as Arkenstone recognized some of the Mountain Root's techniques in what Terra had done. It told him a great deal about the level of Terra's skill.

Reap What You Sow: Perhaps one of the highest techniques in the Mountain Root's repertoire. The technique that had brought down Storm Front utilized an earth pony's ability to use physical objects and substances as a medium for their magic to its utmost. Terra had rebounded the force of Storm's attack, not merely deflecting the weight of the meteor hammer itself, but sending the force of its impact traveling back up the cord and into the arm that had launched the attack. What was more, Terra had added his own power to it, the resulting force being enough to almost completely destroy Storm's arm.

Empty Ground: That was the technique that had disrupted Red River's attack. It was less advanced than the technique that had defeated Storm, but an excellent measure of Terra's power. Earth ponies drew their strength from the land around them, drawing the earth's power into themselves and refining it before turning it against their enemies. However, against another earth pony, the very act of drawing in power could be used as an attack of sorts. An advanced user of earth pony magic could focus and control precisely where she drew power from. Normally, given the vast potential of the earth itself, this was a relatively pointless ability. However, a strong enough practitioner could use their power to temporarily draw all of the power out of the area in the immediate vicinity of an opponent who also wielded earth pony magic. Doing so disrupted the opponent's ability to draw power into themselves and, as such, would disrupt any attack or defense they had, just as Terra's use of Empty Ground had caused Red's spear to suddenly vanish. It only lasted for a brief period, less than a second even, but a skilled user would not miss the opening such a technique could create. More importantly, it took an immense amount of personal strength to completely draw the power out of just a few square meters of ground even for such a short time.

Terra was strong. He also had knowledge of the highest arts of the Mountain Root. That much was clear to Arkenstone. And yet...there was a fleeting sense of vulnerability, a chink in the otherwise impenetrable armor that surrounded the one known as Terra Heart. Arkenstone hadn't seized upon it yet. However, he knew he would have to if he were to have any hope of victory.

Ultimately, the answer would only be discovered in the fight itself. Arkenstone didn't have time to stand by and calmly consider strategies or assess strength and vulnerability. Dawn Lightwing needed him. Also, there were certain actions on Terra's part that needed to be redressed. Setting his shoulders, Arkenstone fixed on the sounds of Dawn's fight and headed straight for it. It's time to enter the battle.

Shining Wind

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Chapter 23: Shining Wind

"Alright! I need everypony to get in closer. I'm starting the teleport now." Twilight looked around to confirm that all of her passengers were within the spell's range.

"Ms. Twilight...?" One of the orderlies approached her, a young stallion named Gauze Roll if Twilight remembered correctly. "Can you really take this many ponies?"

Pursing her lips, Twilight nodded, admittedly feeling a bit reluctant. Theoretically, it should have been within the parameters of her new teleportation spell. When she'd first learned about Terra Heart's impending visit, back around Nightmare Night, Twilight had begun to consider spells that would be useful in aiding a mass evacuation of Ponyville. Naturally, that had meant mass teleports, the most effective way of moving ponies from point A to point B in the least amount of time while minimizing the risk of them getting caught in the collateral damage of the battle itself. Of course...there was the issue of making sure that such a spell actually was safer than the alternative. Twilight dearly wished she'd managed to move to the live-test phase of her spell before being forced to use it.

On top of that, she couldn't ask for a worse draw when it came to the first ponies to accompany her on such a teleport. Twilight had trained herself to shut down the spell in the event that something was in danger of going catastrophically wrong. Thankfully, her training in battle magic under Arkenstone had actually helped to hone both her sensitivity to the flow of magical energy and her reaction time so that she would be able to prevent anything from going seriously wrong. The nurses and orderlies would be fine, if a little singed, if something went wrong. The patients, on the other hoof, might end up even worse than they already were if they were exposed to the unraveling energies of such a powerful spell at close range.

Twilight simply counted herself lucky that the most at-risk patients and those with the most delicate conditions had been given top priority when it came to the evacuation. It also helped that Ponyville Hospital was neither large nor crowded. There weren't too many ponies remaining and those who were still there had relatively minor injuries at worst.

I can do this, thought Twilight, Compared to what Arkenstone is up against, this is easy. Thinking about him helped rally her heart. Twilight took a deep breath and settled herself to begin her spell. As she did, she called upon her hidden asset. A faint sparkle of light emerged from the base of her horn, slowly wrapping around it to form a ring of silver and gold. The arcanasteel ring, a gift that Arkenstone had given her so many months ago, would help her see the spell through.

The ring had numerous, perhaps countless, potential uses. However, those uses technically fell under two categories. Its first and primary role was to serve as a conduit to actualize Twilight's magic. Before she'd received it, it had been her brother's and it had actually been used by numerous former captains of the Royal Guard before that. It conjured armor from actualized magic, magic made material substance (as opposed to magic-made material substances, which was the school of conjuration). Shining Armor and other Royal Guard Captains used the ring to create their armor, as opposed to wearing an actual, physical set. Said armor could be imbued with particular properties by the creator, only limited by their understanding of how to manipulate the qualities of actualized magic.

The second category of uses the ring possessed was magic accumulation. Orichalcum was a powerful conductor of magic. When alchemically married with mithril, a metal that was magically-resistant, the resulting alloy, called arcanasteel, had the unique quality of being at once conductive and resistant to magical energy. The mithril sigils engraved on the ring's outside created barriers that forced magic to flow through the more conductive channels of orichalcum, which helped to shape the discharge of magic channeled through the ring (which was what created the armor itself). The magic flowed to the inside of the ring, which was composed of the actual amalgam of mithril and orichalcum that was arcanasteel itself. The alloy soaked up magic like a sponge, accumulating it and keeping it circulating throughout the ring until needed. Its capacity was enormous. Twilight had been channeling her excess magic into the ring for months to build its charge, but had yet to fully charge it.

She used both those functions now. As the ring around her horn blazed with silver-white fire, Twilight used it to actualize her magic, not around herself, but to cover each pony being teleported with a thin sheath of pseudo-armor, a far cry of what she could create for herself, but more than enough to serve her purposes. At the same time, she drew upon the ring's stored power to supplement the magic she'd channeled out through the horn to build the actual spell itself. Because the magic stored in the ring was already outside of her body, she didn't need to channel it through her horn, which drastically reduced the stress casting such an enormously powerful spell would normally have on her horn's alicorn.

As the spell proceeded, the magic from the ring joined with the magic coming from her horn and shrouded the ponies all around Twilight. The magical field blazed with blinding light and they vanished from the ground in front of the hospital. As Twilight had predicted, managing so much magical energy at once, even with the aid of her ring, was not an easy effort. The magical field shifted and intensified at random times and at random spots. Normally, this would result in light burns and singed fur. However, thanks to the armor of actualized magic she'd encased her passengers in, the ponies riding along the spell with her were untouched.

They arrived at Sweet Apple Acres in an explosion of light and sound. The unrestrained energies of the unraveling spell could have potentially injured her passengers, but instead simply stripped the armor away as it absorbed its maximum capacity for damage, leaving all the ponies Twilight had teleported along with herself unharmed.

"Ya made it!"

Twilight looked over to see Applejack coming up to greet them. "Ah wasn't sure that fancy spell 'o yers was gonna work. Good thing Ah came to make sure the field was clear fer yer landin'."

"Thanks Applejack," said Twilight with a cheerful nod. When the train had finally ground to a halt, well past the station, Twilight had directed Applejack and Rarity to go meet everypony else at the farm. Applejack's job had been to make sure that Twilight's point of arrival was clear as the consequences for anypony who might have been occupying the site of her intended destination would have been...unpleasant.

More nurses and orderlies joined those who had accompanied Twilight to take charge of the patients and escort them to the Apples' barn. "How are things here?" asked Twilight as she walked over to her friend.

Applejack's face fell. Twilight suddenly noticed that she looked deathly pale beneath her coat and her eyes were red. The small trackways of matted fur where her tears had run down her cheeks also came to Twilight's notice. "Applejack? What's wrong?" Twilight braced herself for the worst.

"It's Red...and Storm," said Applejack, "They tried to stop that...that monster and..." She let out a choked sob. "It ain't good, Twi."

Slowly, Twilight moved to wrap her arms around Applejack's shoulders and hugged her tightly. "It'll be okay," she whispered.

"Ah wish Ah could believe that," said Applejack, "But the doc ain't got much hope fer either of 'em bein' up an' about again, especially since they ain't got a proper hospital."

Twilight frowned. That was a serious problem. Unicorn magic could do a great deal to treat injuries and aid in recovery. However, it required the assistance of a stable, clean environment in order to work best. The Apple Family barn, which, while definitely no cesspit and quite clean, by barn standards at least, was not a proper substitute for a hospital environment.

"Come on, Applejack," said Twilight, slowly guiding her friend back towards the barn, "Let's see if there's anything we can do to help." Twilight sincerely hoped that there was, but felt that it wasn't likely. As she went, Twilight was assaulted by the feeling that she'd forgotten something or someone important. Wait! Where's Spike?

"Darn it! Where did Twilight put those phoenix feathers again?" muttered Spike as he rooted through the trunk next to Twilight's desk. He'd been a bit late in getting the memo about what was going on in town, mostly because, with Twilight gone to Canterlot, somepony had apparently forgotten that he still lived at the library. "Geez. Do a little housesitting and ponies completely forget you exist."

"Ah ha!" At last, Spike managed to uncover the bundle of glimmering red and violet feathers belonging to Ouranos. When set to a letter, the feathers worked in a manner similar to Spike's own fire, setting the letter alight and sending it straight to the phoenix, who would then take the letter straight to Spitfire. Letters sent this method were treated as emergency missives and given the highest priority, which meant that, once she got it, Spitfire would probably head out from Cloudsdale on the double and put a stop to this situation.

But Cloudsdale is still hours away by flight, thought Spike, What if she doesn't make it in time?

But time was the one thing he couldn't afford to waste with doubts. Spike immediately got parchment to quill and set to work penning a quick letter that would hopefully bring Spitfire straight to town. He didn't know if Twilight and Arkenstone had come back yet, but it was best to play it as safe as he could.

Finally, Spike touched the feather to the letter. The parchment and feather burst into a cloud of glittering fire that streamed out the window and headed to Cloudsdale. There. That's taken care of, thought Spike, Time to go join the others.

As he made his way to the door, the young dragon froze as he realized something. The sounds of battle had disappeared completely and silence had replaced them. That's...not good...

Dawn's mind was blank. He'd given up on trying to think long ago...at least...it seemed long ago. It had probably only been a few minutes really. But it felt as though hours had passed to him as he continued with his deadly dance; a dance where his partner was determined to step on his hooves...and the rest of him as well.

No longer guided by thought, Dawn's body moved by instinct, the years of training having ingrained themselves into his flesh and blood at a level beyond that of reflex. Even though he couldn't think about it, Dawn's body knew how to fight. He moved purely by feeling, his eyes staring blankly ahead as his body responded almost completely on its own to the movement of the air as Terra's attacks displaced it.

The attempt to gain an opening by unleashing a tornado had proved futile. Terra Heart had bulled his way through the attack with just as much ease as he had everything else. Dawn had tried to ride the currents of the funnel in order to gain some altitude, only to find that Terra had somehow, once again, managed to climb into the air with him, moving as though the massive stallion weighed no more than a feather. And yet, even up there, when Terra struck, he might as well have weighed tons. It was almost as though Terra could somehow adjust his weight and lighten himself at will. Perhaps that was in the purview of earth pony magic on some level that Dawn wasn't aware of. However, this was neither the time nor place to think about it.

Moving on automatic, Dawn had attacked and attacked and attacked, even as his body dodged countless return blows by a paper's width. Nothing worked. Battering rams of compressed air seemed to simply burst on contact or rebound upon their creator. A whirling, slicing blade of air felled all the trees within a certain radius of the two combatants, but left Terra untouched. Lightning was either knocked aside or simply seemed to ground itself out whenever it came into contact with its target. Yet, Dawn continued to attack whenever he could, desperately seeking some way to breach Terra Heart's seemingly impenetrable defense.

A tree split in two as Dawn ducked beneath a pair of bucking hind legs. As Terra retracted his legs, Dawn launched himself upwards and backwards in a backflip that carried him between the two halves of the splitting tree. His wings released vacuum blades that cleaved the two halves away from the trunk where they joined. As Dawn's body came out of its flip, he used gusts of wind to launch the two trees at Terra's body just as the stallion turned around.

As he turned, Terra simply swept out a foreleg, brushing aside the two massive chunks of wood and branches as though he were simply brushing off a cobweb and sending them crashing off to the side and moved to pursue Dawn again.

Dawn's body immediately went into a roll as he swept his wings around in the motion, creating a swirling whirlwind that rushed through the grove of trees they were currently fighting their way through. The wind stripped countless leaves off their branches and brought them into a swirling cloud around the colt, obscuring his body as Dawn immediately moved to a new position. Meanwhile, Terra charged towards Dawn's original position, thrusting his hoof into the center of the leafy maelstrom. The whirlwind unraveled, dispersing the leaves. However, Terra's eyes widened when he no longer saw Dawn there.

Silently, a single crescent-shaped blade sliced its way through the air and struck Terra full on in the side. However, the vacuum blade again failed to penetrate. Terra turned towards the source of the attack and was surprised to see Dawn closing in again. This time, Dawn came within a single step of Terra, an orb of swirling energy hanging off the tip of his outermost primary like a single ripe fruit. As Dawn closed in, he slammed his hooves down into the ground and used that motion to propel the wing and the orb of concentrated plasma on its tip straight into Terra's chest.

The fruit metaphor held as the orb seemed to break and then splash over Terra, the energy contained within it washing over his body. To Terra's shock, he actually felt a faint tingle as the attack actually drove him back a pace. What? For a moment, Terra blinked in surprise and stared as Dawn began to fall back from the attack. Terra couldn't quite figure out what that feeling was. It almost felt as though a tiny portion of Dawn's attack had actually worked its way through the magic strengthening Terra' body. But that was impossible. There is no way this demon could possibly have the power to inflict harm on me, thought Terra angrily. In his present state, not even a dragon's fangs or claws could draw his blood. That faint tingling must have been something else. It couldn't have possibly been caused by a slight trickle of electricity from Dawn's last attack actually affecting his body. Shaking off his surprise, Terra pressed forward.

On the other side of the battle, Dawn was beset by an inkling. Even though he wasn't consciously thinking about it, Dawn's awareness had sensed something about that last attack. Gradually, Dawn was growing conscious of a certain sensation, an ebb and flow in the air between him and Terra. The motion of the air had a certain rhythm to it. Sometimes, it was drawn deeply in Terra's direction, only to be expelled back towards Dawn with surprising ferocity, always right when Terra attacked. Depending on the scale of the flow, the attack might be large or small. The rhythm of movement might speed up or slow down, but there was always a consistent beat there.

As Terra actually backed away from Dawn for the first time in their battle, Dawn was suddenly conscious of just what that back and forth movement in the air was. It was Terra's breath. He was sensing Terra's breathing through the wind. What was more, thanks to that, he had a better idea of when Terra was attacking, whether the movements of the attack would be large or small, when Terra was making a feint or actually committing himself to a strike.

A memory emerged from the depths of Dawn's mind, something Arkenstone had told him once. "Breath is central to nearly all martial arts. It is the means by which we generate power, channel it and release it. A pony can mask their presence and their intent, but they cannot mask their breath. Breathing also teaches you their rhythm and intervals, marking the difference between action and inaction. If you can perceive that, then you can move as one with your opponent. If both of you move as one, then it is the same as neither of you moving at all. Then, if add your own motion to your opponent's motion, then you will be the only one moving."

Remembering, Dawn allowed the entirety of his awareness to be drawn into the sensation of Terra's breathing, feeling every time the stallion drew air in and exhaled it back out. When Terra inhaled, Dawn's awareness actually flowed into the stallion and Dawn felt his power. It blazed like a miniature sun, surging and violent. It was larger and fiercer than the compact, contained star that Dawn remembered sensing inside of Arkenstone, but somehow less refined.

As Dawn focused on this new dimension of awareness, the battle progressed. However, the colt now moved with greater ease than ever, slipping between openings in Terra's attacks he wouldn't have noticed earlier, moving in synch with his larger and stronger opponent. As he did, his body's movements became less frantic and abrupt. He'd slip forward directly into Terra's space one second and slink out through the side at an angle as Terra tried to strike him the next, moving smoothly and fluidly, his movements becoming more efficient and easier with each passing moment. Dawn's sense of his own body seemed to bleed away as he became immersed in the fight itself.

Terra's frustration was slowly growing. The fight was dragging on and the colt should have been tiring with each passing minute. However, no matter how hard he tried, Terra simply couldn't find a way to end the battle. If anything, Dawn seemed to be a more difficult target now than he had been at the fight's beginning. Whenever Terra attacked, Dawn's form seemed to simply flow around his hooves without being touched and slip away at some unexpected angle. If Terra could touch Dawn, whether with his hooves, his barrel, or even the tip of his tail, then he could launch a full-force attack through that point of contact. But Dawn Lightwing seemed to have become an intangible phantom.

It grated on Terra's nerves. A demon should not have been so capable. The fight should have been over long ago. The creature calling itself Dawn Lightwing and masquerading as a pony was meant to be stamped out. Terra was older, stronger, and far more experienced. More importantly, he was righteous and he was just. Everything was on his side and yet the battle dragged on with no signs of conclusion. Though Dawn's attacks seemed incapable of harming Terra, Terra's own strikes seemed just as incapable of reaching the colt's body.

It was a stalemate, but one that Terra was determined to break. Whatever else might come, Terra Heart was certain that he could outlast Dawn Lightwing. Sooner or later, the body that the foul demon had hijacked would reach its limits and be reduced to a helpless state. Then it would be a simple matter to end it.

Then things began to change. As Dawn slipped around yet another barrage of punches from Terra’s forehooves before falling back from a shoulder check Dawn’s wings flared, slashing through the air like knives. Taking flight directly over Terra’s back, Dawn directed several vacuum blades downwards, aiming, not at Terra, but the ground around him, etching deep lines into the ground. Once again going into a rolling motion, Dawn directed a surge of our down into the gouges he’d just cut out of the ground.

To Terra’s shock, the ground beneath his hooves lifted up into the air, then, with another burst from Dawn’s wings, inverted, while Terra was still on it, thus pinning him beneath the chunk of earth as it fell towards the ground. Growling, Terra reared, planting his forehooves into the dirt at the bottom of the hole and bucking upwards with his hind hooves. The chunk of earth above him shattered, throwing clods of dirt in every direction. Bounding out of the hole Dawn’s attack had left behind, Terra was surprised to find Dawn waiting for him. In fact, as Terra moved towards the colt, Dawn actually flickered and moved even closer still, now right in front of Terra’s chest so that the colt stood just beneath the stallion’s chin.

Getting an even better feel for the flow of Terra’s breath, Dawn had actually reached the point where he found his own rhythm starting to match Terra’s. He was anticipating Terra’s moves and even realizing how to disrupt them. He also realized something else. As he stepped right into Terra’s space, coming right up to the stallion’s chest, Dawn halted scant inches away from his opponent, his breath perfectly in synch with Terra’s, feeling almost as though he had become one with the very pony he was fighting.

At that moment, Dawn attacked. It was nothing more than the most basic of his techniques, a burst of compressed air from one wing at point-blank range. The attack slammed into Terra’s chest and, instead of scattering or rebounding, actually knocked Terra Heart back.

Terra’s breath escaped with a loud huff as his hooves dug grooves in the ground, threatening to send him plunging back into the very pit he’d just jumped out of. It was shocking to the stallion. It had been years since he’d last actually felt pain in battle. The situation was both shocking and novel. How? There is no way this creature should be capable of something like that.

Dawn, on the other hoof, felt exultation rush through him at the realization that he’d finally managed to get through Terra Heart’s seemingly impenetrable defense. However, as he moved to press the attack, he stepped forward and found his foreleg buckling, threatening to collapse out from underneath him. Dawn pulled back and realized his hind legs were behaving in a similar manner. In fact, all his limbs, even his wings, had begun to quiver. The strain of the battle was, at last, catching up to him. Ironically, his embrace of the very principles that had allowed him to perform so well to this point were also what had led him to ignore the growing strain on his body until it was almost no longer capable of moving under its own power.

The feeling was beginning to drain out of his extremities as Dawn tried to summon up what little strength he had left in order to find some way to press the attack. Whatever he did would ultimately be his last effort, so Dawn had to make it count. Another memory rose up in his mind as he tried to settle on a course of action, a memory of a different discussion with Arkenstone. “True mastery of the Gale King will emerge when your separate techniques become one and the same.” At the time, as well as more recently, Dawn had wondered what such a unified technique might entail. He believed he’d approached it during his most recent training sessions. But, ultimately, he had yet to grasp that technique’s true form.

However, now, in this blank state, existing between thought and thoughtlessness, where his body and mind had achieved and almost perfect union, Dawn might have had the answer in his grasp. Though his body was on the verge of collapse, that numb sensation was actually affording Dawn a greater sense of clarity than ever before, very much like the sense he’d gotten when he’d faced the assassin, Willow. In those circumstances, to pierce the veil of Willow’s fog, Dawn had shed each of his senses and, in doing so, had managed to reach a level of perception that surpassed them. Now his senses were fading as a result of his own exhaustion. But it was affording him a similar clarity. Because of that, this would be his best chance to reach for that level of mastery.

As he recovered from the blow, Terra froze when he noticed the trembling in Dawn’s limbs. The colt’s body was finally giving out. Terra’s lips curled up in a triumphant smile before he forced the expression back down. There was no place for such emotion on the battlefield. He needed to focus the entirety of his being on what needed to be done. Sufficiently grim-faced once again, Terra began to march steadily toward the exhausted colt. The end…at last.

High above the battlefield, Scootaloo hovered, watching with worried eyes as Dawn’s battle with Terra Heart progressed. Dawn had not been kidding about how dangerous it was to get close. The two of them, simply by exchanging blows, had left a swath of destruction behind them leading from the schoolhouse to the park, even tearing apart a few unfortunate houses along the way. Once or twice, she had tried to swoop in closer to better see what was going on, only to be forced to pull back as a burst of wind from one of Dawn’s attacks threatened to send her flight spiraling out of control or a barrage of debris from the impact of Terra’s hooves threatened to perforate her body. When Dawn had created a tornado, Scootaloo had been forced to dodge a few boulders that had been bigger than she was.

However, even at this distance, she could tell that things hadn’t been going well for Dawn. She’d watched as he’d launched attack after futile attack, only to have them break against Terra’s body. The stallion was a rock in all but the most literal of senses. Nothing Dawn did seemed to get through. However, though he should have simply been playing for time, Dawn continued to attack.

Scootaloo noticed something else as well. As the battle progressed through the park, gouging the earth and shattering trees, she noticed that Dawn’s movements were gradually getting smoother and more fluid. He’d often complimented Scootaloo on her grace after watching her go through the forms. But now, as she watched, Dawn appeared to be just as graceful. With each exchange, efficiency increased and wasted motions were trimmed away. Dawn was learning, teaching himself how to move more effectively as the battle progressed. It didn’t seem to be helping him to find any weaknesses in Terra’s defense though.

Then it happened. After pulling that crazy trick of cutting out, pulling up, and flipping over the chunk of ground Terra had been standing on, Dawn had landed an attack…and had actually driven Terra back. Scootaloo’s heart soared as she dared to hope for the first time that Dawn might actually manage to turn the battle around and win against this seemingly unstoppable monster.

But it wasn’t to be. Just as Dawn looked as though he were about to press the attack, he stumbled, first forward, then back. His body began to droop and, in this brief pause in the battle, Scootaloo saw for the first time just how tired Dawn must have been. His coat was matted all over with sweat, peppered with patches of dirt and dust, punctuated by spots and streaks of red where small rocks and other debris had scored his body during the fight. His mane and tail were both ragged and scraggly, hanging in uneven strands, tangled around one another. The feathers on his wings were in disarray, having been worked harder than they’d ever been worked before. His eyelids were half-closed, as though he were on the verge of falling asleep where he stood.

“No…” whispered Scootaloo. She saw Terra pause as he recovered from the attack. She knew that the stallion had seen what she had seen. The fight was almost over…and Dawn was not going to be the winner.

Then, to her shock, she saw Dawn’s posture seem to go entirely limp. He was still standing, but his wings now hung, motionless, by his sides, not folded against them, but hanging down limply. His entire body seemed to relax and Dawn’s eyes fell all the way closed, his head lowering as though bowing in submission before his enemy. It looked as though Dawn was bowing to the inevitable and silently allowing Terra Heart to bring this fight to an end.

“No!” yelled Scootaloo, immediately going into a dive. There was no way she could even remotely hope to fight a monster like Terra. But she had to do something. There was no way in Tartarus that she would allow that jerk to kill Dawn if there was something she could do about it. Dawn was too important to her to be allowed to die like this.

Then, to her utter amazement, Dawn moved…and everything went white.

Dawn allowed his body to relax, releasing the last of the tension that had accumulated over the course of the battle. His eyelids were so low, they might as well have been closed for all the difference that they made. He relaxed to such a degree, that he didn’t even notice as a single strand of drool began to drip down out of his mouth. He simply continued, relaxing everything, releasing everything.

Terra approached, moving step by deliberate, ponderous step, possibly taking his time, savoring his victory. It didn't matter. Dawn wasn't even really thinking about it. His consciousness had spread so completely throughout his body and the air around him that he almost felt omniscient. His own breath moved in perfect synch with Terra's own, the two of them breathing as one, in complete unison.

That had been the key to getting past Terra's defense. Perhaps Dawn could have broken through with brute force if his power had been greater than Terra's by an order of magnitude, but that wasn't the only way to pierce such armor. If you became one with your opponent in consciousness, then his body failed to recognize your attack as an outside force and would not reject it. It wasn't easy, but it was surprisingly simple in practice. Dawn felt as though he understood Arkenstone's words a little better.

Now was the time to try something else along with that. As Dawn relaxed his body, his magic still flowed through his wings, agitating the air between his feathers, producing a faint buzz as a charge slowly built up. At the same time, his control extended to the air around him, stirring it into motion and drawing it in towards him. Finally, his body built up its strength for one last explosive effort as he prepared to unleash his final attack...possibly the final attack of the battle.

Terra Heart approached, his eyes focused entirely on his target. It was strange to see Dawn Lightwing in such a passive state after the intense battle they had been through. Terra had expected the colt to collapse, possibly beg for his life or bandy about words to try and undermine Terra's conviction. Part of Terra had been hoping for that. It would have made exterminating the demon all the more satisfying. Instead, the colt looked as though he had fallen asleep on his hooves. Perhaps Dawn had passed out standing up and was actually unconscious at the moment. In spite of it being a rather unsatisfying conclusion to this troublesome battle, Terra felt it was probably for the best. Dawn Lightwing was best disposed of before he could threaten anypony or anything else.

As he got closer, Terra's ears picked up a faint, but familiar, buzz. Lightning? He'd grown quite used to the sound during their fight, given that Dawn had attacked with lightning several times over. However, the colt should have been too weak to muster such an attack. Looking more closely at his opponent, Terra noticed a faint, blueish-white shimmer dancing around the primaries of Dawn's right wing. The shimmer was growing in size, seeming to feed off the air around it and becoming something like a fine white mist that hung about Dawn's wing. What is the demon up to now?

It was time. Dawn could feel that everything was right. He moved. His right wing snapped open and swept upwards like a blade, its motion cutting through the air in front of him. The accumulated electrical energy seemed to merge with the edge of the vacuum itself, though something like that should have been beyond the laws of physics. At the same time, the muscles of his entire body rippled as he lunged into the motion. Even the act of bracing his hooves against the earth helped add power to the motion. All the while, a single clear image formed in Dawn's mind, an image that was translated into reality as the curved edge of a blade of white seemed to carve its way into the world in a blinding flash, rushing straight for Terra Heart. He wasn't certain if the roaring in his ears was an actual sound caused by the technique or it was simply his own body protesting its overexertion. Meanwhile, everything in front of him was swallowed up by the shining wind.

Terra Heart couldn't understand what was happening. He hadn't even really perceived Dawn's movements as an attack until it was too later. However, what he did perceive was the sense of threat. For the first time in years, decades even, Terra truly felt as though he was about to die. His will was unyielding, his power was drawn from the earth itself. There was no force that anypony who was not also a master of the Mountain Root could bring to bear that should have been able to harm him. However, at that moment, he knew that, if he did nothing, he would die. It was an attack that completely surpassed his understanding and it had come when his guard was lowered, when he had been absolutely assured of his victory.

In that shining instant, the battle between Terra Heart and Dawn Lightwing came to an end.

Arkenstone smiled as he observed the battle. His eyes couldn't see Dawn's final attack, but he could sense its power. His nose picked up the hint of ozone in the air, along with another scent, charred flesh. I hope Dawn didn't burn himself. He had arrived only moments ago, ready to jump into the fray, only to pause and find himself waiting as he noticed that Dawn was still able to fight, still able to avoid Terra's strikes and even strike in return. Though he still held no hope for the colt's victory, he didn't want to actually intervene until it was absolutely necessary. Something told him that Dawn needed every minute of this battle.

His movements were improving right up into the very end, thought Arkenstone. Over the course of the fight, the colt had been collecting a wealth of experience and had been unconsciously using that to improve his own ability. Arkenstone felt proud. Though Dawn couldn't really be called his student, Arkenstone felt a certain degree of pride for having provided the colt with a few gems of advice in the past, especially considering how far Dawn had been able to take that advice and make use of it.

He also noted another familiar scent in the vicinity. Scootaloo was also close by, hanging in the air and watching the battle with her own eyes. That was good. Even as an observer, there was a great deal she could gain by seeing her teacher put the skills he was passing on to her to use.

Arkenstone settled back and waited for the fight's end to come.

"What was that?" gasped Fluttershy as she saw a flash of blueish-white light cut through the skyline over the park. It was as though a shining wall had been erected for the space of a few seconds before vanishing just as quickly.

"That was the Little Cub's doing, I'll wager," said Skan with a smirk, his own eyes fixed on the direction of the distant park, "That looked like something he might do."

"If so, that was one of the more impressive things I've seen," commented Rarity as she levitated a pair of binoculars up to her eyes, "To think that our dear little colt was capable of such a display." She reached out with a forehoof and gently patted a shivering Flaxseed's shoulders.

"Of course he is!" chirped Pinkie brightly as she bounced around, "I'm not getting any saddy-baddy feelings from my Pinkie Sense, so everything must be okey dokey hunky dory."

"I-if...if you say so," said Fluttershy, seeming to shrink in on herself slightly.

"He'll be fine," said Caramel, gently nuzzling Fluttershy's shoulder, "He's strong."

"Y-yeah," said Fluttershy, gently ducking her head against her coltfriend's shoulder. However, her heart wouldn't stop thudding alarmingly and her stomach felt heavy with dread. Dawn, please be alright.

Everything felt strangely distant to Dawn. He couldn't feel anything very well anymore. It felt far away, as though his mind and body had become separated. He would have wondered what happened, but thinking was hard. It was difficult to piece together anything that could even be called a coherent thought. The light from his previous attack faded from his eyes and Dawn noticed that the world seemed to have been turned sideways. Had he been more conscious, he would have realized that, actually, he was the one who had turned sideways and fallen onto the ground. But, at the moment, his mind just couldn't grasp the idea...or anything else either. At the moment, Dawn couldn't remember what he'd been doing, why he'd done it, or how he'd ended up like this. Everything felt blank to him. Right now, all he could do was lay and stare.

Then...motion! Some thing moved into his field of vision. Dawn's eyes couldn't really focus on it, perceiving nothing more than a dark-brown blur in front of him. Dawn's ears picked up a faint rumbling sound, somepony speaking maybe, but couldn't make sense of it.

Wha-what...? It was the first coherent thought he was able to assemble. He latched onto the word and began to slowly pull himself back towards something resembling a state of alertness. He was tired...so tired...but there was a sense of overwhelming danger that demanded his attention, that insisted that now was not the time to pass out. Fighting hard, Dawn tried to make sense of what was happening in front of him.

He blinked, though the motion was less a blink and more of a slowly closing and opening of his eyes. When he did so, he finally managed to get his vision to focus on the incoherent blur in front of him. It was a stallion, a very large one. His body was imposing, seeming to have been carved from the side of a mountain. His gray eyes glowered with deep, righteous anger down at Dawn's unmoving form, as though Dawn had did something to insult him.

Slowly, Dawn's mind began to piece together just what had happened and he began to remember. Now he remembered who the stallion was. Terra Heart... That was right. The stallion had come to Ponyville to kill him. They had fought and Dawn had managed to unleash his strongest attack yet. Doing so had completely drained all remaining strength from his body.

His heart sank when he realized that, if he was seeing Terra now, then his attack had failed. Terra had not been defeated. Now Terra was standing and Dawn was helpless before him. It would be the work of less than a second for Terra to kill Dawn and there was nothing Dawn could do to stop the stallion.

Then something else flashed across Dawn's field of vision, something orange. At once, his heart was flooded by a sick sense of fear and dread. No! Scootaloo!

Terra grimaced as he settled his weight carefully on his left hind leg. For the second time that day, he had been forced to actually dodge an attack. It had been so unexpected that Terra had also sustained an injury for the first time in years. Dawn Lightwing's attack seemed to have completely ignored the Terra's magical defense and had cut into him. The blade of shining wind had avoided hitting anything vital. Furthermore, the cut had had been cauterized at the same time it was made, thus keeping the wound from bleeding as well. The consequence was an angry black and red line along Terra's flank, running just under his cutie mark. It burned something fierce and ached terribly. But pain was something Terra could deal with.

Humiliation, however, was a different matter. No matter how Terra looked at it, no matter how he tried to reason or justify it, Dawn Lightwing had managed to harm him. The demon had unleashed a power that Terra had been completely unaware of and had struck when his guard had been lowered. Somehow, that mysterious attack had actually managed to do the impossible and score a mark on Terra's body, which should have been stronger than even mithril at this point. He had to have cheated. There was no way the colt could have accomplished such a feat through actual martial prowess. He could only have drawn on his supernatural power as Nightmare Moon's demonic servant. Disgusting beast, thought Terra with a dismissive snort.

However, Dawn Lightwing now lay helpless before him. The colt's body was motionless, his foul eyes staring ahead sightlessly, as though his mind could no longer comprehend what was happening.

"This fight is over," said Terra, "Creature of Nightmares, your end has come."

"STOP!" A blur of orange and fuchsia swooped down from above and a pegasus filly slammed her hooves into the ground, planting herself firmly between Terra and Dawn. "Don't you dare touch him!" she growled, pawing her hoof against the ground as her wings flared.

Terra looked at her impassively. "It will be over soon. It may be frightening, but you will be free from his thrall once I'm done." Once again, Terra began to advance.

""Nopony is in his thrall!" shouted Scootaloo, "You cultists are always calling him a monster, but you're the ones going out and hurting ponies! Dawn's helped so many since he came here. He doesn't deserve this."

"I am sure that he has made you believe that," said Terra, "But that matters not to me. I will complete my mission. I am afraid that I will have to be a little rough with you, child. When you return to your senses, I am sure that you will understand."

Scootaloo braced herself, preparing to attack. From watching Dawn's fight, she knew it was a futile gesture. Nothing she was capable of would even make somepony like Terra Heart flinch. But she had to do something. She wouldn't be able to live with herself if she just let this stallion come and kill her coltfriend without trying to do anything about it.

A whistling sound came from above. At the sound, Terra' froze, his ears shooting upright. For the third time that day, his instincts told him to dodge or he would be killed. Terra jumped backwards as fast as he could manage.

Scootaloo blinked and flinched back as a massive black sword, as long as Ponyville's clocktower was tall, crashed down point first in front of her. The impact threw dust, dirt and stones into the air, but none of them came flying at Scootaloo directly. Had Terra attempted to continue his advance, he would have been impaled by the massive blade.

"Dawn probably wouldn't be happy with you if he were in a position to express his feelings," said a wry voice from behind.

Looking back, Scootaloo's eyes went wide for a moment before she let out a relieved sigh. "Arkenstone."

"However, I cannot fault you for wanting to protect someone so dear to you," continued Arkenstone, giving her a warm, encouraging smile as he approached, moving with a slow, relaxed gait, as though he hadn't just chucked a sword the size of a building like it had been a javelin. As he passed Dawn, Arkenstone paused and smiled down at the colt, gently reaching with his hoof to ruffle Dawn's ragged mane. "You did well. I am most impressed by your growth. I would say that Red, Storm, even your Master, were he here, would all be very pleased by your accomplishment." While he spoke, the gigantic sword blade began to crumble away, revealing the shaft of a lamppost embedded in the ground.

A faint grunt accompanied by a slight twitch of Dawn's body was all the acknowledgement that he was able to give.

Arkenstone chuckled. "It's alright. Rest now. You've done more than your fair share this time. I will take it from here."

The only indication Dawn gave that he understood Arkenstone's words was the closing of his eyes as he allowed the last vestiges of his consciousness to slip away.

"Is he...okay?" asked Scootaloo.

"He will probably need a transfusion of magical energy, most likely from another pegasus," said Arkenstone, "Wing Exhaustion is a pegasus' body's response to the overuse of their magic. It forcibly shuts down the flow of power through the meridians to keep anymore energy from being lost. However, Dawn overrode his limits. As a consequence, he went well past that point today. If he doesn't receive treatment soon, his meridians might shut down permanently."

"What should I do?" asked the filly, staring up at Arkenstone with worried eyes.

"One of the doctors should be able to manage a transfusion from another pegasus," said Arkenstone, "You would be fine as a donor. It isn't like blood types. However, you should get him to Sweet Apple Acres as soon as possible so that can be taken care of. We have time, but not a whole lot of it."

"Okay," said Scootaloo, bracing herself. Dawn was usually the one who carried her. Now that it was the other way around, she found herself wondering if she could do it.

"You'll be fine," said Arkenstone, "Take him and go. You don't want to be here when we start."

"I cannot allow that." In front of them, a shadow emerged from the veil of dust that seemed to swirl about the group like a miniature storm. Terra Heart strode through and stood before Arkenstone, glaring balefully at the newcomer.

"You do not have any say in the matter," said Arkenstone, "This foolishness ends here and now."

"On that," rumbled Terra, “we agree. I will put an end to this ridiculous farce myself."

"We do not agree," said Arkenstone, "We have only just met, but I have already had my fill of you." One of his ears swiveled to face towards Scootaloo. "Go."

Scootaloo nodded and gently levered herself under Dawn's body so that she could lift him onto her back. Giving her wings an experimental flap, she checked to make sure she had full movement before trying to take off. Her first effort was ungainly, but she found that the weight wasn't overwhelming and was soon gaining altitude without jostling her passenger. Applying her magic to steady the flow of air as she moved helped maintain her stability.

Terra snarled and took a step to pursue. However, Arkenstone used a forehoof to pry a rock free from the ground. With a flick, he sent it flying like a bullet at Terra. As the stone flew, power crackled around it and it transformed into a sword nearly a meter long slicing through the air, spinning end over end so quickly that it almost seemed like a circular saw. Terra quickly sidestepped the attack as the sword rushed past him, flying all the way to a gazebo occupying the center of the park. The blade made contact and, despite its relatively small size, cleanly sliced the structure in two.

"You are like those deluded fools I encountered in town and that inane mare I once called my teacher," growled Terra, "Your will is too strong to be twisted by the demon's power, yet you continue to aid him. You are a filthy heretic who deserves death."

"The only heretic here...is you," said Arkenstone, a rumble of anger seeping into his own voice as he started to walk towards Terra, "I know who you are, Terra Heart, Cardinal of the Cult Solar...You have hurt and nearly killed good ponies today. You threatened a child on the basis of a false doctrine, the delusions of ponies long dead and even longer shamed. You are a blight, a twisted perversion of everything that Princess Celestia stands for."

As Arkenstone walked, the dust swirling around the two of them began to converge upon the beige stallion. As it approached his skin, the particles of dust seemed to join together, power crackling across as they locked together in something that resembled scales, turning a pitch-black color as they adhered themselves to Arkenstone's skin. Bit by bit, piece by piece, it came into shape, the black scales melding together into smooth plates, forming champron, peytral, flanchard, and more. From the top of his head to the tips of his hooves, Arkenstone was completely encased in black armor, decorated by gold highlights, consisting of blade-like plates that projected outwards, as though it were forged from the blades of swords meshed together. It appeared as much a weapon in its own right as it did a defense. The plates of the champron almost completely encased Arkenstone's head, even covering his eyes, leaving only his mouth visible as he continued to advance on Terra.

"Pray. Pray cultist. Pray to that twisted bastardization of Princess Celestia you have conjured in that deluded mind of yours. Pray for her mercy. It is my hope that she grants it to you…for you shall receive none from me."

A Catastrophe of Two Ponies

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Chapter 24: A Catastrophe of Two Ponies

Celestia sighed as she prepared for the next pony to bring their grievances forward. The Day Court was every bit as tedious as it always was. It was the usual selection of nobles airing petty grievances with each other or with commoners that they believed had slighted them. Occasionally there was something more interesting, like a researcher asking for a grant or a businesspony presenting an interesting conundrum. But, for the most part, Celestia was forced to play mediator for arguments that ponies seemed unwilling to settle unless she provided the final word on the matter.

All of that ended when the doors to the throne room slammed open and a wide-eyed Luna came rushing in at a gallop, a very flustered steward following in her wake, clearly upset about this interruption to the routine.

"Tia!" shouted Luna, "Look to Ponyville!"

Celestia shot to her hooves and immediately rushed to find the nearest vantage point that would allow her to view the small town. She had to leave the throne room itself and find a balcony hanging off the side of the castle that overlooked the whole valley. Behind her, her Guards closed ranks to keep the audience and petitioners from following her.

As she reached the balcony, Celestia looked at the distant town, her eyes trying to discern what had Luna so agitated. At first, it was difficult because the town seemed to be surrounded by a shimmering haze, the likes of which normally occurred during summer heatwaves, but were much rarer during Equestria's (intentionally) mild springs. That isn't heat, she realized, It's power! It was the kind of effect that could only be produced by a convergence of pony magic...in enormous quantities. It was power enough to actually disturb the air around the town to such an extent that the light of her sun was warped and bent. Furthermore, the effect was enormous, encompassing the town to such an extent that the effects were visible from here in Canterlot. Under normal circumstances, it would have taken dozens, if not hundreds of magically active ponies to produce such an effect.

Silently, she went through her memories. She wouldn't be surprised if this amount of power involved Arkenstone in some way. If anything, he was probably one of the sources for this effect. But even he wouldn't have been able to cause a disturbance this large on his own. That meant that there had to be another pony, at least, who was close to matching him in power. She remembered the intelligence that Cadance had gathered from her interrogations of the captured Cult Solar members, putting it together with Shining Armor's deductions that whatever the Cult was planning would be coming to a head sometime around the middle of spring. What was happening was fairly clear then.

"Princess...your court-" said her steward, who had followed her to the balcony.

"Is canceled," said Celestia, cutting him off, "This is an emergency situation. Summon Shining Armor at once."

It took a few minutes after the steward scrambled off to carry out her orders, but Shining appeared in a flash of rose-colored light right next to her. "You called, Your Highness."

"I am going to Ponyville," said Celestia decisively, "I will fly there myself."

"I'll need ten minutes to assemble an escort for you," said Shining.

"You have five," said Celestia, her tone becoming curt, "If they are not ready by then, I will head out myself, with or without assistance."

Shining clearly wanted to protest, but he knew that Celestia was more than willing to follow through. The only reason she was willing to wait at all was probably so that the Guards would be on hoof to handle the aftermath of whatever was happening in Ponyville at the moment. "It will be done," he said, teleporting away in another flash, leaving Celestia to stew and wait.

"It's no good,"" said Dr. Stable as he looked up from the Storm Front's broken body, "Under these conditions, the best I can manage is basic first aid."

"You can't even set their bones?" asked Twilight.

Stable frowned and turned his attention back to the two mercenary stallions lying on stretchers near the barn's entrance. "Not under these circumstances. These aren't simple breaks. I believe there may have been some severe fragmenting from the impact. Even now, bone shards might be perilously close to important veins and arteries. I would need to perform a full-depth scan in order to assess where they are, which isn't possible in an environment like this. Furthermore, I may very well have to use surgery to move them safely."

Applejack and Flitter both got a little paler. Flitter looked close to fainting, whilst Applejack was doing her best to keep from grabbing Stable by the collar of his overcoat and shaking him back and forth while demanding he do something.

Twilight nodded in understanding. A full-depth scan used magic to map the inside of a pony's body so that it could be examined by imprinting the image resulting from the scan on a photographic plate. However, the scan was susceptible to outside interference, particularly from ambient environmental magical energy. Under these circumstances, Dr. Stable would be lucky if he got anything more than a blurred outline of the patients. As for surgery...while it could be performed in the field, it could only be done very roughly and required a certain degree of training and experience to perform safely. While Dr. Stable was an excellent doctor, he was trained to work in a fully-functioning hospital and a clean environment.

Wait! thought Twilight, What if I could provide that! In her mind, she carefully began to run through her options. It would be harder, more difficult than even the mass teleport she'd managed a few minutes ago. But she thought it might be just within her means, especially if she was able to appropriately apply her ring to the task. It would be tricky for sure, but she thought she could manage it.

"I have an idea," she said, "We need to clear a space."

"What are you doing?" asked Stable, looking at Twilight inquisitively.

Twilight was already issuing instructions to Applejack, Flitter, the nurses and orderlies, getting them to move supplies and patients out of the way to clear as large a space as was possible around the area near the barn's door. Once that was done, she had Red River and Storm Front moved to the center of the space.

"I'm going to give you what you need," said Twilight in answer to the doctor's question, "Pick out the nurses you're going to need for this operation, along with all the supplies you might need."

Dr. Stable looked skeptical, but he figured it was better not to doubt Twilight's words. He began to issue orders of his own, having his staff gather all the supplies and tools for a surgical operation. Fortunately, some of that had been brought over from the hospital.

Once he was ready, he nodded to Twilight, who fell into a trance of concentration as she began to prepare her magic. Once again, the silvery-gold band of the arcanasteel ring emerged at the base of her horn, glowing silver-white. This time, Twilight made sure to tap as much of the ring's accumulated energy as possible. It was likely that she would need every ounce of magical power she could spare if she wanted to go through with this.

Once again, Twilight used the ring's properties to actualize her magic to create armor. However, the "armor" in this case covered a much larger area than any she'd created in the past. Rather than projecting the armor around herself, she instead projected it to enclose the space around her, the doctor, his staff, as well as Storm and Red. The shape was a basic cube, the parameters were designed to filter out magical, biological, and chemical interference, while still providing air to breathe. In the center of the space, she also created a raised rectangle to serve as an operating table.

It all took shape just as she envisioned it. As Twilight had expected, trying to cover such a large amount of surface area and enclose an even larger amount of volume with actualized magic was far more difficult than armor that only had to cover a pony's body. It actually didn't drain as much magic as she thought it would. However, as soon as she finished, Twilight noticed that the artificial operating room was already on the verge of becoming undone. If she let her focus falter for even a second, the whole thing would dissolve and they would be right back to square one. If she couldn't keep this up for the duration of the operation itself, things would be even worse if she gave out in the middle of the procedure. l can't afford to fail.

"Remarkable," said Stable, oblivious to Twilight's fragile state, "You actually managed to create such a space here. This is perfect. We'll begin at once."

He immediately set about getting to work, while Twilight put the entirety of her focus into maintaining their shelter against the elements, sweat already beginning to gather on her brow.

From the outside, the operating room looked like a strange white block that had been erected right in front of the bar doors. Applejack and Flitter stared in awe at the structure. "Do you think they'll be alright?" asked Flitter, glancing nervously at Applejack.

"Ah hope so," said Applejack, "This ain't exactly mah area 'o expertise. But Ah think Twi knows what she's doin'. We can trust 'er."

A large red figure leaned around the side of the cube. "AJ, Ah'm gonna need yer help," said Big Macintosh, waving his sister over.

Trying to calm her nerves, Applejack went over to her brother. "What's up?" she asked.

"We met Arkenstone in town," said Macintosh, "He said he's gonna get in the fight. If he does that, there's gonna be trouble, even though we're all the way out hereabouts."

Applejack nodded. "What do ya wanna do about it? We can try evacuatin' farther away, but we can't move the injured and Twi's in the middle of some real delicate stuff."

Macintosh chewed his lip. "We ain't goin' nowhere. But Ah need every earth pony Ah can get mah hooves on. We're gonna need to try and Stand Firm and hold this spot in place."

"Stand Firm!" exclaimed Applejack, her eyes bulging, "Ah haven't practiced that fer a couple years now." She was embarrassed to admit it, but Applejack had never really taken to Granny Smith's lessons the way Big Macintosh had. She supposed she could do it if she tried hard enough. Even if you didn't practice all that much, it wasn't the sort of skill you forgot. But... "Ah'd be surprised if anypony 'round these parts actually knows how to do that."

"It's simple enough," said Macintosh, "If Ah take the lead, Ah think Ah can show 'em all how it's done. We need to pool as much 'o everypony's power as we can."

Applejack nodded. "Ah'll get Bloom. She's been practicin' that a lot after Red taught it to her."

"That'll be a big help," said Macintosh with a sigh, "Ah can do what Ah can, but Ah ain't as good as Granny was."

They both sagged for a second. Granny Smith, being the eccentric mare she was, was prone to wandering off at odd times and returning at even odder times. But, under these dire circumstances, there was something terribly ominous about her absence. The two siblings dearly hoped that she was alright.

"Broodin' on it ain't gonna get a thing done," said Applejack sharply after a second, "We best get to it."

Macintosh nodded. "And soon," he said, the sense of urgency he'd been feeling increasing as, ever so slightly, the ground beneath their hooves began to tip...

The earth groaned. The earth cracked. Deep beneath the ground, things shifted and crumbled. The trees creaked, their wood groaning with strain as though they were beginning to all lean together, all of them leaning towards a single point, where two ponies stood, silently facing one another. Had anypony been near them, it would have felt as though the world itself had shifted. These two ponies now stood at the center of an abyss, seeming rewrite the laws of physics so that, no matter where anything had been in relation to them, where they were now was the direction defined as down. With each successive breath, it seemed more and more like the world itself was being drawn towards them, as though they had become the center of all existence, pulling it inexorably towards them.

One of them, a dark-brown stallion with a pale-green mane, glared at the other with angry gray eyes. "With a presence like yours, I had assumed you to be a fellow master. However, if you are borrowing tricks from unicorns and polluting your art with outside concepts, I cannot help but be disappointed," said Terra Heart, Cardinal of the Order of Celestial Light.

The stallion across from him was normally a beige color with a dark-brown mane. However, said stallion's body had been covered entirely by plates of black armor with gold highlights. Jagged and blade-like, they gleamed in the afternoon sun, which only served to make their edges look all the sharper. The armored stallion merely smiled at the taunt. "Your attitude betrays your ignorance," retorted Arkenstone, Knight of the Dancing Blades, "I had thought the Cult Solar promoted a better understanding of the harmony between the tribes."

Terra snorted angrily, the force of his exhalation actually blasting a wave of dust away from the earth. "I will not justify your foolishness with anything further," he said, "Especially since you insult the Order so brazenly with that name."

"Beaten dogs ought not to bark so loudly," said Arkenstone.

"I was not beaten!" snarled Terra, "That demon was at my mercy."

"Perhaps, at the end," said Arkenstone, "I admit that he lost the fight. However, for the briefest of moments...he surpassed you, didn't he?"

Terra stiffened, flinching as the sharp movement agitated the blackened cut seared along his left haunch, just beneath his cutie mark. "He didn't..."

"But he did," said Arkenstone, "It was only an instant, but in that instant, he pierced your defense and managed to leave his mark upon a pony who should have been, by all rights, invulnerable. It was because, in that instant, he actually transcended the limits of body, mind, and spirit and reached the plane of true mastery."

"Ridiculous," hissed Terra, his breathing quickening, "You're lying. Such a thing isn't possible...not for a demon..."

"You're right about that," said Arkenstone, his smile widening, "Such a feat is indeed beyond 'demons.' That's what upsets you, isn't it? If you were to actually acknowledge what Dawn Lightwing had done, you would have to acknowledge the truth..."

"Shut up..."

"You would have to admit to yourself that Dawn Lightwing is no demon, that he is a real pony..."

"Shut. Up..."

"And if you acknowledged that, you would have to acknowledge an even worse truth; the truth that you are here on the basis of a delusion; that everything you had done up to this point, all the harm you'd inflicted, all the pain you'd caused...was in service to a lie."

"Shut UP!" roared Terra, his body blurring into motion, his hoof flashing out as he closed the remaining distance between himself and Arkenstone in an instant.

Even though Terra was coming straight at him, Arkenstone didn't seem to react. Instead, his tail flicked idly. Around his body, no fewer than six ebony blades, their edges outlined in gold, appeared in the air around him. They were visible for the blink of an eye, but accelerated so quickly that they simply seemed to vanish back into thin air as they lanced out to intercept Terra's charge in the space directly in front of Arkenstone, converging on the incoming stallion.

This time, Terra made no attempt to dodge the blades, Instead, his hoof swung out to meet them directly.

In the next instant, the two stallions vanished in an explosion dust and dirt that rocked the earth around them, sending rippling tremors that made trees sway and groan, made buildings shudder, and shattered windows throughout Ponyville. The impact rocked Ponyville to its foundations.

"Holy Horseapples! Sweet Celestia's Unshaven Fetlocks!" yelled Applejack, her hat flying off her head as the first of the tremors reached Sweet Apple Acres.

"AJ!" snapped Macintosh, whipping his head around to glare at her, "Language!"

"This ain't the time to be prudish!" Applejack snapped back, sweat running down her forehead as her hat landed on the ground behind her, "We're in deep pig slop now."

Biting down on the stalk of grass projecting from his mouth, Macintosh fought back an angry retort. For all that it annoyed him, Applejack was right about the situation. It was bad. They'd rounded up every earth pony from town, save those that were members of the hospital staff (or hospital patients, for that matter). Even with Macintosh using his magic to help coordinate their efforts, the other earth ponies, Applejack included, were just too inexperienced to mesh their magic together fully. They'd managed to hold back the first of the tremors, but they could all feel the growing tension in the earth itself. Those two stallions were only just warming up and, once they really started going all out, it would be little different from unleashing an earthquake in the middle of Ponyville. The meager protection that they'd managed to scrape together thus far wasn't going to cut it.

"This ain't gonna do it!" said Applejack, an edge of panic creeping into her voice.

"What are we gonna do, Mac?" asked a worried Apple Bloom, looking up at her brother.

Macintosh sweated as he looked for the words to rally his sisters and the townsponies. Trying to think of what might raise ponies' spirits, he looked towards the one pony who specialized in raising ponies' spirits.

Pinkie Pie gave Macintosh an enigmatic smile. "It'll be okay Macky," she said with an easy grin, reaching over to gently pat Coco Pommel's shoulder as the apprentice designer sweated next to her, "That's what my Pinkie Sense tells me." Beside her, a worried Mayweather simply stared straight at the town, her bright-yellow coat looking strangely pale.

"It sure as shootin' is gonna be okay," called a familiar voice, drawing everypony's attention as a wrinkled green mare strode confidently into her midst, "Ah didn't raise no quitters and Ah know this town ain't gonna quit on us either."

"Granny!" cried Applejack and Bloom in unison.

"Where've ya been?" demanded Macintosh.

"None 'o yer guff," said Smith curtly, giving Macintosh a sly smile, "We've got a job to do."

Granny Smith paused to take a deep breath before booming out in an authoritative voice. "LISTEN UP EVERYPONY, 'CAUSE AH'M ONLY GONNA SAY THIS ONCE!" Once she was sure she had everypony's attention, Granny smiled and continued at a more reasonable volume. "If we're gonna hold back these tremors, we're gonna have to think like trees. Our magic is like roots, ya sink 'em into the earth and hold fast." She looked around, smiling at the assembled earth ponies. "Ah know a lot 'o y'all are worried. Ya've got homes, ya've got things ya value. Ah'll be honest, they probably ain't gonna come through this in one piece. But...what matters is already out here with us; the ponies we love, our neighbors, our friends, our families. If we don't protect them, then it ain't gonna matter if a single plank or nail survives back in town. We ain't got time to worry 'bout that, ya need to focus on what needs protectin'."

Taking another deep breath, Smith gave one last encouraging smile to the ponies around her. "Now it's time to do this here thing. Ah'll show ya how."

Stepping into the center of the group, Smith closed her eyes and reached out. Every earth pony felt her presence. It reached down into the earth like a massive taproot, sending out smaller roots off to each side, meshing together with the power of other earth ponies. She drew them together and wove their power into a network that spread across the entire farm. Together, the earth ponies sank their will into the earth. Together...they held firm...which was just as well, because the battle outside of Sweet Apple Acres was picking up steam.

Terra's hoof met Arkenstone's blades, which crossed together right in front of him. Shifting his posture, Terra changed the angle of contact so that his hoof collided with the flat of one of the blades, knocking it into the other blades and sending them off-course. The blades bit into the earth, splitting the ground, cutting lines through dirt and stone that went on to slice nearby trees in two.

His first obstacle out of the way, Terra surged forward through the cloud of dust created, his hooves feeling the presence of his enemy in contact with the ground. He slammed his attacking hoof down into the ground, focusing the force of impact up from all four of his hooves and channeling it along his spine before directing it out his shoulder as he slammed that part of his body into the area where he knew Arkenstone was.

Arkenstone met Terra's attack head-on, colliding his armored shoulder with Terra's unarmored one. The jagged edges of his armor bit into Terra's skin, in spite of the magical reinforcement Terra was using on his flesh. However, the surge of kinetic energy rushing out from Terra's attack met Arkenstone's and pushed the bladed edges of the armor away. Arkenstone shouldered the full impact of the blow with his armor. His hooves dug into the ground and a shockwave seemed to blast out behind him, ripping apart the ground, including one of the cobblestone paths through the park, toppling a couple of lampposts as well.

Arkenstone took a deep breath, sounding almost relaxed, in spite of the fight's intensity. Lifting up one forehoof, he slammed it back down into the ground. Terra's instincts gave him the briefest of warnings as he leapt back. Where he had been standing were countless rocks and pebbles, the remnants of the larger pieces of stone that had been underneath the two earth ponies and had been shattered in that last exchange.

A thicket of black blades erupted upwards, practically filling the space that Terra had been occupying, throwing more dust into the air as they went. Terra backpedaled frantically away from the attack. Arkenstone barreled through the seemingly solid mass of blades, shattering them like they were made of cheap glass. The fragments of those blades seemed to mix and mingle with the dust already in the air, drawing it into themselves before growing and extending into new blades that then seemed to leap of their own accord towards Terra, flying point-first like spears.

With a growl, Terra planted all four hooves into the ground, embedding them into the earth, nearly all the way up to his fetlocks. Drawing in as much power as he could, he lunged forward to meet the attack head on. Rearing up on his hind hooves, he used his forelegs to bat away the incoming projectiles, often breaking them to pieces in the process, aiming for the flats of the blades to avoid cutting himself on the edges that he knew would be able to bite into him, even with how much power he had already drawn into himself.

He wasn't quite fast enough. Terra had focused his attention on the blades coming straight at him. However, there were others coming at him from outside angles. They weren't as dangerous since they weren't at risk of hitting any of his vital points, so Terra prioritized them less than the blades that were coming straight at him. The ultimate consequence was that a small number of blades cut into his flesh, striking glancing blows that sent thin ribbons of blood dancing through the air.

Having escaped the barrage, Terra dropped, slamming his forehooves into the ground with earthshaking force and bracing himself as Arkenstone closed in. Terra's eyes widened when he saw that Arkenstone was wielding yet another sword in his hoof, this one twice as long as either of them. He brought it straight down in a single stroke that nearly cut Terra in two. However, Terra managed to avoid the attack by leaping to the side at the last possible second. He actually felt the blade's edge clip a few hairs from the ends of his tail and saw the cut actually extend past the reach of the actual blade out of the corner of his eye. The cut drew a line across the ground, reaching all the way to one of the park's public restrooms and splitting it apart.

Lifting the blade up out of the ground, Arkenstone swept it sideways at his opponent. Terra danced back, his body skipping across the ground like a stone off the surface of a pond, taking him well out of the way of the sword's stroke. However, Arkenstone simply reversed the motion of his swing and released the giant sword, flinging it straight at the dark-brown stallion, who dropped his body to avoid being impaled and then grunted as the sword cut a line down the entire length of his body in its passing. The sword continued its flight, slamming tip-first into the ground outside the park and digging a long, narrow trench.

Terra went back on the offensive. As quickly as he'd retreated, he now advanced at an angle, actually cutting across in front of Arkenstone, who had been expecting Terra to come straight at him. For a moment, Arkenstone paused as his nose and ears tried to regain their fix on his enemy. However, Terra didn't give him the time he needed. Once again, Terra slammed his forehooves down, this time channeling the entirety of the motion's power through his body, putting every single muscle along with way into the motion to further magnify the attack's power as he kicked out with his hind legs in a terrific buck. His hooves slammed right into Arkenstone's side, heedless of the blade-like edges of the blind stallion's armor. The focused force of the strike shattered those edges along with the armor itself upon contact. Arkenstone's armor seemed to break apart like brittle fragments of eggshell as he himself was thrown through the air on a path which paralleled that of the sword he had just thrown.

Luckily, the side of his body that hadn't been damaged by Terra's attack was what came down when Arkenstone hit the ground, the unbroken armor breaking off and seeming to strip away as Arkenstone bounced into a roll, managing to twist his body so that he was facing back the way he came, sinking into a crouch. As Arkenstone had expected, Terra had immediately turned and pursued, coming hard on the heels of his own strike as he closed the distance between them with blinding speed.

Terra's eyes widened as he closed. The dust that had been thrown up by Arkenstone's landing was coalescing about the blind stallion's beige body, surrounding it with black and gold again as Arkenstone's armor reformed before his very eyes. Arkenstone met Terra's next attack head-on, slamming his champron into Terra's unarmored head even as all four of Terra's hooves smacked the ground in unison, channeling all that force into the most powerful strike a practitioner of the Mountain Root could bring to bear.

On certain levels, a pony's body was unsuited to the martial arts, particularly hoof-to-hoof combat, in sometimes unexpected ways. Quadrupeds faced challenges that were not an issue to bipedal species, like minotaurs. When a biped punched or attacked with its arms, it still had both its legs on the ground. While, to some, that would be a naturally unsteady posture, for bipeds, it presented no real issue at the basic level. The fact was, a biped could strike without sacrificing the base stability of their stance. However, for quadrupeds, like ponies, who spent their lives upon four legs, their posture led to different problems. Lifting one's hoof to strike meant that the attacking pony had one less hoof to stand on and had, as a consequence, weakened their stance. A pony rearing up to strike with both of her forehooves or turning around to buck with both of her back legs weakened her stance even further. If she took an attack from an unexpected angle while in such a position, she was easily at risk of being thrown off her hooves. Furthermore, for martial arts like the Mountain Root, where power was drawn from contact with the ground, lifting one or more legs to attack meant reducing the number of points in contact with the ground, which meant that a certain amount of power was lost from the overall attack. Depending on the technique being used, part of that power could be made up by the motion of the technique itself, such as for a perfectly executed buck, but that would not match the power that might be generated if a pony could somehow paradoxically execute a buck without breaking her rear hooves' contact with the ground.

The second advantage that bipeds had over quadrupeds in martial arts was in the generation and transference of power. Bipeds augmented the power of their forelimb strikes by rotating their body and using the spine as a fulcrum, adding centrifugal force to the strike. For ponies, such a motion was awkward and ran counter to their natural posture. The ponies who could execute such techniques were primarily limited to pegasi, who could perform what would normally be an almost impossible motion thanks to their ability to freely alter their orientation via flight. However, for most other ponies, power was instead transmitted along the length of the spine, which was the secret to a particularly powerful buck or Terra Heart's shoulder strike. The former was still burdened by the fact that two hooves were no longer in contact with the ground. The latter required that the energy of the attacking pony be diverted at a slight angle in order to channel it out the shoulder. Either way, some of the power of the technique ultimately went to waste.

However, the ultimate strike of the Mountain Root, affecting the rather underwhelming name of the Four-Point Strike, addressed both of those issues. In the school of the Mountain Root, it was often the final technique taught to the art's students, not because of its incredible destructive potential, but rather because it was a double-edged sword that required a full understanding of the fundamentals of the Mountain Root itself in order to execute safely. Done incorrectly, the technique was just as capable of killing the wielder as it was the wielder's enemy.

The first issue was addressed by altering how the attacker struck. Rather than lifting a hoof off the ground, the attacker instead stepped down with all four hooves simultaneously, putting the full power of all four of her legs into the motion. Because of that, the full power of the user's capability was channeled into the strike itself, with none being lost to a lack of stability. The second issue was addressed by not offsetting the point of impact. Rather than shifting the flow of power off to the shoulder, the user instead channeled it out through the one extremity that had the dual qualities of being perfectly in-line with the spine and not being used to support the attacking pony's stance...the head. Thus, the Four-Point Strike was, in appearance, a slightly unorthodox headbutt. However, it was a technique designed to channel the full destructive potential of a pony's body, along with all their magic, into a single strike.

Once again, Arkenstone's armor, which had only partially reformed, shattered under the force of Terra's attack, skin of Arkenstone's head meeting Terra's own as Terra's strike broke through the armor unimpeded. A ripple went along the armor forming along Arkenstone's body, causing it to break apart once more. The plates settling across his haunches blasted into scattering fragments that sprayed out behind Arkenstone in a hail of shrapnel. The barrage of fragments tore into a row of houses just behind the Knight, shredding walls into pieces and bringing some of those houses down with an ear-splitting crash.

Arkenstone's eyes opened slightly, giving Terra's gray eyes a view of his featureless white orbs. However, in Terra's peripheral vision, he saw the fragments of armor that had been forming over Arkenstone's shoulders, which had been broken back into a black dust by the impact of the attack, turn into twin black whirlwinds that then extended into a new array of spinning blades that now slashed at Terra from either side, threatening to sever his head. Terra pulled back, barely managing to yank his head out of the way as the blades meshed together like the teeth of a pair of gears between him and Arkenstone. Once again, the line of the cuts extended far beyond the edges of the blades, gouging new lines in the earth, forming an X-shaped mark in the ground between Terra and Arkenstone.

“Wha-what?” gasped Terra, staring in shock at his opponent. That blow should have completely smashed Arkenstone’s skull. Instead, Arkenstone didn’t even looked dazed. A cut had opened on his forehead and was now bleeding down his face, but that was the extent of the damage.

“My version of Reap What You Sow,” replied Arkenstone with a smirk as the blades crumbled back into dust. Already, his armor was reforming yet again, “It’s good for you that you struck before I’d finished rebuilding my armor or you would have received the full force of your strike in return.”

Terra, unwilling to let his adversary get the upper hoof, surged forward, determined to keep Arkenstone from reforming his armor completely. Once again, all four of his hooves hit the ground as he thrust his head towards Arkenstone again. Instead of meeting him head on, Arkenstone instead sidestepped the strike. Terra turned to attack again and Arkenstone turned with him, circling around each other until they had switched positions. Arkenstone slammed his armored hooves into the ground, throwing up a spray of dirt and stone. His power surged through the debris, which suddenly became a literal wall of swords that then seemed to surge upwards and collapse over Terra like a wave.

Terra threw himself away from the barrage of swords, jumping backwards. From behind the blades, Arkenstone swiped his hoof along their hilts, the action sending them surging after Terra in an action that was eerily reminiscent of water cascading over the ground. Terra fell back, swatting the swords away when he had to. The literal tide of weapons forced him back into the ruins of the first house that had been torn apart in the aftermath of the previous exchange. The blades hacked through what remained of the walls, gouging out chunks of wood and slicing through supports. The remainder of the house began to collapse.

To Terra’s slowly growing horror, the attack didn’t end there, as the fragments of the house now buzzing through the air like angry hornets crackled with the power of Arkenstone’s magic and became blades as well. From the collapsing walls and ceilings, still more swords emerged, all of them thrusting at Terra as he continued to backpedal away from the onslaught. Desperately, Terra threw himself out through the wall, only to find that the debris that had been thrown into the air as a consequence of the house’s collapse had now become blades as well, plummeting towards him in a rain of swords.

Unable to do much else, Terra threw himself into the next house along the line and saw the cycle repeat itself over again as the swords created from the pieces of the previous house cut into and through the next house, turning the pieces of the second house into swords as well.

It was horrifying. Terra, initially disdainful of Arkenstone for having turned to magical concepts from other tribes, had never conceived that an earth pony could fight in such a fashion. Arkenstone’s power was like a malevolent virus, spreading across the battlefield. Everything it infected became a new sword for Arkenstone to throw at him, each one humming with intense, focused killing intent, as sharply honed as the edges of the blades themselves. Every one of them was capable of piercing the magical reinforcement of Terra’s body and biting into his flesh. Some spun end over end through the air, others hurtled themselves at him like arrows and spears. The chain of attacks seemed unending as it chased Terra through one house and then another.

How can he be so powerful? marveled Terra. Finally, he found an escape, throwing himself into the street and out of the seemingly endless line of attacks, leaving what remained of the houses he and Arkenstone had just torn through to collapse in on themselves. The blades dissolved into useless fragments as well.

However, Terra found no respite. Even as he had been evading Arkenstone’s continuous attack, Arkenstone himself had been pursuing by running down the street that ran parallel along the row of houses. When Terra emerged out into the street, Arkenstone was already there. At some point he had ripped a post from a white picket fence around one of the yards. Inhaling sharply, Arkenstone seemed to take in the object’s scent before power crackled around it. The fencepost became yet another massive blade that Arkenstone swung sideways at Terra.

Rather than avoid the blade, Terra closed in, stepping inside the radius of the swing and catching Arkenstone’s arm with one foreleg. The jagged edges of the armor bit into Terra’s skin, but didn’t cut deep. Terra slammed his shoulder into Arkenstone’s chest and kicked off his remaining hooves, launching the two of them across the street and into one of the houses the other side, breaking down the wall beside the door. Arkenstone hit first. This time, however, his armor did not break upon impact. They hit the floor, Arkenstone back-first with Terra on top, already raising his hooves to press the attack, actually intending to pummel Arkenstone with rain of stomping strikes with all four of his hooves.

Arkenstone didn’t give Terra the chance, kicking upwards with all four hooves. They slammed into Terra’s barrel, impacting his ribs and stomach. The force of the attack propelled Terra upwards, sending him flying through the ceiling of the first story, then the second story, through the attic, and, finally, through the roof of the house itself.

Terra turned his motion into a graceful backflip. Angling himself so that he was facing straight down, he kicked out with his back legs, seeming to push off of the air itself. He accelerated drastically downwards, following almost the exact same path down that he had taken up. His hooves crashed through the roof, then the floors of the house, further widening the holes he'd made during his ascent, as he descended back down towards Arkenstone, who was still on the first floor of the house. Arkenstone had already created yet another array of blades, angled upward. Whether he had been planning on firing them up after Terra or had been waiting for Terra to come back down was unknown. However, Terra’s sudden descent didn’t seem to disrupt Arkenstone’s movements in the slightest as the blades themselves lunged forward to meet the descending Terra.

The entire house exploded out outwards from the impact of the two stallions meeting, taking out the walls of the houses adjacent to it. From the center of the explosion emerged what seemed to be a miniature hurricane as Terra Heart and Arkenstone continued their fight; this time at close range as they exchanged flurries of strikes and blocks. This close in, Arkenstone had no room to bring his swords into play as Terra kept the fight close, knowing that allowing any opening to form between them would be fatal. However, Arkenstone made no attempt to disengage from infighting and met Terra, hoof for armored hoof.

Scootaloo grimaced and grit her teeth as she fought to maintain altitude. She'd figured it wouldn't be too bad to carry Dawn. He'd carried her plenty of times in the past. However, as she flew, she grew conscious of one very important fact. Dawn was heavy. She supposed it was a consequence of his continuous training having developed some very dense musculature. It made sense. But that didn't change the fact that it was difficult to remain steady while trying to balance the burden of the unconscious colt on her back.

Still, she was almost there. Once she reached Sweet Apple Acres, she wouldn't have to worry about carrying him anymore and could actually worry more about helping him. He still needed that magic transfusion to boost his internal reserves.

Looking down, Scootaloo noticed a purple and green figure making his way down the path to the farm. Spike! What's he doing out here? He should be at the farm already.

Much as she wanted to fly down and satisfy her curiosity, Scootaloo remained focused on her primary task and carried on towards Sweet Apple Acres and the barn that was being used to house the patients from the hospital. It made sense to go there after all. Dawn would probably be hanging out in the hospital...again...when all was said and done.

Landing was a tricky task. The extra weight of Dawn's body made it hard to work out how much effort she needed to put into slowing down before her hooves hit the ground. Scootaloo stumbled as she touched down, but managed to avoid going into a tumble and kept Dawn safe on her back.

"Please!" she shouted, seeing some nurses already coming out to meet her, "Help!"

The Razing

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Chapter 25: The Razing

Huffing and blowing, Spike finally passed through Sweet Apple Acres' gate. It had been a hard run for the young dragon. His forelegs weren't yet quite developed enough to allow him to run on all fours, but his body was starting to get rather top-heavy, which made retaining his balance while running a tricky business. It didn't help that he'd barely gotten outside of Ponyville itself when the ground had begun to shake and jump beneath his claws. He'd thought that the fight had ended, from the temporary silence that had descended just as he'd left the library. However, the fighting had started up again, this time even more intense than before.

That must be Arkenstone, thought Spike as he ran. He hoped that Twilight's coltfriend could handle things...or at least buy time until other ponies who could handle the situation had arrived.

Spike had gotten so caught up in finding Ouranos' feathers to send a letter to Spitfire, he'd temporarily forgotten that he should've sent a letter to Princess Celestia as well. However, he'd barely gotten halfway to Sweet Apple Acres when he belched out a letter from the Princess saying that she was on her way. That was reassuring, though not quite reassuring enough. Even flying directly from Canterlot was going to take some time, an hour or more at the very least. Depending on how things went, the battle could be well over, for better or for worse, by the time Celestia arrived. Right now, he could only hope that Arkenstone would win the fight.

"Can you hurry up?" demanded Scootaloo, her wings buzzing with anxiety as she watched the nurse checking over Dawn.

"If you can't be patient and wait, I'll need you to step outside," snapped Nurse Triage as she continued to carefully feel along Dawn's body with her hooves. The colt was still alive, but clearly unconscious. What troubled her was that there seemed to be no visible response to any external stimuli, even involuntary ones. It worried Triage as this was closer to a coma than simple unconsciousness.

"You said he needed a transfusion," remarked Triage, looking up at Scootaloo finally.

Nodding frantically, Scootaloo said, "That's right! That's what Arkenstone said. He said this is even worse than Wing Exhaustion."

"That matches up," mused Triage, "Um...this might be a little tricky."

"Can you do it?" asked Scootaloo.

"I think I can," said Triage, "It's a fairly simple spell. But...to be honest...I'd trust the doctor more. It's not something I've had any practice with. Most ponies aren't even capable of pushing their bodies to this extent. I've only learned about the spell in theory. I've never actually had to use it."

"Then what about the doctor?" asked Scootaloo.

"He's...occupied," said Triage, glancing inside the barn at the white cube where Doctor Stable was currently trying his hardest to save Red River and Storm Front after their encounter with Terra Heart.

"Then you're the only pony we've got," said Scootaloo, tears welling up at her eyes as she gazed pleadingly at the nurse, "Please! Dawn can't stay like this for too long."

"Alright!" said Triage in as placating a tone as she could manage, "I'll do it." Taking a deep breath, she steadied herself. "Okay...This is a bit tricky. I need you to stand above Dawn."

Nodding, Scootaloo did as she was told. Dawn was currently lying on his back, his wings spread out beneath him. Standing over him, Scootaloo took a deep breath and looked down at her coltfriend's unmoving body. "Okay...now what?"

"This is the tricky part," said Triage, "I need you to lower yourself down so that you can touch your wings to his. The outlets and inlets for pegasus meridians are located along the wings. I'll need to have you channel your magic out of your wings while I guide it down into his. We need to be careful because Dawn has other injuries. Don't put any pressure on his chest."

Slowly, Scootaloo bent her legs down, lowering her body as much as she dared. She felt the hair of her coat brushing against Dawn's coat and stopped. Moving slowly, she lowered her wings and rested as much of them as she could against Dawn's. "Alright," she said, "I'm ready."

Triage swallowed and nodded. "Okay. Good. Hold it there. I'm starting the spell now." Her horn glowed and her magical aura washed over Scootaloo's wings before stretching across to Dawn's wings as well. "Connection established. Start channeling your magic now."

Scootaloo did as she was told, taking a deep breath and reaching out with her magic, sending it out through her wings. Instead of blending into the air around her, she instead felt the magic begin to flow away from her wings, being pulled away like water down the drain. The pull was incredibly strong and Scootaloo could feel every ounce of magic she released being sucked down into Dawn's wings. She began to sweat as more and more of her magic was being taken. Just how much did he use?

"Aaand...done!" said Triage. The magical connection vanished and Scootaloo sighed in relief as the force that had been siphoning her magic away vanished. Carefully, she stepped off from Dawn, feeling lightheaded and dizzy.

"Easy now," said Triage, coming to Scootaloo's side and supporting her, "Lay down and don't try to move for a bit."

"Okay..." Scootaloo felt a bit hazy. Lying down sounded like a good idea.

"Rest for a little bit. I need to see to the rest of Dawn's injuries," said Triage.

"'Kay," said Scootaloo, her eyes drooping as she watched Triage turn her attention back to the colt.

Arkenstone and Terra Heart tore a swath of destruction through Ponyville. Even though the two stallions fought hoof-to-hoof, clashing against one another in a fierce melee, their movement across the town sent them tearing heedlessly through buildings, smashing through wood and plaster with contemptuous ease. A hoof stamped down, cracking the ground and causing a nearby house to collapse. A deflected blow released a shockwave that tore up a line of fencing. A razor-edged sword, moving so swiftly that it might as well have been invisible, sliced through a lamppost. The path left behind by the two battling stallions was covered by rubble. The air around them was choked with dust. The ground was littered with cracks and crevasses opened by the immense force of their hoofsteps.

Even though they were fighting just as fiercely as they had in the beginning, the battle was beginning to take its toll. Terra's body was covered by numerous cuts and lacerations, many of which leaked blood that scattered in scarlet ribbons around his body as he moved. The worst of these wounds was an ugly, black line across his hindquarter, running directly beneath his cutie mark. It was deeper than any of the other cuts on his body. However, fortunately for him, the cut was also cauterized, which kept it from bleeding as Terra moved. But the injury still ached fiercely and Terra had to resist the urge to grunt in pain every time he put his hind leg down wrong. His forelegs were also in bad shape. Trading blows with Arkenstone's hard armor, which sported numerous sharp edges, had left Terra's forelegs crisscrossed with numerous cuts and several severe bruises as well. Though the magical reinforcement of Terra's body kept the edges from cutting too deeply, it still left his forelegs sore and covered with blood.

Arkenstone's injuries were less readily visible. Though his armor ablated most of the force of Terra's strikes, it wasn't always a perfect form of protection. As a result, some of the impact of Terra's blows had made it through. Though it didn't show on the outside, Arkenstone's skeleton sported numerous small fractures through his bones that sent jolts of pain through his body with each step he took. With each successive blow he took, the network of cracks through Arkenstone's bones spread a little farther as he used the entirety of his own body to disperse the remainder of the impact, which kept any of his bones from outright breaking, but left him feeling a little more fragile with each subsequent exchange. On top of that, he was sporting a nasty headache courtesy of the headbutt he'd taken from Terra earlier.

Terra kept the fight close, clearly intending to keep Arkenstone from using his blades by keeping the battle hoof-to-hoof. However, Arkenstone wasn't going to abide by that plan. Instead, as they crashed through the side of another building, Arkenstone channeled his magic through the splinters of wood that flew through the air, transforming them into swords directly behind Terra, slashing at his croup and haunches. Terra bucked out with his hind legs, breaking the swords before they could actually cut into him. However, Arkenstone surged forward, ramming an armored shoulder into Terra's chest. The impact sent Terra skidding back, but he reacted almost immediately, slamming his own hooves down and coming right back at Arkenstone's body.

Arkenstone planted his hooves into the wooden floor, using the jagged edges of his greaves to anchor him into place as he took the force of Terra's return shoulder strike. The force of the collision between the two of them shattered the floor, causing it to crater around them. The armor covering Arkenstone's body shattered at the point of impact. However, the fragments of broken armor quickly dissolved into a black dust as Arkenstone reached out with his forehoof, curling the fetlock around the dust, which had formed itself into the handle and hilt of a massive sword. Swinging, Arkenstone brought the sword down at Terra, who skipped to the side of the blow, which then went on to cut a line through the remainder of the house.

Having avoided the strike, Terra surged in once again, aiming to crush Arkenstone before he could rebuild his armor. However, the fragments of wood thrown up by Arkenstone's attack also became swords, which tumbled towards Terra from a variety of angles. This time, rather than try to stop and deflect them, Terra bulled right through the blades, crushing the ones directly in front of him and suffering only glancing blows from the rest.

Arkenstone clicked his tongue in frustration now that it was his turn to fall back from a flurry of strikes. He's beginning to figure it out. Arkenstone's magic was based on scent. Scent is produced by particles that are inhaled through the nose, particles that are first carried through the air. By using those particles as a medium, Arkenstone could connect them like the links of a chain, sending his magic into objects connected to that scent. The magic then manifested, thanks to the strong image Arkenstone carried inside his mind and will, transforming those objects into blades that struck out at his enemies. The items he normally based that magic on were pine needles, which he carried concealed in the hairs of his tail. The needles had the advantage of being quite fragrant. Light enough to be carried by a decent wind, as blades he could control them freely, almost as an extension of his will.

Furthermore, when those blades struck outwards, they spread the pine needles' scent along with them, spreading the scent into anything they cut into. That spreading scent created even more connections, allowing Arkenstone to form even more blades from the objects broken apart by the original swords. On top of that, Arkenstone could channel his magic into objects directly by grasping or touching them. The larger the object, the larger a blade he could manifest. To Arkenstone, the resulting blades, while massive, carried no more weight than the object that originally formed them, while, to his opponents, the blades struck with the power and weight of their apparent size.

However, the technique had its limitations. The heavier the object used as the basis for the sword, the harder it was to manipulate. Pine needles, tiny pebbles, and small splinters were fine. But simple rocks and fragments of wood and plaster were almost impossible to control remotely using his magic. The most Arkenstone could generally do was modify their trajectory slightly and induce extra acceleration. The resulting blades might have been more powerful, but the tradeoff was that he couldn't manipulate them at the same level he could the smaller and lighter ones.

Terra had apparently realized that. He now understood that, if he knew the basic trajectory of Arkenstone's blades, then he could anticipate their attacks and either intercept or avoid them more effectively, thus eliminating the need to divide his attention to keep track of the individual blades. With that out of the way, he could make his primary focus avoiding and parrying the blades Arkenstone had more control over and chipping away at Arkenstone's armor.

However, there was another tool in Arkenstone's arsenal...the dust. Composed of fine particles drifting in the air, the dust was practically a ready-made medium for Arkenstone's magic. Able to serve as the base for weapons as well as the connection needed to manipulate them, it was an almost endlessly versatile tool. The issue was, the majority of it went into the fashioning of his armor. To make matters more difficult, what extra remained in the air was frequently dispersed by the shockwaves of their continuing clashes. Terra had noted this and clashed with Arkenstone as often as possible to keep him from amassing enough dust to create any substantial weapons. It also served to slow the rate at which Arkenstone could restore his armor when it was broken.

I may have played my cards a bit early, mused Arkenstone as he spun about, whipping his tail at Terra. The armor across his croup extended out along his tail, forming something like a bladed chain. Terra was forced to duck before the whiplike motion of the weapon beheaded him. Arkenstone whipped his tail about more, sending the weapon slashing about in unpredictable movements that drove Terra back.

Meanwhile, Terra grit his teeth in frustration as he retreated from this latest fusillade of blows, forced to jump, skip, and twist to keep from getting tangled in the bladed segments. He had never faced an enemy who fought the way Arkenstone did, much less an earth pony who wielded the magic of their kind in such a fashion. In the past, Terra had fought and beaten earth ponies, pegasi, and unicorns. He had faced numerous lesser martial arts and endured the absolute pinnacle of battle magic. In spite of his teacher's warnings, he had yet to meet any foe whose power could match that of the Mountain Root. All of his experience had taught him that, compared to the might of the purest expression of earth pony magic, anything else fell short.

Harmony between the tribes was all well and good. But, as far as Terra was concerned, that extended merely to social affairs. When it came to practicing magic, it was best that each tribe stuck to what they did best. Trying to incorporate concepts and ideas from other forms of magic simply muddied things and reduced a given magic's overall effectiveness. It was the same with weapons. Depending on an object for attack and defense instead of the strength of one's own body, will, and magic was essentially an admission of weakness. At their base, weapons were lifeless steel and wood. Their strength was arbitrary, going only so far as the materials they were composed of, while a pony's body was capable of endless improvement. In the end, weapons and foreign magical concepts were both crutches, gimmicks that ultimately weakened those who relied upon them.

And yet...Arkenstone was different. He used his magic to bind the matter around him. His armor was a powerful protection yes, but it was more than a mere defense. In his strongest state, Arkenstone literally cloaked himself in his own power, hardening and sharpening his body into a living weapon. The blades he struck with, even the ones that he couldn't control and manipulate directly, all carried the full weight of his killing intent, each one capable of biting into even Terra's reinforced flesh. When the fight between them had begun, Terra had expected Arkenstone's blades to be easily broken and blocked, only to find out that they were infinitely more formidable and that Arkenstone was stronger than any enemy he had ever faced before.

What made matters even worse for Terra, was the reason behind their fight. Arkenstone was fighting to protect Dawn Lightwing, a demon, the servant of Nightmare Moon, who openly bore the mark of his true nature in his eyes. Even though Arkenstone was blind, a warrior of his caliber couldn't have possibly been unaware of Dawn Lightwing's true nature. However, he still fought in defense of the colt, attacking with an unrivaled ferocity, his blades seeking to pierce and carve the flesh of one who had come to bring justice and deliverance to Ponyville.

Terra stood on the side of right. The will of Her Radiance, Stewardess of the Sun, and Mother of All was behind his cause. That knowledge filled him with a boundless fervor that drove him on. His will did not falter. He could not be swayed from his course. In the end, the rightness of his cause would see him through to the end of this grim endeavor.

And yet...his foe still stood before him, taking Terra's blows and striking back in equal measure, his fervor seeming to rival Terra's own. To make matters worse, Terra's body had been marred by the demon's power. The cut burned beneath his cutie mark ached and stung with every movement, reminding Terra with every pang that Dawn Lightwing had struck and wounded him, even though such a thing should have been impossible. Every sting of that wound reminded him of Arkenstone's taunts at the beginning of the battle.

I will not give in, thought Terra resolutely, I will see this task through to the end. I will return to the Holy Father with victory in hoof. Then, together, we will see Nightmare Moon's will purged from this world once and for all!

Blades flashed, hooves clashed. Armor rang, cracked and crumbled. Again and again, the two stallions clashed together. One driving the other back for a brief moment before he rallied and returned to the battle. Their battle seemed to meander all across Ponyville. Any object or structure in their path was ripped apart. The force of their blows sundered the earth, opening cracks, collapsing entire buildings dozens of meters away. The whole of Ponyville rocked and trembled as though shaken by a continuous earthquake. With each second, every minute the battle progressed, the shockwaves spread farther and farther, spreading throughout the surrounding countryside. In the Whitetail Woods, deer and other animals fled. Even in the mysterious Everfree Forest, the monstrous creatures that called it home fell back away from its edge, their instincts telling them that straying too close to the mysterious disturbance in Ponyville spelled death.

Amid all this turbulence, there was a single place that remained stable and undisturbed. Held fast by the power of all Ponyville's available earth ponies, Sweet Apple Acres remained an island of peace during this troubled time.

Applejack sweated and panted. She'd never drawn this deeply upon her innate earth pony magic, never tied or bound herself so tightly to the earth, feeling as though she'd taken root like a tree herself. Her body was getting stiffer with each passing second. She wasn't the only one. All the earth ponies around her were showing signs of strain as the battle in town dragged on. The growing pressure in the earth was a mounting threat that only grew with each passing moment. Her mind found it almost impossible to grasp the notion that it was two individual stallions fighting one another. It had a feeling more like a cataclysm than a brawl.

A wry chuckle wormed its way out of her lips as she remembered all the stories Granny Smith used to tell her and Macintosh when they were little; stories about the Celestial Knights. They were stories of ponies that could take on entire armies by themselves and win, ponies that could split open mountains, ponies that could set the sky on fire. Applejack had always felt that such stories were mere products of fantasy. Even when meeting Arkenstone and learning that he actually was one of those legendary Knights, Applejack couldn't reconcile the image of the polite, soft-spoken stallion with the image the stories inspired. But now she understood that the stories of the Knight's capabilities were a surprisingly sober truth.

Applejack couldn't afford to lose focus, so she kept her eyes glued to her own hooves as she continued to force herself to breathe, drawing the power of the earth into herself, shaping it with her will and sending it back out, binding her power with that of all the other ponies doing the same. Together, they held back the unrelenting pressure of Arkenstone and Terra's battle.

Had Applejack or any of the others looked up from their task for a moment, they would have seen something that would have inspired awe and dread in equal measure. In the center of their group stood Granny Smith. However, few would have been able to equate the mare who stood there now with the doddering old mare who was often seen puttering about the farm or around town. Smith's wrinkled skin had smoothed, the lines around her body fading as she seemed to lose entire decades worth of age in a few minutes, her youth seeming to return the more of her power she exercised.

However, it was also something of a disturbing sight. For all that Smith looked newly youthful, there was a sense of wrongness about it. Her skin was smooth, but it was drawn tightly about a body of bone and not much else. It gave Granny Smith a gaunt, stretched-out appearance, the look of a starved pony. Her ribs stood out starkly on her barrel. The bones of her legs were clearly visible. The musculature that had once filled out her youthful appearance seemed to have withered away. As a consequence, Granny Smith looked more dead than alive, despite seeming to be young again.

However, nopony looked and nopony noticed. Which was the way it should have been, as far as Smith was concerned.

Arkenstone winced internally as their battle took them through yet another building. However, the smells of sugar, yeast, and flour that reached his nose told him that they had just plowed right through the middle of Sugarcube Corner. Sorry Pinkie...

They crashed through the wall of a storeroom. Arkenstone's nose picked up the smell of flour all the more intently. He called fourth a sextet of swords, feeling Terra tense in preparation to stop them. However, instead of attacking Terra, Arkenstone instead launched the swords at the bags of flour heaped around them. The swords sliced open the bag and scattered the flour through the air, filling the entire space with white dust. Terra paused, hesitating in confusion. That gave Arkenstone just enough time as he completely sealed his armor for a second, covering nose and mouth, sealing all the joints. For just a moment, Arkenstone's body became like a statue, unmoving. One of the blades scraped against a metal surface, sending up a few sparks...

What remained of the Sugarcube Corner was consumed by a fiery explosion. Heat and flames washed over the two stallions. Terra hardly even noticed them, his magic easily resisting the heat and concussive forces of the detonation. Arkenstone's blows had carried more force than that. However, as Terra prepared to mount a counterattack, he realized that the explosion had done something he hadn't noticed before. It had consumed all the oxygen in his immediate vicinity.

The consequences would last only a few seconds. However, for those few seconds, Terra was unable to breathe. Unable to draw in air, he simply couldn't continue to draw in the earth's power. He faltered. At that moment, Arkenstone's armored body sprang back into motion and slammed into Terra with all the blind stallion's strength.

The explosion and the resulting lack of air had caused Terra's magical protection to falter. As a surface like steel slammed into him, Terra cried out in agony. The edges of Arkenstone's armor bit into his skin and the force of the impact caused something to crack, then snap. Terra felt the most intense pain he had endured yet. However, the force of the blow knocked him clear of the explosion's epicenter, granting Terra access to air once again. Taking a deep breath, Terra drew in an enormous amount of power, sucking the earth's strength into his body, using its power to strengthen him, solidify his muscles and hold broken bones in place, even as the bones themselves became like steel rods. His strength regained, Terra once again surged forward to clash with Arkenstone, the resulting impact driving the rest of the flames away.

Arkenstone had apparently changed up his strategies. More swords appeared in the air around him, vanishing as they moved to slash at Terra. This time, instead of simply throwing them at the dark-brown stallion, Arkenstone maintained his hold on the blades, wielding them as an extension of himself, slashing back and forth, up and down, in an attack that was coming at Terra from all directions, even as he waded in with his armored body to attack more directly.

Terra found himself driven back, being forced to backpedal as he tried to keep Arkenstone's blades from surrounding him. The blades struck and withdrew before Terra's hooves could meet them, keeping Terra from shattering them as he had done on previous occasions. They also kept him from effectively countering the attacks Arkenstone delivered with his armored body. Growling, Terra jumped back, transforming to a blur as his form blurred back a considerable distance in an attempt to gain more distance so that he could gather his strength for a counterattack.

However, the blades that Arkenstone was wielding came together in that instant, their forms merging together into a giant sword that practically leapt after Terra, aiming for his stopping point. Terra came to a rest, his eyes widened as he saw the gargantuan blade flying straight for his head. For an instant, both Terra and the sword vanished in an explosion of dust.

Even before the dust had cleared, Arkenstone's nose and ears told him that the attack had missed. Terra had deflected the blade at the last second, causing it to bury itself in the earth right next to him. Thrusting out his elbow, Terra struck the side of the blade and shattered it like glass.

There was a momentary lull in the battle as the two stallions circled one another warily. The fight had taken its toll. They were sore, battered, and wounded. Blood dripped to the ground, limbs trembled, bones creaked. Nerves burned, having been strained almost to the breaking point by being forced to fight so hard for so long.

Neither spoke, whether to offer mercy or ask it. No such speech was needed or wanted. At that moment, both Arkenstone and Terra had the same thing on their minds...death. The air between them literally crackled with pure, unrestrained killing intent. Even though they were not clashing or exchanging blows at that moment, the ground beneath their hooves hummed and trembled with tension.

With a flick of his tail, Arkenstone released more pine needles into the air around him. This time, over a dozen of blades appeared to hover beside him, all of them aiming straight for Terra, who closed his eyes and breathed deeply, once again drawing in power from the earth.

In the blink of an eye, Arkenstone's blades leapt into frantic motion as they lanced out at Terra. Terra vanished as well, his body seeming to disappear as he charged straight in at Arkenstone, seeming to cover the distance between them in a single step. Terra completely ignored the blades, allowing them to gash him from right and left as he aimed directly for Arkenstone. Arkenstone braced his own body, setting himself to take Terra's next blow as all four of the massive dark-brown stallion's hooves slammed into the ground simultaneously. For the second time that day, Terra Heart and Arkenstone literally went head to head. The impact between them completely shattered the armor around Arkenstone's head, a shockwave running down the length of his body and causing the rest of his armor to seem to dissolve.

The ground beneath their hooves cracked and split and exploded outwards in a shockwave that left another shallow crater in its wake. A the crater's center were the two stallions, their heads still pressed together. The swirling black dust that had once been Arkenstone's armor gathered into two serrated-looking whirlwinds, one over each of his shoulder. They condensed and, in the space of a fraction of a second, two long, slender blades stretched out from them, thrusting rapidly at Terra, piercing him in the flesh of his shoulders and emerging to draw lines of splashing red along the length of his body before they pierced into the ground behind him.

Everything to stop. The entire battle seemed to briefly freeze in time as the two stallions remained in their position. Finally, something seemed to give. Arkenstone's swords crumbled away as the blind stallion slowly stepped back from Terra, his body swaying almost drunkenly. As he watched this, Terra's eyes narrowed and he lifted one foreleg, as though he planned to press the attack, only to freeze in place. His foreleg came back down. With a loud, gurgling cough, Terra let out a spray of blood from his mouth as he nearly collapsed down onto his belly. It was all he could do to remain standing.

The two stallions staggered and stumbled, each attempting to gather his senses before the other could. Both of them drew deeply on the earth's power, strengthening their bodies, overshadowing pain, focusing their remaining strength in a race to recover from their latest exchange. For both of them, it was a painfully slow process that seemed to stretch on intolerably.

Arkenstone's power stretched out into the air around him, once again drawing in dust, gathering it around him to reform his armor. However, because Arkenstone's recovery required that one extra step, Terra was able to fully recover first. Setting himself, Terra charged straight at Arkenstone once more, slamming his shoulder into the armor forming across Arkenstone's chest. The bladed edges of the armor crumpled under the impact and Arkenstone was thrown off his hooves and sent flying back. However, as Arkenstone was knocked into the air and sent flying through the wall of another building, his lips curled back into a triumphant smile.

"Terra Heart...eh..." Granny Smith smiled as she sipped from the mug of cider in front of her. "Now there's a name Ah haven't heard in ages."

"He was my...senior...correct?" asked Arkenstone.

"Ah suppose ya could say that," said Smith, shaking her head slowly, "That lad had so much potential. It's a shame things ended the way they did. That darn colt was too stubborn for his own good."

"He was a student of the Mountain Root under you," said Arkenstone, "and, unlike me, he did not...branch out, as it were."

"That much's true," said Smith with a nod, "He might've done much better if he had."

"How so?"

"Do ya think yer any weaker 'cause ya went from learnin' the Mountain Root to creatin' yer own style?" asked Smith, raising an amused eyebrow at Arkenstone.

"I don't believe so," said Arkenstone, "It just didn't quite suit me."

"And that's the way it's always been," said Smith, "The biggest mistake ya can make about any 'o the Three Pillars is that there's one 'right' way to learn any 'o 'em. Ya start out by learnin' the basic form. But that's to help ya learn the the principles of the Art. Once ya learn those, ya can start shapin' it in a way that best suits yer traits as a pony and a martial artist.

"Terra's mistake was gettin' all hung up on the form. Mighty obsessed with the 'purity' 'o the art, that one." Smith sighed. "He'd have a hard time learnin' to do some technique or other and get mighty frustrated. When Ah suggested that he try adaptin' his movements to somethin' that might suit him better, maybe look to other kinds 'o pony fer inspiration, he refused, said he had to learn to do it the right way."

"He was a tribalist?" Arkenstone raised an eyebrow.

"Nah," said Smith, waving a hoof dismissively, "Got along perfectly fine with any unicorn and pegasus he met, that fella. But...fer some reason, where the Mountain Root was concerned...he was obsessed by masterin' it as it was. Ah don't know what happened to get him fixated on it like that. He didn't talk about his reasons really. Mighty stiff boy."

"A form over function type," suggested Arkenstone.

"As good a way 'o puttin' it as any," said Smith with a nod, "If ya end up fightin' 'im, that's where his weakness is gonna be. Ah tried mah hardest to teach that boy, Ah did. He certainly learned the technical aspects 'o the Mountain Root. But there's somethin' deeper he plain didn't care enough to learn. Once Ah taught 'im the form 'o the Four-Point Strike, he skedaddled, sayin' he'd learned everythin' he needed to; was gonna go out and use the Mountain Root to change the world."

"So he knows the Four-Point Strike..." mused Arkenstone.

"He knows how to do it, but he never really learned what it was all about, just figured it was the way an earth pony could hit their hardest." Smith sighed. "He thinks himself a master 'o the Mountain Root. For most ponies, he may as well be one. But there's some things missin' in his trainin' that ya can use."

"I see," said Arkenstone, "I'll keep that in mind..."

The building that Arkenstone had just been thrown into was none other than his own teahouse. He skidded to a halt in the middle of the serving room, having crashed through a pair of tables after his explosive entry through the wall. Getting back on his hooves, Arkenstone slowly turned his head, inhaling deeply, taking the familiar smell of the place; the wood of the walls and furniture, the ponies who had passed through the place in the months since it had opened, the faint scent of the mild cleaning solution he used, the smell of tea and spices that had sunk in and permeated the entire establishment. For the past few months, this place had been his home in Ponyville. Arkenstone had sunk more time and effort into this one building in the past months than he had in any other place he had stayed in all the years he had been a Knight.

He could pick out the scents of ponies who had passed through there, including the ones closest to him. He smelled Twilight and Spike, both of whom smelled of paper and ink. He smelled Dawn, Scootaloo, and the other Crusaders, who carried with them the scents of all the places they had been around Ponyville and all the things they had tried to get their cutie marks. He could smell Red River and Storm Front. He could smell Rarity, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, and Fluttershy. He could identify the scents of the dozens of other ponies he had come to know during his time in Ponyville. Their scents were as much a part of this place as the walls and furniture that made it up.

That sense of familiarity washed over Arkenstone, clearing his head like a blast of fresh air mixed with a bucket of cold water. The haziness brought on by his mounting injuries pulled back and Arkenstone was able to appreciate the world around him with a brilliant clarity that made his body feel at once lighter and more solid. The building fatigue seemed to leave him entirely as Arkenstone stood up straight, heedless of the burden his body had been under previously. This is exactly what I needed.

The strong sense of familiarity that pervaded the teahouse, the feeling of being on his home ground was exactly what Arkenstone needed to get that critical edge over his opponent. Just as Sweet Apple Acres was for Granny Smith, the teahouse was a place that Arkenstone had Cultivated and made into a place of power for himself. Taking a deep breath and basking in the familiar scents around him, Arkenstone filled the teahouse with his power. The entire building began to creak and groan. Invisible power seemed to crackle through the walls, passing all the way down to the foundations.

Terra Heart's hooves clicked on the wooden floor as he passed through the hole Arkenstone had opened in the wall. Terra said nothing as he came in, glaring at the blind stallion. Arkenstone's armor had completely reformed, leaving him fully protected once again. Terra growled and set himself in a crouch, preparing to charge in once more.

Arkenstone made no movements in response, simply breathing deeply, continuing to immerse himself in the familiar scents around the building. The power he drew in from the earth continued to mingle with his own power, which had sunk into the foundation of the building itself. The entire place hummed with his magic. Arkenstone breathed in, drawing in still more power.

Then it was gone. A single breath from Terra and the connection between Arkenstone and the earth directly beneath his hooves vanished. In that brief second, Terra charged forward, ramming his shoulder into Arkenstone's armored chest. Arkenstone was knocked off his hooves and sent flying backwards, crashing through the room at one of its corners. He ended up crashing into one of the storerooms where he kept his teas and spices. The burlap bags exploded around him, filling the air with fragrant particles. He managed to land on his hooves, plowing furrows through the wooden floor as he skidded to a stop.

Starting at the point where Arkenstone had come crashing through the wall into the storeroom, the wood making up the building seemed to crumble to pieces, splinters and fragments mixing with the airborne spices and dried tea leaves. They all began to swirl around Arkenstone like a typhoon. Some of it melding with his armor, making it more solid, more substantial. It merged with the greaves over his hooves, anchoring him to the floor and the ground beneath it. With each passing second, more of the building seemed to crumble away into minuscule pieces that continued to whirl around Arkenstone.

Like a runaway locomotive, Terra Heart came charging in, his head lowered to deliver what he no doubt thought to be the final blow, having taken the absence of Arkenstone's counter as a sign that the blind stallion was on his last legs. Terra was prepared to use the infamous Four-Point Strike for the third and final time.

The Four-Point Strike was the final technique taught to students of the Mountain Root, not because it was the most powerful blow an earth pony could muster if used correctly, but because using it required that the user had fully mastered all aspects of the Art to their fullest extent. Without that mastery, the technique was more likely to harm the user than her enemies. Naturally, using one's own cranium to deliver such a powerful blow was not without its risks. The transfer of power, kinetic and magical force, from the user into the target had to be managed perfectly. If there was any disturbance in that transfer of force, the technique could not connect properly and the consequences could be disastrous for the user. At best, a concussion might be the result. At worst, a user who had executed the technique wrongly would not live long enough to realize her mistakes as her brains would likely be splattered over everything in a ten-meter radius. A mistake would result in the user's skull shouldering most, if not all of the force of their own attack. It was a technique designed to allow the user to show that she had fully mastered and understood the principles that lay at the foundation...the root...of the Mountain Root.

Terra Heart, who had focused merely on the technique's destructive power, could not fully realize the ramifications of using it in his current condition and state of mind. Tinged with anger at the obstacles that had forced themselves into the path of what had been a supposedly simple mission, he was not fully immersed in the execution of the technique itself. That Arkenstone had already endured that very blow twice already was especially galling to Terra. The wounds he'd received over the course of the battle hurt more than they should, but one wound in particular stood out.

The ugly, black line drawn along Terra's hip, just below his cutie mark was especially distracting now, not in the least because it was the only wound on Terra's body that he hadn't received from Arkenstone. It was the wound that Dawn Lightwing's final attack had engraved upon him through all of his defenses. Throughout the fight, the painful sensation of that burned cut had tormented Terra like a barbed thorn buried beneath his skin. Now, with all the mounting frustration of this battle, its impression was magnified in Terra's mind, which was reflected in his body. As a consequence, his hind leg faltered as he planted his hooves to execute the Four-Point Strike. That small error distrupted the flow of power generated by Terra's hindquarters, throwing his posture off just slightly. As focused as he was on delivering the final blow, Terra ignored the sensation and pressed forward, determinedly slamming his forehead against Arkenstone's own.

A loud crack echoed through the air. The two stallions froze for the briefest of seconds. Then blood sprayed outward from the point of impact. Terra reeled back with a cry of pain, stumbling as he shook his head, splattering more red everywhere. Terra's mind, along with his awareness of his current situation was all but destroyed. His mind was a jumble of confused thoughts, completely scrambled by the impact of his own technique.

Arkenstone struck. The swirling dust of tea and spices in the air around him, mixed with fragments of his home, all of it saturated with his power and presence, crackled visibly with energy. They merged together, forming numerous blades, countless blades, a veritable storm of blades that swirled outwards to engulf Terra Heart from every conceivable direction. As they moved, more of the walls, the ceiling, and even the floor beneath Terra's hooves, crumbled away to become even more blades. There was no opening to escape, no weakness that could be exploited. This was different from the deluge of relatively unguided blades Arkenstone had relied upon earlier. Each one of these moved as an extension of his body and will, guided as perfectly and precisely as if they were his own limbs. They closed in on Terra and buried themselves into his flesh, cutting deeply, sending even more blood flying through the air as Terra cried out in agony.

Before the storm of blades could close completely in on Terra and hack him completely to pieces, Arkenstone pulled them back, merging them all together into the largest sword he had yet wielded with his own hooves. The blade stretched up, smashing a hole through a section of the unbroken ceiling above Arkenstone's own head. As he did this, Terra fell, his body turning away slightly so that he was almost perpendicular to Arkenstone, presenting a perfect target. Arkenstone brought the sword down, cleaving through his own teahouse and home in the process, bringing the blade down at Terra's neck.

In that instant, the battle that had rocked Ponyville came to an end.

Author's Notes:

So, after major technical difficulties, we now bring you your regularly scheduled chapter...and maybe the next one, once I finish editing it.

The idea for Terra's attitude regarding the martial arts was drawn from stories about Bruce Lee, who apparently got a lot of flack for his martial arts philosophy, which was about incorporating what is useful over particular styles...which didn't go over quite well with the masters of those styles. Terra was all about the keeping to the particulars of his style, whereas ponies like Arkenstone tend more towards Bruce Lee's philosophy.

The idea of the Four-Point strike is kinda like those techniques used by some martial arts where the practitioner uses their head to break rocks, cinder blocks, or various other sundry hard objects. It's taught, not because it's a useful technique (it rarely is), but because it's a way for the wielder to demonstrate their understanding of the more advanced principles of a particular martial art precisely because it would be impossible to pull of such a technique without hurting oneself unless it was done exactly right.

Next chapter: Ponies pick up the pieces.

Broken and Battered

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Chapter 26: Broken and Battered

"CEASE!"

The voice rang with the clarity of a massive bronze bell, echoing so loudly that it could be heard throughout Ponyville and even as far as Sweet Apple Acres, where the town's population awaited the battle's conclusion. It was filled with the weight of authority and the will of a ruler.

Akenstone's sword halted a hair's breadth from Terra's neck. From above, he felt a literal deluge of warmth and light that seemed to seep through his skin, into his flesh and bones. It was a calming sensation that put the blind stallion at ease. He relaxed, allowing the armor of dust and other substances to crumble away from his body. The massive sword he had been holding crumbled as well.

Hovering above the teahouse, looking down through the new skylight Arkenstone had opened its roof, was none other than Princess Celestia, her body shining with the light of the sun, her mane and tail shimmering, looking more like massive tongues of blue-white flames than the gentle aurora they usually resembled. Her eyes gazed sternly down at the two stallions.

"This battle is over," said Celestia, "Enough blood has been spilled this day."

Terra blinked and shook his head fiercely before forcing himself to look reverently up at the Princess. "Your Radiance, I-"

"Silence." The single word carried enough weight in it to make Terra's jaw snap shut audibly before he had even fully processed what he had heard.

"I wasn't sure you would make it in time," said Arkenstone calmly as he rested the hoof that had previously been holding the sword on the ground.

"I came as quickly as I could manage," said Celestia, turning her attention to Arkenstone.

Terra looked back and forth between Celestia and Arkenstone in confusion. She had saved him at the moment of his apparent demise. He had no doubt that Arkenstone had fully intended to kill him, yet the armored stallion had stopped the very instant Celestia had ordered it. It was practically divine intervention. However, he couldn't understand why she was not focusing her wrath on Arkenstone now.

"Where is Dawn Lightwing?" asked Celestia.

Terra smiled slowly. Now Arkenstone would pay for his heresy.

"He is at Sweet Apple Acres right now," said Arkenstone.

"And his condition?"

"Battered, bruised, drained of his magic, but alive," said Arkenstone with a slight smile, "I don't doubt that he will make a full recovery."

Celestia's stern visage melted into a relieved smile as she drifted down through the hole in the roof to land near Arkenstone. "Thank goodness."

The bottom went out of Terra's stomach at those words. "Wha-what?" His voice was barely more than a whisper. Celestia seemed not to have heard it. Arkenstone's ear twitched in the faintest acknowledgment of Terra's voice. "Your Radiance! That de-"

"I told you to be silent," said Celestia, turning an expression of undiluted rage on Terra Heart, "If you utter another sound without my leave, I will order my Knight to finish what he started."

Terra's voice died as he wilted beneath the rage in Celestia's glare. His insides felt as though they had liquified. He simply couldn't process what he was hearing.

"Were there any other injuries or...casualties?" asked Celestia.

"I believe the evacuation went smoothly. I don't know if anypony was injured in that. But it seems unlikely." Arkenstone lowered his head. "However, both Red River and Storm Front were badly injured in combat. I am not certain that they will be able to recover fully."

"I see," said Celestia glumly, "I've already sent the Royal Guard detachment that accompanied me to Sweet Apple Acres. More are bound from Canterlot by train with relief supplies. It would seem the two of you did quite a bit of damage to Ponyville during your battle."

"My apologies," said Arkenstone.

Letting out a sigh, Celestia lowered her head before shaking it sadly. "Still...there appear to have been no deaths this day. I'm glad for that." She turned her attention back to Terra. "All that remains is to take this stallion into custody. From him, we will learn everything about the Cult Solar and stamp it out."

Arkenstone spoke again, but his voice was lost to Terra's ears. It was as though a thunderstorm had taken up residence in Terra's head, pounding ceaselessly as he gaped unabashedly at Princess Celestia, the goddess he had worshipped. Everything that he had done, every deed he'd performed, all the injuries he'd suffered this day, all had been for her. But here she was, not merely rejecting him, but declaring her intent to snuff out the Order of Celestial Light, even calling it by that accursed name. What is going on? His world had been turned upside down. Nothing made sense anymore.

With a low whine, Terra Heart sank to the floor in an unmoving heap.

"It seems you broke him," observed Arkenstone blandly. His hoof twitched as he turned his attention to Terra. The cultist stallion was extremely dangerous now, perhaps even more so, now that the foundation upon which he had built his principles and actions had been so rudely torn out from beneath him. While it wasn't a certainty, some ponies had gone into episodes of frenzied violence over such revelations. Even in his present state, Terra Heart was still dangerous. I should finish this...

"Arkenstone," said Celestia, her stern tone resonating in his ears, "Lower your hoof."

Slowly, Arkenstone's hoof came to rest back on the ground.

"I gave the order to stay," she said, "It was not your decision," said Celestia, "You need not be The Relentless here."

"But..." Arkenstone's voice trailed off as he thought about what he had been about to do. Amongst his fellow Knights, he had been known as The Relentless, one of his less favored titles. He had always tried his hardest to avoid violence and avert bloodshed. But when no other option was given and he was forced to draw his blades and strike, he made absolutely certain not to withhold anything and never left a foe alive. It had been his conviction. If an adversary could not be deterred through any other means and insisted upon resorting to violence to the very end, ultimately, such an enemy would only cease to be a threat if they were dead. He had believed in that conviction in order to assure that he would not strike unless he had exhausted absolutely every means to end a conflict without bloodshed. Every time he did resort to violence, he killed, using the memories of the lives he had taken to remind him of his failure to find a better way.

But the conviction that he had held so firmly to in the past was now turning to bare its fangs at him. At that moment, he hadn't been fully committed to the reasons he'd been using on himself to finish Terra off. He had just been looking for an excuse to kill Terra on the spot, to ensure that he had held true to his course of action. What am I thinking?

"Arkenstone," said Celestia, "I have always respected your desire to seek better ways of resolving issues. I know that is your greatest virtue as a Knight. In the past, you pushed forward and succeeded where even some of my finest diplomats would have thrown up their hooves and walked away. But...you need not go that far any longer. Your conviction is not for cutting down the helpless, whoever they may have been or whatever they may have done up to that point. If you followed through with that, you would not be worthy to be one of my Knights...and you would not be the stallion my dearest student loves so."

"I..." said Arkenstone. He opened and closed his mouth slowly. "You're right."

Celestia nodded. "Thank you." Her horn glowed, a nimbus of magic gathering around the unresponsive Terra and lifting him up. "Can you walk?"

"I can."

"Then I will meet you at Sweet Apple Acres," said Celestia, "I need to check on the situation there." She beat her wings and took to the sky, making her way out to the farm.

Taking a shuddering breath, Arkenstone willed his limbs into motion. Now that the battle was over, the adrenaline had faded from his system. He was conscious of the countless aches and pains spread throughout his body. Each and every step was a novel experience in pain. However, he knew his own body well enough to know that he could indeed make the journey. His current condition would draw that journey out for him.

But...perhaps...that extra time was what he needed now.

Celestia came in for a landing directly in front of the Apple family's barn. She could see the ponies that had been evacuated from the hospital resting inside. Already, her Guards were taking stock of the situation. Spike had been pressed into service as a messenger, sending updated reports to Shining Armor on what supplies were needed. Later on, he would probably be communicating how many ponies were without shelter and the overall damage tallies for Ponyville. She knew that the young dragon would probably work himself to the bone to help get it all done. I'm going to owe him some special rewards when all this is over, she thought. She had some very nice gems in one of the vaults back in Canterlot that Spike would probably love. But she could ask him what he'd like later.

Because they had traveled light, the squad that had accompanied Celestia from Canterlot wasn't carrying anything in the way of relief supplies. Given the aftereffects of the battle between Terra Heart and Arkenstone, it would be a while before anypony would be able to return to their homes for any length of time, at least until surveyors and engineers could determine the structural integrity of the homes affected...which was nearly all of them. To make matters worse, there were quite a few families and ponies who had no homes to return to, the buildings having been shattered, as though they were made of toothpicks, by the battle. The destructive potential of a Celestial Knight was nothing to be trifled with, say nothing of a battle between one and a pony nearly equal to him in power.

Arkenstone had won the day, but the price was high. It would be weeks, months even, before everything returned to normal in Ponyville. Making matters worse was the highly personal nature of the conflict. Terra Heart had come to Ponyville looking for Dawn, with the intent of killing him. Arkenstone had intervened and acted to stop Terra. This fight essentially boiled down to the presence of a single colt, which had led to widespread destruction and damage. Celestia silently prayed that ponies didn't take their anger out on Dawn.

"Princess," greeted one of her Guards, who had taken up a station by the barn doors, "Would you like us to take charge of the prisoner?"

"Yes," said Celestia, "You have brought the binding shoes, haven't you?"

"We have," said the Guard.

"Make sure he is outfitted and then shackle him," said Celestia, giving Terra's limp form one last cold glare before she left him on the ground for her Guards to deal with, "Then tend his wounds and make sure he is stabilized. It would not do for him to bleed out before we draw all the useful intelligence we can out of him." Her aura faded away as she left him behind, save for four rings of magic, which restrained each of Terra's legs.

Binding the power of accomplished users of earth pony magic was a difficult task. Both unicorns and pegasi of nearly any level could generally be restrained by inhibitor rings and wing bindings respectively, thanks to the fact that the majority of their magical outlets were concentrated on those parts of their bodies. However, earth ponies not only possessed a relatively even distribution of magical outlets across their bodies, but they also had an equal number of inlets for absorbing ambient magical energy, which made restraining them more of a challenge. It helped that few earth ponies ever really learned to master their magic to its fullest capability.

To bind earth ponies like Terra, special horseshoes, called binding shoes, had been invented. Made of the same material as unicorn inhibitor rings, they worked by absorbing magic drawn into earth ponies through the nails used to hold them into place. The consequence was that the shoes grew progressively heavier as the bound earth pony relied more on her magic, while preventing her from actually using that magic at the same time. Of course, applying such shoes required subduing and restraining the earth pony in question, which was a very tall order indeed if they were advanced practitioners of their craft. Once those shoes were on him, Terra wouldn't be going anywhere.

Celestia walked sedately into the barn, looking around and taking stock of the situation. The barn floor had been swept clean of dirt and clutter, with tarps being laid down so that the place could be used to house the patients from the hospital. Celestia found herself admiring the level of organization. There weren't all that many patients, but the ones who were there were being exceedingly well cared for despite the conditions. She drew glances from the nurses and orderlies ministering to the patients and gave them encouraging smiles as she passed. One of the most important laws she had put into effect was that hospital staff were not to interrupt their work even when royalty was present, especially when they were working with patients. In the distant past, Celestia had seen more than a few injured ponies lose their lives because a doctor or nurse wasted precious seconds to prostrate themselves to her in the middle of an important treatment or operation.

The one thing that truly caught her eye was the white, blocky structure that stood near the entrance to the barn. Its form was definitely out of place, namely because Celestia could tell it wasn't composed of mundane matter, but actualized magic. Did Twilight create that with her ring? she wondered. If so, it was an impressive feat, one well beyond what most ponies with such an item were capable of. She also noticed two ponies in particular waiting outside the structure, their eyes fixated on it so intently that they hadn't even noticed Celestia's arrival.

"Applejack," said Celestia softly as she came up behind the farm mare.

"AH!" Applejack jumped nearly twice her own height in surprise before spinning about to face Celestia. Her pegasus companion was so startled that she jumped all the way up to the rafters, clinging to them for dear life.

"I'm sorry," said Celestia in a soothing tone, "I didn't mean to startle you."

Picking up her hat, which had fallen to the floor when she'd jumped, Applejack brushed it off and wiped sweat from her forehead before slipping the hat back on. "No harm no foul, Princess," she said in a relieved tone.

The pegasus, recovering her composure, released her hold on the barn rafters and drifted down to the floor, stooping neatly into a graceful bow in the same second that her hooves touched down. Celestia nodded to her, bidding the mare to rise. "And what is your name, my little pony."

"Flitter...Your Highness," said the pegasus shyly.

"Hey now, no need to be so shy," said Applejack, reaching over to give Flitter a reassuring rub along her back, "The Princess ain't gonna bite ya."

Giggling, Celestia nodded. "Under the circumstances, forgoing formalities is a perfectly understandable thing." She looked past the two mares at the white box once more. "Can you tell me what this is about?"

"Not a whole lot," said Applejack, nervously rubbing one foreleg with another, "Twi made it to help the doctor with Storm and Red. They're in a mighty bad way."

"Ah," said Celestia. She hadn't gotten the chance to meet Storm Front, but she had met Red River when he had accompanied Applejack and her friends up to the Royal Palace for Hearth's Warming. She assumed that Flitter was Storm Front's fillyfriend. It certainly seemed that way from how she and Applejack were visibly supporting one another as they awaited the results from inside Twilight's improvised sanctuary.

Applejack in particular looked as though she needed support. Even as they talked, Celestia could see her swaying unsteadily. Applejack's orange coat was matted with sweat and her normally flowing mane sagged limply. There were also bags forming beneath Applejack's eyes that would have normally spoken of sleepless nights. "Are you sure you're alright to be here?" asked Celestia, looking at Applejack worriedly.

"Ah...Ah'm just a bit tired," Applejack conceded, her voice faltering.

"She and all the other earth ponies who could be spared used their magic to stop the tremors," explained Flitter.

Celestia nodded. That explained why everything on Sweet Apple Acres was in such good condition even though an event that was comparable to a small-scale earthquake had occurred nearby.

"You should get some rest," Flitter was now saying to Applejack.

"No way! No how!" said Applejack stubbornly, "Ah ain't gonna get a lick 'o sleep 'til Ah know if Red's gonna make it."

"How long have they been in there?" asked Celestia.

Flitter frowned. "Almost two hours now," she said, a nervous quaver in her voice. It was obvious that she was also very worried about the outcome.

Celestia pursed her lips and stared at Twilight's creation. Actualizing magic into such a large structure was no easy feat. Even if Twilight's magical reserves could have easily handled the task for days at a time, the mental strain of maintaining an object that was stretching the limits of what the arcanasteel ring was designed for would be excruciating. Depending on the extent of the two stallions' injuries, the doctor might require hours still in order to finish the operations to the extent that any kind of substantial recovery was possible. Would Twilight be able to maintain it for that long?

There wasn't anything Celestia could do directly to provide assistance. If she tried to catch Twilight's attention or use her own magic to aid in Twilight's work, she was more likely to disrupt Twilight's concentration than anything else.

Instead, Celestia turned her attention to Flitter and Applejack. It was clear that the two mares were running themselves ragged worrying about their stallions. With a sigh and a sad smile, Celestia lit her horn, conjuring a drifting cloud of magic that settled across the two mares like a glowing fog. Both Applejack and Flitter's eyes began to droop and the two mares sank into an exhausted slumber. Quietly, Celestia motioned some nurses over to supply Applejack and Flitter with cots and blankets, leaving them sleeping peacefully.

Good luck Twilight, thought Celestia, giving the white box one last look before turning to look for the other pony she had come to check up on.

She found him laying silently on a cot near the center of the barn. Dawn Lightwing was out like a light. Across his body, Celestia could see bandages and even a couple of sutures here and there to close larger cuts. Next to him lay a second cot, where little Scootaloo was also resting. Sitting down and watching over both of them was an anxious Fluttershy, who was flanked by a pair of formidable-looking griffons.

"How is he?" asked Celestia as she approached Fluttershy. The two griffons turned their sharp, predatory gazes on her for only a second before they relaxed and stepped back to allow Celestia room to approach the canary-colored pegasus. Celestia favored the pair with a nod before returning her attention to Dawn's mother.

"He's resting," said Fluttershy.

I can see that already. Only centuries of practice kept the wry comment from leaping out from Celestia's lips. Fluttershy didn't need sarcasm right now. Settling down next to her, Celestia draped a wing over Fluttershy's back.

"His condition is stable," said one of the nurses, coming over, a clipboard hovering in the grasp of her magic, "He was suffering from severe magic depletion when Scootaloo brought him in. We managed a transfusion and he stabilized. However, as you can see, he suffered plenty of other injuries."

"I noticed some cuts and abrasions," said Celestia.

The nurse nodded. "Those too. However, we also suspect that he's suffering from impact trauma in the chest area, possibly even fractured ribs. However, until the Doctor is available to perform an examination and we have an appropriate environment for it, I'm afraid all we have is guesswork."

"I called down some additional medics from Canterlot," said Celestia, "A hospital tent is on its way as well. It should serve as substitute until we can verify the structural integrity of the hospital and ensure that it is safe to move the patients and staff back in."

"We're grateful for that," said the nurse. She reached out with a hoof and, ever so gently, brushed the strands of Dawn's mane away from his face. "I can't imagine how hard he must have been fighting to reach this condition."

Celestia gave the mare a worried look. "You aren't upset about this are you?"

The mare looked aghast at the Princess. "At him? No. I'd like to think that I know better than to blame the victim. I certainly hope that most everypony else in Ponyville is as reasonable. He even led the attack out into the park to try and keep it away from everypony."

Celestia nodded. She turned her attention to Fluttershy, who was still resting against her side. Celestia could see that Fluttershy had fallen asleep in the shelter of her wing. "Could you find another cot?"

"Of course," said the nurse with a smile before walking off to do exactly that.

Once Fluttershy was settled, Celestia took her leave of the barn to see how the rest of Ponyville was coping with this disaster.

By and large, the residents of the town were surprisingly resilient. Then again, given the town's reputation as a trouble magnet in the past, the majority of ponies seemed rather inoculated against such incidents. All told, the ravening swarm of magically altered parasprites had probably done more damage overall than Terra and Arkenstone's battle. It helped that it was midway through the spring season and the weather was fair. Had it been in the middle of winter, the situation would have been much more dire.

Celestia spoke with everypony she could and was relieved to note that, while most of them were aware of Dawn's involvement in the incident, very few of them seemed to hold it against him personally. The few that expressed frustration towards the colt simply seemed to be using him as a vent for their stress more than anything else, rather than actually holding a grudge against him.

About three hours after the fight's conclusion, a flight of pegasi from the Royal Guard arrived, towing large freight carriages loaded down with tents and bedding, along with food supplies and the most essential personnel to help the inhabitants of Ponyville through their situation. Still more ponies and material were on their way by train. Shining Armor had immediately started organizing relief efforts after Celestia left, not even waiting for reports to come in via Spike's dragonfire to requisition items and get them organized. Luna had weighed in as well to move things along.

Seeing that everything was going well, Celestia wrote out another letter and tracked down Spike to send it along to Shining Armor. It's time to end this farce, once and for all...

"That should do it," said Doctor Stable, sewing closed the last incision and snipping off the string, "We've done all that we can." He turned to look at Twilight. "You can let us out now."

"O-okay," said Twilight, letting out a breath and relaxing. All around her, the white walls of actualized magic crumbled away into scattered motes of energy, allowing the ponies inside to view the interior of the barn once again.

"That was well done, Ms. Sparkle," said the doctor, adjusting his glasses, "We couldn't have done this without you." Already, the nurses who hadn't been part of the operation were swooping down on the group, carefully moving Storm Front and Red River off to be hooked up to nutrient drips in preparation for the healing spells they would receive later.

"You're...welcome," said Twilight in a dazed tone, swaying as fatigue crashed over her like a wave.

Stable's smile faded as he looked at Twilight. She looked as though she had gone through several straight nights without sleep. He hadn't realized that the mental fatigue of what she had done would be so severe. Raising a hoof, he beckoned over an unoccupied orderly and ordered a cot for Twilight. He was feeling rather tired himself, having been operating for the past several hours, but felt that he needed to make sure that everything was in order before he rested himself.

As it turned out, his work was mostly done. Amongst the ponies flown in by Celestia's Royal Guard were additional doctors, who had already seen to Dawn and Arkenstone. They had set up a hospital tent outside of the barn. The tent's fabric had many of the same wards used by hospitals, thus allowing the doctors to carry out their work with little difficulty. Princess Celestia was also still present, overseeing the distribution of supplies and shelters.

"Ah, doctor," said Celestia as he approached her, "How do your patients fare?"

"Well...given the circumstances," said Stable with a sigh, "We did what we could, which was much more than I ever hoped I could. Storm Front will still be able to fly when all this is over and Red River will have little more than a slight limp. Still...I believe that they will not be as effective fighters even after their recovery."

"The damage was severe then."

Stable nodded. "It was. However, it was relatively undirected. They both avoided crippling damage to their joints, which made it much easier to piece them back together. It's thanks to your student that we were able to treat them as well as we did."

"Yes, Twilight has outdone herself this time," said Celestia, "I am most proud of her."

"You should be," said Stable before remembering he was speaking to a Princess, "Apologies for my impertinence, Your Highness."

"No apologies," said Celestia with a titter, "After everything you have done, you certainly deserve a little leeway. Rest doctor. You've earned it."

Stable bowed politely to Celestia. "Thank you, Your Highness." Turning he headed off to get some much-needed sleep.

Dawn's eyelids slowly fluttered open and he yawned. Said yawn was aborted when his chest sent a jolt of pain through him, cutting off his yawn with a strangled grunt. The pain wasn't severe, more sudden and surprising than anything else. It served to sweep the cobwebs from Dawn's mind and punt him fully into wakefulness, though he still felt decidedly sluggish.

He was staring up at a ceiling of white canvas that stretched out to meet four equally white walls. At one of the corners, he could see sunlight filtering in through the fabric. Otherwise, it was fairly dark inside what Dawn assumed to be a fair-sized tent of some sort. Outside, his ears picked up the chittering sounds of birds and insects and an undercurrent of muttering voices. Where am I? Given his circumstances, he figured that he had probably been evacuated to Sweet Apple Acres. The quietness of the setting seemed to indicate that the battle was now over. Given that Dawn had woken up at all, he guessed that Arkenstone had managed to win the fight. Dawn could only hope that the Knight was not badly injured.

Shifting about underneath the sheet lying over him, Dawn began to take stock of his condition. There was a lingering soreness and sensitivity in his chest. However, it was mild, suggesting that the damage had been healed somewhat. The cuts and bruises that had dotted his body when he'd passed out were now closed. Aside from his ribs, he felt quite well.

A tugging sensation on Dawn's arm prompted him to look over and spy the IV he'd been hooked up to. I guess that means I've had a healing spell, thought the colt. It certainly explained why his injuries were...mostly...gone.

Of course, healing magic meant that his body's reserves had been tapped to fuel the spell, which meant...A low growl filled the tent as Dawn's stomach demanded sustenance immediately. The noise seemed to echo through the room, causing something to stir and prompting Dawn to realize that he was not alone in the room.

Something that looked a little like a pale-pink hump slowly rose up beside his bed, seeming to loom like a cresting wave before giving way to the yellow of Fluttershy's coat as she raised her head and turned to blink sleepily at the colt. "Dawn...?" she said, her tone tentative and worried as she rubbed at her eyes.

"...Good...morning...?" was all that Dawn could think to say at the moment. His mind was not operating at full speed, which seemed odd, given that he was used to waking up rather easily in the mornings. It also bothered him that he hadn't even noticed that she was in the room until she'd started moving. Even by his usual standards for waking up after being battered around in a fight, this was unusual.

Letting out a happy sigh, Fluttershy leaned down and planted a light kiss on Dawn's cheek before nuzzling it. "Thank goodness," she said, her voice practically a whisper.

Dawn's stomach growled again, drawing Fluttershy's attention. She giggled. "I'll let the doctor know you're up and get you some breakfast," she said, getting to her hooves and leaving through a flap she opened in the tent's wall, leaving Dawn alone.

Dawn blinked then returned to staring up at the tent's ceiling, pondering his situation. He felt much more sluggish than usual, even pondering going back to sleep. His stomach wouldn't have any of it though, protesting its own emptiness all the louder.

Fortunately, he didn't have long to wait. A few minutes later, the tent flap lifted to admit Fluttershy, now balancing a tray that held a glass of water and a bowl of something steaming on her back. Following behind her was the doctor, who smiled knowingly at Dawn.

"I would say welcome back," said the doctor wryly, "But you managed to avoid landing yourself in the actual hospital this time, since we were forced to rely on a substitution."

"Ah..." said Dawn, having trouble of thinking anything to say about that.

"Oh yes. I imagine you are feeling rather more tired than usual," said Doctor Stable, lifting the arm that had been hooked up to the IV. Carefully, he removed the needle and pushed the stand out of the way. "I've treated a few pegasi with Wing Exhaustion before, but never full-blown Wing Stroke."

"Wing...Stroke...?" Dawn's mind struggled as it tried to process the unfamiliar term.

"Wing Exhaustion is what occurs when you pegasi draw push your magic too far. Your body's meridians shut down to keep you from wasting any more energy. It's a safety valve, a limiter of sorts." The doctor lit his horn and sent a beam of magical energy sweeping over Dawn's body. "However, under rare circumstances, it is possible to override that limiter and continue to draw your magic until it is completely exhausted. Your physical and mental processes shut down and, deprived of the magic that flows through them, your meridians eventually collapse. In that condition, if you woke up at all, you would be unable to fly ever again."

Dawn's eyes widened and a jolt of panic surged through the colt, just as Stable raised a placating hoof. "However..." he said sharply, cutting off Dawn's anxious train of thought, "you are most fortunate that you were treated promptly. Your fillyfriend was more than happy to donate some of her own magic to help restore enough of your own to keep your meridians functioning properly. The fact that her magic is still in your system is one of the reasons you're feeling so out of sorts at the moment. It will pass as your body restores more of its own magical capacity. But it is going to be a few weeks before you'll be strong enough to fly again."

"That's...good to know," said Dawn, sinking back onto the mattress.

Stable raised a rectangular black plate in his hoof and projected his magic onto the plate. An image of the colt's skeleton appeared on the plate. "Your bones have mended nicely, though I imagine that you are still feeling a little sore."

Dawn nodded.

"That's to be expected," said Stable, lowering the plate, "Your ribs had cracks running all along their length. I've rarely seen anything like it. There was also a substantial residue of earth pony magic embedded at the center of the injury that resisted attempts to heal you initially."

"Magic?" asked Dawn, raising an eyebrow.

A polite cough from Fluttershy interrupted the doctor, just as he was opening his mouth. Seeing that Dawn's mother was still waiting with the tray of food and watching the doctor with an uncharacteristically irritated gaze. "Oh...right..." said the doctor nervously, "I'm sorry, Ms. Fluttershy. You're free to give Dawn his breakfast."

Breakfast turned out to be a bowl of some sort of savory-smelling broth. At least it was palatable. But it didn't feel all that substantial to Dawn as he sipped it down along with his water.

"You don't want to try solid food just yet," cautioned the doctor, "Trust me. Your stomach will give you hay for it." He paused to pull off his glasses and wipe them with a cloth. "Anyway, about the magic...It's a rare phenomenon, something I've never actually seen with my own eyes before. An earth pony who's using her magic offensively projects the magic through physical contact, using the magic as a medium of transferal for force in order to send the impact of their blow into the target. It also enhances the force of impact.

"When that happens, if the magic behind the blow is strong enough, it can linger at the site of the injury, causing it to resist healing magic to a certain extent. It won't cause you any permanent harm, but it will slow your healing process somewhat." Stable shivered visibly. "Like I said, it's the first time I've actually seen that with my own eyes. Very few earth ponies know how to use their magic in an offensive manner and even fewer can put that amount of power into it. Judging by the extent of the damage, I'm assuming you only just barely avoided making direct contact with the blow."

"By a hair..." said Dawn, "...literally."

Dr. Stable went pale as he stared at the colt, shuddering. He remembered seeing the injury for himself. He'd assumed that Dawn had at least partially taken the blow. But if what the colt had said was true, then the true force of the blow must have been staggering. Dawn was lucky that his body hadn't been splattered across the landscape like a rotten fruit.

Still, he managed to regain his composure and replaced his glasses. "I'm going to have you rest for today and tonight and give you another healing spell this evening. Hopefully you'll be in condition to move after that. However, I want to caution you against any undue physical exertion before your magic has recovered. You're liable to hurt yourself if you aren't careful."

"Alright," said Dawn with a slow nod.

The doctor saw himself out and Dawn returned to what remained of his breakfast. "Can you tell me what happened?" asked Dawn, looking at Fluttershy.

"Yes," said Fluttershy, her smile fading as she began to relate what had taken place while Dawn had been unconscious.

"Ugh..." The low groan escaped Twilight's mouth as she struggled to pry her eyes open. It was unpleasant work, given that Rainbow Dash had apparently flown back from Cloudsdale to prank her by replacing her eyelids with sandpaper. Even as her eyes opened, the only thing she could make out were bright blurs in front of her. Her nose was stuffed like she'd had a cold. Her ears were even less help, given that Pinkie Pie had apparently brought out that weird mishmash instrument she'd used to get the parasprites out of Ponyville and was now playing it in the enclosed space like there was no tomorrow.

To say that Twilight had a headache would have been the understatement of the century. Her head was pounding, throbbing to the point she could actually feel her head twitch in time with her pulse. On top of that, her head felt as though it now weighed a couple of tons and the effort of trying to lift it off of the stiff, uncomfortable pillow it was resting on was likely to snap her neck. Opening her mouth, Twilight tried to formulate some sort of coherent sound only to cough and hack as the dry air outside entered her mouth and went down her even drier throat.

Something warm wafted across her muzzle, vapors that drifted up her nostrils, seeming to slowly flush out the accumulated snot that was blocking her primary breathing passage. Twilight inhaled deeply, welcoming the scent of something vaguely herbal as it continued to clear her nasal passages. Something was touched to her lips and Twilight could feel hot liquid splashing against her mouth. Opening her lips slightly, she sipped slowly, finding the liquid to be the source of the vapors that had cleared her nose; some kind of herbal tea. She welcomed the taste and smell of the tea as it filled her mouth and slowly soothed her throat. It was gently warm, but not hot, which was a welcome relief in her current condition. The din of Pinkie Pie's musical efforts began to fade into a background of murmuring voices that Twilight realized were actually the sounds of ponies talking around her.

Geez. How lucky I am to get the hangover without even having a chance to get drunk in the first place, thought Twilight wryly. Though the ache in her head had faded, her horn was still throbbing slightly. But it was a minor distraction at best. Twilight made another attempt to open her eyes. This time, they slid open smoothly and without protest. Though her vision was still blurred, Twilight was slowly able to make out shapes and objects around her.

"Are you feeling better?" said the pony who'd been holding the cup of tea to her lips.

Turning her head, Twilight was shocked to see who was beside her. "Arky!" she squealed, lunging up off her cot to throw her arms around the stallion, "You're okay!"

"Oof!" exclaimed Arkenstone, wincing in Twilight's embrace.

Almost immediately, Twilight let go and flopped back down on her cot. "I'm sorry!" she gasped, getting her first good look at him, now that her vision was coming back into focus.

Arkenstone had certainly seen better days. All four of his legs and his neck were tightly wrapped in bandages, with even more strips of cloth criss-crossed over the center of his forehead.

"It's alright," he said with a fond smile, "I'm glad that I was able to come back to you in one piece...more or less..."

"I'm glad too," said Twilight, leaning up again, this time to gently kiss her coltfriend on the lips. Settling back onto the cot, she smiled up at him. "I take it that everything turned out alright."

"More or less," said Arkenstone, "Terra is no longer a threat and Princess Celestia has the situation well in hoof."

"What happened?" asked Twilight, "I figured the doctors would have healed you already."

"They are having some difficulty flushing Terra's magic from my body," said Arkenstone, "It slows the healing process down somewhat."

"So...you won?" said Twilight.

"Yes...I won," replied Arkenstone, "And I hear that you played an important role in yesterday's events as well."

"Um...well..." Twilight's cheeks bloomed with color and she looked away bashfully.

The gesture was meaningless to Arkenstone, who couldn't really meet her eyes anyway. Instead, he leaned down and gently nuzzled the base of her horn. "You were incredible Twily," he said, "Princess Celestia is very proud of you."

Those words made Twilight's heart soar as the turned her head back to capture Arkenstone's lips in another kiss. "I'm just glad its over," she said softly.

"Not just yet," said Arkenstone, not pulling his head away, but instead leaning forward to lean his head against Twilight's own.

"What do you mean?"

"Ponyville was still badly damaged by our fight," explained the stallion, "There is a lot of work to be done before everypony can move back into their homes. And then there's..."

"There's what?" asked Twilight, her eyes narrowing.

Arkenstone sighed. "We have Terra Heart in custody. With his actions, we now have full confirmation of the Cult Solar's intentions regarding Dawn Lightwing and ponies like him, that this is the actual policy of the Cult Solar and not merely the actions of a few extremists. Princess Celestia is mobilizing the Royal Guard. She intends to root out all of the Cult Solar's strongholds and drag every member she can before the courts."

"Oh..." said Twilight, her eyes widening. She supposed this was a long time in coming. Still, after all the anxiety that Celestia had expressed about stepping across the line between authority and tyranny, this was still a dramatic shift.

However, her mind went back to the limp forms of Red River and Storm Front as Dr. Stable worked desperately to save them. She remembered the destroyed wall of Scootaloo's house and the filly sitting in the hospital waiting room, distraught from the act of putting a pony in the hospital when she was defending herself from said cultist's attack. This is probably something we should have done a long time ago.

"The logistics of the campaign are proving somewhat difficult to arrange," said Arkenstone, "We haven't yet had the chance to interrogate Terra Heart on the location of the Cult's strongholds, much less the location and identity of their leader. On top of that, mobilizing the Royal Guard is going to be a difficult task."

"She could supplement the Royal Guard with Guards from other towns," said Twilight.

"She could," admitted Arkenstone, "But that could prove counterproductive. She's actually been laying the groundwork for this operation for months now, using covert members of the Guard to ferret out the Cult Solar's hiding places and their strongholds but...sometimes the local Guards of various towns have been less than trustworthy."

Yeah, I can see why that might be a problem, Twilight thought to herself. Though the Cult Solar had only experienced a resurgence in the past ten years, there were probably areas of Equestria where it had been entrenched for generations. Even in relatively new territories, it would be a simple matter to start seeding members of the group into organizations such as the local city and town Guards, allowing them to control the flow of information to and from Canterlot and inhibit any efforts to actually locate them.

Because of that, there was plenty of reason to distrust the Guard in areas where the Cult Solar was known to operate. However, the Royal Guard, while an elite force, was a relatively small one when their numbers were compared to the scope of what Celestia was trying to do. They would be spread thin if Celestia really wanted to cover as many places as she possibly could.

"Fortunately, the Royal Guard isn't gonna have to do all of this on their own."

Twilight's eyes widened as she saw a familiar mare striding up to stand next to Arkenstone. "Spitfire!"

"Hey there," said Arkenstone's fellow Knight and Captain of the Wonderbolts with a friendly wink, "I heard you saved the day with some heavy-duty magic."

"Well..." Twilight blushed and looked away. A bit embarrassed by the praise, she decided to switch the topic. "Wait! If you're here then..."

"Sorry, Rainbow Dash didn't come with us," said Spitfire, still smiling, "She's in training with Firefly right now. I got Spike's letter from Ouranos. But, by the time we got here, everything was pretty much over already. I sent the rest of the team back, but we'll be out there with the Royal Guard when the Princess wants to start playing Cultist Roundup."

"She's called back Sparrowhawk too," added Arkenstone.

"I think she'll probably call in Firefly as well," said Spitfire, tapping her chin, "With three of us on the job, I think we'll manage pretty well."

Twilight sighed. She hoped that Princess Celestia's efforts to bring in the cultists were successful. At the very least, taking such decisive measures against the Cult Solar was sure to send a clear message that their beliefs were not valid and that the object of their adoration had a very serious bone to pick with their activities.

The conversation was interrupted by a low growl from Twilight's stomach, reminding her that she hadn't eaten since the previous day. Both Arkenstone and Spitfire heard the noise and grinned impishly at Twilight.

"I see somepony is hungry," said Spitfire.

"Thank you for belaboring the obvious," muttered Twilight.

Chuckling, Arkenstone gently rubbed a hoof against Twilight's foreleg. "Do you think you're up to moving about? I can get something for you if you want."

"I'll get up," said Twilight, sitting up with a groan and forcing herself to roll out of the mattress, "I'm woozy from holding my concentration for so long. It's literally all in my head."

Still, standing up proved to be a challenging task. But with Arkenstone by her side to keep her steady, Twilight managed and she was soon on her way, albeit slowly, to the mess tent that had been set up for the evacuated Ponyvillians.

Sadly, breakfast was not to be. Just as they were about to enter the tent, Arkenstone's ears stood sharply upright and the stallion's entire posture stiffened. He pulled away from Twilight abruptly, nearly causing her to topple over. Only an outstretched wing from Spitfire managed to keep Twilight on her hooves. After the past couple of days, Twilight was not in the best of moods. She immediately opened her mouth to berate Arkenstone before noticing what had captured his attention.

Arkenstone had turned his entire body to face the Apple Family farmhouse. He seemed to lean towards the structure, his nostrils flaring as he sniffed, sounding almost like a dog on the trail. His expression, which had previously been jovial, was now one of the utmost seriousness. There was tension in every line of his body and, to Twilight's surprise, he had actually gone pale.

"Arky...?" she asked nervously.

As it turned out, Arkenstone didn't need to answer her. Instead, Twilight picked up the sound of a frantic voice on the wind, a voice that was accompanied by the rapid clopping of hooves. Now she could see Apple Bloom as the yellow filly galloped toward them, tears streaming from her wide eyes, a look of stark terror on her face.

"Twilight! Twilight!" she yelled frantically, "Help! It's Granny!"

"Calm down," said Twilight, lifting a hoof and trying to follow her own advice. In spite of her efforts, her heartbeat was picking up pace as a faint feeling dread crawled upwards and started to worm its way into her head.

"It's Granny!" repeated Apple Bloom, "Ya've gotta help us! She's gonna DIE!"

Painless Passing

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Chapter 27: Painless Passing

"Yer a silly filly," said Granny Smith with a quiet chuckle as she gently ran her hoof through Apple Bloom's mane, "gettin' all worked up by that."

The tears hadn't stopped flowing down Apple Bloom's cheeks as she rested her chin on the bed, mere inches from the Apple Family matriarch. "But Granny," she protested, "Ya were on the floor and ya weren't movin' none."

"Ah've been around fer a long time, mah little blossom," said Smith, gently brushing tears from beneath Bloom's eyes, "Ah worked harder yesterday than Ah've worked in the past ten years. Somethin' like this was bound to happen.”

On the other side of the bed, Dr. Stable withdrew his stethoscope and jotted down some information into a notebook. "She's stable for now," he said, looking across at Big Macintosh, who was standing silently behind Bloom, "At this point, there's nothing more for me to do."

Macintosh nodded, his eyes taking in the solemn look on Stable's face. Without saying a word, Macintosh left Granny Smith's bedroom and waited for the doctor to join him out in the hallway. As the doctor left, he heard Smith speaking softly to the youngest Apple child.

"Now ya listen here Bloom. Everythin's gonna be just fine. There ain't nothin' to worry 'bout..."

The two stallions made their way down the hallway to the living room, where Twilight Sparkle and Arkenstone waited silently. Twilight looked unquestionably worried about Smith's condition, while Arkenstone looked quietly resigned.

"So what's the word, doc?" asked Macintosh.

"Her vitals are fading," replied Dr. Stable, "She doesn't have much time left, a few days at most."

Twilight gasped softly, her hooves flying to her mouth and tears leaking out of her eyes.

The doctor interpreted Macintosh's questioning look without any difficulty. "I'm afraid there's nothing anypony can do," he said, "Clearly, her exertions from yesterday were simply too much for her body. To be honest, she's fortunate she survived past that. At this point, the only thing you can do is make her remaining time as comfortable as possible."

For an uncomfortable moment, Macintosh was silent, the stoic stallion still clearly having trouble processing what he was hearing. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "Ah guess that's it then," he said, "Thank ya fer yer help, doc."

Dr. Stable said nothing, merely nodding and taking his leave. Silence descended on the living room before Macintosh finally took on the task of breaking it. "Welp...Ah gotta give Bloom the news. Don't know how Ah'm gonna break it to her." He looked at Twilight and Arkenstone. "Can y'all do me a favor and let AJ know what's happenin'?"

"Of course," said Arkenstone quickly before Twilight could protest.

"Thanks." With that, Macintosh made his way back down the hallway to Smith's room, presumably to give Bloom the bad news.

"Do you really think Applejack should hear it from us?" asked Twilight, staring aghast at Arkenstone.

"You are practically family to her," Arkenstone pointed out, "Macintosh is clearly going to be busy for a moment. I don't think there's any other pony that could be trusted to do this."

"She's going to be devastated," Twilight said with a whimper, "She's already in bad shape because of what happened to Red River. But this..."

"It is what it is," said Arkenstone, "We can't change it and trying to hide the truth from her or put off giving it to her would probably hurt her even more."

Slowly, Twilight nodded. "Alright."

"Also, we should try to see if we can pry Spike away from his current duties. Apple Bloom is probably going to need all the comfort she can get."

"I'll go tell Applejack," said Twilight, "Could you go get Spike?"

Arkenstone nodded and the two of them parted. Twilight was still a bit out of sorts from yesterday's work. However, she was steady enough to make the short walk to the medical tent, where the injured had been gathered. It was a large, white tent, easily half the size of the mess tent. It didn't really need to be all that large. The majority of Ponyville's displaced hospital patients were still being housed inside the Apple Family's barn, with only those in the absolute worst condition needing to be housed inside the walls of warded canvas.

Twilight pushed open the flap on one side of the tent and found herself in a small room. Resting on a cot in the center of the room was an azure earth pony stallion. Red River's chest rose and fell with slow, even breaths as he slept, heedless of what was going on around him. He'd required a powerful healing spell to get him on the path to recovery. An I.V. was hooked up to his leg, supplying all the nutrients his body would need as he recovered.

Twilight only gave the stallion a cursory glance, instead choosing to give her full attention to the mare sitting next to the bed. Applejack's green eyes stared forlornly at Red. Her trademark stetson rested on a table that had been set near the bedside. Her long, flowing blonde mane was tangled and twisted, barely held together by its usual tie. Beside the hat was a mug of coffee, the only concession to her own needs that Applejack had bothered with. However, the coffee had gone un-drunk and the lack of steam wafting from it gave Twilight a good idea of how long it had sat there undisturbed.

"Applejack..." Twilight reached out and gently pressed her hoof to Applejack's shoulder.

"Oh...hey Twi," said Applejack, turning to look over her shoulder. At the sight of Twilight's face, Applejack broke out into a smile, but it didn't reach her eyes.

"Applejack..." Twilight swallowed, uncertain of what to do. Applejack was already worn down with worry over her coltfriend. Can I really tell her? At the same time, Twilight knew she didn't have much choice. Either she told Applejack now, or let her find out later. Letting her find out later would probably be much worse. "Applejack...I have some bad news."

"Is...is it about Red?" asked Applejack, the rising pitch of her voice betraying her anxiety.

"No," said Twilight slowly, "It's...it's your grandmother..."

"Granny Smith...? What about her?" Seeing the grim look on Twilight's face cause comprehension to dawn on Applejack's own. Her eyes widened. "No...no...She's not..."

"She is," said Twilight, "The doctor confirmed it. She's dying, Applejack. She has a few days left at most."

Applejack's eyes widened further. Her breathing grew faster and more frantic. "She can't...Ah can't...This ain't..."

"Applejack!" Twilight snapped sharply. She lowered her horn and let out a spark that burst with a loud crack right in front of Applejack's face. The orange mare jumped sharply at the sudden noise. Before she could go back to panicking, Twilight was there, wrapping the farmer up in her arms and rocking her back and forth.

"It's too much Twi," whimpered Applejack, pressing her face into Twilight's neck, tears dampening the unicorn's fur, "Not Granny too."

"Applejack, Red River's going to be fine," said Twilight calmly, "He'll pull through. We made sure of that."

"But Granny..."

"Granny Smith wouldn't want you to tear yourself apart over this," said Twilight, pulling back so that she could look her friend in the eye. "We're all here for you. We'll do whatever it takes to help you get through this. But Applejack..." Twilight used her magic to levitate Applejack's hat and set it back onto her head. "...you should go to her."

"But Red..."

"Red River is in good hooves," said Twilight, smiling, "He's going to get the best care possible. But he wouldn't want to keep you here when you need to be with your family."

"Y-yer right," said Applejack with a sniff.

Another set of arms encircled the pair, along with a pair of wings, wrapping and warming the two of them with their feathery softness. Looking at the newcomer to their embrace, Twilight was surprised to see that Flitter had joined in the hug. Where did she come from? Twilight's gaze drifted over to one of the walls, which was opened slightly. She could even see Rumble peeking in from the adjoining room. Oh...That must be where Storm Front is then.

"We'll keep an eye on Red for you," said Flitter softly, nuzzling Applejack's cheek, "You should go."

"Th-thanks," said Applejack with a sniff. She broke their embrace and exited the room.

"Thank you," said Twilight, smiling gratefully at Flitter.

Flitter gave Twilight a small smile in return before heading back to the room where she and Rumble were keeping their vigil over Storm.

Twilight was feeling woozy as she got back to the Apple Family homestead. As she approached, her tortured stomach reminded her, rather forcefully at that, that she still hadn't eaten anything. She'd been forced to abandon the prospect of a meal to answer Apple Bloom's panicked summons and it didn't seem that she'd be getting to the mess tent anytime soon.

"Looks like I did the right thing by grabbing a little takeout."

Twilight jumped with a loud yelp when she heard Spitfire's voice. Whirling about, Twilight gave the fiery mare an angry glare. Spitfire merely met said glare with a wry grin before hefting a wing, from which dangled a bag that was apparently loaded down with various disposable containers.

The sight of the promised food made Twilight's stomach loudly attest its admiration for the Wonderbolts' Captain, despite Twilight's irritation at being spooked by the mare.

"Thanks," she said grudgingly, taking the bag in her magic, "So..."

"I heard," said Spitfire, her smile fading, "I don't think it'll be long before the entire town hears about it."

Twilight frowned darkly. "You don't seem too troubled by the idea."

Spitfire shrugged, the indifferent reaction raising Twilight's hackles. "I don't know Smith personally. She was long retired when I was Knighted. The Siege Perilous is more of an honorary position than anything else."

"You don't care at all?" asked Twilight.

"Of course I do," said Spitfire, "I know that this is going to be hard, especially for Arkenstone, since Smith was the one who taught him. I know it's going to be hard for her family too. But still...she's incredibly lucky."

"Lucky...?"

"Yeah," said Spitfire, "Let me put this a certain way. Not many Knights live long enough to retire. Smith was one of those lucky few. On top of that, she's lived long enough to watch entire generations of her family. She got to see the Apples spread their roots across all of Equestria. On top of that, even though she's dying, she'll get to do it peacefully, in the comfort of her own home, surrounded by ponies who love and respect her, and all at a ripe old age. That kind of outcome is about the best that anypony could hope for, much less one of us Knights."

Twilight's head drooped. "I suppose..."

"Death comes for all of us, one way or another," said Spitfire, "But the most we can hope for is that it comes gently." She took to the air, leaving Twilight alone with the food in the Apples' front yard.

Twilight watched Spitfire fly, the Wonderbolts' Captain making her way to a tent that had been set up for Celestia while she oversaw the situation in Ponyville. I guess she's right, Twilight throught to herself, But that doesn't mean I have to like it. With a melancholy sigh, she hefted the bag and the food it contained and made her way inside.

An uneasy silence had settled over the Apples' home once night fell. Apple Bloom had cried herself to sleep on the living room couch. She was curled up with Spike, his arms wrapped around her shoulders even as his tail coiled around the rest of her body. He'd spent the entire evening with her, doing his best to provide some form of comfort. For the most part, that had simply been holding her and encouraging her to eat once dinner came around.

Applejack wasn't in much better shape. Though she wasn't openly weeping like her sister, Applejack had spent the remainder of the day in a quiet depression, sitting beside Granny Smith's bed, simply cradling the old mare's hoof in her own. Even though Smith had done her best to reassure her eldest granddaughter, Applejack hadn't seemed to listen all that much.

Big Macintosh was probably taking it the best out of the Apple siblings. But even he had his limits. He'd kept up his stoic expression, steady and unshakeable, trying to remain a pillar of calm support to his sisters. Only when Ditzy had come home from her work (the mail didn't stop simply because Ponyville's post office had been reduced to a pile of splinters) did Big Macintosh break down in tears, holding and being held by his new wife. The two of them had retired to their room after Ditzy had tucked Dinky in. The poor filly, now officially the youngest member of the Apple household, was only slightly less distraught than the rest of the family, having developed a strong affection for the elderly mare over the course of Mac and Ditzy's prolonged courtship.

Twilight and Arkenstone were there as well. All of Applejack's other friends had drifted by throughout the day, doing their best to offer their condolences. Both Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle had visited Bloom. Sweetie had even sung one of her unique, wordless songs in an effort to provide some comfort to the grieving family. Ironically, she had been the one who'd ended up putting Bloom and Applejack to sleep. Macintosh had barely made it to the bedroom with Ditzy before they too passed out, the strain of the day catching up to them.

Now the house was quiet. Across from the couch were Spike and Bloom rested, Applejack slept in a large armchair, curled up like an oversized cat, hugging her own tail even as her hat dangled from a corner of the chair's back. Nearby, on a pile of cushions, Twilight and Arkenstone lay side by side, Twilight resting her head across Arkenstone's forelegs even as he rested his head over hers.

As such, nopony noticed when a cloud of glowing golden motes of light seeped in from the crack beneath the front door. The dancing orbs of light trickled in at first, then forming into a single large, but ultimately shapeless cloud, that began to flow in a smooth, undulating motion down the hall. There, the cloud paused once again as the lights flowed beneath the crack of another door, this one leading to Granny Smith's room.

Inside the room, Smith lay awake, staring out the open window. It was a beautiful spring evening and, thanks to the fact that the weather schedule had been put on hold by the battle in Ponyville, there were no clouds to be found in the sky. The entire tapestry of Luna's work was now laid out for her to see and she didn't feel like missing it. After all, this was probably one of the last nights she had left in the world of the living. It would be a shame to pass without appreciating Princess Luna's night one last time.

Her gaze didn't deviate as the cloud of golden light crept into her room, forming into a large mass by her bed before coalescing and fading, leaving behind the form of a large white mare with a shimmering auroral mane and tail, panting slightly as the last few glimmering lights faded, leaving the room in darkness.

"Sounds like ya winded yerself a bit, Princess," said Granny with a wry chuckle.

"That trick is more Luna's forte than mine," Celestia admitted, pausing to wipe her brow, "She always had more patience for the subtler aspects of magic than I did."

"Ah was wonderin' if ya'd drop by," said Smith idly, "Yer so busy right now. Ah wasn't sure ya'd be able to take some time fer a dyin' old mare like mahself." She finally turned away from the window to look Princess Celestia in the eye.

Celestia let out a chuckle of her own as she reached out to gently stroke Smith's mane. "After everything you've done, I think I could afford to take some time to visit you during your final days. But I knew you wouldn't want me to risk exposing your secret in front of your family."

"Ah'm grateful fer that," said Smith, looking out the window again, "They don't need to be bothered by the things an old mare like me's done. When Ah go, they'll remember me as their lovin' Granny and nothin' more. That's the way it ought'a be."

"It doesn't bother you that you're lying by omission to your daughter, the holder of Honesty?"

Smith let out a dry cackle. "The hardest thing to learn 'bout honesty is when not to rely on it. The truth has it's place in the world, but so do lies. Sometimes what's needed ain't honesty, but a little slight 'o hoof." She sighed. "None 'o mah students really got what that meant. But, at least that one fella gets it pretty well."

"You mean Swift Stride?" asked Celestia, raising an eyebrow.

"Eeyup, that's the one. Ah wish Ah knew where he was. If there's one wrinkle that Ah don't like 'bout this whole thing, it's that he's not here."

"So you were planning on passing your seat to him?" Celestia was a little incredulous. She knew for a genuine fact that, for all his faults and eccentricities, Swift's heart and actions were in the right place. In truth, she cared quite deeply for him. However, she hadn't realized that Smith considered him a candidate.

"That was mah plan," said Smith, "Ah thought he was the pony to trust with mah seat." She sighed. "Oh well. It ain't no use in cryin' over an upset trough. Arkenstone's up to the job."

"He may share that knowledge with Twilight though," Celestia pointed out.

"That's fine," said Smith, "If he trusts her enough, then that's his call. If ya've got any objections, now's the time to spit 'em out."

"None," said Celestia with a sad smile.

"Well then, that's that. Any other reason ya wanna talk to an old mare on her deathbed?"

"Just to thank you for your service all this time," said Celestia, "You have my gratitude. I'll miss your delicious apple cakes. Go in peace to the ones who went before you."

"Ah'll wait for ya there," said Smith, "Yer gonna join us some day."

"I will," said Celestia with a nod. Leaning down, she gently nuzzled Granny Smith's cheek. When she spoke again, her voice was barely a whisper. "Thank you and goodbye...my dear friend."

With that, Celestia called upon her magic and transformed into a cloud of glowing lights that flowed out through the window, leaving Granny Smith alone once more.

"Huh..." muttered Smith, "Wonder why she didn't come in through there in the first place. Oh well...ya can only understand that mare so much." She chuckled to herself and rolled so that she faced the window once more. "Ah think it's yer turn now, young'un."

A pair of black hooves hooked themselves over the sill. With a grunt of exertion, the pegasus colt hauled himself up and through the window, landing on the floor with a quiet thump. His movements were clumsy and uncoordinated, which was only to be expected, given what he'd just been through. His eyes glowed faintly in the darkness as he watched Smith.

"Well now, Ah wasn't sure if Ah'd see ya again," commented Smith with a wry smile as she looked at the colt, "Ya ain't in any shape to be up and about yet. Does yer ma know yer here?"

"I heard you didn't have long left," said Dawn, "I wanted to speak with you one last time, while I had the chance."

"Ya seem awfully calm 'bout this," commented Smith.

"My Master knew when his time was coming as well," said Dawn, "It was the first time I had ever seen another pony die." He reared up so that he could rest his hooves on the bed. "Thank you...for everything."

"That's an odd thing to say after what Ah put ya through," said Smith with a chuckle, "Ah think we had that conversation before."

"We did," said Dawn, "But I am still grateful. Also...I believe you may have done more than the others know."

"That so...?" Smith raised an eyebrow.

"The first signs of Terra's presence were very early in the morning," Dawn pointed out, "However, he didn't show up until much later. Originally, I had simply thought that a sign of how powerful Terra Heart was. However, I now believe that you went out to meet him and kept him at bay for as long as you could."

"What makes ya say that?"

"Apple Bloom said she was worried that morning, because you were nowhere to be found. That was because you were confronting Terra, weren't you?"

Smith sighed and looked away. "Even when it's with the best 'o intentions...even when it turns out well...a wrong's still a wrong. Ah did wrong by ya young'un. By Celestia, ya needed that poundin' to get ya back on the right track. But that don't change the fact that Ah had those two stallions put ya through Tartarus to do it. Ah wanted to do somethin', however small, to make up fer that."

"Did you have to give up your life?" asked Dawn.

"Ah didn't give up anythin'," said Smith sharply, giving the colt a stern glare, "Mah time was comin', one way or another. All Ah did was use what Ah had to make that time mean somethin'." Her glare faded and she smiled again. "And even if that were the case, yer a pony worth an old mare like me givin' up her life fer anyway."

"If you say so," said Dawn uncertainly.

"Ah'm guessin' ya heard mah little chat with Celestia. Have any questions?"

"Some," admitted Dawn, "But I will not ask them. I am still not certain that I want to strive for Knighthood. That being the case, there is knowledge that I am not entitled to. So...while I have questions...I will not ask them."

"That's kind 'o ya," said Smith, "Yer a mighty fine colt. Ah'm proud to have met ya and Ah feel better knowin' ya'll be around fer mah kin, even when Ah'm not. Keep an eye on them fer me, 'specially AJ. She always takes these kinda things the hardest."

"I'll try," said Dawn, "But I think that's more Mom's roll."

"True enough," said Smith, "Both mah granddaughters've been blessed with some mighty fine friends. Now then, ya'd best be gettin' back before anypony knows yer gone or ya'll get an earful."

"Thank you," said Dawn, stepping back and bowing his head one last time. He clambered back out the window, landing with a strained grunt on the other side. However, Smith could hear his hoofsteps as he made his way back towards the hospital tent.

Smith snorted. "To think, Ah get more visitors when Ah'm dyin' than almost any other time. Ah ain't been this popular since mah prime." She softly laughed herself to sleep.

The next few days passed uneventfully. Once Celestia was certain that the area was secure, she departed back to Canterlot, presumably to finalize plans for the attack on the Cult Solar. In the meantime, more relief arrived from Canterlot, especially in the form of surveyors and engineers, who began the task of inspecting Ponyville's buildings, determining which ones were still in danger of collapse and which ones needed to be rebuilt completely. On top of that, other surveys needed to be taken for the roads and open spaces. Parts of Ponyville's topography had been permanently altered by the course of the battle. Deep fissures running through and across roads needed to be patched, craters needed to be filled in, and foundations for entire blocks of buildings needed to be assessed before reconstruction could begin.

Fluttershy's house was declared safe immediately. Well away from the town proper, it was completely unscathed by the fight, although a few items had been knocked off shelves and some windows had cracked from the resulting tremors. It was all easily replaced and Fluttershy quickly moved back in with Dawn.

To their mutual delight, they were soon joined by Caramel, whose house had been amongst those decimated by the battle. Caramel was a little surprised, as he hadn't expected the issue of what to do with his house to be solved in such a...decisive fashion. His only real concern was about where Coco Pommel would stay, seeing as she had been using his guest room. However, he'd made arrangements with the ponies heading the reconstruction efforts to build a new, smaller house on the lot he still owned for her. In the meantime, Coco was staying with Rarity, Sweetie Belle, and Flaxseed.

Fortunately for Twilight and Spike, though the Library had been sitting right next to the spot where the battle had both climaxed and concluded, the old tree had held up under the stain, its roots keeping it fast against the worst that Arkenstone and Terra Heart had been able to bring to bear...though a substantial amount of cleanup and re-shelving was needed to make it habitable again.

Unfortunately for Arkenstone, the teahouse had been almost totally decimated by the fight's end. Arkenstone himself had torn up a substantial portion of the place in order to use it for his weapons and many of his supplies of tea and spices were lost. While he'd be able to stay with Twilight and Spike in the meantime, as he had before the teahouse had opened in the first place, it would be a while before he was ready to open up his business again.

Others were not faring as well. Sugarcube Corner had been gutted by the flour-dust explosion Arkenstone had set off at one point, leaving Pinkie Pie and the Cake family without a home. Fortunately, Applejack allowed them to stay at the bunkhouse the Apple Family used to house their seasonal workers. While she was upset about the loss of her home, Pinkie Pie was ecstatic that she'd be able to live in the same building as Mayweather, for a while at least.

Likewise, the Carousel Boutique, while not directly affected by the catastrophe, had been structurally compromised by the resulting tremors and would need careful repairs before it was declared safely habitable again. Fortunately, Rarity's parents also owned a house in Ponyville (which they rarely used, thanks to their frequent trips abroad), which was large enough to hold Rarity, along with Sweetie Belle, Flaxseed, and Coco. Said house had escaped the battle with only minor damage and had quickly been declared safe.

Rumble, his brother, Cloud Chaser, and Flitter, had been displaced by the damage from the battle. Like Caramel's home, their house had been one of the buildings utterly decimated by the fight. Fortunately for them, Scootaloo had allowed them to settle in the cloud house left to her by Rainbow Dash, said house having been untouched by the ravages of battle. Scootaloo's house was relatively unscathed by the whole ordeal. Both the filly and her mother counted themselves lucky that they wouldn't have to arrange or deal with extensive repairs for the second time in under a year.

All told, they were the lucky ones. Plenty of other Ponyvillians were left without their homes or a place that they could stay, even temporarily, and were forced to rely on the shelters erected by the relief workers brought in by Celestia. The task of rebuilding promised to be a lengthy and difficult one. The inhabitants of the town counted themselves lucky that this had occurred mid-spring, rather than during the fall or winter.

In some places, times like this brought out the worst in ponies, causing them to turn on each other in a scramble for what resources and shelter were available. Sometimes, they were prompted to focus their ire on the ponies they held responsible for a particular disaster. Fortunately, Ponyville was not one of those places. Instead, times like this brought out the best in ponies. They pitched in, worked together, and did what they could to help each other to get through this difficult time. On top of that, even though the impetus for the incident could technically be placed almost entirely upon two ponies in particular, nopony seemed to hold what had happened against them.

The door to Granny Smith's room slowly opened and Arkenstone trotted in. "You wanted to see me?" he asked. Given the fact that Smith had sent Big Macintosh to fetch him, the question was a bit rhetorical.

"'Course Ah did," said Smith, nursing a mug of black coffee as she spoke. The doctor might not have approved of her choice of beverage, given her delicate condition, but Smith was unconcerned, given that her death was inevitable in any case. She saw no reason to skimp on her vices simply for the sake of buying a few extra hours.

Closing the door behind him, Arkenstone took a seat by the bed. "What do you need me for?"

Setting her mug aside, Smith sighed. "Ya know mah place in the Celestial Order, right?"

"The Siege Perilous," replied Arkenstone automatically, "It's a position held by a Knight who has retired, a sort of honorary position. Her purpose is to serve as something of an advisor to active Knights and help in the fostering of the next generation."

"That's mostly true," said Smith, "But there are a couple 'o things ya don't know. First, the Siege Perilous ain't just fer a retired Knight. Ah was active mahself when I took the Empty Seat. It's more than just a cushy retirement title. It's a responsibility, a burden...knowledge."

The lids over Arkenstone's eyes slid back and his mouth opened slightly. For a moment he said nothing. Then... "Oh..."

"As the Siege Perilous, Ah have one last duty to see through," said Smith, her expression softening, "Before Ah die, Ah need to pass mah seat, that knowledge, to the pony who'll succeed me. That pony'll be the next Siege Perilous and tasked with the duty of holdin' that knowledge until it's their turn to pass it to the next one and so on. That's the main reason why most ponies who take the seat are ones who either retire as Knights or have already retired."

"Because if they were to die in the line of duty, then the knowledge that they carry would be lost," observed Arkenstone, "Therefore, it falls to the one who occupies the Empty Seat to withhold themselves from unnecessary risks to protect that information."

"That's right," said Smith, "What's left is mah final duty, mah final responsibility. Ah need to pass this knowledge on and the rank along with it."

"You intend to pass it to me?"

"That's right," said Smith. She raised a hoof and beckoned Arkenstone closer. As he leaned in, she pressed her hoof against his cheek, rubbing it gently. "Ah ain't tellin' ya that ya have to do this, but Ah am askin'. Yer the only pony here Ah can trust with this."

Raising his own hoof, Arkenstone wrapped his fetlock around Smith's foreleg, pressing her hoof against his cheek a little harder as he leaned into the touch. "After everything that you have done for me...I would be honored to accept your final burden."

"Are ya sure?" asked Smith, "Once Ah give ya this, there ain't any goin' back."

"I already have such secrets," admitted Arkenstone, "A few more is nothing too terrible."

Letting out a breath, Smith relaxed, tension leaving her body. "Alright then. Let's get this done. Ah ain't so flexible right now, so Ah'll need ya to lean in."

She used her hooves to guide Arkenstone towards her, bringing their foreheads gently together. Without even needing to think about it, Arkenstone synchronized his breathing with hers, the two of them falling into a deep trance. Smith's eyes drifted shut. The sounds of the room and the world outside faded away, leaving nothing but the two of them.

Then it came. Arkenstone realized that, while it was knowledge, it wasn't communicated purely as memory. What was occurring wasn't telepathy, the exchange of thoughts directly from one pony to another. Rather, it was something else, an ancient spell probably. The information was stored, almost like a scroll in an archive, in a specific portion of Smith's mind. The spell simply functioned to move that scroll from one shelf to another. In the space of just a few minutes, that knowledge had moved from its place in Smith's mind to his own.

Then it was over. The two of them pulled away. Arkenstone was breathing hard, his face dripping with sweat. On the other hoof, Smith looked relaxed, as though a tremendous weight had been lifted from her shoulders. "And that's that," she said with evident satisfaction, "Ah can't thank ya enough fer that, Arkenstone. Ya've made it so Ah can go easy with no more regrets."

Arkenstone wasn't really listening to her, his mind busy absorbing and assimilating the information he'd just received. "This is..."

"Hush," said Smith, "Ya've done yer part. There's nothin' else. Go back to yer fillyfriend and don't trouble yerself with this old mare no more."

"But-"

"What did Ah just say, young'un. Go on...Get!"

With a resigned sigh, Arkenstone took his leave, shutting the door behind him and leaving Granny Smith alone once more. Reaching over, Smith took up the mug of coffee again and settled back against the pillows, smiling contentedly.

Macintosh's ears perked up at the sound of the small bell ringing from Granny Smith's room. He had been in the kitchen, baking some treats for the ponies still without homes. He and Applejack had been trading that job off and on for the past few days, doing their best to make the situation for those displaced by the battle and its aftermath a little brighter. It was an ideal excuse, giving them a reason to have at least one pony in the house at all times in case their grandmother needed them, for all that Smith didn't care to have ponies fussing over her day and night.

Thus, it came as a real surprise to Macintosh when he finally heard the bell that they'd left by Granny Smith's bedside to ring if she needed anything. Up until now, she hadn't used it, not apparently needing anything save for the small meals brought to her by her grandchildren, which were delivered like clockwork. For a pony on her deathbed, Smith still held a healthy appetite, often remarking that, if her approaching demise wasn't a good enough reason to indulge herself, then no such occasion existed.

Macintosh left off what he'd been working on and headed down the hall to Smith's room. Opening the door, his eyes widened when he saw his grandmother struggling to roll her wrinkled, emaciated body out of bed. "Granny! What in tarnation-?"

"Don't ya start givin' me any 'o yer lip," scolded Smith as she carefully set one hoof on the floor, followed shakily by another, "Ah ain't gonna waste what time Ah have left layin' in bed. It's too fine 'o day fer that."

"But-"

"Oh hush now. Ah ain't fixin' to go out fer an afternoon jog." Smith chuckled dryly as she worked her remaining two legs off the bed. "Ah just wanna go out and relax in mah favorite rockin' chair. On a day like this, Ah'll be able to feel the breeze through mah mane. The weather's perfect." She fixed Macintosh with a stern look. "Now help me out to mah chair."

"Okay Granny," said Macintosh almost automatically. At this point, he knew better than to start arguing with her. She was an Apple through and through after all. Once her mind was set on something, she was as stubborn as any of them. Moving to stand by Smith's side, Macintosh held her steady as they slowly made their way down the hall to the living room. From there, he helped her navigate out to the front porch, where her favorite old rocking chair waited, already moving back and forth in the light spring breeze blowing across the farm.

With more than a little help from Macintosh, Smith settled her haunches into the seat and leaned back with a contented sigh, shifting her weight to make the chair rock a little more. She closed her eyes, inhaling deeply, taking in the scents of the farmhouse's wood, the smell of spices trickling out from the kitchen, the aroma of green spring grass from the land ahead, the sweet smell of the apple blossoms beginning to bloom, all of it intermingled with the smells of her children and their children and their children's children, all the way down to the current generation. It was the smell of home, of family, of everything she had ever worked and fought for, even during her time as a Knight.

Smith raised her ears, listening to the sound of the wind as it blew through the trees in the orchard and made the old planks of the house creak and groan. Further in the distance, she could hear the sounds of other ponies as they worked and talked amongst the shelters set up for them while they waited for their homes to be rebuilt. She could even pick out the laughter and high-pitched voices of foals, fancying that she even heard the voice of Cheerilee as the teacher did her best to continue her work, even in the absence of the schoolhouse.

Smith opened her eyes and gazed out over her home. She took in the brilliant green of the grass, the aching blue of the sky above, the pure and puffy white clouds that dotted said sky, and the browns and greens of the orchard and its trees. She was home and everything was as it should be. It was a beautiful spring day and Granny Smith drank in every minute of it she could.

Certainly, there had been trial and grief. But the worst had passed and everypony would be stronger for it. Her youngest generation of children were strong enough to continue on their own. The last of her unfinished business had been seen to in the past few days. There was nothing holding her back anymore.

"Ya still there, Mac?"

"E-eeyup," said Macintosh, a faint hitch in his voice. He hadn't budged from his spot by the chair since helping Granny Smith to sit down.

"Yer the eldest," said Smith, "Ah want ya to look after yer sisters, 'specially AJ. She's always had the hardest time lettin' go."

"Eeyup," agreed Macintosh.

"Poor Bloom'll probably wail up a storm. But Ah want ya to let her know just how proud Ah am 'o her. Make sure she don't let go 'o that drake 'o hers. He's a real keeper."

With a sniff and a snort, Macintosh nodded, pausing a second to dip his head so he could wipe his nose. "Eeyup."

"And make sure you treat that mare 'o yers right," she said finally, "Both her and her little girl. Don't ya do wrong by either 'o them."

"Eeyup," said Macintosh a little more firmly. It wasn't as though he actually needed any encouragement to do his best to take care of his wife and daughter.

"Good," said Smith, her eyelids drooping, "Now, yer supposed to be workin' on some treats for all them ponies. Ya'd best get back to it. Leave this old mare in peace. Ah'm fixin' to take a little nap."

"Alright Granny," said Macintosh, getting to his hooves. It was reluctant, but he slowly turned and walked back into the house, casting one last glance back at his grandmother, the mare who had raised him and his sisters after their parents had died, the one who had guided the family since before their parents could even remember, and the mare who had helped build the town that they all called home. Finally, Macintosh was gone from sight, returning to the kitchen. He would work the remainder of the afternoon like a stallion possessed, as the work kept him from breaking down into tears.

Meanwhile, Granny Smith continued to rock back and forth in her seat, her eyelids dropping ever lower with each swaying motion. Her vision was starting to grow dark, but the scents and smells of her home and the feeling of the wind against her coat were as stark and fresh as ever. She treasured the sensation as the last vestiges of her consciousness slipped away.

Granny Smith's eyes drifted shut. As they closed, she let out one last breath, almost like a sigh of satisfaction that seemed to go on forever before it finally ended. Her chair's rocking slowed, then finally came to a stop. Her head slumped slightly, resting her chin against her chest as her entire body seemed to droop a little, the very last vestiges of tension leaving it. There, in her rocking chair, Granny Smith rested and did not move again.

Moving On

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Chapter 28: Moving On

The funeral was a quiet affair. For a pony who had such a remarkable and storied history, the practice of laying Granny Smith to rest seemed almost criminally subdued. Aside from her immediate family, there were only a few others. All five of Applejack's closest friends were in attendance, along with the Cutie Mark Crusaders. Rainbow Dash had flown straight down from Cloudsdale the moment word had reached her about what had happened. Arkenstone was there as well, silently leaning against Twilight Sparkle's shoulder as she sobbed quietly. Filthy Rich had come, dressed in his best suit, but had left Diamond Tiara at home. The only other outsider there was a wheelchair-bound Red River, who had insisted on attending, even though the doctors at the hospital were reluctant to allow him to travel.

Granny Smith hadn't wanted a large funeral. Rather, as detailed in her will, her body was quietly cremated and her ashes were laid to rest amid the trees of Sweet Apple Acres, a single granite plaque set into the ground marking the spot. The ceremony was swift and perfunctory, once again per Smith's instructions.

Once it was over, everypony turned to head back to the farmhouse to hold the wake. Mayweather, the Cakes, as well as several other ponies were preparing the food, setting up an occasion where everypony else in town could have their own chance to mourn Smith's passing.

Only Applejack stayed behind. "Go on, y'all," she said, her voice choking with sorrow, "Ah just wanted to stay here a spell."

To her surprise, a hoof rested on her shoulder. Looking over, she could see Red smiling at her. He'd been through multiple healing spells by this point. As a consequence, he was in something of a dazed state, but still lucid enough to stay awake through the funeral itself. When all was said and done, he would probably be whisked back to the hospital before the wake had even started.

"I'll stay with you," he said.

"But..."

"I'm staying." Red's tone was firm and indicated he wouldn't be budging without Applejack. Like Storm Front, Red had forgone the use of painkillers in between healing treatments. While his body wasn't in searing agony, he was beset by a near constant barrage of aches and bizarre sensations from his flesh and bones literally binding themselves back together. Despite that, his face didn't so much as twitch as he smiled at his fillyfriend.

"...'Kay," said Applejack after a moment's hesitation. She gave him a small smile before leaning in to kiss Red on the lips. "Thank ya."

Red nodded and settled back in his seat as Applejack turned to Smith's grave. Behind them, the others were already making their way to the farmhouse. Applejack gently ran a hoof along the edges of the stone square that marked Granny Smith's final resting place.

"Ah don't know how Ah'm gonna carry on without ya," she said, "Ya were there fer everythin'; when Ah was born, when Ah started walkin', when Ah got mah cutie mark, when Ma and Pa died. Ya've always been there, as much a part 'o this land as the grass and trees...and now yer gone." Tears ran from Applejack's eyes and her legs buckled. She fell to her stomach and laid her head on the stone. "Ah don't want ya to go, Granny! Ah...thought ya'd be here, always."

As the tears running down Applejack's cheeks spattered on the stone, something happened. Through her stomach and hooves, Applejack felt a pulse through the earth. She couldn't rightly say where it came from, but it flowed into her, warm and welcoming. It wrapped around her like a gentle embrace and Applejack felt the faint, phantom sensation of a hoof stroking her mane. However, Red, the only other pony present, wasn't in a position to reach her from his wheelchair.

At that same moment, the trees around them began to rustle. They were in a section of the orchard that hadn't started flowering yet. However, over the space of a few seconds, the trees all around the gravesite suddenly put forth a whole host of new buds that then bloomed into beautiful blossoms, filling the trees around them with color.

Stunned, Applejack could only gape and stare as she lifted her head away from the gravestone. "What in Celestia's name...?"

"It's just as you said," said Red, rolling his chair towards her, "She's a part of this land, as much as the grass and trees. Her entire lifetime, she poured her power and will into this place and, even though her body has departed, her love for you remains."

Getting up, Applejack looked over at her coltfriend, who lifted a shaky hoof to caress her cheek. "I don't think she'll ever be truly gone. Her presence dwells here still and, I think, shall remain until the mountains crumble. She's stubborn that way."

"That's true enough," agreed Applejack with sobbing laugh. Taking the sight of her coltfriend, she was abruptly reminded of how close he had come to death. Applejack's heart shuddered at the thought of losing not just Granny Smith, but Red as well. She was almost overcome by the urge throw her arms around the stallion and hold him tight. Only by remembering his currently delicate condition did she manage to keep herself from doing so. Instead, Applejack settled for resting her head over Red's shoulder and pressing their necks together. "Ah'm so glad yer gonna be okay."

"I'm not going anywhere," said Red, leaning into Applejack, "Your grandmother had a message for me as well, though I'm afraid mine was more strict than yours."

"What'd she tell ya?"

"She told me not to do wrong by you. There was the implication that she would probably come back to haunt me if I did so." Red chuckled. "She had a few other things to say, I think, about foals and the like-"

"Ah don't need to hear that!" snapped Applejack, her cheeks flushing as she jumped back from Red, prompting a laugh from the stallion. Allowing herself a small smile, Applejack started to chuckle along with him, her heart feeling lighter now.

"We should go," he said, carefully pulling at the wheels of his chair to turn himself around, "The others will start to worry."

With a sigh, Applejack settled in behind the chair and began to push it. "Ah'm sorry about yer spear," she said as they headed to the farmhouse and the wake, "Ah heard it got broken during yer fight."

Red shrugged indifferently. "I'll simply have to make a new one."

Applejack stopped for a second. "Ah thought ya'd be sadder. Didn't yer teacher give ya that spear as a goodbye?"

"Oh...that wasn't the spear the old Abbot gave me," said Red blithely, "That spear broke a long time ago. All weapons do that eventually. This latest one was the one I made to replace it. I was also experimenting in creating a spear that was more travel-friendly."

"Ya've gotta be kiddn' me," grumbled Applejack, "And here Ah was, all worried that ya'd be all mopey because of it."

"Even if I was so sentimental about it, I can't really afford to be mopey," said Red with an impish grin over his shoulder, "I think you've been mopey enough for the both of us."

"Why Ah ought'a..." Applejack's irritated grumbles and Red's amused laughter flowed between the trees as the two of them returned home.

The conference room was more crowded than usual. Even during the most important of diplomatic negotiations, Princess Celestia had always preferred more intimate and personal discussions rather than flooding the place with ambassadors and their retinues. It was rare for this room to see more than ten ponies at a time. But now it was filled nearly to capacity. Every seat at the table was filled and the table itself was covered by maps and charts, overlaid with stacks of paper detailing the logistics of the plan that Celestia was about to order into action.

"I understand you have your reservations, Captain," said Celestia, looking over some of the papers hovering in front of her at Shining Armor, who was seated at the table across from her, with Cadance next to him.

"I understand your desire to do something about this," said Shining, his face grim, "I want to put an end to this as well. But the Royal Guard will be stretched far too thin for this. Even with the Wonderbolts lending us their assistance, there's no way we can possibly cover every sector in such a short amount of time. It just isn't possible.

"On top of that, it means leaving Canterlot almost completely unguarded. The citizens and most definitely the nobles won't like idea of the entire Royal Guard shipping out at once. There's going to be an uproar."

Celestia pressed her lips together. She wanted to put an end to the Cult Solar's farce once and for all. Her unwillingness to take direct action had brought harm to a great many ponies. However, by her reckoning, simply trying to go through Equestria, one town at a time, would ultimately work against them. Word would spread ahead of the Royal Guard's advance after their first crackdown, the Cultists would go to ground, and their dismayingly persuasive leader would probably still find some way to twist Celestia's actions back against Luna and ponies like Dawn.

Then, to her surprise, the pony on Shining's other side raised a hoof and tapped the table. He was a handsome, bright-orange pegasus with a dark-blue mane named Flash Sentry. In addition to being Shining's Lieutenant and second-in-command of the Royal Guard, he had also been named as the pony to succeed Shining once he retired from his captaincy.

"I'd like to suggest something," said Sentry, "Rather than trying to cover everything at once or do this one town at a time, why don't we select a few particular points that we can strike at in order to maximize our effectiveness?"

"What sort of particular points?" asked Shining, raising an eyebrow.

"Places where these Cultists gather," replied Sentry, "They're a religion after all. They must have meeting places, worship spaces, points where they can commune with each other and organize their efforts. The reports already mention a temple in Appleloosa. We should be looking for places like that."

"Speaking of the temple," said Celestia, "What's the status of the squad that's en-route?"

"They should arrive the day after tomorrow," said Shining. Celestia had wanted to move against the Appleloosa temple immediately after Terra's attack in order to find what the Cult Solar was hiding there. However, organizing relief efforts for Ponyville had derailed that plan and the squads assigned there had only just departed by train. Celestia fully intended to go out there and join them herself when the time came. If nothing else, her leading the investigation of the Cult's temple personally would hopefully send the strongest message possible to the group that she was not happy with them.

"Have you located any such places of interest?" asked Celestia.

"We've been looking," replied Sentry, "But, so far, all we've found are meetings of small groups, usually at ponies' houses and rarely in the same place twice. But for the Cult Solar to have so much traction, I'd be willing to bet my commission that they have something more prominent somewhere." He glanced past his captain at Princess Cadance, who was looking distinctly uncomfortable with the situation. "I was hoping that, since we apparently have the Cult Solar's second-in-command in custody, that we might get some more definitive information on that."

"Anything yet?" asked Celestia, looking to her niece.

"Nothing," said Cadance with a sad shake of her head, "Terra Heart is a broken stallion. He hasn't uttered a single word since you brought him here. He barely even eats. I think that his mind might have been broken."

"Perhaps I should speak to him again," said Celestia, a hint of anger creeping into her voice.

"If you try harsh methods, you'll only break him further," said Cadance, "That won't get you what you're looking for. He'll just shut down completely."

"If only there was some clue," muttered Shining.

At that instant, the door to the conference room slammed open to reveal a heavily panting pegasus decked out in the uniform of a high-security courier tasked with carrying only the most sensitive information for the Guard. Behind her, the thunder of hooves echoed down the hallway as a half-dozen rank and file members of the Royal Guard charged up behind her, clearly intent on apprehending the mare, who apparently hadn't bothered to follow proper procedure in her rush to deliver her message.

"Emergency communication for the Princess!" gasped the mare frantically as her pursuers closed in, "Highest priority!"

Celestia stood and stepped out the door, forcing the mare to back up into the hallway. She lifted a hoof, bringing the pursuing Guards to a halt. "Return to your posts," she said. Pausing, the Guards turned reluctantly and did as they were bid. Celestia then turned her attention back to the courier and smiled warmly. "Please give me the message. I'm afraid I don't have a lot of time right now."

The mare nodded and slid a sealed tube out of her sleeve. Celestia took it up with her magic and examined it. The message tube was indeed one used to transport high-priority messages. Only the highest ranked members of the Guard had access to these canisters and used them for only the most urgent communications. "Who is this from?"

"Um...he called himself Milk Snake," said the mare, blinking in confusion, "I don't think he was from the Guard, but the confirmation code he used was legitimate..." She paused, apparently trying to recall more details.

"I see," said Celestia. She turned back to address the ponies assembled in the conference room. "This meeting is adjourned for now. Something urgent has just come up. Shining Armor, Cadance, please accompany me."

Shining and his wife exchanged baffled glances even as the rest of the assembled ponies broke down into confused mutterings. Still, they did as they were told and followed Celestia into the hall as she led them down towards her room.

"What's going on?" asked Shining, "Who is this Milk Snake guy and why is his message so important?"

Celestia couldn't keep an amused smile from her face. "Shining Armor, I think you can work it out for yourself. Just what is a milk snake?"

Shining mulled the question over, trying to remember an obscure bit of zoological trivia he'd probably learned back in elementary school. Beside him, Cadance was doing much the same.

"Oh!" shouted Shining and Cadance simultaneously, freezing in place for a second as the revelation dawned on them, "Swift Stride!"

"I suppose a message from him would be important," said Shining, "But is it really something this urgent?"

Celestia frowned, her eyes drifting down to the message tube held in her magic. "I believe so. Swift never contacts me unless there is a serious need. The last time I spoke to him was after that one escaped from Tartarus. We narrowly managed to avert disaster that time. I would much rather err on the side of caution."

"If you say so," said Shining hesitantly. He wasn't so sure. Swift Stride was known, by the few who knew about the Celestial Knights at all, as the most eccentric of the Knights. Coming from a group with ponies like Arcana Lulamoon, that was saying something indeed. He was deceptive and evasive, always saying one thing and doing another. He rarely came to Canterlot or the Royal Palace, preferring to wander Equestria and its neighboring countries seemingly at will. Shining had received word about Swift's actions sporadically over the years, but had only met the stallion himself a grand total of twice. Neither of those occasions had left a good impression on him.

The three of them arrived at Celestia's private chambers. Celestia immediately went to her desk as Shining and Cadance closed the doors behind them. Popping the top off the tube, Celestia slid out the scroll and unrolled it. Her eyes scanned the message, reading rapidly. She started smiling, the smile getting wider as she read each successive line. However, as she reached the end of her letter, the smile vanished and Celestia let out a startled gasp. Her magic vanished, leaving the scroll to drop down to the surface of her desk.

"Princess?" asked Shining, stepping forward. He reached out a hoof for the scroll so that he could read it himself. However, to his shock, Celestia slammed her hoof down on the paper and pulled it over to herself.

"Shining Armor!" said Celestia. Her tone caused both Shining and Cadance to stiffen as they heard it. They'd never heard Celestia speak like this before. She sounded somewhere between absolute terror and overpowering rage.

"Yes!" snapped Shining, automatically coming to attention.

"Mobilize the SES at once," said Celestia, "Have them ready to move out within the hour. Organize the rest of the Royal Guard for rapid deployment...all of them!"

"But we don't have enough pegasi and chariots to do that!" protested Shining.

"As many as you can then," replied Celestia, "But I want as many ponies as you can get underway ready in an hour. Send the rest by train and make sure that the tracks are clear on all routes. This gets absolute highest priority. This situation just got upgraded to a national emergency!"

"What's going on?" asked Shining, "What's in that letter?"

"Targets," snarled Celestia,

Shining swallowed. He'd never seen Princess Celestia like this before. She was both angry and terrified at the same time. However, the tone of her voice made it perfectly clear that she didn't want any arguments over this. Seeing that the conversation was over, he scrambled out of the room to carry out her orders. Cadance remained behind, watching with concern as the torrent of emotion faded from Celestia, leaving her to stare dumbly at scroll in front of her.

"What is it?" asked Cadance, stepping closer.

Celestia sighed. "Ever since that Flash Spark fellow appeared, I'd wondered what he was doing, what he was up to..." Her eyes drifted closed. "I probably should have seen this much sooner."

"What are you talking about?" asked Cadance, disturbed by what she was hearing.

However, Celestia seemed to simply ignore her niece as she stared at the letter in front of her. "Morning Star..."

"Oh bother," muttered Morning Star, gently rubbing his nose as he watched the reconstruction efforts, "This is troublesome..."

The damage done by Swift Stride's little act of sabotage had been more severe than Morning had initially thought. Though a great many components of the mechanism could simply be moved back into place, doing so had proved a tedious task, one that his workers had tackled with commendable zeal, but tedious all the same. Making sure everything was moved back into the right place was a tad more complicated than building it in the first place, especially when damaged pieces had to be removed and replaced at the same time.

Already, they were past the deadline of the spring equinox. Terra Heart had already carried out his attempt to kill Dawn Lightwing. From everything Morning had heard about the affair, Terra hadn't succeeded. Fortunately, Celestia's efforts to mobilize the Royal Guard had been delayed by dealing with the damage done to Ponyville. But the game was up now. He'd already learned from his Canterlot sources that Celestia was moving out the Royal Guard. They were on the move and were heading straight for the temples, even the ones in secluded areas, like the one he was in now.

Swift Stride...was there anything he didn't ferret out? wondered Morning idly. He didn't have much time left. Even more agonizing was that he didn't know just how close the deadline was looming.

In spite of this, a faint smile played across Morning Star's face. It's a good thing I took some precautions then...

Coco Pommel swallowed as she looked up at the library. She'd been here numerous times in the past few months. She'd checked out books, sometimes at the request of Rarity, sometimes for her own enjoyment or for the benefit of her personal projects. But now she was here for an entirely different reason. Her eyes drifted down to the ruined remains of the teahouse that had once stood next to the tree. She'd been to that building as well, enjoying the taste of a warm cup of spiced tea while chatting with Rarity over whatever they'd been working on at the time.

Her stomach dropped at the sight of the establishment's remains now. For some reasons she couldn't fully place, Coco had felt surprisingly safe and secure in the teahouse, like she was under the watchful eye of somepony who was more than willing to keep her safe from harm. Given what she knew now, that much had apparently been true...aside from the watchful eye part.

I should tell them, she thought, returning her attention to the library, Surely Mr. Arkenstone can help me. He must be strong enough.

Ever since she had come to Ponyville, even through Perlin Bluestreak's multiple visits to the town, Coco had never fully endorsed the idea of telling anypony the truth about her situation. After all, Perlin had made it quite clear who he worked for. If Baron Elderflower thought that she was going to be a liability, if he even suspected that she'd told anypony about being under his control, Coco was sure that Perlin would deliver her a swift death. She'd gotten first-hoof experience in just how far the Baron's reach extended. His brief arrival in Ponyville back before spring had come was like a jolting reminder, which was only reinforced with each of Perlin's subsequent visits.

And, as far as Coco knew, there was nopony that could stop them. She had seen Perlin effortlessly slaughter two-score of trained fighters without so much as a scratch. He was a living weapon with wings forged from a nearly indestructible metal that could cut through steel like paper. How could anpony hope to stand against something like that? Certainly, she'd heard that Dawn Lightwing was an accomplished martial artist and a capable fighter. However, Coco had only heard vague statements about the colt's abilities. It was hard for her to imagine that somepony could hope to equal the threat Perlin posed, especially somepony so young.

But then Terra Heart had come to Ponyville. Coco counted herself lucky that she hadn't been present when the fight had actually started. Terra had apparently come for Dawn, because of some superstition about Dawn's eyes, and Dawn had fought back. But Dawn had lost. However, Arkenstone had taken up the fight and Arkenstone had won. That fact stood out in Coco's mind. Terra Heart's arrival had been likened to an oncoming natural disaster. If Arkenstone could beat a monster like that, then, perhaps, he could protect her from Perlin Bluestreak as well. Coco could tell him everything and she knew that Arkenstone could keep Perlin or any of Baron Elderflower's other agents away from her.

So why haven't I told him already? She'd dithered over the decision ever since the battle, inventing excuse after excuse. Arkenstone had won, but he'd been pretty seriously injured in the fight. It wasn't right to dump her situation on him when he was still recovering. Then it was because she was too busy helping Rarity salvage what they could from the Carousel Boutique so that they wouldn't have to start from scratch when the shop reopened. Then she was too busy helping with other relief efforts around town. All of them were just excuses to hid the real reason she hadn't gone to Arkenstone already.

She was afraid, not of Perlin and Baron Elderflower's retribution this time, but because it would mean revealing that everything about her move to Ponyville, from working on Rarity's costume for the Hearth's Warming pageant to wanting to finish her apprenticeship under Rarity, had been done under false pretenses, the result of Baron Elderflower's machinations. Certainly, Coco's enthusiasm for working under Rarity had been real, but that didn't change the fact that she was still a pawn, however unwitting and unwilling, in Edlerflower's strange political game. Once Arkenstone learned the truth about her circumstances, it was only a matter of time until Rarity learned the truth as well. How would she respond? Would she feel betrayed? Would she still want Coco to apprentice under her? Or would Coco simply end up in the same straights she had during the nadir of her career, when Viscount Eventide had sunk her previous employer, Suri Polomare's reputation and Coco's along with it?

That was what truly frightened Coco the most. Every minute she had spent in the Carousel Boutique was a betrayal of Rarity's trust. Once she told Arkenstone, that betrayal would be revealed. Coco was certain that there was no way that Rarity would be able to forgive her. After everything she's done for me...how have I repaid her? By lying to her face every single day...

Still, Coco couldn't bear to simply wait passively until the day the Baron decided to make use of her. She had to tell Arkenstone at some point. She was certain that the blind stallion was the only one with capacity to actually protect her from Elderflower's reprisals. Taking a deep breath, Coco did everything possible to steady her nerves and took her first steps toward the library door...

Only to be drawn up short as something wrapped tightly around her neck, cutting off her air. Coco barely managed to force out a strangled noise before she was yanked bodily off her hooves and onto her back. Then, the mysterious force gripping her neck dragged her away from the library. Coco's eyes widened with fear as she found herself being pulled down towards a pair of closed shops and the alleyway between them. She thrashed and struggled, but it was a futile effort. Her vision was starting to go dark as her lungs burned from a lack of air.

Just as she was on the verge of passing out, Coco's journey ceased and the unknown force released her neck. Flopping to the ground like a landed fish, Coco gasped and coughed as her abused throat both demanded and rejected the air she drew in. Breathing was a painful task and it took a few minutes for her to get herself back under control.

Trying to get her bearings, Coco rolled over to get her hooves back under her and slowly forced herself to stand up. Her eyes managed to make out somepony in front of her. A unicorn mare with a blotchy white coat stepped forward, gazing at Coco with soulless, pitch-black eyes. The stare sent shivers down Coco's spine. However, at even that tiny motion, the mare's eyes narrowed fiercely and her horn began to shimmer with black lines of energy, paradoxically illuminating the cracks that ran along its length and sometimes shining out of them. As her magic built the mare's horn began to let out faint wisps of smoke. Coco froze at the sight, realizing just what force had dragged her into the alley. Furthermore, as the smoke from the smoldering horn reached her nostrils, Coco had to fight back the urge to retch.

"Paying a late night visit to the library, were we?" taunted a gruff, masculine voice from above Coco. Before she could tilt her head to look up at the source, she felt something cold and sharp press lightly against her neck, the edge of some sort of blade, held just a fraction away from breaking the skin of her throat and drawing blood.

Careful to not move her head, Coco rolled her eyes upwards as far as they would go to try and see the speaker. She caught a glimpse of a shadow hanging between the buildings overhead. Struggling to keep from shaking, lest she accidentally press her neck down onto the blade against her throat, she opened her mouth, debating whether or not to say anything at all.

"Wh-who are you? What d-do you want?" she stammered.

"You could say that we're coworkers," taunted the voice from above, "which is why we wanted to make sure that you weren't having thoughts about betraying our mutual employer."

So these ponies were working for Elderflower as well. To make matters worse, they certainly weren't working reluctantly. But if they were here then... "Where...where's P-Perlin?" In spite of herself, Coco actually found herself missing the presence of the young stallion. At least he'd never abused her like this.

A faint chuckle escaped the figure above her. "Your little coltfriend hasn't come down with us. The Lord Baron has...doubts...about the boy's work ethic when it comes to you."

Coco swallowed, the motion causing her throat to push uncomfortably against the edge of the blade.

"Now then...to business," continued the stallion above her, "Since you obviously were not planning on going to spill whatever you know about Baron Elderflower to Twilight Sparkle, we have no reason to kill you here and now. That's quite fortunate, because we have a little job for you, courtesy of the Lord Baron."

Coco whimpered. So this was what Baron Elderflower had gone through the trouble of having her placed under Rarity's care for. Something dropped down from the space above, but was caught in a field of ebony magic before it could hit the ground. It was a tiny vial of some kind of transparent liquid, probably no more than five ounces. Hanging in the mare's magic, it hovered over to Coco so that it hung in the air directly before her eyes.

"Hold out your hoof," instructed the stallion. Coco did as she was told and the vial began to drift down to her hoof, where she could take hold of it. However, it paused in the air just above her hoof. "Do not drop it," said the stallion sternly, "If that vial hits the ground, the next thing to hit the ground after it will be your head, sans the rest of you."

Coco whimpered in acknowledgement and the vial was set gently so that she could curl her fetlock around it.

"Take good care of it. You won't need much at all. It's extremely potent."

The blade to her throat began to slide forwards and upwards, scraping ever so gently against the underside of Coco's neck as it traced her contours all the way along her jaw to the very tip of her chin. Only then did it come to a stop again. In its new position, Coco now had a better view of the weapon that was threatening her. A long, slightly curved blade that tapered down to a vicious-looking point at one end hung just below her chin. On the other side, it joined perpendicularly with a shaft of rough wood that stretched upwards into the darkness above; a scythe.

The stallion on the other end of the scythe slowly pulled the blade upwards, and with it, Coco's head as she tilted it upward to keep the blade from cutting into her chin. The stallion guided Coco into tilting her head all the way back so that she was looking straight up at him. An emerald-green pegasus, his coat covered in blotches and scars, had wedged himself between the two buildings making up the sides of the alleyway. His hind legs were spread out so that his hooves pressed against the walls while his wings did the the same. His forelegs were curled around the shaft of the scythe that still rested just barely against Coco's chin.

"Listen carefully," said the stallion, grinning as he met Coco's eyes with his one good one, "You're going to do exactly as we say or you will die. The mare in front of you has a very good set of eyes and she will be watching you carefully to make sure that you don't have any thoughts about betraying us. Now...are you going to cooperate?"

Tears leaked out of Coco's eyes. "Y-yes," she said, her hold on the vial tightening.

"Good," said the stallion, "Now here's the plan..."

"You've been quiet," observed Twilight as she lowered her book to look at Arkenstone. The two of them had arranged themselves on a pile of cushions in front of the fireplace. Twilight, as almost always, had a book laying open in front of her. In contrast, Arkenstone was laying all the way down, resting his chin on another pillow. With his eyes closed as they always were, he could have easily been mistaken for having dozed off. However, by now, Twilight knew well enough that he was awake and that he was clearly being pensive about something.

"I've had a lot to think about," said Arkenstone. He was never one to not think, of course. But recent events had given him more food for thought than even he was used to. "I suppose I shouldn't be surprised that I wasn't the only one keeping secrets."

"You mean that thing you went to see Granny Smith about?" asked Twilight, "Can you tell me about it?"

"I can," said Arkenstone, letting out a breath, "Granny Smith passed her seat to me."

"Her seat...?" asked Twilight, a little confused by the vague terms.

"It turns out that the Siege Perilous is not simply a title for an old, retired Knight," said Arkenstone, "Even at this late stage, Granny Smith was still fulfilling an important duty."

"A secret?" Twilight ventured.

"Yes," said Arkenstone, "A very important secret, one that could do untold damage in the wrong hooves. It exists as a check to Princess Celestia's power."

"A check...?" mused Twilight.

Arkenstone nodded. "Remember what we learned recently about Princess Celestia's 'ultimate punishment?'"

Twilight nodded. She remembered quite clearly, including her own worries about such a punishment. "Then...that knowledge is..."

Arkenstone smiled. "That's right. It's all here, the ponies she excommunicated, the crimes they committed, everything pertaining to their cases. Apparently, the Siege Perilous serves as a repository for this knowledge, a single pony to remember in order to keep Princess Celestia from ever abusing that power. I can also tell you that everything she said to us at that time was truth."

Twilight felt a faint relief settle into her heart. She knew better than to believe that Celestia would actually abuse her power, especially when using such a terrible punishment. If anything, Celestia was regularly afraid of exercising her power too much, sometimes to the detriment of others. However, it was a relief to have confirmation of that. "I'm glad," said Twilight.

"So am I," said Arkenstone, leaning his head against Twilight's shoulder.

"Thank you for trusting me," she whispered.

"Thank you for being somepony I can trust," he replied.

Dawn pushed the bowl away. "I'm full."

On the other side of the table, Fluttershy and Caramel shared a relieved look with each other. Since his fight with Terra, Dawn's constitution had been weaker than usual, reminding the two of them of the days when he had first come to Ponyville after a year's time spent eating little but grasses, herbs, and whatever else he could scrounge up in the Everfree Forest. Back then, more substantial fare, such as baked goods or anything especially sweet, had been enough to make him physically ill.

This time had been slightly different. As could be expected from a pony who'd just been through a potent healing, Dawn's appetite had been enhanced. But, at the same time, as a consequence of his being on the receiving end of a magical transfusion, his stomach had rejected more substantive food and he'd been forced to rely primarily on broths and stocks. On the doctor's recommendation, Fluttershy and Caramel had been slowly working him back onto solid foods. The transition hadn't been an easy one. They'd started by switching from broths to progressively thicker gruels and porridges made from grains like oats, barely, and corn. Eventually, they would build up to more solid fare and get him eating normally within a couple more weeks.

Tonight, he had eaten a fairly thick barely soup made by mixing a vegetable broth with grits ground from hulled barely, seasoned with a few herbs and spices. Fluttershy and Caramel had turned the soup into a stew for themselves, adding cut potatoes and several vegetables. Dawn had managed two fair-sized bowls for himself, which at least showed that he was feeling better.

There were other consequences from Dawn's fight. His experience of what Dr. Stable had termed "Wing Stroke," had left him unable to use his magic until it sufficiently recovered. Initially, Fluttershy, Caramel, and even Dawn himself had figured that it simply meant he would have to go without flying or practicing the Gale King for a while. However, even Dawn had underestimated just how much he'd relied on his pegasus magic to go through his daily life, namely his wind-sense.

Initially, Dawn and his parents had attributed his bouts of clumsiness to general weakness and exhaustion. However, as time progressed and Dawn's physical strength and stamina recovered, he noticed that he was still unusually clumsy; bumping against items and ponies he'd thought were a safe distance away, knocking over objects he'd been reaching for, stumbling over unexpected obstacles, and being much more easily surprised than before. Once, Fluttershy had come up behind him and wrapped him in a hug. Normally, such an action wouldn't have troubled Dawn in the slightest. But, on this occasion, he jumped and wrenched himself from her grip, actually kicking her in the stomach with his hind legs in the process. Only his awkward position had kept it from being a proper buck, which had saved Fluttershy from any injury more serious than a bruise. Dawn had been mortified by his actions and it had taken both Fluttershy and Caramel to calm him down after much cuddling and nuzzling.

It was then that Dawn had realized his real problem. Ever since learning and refining his wind-sense, he had gradually grown more and more dependent on it beyond simply using it in battle. Though he'd never realized it before, Dawn relied on his wind-sense to gauge distances, his proximity to objects and other ponies. He used it to keep track of the things in his environment. In his current condition, without his magic to support it, Dawn's wind-sense had been muted completely. Just as somepony with a cold who finds her nose stuffed or her ears feeling plugged, or how a pony who has recently lost an eye might struggle with depth perception issues, Dawn was feeling oddly detached from the world around him and it hampered his ability to engage with it.

"Thanks for dinner," said Dawn before trying, and failing, to suppress the burp that forced its way up his throat.

"You're welcome," said Caramel as he took their bowls to the sink and began to wash them, Fluttershy joining him. Dawn had tried helping on previous occasions, but a few broken dishes had ultimately led to him staying back and allowing his parents to take care of cleanup after meals.

After the dishes were finished, the three of them retired to the living room. Caramel settled himself onto the couch, while Fluttershy settled in next to him, cuddling up and laying her head against his shoulder. Dawn then climbed up next to her and tucked himself under her wing. The three of them settled down to read books that they'd recently checked out from the library, an activity that had become commonplace ever since Caramel had moved in.

After a short while, the quiet evening was interrupted by somepony knocking on the door. Glancing at the clock, Fluttershy noted that it was still early in the evening. However... "Who could that be at this time?"

"I'll check," said Dawn, sliding out from under Fluttershy's wing and walking to the door. Upon opening it, his eyes widened in surprise at the pony before him. "Scootaloo?"

"Hey," said the filly, grinning at Dawn from beyond the threshold, "I just wanted to check up on you."

Dawn blinked, a bit unsure about what to say. There wasn't exactly all that much to say about his condition. It was improving gradually, but he still wasn't feeling at his best. At this point in time, simply walking to the tent that had been set up as Ponyville's temporary schoolhouse was a chore. He hadn't been able to go to Scootaloo's for training in the mornings like he was used to, nor was he able to play as hard with his friends in the afternoon. Between his recovering stamina and his newfound clumsiness, regular life was much more difficult.

"I wanted to train with you for a little while," said Scootaloo, giving Dawn a warmer, more sincere smile, "Since we can't go out to the quarry, I figured I'd come here to your place."

"But I-"

Scootaloo cut off his protest with a derisive snort. "Come on Dawn! Even if you can't use your magic right now, you should still be going through your forms. It's good exercise and you need it. Besides, you'll get rusty if you spend every evening just sitting around on your rump after getting back from school."

"But..." Dawn cast an uncertain glance back at his parents, who were both smiling at him.

"The doctor did say some light exercise is fine," said Caramel.

"Just don't go overdoing it," advised Fluttershy with a smile of her own.

"You put her up to this, didn't you?" inquired Dawn, his eyes narrowing slightly.

Caramel coughed politely into his hoof. "I may have mentioned something about you laying around to Melon Cream earlier today." His hoof was still up by his mouth, but now it was hiding a grin.

Dawn snorted, but was suddenly caught in a flowing stream of air that began to pull him out the door. Whipping his head around, he stared in surprise at Scootaloo as she swept her wings back, using the airflow to draw Dawn towards her. When did she get this good at regulating her strength? His question went unanswered as Scootaloo threw her arms around him and pulled the colt into an enthusiastic kiss as soon as he was in reach.

"Come on and stop sulking," she said with a playful grin, once she pulled back away, "I didn't give you a ton of my magic so you could spend every day down in the dumps."

Dawn was unable to keep a smile from his own face as he sighed in resignation. "Fine...let's get started then."

"Now that's what I want to hear!" cheered Scootaloo as she pulled them both out into the yard.

"Have fun," called Fluttershy as she shut the door behind the foals.

Still smiling, Dawn took up his position beside Scootaloo and spread his wings. Before long, the two of them began working their way through the First Form, pausing occasionally whenever Dawn stumbled, which was fairly often. However, as he continued, Dawn's heart felt lighter and lighter with each passing moment. I suppose everything's going to be alright after all.

To be continued...

Author's Notes:

Alas, the latest story of the Savage Skies series comes to a close. The set has been thoroughly trashed and some shady things are going on in the background. I can't say how long it will be until the next story is ready to be uploaded, given that I'm not very far into it yet. Granted, "not very far" is roughly around fifty-thousand words or so. I think it'll be a few months before it's ready to go up. That said, now that I'm not working on editing and posting for this beast, I should be able make a bit faster progress. The next story is set to be the climactic arc of the series, which means, for all intents and purposes, we are near the end. As it stands, including the next story, I have two more entries planned for the series before calling it completed. I have some other plans for sidestories and the like as well, so you'll hopefully have those to look forward to.

Also, check out my blog for the followup.

Next time: Story 9 of the Savage Skies series...Dark Matter.

Foal's Errand

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A Knight's Tale: Foal's Errand

The night was eerily silent along the wooded path that ran just outside of Trottingham. In the wilderness, silence is an aberration. Even during the darkest hours of night, there is always some source of noise, the rustling of leaves in the breeze, the creaking of trees, the sounds of various nocturnal animals as they go about their business. Even at this hour, the forest should have been filled with countless small noises. That it was completely silent was a subtle, but sure, indicator that something was terribly wrong.

A sound broke the silence; a rustling of cloth as it brushed across the ground. Another sound joined it; the slow clop of hooves stepping forward at an almost glacial pace. Paradoxically, the noise made by the traveler only seemed to make the silence around him deepen as he went upon his slow, ponderous way along the path. There was little need for worry or concern. This forest was no Everfree, but one of the tamer forests that had grown up amidst pony cities, almost as cultivated as any earth pony farm. It was a clear, moonless night, the darkest kind of night. Such a night suited him perfectly.

Over a thousand years and I am reduced to this, thought the traveler as he continued upon his way, his sights set upon the town beyond the forest edge, shuffling through the woods like a worthless vagrant. If I hadn't happened upon those fools, it would have been much worse.

He had gotten lucky after all. He'd stumbled across a small merchant caravan a ways up the road...or rather...they had stumbled upon him. Pony compassion was a wonderful thing. They had lowered their guard so easily at the sight of a cloaked figure collapsed upon the road's edge. The unicorn mare who'd tried to treat him had been his first victim. Her magic, which had started as a healing spell tasted deliciously sweet as he drew it out of her, leaving her limp and almost lifeless upon the ground.

Her companions had immediately sprung to her defense, but they were but mites. Even in his present state, the traveler was not one to be trifled with. He had swatted aside pegasus and earth pony alike. There had been other unicorns in the caravan, carelessly casting their spells at him, which he simply consumed along with their magic as he caught them. The last unicorn had foolishly tried to run, only to be snared and sent to join his brethren lying on the ground.

Considering the situation, he would have been well within his rights to kill them. But, in his present state, the traveler couldn't afford to waste his strength. He'd simply decided to leave his victims where they had fallen. If they died there, then that was what they deserved. He would need his strength for the city and what lay beyond, where resistance would undoubtedly be stauncher. He would have to be subtle at first, a few unicorns here and there. Their magic was the easiest to draw, seeing as it was closest in essence to his. Eventually, he could work his way up to pegasi, then earth ponies. He wouldn't be able to stay in one place very long. Once he began his work in earnest, Princess Celestia was sure to find out about him and would begin seeking him out. He could not confront her until he was ready.

At least he was making better time, now that he had more magic. Before, his pace had been a literal crawl and his legs had barely been able to support his weight. But now, it was possible to manage a walk. At this pace, he would be at the city sooner than he'd originally planned. The sooner I begin, the sooner I can take what belongs to me.

Beneath the cowl, two eyes, sparks of yellow swimming in pools of black, narrowed as the traveler looked down the path. Something...No!...Someone had moved. A short distance down the path, a pony wearing a cloak not unlike the traveler's own was examining something on the side of the road. The traveler's eyes widened and a rope of viscous drool leaked out of his mouth to dangle from his chin as he saw the glimmer of magic from a horn hidden beneath the hood.

Thin lips curled into a savage smile and the traveler began to pick up his pace, just a little. To be able to feed again so soon after the last batch of fools was truly a wonderful happenstance. As the traveler drew within hearing distance of the unicorn, he enacted his plan, slowing his gait once again to a shuffling crawl, bending down and lowering his posture, his movements becoming irregular...pained. Ponies are such bleeding hearts. The instant he sees another in pain, he will drop his guard.

Sure enough, at the sound of the traveler's approach, the unicorn looked up. His eyes weren't visible from the traveler's angle, but the pony's mouth opened in a silent "oh" as he turned to face the traveler. Beneath the pony's robes, the traveler could make out some sort of garment of black cloth that hung loosely about the pony's body. However, that was of no interest to the traveler, whose eyes were fixed upon the light-brown spike of the unicorn's horn protruding out from under the hood's edge.

"Who are you?" asked the pony, "You aren't hurt, are you?"

"Who is he, the pony asks," said the traveler in a faint, wheezy voice, "Is he friend or is he foe?"

"Hold on," said the unicorn, drawing nearer, "I'll help you."

"I am most certainly not your friend...little pony..." The traveler's lips curled back in a grin as began to inhale, as though he were sucking on a straw. Streams of magical energy began to flow from the pony's horn and into his mouth. Beneath the pony's hood, two narrow eyes widened as he watched the traveler drain his magic away. "However," said the traveler in a mocking tone, "Just as you said, you shall indeed help me."

He needed more. From beneath the hood, a red hand, attached to a spindly arm, snaked out at the pony, who was rooted in his spot. Before he could react, the hand reached his horn, fingers curling about the shaft. "Yes...you shall help me."

Then, the expression of fear and surprise on the pony's face melted away, the eyes narrowing once again and his mouth stretching into a victorious grin. "Nah, just lying."

The pony jerked once, yanking away from the traveler's hold. To the traveler's shock, the horn came away from the pony's head with a faint click. Instead of falling to the ground in agony, the pony instead became a blur as he leaped back away from the traveler. His cloak fell to the ground, revealing an earth pony stallion with a khaki-colored coat. In the darkness of the night, his spiky white mane stood out sharply, along with his tail, which looked strangely fox-like as it stretched out behind him. Wrapped around the stallion's midsection was a broad, white sash, with two ends trailing off behind him like an extra pair of tails.

He grinned playfully at the traveler. "You were a lot easier to track down than I thought. I can't believe you fell for the old Fake Horn Gag though."

The traveler glanced down at the replica of a unicorn horn in his hand before glaring back at the stallion. As he did so, he straightened his legs and raised himself all the way upright. "You dare to make a fool of the almighty Lord Tirek?"

"Well...not so much 'dare' as 'did,'" replied the stallion blithely, "I figured that you haven't consumed all that much magic yet, so you couldn't have gone too far. I also figured that you'd jump at any chance to suck up some more magic like the greedyguts you are. One false horn with a charged crystal inserted into it later and...Viola!...one escaped denizen of Tartarus apprehended."

With a low growl, the traveler doffed his robe, letting it fall to the side, revealing the figure of a creature completely alien in this realm. Four thin and wiry legs held up a body that was unquestionably equine. However, where the shoulders and neck of a pony would normally be, the traveler instead sported a second torso, sprouting up perpendicularly from his hindquarters, all of it covered in pitch-black fur. The second torso was not dissimilar from a minotaur's in nature, two thin, spindly red arms stretching out from equally red shoulders. His head sported a dangling, gray beard, which served to frame a mouth pulled back in an angry grimace. Those terrible eyes, bright-yellow irises floating in pools of black, glared balefully at the pony in front of him. From the top of his head, a pair of wickedly-curved horns jutted upward out of a shaggy gray mane that hung down his second back.

"You believe you have captured me...little pony...?" snarled Tirek, thrusting out the hand holding the detached horn, "...with this paltry parlor trick?" His fingers tightened their grip around the horn as Tirek glared at the stallion, who seemed unfazed and continued to grin impishly. "Do not dare to think that you've captured me simply by luring me to you with this bauble."

"Oh...yeah..." said the stallion, still grinning, "About that...I was lying about the horn."

"What?" Tirek looked again at the object clenched in his fist.

"Oh...it does have a crystal loaded with unicorn magic in it." said the stallion, "But that's not the only thing...It's also packed to the brim with black powder.”

Tirek opened his mouth to answer, but a faint hiss, accompanied by a whiff of smoke coming from the object in his hand drew his attention downward…just as it blew up in his face.

The monstrous centaur’s bellow of pain was eclipsed by the thunderous clap of the explosion and Tirek briefly vanished in a ball of fire and smoke that send dirt and rocks flying in all directions. Tirek himself was launched backwards, slamming into the ground and skidding across it. His body, reinforced with his recently acquired magic, endured the blows, but it had been a near thing. As Tirek struggled back up to his hooves he noticed that his hand was now blackened and burned.

“By the way,” said the stallion, now smirking as he approached, pushing right through the column of smoke that lingered from the blast and coming out the other side, “I figure I should introduce myself. I’m Swift Stride, Knight of the Celestial Order. How’s that for an introduction?”

“Knights…?” growled Tirek, “The Princesses have been busy. But still…It was rather foolish of them to send a mere earth pony after me.”

“Hey now,” said Swift, drawing himself up, “I’ll have you know I’m the strongest of the knights. You think that the Princess would send anypony less than her best to take you down?”

In spite of the burning sensation on his hand, which was lessening as Tirek channeled his magic to heal it, the centaur laughed derisively. “The strongest! Hah! Do you honestly expect me to believe such tripe? A mere earth pony could not possibly be Princess Celestia’s greatest champion…and certainly not one who relies on gimmicks and toys to fight me.”

To Tirek’s surprise, Swift laughed and raised his hooves. “All right! You’ve got me! I was lying about being the strongest Knight. I’m actually the weakest. But you don’t think the Princess is crazy or stupid enough to send a unicorn after you, do you?” His grin widened. “Besides…it’s not as though she needs to send her absolute best. Given how scrawny you look, I’d be surprised if you could put up any kind of fight at all.”

It began as a speck of light, sparking into being in the space between Tirek’s horns. With each passing second, it grew in size and brightness until a miniature sun the size of a small apple hung there. With an angry roar from Tirek, a bolt of burning, molten energy lanced out from the orb, aiming straight for Swift.

“Whoa!” exclaimed the stallion as he dodged to the side, the beam passing by him and drawing a glowing line in the ground, “Watch it! Somepony could get hurt if you do that.”

Tirek didn’t even acknowledge Swift’s taunt, instead launching another attack. The stallion ducked under this one, which struck a tree behind him and exploding it into matchwood. Tirek fired a third beam, aiming lower this time. Swift jumped over it. Hanging in the air as he was, the earth pony stallion was an easy target for the next shot. But, as Swift hung in the air mid-jump, he reached a forehoof under his sash and pulled out a small cylinder, which he then threw to the ground below him. The cylinder exploded with a loud hiss, filling the air with white smoke that completely obscured the area for several meters, including the space where Tirek was standing.

Tirek fired anyway, aiming for the place he’d last seen Swift Stride. But the beam simply sliced through empty air.

“Can’t hit what you can’t see,” taunted Swift from somewhere in the smoke as Tirek looked around for him.

The smoke was slowly starting to disperse, but Tirek was noticing something else. His limbs were starting to feel heavy. His eyelids began to droop and the world around him, despite the fact that the haze was clearing, was starting to get hazy all over again. This isn’t just smoke…

From above, Swift watched as he perched on a tree branch that shouldn’t have been able to hold his weight, smirking as he stared at Tirek’s silhouette in the smoke, watching as the grotesque creature began to slump. It’s working. I was worried that he might not be affected by any of my compounds. But he seems to be susceptible to this one at least.

Crimson nostrils flared and Tirek let out an enraged snort. The glowing sphere of energy between his horns flared, then launched a blaze of energy out in all directions, pushing the smoke away from him. At the same time, Tirek sent a stream of tingling magic down through his own body, sweeping away all traces of the drug that had been taken into his bloodstream.

“Did you really think you could defeat me with such a cowardly trick?” he yelled, looking this way and that as he sought his adversary.

“Eh…it was worth a try,” said Swift, before freezing as Tirek’s gaze zeroed in on him immediately, “Whoops!”

Tirek fired again, sending lances of fiery power punching through the forest canopy. Moving like a squirrel, Swift bounded from one tree branch to another, landing on one and using it as a springboard to fuel his jump to the next, twisting and flipping to avoid Tirek’s shots with each jump as his path inscribed a circle around the centaur. Abruptly, Swift changed directions, launching off at a sharp angle that sent him flying directly above Tirek’s head. Tirek moved to track the motion, but was too slow as Swift landed and immediately pushed off of the trunk of another tree, his next jump sending him to land directly on Tirek’s equine hindquarters.

If he’s channeling magic through his horns, then maybe they’re as vulnerable as a unicorn’s is mid-cast, thought Swift, raising a foreleg. A slim, triangular blade slid out from beneath his sleeve. Moving quickly, Swift slashed at one of Tirek’s horns. The blade actually sparked as its edge made contact and skipped off. However, instead of screaming in agony, Tirek growled and whirled around, moving so sharply that Swift was knocked off his hooves as Tirek’s hindquarters whipped themselves out from under him. But before Swift could fall all the way to the ground, Tirek’s uninjured hand snapped out, moving with the speed of a striking snake and closing around Swift’s throat.

I guess that’s a no then, thought Swift as he struggled to breathe, dangling from Tirek’s grip, which was surprisingly strong, given how skinny the centaur’s arms were right now.

“I have had enough of your mockery,” growled Tirek, “I will make your death slow.”

“Th-that doesn’t really w-work for me,” said Swift as he struggled to remain breathing in Tirek’s grip. At least the monster wasn’t trying to actively choke him yet.

“You presume you have a choice in the matter,” hissed Tirek.

“Well…if I can’t beat you,” said Swift, his grin coming back, “I need to at least make sure I take you with me.” From somewhere within his black clothes, he produced a grapefruit-sized sphere with some sort of string dangling out of it. Gripping it in the fetlock of one foreleg, he smacked it against something hidden in the sleeve of his other foreleg, creating a spark that caught on the fuse and set it into sparking life.

“This is the b-biggest bomb I’ve g-got,” said Swift, raising it so that Tirek could see. Already, the fuse was burning past the halfway point, “This’ll take out everything in a fifty-meter radius. Let’s see you s-stand up t-to that.”

“Fool!” snapped Tirek, tossing Swift away from him. However, Swift had already dropped the bomb, which landed right at Tirek’s hooves. His eyes widening in a panic, Tirek scampered backward, the orb of magical energy hanging between his horns blazing to life once again, creating a glowing barrier between him and the bomb.

On the other side of the barrier, Swift didn’t move, giving his opponent a mocking grin. The fuse burned all the way down and vanished into the interior of the bomb…which then let out a little puff and hissed slightly.

“Sorry,” said Swift, laughing again, “I was lying about the bomb. It’s a total dud. You didn’t really think I was stupid enough to try and kill both of us like that, did you?”

“You cowardly little…” Tirek dropped his barrier and strode forward, fully intent on twisting Swift’s grinning head off with his bare hands.

“Oh!” said Swift suddenly, sitting down, “Sorry! I was lying about lying. Did you know that blowing stuff up isn’t the only thing you can do with bombs?” He raised a hoof and pointed at the still-smoking device. “Look more closely.”

Tirek’s eyes automatically followed Swift’s hoof and fixated on the bomb, just as it burst. The world went white and a deafening roar that eclipsed even the explosion of Swift’s first bomb burned its way into Tirek’s ears, completely drowning out his agonized screams. Even telling me to look more closely at the bomb was a trap! he realized as his hands rushed to cover his eyes, even though the reaction was far too late.

In the wake of the explosion, Tirek was left reeling, staggering on his hooves as his eyes burned and his ears rang. His hearing was just barely good enough to pick up the thud of hooves on the ground directly in front of him before two more hooves connected right where his torso joined with his hindquarters, knocking him off the ground and sending him flying as Swift hit him with a powerful buck. Tirek’s body slammed into a tree, breaking it in two. He slumped to the ground, unmoving, his body going limp.

Rather than pressing his attack, Swift instead dodged off the path and into the foliage, hiding himself amongst the forest undergrowth. Once he was hidden, he pressed his back against a tree and settled onto his haunches, reaching down to gently massage his hind hooves with his forehooves. Damn! What the hay is that guy made out of? He's got that scrawny, starving look that makes ya think he'd break like a twig if you breathed on him too hard. But I think I'd be hard-pressed to find a hunk of refined orichalcum tougher than this nut.

Carefully, Swift glanced around the side of the tree at the unmoving form of Tirek. He's faking it pretty good, noted Swift. Tirek's outstretched hand was pressed, palm and fingers down, against the ground, looking as though it had landed like that when the centaur had collapsed. In fact, Tirek was carefully attuned to the vibrations in the ground, using that to sense any approach while his sight and hearing recovered. On top of that, he might even realize that I can see through his ruse and is just using it to buy time until his senses recover.

A cold sweat broke out across Swift's forehead as he went back to hiding behind the tree. I'm just barely staying ahead of that guy with my tricks. Geez, even fresh out of Tartarus, this guy's a real monster. Despite these grim thoughts, Swift's grin didn't fade in the slightest. This is the most fun I've had in years.

Using his magic, Tirek was beginning to restore his sight and hearing. With a low, rumbling growl that belied his slight physique, he got to his hooves and stood up once again. "You are a persistent insect," he growled.

"Hey," protested Swift from within the undergrowth, "Where do you get off calling me an insect? If anything, you're more like an insect than I am."

Zeroing in on the sound of Swift's voice, Tirek sent a fiery bolt searing through the leaves and bushes, leaving a trail of flames behind it. However, there was no sign of the infuriating stallion.

"I mean, when you think about it..." continued Swift's voice, now coming from the foliage on the side of the path opposite where it had first come from, "...you're the one with six limbs. You've got a head, something that could be called a thorax, and an abdomen. Get it, bug-guy?"

Tirek turned and fired at the new source of the voice. But, once again, the beam of energy struck nopony, simply burning viciously through the undergrowth.

Swift's voice popped up from a new location. "Come on, you've gotta admit it. When it comes down to bugginess, even Changelings don't hold a candle to you."

"Cease this annoying prattle and come out!" roared Tirek, the blazing sphere of light between his horns flaring yet again, this time sending waves of explosive energy radiating out of him from all directions. Trees shattered and their splinters caught fire. Leaves were sent spinning through the air, igniting as they did so. The entire area was filled with burning shrapnel scattering in all directions.

At the explosion's center, Tirek stood. His shoulders were hunched and he was breathing hard. His arms hung at his sides, feeling much heavier than they had before. Even the four legs he was standing on were beginning to tremble.

From the edge of the area Tirek had just destroyed, Swift Stride emerged from the smoke and flames, coming to stand on the slope of the shallow cater Tirek had just created. "Running out of juice, huh. You haven't had the chance to suck the magic out of many unicorns yet. I figured you couldn't keep this up for too long."

For a moment, Tirek glared silently at his adversary. Then...he slumped further, sagging almost all the way to the ground. "Unbelievable...to be bested by the likes of you. Even though you are an earth pony, you are, by far, the most cunning adversary I have ever faced."

"Aww," said Swift, waving a hoof demurely, "You're just saying that. You're making me blush here." True enough, his cheeks were turning a shade of pink as he faked a shy grin.

"It almost makes me wonder," said Tirek, "What is such a brilliant strategist such as yourself doing as a mere errand-boy for Celestia?"

"Hmm?" Swift's ears perked up.

"I mean...as clever as you are, you could easily do whatever you please with your life," said Tirek soberly, spreading his arms out, "You could take what you want and hardly anyone in the world would be smart enough to stop you. What hold does Celestia have over you that would make you bend to her will like this?"

Swift's smile began to fade as he listened to Tirek's words. "What makes you think that she has something over me?" He canted his head attentively.

Twin streams of something that looked like smoke burst out of Tirek's nostrils as he snorted. "Please...I know that mare well enough. She despises deceit and lies. She clings to paltry platitudes, such as honesty...and harmony...and all the things that go with them. There is no way she would accept a pony with your skills and talents running loose without a collar. You serve her because she has left you with no choice in the matter."

Swift's eyes widened as he glared at Tirek. "You really think I could pull one over on her? She's been around for thousands of years now. Seeing through little lies like mine is practically foal's play for her."

"But you can escape her hold," said Tirek, smiling now, a glimmer of triumph in his eyes, "I misjudged you earlier. You are truly a worthy adversary. If you were to join me...then I could help you escape from Celestia's control. You will be free to do as you wish, tell whatever lies you please, take whatever your heart desires. Lies are for manipulating and crushing the weak. You have that power. You should be permitted to use it the way it was meant to be used.”

“You really think you can beat the Princesses?” asked Swift, raising a skeptical eyebrow.

“With your help, I’m certain that it’s possible,” said Tirek, his lips curling up in a sneer, “With your mastery of deception, you can easily deflect their suspicions whilst I regain my strength. Then I shall be able to come for the power of the Princesses themselves.”

“That’s a tall order,” mused Swift, tapping his chin, “She may not be one for lying, but given how long she’s been around, it’s gonna be tough getting one over on Her Majesty.”

“I am sure that you are more than capable of it,” said Tirek, “What do you say? Will you join me?”

"Speaking as an accomplished liar," said Swift, "What proof do I have that I can trust you? I've heard you're a pretty gifted deceiver yourself."

"Proof, hmm...?" Tirek idly tapped his chin with a finger before he broke out into a smile once again. "Ah yes. I do have something I can use to show my sincerity, a gift of sorts, if you will."

"A gift, huh...?"

Tirek raised a hand to his neck. For the first time, Swift noticed a triangular golden medallion, hanging from a fine gold chain. Pulling the medallion off his neck, Tirek held it out towards swift, letting the chain dangle off of his hand. "This once belonged to the one closest to me, my dear brother. It is a symbol of the friendship and trust that existed between us. Allow this to serve as proof of my sincerity."

"Your brother, hmm...." Swift looked thoughtful for a moment before grinning widely. "I guess if you're willing to entrust me with something that important, I can't really say no. It's a deal..."

Coming in closer, Swift reached out a hoof towards the medallion. As the hoof got closer and closer, Tirek's smile widened. Then...just as Swift was about to take the medallion from Tirek's hand, Tirek dropped it, instead moving to quickly grab Swift's foreleg and pull the stallion towards him. "Ah ha! Now I've got you, worm!"

Something clicked and Tirek looked down, suddenly realizing that he wasn't actually holding Swift's foreleg. Instead, his hand was holding another cylindrical container, slightly longer than the smoke-bomb Swift had used earlier. "What-?" Before he could even continue asking, the end facing him flipped open and Tirek was suddenly sprayed in the face with a fine, white powder.

"By the way, I was lying about joining you," said Swift, still grinning, but standing farther away than he had been a second ago. He lifted up hoof he'd been reaching out with. Dangling from it by its chain was Tirek's medallion. "I think I'll hold on to this," he said, twirling it about his leg.

"You-!" snarled Tirek before cutting himself off. There was a burning, itching sensation in his nose. More poison?

"I wasn't actually ever planning on coming over to your side anyway," said Swift idly, stowing the medallion in his clothes, "But even if I was, you really need to work on your lying skills. You really don't think Princess Celestia told me all about your story? I mean...holding out that medallion as a symbol of trust and then saying it belonged to your brother...the brother who's best known for siding with us ponies and essentially stabbing you in the back. The Princess warned me that you were a pretty slick talker, but your lies are actually pretty lame."

Seeing that Tirek was having trouble responding, Swift chuckled. "Oh...and by the way...that's not poison that you were sprayed with...It's actually high-grade sneezing powder."

"Ah-ah...AHCHOO!" Right on cue, Tirek began to unleash a storm of sneezes, practically doubling over as they wracked his body. Desperately, he tried to use his magic to purge the fine dust from his nostrils, but every attempt to cast was interrupted by another succession of sneezes. All the way, Swift simply watched and cackled merrily.

Lurching forward, Tirek lunged at Swift Stride, wildly swinging his fists and trying to crush the stallion with them. Swift leaned to the side, allowing one of Tirek's swings to plummet down right past him before suddenly darting right inside the centaur's reach, coming up short against Tirek's stomach. He pressed a single hoof up against Tirek's front belly. On the ground, his other three hooves suddenly twisted sharply and dug into the earth with a series of loud crunches. Swift's body seemed to lean slightly forward and he extended the foreleg that was touching Tirek a little bit farther...

Tirek was launched backwards, hit by a force comparable to a runaway freight train. His body slammed into the edge of the crater, plowing straight through the ground and digging a trench along the earth before he came to a stop. Still sneezing and snorting, Tirek tried to get up, only for his eyes to widen as he saw another cylinder flying right at him.

At least this one was a much more conventional bomb. The fiery explosion engulfed Tirek, knocking him back further still. Unable to summon his magic, thanks to the sneezing powder, Tirek was forced to endure the heat and pressure with his own body, crying out in pain as his skin blistered and burnt, the fur of his coat being scorched away. However, the explosion had another, less-harmful effect. The fiery fumes seeped into his nostrils and burned away all traces of the sneezing powder.

Getting back up, Tirek looked up just in time to see Swift Stride closing in again, leading with that slender blade hidden within the sleeve of his clothes. "ENOUGH!" he roared, releasing another explosion of magical energy in all directions. This one was much smaller than the last one, only extending a couple of meters in any direction. However, Swift ended up charging right into it and was blasted back with a grunt of pain and sent sprawling.

"I have endured all the humiliation I can stand at your hooves," growled the centaur, rearing up to his full height once again. Ironically, his injuries only served to make him an even more intimidating sight, his skin marred by sections of cracked red and black that slowly shrank as the burns he received from the explosions began to slowly knit themselves back together.

"Whoo...that was a doozy," said Swift as he stood up. However, before he could fully get his hooves under him, a glowing orange aura coalesced around his body and he was lifted from the ground.

"I will make you cry," snarled Tirek, tossing his head. In synch with the motion, Swift's body was suddenly hurled against a tree with a loud, groaning crack. "I will make you scream!" This time, he sent Swift's body slamming down into the ground. "I will make you beg for my mercy and then I shall skin you, inch by inch, before allowing you to finally die." Swift was slammed into another tree, then back into the ground, the process repeating over and over again.

Finally, the aura released him and the stallion came to a stop, lying limply on the path. Tirek stood over him, panting hard from his exertions. "I am Lord Tirek. All the magic in this land is mine! You ponies exist for my sake! Learn your place, insufferable vermin."

Step by ponderous step, Tirek advanced on Swift, glowering down at the stallion who had caused him so much pain and hardship. Had this battle occurred at a later date, after he'd had more time to consume power from additional unicorns, Tirek would not have struggled so. The fact that Swift had caused so much harm, even in Tirek's present state, was an insult that could not be borne.

To Tirek's surprise, Swift's body twitched once...then twice. Then, with a low groan, he rolled over slightly and opened one eyelid wide enough for Tirek to see a light-blue eye, glaring up at him. "Y-you should have l-listened to your brother..."

"My brother was weak," snarled Tirek, "He swallowed your pony lies and betrayed me because he could not stomach the fact that he would always be inferior to me."

"Heh..." Swift chuckled, but the sound came out more like a pained grunt. "That just goes to show how little you understand about ponies. That's why you're going to lose here."

Both of Swift's eyes opened wide and he grinned menacingly up at Tirek. Tirek reared back, launching another lance of energy down at the stallion. But Swift was already rolling out of the way. The force of the blast hitting the ground where he'd been resting a second ago launched Swift into the air. However, Swift turned the motion into a roll that brought his hooves back under him and he landed in a standing position a few meters away, looking slightly more bruised and battered, but still more than capable of fighting.

"Impossible!" gasped Tirek, "How can you still be standing after that?"

"Come on," said Swift with a laugh, "You didn't think Princess Celestia would make me one of her Knights if I didn't know how to take a few hard falls. There's a trick to it, but you're gonna have to do much worse if you plan on putting me down."

"That can be arranged," hissed the centaur, charging up another shot of his magic.

Swift suddenly lifted a hoof sharply. "Hold up!"

Caught off-guard by the sudden change in Swift's tone, Tirek hesitated.

"You're a lot tougher than I expected," Swift admitted, reaching into his sash once again, "If I'm gonna beat you, then I'm gonna need to bring out my secret weapon."

Tirek's anger faded, immediately replaced by a sense of caution as he stepped back. However, instead of withdrawing another bomb, Swift instead pulled out a silver flask. Sitting down, Swift popped the top and began to chug down the contents with ever evidence of enjoyment. Tirek looked on, too confused by the unexpected action to even think about acting. "What are you doing?"

Lowering the flask, Swift wiped his mouth on a sleeve and grinned. "Just wetting the old whistle. I need to get a good buzz going to do this right." He tucked the flask back into his sash.

For a second, nothing happened. Then Swift hiccuped. It seemed to jerk his entire body and he began to sway on the spot. "Awright...." he said, getting to his hooves, now wobbling, "thatssh the shtuff..." He lifted a hoof, looking as though he was going to start walking towards Tirek, but instead staggered to one side, swaying to the point where it seemed he was going to fall over, but managing to catch himself at the last second. Doing so only seemed to send him staggering in the opposite weapon.

"What are you doing?" repeated Tirek, his frustration growing at the sheer ludicrousness of the situation.

"Itssh mah secret weapon," slurred Swift, giving Tirek a dazed-looking smile, "Thissh issh Drunken Hoof!" He bobbed and swayed again. "Now lisshen here...ya...ya...ya weird thingy, you. Ah don't like usshin thissh. I-I'm really gonna feel thissh in the mornin'. Sshooo you'd better be worth it."

"Drunken hoof...?" Tirek stared at the unsteady stallion a moment longer before his lips curled up in an angry snarl. "I've had enough of your mockery."

The shimmering orb of power hanging between his horns flared to life once again, this time launching a bolt of energy straight at Swift's hooves, intending to destroy his footing.

Swift staggered to the side once again, seemingly by accident. But the motion carried him clear and the bolt smashed into the empty earth right where he had been standing. Tirek tracked Swift's stumble and aimed where the stallion was going to end up next. However Swift seemed to tilt over and went into a quick roll that carried him over and past the target area before Tirek's shot could even reach it.

"Whoops!" exclaimed Swift, coming back up to his hooves, "Ya misshed."

Roaring, Tirek fired again, but every shot he took seemed to just barely missed as Swift stumbled, lurched, and even tripped out of the way, the stallion's jerky, irregular motions frustrating the centaur's aim at every turn. What Tirek tailed to notice was that, even as Swift stumbled from side to side, he was actually stepping in closer with each and every dodge. Before Tirek had even realized it, Swift had closed the distance between them.

Tirek lashed out with a fist, intending to cave in Swift's skull with a punch. However, at the last instant, Swift suddenly seemed to trip and fall forward, causing Tirek's fist to pass just over his head, barely brushing against Swift's mane. Swift's fall became a forward roll and he lurched unexpectedly up from the ground again, this time planting a shoulder against Tirek's front stomach. From where his legs connected with the ground, his body seemed to undulate and Tirek was once again slammed by an incredible impact that had his hooves plowing furrows in the ground as he was driven back.

Holding out one open hand, Tirek conjured a ball of flame in his palm and pitched it at Swift. The stallion lurched backwards unsteadily as the flame impacted the ground in front of him. However, instead of exploding, the ball instead seemed to soak into the ground. An instant later, a rocky spike exploded outwards, its tip aiming right for Swift's chest.

Swift reached out with a foreleg and hooked his fetlock around the end of the spike, even as it continued to drive towards him. In a single, flowing motion, Swift pulled himself up and rolled over and across the spike, managing to plant his hooves on the stone spire near its base. Using it as a platform, he pushed off into a jump that sent him rolling through the air in a lazy motion as he brought one hind hoof down on the top of Tirek's head, the kick landing right between the centaur's horns.

Reeling back, Tirek howled with agony. He staggered from the impact. Looking up, he tried to find his target only to see nothing. Swift had already stumped off to one side of Tirek. No sooner had all four of the stallion's hooves touched the ground had Swift reared up onto his hind legs and lashed out with his elbow, the motion causing him to practically fall against Tirek's side. As clumsy as it appeared, the move was powerful enough to send a spike of pain through the centaur as the elbow crashed into the barrel of Tirek's equine half. The force of the blow was nearly enough to knock Tirek over.

Spinning his second torso, Tirek swung one spindly arm backwards, aiming to catch Swift with a backfist to the head. Even as Swift's elbow was still resting against Tirek's flank, Swift's foreleg unfolded and extended back out, reaching over and up to the top of Tirek's back. Swift Stride clamped down, actually pinching Tirek's spine in his fetlock through the skin and muscle on Tirek's back. The powerful grip on Tirek's spine sent a razor-sharp jolt of agony through him. Screaming in pain, Tirek could only watch as Swift used his hold as a point of leverage to pull himself up and over Tirek's back and out of the way of the incoming fist.

As he reached the apex of his motion over the centaur's back, Swift's body seemed to jerk unsteadily again, changing the axis of his roll. The sudden change in motion caused him to channel all his body's momentum to his fetlock, which was still pinched around Tirek's spine. There was an almost inaudible pop, followed by yet another jolt of pain through Tirek's body, then Tirek's hind legs ceased to heed his mind's commands.

Swift released his hold and went into a cartwheeling leap away from Tirek, landing on all four of his hooves, but nearly falling once again. "P-pretty neat, huh..." he said, wobbling in place, "When ya practissh holdin yer cupssh all the time...ya get a p-pretty sshtrong grip."

"You..." Tirek's growl trailed off as he realized his condition. His body was battered, burned, and broken. The injuries he'd received throughout the battle were taking their toll. To make matters worse, he was reaching the limit of his magical capacity as well. The magic of the few unicorns he'd managed to consume before now was not enough to keep him going for much longer. This is unacceptable! Did I finally manage to orchestrate my escape from Tartarus to end up falling to this...this...this drunken buffoonery? Tirek froze, his eyes going wide. Drunken...That's it!

Staggering, Tirek sank down, his forelegs buckling. In his condition, it was easier anyway, given that his hind legs had practically folded up on themselves. His magic was already working to repair the damage and realign his spine so that he could regain his mobility, but it would take time and his power was already at its limit. "To think that a worthless pest like you could push me this far," he growled.

"Aww...Ya ain't fakin' are ya?" asked Swift, staggering slightly closer.

"Fool," rumbled Tirek, "You've taken my power to even stand and you're doubting your victory?"

"I ain't...I ain't doubtin' nothin'..." Swift paused, his eyes rolling upwards. "Or issh that one 'o them double nega-whatsits?"

Swift didn't notice the subtle, orange lights that were beginning to outline his body. Tirek was barely using any magic at all. To think that I would use the spell my brother created to keep me in line during our victory feasts...

Just as the spell was nearly finished, Swift suddenly realized that he was once again in the grip of Tirek's magic. "Wait...ya tricked me...again..."

"To think that you would actually give me the means to defeat you," said Tirek, laughing now, "I hope you enjoy the consequences of your foolish actions."

"Whaaaat consshequencshes?" slurred Swift, "What kind 'o magic thingy issh thissh?"

"A simple sobriety spell," said Tirek, "It immediately advances you from a drunken idiot...to a hungover one."

It clearly took a moment for Swift Stride's addled mind to process what Tirek's words meant. It gave Tirek just enough time to finish the spell, which ignited with a flash of energy that washed across Swift's body. He staggered again, this time much more clumsily, actually falling over as his hooves went to his head. "Owww! Dammit!"

Tirek's laugh boomed through the night. He deliberately made it as loud as he could, delighting in the sight of Swift's face twisting in agony as the loud noise tortured his newly-sensitive ears. Now that his foe was incapacitated, Tirek could focus on his own recovery. Finally, with another pop, the displaced vertebrae moved back into pace, tormenting Tirek with another jolt of pain, but also giving him back use of his hind legs. The burns and bruises from the rest of the conflict were fading as well. But his magic was near its limit. He may be a fool, but he forced me to fight much harder than I'd anticipated, thought Tirek, I will need to rest to recover what little strength I've managed to gather so far.

"No mere mortal pony has ever challenged me to this extent," said Tirek, still talking loudly as he stood up to exacerbate Swift's pain, "You may have only managed to do so because my powers are limited at this time. But I suppose you deserve some praise for doing so well. It is a pity that your death shall be in vain."

Tirek lifted one hoof and brought it down on Swift's side, deliberately doing it slowly, rather than stamping down. He also chose a soft, fleshy bit, rather than somewhere with breakable bones. This pony had given him a great deal of trouble and he intended to make Swift suffer as much as possible before killing the stallion.

"I am going to enjoy this," said Tirek, leaning forward and grinding his hoof into Swift's body. Swift opened his mouth, crying out in pain, but the sound exploded out as a wheezing grunt. Tirek's smile widened and he turned his attention to Swift's sash. Leaning over, he reached down and pulled out the flask that Swift had put away earlier. "But first, assuming there's any left, I think a celebratory drink is in order."

A quick shake of the flask indicated that there was still liquid swishing about within it. Excellent...The volume is low. But if it got him inebriated to such an extent, then it must be a potent spirit indeed; the perfect drink to crown the end to this fight.

Popping the top of the flask, Tirek lifted it to his lips and and allowed the liquid within to spill across his tongue. Then his eyes widened. Instead of the harsh bite of alcohol that he'd been expecting, he instead tasted something sweet, with some added astringency. The liquid that he'd just drunk came spraying out of his mouth. Shocked, he pulled the flask away from his mouth and stared at it, aghast. "Cranberry juice!"

"Hey! Don't knock it. That stuff's good for you." The sound of Swift's voice from below instantly caught Tirek's attention and he looked down just in time to see Swift roll out from under his hoof. Swift's roll actually carried him beneath Tirek's barrel so that he was lying, belly-up, between all four of Tirek's legs.

Swift's four legs kicked up in unison, all four hooves planting themselves into Tirek's underbelly and launching him upward with a cry of agony. As Tirek's body soared upwards, Swift rolled again, getting his hooves under him just in time to push off the ground and launch himself at a nearby tree. Rolling again in midair, Swift landed hooves-first on the trunk and kicked off and upwards at an angle that allowed him to intercept Tirek's flight. As he flew past Tirek, Swift's foreleg whipped out and he hooked a fetlock around one of Tirek's small, weak-looking but deceptively strong, wrists...the wrist that was connected to the hand holding the flask for that matter.

"I'll take that," said Swift with his characteristic mocking grin in place, using his other fetlock to pluck the flask from Tirek's grip, quickly popping the top back in and secreting it back into his sash, all before Tirek could even begin to react. Then the fetlock that was holding Tirek's wrist increased its pressure, tightening like a steel vice. Beneath its grip, Tirek could feel the bones of his wrist grinding together, an immense power threatening to crush the joint into powder. It was agonizing.

But Swift wasn't done by a long shot. Using Tirek's wrist as a fulcrum, he pulled himself into a flip that sent him heading back towards the ground. A moment ago, he had been leaping through the air as though he weighed nothing, But now he fell as though his body weighed several tons, pulling Tirek along with him. As they neared the ground, Swift altered his flip, using his body as a fulcrum and bringing Tirek's body down into a heavy slam that cracked the ground and filled the air with Tirek's latest bellow of agony.

Even as his body bounced off of the rock-hard earth, Tirek raised a hand once again, filling with fiery power before slamming it down into the ground. Just as Swift’s own hooves touched down, an array of rocky spires launched themselves from the earth, threatening to impale Swift once again. Swift was forced to roll backwards to avoid being struck. As he did so, he barely missed one of the spikes as it grazed his face, cutting a line of red through his khaki coat. Rolling back to his hooves and standing back up, Swift could see that Tirek was sprawled out on the ground.

The battle had definitely taken its toll on the centaur. At one point, the tip of one of his horns had snapped off. The glowing sphere of magic hanging between those two curved horns was now barely the size of a fireplace ember, flickering weakly, only just barely remaining lit. Almost there…

“Another lie…” groaned Tirek, trying to stand.

Swift couldn’t help but grin. “There’s a funny thing about Drunken Hoof. It’s pretty much impossible to do if you’re actually drunk. But that’s how it’s portrayed in all the comics and film reels, so it gets ponies every time. You're not the only one with a sobriety spell out there.”

Tirek was almost standing all the way up now. However, his body looked even thinner and weaker before, looking as though it had shriveled. Before, even with how scrawny he was, he had towered over Swift. But now, he was only half-again as tall and Swift was certain that he was getting smaller with each passing minute.

“I cannot…lose…” rumbled Tirek, “…not to a mere mortal…earth pony…”

Swift laughed. “Hey,” he said, “Remember what I said earlier, about being the strongest of Celestia’s Knights.”

Tirek’s eyes narrowed. “You were lying.”

“Yeah…well…” Swift seemed to step forward and vanished. Tirek’s eyes caught a flash of motion right in front of him and looked down to see that Swift was now standing within inches of his front belly, having seemingly crossed the distance between them in an instant. “…I was lying about lying.”

Tirek heard all four of Swift Stride’s hooves hit the ground simultaneously. After that, the only thing he knew was pain.

At last, silence descended on the forest once again. The echoes of the battle that had taken place faded into the distance and the sounds of the forest itself resumed their natural chorus, free of the wrongness that had tainted the area before. It now sounded just like any other night.

Swift Stride looked down at Tirek’s unmoving form. The ember hanging between the centaur’s horns had dwindled down to a minuscule spark, flickering. Finally, with a tiny popping noise, it vanished. Swift could feel the magical essence that Tirek had stolen from every unicorn that had crossed his path since his escape swirling out into the ether, hopefully to return to their owners. I hope the ponies of that caravan manage to get out of this.

Swift had come across the caravan while following Tirek’s trail from Tartarus. At the time, the most he’d been able to do was provide some basic first aid for them. He’d loaded them up on one of their wagons, trying to get them as comfortable as possible before scattering some chemicals around it that would deter any predators that might be roaming the woods. This forest was not one of Equestria’s wild zones, like the Everfree was, but there was still some risk for injured and immobile ponies. Hopefully, once the unicorns got their magic back, they would be able to help their companions and at least get them the rest of the way to civilization.

Swift wasn’t currently able to afford them any assistance. He had needed to catch up to Tirek before the centaur had reached Trottingham and had started draining the magic of the ponies within. Even now, Swift didn’t dare leave Tirek unattended for a minute. Such a wily foe would almost certainly find a way to escape if Swift took his eyes off him for even a moment. And…the next time they fought, Swift figured that he would probably be the one lying helpless on the ground.

“Still…” he muttered, “now I have to haul this guy back to Tartarus.”

Tirek’s body jerked sharply, making Swift take a cautious step back. Slowly, lethargically, wincing in pain with each movement, Tirek turned his head just enough to gaze blearily at Swift.

“Why?” he gasped, his voice coming out as a choking wheeze, “Why would someone like you follow Celestia? What hold could she possibly have over you?”

Swift snorted. “What makes you think that she needs something to hold over me?”

“D-doesn’t she though?” said Tirek, “She prattles on and on about the importance of honesty and integrity. It was even one of those blasted Elements of Harmony that she and her sister used on me in the first place. A deceitful creature like you…could not bear to serve the will of a pony like her. There must be something…”

The stallion laughed once again, long and loud. “Well…maybe it’s because she’s the only pony I’ve never really been able to lie to,” he said, “She’s the only pony I’ve never wanted to lie to. We do crazy things for the ones we love after all.”

“Still more lies,” growled Tirek.

Smirking down at the centaur, Swift said, “Maybe. I could be lying. I might not. You’ll never know. You’ll spend the rest of eternity in Tartarus, wondering just what the answer might be. It’s something to keep you occupied.”

Tirek looked as though he wanted to say something else, maybe hurtle another threat at Swift. But instead, his head slumped back down and his eyes drifted closed.

Looking around, Swift winced as he felt bruises along his sides and back. “Horseapples…the jerk nearly got me a couple of times.” He sighed. “Damn. It’s a long trip back to Tartarus. I wish I’d borrowed a wagon.”

Celestia’s hoof tapped a steady rhythm, sending a clicking noise echoing through the throne room with all the consistency of a metronome. The staccato noise was not lost on those attending the Day Court and the ponies looked around anxiously to see what had their ruler so agitated. Princess Celestia was normally the incarnation of regal calm, listening to her little ponies with boundless patience, no matter how frivolous the matter at hoof might be.

Thus it came as something of a surprise to Celestia herself when the noble in front of her had finished listing her grievances toward some shopkeeper or another and Celestia suddenly realized that she had missed the entire presentation and had no idea of what the mare was talking about.

“My apologies,” said Celestia, doing her best to maintain her composure, “But I would like to hear the details one last time to avoid any mistakes.”

Her graceful recovery seemed to at least fool the noblemare into thinking that Celestia wanted to check the facts once more and gladly launched into a tirade about some clothier who had refused to grant her the discount the mare clearly thought was due somepony her rank. Working as hard as possible to keep her eyebrow from twitching, Celestia settled the matter quickly, wanting to move on. There was still a line of ponies leading out the doors, along with the attendant audience, all of them waiting eagerly for each decision she made.

Celestia just wished that she had the energy to spare for Court at the moment. It was hard to remain focused on what was in front of her when she was distracted by the constant worry caused by the knowledge that he was still out there.

At first, it had been a rather amusing interlude. Celestia had come to the Starswirl the Bearded wing of the Royal Archives to find a pineapple upside down cake recipe (amongst other things, Starswirl had been an accomplished baker), when she’d stumbled across Twilight Sparkle, dressed in a rather bizarre outfit. Further confusing matters was the presence of both Spike and Pinkie Pie. Celestia had desperately wanted to know what was going on. But she had noticed that Twilight had apparently had a rather rough week, if the state of her mane, the eyepatch, and the black, skintight outfit were anything to go by. So Celestia had decided to save her favorite student some embarrassment and act as though nothing was amiss.

It had been an amusing story to hear, one that Twilight had related though a letter later on about a rather unpleasant affair involving time-travel. I told Starswirl that spell was nothing but trouble. However, one particular detail had immediately sent a chill down Celestia’s spine.

Cerberus had been in Ponyville. More importantly, it was nowhere near his regularly scheduled day off when one of the Celestial Knights took over his post for a brief time. Something had drawn Cerberus away from his post. Terrified at the thought of what might have broken out, Celestia had rushed to Tartarus immediately and had found her suspicions confirmed.

Tirek was gone.

In all of Equestria, there were only a few ponies whom Celestia would have trusted to track down the monstrous creature and return him to Tartarus. Twilight and her friends were not yet ready to face such a dire foe. In the end, she’d turned to the pony she’d thought most likely to succeed.

Over a week later, and Celestia had yet to hear from him.

The next pony was coming forward to make his case when Celestia's steward rushed in through the doors, trotting past the line of waiting ponies and making straight for Celestia's throne, bushing aside a very miffed stallion as he came to stand right next to Celestia.

"Your Majesty," said the stallion, his voice barely a whisper, "There is a stallion named Ash Borer here to see you."

Celestia's eyes widened and she whipped around to stare at her steward. "Did he say why?"

"He did not," said the steward, "But he did say that it was at your convenience."

For a second, Celestia's body slumped as she let out a loud sigh of utter relief. That must mean he succeeded. And he came back. Thank goodness. A faint smile crossing her face, Celestia looked up at the ponies still waiting for her. "I am very sorry, my little ponies. However, something of the utmost importance has come up and I am afraid that I must suspend this session of the Day Court until tomorrow. Please leave your case information with my staff and I will see if I cannot expedite my judgments when you arrive."

Stepping down from the throne, she cut a swath through the crowding ponies as she made her way out of the throne room, her steward following in her wake. Behind her, she could hear a melange of discontented muttering and baseless speculation. None of that mattered though. A great crisis had been averted and there was somepony she needed to thank for that.

"I see your taste in aliases hasn't changed since the last time," said Celestia as she strode through the doors of her room. Behind her followed a few maids carrying trays of tea and assorted snacks.

She paused at the sight of Swift Stride, sprawled out on the pillows in front of her fireplace, staring up at the ceiling through eyes so squinted that they might as well have been closed. It was strange to see him without his loose-fitting black outfit and outlandish white sash. Celestia was probably one of the only ponies who had ever seen him like this. Before her maids could follow her into the room, she used her magic to swipe the trays from them and quickly dismissed them before closing the doors.

Without his clothes on, Swift looked so much more vulnerable to her eyes. She traced the numerous scars running up and down his barrel, his legs, and across his back. On his sides, she could see some evidence of fading bruises. On his cheek was evidence of a small cut, recently healed. Apparently, he'd managed to get through this mission without any permanent reminders.

At the sound of the closing doors, Swift's ears twitched and he rolled over to look at her. "Sorry it took me so long to get back to you. I had to check up on a few things before I came to report in. I've brought you a souvenir," he said, holding out a hoof and showing her the medallion that dangled from it on a golden chain, "The old blowhard didn't seem to be terribly attached to it, so I figured he wouldn't mind if I held onto it."

Celestia took the medallion in her magic and floated it over to hover before her eyes. "Scorpan...He gave this to his brother, hoping that it would serve as a sign of their bond. I suppose Tirek only ever saw it as a sign of betrayal."

"Huh...maybe I did the jerk a favor by taking it off him," muttered Swift.

"Even if you did, I am still grateful that you brought it to me. Tirek may have received this medallion from his brother, but Scorpan actually received the medallion from a pony, a very brilliant mage by the name of Starswirl." Celestia smiled as she tilted the medallion and watched the light shine off its surface.

"Well now," said Swift, "That story didn't make it into any of the histories."

Giggling, Celestia set the medallion down on her desk and set out the tea and snacks for the both of them. "It's quite a fascinating story. Would you like to hear it?"

Swift gave her a warm and genuine smile as he made himself comfortable on the cushions. "I certainly would. I've got plenty of time now."

He sat and listened as Celestia began her tale, basking the warmth of the fire and savoring the taste of the tea. At this moment, there was no place in the world he would rather be.

"It is true that I value honesty. However, the truth can be a double-edged blade. Depending on how it is used, it can cause harm just as grievous as any lie. That is why I believe that lies and deceptions do have their place in this world. But no lie can truly be good unless the liar understands the truth that lays beneath it. To be the greatest liar, you must also have the greatest understanding of the truth; a lying tongue and an honest heart.

"It is with that in mind that I hereby Knight you, Sir Swift Stride. Normally, your titles come from your peers, but I shall give you a title of my own making. To others, you shall be the False. However, that title is itself a lie. Your true title, known only to me shall be the False Tongue and True Heart. Know that, whatever lies you tell, I shall always have faith in you...my dear little pony."

Even as he listened to Celestia's story, Swift smirked at the memory of Tirek's question. I told him that we do crazy things for the ponies we love...maybe that's a lie. Maybe trying to put a name to this feeling is another kind of lie. But, whatever it is, it's more than worth living for.

Setting aside thoughts of the past, Swift turned his full attention and listened to Celestia's tales of ponies long ago, certain that there was no place he would rather be.

Author's Notes:

Happy April Fools Day everyone! This is my sorta prank, which is releasing a side-story featuring none other than the diabolical Swift Stride and just how Tirek ended up back in Tartarus and how the Season 4 finale never occurred (which is a bit redundant, seeing as the Season 3 finale hasn't occurred in this setting either). I guess I should've been a bit more specific with the hint from the last chapter. This was what I meant by "that time of year." Sorry if I led you to the wrong conclusions. An updated teaser will be placed in the most recent chapter.

I had a lot of fun writing this chapter. It was a bit tricky for me to make a freshly-escaped Tirek into a credible threat when he's hardly had the chance to steal the power of more than a few ponies. But I think I pulled it off rather well. Even if he'd only managed to take the magic of a half-dozen or so unicorns, that'd still mean he'd be carrying a good bit more power than your average pony around right there. On top of that, being a quasi-immortal being that's been around who knows how long, Tirek's sure to have some nasty tricks up his non-existent sleeve, even at his lowest.

I kinda ended up rushing this one out a bit to make the April 1st deadline, so the editing might be a bit rough. Again, thanks to any of you who spot any errors.

Next time: We return you to your regularly scheduled chapters.

The Breaking of the Storm

by moguera

The Coming End

Meeting of Minds

Breakdown of Negotiations

Dreaming of Destiny

Not Always Right

Melody of Healing Hearts

Wrapping Up

So Long and Thanks for All the Cider

Night Visitor

Joining the Team

Dark Designs

Training Interrupted

Shuffling Priorities

Loving the Sky

Mounting Perils

Bug Hunting

Hammer Time

The Ultimate Punishment

The Morning Star Falling

Passing Judgment

Arrival

Faltering Wind

Shining Wind

A Catastrophe of Two Ponies

The Razing

Broken and Battered

Painless Passing

Moving On

Foal's Errand