> My Little Mages: Anima Gaea Semperlibera
>  by Foxhelm
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Prologue: The Deal
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Six people dressed in dark olive green cloaks, each was mounted on a horse with an additional horse having a wheeled slide attached to it. On the slide was a large stone with various marks on it. All were under a night’s sky that was full of stars and a pale full moon as they stood a good five meters from the edge of a forest. Five of them were women, Chancellor Puddinghead, her secretary Smart Cookie, Princess Platinum and her advisor, Clover the Clever, and last among the woman went by the title ‘Private’ and was named Pansy. The remaining member of the group was a man, Commander Hurricane, “Are you sure this a good idea, Clover?” Hurricane asked as he dismounted his horse, drew his sword and stepped to be in front of the others. “If what you managed to translate from the pillars of the Grand Hedge is true…”

“If we want to live in this area, it would be wiser to not anger the powers greater than us.” Clover cut the warrior short as she rode her mount in front of him. Hurricane was about to protest when Pansy directed her horse to be next to him and placed her hand on his upper arm. The commander turned to face his swordbearer and sighed in reluctant agreement. Clover smiled and dismounted her horse and walked closer to the tree line but stopped about two meters away from it. “Great keeper of the forest!” Clover called out in the directions of the woods to whatever resided within. Clover turned to the side and raised her hand towards the stone. “We seek to reside not far from here. But we know that you, a spirit of the world, are concerned about the forest you reside in.” There was a gust of wind that had a slight growl in it. Clover then levitated the stone and drove into the ground a meter ahead behind her before she walked back to be behind it. “This, in our culture is called a border stone, a marker of territory. We and those of our kin and their lines shall not settle on the forest side of this stone. All we ask is that the forest does not grow to the other side of the stone.” Clover paused and waited.

After a minute of no response, just as Hurricane prepared to draw his sword, “Agreed.” came a voice from with the forest. It sounded feminine, but also ancient, as the owner had seen thrice the lifetimes of the oldest tree alive in the forest. From the forest, a vine grew at an otherwise impossible speed and wrapped itself around the stone. There was then a sudden unexplained gust of wind and the forest fell silent again.

Clover turned to her comrades and smiled, “We can now settle here.” The other five just looked at each other confused for a moment but they all elected to not question Clover, she had been proved right more times they would care to count.
> A Needed Break
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sunset was along the top of the wall of Midnight Castle. “Help me.” she heard whimpered. She turned to where she heard the voice and ran. The voice continued to whimper, pleading for help. Sunset continued to run towards the voice, only to see Sci-Twi, but unlike before the girl’s demise, she looked like a corpse in the early stages of decay, red-colored liquid seeping out of her mouth, her skin tightening against her muscles and bones, her lips seeming to reside, one of her eyes was looking in a completely different direction from the other, both of them black and dead. She on the ground coughing and wheezing, “How… you’re…” Sunset tried to ask unable to fully grasp what she was before her.

The decaying Sci-Twi then dissolved into nothing but a puddle all the while screaming, “Help me!”

Before Sunset could move everything went black around her before she heard a sinister and mocking laugh from all around her. Sunset cried out, “I did everything I could.”

“You might have well-done nothing.” came a voice very much like Sci-Twi’s but had a maniacal twing to it.

Sunset turned to look behind her and she slowly looked up to see, “Midnight Sparkle…” she whispered in horror as she looked at the darker side of Sci-Twi, but unlike when the two clashed, Midnight was colossal in size as she hovered above Sunset. “But…” Sunset said as her legs shook and started to buckle under her.

Midnight laughed, “You’ll never escape me. Like you’ll never escape your failure!” Midnight then started to laugh and the laugh echoed as the castle walls began to crumble around Sunset into a black nothingness. Within seconds the floor fell from under Sunset’s feet and she fell in the void, screaming ‘Nooo!!!’.

Sunset all but jumped out of her bed as she finished her scream of ‘Nooo!’. She stopped and panted in an attempt to calm herself. After a solid minute, she finally calmed down enough to speak. “It was just a dream.” She muttered to herself, trying to believe that the nightmare held no hold over her in the waking world. But as she looked around her room and saw the young oak, now six inches tall, growing shockingly fast for any plant. “But it’s not,” she muttered as the young tree was a reminder of Sci-Twi’s death. She started to growl and conjured fire into the palm of her right hand as if she was going to throw a fireball at the tree and set it ablaze. But she felt tears start to drip down her cheeks. It wasn’t the tree’s fault. It was an innocent seed; it didn’t choose to be the possible new home of Sci-Twi’s soul, assuming Sunny Flare’s spell worked. It didn’t cast the death spell on Sci-Twi. It was just an acorn, simply existing. The fire in Sunset’s hand went out as she held her face in her palms and wept. 

The next morning, or rather a few hours later, Sunset was dressed in her usual purple top with its black studded leather back, and yellow skirt with the long orange waist sash and solar disk buckle. On her head was her tiara with a gem of red and yellow as her focus gem, like how many other Magicborns use to better use their magic. She had in her left hand a decent size pouch, inside it were clothes, some spell components, and few toiletries. She began to leave her chambers but turned to look at the young oak once more, and sighed as she left the chambers.   

About half an hour later she arrived at the library and the mirror that was the portal between Midnight Castle and the Castle of Friendship. Sunset could not help but laugh at the corniness of the two names. However, Midnight Castle was expected to be re-christened in a fortnight to one more fitting the direction Baroness Sunny Flare intended to enact. As for ‘The Castle of Friendship’, well Princess Twilight Sparkle was given the title, ‘Mystica’s Princess of Friendship’ so her castle was going to be titled in a similar fashion. The mirror itself has stars and swirls depicted on both sides. She began to arrange the stars and swirls so that the portal would open. As the portal was about to open, “You are aware of the fact that running away from something doesn’t resolve the matter.” came a familiar female voice, which spoke rather bluntly.

Sunset turned to see Sunny Flare, Lemon Zest, Indigo Zap, Sour Sweet and the speaker, Sugarcoat. Sunset sighed, “I know, but I need some time away. Every time I shut my eyes…” she trailed off not finishing her sentence. However, she didn’t need to.

Sunny reached out and gave Sunset a hug, “You do what you have to do, dearie. We’ll tend to the little oak while you’re gone.” Sunset smiled as she returned the hug. After a second the two ended the hug and each of the other Shadowbolts bid Sunset ‘goodbye’ as the portal opened and the pyromancer entered it.





Rarity was in the library of the Castle of Friendship, levitating a few flameless hanging lanterns, “Sure, Twilight won’t be here to enjoy this, but this is the Summer Sun Celebration after all. Can’t leave the Castle of Friendship out of the festivities.” she said to herself knowing full well that she was alone in the room, but decorating and not commenting on how everything matched, what is she a Quill-and-Sofa’s furniture delivery-girl? She turned from the last lanterns to hang to see where best to hang it and saw the mirror in the library become a swirling vortex of colors and Sunset came through it. “Sunset!” Rarity shouted as she stopped and rushed over to embrace her friend. “Muwah, muwah,” she said as she false-kissed both of Sunset’s checks in the embrace, “It’s good to see you again, Darling.” Sunset tried to laugh, but she could barely make a smile. This didn’t go unnoticed by Rarity as the enchantress noticed the downward glance the pyromancer had, “Still haunted by what happened?” Rarity asked.

Sunset walked away and looked to the ceiling, “Her body dissolved in my arms and my healing spells did nothing,” Sunset stated, “I don’t think I’ll ever be free from that poltergeist.” she sighed and turned back to Rarity and looked around the library and noted the decor, “The Summer Sun Celebration is in a few days,” she commented. Rarity nodded. That brought a small smile to Sunset’s face, “So any major plans? I know it’s like the anniversary of the formation of your friendship with Twilight.” There was a pause, “Well, I mean Princess Twilight not…”

Rarity placed her left index on Sunset’s lips to silence her, “I know. But to answer the question.” Rarity then turned back from Sunset and took a look at the library. “Not really, just a good old fashion Magiville Summer Sun Celebration, Applejack and Rainbow Dash taking each other on in every competition, Fluttershy most likely be off to the side watching, maybe she and I will be having some tea, Pinkie, well she’ll be going around making sure everyone has a sincere smile on their faces.”

The absence of Twilight from that list did not escape Sunset, “So what’s Twilight up to?” she asked the enchantress as the later finished decorating the library.

“Oh,” Rarity squeaked in shocked, “I guess she didn’t tell you, well the news was rather sudden, like just a few hours ago.” Rarity more or less muttered, which earned an ‘ahem’ from  Sunset. Rarity gave a weak apologetic laugh, “Sorry, darling, you see Princess Cadance has given birth to her and Shining Armor’s first child.” The excitement and joy over the birth were plastered over the enchantress’ face.

Sunset actually smiled with that news, “That’s fantastic news. Twilight’s an aunt.” the two had a short happy laugh, “So is the baby a boy or girl?” Sunset asked.

Rarity paused for a second to think, “If memory serves, Twilight has a niece now. But that’s not all the news.” Rarity stopped and waited for Sunset’s interest to peak. “The baby will be the first royal Crystalling in Krystalopolies in over one thousand five hundred years.”

Sunset raised an eyebrow, “You actually know what a Crystalling is?”

Rarity had a laugh, “Well, Spike briefed the others and I after he and Twilight researched it after we got the news that Cadance was with child.”

Sunset gave a ‘huh’, ‘Celestia clearly slacked off with teaching Twilight,’ she muttered to herself before she brushed it to the side, her relationship with Celestia was fundamentally different to Twilight’s, they were master-apprentice, but Celestia and her, parent-child. “So I missed her, I take it.” She surmised to Rarity. Rarity sadly nodded. Sunset could only sigh, but that was life. “So do you mind if I celebrate the Summer Sun Celebration with you and the girls?” A massive grin grew on Rarity’s face as she grabbed Sunset’s hand and led her out of the castle.

Once outside Sunset looked at the small town of Magiville and that was in it, namely, the two-story houses that seem to just pop out from around 500 AC (Anna Celestia), “Quaint little place ain’t it.” she commented.

“Well, it’s not Chantalot by any stretch,” Rarity commented as she gave a slight sorrowful sigh but then looked over the town and a gave a happy sigh, a smile on her face, “but it’s home.” Sunset could see the glimmer in Rarity’s eye as she called Magiville ‘home’, something Sunset knew has not been in her own eyes for far too long. Rarity then turned back to her guest and taking her hand, “Let’s meet up with the others. They would be so glad to catch up.” The two then left the library within The Castle of Friendship. 





About half an hour Sunset and Rarity had met up and caught up with Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Applejack and Pinkie Pie, and the lot was giving Sunset a tour of everything the town had set up as part of the festivals after the dawn. Rainbow was flying as they all walked among the booths both completed and still under construction. “You see we got a lot of stuff to do!” the elementalist declared as she flew from in front of the group to point out a lone wall made with various rocks and stones sticking out of it, allowing people to climb it, “There’s rock climbing!” She then flew to where the archery range was being set up, “Archery.” 

As the elementalist was about to fly off to point out another thing they had planned, Sunset took hold of her left ankle and pulled her back to the group. “Rainbow, I get it, you're excited,” She then pointed towards their four mutual friends present in Magiville as the elementalist recovered from being pulled back, “but maybe give somebody else a chance to list the events you have planned.” Rainbow gave a slightly nervous but apologetic laugh.

Before any of the rest could say anything the only person in Magiville that rivaled Big Mac in size, the practically albino muscular, Bulk Biceps came from behind Rainbow. “We have arts and crafts!” he shouted which caused Rainbow to trip over.

Everyone had a little laugh before Rarity spoke to the ‘party-crasher’, “Thank you, Bulk-sweetie, for summing it all up.” She paused as she noticed surprisingly well-made pot holders in his hands. She levitated them towards her to get a closer look, “Oh my… you’ve done an immaculate job with potholders. A gift for your mother?” Rarity asked. Bulk nodded extremely proud with and of himself. As Rarity continued to look over the potholders, “Is that a catch stitch used in conjunction with a back stitch?” she asked utterly impressed. Bulk nodded. “Well, I’ve never seen this combination used to make potholders before, maybe with a little practice you’ll be tailoring clothes almost as good as me.”

Applejack leaned into Sunset’s right ear, “Maybe better if he doesn’t take those hour-long tea breaks.” Sunset laughed a little. Applejack then pointed to a lot that was being set up by her family, most noticeably was a large wooden tub. “We also got ourselves some less physical contests, like apple bobbing.”

“Don’t forget the Cookie decorating!” Pinkie shout as she seemed to just pop into existence right in the middle of the empty tub with a plate of cupcakes and ate them all with one bite. 

Sunset raised her left hand about to ask how, when Pinkie was just to her right a second ago, “It’s Pinkie Pie, don’t question it.” Fluttershy said as she placed a hand on Sunset’s shoulder. Sunset elected to shrug and went with it as she turned to Fluttershy. Before Sunset can say anything, “We do have a few other events, like the communal dance and this year we’ll also have an early morning nature walk along the Everfree Forest in the predawn hours, leading to Sweet Apple Temple for this year’s sacrifices.”

Sunset was taken aback. “Wait, you still do actual sacrifices, like place them on the altar and set them on fire.”

“Not that simple Sugarcube.” Applejack pointed out, “While most have something they have poured a lot of blood, sweat, and tears into making this year for them to offer, many have elected to give the time they planned for leisure to help others. Fluttershy’s new animal shutter next to her cottage is case and point.” Applejack then noticed that Sunset was looking at the ground, “But there is no one thing that doesn’t count as a sacrifice as long as it meant something and the giving of it means something too.” Applejack said with a smile as she patted Sunset on her back accidentally causing the pyromancer to fall to the ground. “Oops, sorry about that, Sugarcube.” She offered her hand and helped Sunset to her feet, “Ah forget how frail you Magicborn can be sometimes.” 

Sunset shook her head with a forgiving smile, “It’s okay. I guess I’ve been lost in myself for so long, especially after…” she trailed off as she looked to the ground again her smile changing to a frown.

“None of that, Darling!” Rarity almost shouted as she stepped towards the two. “This is a time to celebrate, not to get down in the dumps.” Applejack’s eye roll didn’t go unnoticed. “There is a time, and place for everything, so the Teachings say.”

“That’s not how the passage goes.” Applejack informed bluntly then cleared her throat. “Ecsentiastes chapter 3 verse 1 through 8, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born…” Applejack started.

“Thanks, AJ, but we don’t need the whole thing recited.” Rainbow cut the paladin short.

“Still haven’t figured out, ‘Moved his tail like a cedar tree’ yet?” Applejack joked earning a groan from the elementalist. The paladin had a small laugh. Sunset also had a laugh alongside the paladin. 

Rarity cleared her throat and got the attention of everyone else, “And to finish it all off, we’ll have a fashion show, with of course six of the greatest models in town!” Everyone blinked at that as they looked at Rarity blankly. “I am referring to us.”

Applejack placed her hand on Rarity’s shoulder, “Oh we figured that, Sugarcube. But why? I am sure you could find others willing to…um canvas your work.”

“Well, I do suppose I am asking too much of you all, to be the models. But I don’t have much else prepared.”

“I am certain you can find a few others by the end of the day,” Sunset added with a slight laugh. Sunset then turned to Rainbow, “We’re still going to end up modeling aren’t we?” she asked the elementalist.

“We’re talking about Rarity here, what do you think?” Rainbow asked in turn. Sunset could only nod in agreement. “Hey, where’s Fluttershy?” Rainbow asked as she noticed that the druid was absent.
> Things ascrew
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

After about ten minutes the group found Fluttershy next to three people Sunset had never seen before, but given her much darker skin with white stripe tattoos and set of floating masks, Sunset knew Zecora right off the bat. Next to here were two people, from what Sunset saw Fluttershy didn’t know either of them nor did the rest of her hosts. One of the two was a woman about five years older than Sunset with light green eyes, and raspberry hair of two different moderate shades. She was dressed in a light green sleeveless-shoulderless shirt which left the top of her bosom exposed and a light green of a darker shade short skirt which went down to her mid-thigh. A sash that looked like it was made of pine needles was going around her chest diagonally from her right shoulder around her left hip, she wore a pair of sandals with straps that went up to her ankle and around her head was a ring of daisies that made something, not unlike a crown. The other person was a man at most a year older than Sunset with graying green eyes and hair that was two shades of dark aquamarine in color. He wore brown boots and a dark green shoulderless long vest over a pair of pants and long sleeve shirt of an even darker shade of green with a light brown undershirt. Zecora then nodded and left Fluttershy and the two. “Enjoy yourself Zecora,” Fluttershy said as she waved goodbye. 

Fluttershy turned to see her friends and Sunset. “Oh, hello everyone,” she said as she and the lot rejoined. Fluttershy then directed everyone’s attention towards the strangers, “We have a couple of guests from the other side of the Everfree Forest, and they’re friends of Zecora.” Fluttershy then nodded to the two. 

The woman reached out her right hand, which was accepted and shook by Applejack, who seemed to be the stand-in as the lead of the six in Twilight’s absence. “Howdy, Sugarcube. Ah see yah met Fluttershy.” Applejack said as she tilted her head to the druid. She then stepped to the side to introduce the rest, “Ah’m Applejack and this, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, and the other guest of ours, Sunset Shimmer.” Applejack said as she gestured to each of the others. 

Everyone, in turn, said ‘hi’ as they shook the woman’s hand, “Wow, Zecora was right, you are welcoming lot. I’m Gloriosa Daisy.”

“She’s an independent druid,” Fluttershy pointed out. Everyone raised an eyebrow at that. “It means she’s not part of any specific druidic circle, unlike me, I’m part of the Circle of Preservation.”

“Is that the same thing as the Endangered Species Preservation Society?” Rainbow asked the question that was one everyone else’s mind. 

Fluttershy gave a cross between a nod and a shake, “Yes and no,” she started. “You see it’s like squares and rectangles, all druids in the Circle of Preservation are part of the Endangered Species Preservation Society, but not all members of the Endangered Species Preservation Society are druids in the Circle of Preservation.” Fluttershy tried to present the difference in a way the others would follow. Everyone looked at each other and just shrugged their shoulders in the form of still not getting it, but they accepted the answered.

The recently identified Gloriosa then placed her right hand on the man’s shoulder, “And this is my little brother Timber Spruce." she introduced the man with her.

The recently identified Timber chuckled as if he had some sort of suave (or at least an attempt to be suave) introduction planned, “You all know how big sisters are, always ruining the moment.” he said as he held out his hand.

All but Sunset and Pinkie gave him a slight glare, “We are big sisters.” the four stated.

Rainbow then had to give a weak laugh as she confessed, “Granted, adoptive sister in my case…” She then thrust her right index finger forward, “but the point still stands.” in an attempt to save face.

Pinkie then jumped in, “Yeah! And I'm an older sister too.” she pointed out.

Applejack turned to Pinkie with a slight inquisitive expression, “Ah thought yah are a twin.”

Pinkie gave a laugh, “True, but Marble's just a few minutes younger than me. Which makes me a big sister.” she informed or rather reminded people.

Applejack and everyone were left speechless for a moment, “God bless your mother,” the paladin said as she thought about what Cloudy Quartz must have endured the day Pinkie and Marble were born. She then took her breath, “but Ah ain't sure if that really counts as being an older…” The paladin trailed off as she started to see tears start to form in Pinkie's eyes and in her hair sat Gummy, who was playing a sad tune on a violin. “Fine you count.” Pinkie the smiled as she patted Gummy affectionately on the toothless gator's head. Gummy then put the violin away and slipped back in Pinkie's hair as most alligators do in the rivers and ponds they reside in.

After giving a minute to let everyone shake off what they just witnessed, “Well, ladies, you'll remember me as the fun one,” Timber boasted as he seemed to try to defuse whatever potential fall out between the four was occurring. Everyone turned back to him. He then reached his right hand back, “At least  until we get a few drinks in her at the bonfire tonight." He joked before he gave her a smilingly playful spank on her rear.

“Owh!” Gloriosa protested as she rubbed her rear. “It was one time.” she scolded Timber, “And you’re the one who spiked my drink.” She said as hit Timber in the shoulder a couple of times. 

Applejack couldn't help but chuckle, the two were acting similarly to how she and Big Mac did before Apple Bloom was born. “Eeyup, Y'all are definitely siblings.” Just as everyone then had a laugh, there were a few barks that come below them. Applejack turned to see Winona at her deets, “Hey girl, what brings you here?” the paladin asked as she knelt down to speak to the dog. Winona turned and growled at what she was looking at. 

Applejack looked in the same direction as did everyone else and saw a couple of people, one was a man in a decent blue business suit, another was a woman with gray hair, glasses and was dressed in a brown dress suit, and the last was a second woman who was standing next to the man. She was dressed in such a way that she was blatantly trying to  flaunt the amount of money she could spend, “Spoiled Rich.” Applejack growled as she focused on the second woman. “What’s she’s up to?” she asked as she got up and walked to the trio, with the others following.

“Now, Mayor, we all know there is plenty of room for another spa. And the Everfree Forest is so big, what’s a few trees here or there?” the man asked. 

“Legal red tape aside, yah ain’t that honest of a businessman when it comes to competition, Filthy.” Applejack said as she called the Riches and the mayor’s attention to her.

“Not this hick again,” groaned Spoiled.

“Now listen here, Little Miss Milk, Ah don’t need tah flaunt what Ah have,” Applejack started, “And unlike you, I didn’t have to open mah barn doors to get what Ah have or keep them open to stay where Ah'm at,” Applejack added.

“Are you calling me a slut?” Spoiled asked as the paladin’s words cut her like a sword.

“Nope,” Applejack said with a closed-eyed smile. “Sluts do it for free, whores are the ones that do it for money.” Applejack added, “And that’s all you are, a glorified whore with a monopsony.” Seeing that Spoiled was befuddled at the term.“It means you have only one customer,” the paladin informed.

“Now Miss Apple, there’s no reason to slander my wife.” Filthy stated. He didn’t sound like he was defending her, more rather stating a fact to avoid a tantrum he knew would be coming. 

“Did you pay her so that you could marry her and do you keep paying her so yeah can buck her?” Applejack asked.

Filthy was stunned for a second, “Well… um… technically… one would view that as the case.” he weakly tried to dodge the question.

As Filthy was adjusting his collar, all the while he sweated bullets as it was clear to him he made the wrong choice, “Even if Applejack’s accusation is deemed unfounded, in order to prove slander you would have to also prove that the statement caused some sort of social and/or fiscal damages.” Rarity said as she stepped to be right next to Applejack, “And given the image you want to present, Mr. Rich, you can’t afford to divorce Spoiled, thus her fiscal standings are unchanged. As for her social standings, well the whole town already views her as nothing more than a gold-digger and the worst mother in town, so she has no social standings of her own to lose if one were to comment that she has only one asset to trade for what you have provided her.”

Spoiled growled at first and then raised her head, sticking her nose up into the air, “hmmph” she said and started to walk away. As she walked she bumped into a stand and had to change course. Once she left, everyone sans Filthy had a laugh, “Ah can’t believe you told her off like that, Sugarcube.” Applejack commented, “You scared you might lose her business.”

Rarity then laughed a little harder, “Please darling, I am the only person in town that makes the clothes she wears as quickly as she buys them, and she’s too cheap to take her cloth shopping elsewhere.” she informed the group.

Filthy groaned as he turned his attention to the group. He took a breath, and turned back to the mayor, “Just think about it, there is plenty of room to expand the town, and think of the tourism, Magiville wouldn't be considered a backwater anymore and could even rival Chantalot in grandeur.”

“You mean your wallet could rival Baron Fancypants’.” The mayor countered. 

Filthy waves it aside, “Now Mayor, you know a rising tide raises all ships.” Filthy pointed out.

“That might be true, but you already own so many steps in your chain of business and similar ventures, you’re dangerously close to breaking vertical and horizontal monopoly laws.” the mayor pointed out. 

Filthy chuckled at that, “It’s not like the Everfree Forest couldn’t afford to be pruned back.” he commented. “There’s at least a kilometer between the forest’s edge and the old border stone Clover the Clever placed. If anything the forest broke its deal.” He continued.

“And how do you intend to prove a forest, a collection of non-sapient plants and animals, violated a contract?” Gloriosa said as she stepped up. “And what judge would hear the case without dismissing it with prejudices?” She continued to question the businessman.

“Thank you, Ms.?” The mayor asked as she was revealed to have someone else point out the legal matters.

“Daisy, Gloriosa Daisy,” Gloriosa then pointed to Timber, “And this is my brother, Timber Spruce. We were invited by Zecora.” Gloriosa informed the major as she introduced herself and her brother to the mayor.

The mayor smiled, “Well any friend of Zecora is welcomed to Magiville.” she said as she took and shook Gloriosa’s hand like a politician, “It’s never too early to register to vote, even if it’s a year before an election year,” she added and slipped into Gloriosa’s hand a copy of the Magiville voter registration form. 

Gloriosa looked at the sheet a little nervously, “Um… thanks.” 

Just then there was a distinctive crack and then a creek as if a wooden plank was about to separate from another, “Not again.” Applejack and the mayor both groaned as they all heard a wooden plank break. “That’s the fourth time today.” The mayor said as she was about to leave to address the matter.

“Ah’ll get Big Mac.” Applejack said as she left to find her brother and then meet up with the mayor later.

Rainbow and Pinkie sighed as they then followed the mayor to help address the matter. Before Sunset could ask, “For some reason since the start of the day there have minor ‘accidents’ here and there.” Rarity informed,“I just hope it wasn’t Sweetie and her friends.” the enchantress added as she looked to the sky. “Ahem.” came three voice of three girls. Rarity turned to see Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom, all of them giving Rarity a slight scowl. Rarity gave a weak apologetic laugh. “Girls, you must understand.” Rarity started but the three turned and left. “I got make amends with them.” Rarity said as she turned to Sunset and the remaining few before she left. 

“Why don’t I help you both settle in for your stay?” Fluttershy offered Timber and Gloriosa as she directed their attention to her cabin, which would their place to stay.

As Gloriosa and Fluttershy were about to head off, “Don’t wait up, I am actually going to see the town.” Timber said. He then turned to Sunset, “I don’t get to see much,” he whispered loud enough for Gloriosa to hear as well. Gloriosa was about to say something but ultimately sighed as if she didn’t want to have a particular conversation, which Timber was clearly trying to goad her into. Gloriosa then sighed and left with Fluttershy. 

“You got a beef with your sister, don't cha?”  Sunset said with a smirk after the druids left. 

Timber turned to look in the direction of the Everfree, “Yeah, when you grow-up pretty much in one spot and your family has been and never left for generations...” He trailed off.

“Please don’t break into a song of wanting something more in life.” Sunset requested in a joke at the sight. 

Timber turned back and started to laugh, “Nice one.” He acknowledged the joke, “But isn’t the guy the one who should be trying to get the girl to laugh?” he asked with a wink.

“Are you trying to hit on me?” Sunset asked with a raised eyebrow. 

Timber gave a shrug, “Do you want to be hit on?” he asked with a wink.

Sunset shock her head, “I get that you find me attractive,” before Timber could comment, she handed him a handkerchief, “You got something under your nose that’s red.” Timber accepted the offer and wiped his nose. He kept it close as if he was asking if he was to return or keep it. Sunset raised her left hand indicating she didn’t want it back. After Timber pocketed it, “As I was saying, I get you like what you see.” she raised and lowered her right hand right in front of her. “But I’m going through something rough right now.” She said as she looked away.

Timber placed his hand on her shoulder with a frown of understanding, “Bad break-up?” he asked. Sunset shock her head, “Lose someone close?” he asked. 

Sunset gave a sigh, “You could say that. It's not I was actually in a relationship with her, we only had one date.” Sunset paused as she heard no reply. “It's not that I am sapphic.” she turned to look at him and attempted to explain. Timber elected to remain silent however with the strain on his face and a weak smile, it was clear that he was trying to not make any assumptions or judgment. “I guess she was or would have been the exception.” Sunset then turned away not able to say much more at that point.

Suddenly she felt her hand being pulled, “Come on,” Timber said as he began to lead her away, “I think you might like this.” he continued as they got close to the forest.  He let go and started to look around the underbrush he then gave an ‘a-ha’ as he picked up a decent size stick about three-forth his height.

“So you play fetch?” Sunset joked.

Timber smiled and had a small laugh before he took a breath. The hand with the stick then started to have a faint diamond-like glow and the branch began to slowly morph right in front of Sunset. Timber’s focus was on what he was doing, but he could tell that Sunset had covered her gaping mouth stopping herself from looking stupid. "It's called plant manipulation, if I have enough plant matter in my hands I can use my magic to morph it into other objects.”He explained to the pyromancer as the branch elongated and thinned until it resembled a cross between a quarterstaff and a longbow, with a tight drawing string. “Be it a weapon in I need to protect myself,” He picked up a smaller branch and breathed on it as it began to morph into an arrow. He then knocked in and aimed it into the sky. He then drew the string and sent the arrow flying. As the arrow flew, Timber placed the bow-staff into the ground as it morphed into a small stool, which he sat on, “furniture if I need a convenient place to sit,” He then rubbed the back of his head as he had to admit something, “and even dishware” He then noticed a slight eyebrow raised on Sunset’s face, “ya know, in case I forget to clean up after myself." Timber then gave a weak laugh. 

Sunset shock her head in had to stifle a laugh, “I bet Gloriosa loves it when you do that.”

Timber shrugs, “Hey, if she’s gonna mother me, why wouldn’t I child her.” he smirked. This got Sunset to laugh and shake her head. Timber looked back to the town, “I do love her, don’t get me wrong, but…” he trailed off. Sunset nodded in acknowledgment. “Well enough about my sister and such,” he said as he got up, “So shall we check out the booths.” he offered.

Sunset smirked, “Plan on winning me a stuffed parakeet?” she asked with slight sarcasm. 

“I hope you mean a doll,” he joked which got a laugh out of Sunset.





Hours later as the sun had set, Sunset joined her friends and their younger sisters at one of the many fires that were set up, with sleeping bags nearby as the majority of the town had elected to sleep outside due to the warm night. As Sunset was getting comfortable in the log she was sitting on next to Rarity on her left and Rainbow on her right. Fluttershy had just finished telling a story, given that last image the fire was used to project was a healer’s mask that looked like a yellow and blue parrot, Sunset had to concluded that the story she just told was about Mage Meadowbrook. “My turn.” Rainbow said as she got up and took a handful of sand, “Let me tell you the story of Flash Magnus.”

Scootaloo then spoke up, “My brother, Flash Sentry, told me that story the last time he was on leave. He also said that we were related to Magnus,” she informed. She then looked at the fire, “But I couldn't tell if he was kidding or not.” she had to admit.

Applejack had a slight laugh at that, more out of ‘been there’ then out of malice. Once she finished the laugh, “He was probably just pulling your leg, like how Ma pulled Big Mac and mine about being related to Rockfoot. And just like Rockfoot, Flash Magnus is just a legend. You can't be related to someone who never existed.” Applejack then paused as she had a weak apologetic chuckle, “Oh yeah, Nightmare, Discord, etc.” Applejack had to concede. She then gave a cough, “But with that said, a grown man that goes from being frailer than Featherweight to a behemoth in a snap and dig a trench wide and deep enough to divert the flow of that much lava in a couple of seconds?” she asked as she pointed out how much Rockfoot changed and how fast he did in the story. As everyone seemed to have no response, “Yay can say magic or divine intervention all yah want, but yah got to admit it’s pretty far fetched.” Applejack added.

“What about Mistmane, Somnabula, and Meadowbrook?” Sweetie Belle asked pointing out the three other stories.

Fluttershy placed her hand on Sweetie’s shoulder, “Meadowbrook did live, Twilight and I found her kin when we looked for a cure for Zecora when she was becoming a tree,” the druid answered and comforted the much younger bard.

“And Somnambula is totally real. Rainbow and I found all about her when Rainbow got the news that AK Yearling wasn’t going to write another book. But we all know that story,” Pinkie quickly added.

Sweetie Belle then turned to Rarity, “While the Far Eastern Gardens are real, we really should go there sometime, the history of Mistmane herself outside of her tale is sadly at most a chapter in the reign of Empress Sable Spirit and a handful of census reports from that reign.”

Rainbow groaned and everyone turned back to her. She scowled as her friends gave a nervous laugh. Rainbow cleared her throat. “Not long after the founding of Mystica…” the elementalist began as she took some loose sand and threw it onto the fire. There was a parting of the flames of images beginning to appear. Images that matched Rainbow’s narration. 

However, Sunset’s mind was elsewhere. She knew the truth of these stories of the Pillars, but what was nagging her were all the minor things that had gone wrong. Granted she never had to manage a Summer Sun Celebration, but she knew that so many things that went wrong pointed to sabotage. But who, she could rule most of the town out and her friends, given the blood, sweat and tears poured into all, granted more metaphorical than literal. Zecora, no, not with how friendly the shaman and everyone else from the town were towards each other. That left… only two people. Sunset stole a glance a Gloriosa. She noticed the woman’s arms and legs, they were rather thin, and given everything that was sabotaged required a fair amount of… Just then a bolt of lightning struck the ground causing Sunset to all but jump from her seat. Rainbow was standing next to the fire. “One taste of the lightning and the dragons retreated. Flash Magnus’s plan worked, and everyone was saved and to this very day, he’s tale has been the benchmark of bravery for the entire ESM.” Rainbow sat down with a big grin on her face as everyone applauded her story. 

Timber waited for everyone to calm down from the story Rainbow told. He had to admit that all of them were good, granted how Applejack told the Rockfoot Saga left much to be desired as a solo story, but when looking at when Applejack told it, which was right in the start, it was a nice launching point for how Pinkie told of Somnambula and the Riddles of the Sphinx. After about thirty seconds, he looked into the fire and spoke both calmly and yet with a degree of authority, “I too have a story up my sleeve.” Everyone turned to him and began to lean towards him as their interests were sparked. “The legend of Gaea Everfree,” he whispered.

Gloriosa rolled her eyes and gave a sigh, “Seriously, little brother, that story.”

Timber rolled his eyes in response, “Seriously, what’s bad about the story?” he asked Gloriosa. She only shook her head. 

“Ah can’t say Ah’ve heard of Gaea Everfree.” Applejack said as she held her chin. “And Ah’ve heard quite a few tales.” 

Timber smiled as he picked up some sand and blow it into the fire, soon the fire projected a rendering of the Everfree Forest was shown, “Where she came from, no-one knows, but many years ago, my great-grandparents came to this forest.” he started as what looked like a fair size commune of about forty couples near the edge of the Everfree Forest, but along a different part of the forest. A few of the couples seemed to have hints that looked like they could have been the progenitors of Gloriosa and Timber via various traits the men and women had that seemed to be present on Gloriosa and Timber. “Seeing its beauty, they decided that it would be the perfect place for a home.” as Timber spoke the projection showed the commune started to make the buildings that would be the shelters for each family. “But once they started building, strange things started to happen.” as Timber told his tale the projections that during the construction there were numerous setbacks. However, one cabin was completed, which happened to be the one closest to the forest, at the very edge. As the sunset in the story that was projected, everyone took temporary residence in that cabin. Timber took a breath and paused. He then started again, “On one pitch black night, when the wind was howling, a tree branch crashed through the roof of the only completed cabin!” As Timber told the projection showed what he said. “Two of them, my great-grandparents on my mother’s mother’s side, rushed outside, to see what was going on.” Timber paused as the projection showed what he told, “Only to see the giant creature rising from the earth!” Timber said as the two looked around until they say something crept from the earth and the forest. “She had wild hair like the roots of a tree. Her mouth had jagged rock teeth and her eyes were pools of black tar. But her aura shimmered like diamonds. Anywhere she went, she left a trail of gem dust in her wake.” Timber told as the image showed the being that he described. Timber renewed his story, “Trembling, my great-grandparents asked who she was and what she wanted. In a deep and hollow voice, she told them that her name was Gaea Everfree – an ancient spirit who held domain over the forest and that my great-grandparents were trespassing on her land.” As Timber narrated the projection showed the meeting of the spirit and his ancestors. “They begged her to let them stay. Gaea Everfree ultimately agreed but warned them that they would not be able to keep it forever. Someday, she will return and reclaim the forest as her own.” Timber continued as the projection showed the deal made between Gaea and the couple sealed as Gaea placed her right hand on the stomach of the woman of the couple. The projection from the flame then began to fade as Gaea retreated back into the forest with a trail of diamonds left marking her path, “So if you see a trail of gem dust, you'll know that it is…” he then paused as the fire lowered, “Gaea Everfree!” he said suddenly in a loader and what seemed to be a scarier voice.

Which worked, as everyone else, sans Gloriosa, screamed and fell backward off the logs they were setting on. “That was scary.” Pinkie said as she was the first to get back to her seat. “Is it true?” she asked.

Timber just shrugged his shoulders, “It’s just a story from our village.” he said as he turned to Gloriosa who just rolled her eyes. 

Gloriosa sighed as she looked at the night’s sky, “Well we still have a day before the Summer Sun Celebration, but there are still so much to do. It’s a good thing it’s going to be a warm night.” She said as she got off the log she was sitting on and got into the sleeping roll she had. “Good night,” she said. Everyone then bid each other good night as they went into their respective sleeping bag.





A couple of hours later, still very much in the night, Sunset got up from a what seemed to be a short dreamless sleep. She rubbed her eyes and looked in front of her as she was now awake. “Well at least it’s not that nightmare again,” she said as if she was trying to look on the bright side of her current restless situation, but the dejection was still ever-present in her voice. 

She then looked around and saw that not far from the campfire she was at she saw a trail of diamond on the ground.  “There’s no way this can be this real,” she said to herself. However, Sleep was nowhere for her to find, and with a shrug of her shoulders, she followed the trail from the firepit towards the Everfree Forest. “This is cannot be so easy.” She muttered to herself as she shook her head. As she walked closer and closer she could have sworn that she saw someone go into the forest, by the silhouette, she could have sworn it was Timber, “Okay Timber, nice prank.” she added in a whisper only for her ears, as she followed him. As she followed her target into the forest she got the feeling that she had to keep herself from being spotted or heard the farther and farther she went. 

After going about a kilometer, as she followed the trail of the diamonds, she came across an old stone that had a fair amount of growth on it, but carved into it were runes in Bullion. As Sunset paused to read what she could in the little moonlight and starlight that came through the trees, she wasn’t able to make out much, but the few words she was able to see hinted to some sort of land contract. “A boundary stone.” she muttered as she continued to look at the stone she then saw an engraving of a seven-pointed clover, “Clover the Clever,” she muttered. She shook her head, “Why am I not surprise.” she said and then saw the trail of diamonds again and followed it.

After a few meters, she spotted Timber looking up to something. Sunset then hid behind a tree, “It's me…” he said with a bit of both respect and fear and yet some degree of familiarity. “I know you can hear me. Every plant and fungus acts as your eyes and ears.” he stated, “I'd be impossible to miss." Timber added as he stoke to whatever he was looking at, his tone shifted to be that of an unwilling partner in a deal that seems to be going from bad to worse. 

"What do you want?" questioned a dark, raspy, and yet clearly female voice in reply. The voice most likely the voice of what Timber was looking at, Sunset concluded.

"I've had enough of this.” Timber protested to the unseen being, “What we're doing isn't right, people are going to get hurt.” Timber added, “You said we'd just be scaring them away, not destroying their homes." he compounded as guilt seemed to slip into his tone.

"I only take from them, what they took from the creatures living within me." the voice replied, in a tone that hinted to annoyance at Timber’s clear but not blatant defiance and tiredness of having this kind of debate many times with the same result of the challenger bending the knee and obeying her in the end. 

"But these are good people. They aren't like the others, they'll listen. We don't have to take things any farther." Timber protested.

"Hmm…” the voice replied almost dismissively at first which led Sunset to infer that Timber or someone else had tried to use that same argument before. “Your ancestors devoted their lives to worshiping me.” the voice started to answer in a calm tone, which caused Sunset’s hair to stand on end with how calm the voice was. “They trained and passed the knowledge of my magic all the way down to you, and with that magic, they nurtured and cared for each new generation in the line. That magic came from me, and can easily be taken away."

"No..." Timber tried to protest in utter shock but trailed off as he seemed to hit with some sort of realization.

"Tell me, how long will your sister last without my magic to care for her? Would you be willing to live with the consequences of your actions, should I be forced to take my precious gifts away?" The voice asked almost rhetorically. Sunset did not hear a response.  She took a chance and saw that Timber froze at that question. His body began to tremble at the knowledge of the answer he would give. Before he could recover and articulate an answer, “Your silence speaks volumes.” the voice said. Timber dropped his knees and could only look towards the ground as if he was a beaten man. Ashamed. And the forest fell silent.

Sunset took a step back from the tree she hid behind. Not looking where her foot was, she stepped on a twig snapping it. “WHO’S THERE?” the voice shouted. “Find them!” she ordered. “Stop them!” Sunset had already turned around and ran for her life as soon as she heard the snap of the twig. 

Unbeknownst to her, Timber started to give chase, but his heart and soul was not in it. He took a small collection of twigs and a decent size stick and made them into some arrows and a bow respectively. He paused for a second as he knocked back the first arrow and closed his eyes. He was listening, feeling the world around him, the vibrations in the air and earth. He then opened his eyes drew his bow and fired. The arrow struck a tree just on Sunset's right, just barely missing her arm.

This was not lost on Sunset as she ran. She knew she could use her pyromancy to fight back, but that would give away who she was and run the risk off ticking of the being that Timber was speaking with by setting the forest on fire when a fire was not needed to clear out the brush. In part, she had, admittedly, jumped to the conclusion that the being that Timber spoke with was Gaea Everfree, or wanted to present herself to Timber as such. She also knew that using her magic would make it easier for her to be found. Dark forest, middle of the night, a sudden appearance of flames, yeah, she would be easily spotted, and it would identify her.

As she ran, arrow following arrow barely missed her and either struck a tree, the ground or a rock. Sunset knew that Timber was getting closer and closer to hitting her, what Sunset didn’t know was that Timber was not only chasing her down, he was, in fact, firing his arrows after taking a few steps, and knocking his arrows as he ran. As he followed Sunset, while not knowing it was Sunset he was pursuing, he would take a second every so often to touch a tree and used it and the rest of the tree function as something like a radar. He couldn’t tell who he was chasing, but he did learn that he was pursuing a woman and he was getting closer.

As the two continued their game of cat and mouse, Sunset remembered what Timber said, “Every plant and fungus…”. She looked around and saw what looked like a set of stones that looked like it was something she could hide behind or use as a temporary shelter. She put more effort into her run and dove around the stone and saw that it was something she could hide in and wait out Timber and/or whatever or whoever the being might send. Once she was hidden, she tucked herself as close to the stone as she could and held her breath. She waited for what seemed like forever but couldn’t have been more than a handful of seconds.

“Well,” came the voice that she heard communing with Timber. The owner sounded like she was above Sunset. “Where is the intruder?” she asked.

“I don’t know, I lost her in the forest.” Timber’s voice replied. “I can still…” Timber started.

“No,” the voice answered and cut Timber short. There was a clear annoyed groan. “Go back to them,” she ordered Timber. There was breath from Timber as if he was about to speak. “Don’t.” she bared Timber from speaking, “Continue with the plan, as for the little spy,” the voice paused for a second, “I’ll deal with it myself.” she finished. After the voice made her statement, Sunset remained silent as she heard Timber headed back to the town while the owner of the other voice started to creep back into the forest. 

Sunset took as silent of a breath as she could, her eyes then started to feel heavy and Sleep finally caught up with her.
> Gaea Unleashed
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The sound of the crow cawing woke Sunset from her dreamless rest. “Ha,” she shouted as started to fully come around. “I got to tell everyone,” she said as she kept out of her stone hiding spot. After looking around and was sure she was not spotted she booked it out of the forest. It was still the very earliest part of the dawn. As she got close to where she and the others had slept outside she saw that Timber was awake seemed to be stoking the fire to get it back going. “Morning,” he said with a smile, “woke up and you weren’t here.” 

“I couldn't sleep,” Sunset said as she sat down on one of the logs. “So I took a walk. You won’t believe what I saw, a trail of diamonds along the ground.” Sunset noticed the sudden silence that came from Timber. The silence seemed to awkwardly long for Sunset and Timber but was only and a couple of seconds at most. 

The silence was cut short as Applejack gave a loud yawn as she woke up. “Hoo-wee,” the paladin said as she got out of her sleeping roll and seemed to just turn on like someone turned her switch to on. “That was some dream Ah had.” The paladin added.

“Honestly, Applejack, can’t you let a girl get her beauty sleep.” bemoaned Rarity as she reluctantly got up from her own sleep. As she got up a slight crack like sound came from her back. “Ow.” the enchantress added, “How are you…?” she started to ask but then had to groan. “I forgot you are farmgirl.” She sighed as she got out of her sleeping roll and the others also got up each at different spots along the spectrum between the responses between Applejack and Rarity.

As everyone was caught up in the ritual ‘good morning’, Sunset was still focused on Timber’s reaction. She knew that Timber was behind what happened yesterday, but if with what she recalled from Timber’s conversion with the being in the forest was true… Sunset's looked over to Gloriosa. Yes. She had to first confront and convince Gloriosa what Timber was doing was wrong and he was doing it for her life. And then get Timber to stop. “Hey Gloriosa,” Sunset caught the druid’s attention.

“Yeah,” Gloriosa said as she turned her attention to Sunset.

Sunset looked at the firepit for a second and then back to Gloriosa, “Can we talk, just you and me.”  she requested as she gave a slight glance towards Timber.

Gloriosa followed Sunset’s eyes and noted that Sunset stole a glance of Timber. Gloriosa gave a small smirk, “Certainly.” she replied. “After breakfast.” she requested. Sunset nodded in agreement. About an hour later Sunset directed Gloriosa to the Everfree, “So you wanted to talk, I assume about Timber.” 

Sunset stopped and turned back, “Well yes and no.” Sunset started and took a breath, “You’re not gonna believe this but.” she paused for a second. “I found a trail of diamonds like the one from Timber’s story from last night.” She said as she looked around the area for a hint of the trail. After a few seconds, she found the faint remnant of the trail. “Here,” she said as she pointed the trail out to Gloriosa. She didn’t look over to see Gloriosa’s reaction. “So I followed this trail into the forest where I saw Timber. He was speaking to someone, I think it was Gaea Everfree or what he thought was her. She wanted him to continue the minor sabotages we have heard about yesterday and go farther. He tried to protest, but Gaea said something about her magic keeping you alive.” As Sunset spoke she didn’t look towards Gloriosa. Had she, she would have seen Gloriosa’s face go pale for a minute and see the druid pick up a stick. “Now if we can…” Sunset was cut short as she was knocked to the ground and almost out by Gloriosa striking her in the back of the head.

“Sorry, but that wasn’t just Gaea that Timber was speaking to,” Gloriosa said as Sunset tried to get up, covering the back on her head. But in her pain, Sunset was able to open one eye and see that on the sash that Gloriosa wore there was a geode that looked like a circle of the seven colors of the rainbow in-line with Gloriosa’s belly. Just as it seemed to glow Gloriosa stuck Sunset in the head knocking her out. “Nothing personal, but you’d do the same if it was your home,” Gloriosa said as left Sunset in the woods.

Sunset didn’t know how long she was out, but she suddenly felt something seemingly meld into her forehead. She slowly came around and saw Timber give a sigh of relief, “Thank Zacherle.” he said. Before Sunset could comment, “I guess you figured it all out.”

“Didn’t see Gloriosa as part of all this.” Sunset groaned as she sat up. “But now that I think back to your story from last night…”

Timber gave a soft groan, “Yeah, it was part of the deal. Every woman in my family,”

“You mean, your sister, mother, maternal grandmother, her mother, and all the women of that line.” Sunset pointed out.

He gave a sigh, “The point is that Gloriosa can channel Gaea.” he exposed. 

“You mean Gaea can possess her?” Sunset asked with her confusion of the term written all over her face.

Timber gave a really unsure smile as he squinted his eyes and swag his head from side to side as he tried to find a way to explain. “Not really, um…” he paused and continued to find an explanation. “Okay, they both achieve the same thing of a more spiritual being using a person’s body.” Timber started. “But possession is…” he tried to find the right word. “Well think of end result is like…”

“Sex?” Sunset asked or more accurately offered Timber an out. 

“Yes, the end result is like sex,” Timber accepted the analogy without a second thought. “Which would make a possession a rape, and channeling is…”

“Consensual.” Sunset finished the analogy. Sunset then got to her feet and started to run back to town, “We got to stop…” She stopped as she heard the drawing of bow’s string. “You don’t have to obey Gaea.” Sunset didn’t turn around to see that Timber had made a bow and knocked an arrow as he aimed it at her. “You know she’s overreacting and going way too far.”

“Sorry but you know what they say, about blood and water.” Timber replied, tears starting to form in the corners of his eyes.

Sunset sighed, “Everyone gets the saying wrong.” She took a breath, “It goes ‘the blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb.” Her focus gem started to glow and then her hands. She spun around and sent a couple of fireball spells at Timber. The force of the spells’ impact on his body sent Timber into a tree knocking him out. “Sorry, but what’s Gaea and Gloriosa are doing is still wrong.” She said as she was about to leave, but she couldn’t help but stop for a second and look at Timber. She had to admire Timber’s loyalty to his family, even in this he stood by his sister, she couldn’t help but wonder if this was a thick the water of the womb was, what would he do for someone he chose to be with, or maybe his own child. She started to leave again but stopped again. She needed a plan. She looked around her and then saw a piece of wood. She smirked.

After Gloriosa left Sunset in the forest,  she stopped and took a breath. “I don’t want to do this,” she said a tear was shed from her eye. “But this forest will be protected.” She took a breath and focused her mind as the geode started to glow. She slowly closed her eyes as she dropped to one knee. Her breath quicked and became more forceful as the geode glowed brighter and brighter. She then opened eyes and mouth and let out a silent scream as her eyes projected fields of white lights that blinded all around her to what was happening. As the light from her eyes faded, Gloriosa’s new state was revealed. Her skin had noticeably changed, taking on a grayish shade. Her hair also changed to be a mix of moderate cyan in color and bright turquoise. Her sclera became black and her irises became light green in color. “Let’s do this.” She said as she left the forest.





At the same time as the geode started to glow, “She's a really strong flyer!” Flash informed before Cadance made a magic bubble crystalline blue in color to surround the baby inside the one Twilight that surrounded Flash and the baby, separating the baby from the Sentinel and bring the baby to her mother. Once the baby was separated from Flash, she began to sniffle as she tried to reach out to him. After a couple of seconds, she began to cry loudly. The cry caused a shockwave that burst the bubble she was in and continued to resonate as it struck the Crystal Heart. The Heart had been spinning since it was placed where it was. The Heart stopped for a second. Everyone watch terrified about what could happen, even the baby was scared at that as she floated into her mother’s arms. The Heart then cracked and shattered into eight million and one fragments. Everyone then gasped in horror. Flash walked over to where the Heart was and looked over the fragments of the Crystal Heart, “And she’s extremely powerful in magic.” Flash commented, earning him glares from the two parents and the two much older demigods. Flash gave a nervous chuckle as he rubbed the back of his head, “Well, that’s going to make it just a little harder to do the Crystalling.”

“It's worse than that,” Twilight said as she ran over to a window and pulled open the blinds to show forming black clouds. “Without the Heart, Krystalopolies is about to be buried under a mountain of ice and snow!” The baby then buried her face in her mother’s bosom with a whimper, freighted about the big scary black clouds.





As Gloriosa left the forest, the plant life started to grow and follow her. As she got close to town, “Attention, people of Magiville!” she declared as her voice seemed to travel into the residents via their contact with the grass on the ground. Everyone turned to see the transformed Gloriosa. “Any and all plans to expand into The Everfree are permanently placed on hold.” She continued. As she spoke the plants from the Everfree grew outward and in more places like mustard seeds.

Filthy was the first person to step forward and confront, “Now see here, you are not a resident of Magiville, you don't have a say in the matter.”

Gloriosa only glared at him before her eyes flashed. From the ground around Filthy a massive tree grow in seconds trapping him in the uppermost branches. “DADDY!!!”  Diamond Tiara shouted as she reached out in a desperate attempt to take her father's hand. She took off her tiara and started to hack at the trunk. 

“Anybody else?” Gloriosa asked.

Pinkie then stepped forward. “Now listen, you big meanie, we welcomed you into our town, to our party and you seek to destroy our town.” Pinkie then looked around herself and saw a series of roots grow out of the ground and surround her. “Well, this is inconvenient,” she said as the roots trapped her in the ball as she screamed.

Gloriosa continued to walk forward as some music began to play, all the while pants continued to grow and cover everything like ivy on old buildings at a nearly unimaginable rate. She started to sing. “I have waited for the day
To send this greedy wolf away
Now the magic is my salvation
Gather close in my protection
We... will... stand for Everfree!
Behold the beauty of nature in all its glory
No need to fear the vultures at the door
Right here you have me to protect you
Within these walls of thorns
Forever free, forevermore!
They have come into our domain
Here to seal our camp in chains
But we have held it for generations
This is just a complication
We... will... stand for Everfree!
Trust in me, this is for your own good
Don't be afraid, nature is our friend
All of this beauty that surrounds us
Every lovely bloom designed to defend
Let them come, just let them try!
I'm not about to say goodbye!
This camp will be here throughout the ages
Written into the history pages
We... will... stand for Everfree!” the while people ran, some got trapped in the plants. Others tried to hack at the plants but to no avail.

As Gloriosa’s song ended, Fluttershy looked around gave a sigh, “Why do these kinds of things always happen to us?” the druid asked her friends. “First Nightmare Moon, then Discord, Chrysalis’ invasion, Nightmare Rarity, King Sombra, The Aura Mark swap, needing to return the Elements of Harmony to the Tree of Harmony, Tirek, The Sirens, Starlight’s Village, Midnight Sparkle. Can we have at least another mostly eventless adventure like the Gala.” Fluttershy bemoaned.

“No time to complain. Time to do what we always do! Save the day!” Rainbow declared.

“And how to expect to do that. Gloriosa trapped Pinkie in that ball of roots, so good luck getting something from her hair and pockets. My sword is back at the temple, so we can’t try to cut the plants. You don’t have your bow. And Gloriosa is clearly a more powerful druid then Fluttershy.” Applejack list off.

“You know you really could use a trip to the spa, Gloriosa!” Rarity shouted, “Just look at you, your hair’s a mess, your feet must be cracked and worn and you really could use a mani-pedi.” Rarity list off seeming to be obvious to the scowl that formed on Gloriosa’s face and the growing shadow the druid cast grow on to encompass the enchantress.

“To the spa?” Gloriosa asked in a shockingly sweet tone. “To the spa?!” she asked again her ire every present.

Applejack turned to Rainbow, “And Rarity has poor word choice, that has only made it worse.”

“Thank you, Captain Obvious,” Rainbow groaned, “Please tell me you have a plan.” 

Applejack looked around until she spotted Sunset emerged from the forest. “We’re in luck, we got a pyromancer.” The paladin said as she pointed Rainbow’s eyes in the direction of the forest.

As Gloriosa smiled as she saw that she had saved the forest, she suddenly felt a great amount of heat behind her for a second. She turned to a massive breath of fire come at her and then die down. She jumped to the side and saw that the breath of flame originated from the mouth of Sunset. “Dragon's Breath,” Gloriosa whispered in horror. 

Sunset stopped her spell, “Next time you try to take over any place with plants, make sure you fully disable a pyromancer.” she jabbed and turned to the forest as she looked like she was preparing another powerful fire spell.

“You wouldn't dare.” Gloriosa hissed as she got up and ran to tackle Sunset. However, Sunset didn’t evoke another blast of fire but conjured a set of fiery wings and flew into the forest. Gloriosa growled before she jumped and seemed to merge and vanish into a blade of grass.

Sunset flew into the forest, her target, the ruins of The Castle of The Two Sisters, Celestia’s and Luna’s former seat of power. She knew it was mostly deconstructed, but there was still some of the stone structure and foundation. That being said she’d just settle for some part deep enough in the forest that it would be just her and Gloriosa. After flying several kilometers, but still a fair distance from the castle, a hand reached from a branch above her and pulled her into it. She screamed in pain and then fell to the ground, her Phoenix Wings spell dissipating. “Ow.” she groaned. 

Gloriosa then emerged from the trunk of the tree, “I will not let you, or that greedy wolf, or anyone harm this forest.” Gloriosa declared as her eyes flashed. Tree branches and roots, vines, and other plant life then started to wrap around Sunset. Sunset was, however, calm as she closed her eyes and took a breath. “Why aren’t you frightened? I can use these plants to tear you apart.” Gloriosa shouted in shock. 

“Because you can’t.” was all Sunset said before she allowed herself to engulf in a fire, burning the plants that wrapped around her. Once the fire died down, she wasn’t as she was. Her hair was flowing upwards, from her back were a set of white wings that seemed to be made out of an energy-like substance, were solar yellow in color and looked more chiropteran in their structure. Across Sunset’s face along her eye was a red bar-shaped tattoo. On her upper arms were tattoos of her aura mark. She was dressed in a pink and white dressed and wore golden boots on her feet. “You might be channeling Gaea, Gloriosa, but I am a demigoddess.” Sunset declared. Gloriosa stepped backward but tripped ourselves and landed on her rear with a trunk. She tried to back away in a panic. This attempt ended as she bumped into a tree. “There is nowhere to run, no place to hide.” Sunset declared, without a single ounce of malice in her voice, if anything it was pity her tone betrayed. Sunset then raised her right hand and pointed it at Gloriosa as fire pooled in it.

Gloriosa could not help but break down and sob in pure unadulterated fear. “I know…” she started to say between the tears, “but I can’t… my life and Gaea’s are linked… we’re dependent on the life of the forest… we feel every tree, every brush, every plant, and each lost not by natural means… it kills us…”

“Like a death of a thousand cuts, but each one hitting the bone.” Sunset surmised at the pitiful sight. Gloriosa nodded between the tears. Sunset squinted as the fire in her hand started to grow and began to shift until it was violet in color, “But what you planned to do and have done…” 

“I need Gaea to live,” Gloriosa protested. “My mother needs her, her mother needs her, as did her mother and so will any daughter I might have, and Gaea needs us to interact with the world.” Sunset raised an eyebrow, “She’s an ancient spirit and she no longer has the power to take physical form.” Gloriosa tried to explain. “And if we all die she’s cut off from the world and if you burn her out of me, you’ll kill all of us,” she begged. 

Sunset kept her hand focused on Gloriosa, “Gloriosa, I need to speak to Gaea.” she ordered. Gloriosa closed her eyes and took a few strained breaths before she let out a silent scream. Her skin, hair, eyes returned to the original state as from her heart the being Timber described seemed to partially manifest as it was mostly transparent and seemed to intangible. “Gaea Everfree, I presume,” Sunset stated, keeping the pooled fire in her hand ready to cast on her.

“You have no idea what you’re dealing with,” Gaea, said her voice very similar to what Sunset heard last night, but Sunset could not help but hear the fear that Gaea was trying to hide. As Gaea saw Sunset step closer, she tried to step back, but Gaea knew she couldn’t leave Gloriosa. 

Sunset didn’t move, “I know you feel threatened, angry, scared, and desperate.” Sunset started, “But you both know what you’re doing is wrong. You can’t protect your home by destroying someone else’s.” Sunset looked down to the geode that was on Gloriosa’s sash. She saw that it was glowing, but something felt off about it. Sunset vanished the fire in her hand as she raised her other hand and brought them to both Gaea’s and Gloriosa’s faces. Soon all three’s eyes became fields of light. 

Gloriosa traveled in the heart of the Everfree forest, in an otherwise long untouched part of it. “What do I do?” Gloriosa asks as she comes across a stream. Instead of her reflection, it was Gaea’s image she saw. “It’s only a matter of time…” she trailed off.

“I know.” Gaea’s imagine in the stream sighed, “And my power in this world has mostly slipped away, its only the pack with your line that allows me to remain connected to the physical world.” The two fell silent, the defeat they felt impregnate the air. Then from the corner of Gloriosa’s right eye, there was a faint pulsating light. Gloriosa turned her head and saw a geode that was made of seven gems, each one a color of the rainbow, pulsating. Gloriosa got up from the shore and walked to it. Gaea’s voice gave a sigh that hinted that she was awash with ecstasy. “The power…” she said as she started to pant as she tried to contain herself, “I never felt such…its…”.

Gloriosa placed her hand on it and she too was awash with the power within the geode, “Yes…” Gloriosa moaned as if in bliss.

“We can defend the Everfree FOREVER!!!” the two said together.

Sunset removed her hands and the spell ended. She looked to the sash and took the geode from it and held it in her right hand, her eyes closed as if in thought. After about a second of holding it, her eyes shot open, “I know this power.” Sunset was about to close her fist so hard to break the geode, but she stopped. She then turned to the transparent Gaea, she then breathed on her right hand which seemed to be halfway in transparency as Gaea. “You do need some of the power this has, but you can’t use it to destroy what others have built or threaten them and what they hold dear. There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.” 

Gaea looked to the forest floor, “And my time has passed, hasn’t it?” she asked.

Sunset shock her head, “No, you are the collective consciousness of everything that has lived and lives that make up this forest, as long as the forest exist, it’s still your time.”  Sunset then closed her fist with the geode tighter, “But now is not the time for destruction of what could because the fear about possibly losing about what you have, now is the time to look at what is open to you.” Sunset continued. She began to open her hand, “Let Magiville be as it is, let them grow and developed, let them interact with the forest on their terms. Let them experience the wonder of this forest, not just its horrors they know.” Sunset continued and her hand opened to reveal the geode just about to separate into the seven gems. “It’s not your time to feared, it’s your time to be loved.”

Gaea looked from Sunset in the direction of Magiville. Her eyes flashed. 

Back in Magiville, all the plants that Gaea and Gloriosa called to grow started to resend and revert back into the forest, the ground and their seeds, freeing Pinkie, Filthy and the town at large. “Well, that’s convenient.” Pinkie said.

Back between Gaea, Gloriosa, and Sunset, “You did the right thing.” Sunset said as she placed her hand in Gaea’s. “And trust me, if this was all because you suspected someone to haphazardly cut into the forest, yeah people are gonna respect this place.” Sunset smiled, the geode then broke as some of its magic entered into Gaea. The spirit let the magic soak into her for a moment. Once the power subsided, Gaea gave a small smile and vanished. Sunset then took a breath and she changed back to her normal appearance, “No one can know I can still do that, there are already enough demigods.” she asked Gloriosa. Gloriosa nodded.

“GLORIOSA! ARE YOU THERE? SUNSET?” came the voice of Timber.

The two women then turned to see him not far off, but not looking in their direction, “You know he didn’t agree with what you were doing, but he was willing to kill me to see your plan to the end.” Sunset commented.

Gloriosa smirked as she saw a small smile on Sunset’s face, “And you’re wondering what he’d do if you were with his child.” Sunset’s face went red. “Don’t worry, your secret is safe with me.” Gloriosa chuckled before she turned to Timber’s direction “HEY, LOGHEAD!” she called to her brother and went to meet him, giving Sunset a chance to save her face before meeting with anyone else.

After a few seconds, the two meet up with him, “Hey, what happ…” Timber started to ask.

“We resolved the matter with Gaea,” Gloriosa cut him off, “Now I have to make amends with the people of Magiville.” Gloriosa looked to the ground unsure of what would follow.

“Hey, if Applejack can forgive me for stealing Princess Twilight Sparkle’s crown out of pettiness and spite, you got nothing to worry about.” Sunset attempted to comfort. Gloriosa could only weakly smile.

About an hour later, after the three had returned to Magiville, Gloriosa had apologized for her action, leaving out her channeling of Gaea, the new deal between Gaea and Sunset concerning Magiville and the Everfree forest, and that Sunset could at will take on her demigod form. Everyone mostly turned to Filthy with bemused scowls. 

“On second thought there is plenty of room to develop on the other side of town,” Filthy said as he pulled at his collar with a nervous chuckle. And with that, most of the town seemed more or less willing to forgive Gloriosa, provided she help repair the town. Which she did after with her power over plants in about an hour. After which, everyone started their last day preparing for the Summer Sun Celebration, wrapping up as the sun was starting to set.

Once everything was set up, it was decided by popular vote for Rarity’s fashion show to be held that night. No pressure as Rarity had the gowns ready to go and was able to recruit other models than her friends, namely Brighteyes Muffins, Cheerilee, Lyra, Bon-Bon and Gloriosa.





The next day after the Summer Sun Celebration had started, Sunset slipped away from the celebration and sunk back into Twilight’s castle. In her hand was the geode that Gloriosa, well, more actually Gaea, gave her. Could she trust what the spirit said? She sighed, “What do I have to lose?” she asked as she opened the portal in the library and returned to Midnight castle. 

It was late in the day, and the castle library was mostly empty. She turned around and closed the portal and then left the library. The walk to her chambers was mostly eventless, save for a few greetings here and there. There she placed her bag to the side, she would take the clothes to be laundered later and sort out all the other stuff then. She took off her focus gem and set it to the side. She looked at the geode and then to the small oak which seemed to have grown slightly in her absence, not to the point where Sunset would need to transplant it, but it was larger than it was. 

She placed the gems in the pot, close to the roots, and she began to turn. The gems started to glow and vibrate which cause Sunset to turn her focus back at the scene. The gems then started to dissolve into the roots. The young oak then started to glow purple until it seemed to a purple light. The light then started to grow and it’s form changed from its young oak state until it looked like a silhouette of… “Twilight,” Sunset muttered as the light started to dim. Sunset rushed to grab a blanket and as the light fully dimmed to reveal Sunset’s guess to be true as the oak’s body matched the soul that it hosted. Sunset caught Sci-Twi, as a normal Magicborn, as the transformation ended and wrapped her in the blanket. “You’re alive,” Sunset said with tears of joys started to form in her eyes and slip down her check and yet not fully believing it. “I don’t believe it,” she muttered. 

Sci-Twi reached her hand out to feel Sunset’s face as she squinted her eyes. “Sunset?” she asked, “Why are you checks we… why are you crying?” she asked. She was answered with an embrace and a kiss. It was gentle but also full of passion. 

“I almost gave up on ever seeing you again,” Sunset said as she ended the kiss and stroke Sci-Twi’s hair affectionately before she placed her forehead on Sci-Twi’s forehead. “I am so relieved you’re back,” Sunset whispered and kissed Sci-Twi again. 





Epilogue 

Elsewhere in Midnight Castle, Juniper is looking through one of the boxes sent to her from her mother when she was hired by the previous baroness. While she had them for years, she never really had the chance to go through them, Cinch had her as little more than a glorified gofer-secretary hybrid. Always running around doing this, getting that, taking notes, etc.  Now with Sunny as the baron and the employing of the other Shadowbolts as her closest staff, left Juniper more or less without a job. Okay, that’s not entirely fair, as she still had her job but she had almost nothing to do now outside of some really formal events, which were few and far between as Cinch and even more so Sunny, followed an example of Princess Celestia; minarchy. Things just run most smoothly for a government when it’s interaction with the people was kept as a minimum.

Regardless, Juniper looked at the box and saw a stylized capital ‘S’ with a wing on its upper curve with the two ends looking like lightning bolts. However, the ‘S’ was over a sun barque. “That’s odd,” she said as she opened it. One the top was a hand-mirror and note. On note was the sun barque and under it was the words ‘To my little tree.’. Juniper opened the note as she started to read a wicked smile started to form on her lips.