Every kingdom needs an heir. Will she accept hers?
Lauren has been a Champion to Fandom Wonderland since she first fell. She's freed it from Queen Faust, Corruption, and madness.
Now, she has fallen, and her child rises in her place. Autumn never thought about it much after the accident, but Wonderland had reached out to her. Now, she falls into the realm to find that it had been severely damaged over the years of neglect. And many other things have changed. Can she save it, and free herself as well?
“Mommy, can you tell me a story?” Autumn asked her mother as she lay in her bed.
“The usual?” Lauren asked, sitting on a nearby chair.
Autumn nodded, rather excited.
Lauren smiled. “Okay, once upon a time, there was a young woman…”
“Where are the pictures?”
The mother sighed before obliging and turning to the side to grab a box of pictures. She then opened the box, revealing several small photos inside. She then started over with the story.
“Once upon a time, there was a young woman, called Lauren”
“That was you”
The mother nodded. “That was me. And she visited a lovely world parallel to our own, called Wonderland, where every one of her beloved fans, OCs, and her own cartoon children roam happily. It was divided to keep the peace. The side she lived on, called Fandom, was protected by three rather special beings” she then held up a printed picture of Twilight Sparkle as an Alicorn. “The main leader, Twilight Sparkle was truly clever and smart. She always stayed true to her element: Magic”
“She could fly and teleport” Autumn spoke up.
Lauren nodded. “The second one, Snowdrop, lived watching over the night. She was blind once, but her sight was recovered one day. She watched over, using her snowflakes to be her cameras”
“Where’s Hazel and Hester?” the little girl asked, wanting to see their picture. “They had the Hidebrit Gene”
Lauren smiled at the memory of her guide friend. “Hester had it, but Hazel was her other half as she was to her. They didn’t like attention so much so they preferred living with the others to avoid so much attention. They were like two halves of the same whole. They always stayed together to keep each other well”
“Where are they now?”
“They’re still together and safe, I believe” she then went on. “Then Twilight herself led me there, to rule over them as their Queen. And now, young Chashmona, it’s time to get some sleep”
Chashmona was Autumn’s nickname given by Lauren. Its meaning in Hebrew was ‘Princess’. It would make sense since she was the daughter of a Queen.
“When will I see them?” Autumn asked.
“When you come of age, Chashmona. And when that happens, you will take place as Queen. And you could visit them all the time”
“I can’t wait!” the little girl bounced in her bed.
“Then get some rest, dear. You will need it to grow up faster” she then leaned over to her daughter. “But promise me one thing”
The little one nodded, paying close attention.
“When you do go, look after them for me, Autumn”
“I promise” she then did Pinkie Pie’s Promise. “Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye”
The mother smiled before giving her daughter a kiss on the forehead. “Good. Sweet dreams, Autumn. I love you”
“I love you too, Mommy”
Lauren smiled as she closed the door, leaving a small light to help her child sleep. She smiled before she felt at the necklace on her. She knew she had to go back. It would be years before her daughter is ready to take the throne, and the war was getting intense.
“How are they doing?” Craig asked.
Lauren perked up. “I could tell they are distressed. Luckily, the barrier is still strong, but I have to help out in the outskirts to avoid any risks. I still have to find who the enemy is, and then stop their real-world counterpart”
Craig nodded. “How do you think Autumn will be?”
“I hope she stays strong” she then looked at her husband. “Craig, I made her promise to watch over them for me when she takes the throne, but I also want you to promise me something, in case something goes wrong”
“Anything, dear, you name it”
“Make sure she remembers them as she grows up. And if they start visiting her, help her to not be scared”
“I promise”
Look after her for me, okay?
I promise
Autumn stared in fear the sight of Lauren’s dead body. She was stabbed all over, bleeding profusely. There was no surviving those wounds. She was gonna cry, but she had to stay strong. She opened her phone and called for help.
“911, what’s your emergency?” the woman on the line asked.
Autumn pulled herself together before speaking. “I need help. My mommy…she’s hurt badly…so much blood…I’m at the Everglades Park…please…help…”
She then stopped speaking when she felt Lauren suddenly grab her wrist. “You…have to leave…” she croaked out.
The child tried to speak, but was cut off again.
“Please, listen…” she then continued. “Go to area…find Twilight…the postcard…follow her to the hole…office or under the tree…”
“It’s okay, mommy” the little girl spoke. “Just don’t move. There’s help coming”
“I know you think I’m going crazy…but Hazel will explain everything…will you do this, Chashmona? Promise me?”
“I promise, mommy” she choked back her tears.
“I thought…I could protect you…I should’ve…told you…years ago…” she then slowly closed her eyes as her last breath left her.
“I was falling down a dark hole” Autumn spoke with fear as she remembered the events. “Then, I saw strange creatures”
“What kind of creatures?” Craig asked.
“Well, there’s a Pegasus, the Twilight Sparkle mommy made, a girl in a black dress with a smiling rabbit”
Craig titled his head at the last one. “I didn’t know rabbits could smile”
Autumn smiled a bit from that. “Neither did I. And then, they all kept telling me something about ‘coming of age for the throne’”
Craig looked surprised at that. It couldn’t be, could it? His daughter looked a bit alarmed at his reaction. “Have I gone mad, daddy?”
Craig looked concerned. He remembered about his wife Lauren speaking about Wonderland, and how their daughter was to rule it after her. He didn’t expect that her friends would already try to reach out to her the same way they did to his wife. Still, he didn’t want her to be scared of it, she had to embrace it. He put his hand on her forehead, as though taking her temperature.
“I’m afraid so” he spoke to her. “You’re mad, entirely bonkers”
She was scared of that.
“But let me tell you a secret” she listened to that. “Don’t be alarmed. All the best people are”
She smiled at that.
“It’s a dream, Autumn. Nothing can harm you there. But if you get too scared, you can always wake up, like this” he then pinched her lightly on the arm.
She cried out in an ‘Ow’ with a giggle. Atleast that assured her that she was alright. Crag couldn’t have been happier for his little girl.
Autumn was roaming a forest happily. She was always one to love Mother Nature. Afterall, she was named after a season of the year. She was making flower wreaths and playing in the flower field when she saw something new up ahead. It looked like an old building. Curious, she ran up to see what was in it.
The inside was run down. There were broken glass and plates everywhere. Plants climbed inside, as though trying to regain the land that was taken from it. She found a picture, but it looked rather weird. It was a picture of the Mane Six from the My Little pony show her mother made. She shrugged it off as she went up.
The upper part of the house just looked the same. There was also a hallway that was opened up to the outside. There were broken beds and doors that led to the other rooms.
Autumn was about to leave since she thought it was just her imagination when she something out of the corner of her eye. Turning her head to the direction, she saw something that shocked her. There, by the open window, standing in broad daylight, was a familiar silhouette of a pony.
She thought she was just imagining it. But then, the pony spoke a familiar tone as she tilted her head to the side.
“Lauren?”
That was enough to make her run for it. She made her way down the stairway when she saw two other figures peeking from the walls. She couldn’t catch a glimpse of who they were because by the time they realized she saw them, they hid again. The only clues: one was yellow while the other was pink.
She looked up when she heard something coming from upstairs. They sounded like the claps made from a horse’s hooves. When she looked back at the hallway again, three other figures had hidden themselves.
Autumn ran for her life. But since she ran too fast, she accidentally tripped on a plank and it made her fall, face-forward, into a wall, knocking her out unconscious.
Autumn woke up with a jolt when she felt a strange, wet thing in her ear. There was a tiny scream beside her before a small thud sounded off. She looked to her side to see a small filly jumped and scurried back into the walls for darkness. Several other pairs of eyes were visible and looking straight at her.
She looked down to see that she was now tied up in a chair. She saw a shadow right above her.
“Struggling is pointless” a voice rang out from above.
She looked up ahead to see a silhouette of a mare looking straight at her, hiding behind a pillar. She had icy blue eyes from what she could tell. She held a dagger close by for protection.
“I know why you’re here, and I’m not afraid of you” she spoke again after going down, but not leaving the safety of the shadows.
Autumn could tell she was actually afraid, but hiding it. She furrowed an eyebrow. The young mare then went infront of her, and out of the shadows. Now she got a good luck at what she looked like. The mare looked just like the Snowdrop from her mother’s stories. She couldn’t see the cutie mark from how she wore a brown dress. She wore a crown that resembled the Alicorn Amulet, but its gemstone was blue.
“Who are you, and how did you find me?” she sternly asked.
Autumn gaped at the young being. How was this possible? She was just a story, wasn’t she?
“Who are you, and how did you find me?” she asked again, her dagger pointed dangerously.
Autumn cleared her throat. “I know not who you are, nor how I came to find you, but let me say…” she then smiled. “Hello there, nice to meet you”
The mare seemed confused.
“My name’s Autumn, Autumn Faust”
The mare seemed surprised at that. “Autumn Faust? THE Autumn Faust?”
“Um…”
Autumn suddenly found herself on a hill top. From the position of the sun, it was sunset. Compared to their other sceneries she saw, this was practically the most calm. She looked up ahead and saw a face. It was a bit of time before she realized who it was.
“Hazel?”
It was definitely Hazel, alright. She looked a little older now and slightly taller. She looked somewhat tired from the eye bags on her. She didn’t have Hester with her, which was somewhat strange.
“You look just like your mother” she gave a warm smile.
Autumn smiled when she heard it. Hazel, Hester, and her mother Lauren were very close from what she could tell. Even thought this was just all a dream, it was nice to have a serene voice in the midst of fear. She was surely safe around her.
Both just stared at each silently, looking on to see what each would do.
“Come with me, Sweetheart, are you’ll be the new Queen that will rule us all” she offered her hand.
Autumn smiled when she heard that. This was practically what would end these nightmares. At last, some peace. She reached out for the girl’s hand, before getting an electric shock. She couldn’t pull away as she was soon surrounded by the darkness around her. The last thing she saw was the demented grin of the girl she shook hands with.
“If we’re really friends, you would’ve believed, Dervila”
“I’m tired, I didn’t sleep well last night” Autumn told her father. They were in a bus on the way to a campsite. Craig couldn’t help but notice she was not acting like herself today.
“Were you having bad dreams again?” he asked her with concern.
“Only one, but it’s always the same one. It keeps happening over and over. Is that normal?”
Craig sighed before taking out a small box from his pocket. It held something so dear to him that he kept it with him wherever he went. It was a way for him to ‘carry his wife with him’. Now, he had to pass it onto his daughter, and hope she would treasure it as much as he does. He took out the small necklace inside that Lauren wore. He then put it on Autumn.
“You’re fine, Autumn” he assured with a kind smile. “Now can you give me a smile?”
She did so, even though it was just faint.
It had been eight years since the incident of Lauren’s death. In that time span, Autumn had grown up with PTSD from the sorrow of losing her mother and the rage of who killed her. Lauren’s death was ruled as a murder. The murder weapon was a knife, but it had no fingerprints on it. Whoever the killer was used gloves to avoid getting caught and was currently unknown.
Autumn was never the same way after the whole incident, and Craig was also having a hard time adjusting. She was distant from her friends and somewhat antisocial. She mostly thought about her mother. At night, when asleep, she had dreams that made her think she was weird and going crazy. They involved the characters from her mother’s stories about a place called Wonderland. She had learned to grow out of it by convincing herself that it doesn’t exist and it was just a kid’s story. The dreams however, kept returning every night. They even felt real.
Craig had mourned for Lauren’s death for a long time. He soon had to find ways to help his daughter improve and help her with her social skills again. It was really concerning to see she was now numb to what made her feel so alive. He believed that Wonderland existed, and sometimes tried to show Autumn it does. She didn’t want to hear it.
Right now, it was summer break and he was taking Autumn out for a field trip. He hoped it would help her by getting in touch with nature. He decided to choose a site that they hadn’t gone to yet when Lauren was alive so she won’t be so bombarded by memories. They were going to be at the hotel assigned and a tour guide was going to show them, and several other people, around the facilities.
So far, things seemed pretty ordinary when they were shown around. Yet, Autumn couldn’t help but feel as though she were watched.
“You know, the gardens were supposed to have red roses, but they gave us the white ones” the tour guide spoke when she saw the flowers.
“They could always paint the roses red” Autumn whispered to her father.
Craig chuckled at that. “Oh, your mother would’ve loved to hear that”
Autumn smiled as she looked back at the roses. She then suddenly saw something run in the bushes at a rapid pace. She couldn’t see what it was, but its color looked lavender.
“Dad, did you see that?” she asked.
“See what?”
“Something purple was there”
“Purple?”
“Yeah”
“And over here we have the petting zoo” the tour guide spoke as she showed them the enclosure filled with several animals. There were rabbits, Guinea pigs, iguanas, sheep, goats, and more domestic animals.
“I wonder if they have horses here” Craig wondered.
“Don’t make me ride on it”
From the enclosure of where the sheep were, a blur of violet was seen before hiding again.
“There! Did you see it that time?” Autumn pointed to where it had gone.
“See what?”
“A blur of purple!”
“No need to shout. I can hear you, I’m not deaf. And no, I couldn’t see it” he apologized.
She nodded. “It’s alright”
For the rest of the day, it just consisted of sightseeing and close encounters with the attractions. Autumn smiled faintly every now and then but she wasn’t able to feel so much life. It saddened Craig to see how she was. The next day, they were taken to a small enclosure filled with some animals that were set free for roaming. It was like a mini-forest. The tour guide soon got to the center of the area, where an attraction was put.
It looked like a small house. There was a box inside with a pile of paper and stash of pens beside it.
“Here is one of our forest’s attractions. Here, we write our resolutions on a paper and drop them into this box over here. It’s a way for us to signify we intend to keep our resolutions. But we have to say our out loud each before they are dropped in. It must come from the heart. I’ll go first, as always”
She then took a slick of paper and a pen and wrote hers down before turning back to the rest of the group. “I resolve to be a great guide and assure that all I’m assigned to have the time of their lives” she then put her paper down into the box.
Autumn and Craig had gone into the line with the others. They listened to each resolution go by. She heard them all and reflected on them. Some were normal and average, but others were somewhat extraordinary. Some of them had also gone through the death of a family member and others were making promises for who were there. What would she have to resolve?
“I resolve to help my daughter grow up strong and beautiful in thought, word, and deed, just as how my wife would’ve wanted it” Craig spoke up before putting his paper in.
Finally, it was Autumn’s turn. What would she resolve for? She couldn’t promise she’d improve anytime sooner with her social life. But her mother would’ve wanted that…and something else that seemed impossible. But that worried her: Her mother believed in something impossible and died because of it. Yet, it was the only thing she had to tie her to her.
She looked at the crowd with her blank paper. “I think I…”
The others looked at her to see what she had to say.
“I think…”
Her father looked at her, expecting her words.
“I…”
She looked at the farthest corner and saw a shadow looking at her. They pulled out a clock from their dress and were pointing at it.
“I…I need a moment” she then bolted off from the group after pocketing the paper. They all stared at her as she left. Craig was watching as well, but he had a feeling about what was going on.
Autumn ran as fast as her legs could carry her to catch up with the lavender figure infront of her. Upon closer inspection, she saw that the figure was wearing a black dress. They seemed to have been gaining an upper advantage of being ahead of her because they soon revealed they had wings and took to the air. They didn’t fly so high so Autumn could still see them.
As she ran, she noticed they looked more and more familiar to her. It couldn’t have been HER, could it? She soon reached some area far from the tour areas. It was an old tree with several carvings all over it. Under it was a hole. The figure dived down and went in.
Autumn was cautious about it at first, but she had to know what was going on. Her curiosity overcame her caution and she looked inside. One hand supported where she stood while the other held onto the truck. She looked inside to see where it headed, but her hand slipped off the trunk and she fell in.
She screamed as she fell inside. The whole place was lit with candles and chandeliers that were seemingly stuck to the walls. Furniture also stuck on the walls. She was scared about where she was going to land, but it was soon answered when she landed onto a mattress at the bottom with a pomf.
She took a few moments to calm down and catch her breath before she looked around to see where she was. It was fine that she was alive, but the setting of where she was concerned her.
She was in a hallway surrounded by surrounded by several doors. She then got up from the floor and tried to tug on the doors. She tried to open every door but they wouldn’t budge. She was beginning to give up when she found that she couldn’t open any of them. Panic began to rise in her, how could she get out?
Her fears of being kidnapped were put to ease when she noticed a small key on a table nearby. She took it and began to fiddle it with every door. She tried it on the last one: a very small door. It had a symbol on the front, a red bottle of ink and a quill, beside a crown, though it looked rather worn down.
She tried it, and it opened. But when she attempted go through it, she couldn’t fit. No surprise there, you’d have to be the size of a doll to pass. She pulled back as the door closed. She was trapped and possible kidnapped, and the only way out was where she couldn’t fit.
Her gaze averted back to the table, which now had a small bottle on it. How did that get there? She tentatively approached. The bottle was filled with a purple liquid. The cap looked like a snowdrop flower, and the bottle was a sunset orange. The tag on it read only two things, “DRINK ME’. She uncapped it and smelled it. It was a bad scent, but she shrugged.
“It’s only a dream” she mused.
She drank a few gulps from it, letting out a cough right after due to its taste. She could guess it was a bit old. As she put it back on the table, she suddenly began to shrink. It was even weirder that her clothes also shrank along with her. She hurried to the door, but she forgot that it was locked again and she left the key on the table. She tried climbing, but the rails were too slippery.
From the other side of the door, several voices spoke in whispers to one another.
You’d say she’s remember this from when Mother told her about it
You brought the wrong Autumn
She’s the right Autumn, I’m certain of it.
She suddenly found a small box. Curious, she opened the box and it showed that it had a small cake inside. Its main color was lavender and there was a candy shaped like a snowdrop flower. Two words were written by the sunset-colored icing on top, ‘EAT ME’.
Knowing she had no choice, she took a nibble from the small piece, she had to admit it was rather sweet. But it was a little too sweet. When she looked around, she found out that it somehow made it grow enormous. She was big, in fact, that she was stuck in the hallway.
She’s the wrong Autumn! One voice groaned.
Give her a chance.
Autumn then looked down and took the key from the table. She then drank the potion in the bottle again, letting out several coughs. It was even worse in the second time. She then began to shrink again and hurried over to the door with the key. She then used the key on the door, and it opened for her.
She looked around her surroundings as she walked around. She descended from a small staircase of rock and saw what was inside. It was a garden that was once beautiful and well-kept, but now it was overgrowing and going off in all directions. The plants ran about everywhere even on the decorations to reclaim what was once taken from them. She followed an old, stone path and walked through what could be the main entrance.
She saw a few creatures ran about on their own. They were too far for her too see, but she could tell they weren’t normal. Then again, if this place was where she thought it was, nothing is going to be normal here.
As she reverted her attention back to the front of her view, she saw several faces that confirmed her suspicions.
She knew it was them. She would know them all too well. It had been years, but she knew it was them. This was impossible. Absolutely, one hundred percent impossible, right? That what she wanted to believe, but they looked all too real. They had some differences from any description ever given, but she knew it was them.
Twilight looked like herself from the show in her Alicorn form, but she lacked her crown. No doubt it was probably somewhere safe. But she wore a black coat with a regal collar sticking out. Though it looked very formal, its theme was really apocalyptic. Beneath it was armor for battle. The centerpiece had a crest which resembled her cutie mark. She also had a helmet, but it was kept under her wing by her side. There was a sword strapped to her side as well. She looked like something that had crawled out of the alternate universe if Sombra took over the Crystal Empire. Matter of fact, she looked like she went with them.
Pound and Pumpkin Cake were both all grown up. Pound was cream-skinned with a brown mane and tail with brown eyes. His mane was cut to crew cut and his wings were already sticking out if the armor. Pumpkin was beige-skinned with blue eyes and an orange mane and tail. Her mane was also shortened and her unicorn horn was visible.
They had eye bags from underneath their eyes that could suggest that they were tired. They wore matching cake-themed outfits. Pumpkin’s dress was white and had pink lining with a ribbon and was decorated by several small cookies. Pound wore a white suit with blue lining and it had two buttons on the top instead and it was decorated by cupcakes. Both were rather cutesy, but they were also duty and slightly torn, a bit of blood also stained the cloths. They must’ve been wearing them in battle. They both each had a small sword strapped to their sides.
Hazel no longer looked like how Lauren described her to be. She wasn’t in either her well or sick form, but seemingly a combination of both, and all grown up in her twenties. Her skin was a healthy complexion, and her hair retained its natural brownish tinge. But her eyes had dark circles from when she gets sick or tired. Her flat, straight hair was also shorter now, covering her left eye. She still wore her black dress, but it now had shoulder blades of armor sticking out, and was also sleeveless. She wore black combat boots than her slip on ones with white socks.
Despite the Pegasister being there, her Familiar was nowhere in sight. All that was around of her was her personal hat, which now rested on Hazel’s head. It seemed to be torn slightly as well. The flower looked wilted and a bit of a petal was ripped. The strip of cloth was dull. The diamond was rough. The bow was faded and torn.
They each held a different reaction when they saw her. Twilight was happy. The Cake Twins were somewhat confused. Hazel looked rather annoyed and angry.
Twilight sighed happily. “I told you she’s the right Autumn!”
Hazel scoffed before crossing her arms and looking away, annoyed. “I am NOT convinced”
“How’s that for gratitude?!” the Alicorn yelled at the Pegasister. “I’ve been up there for weeks, trailing one Autumn after the other, and I was almost seen by several Haters!”
“She barely looks anything like herself” Pumpkin pointed out.
“That’s because she’s the wrong Autumn!” Hazel argued.
“If she was, she might be” Pound Cake spoke to his sister.
“She probably isn’t” Pumpkin seemed to agree.
“How could I be the wrong Autumn if this is my dream?” the girl asked in annoyance, making the others around her look confused. “And who are you, if you don’t mind me asking?” she knew who they were, but she just wanted to be sure.
“Oh, I’m Pound Cake, she’s Pumpkin Cake”
“Likewise, I’m Pumpkin Cake and he’s Pound Cake”
“We shall go see Discord” Twilight spoke up.
“Exactly, despite his behavior, he could find out who she is” Pumpkin agreed.
“Right, Hazel, will you escort her?” Pound asked.
“I escort the real one” she emphasized ‘real’.
“I’ll do it!” Pumpkin excitedly headed over to Autumn and took one of her hands. But Pound also did the same with her other hand. They then began to argue over who escorts her as they tugged on her as if she were a ragdoll. Twilight finally got them to stop arguing by telling them they could both escort her as Hazel walked infront to lead the group.
Autumn was confused as to what was happening, but followed them anyway. She couldn’t believe that she was now in Wonderland. This had to be a dream, right? But, if it were a dream, wasn’t it supposed to be happy? This looked like a demented version of the one her mother always told her about. Even the characters now looked different. Then again, it could be how her mind perceived the Corruption and therefore altered some things.
They soon reached an area some far distance from where she had met them. There, sitting on a cloud of cotton candy, was Discord. He was drinking a cup of chocolate milk. He looked rather tired and drained. One could tell he wasn’t acting.
“Who are you?” Discord asked when he saw Autumn.
“Discord?”
The draconequeous tilted his head in confusion. “Another me? No, you can’t be. I’m the only Discord around here, unless Mother makes another me. But anyway, back to my question: Who are you?”
The girl flinched. “Autumn”
He then grinned at that, as though it were a challenge. “We shall see”
Autumn got confused again. “What do you mean by that? I ought to know who I am?”
He then glared slightly at her. “Yes, you have to. We need to know if you’re really you” he then turned to the side before taking out a small scroll. “Unroll it to see is it’s her”
Hazel took hold of the scroll and went over to the giant mushrooms nearby. She set it down and unrolled it for them all to see.
“The Scroll of Events” Twilight spoke as she checked over it. “The object that contains the significant event of each day, past, present, or future”
Autumn looked over from the Alicorn’s shoulder. She quickly began to realize what it was as they each had the word ‘Day’ next to a different word and a sketch of the event was below each.
“It’s a calendar” she mused.
“Correct, in a sense” Discord mused. “It has each day here in our Wonderland since its beginning”
“Today is Return Day, in the Reign of Danger” Twilight pointed to the day. It had a sketch of the current scene as of now.
“Show her the Third Victory Day” Discord grinned.
“Oh yeah, Third Victory, being the day you gain the third victory which is over the Jabberwocky”
Autumn flinched when she heard that. “I’m sorry, victory over what?”
“Over there, you with the Quillette Blade” Pumpkin pointed to the picture. It had Autumn in a suit of armor, with a sword in her hand, in a slaying position with a huge creature wanting to kill her.
“No other blades could kill the Jabberwocky. If it’s not the Quillette one, it’s not dead”
Autumn shook her head in fear. “That’s not me”
“I know!” Hazel groaned.
Twilight and the others just looked alarmed. Hazel, Pumpkin, and Pound just began to circle around Lauren. Well, the first one looked like she was stalking her like a predator.
“Little help here, Discord. Is she the right Autumn?” Twilight asked, anxiously.
“Not hardly” he mused.
“I told you!” Hazel spoke triumphantly. Though, lacking her grin, it was hard to tell if she was proud or not.
“Oh dear” Twilight sighed.
“I said so” Pumpkin spoke.
“But you said she might be” Pound pointed out.
“You did too!”
“Little imposter, pretending to be our Autumn” Hazel growled.
“I was so certain of you” Twilight sighed.
“I’m sorry, I don’t mean to be the wrong Autumn!” she then realized something. “Wait, this is all just a dream. I’m going to wake up now and this will all go away”
She then closed her eyes as she pinched herself hard enough. She hoped it would go away, but they were all still there, intact even. They looked at themselves to check and then back to her.
“That’s odd. Pinching usually does the trick” she spoke.
“I could stab you a bit, if that would help” Hazel spoke, taking out a dagger she carried.
“It might, actually, thank you”
The girl tipped her hat as she approached. “My pleasure!” she then stabbed her a bit in the leg. Not enough to make her limp, but enough to make it hurt.
Twilight looked upset while Pound and Pumpkin stifled their laughter. All of the sudden, they heard growling nearby. It was only when they heard a roar and a tumble did they look around to see what it was.
It was an Ursa Major, and it was being controlled. It had a system of wires stuck on its sides. Some parts held it on the arms and legs, and others were on its head. It had a collar that was controlling all parts. It let out a ferocious roar.
“Ursa Major!” the twins yelped as everyone ran for cover.
They all then ran as the creature tried to catch them. Then, several Antis in armor suddenly appeared. They all had the logo of Fox News on the chest plate of armor. All wielded a spear in hand. Everyone ran for cover. The twins were able to get away when Pumpkin teleported. Hazel escaped by turning into a mist of butterflies whenever cornered and hid in a tree after shrinking herself. Twilight was not as lucky as the Antis soon caught up to her.
Autumn ran for life as she tried to get away from both the Ursa and the Antis. She wondered how that could even happen. She knew for a fact that there was a barrier around the territory of the Fandom side to protect them from the Antis that pursed them. How did they get through?
“Wait! It’s only a dream. Nothing can hurt me” Autumn spoke to herself as the Ursa Major ran over to her.
Hazel peaked from her hiding place in the tree. “What’s she doing?” she glared before running to help.
It caught up to her and roared infront of her. Okay, now she knew it could hurt her.
Right then, Hazel caught up. “Run, you idiot!” she yelled angrily as she floated above the Ursa. She then took out a thinner blade and stabbed the creature in the eye, also pulling it out. She then dodged as it drew its paw over to shield its eye, but it scratched Autumn a bit before she ran off. Hazel then ran off, the eye still on her blade.
“Lauren, I swear, the things I do for you” the girl groaned before making herself disappear to avoid the guards.
They all didn’t know that one of them, who was in the uniform for a Knave, had found the scroll after Discord dropped it when he fled. He opened it with curiosity and got to the Third Victory Day. He seemed rather uneasy, but rather pleased to have found it. He then left with the knights as the Ursa roared in pain for its lost eye.
The Antis Castle was a piece of work. It still stood in the center of the whole Hater territory. But now, due to how a barrier keeping the Fandom side safe had broken, it’s safe to assume that their territory had now increased. There were a few places of refuge still maintained by a barrier, but only barely.
The Castle itself was a piece of work. It had been built of stone and gravel and stood very tall and wide. It had a huge garden surrounding it, followed by a drawbridge around a moat. Those Haters must’ve really wanted to keep their pride for all the work put up to keep it. It was being maintained by the fans and Canon Characters that they now had in captivity.
One of them, who was the King, sat down on his throne as he dismissed his court of fellow Antis and servant Canon Characters after having one of them beheaded for stealing one of his tarts. He wore a robe and had a crown on his head. He had pale skin and black hair. His eyes were brown.
“David Asman” his Knave called to him after he appeared to his side.
He smiled at him. “Bret Baier, where have you been lurking?”
The Knave Bret then took out the scroll from his side belt. “Sir, I have found the Scroll of Events” he then threw one side down to the floor across the David’s lap, holding onto the other half so it wouldn’t be taken along.
“That looks rather ordinary then phenomenal”
“Look here, on the Third Victory Day” he pointed to the day.
David took a closer look at where he was pointing at. He wasn‘t so concerned about the photo in it. “I’d know that face of hers anywhere; it’s Autumn, isn’t it?”
“I believe so. She’s come of age”
“What’s she doing with my darling Jabberwocky?”
“She appears to be slaying it”
“She killed my Jabberwocky?”
“No, not yet. But it will happen if we don’t stop her”
“Find Autumn, Bret, Find her!”
Autumn followed Hazel down as soon as she caught sight of her in the woods ahead. Pound and Pumpkin were arguing over which way to go when two paths were apart and were snatched up by a Phoenix made of night gust. From the looks of it, the bird was also controlled by the Antis. She had to tag along with the girl.
It took some strain for her to not get annoyed at her and send her away. Autumn wondered why. This wasn’t the same Hazel her mother talked about. She was a totally different person. She knew that Lauren only met the girl as a child in the asylum, and that people tend to change a lot when they’re all grown up, but this was completely different. She was shy, quiet, protecting, always smiling or grinning and full of life. Now, she was just…angry and cold.
Hazel then filled her in on the details of what happened. The barrier protecting them had broken down nearly the same time that Lauren had died. With it gone, they were soon caught by those Antis and had no time to put up a new one due to some incident. A lot of things had changed in that time span. Twilight had gone out to find Autumn, Snowdrop had been in Wonderland watching the last protected areas, and Hazel had joined the war forces and soon reached the rank of Captain due to her merciless attacks.
“I better have a look at that” Hazel spoke when she noticed the scratched mark on Autumn.
“What are you doing?” she sounded uneasy.
“As much as I don’t really like you, I don’t want people of our kind getting hurt. And you need that to be purified or it will petrify”
“I think I’ll be alright”
Hazel then took out a roll of bandage. “Atleast let me bind it for you”
Autumn stretched out her arm as she let the girl patch it up. She disinfected it with a little alcohol that she kept in in her pocket.She used a cotton bud and dipped it with some alcohol and gently dubbed it on the cut, making Autumn cringe a little. She glared a bit to shush her. Though Autumn could see a hint of sadness in her eyes. After that, she proceeded to wrap the cloth to avoid infections and continuous bleeding.
“We best get on our way” the Pegasister spoke as she walked a bit of a distance ahead.
“What way? All I want is to awake from this dream”
“Oh fine!” she growled, making her flinch from her harshness. “I’ll take you Sunny Shores, Clementine Jr., and Anastasia. But that will probably be the end of it”
Anastasia’s old house didn’t look the way it used to. It was a little run down, but still intact. She and her two friends were all sitting at the table put up under the now-dead tree. They looked the same, but were all a little tired.
Clementine woke up groaning a bit; he slouched all over his side of the table. He had an eye patch now and had a sword buckled onto his side. He wore some camouflage gear and a gas mask was at his side.
Sunny Shores then awoke, stretching and yawning from her chair. She had a mechanical eye with a laser on it. She wore a brown dress that allowed her to move freely. There was a bomb on her side belt.
Anastasia then lifted her head u as she woke from her catnap. Her hat was a little torn up and her dress had some rough edges on the lace.
They all looked to the other side of the table when they heard footsteps. It was Hazel, with Autumn trialing behind her. Clem stared in happy disbelief as he pointed to the arrivals. Ana then smiled as she stood from her seat and took to the air to meet with them.
“Hazel Vine” she greeted the girl, which was returned with a nod in respect. “How do you do? You look tired”
“Good never rests when you’re a soldier at war” Hazel spoke normally.
“You’re not a soldier, you’re a Captain”
Hazel rolled her eyes playfully, though she lacked her smile. “By the way, a newcomer here ran into some issue with the attacker”
Autumn then looked up from Hazel. Ana then smiled brightly when she saw her.
“It’s you! You have finally come!” she clapped her hooves.
Hazel groaned from that. “Why does this keep happening?”
“It’s not her!” Sunny spoke up. “My Mom accidentally brought us the wrong Autumn!”
“It’s the wrong Autumn?!” Clementine pulled at his mane is shock, hoping it not to be true.
“It’s absolutely little Autumn. You’re absolutely Autumn, I’d know you anywhere” she then turned to the others. “I’d know her anywhere!”
That caused the others to laugh with Hazel rolled her eyes before she facepalmed. Anastasia then took Autumn by the hand before letting her ride on her back. Hazel took a seat and the Pegasus began to speak on her way back to her seat.
“As you can see, we’re having tea. And we did so in preparation for your return. You got terribly late, you know, very naughty!” she spoke as she let her passenger sit down on a chair beside her.
Clementine laughed a bit from that before looking down at his broken cup. “My cup…”
“This is getting so weird” Autumn spoke as she sat down.
“Yes, of course. Nothing is here is quite what it seems. And now we have to get to the Third Victory Day!”
“Third Victory Day!” everyone else, except for Hazel cheered while raising a cup.
Sunny then took notice of Hazel’s look. “Are you alright?”
She nodded. “Just a long day”
She nodded before taking up a teapot. “Your usual?”
“I guess so”
The Pegasus nodded. “Clem!”
The colt nodded before taking up several bottles on the table and began to mix them up to create a drink. He then started to mix them in a teapot before finishing and giving it to Sunny. She then poured Hazel a cup of it.
“Honey Everlasting Tea, as always, Hazel. Enjoy” she spoke.
Hazel nodded. “Thank you”
“I’ve been investigating things that begin with the letter M lately” Ana spoke to Lauren. “Have you any idea why a raven is like a writing desk?” she then spoke in deep tone. “DOWN WITH THE BLOOD RED IMPOSTER!”
Unfortunately, due to how her companions were saying it along with her, the girl couldn’t understand what they just said.
“I’m sorry, down with the bloody what?”
“Down with the Bloody Red Imposter” Hazel spoke after taking a sip of tea. “Bloody Red Imposter being Queen Faust”
“Yes, thank you, Hazel. And now we must get to the slaying and such!” she clapped her hooves together. “By the way, can you atleast give me a smile, Hazel? It’s been a longtime since anyone seen you last smile!”
“I’d rather not, sorry” she rolled her eyes a bit. “Our area in Wonderland is falling apart and all you could think of is me smiling again?”
“Come now, Hazel. Just once, even for a second? Why, I’m sure Autumn here would love to see you smile!”
“She’s not our Autumn!” the girl groaned.
“You used to be far from this. You used to grin so much that we thought you carved a grin in your face!”
“Just stop” Hazel took another sip from her cup.
Right then, they all heard a few horses approaching. They all turned their attention to see what it was.
“Oh no!” Clementine yelped before hiding behind Hazel.
“Oh boy” the Captain sighed. They all knew those horses anywhere.
“The Knave” Sunny whimpered.
“Goodbye” the girl spoke before disappearing, leaving Clementine to go sit in his own seat.
Anastasia gave Autumn a vial of the ‘Drink Me’ Potion, causing her to shrink again. She then grabbed her biggest teapot and put the girl inside to hide her. All the while, Clementine and Sunny were fixing themselves to try and look as normal as possible, ending off with sitting down and drinking tea. Ana then put the pot on her lap as she gave a normal smile.
“Well if it isn’t my favorite trio of tea-drinkers” Bret mocked as he neared their table.
“Would you like to join to us?” Sunny asked, peeking up from her cup.
“Sunny!” Ana called to her. “I’m the one who decides who sits with us for tea!”
Bret chuckled a bit at their behavior before noticing Clementine.
“You’re all late for tea!” he yelled with a grin as he threw his broken cup at the Knave, who dodged and let one of the guards get hit instead. The Unicorn then laughed, enlisting the yellow Pegasus to join in the giggle fit.
He then turned his attention to the Leader. “We’re looking for a girl called, Autumn”
The young Pegasus just changed the topic. “Oh! Speaking of the former Queen, here’s a little song we liked to sing in her honor” she then gestured for the others to join.
“Twinkle, twinkle, little bat. How I wonder where you’re at? Up above the…”
Bret got impatient and grabbed her by the neck. “If you’re hiding her, you’ll lose your heads!”
“Already lost them” the mare chocked out with a grin, making the others laugh and the Knave to give up. “Altogether, now!”
They all then continued their song while the Knave walked past them. They started to relax, when Clem suddenly began to feel scared when something began to go under the table. It wasn’t until the song ended did a dog come up to Ana. It growled and was about to howl when the Pegasus whispered gently.
“Down with the Bloody Red Imposter”
That made Winona calm down, and leave her.
“Would you like some tea?” Clem offered Bret, which he answered by taking a cup of tea. Winona just sped away from the scene, while Bret told the guards to go follow it ahead of him.
“Sugar, Clem?” Sunny offered.
“Yes, please”
She obliged by throwing him two cubes of sugar, which landed directly into his cup.
He smiled. “Perfect shot, Sunny”
Bret spoke before drinking the tea. “You’re all mad”
“Thank you for the compliment” the Unicorn giggled, making the impatient man throw the cup on the ground. It only made them laugh more.
The last thing he heard before leaving was Sunny asking Clementine to pass the scones, followed by the sound of falling objects.
Only when the coast was clear did Anastasia look into the teapot, before realizing the current situation the hidden girl was in. She took a small piece of cloth, and used a nearby pair of scissors to cut it into a smaller dress. Being the daughter of a dressmaker, she learned her craft really well. She then gave the small dress to Autumn, who knocked on the teacup after putting it on. Ana then took her out, complimenting on how good it looked on her.
“Good thing too that Winona is not under their total control, or you’d be…” Sunny then motioned chopping her head off.
“Well, what do they want with me?” Autumn asked, fear in her voice.
“Isn’t it obvious?” Hazel’s voice rang out as she reappeared, this time beside Ana. “You’re Autumn Faust, daughter of Lauren Faust and thereby the rightful heir to the throne. A kingdom can’t survive without someone to rule it. If they want to make sure we lose, they have to make sure even the heir is not here”
“Best you take her to Snowdrop, she’ll be safe there” Clementine suggested before staring at the broken spoon.
“Clementine is right. We need to keep her safe” Hazel agreed.
“Why is he acting a little nutty?” Autumn asked.
“Corruption going on here really does this. It will wear off once this is all over, Sweetheart” the tired Captain explained.
Autumn got confused when Hazel called her Sweetheart. She was acting so hostile to her but she called her Sweetheart? That was weird.
Ana nodded before taking off her hat. “Your carriage, young Princess” he gestured to her hat.
“The hat?” she asked.
“Of course. Anyone could go by horse or rail, but the absolute best way to travel when you’re small and in Wonderland is by hat”
“I’m coming along too” Hazel spoke up as Autumn got on Ana’s hat. “I’m not entirely convinced she’s our Autumn yet, but I want to be of help. And if those guards happen, you have an escape pod”
Ana nodded with a smile as she put her hat back on with Autumn on it. Hazel then walked with her, dagger in hand just in case. Both had to dodge a broken cup thrown by Clementine before finally leaving.
There is a place which a certain few go to by the end of the day Wonderland is it's name Two sides emerged to claim power One called Fandom, one called Hater
And then came that tragic day When the Fandom's Queen was slain Barrier gone, the land broke into war And our world's peace was then torn
Even those who watched over Compared to other, fared no better Canon fled to search, OC watched the kingdom Partner joined on battle, Familiar gone
And finally, she came The one who will bring back those days The Princess, child of the Fallen Queen Came to ascend and set us free
Mother killed Corruption, and stopped genocide Daughter shall end Jabberock and Antis Marching up to the beast, the Quillette Blade in hand Standing up as Champion to save her Wonderland
And then the beast shall be but slain Only then will return the light of day And to the Princess, all truth shall be known Only then shall she once again be whole
Hazel recited the lines of the prophecy from the Scroll. The Captain had taken the spare time around to read. It turned out she had it memorized. She recited the lines as she and Anastasia walked through the forest to be on their way to Fandom's Castle.
Anastasia smiled as she ended the lines. “It’s all about you, you know”
Autumn knew who she was referring to, but she didn't like what message it gave. “I’m not slaying anything so put it out of your mind”
Hazel suddenly grabbed the woman and glared at her. She then put her on a stump nearby and dragged Ana along with her.
“Wait! You can’t leave me here!” she called out.
The Captain stopped in her tracks, letting Ana go and going over to the woman. “You don’t slay. Have you any idea what those Antis have done? And you don’t slay”
“Hazel, please, calm down” Ana tried.
“You’re not the same as who you were before” Autumn spoke up, gaining the Bipolar one’s attention. “You were much more…kind. You’ve lost your kindness”
The girl tilted her head. “My kindness?”
Autumn gestured for her to come closer. Despite the confusion, she obliged by coming near. The shrunken one then pointed to her heart. “In there, something’s missing. Tell me what those Antis had done to make you so cold”
The girl bit her lip before shaking her head. “It’s not a pretty story”
“Tell me anyway”
The Captain then looked around, her eyes widening when she realized where they were. It was a plot of dead ground. The trees were burnt. The sky was red as blood along with puffs of smoke. A few blades lay around, along some rubble that could've been buildings.
“It was here” she spoke, fear in her tone. “I was just a soldier at war, alongside my Hester. Everything was breaking up, and Lauren was gone, we went out to the battlefield to face the enemy”
She then shuddered as she felt a few of the voices come to her.
“Stay with me, please? I can’t lose any more people I love”
“One more time. I’ll be fine. Sometimes peace is just enough”
“Don’t leave me! Please don’t be the seventh child in the row!”
“Hazel? Hazel!” Autumn’s voice rang out, snapping the girl out of her thoughts.
“I’m fine” she wiped a small tear out.
“Are you?”
The girl was about to speak when she was stopped by Anastasia. “Do you hear that?”
She tilted her head in confusion before she then strained her ears to try and find it. She then yelped. “Antis!”
The mare then grabbed Autumn as she and the Captain made a run for it. The hound was back and on their tail. And to think they were alright! Ana had to fly a bit to dodge the trees and branches while Hazel turned into a swarm of brown butterflies and mist to dodge. They soon reached a dead end, there was river up ahead, but Ana was already too weak to fly and Hazel’s own Butterfly Dodge was too short to cross.
“Hand her to me, I could still turn into a Pegasus” the girl offered, turning into her Hysteria form. But this time, she was different. She had her pale pink skin but her mane was orange. Her armor was on top of her black dress now while her muzzle had what looked like a black mouth guard.
Ana nodded before handing over the heir to her. “Fly ahead and then hide to avoid them. Only when it’s clear can you continue”
The Captain nodded before putting Autumn on her back. “Hold on tightly” only when she fastened did the girl take off, flying as fast as she could.
“Down with the Bloody Red Imposter!” Ana proclaimed as the guards neared her.
Hazel made it to the other side right on time, hiding behind the tree and Autumn on her shoulder. They peered from the side. And they could only look on as Anastasia was taken away by the guards and Knave. Only when the coast was clear did Hazel let out a sigh and changed back into her Equestria Girl form. She tried to walk on, but ended up limping.
“Are you okay?” Autumn asked with concern.
She peered at her left leg, which had a huge cut on it. “Just a scratch”
“A scratch wouldn’t make you limp”
The Captain sighed.
Autumn looked around before noticing a hole in the tree that looked like it was forming a den. “Let’s rest here for tonight”
“Oh fine” she reluctantly did as told, going at the den in the tree and propped herself up as she put the shrunken girl down. She then took out a small bottle of medical alcohol and roll of bandages. She applied the medical supplies on her leg to heal her wound. Autumn noticed that she didn’t flinch when it was applied.
“We go, first thing in the morning” she spoke after her leg was all patched up.
Autumn nodded.
Hazel then got up from where she was and took some sticks nearby. She then went and made a small fire to keep them both warm. The heir could guess that she was taught that too. She then took out a small box in her bag and pulled out a small fish. Adding a drop of water from her bottle on which made it grow. She then cut enough for Autumn to eat in her small size and ate the rest. They both then drank some water in her water bottle.
Hazel then put out the fire when they went in the den to retire for the night. She put Autumn up on a makeshift-shelf in the wall above.
“Did they teach you this back at the war forces?” the heir asked.
“No, I was a Girl Scout”
“Oh” a cold wind blew around her, making her shiver.
Hazel sighed before taking a small hanky from her hat and wrapped Autumn with it. “Wouldn’t want you to catch a cold. Snowdrop would kill me”
She held onto the hanky as it were a blanket. “Hazel, why are you so angry at me?”
“You know why”
“But, that’s just for the Antis. Why are you mad at me? You didn’t even hesitate to stab me when I said this was a dream”
“What will get you to shut?”
The girl knew it was risky, but she had to take it. “Can I see you smile?”
Hazel glared at her.
“Please, I just need something calming after a day like today”
“I’ve been working in this war for years and I haven’t desired anything than a job well done and this whole mess over”
“Well, I’m not used to it!” she then calmed down and gave a kind smile, as though trying to teach her how to. “Please, just one? My mother said that you smiled a lot the whole time she was around, even grinned! Please, Hazel, would you smile for me?”
Her last words were enough to rouse some old memory from years ago. It was painful, and she didn’t want to think about it, but it had forced its way back into her.
“Hazy…will you…smile…for me? Please…one last time?”
“I’m…I’m smiling…”
“Always be brave…thank you…”
Autumn called to her when she noticed the girl had fallen into a daze as a tear fell from her one visible eye. “Hazel…are you…crying?”
The girl snapped out of her daze before she shut her eyes tightly with a growl. “Go to sleep, young Dervila”
Autumn said no more as she lied down to rest while the Captain beneath her did the same. She did notice that she was in a sleeveless outfit and it was cold, but she wasn’t shivering.
Autumn woke up to hear yelling coming from outside. She peeked down and saw Hazel with Winona. When the Pegasister noticed she was awake, she picked her up from the shelf.
“You were supposed to lead them away! Anastasia trusted you!” Hazel yelled at the hound.
“They have my owner” the dog apologized.
“Winona, sit”
The dog obliged before asking. “Would that little one with you be named Autumn, by any chance?”
“Yes, but I’m not sure if I’m the one everypony here is talking about” the shrunk girl spoke.
“Ana wouldn’t have given herself up just for any Autumn”
“Winona, where did they take her?”
“To the Anti’s Castle”
“We’re going to rescue her” the heir spoke.
“That is not foretold” Hazel glared.
“I don’t care! She wouldn’t have been there if it weren’t for me!”
“Third Victory Day is nearing, we must go the Twilight and Snowdrop, NOW!” Hazel glared.
Autumn had enough. “From the moment I fell down that rabbit hole, I’ve been told what I must do and who I must be! I’ve been shrunk, stretched, scratched, and stuck into a teapot! I’ve been given glares by Miss No Smile here! I’ve been accused of being Autumn and of not being Autumn, but this is MY dream! I decide where it goes from here!”
“I’m a Captain taking orders from a shrunken girl! I’ll be away for a bit, but if you need me, call my name and I’ll be there” Hazel spoke as she disappeared again.
Autumn managed to board on Winona easily. She had to make sure she grappled on her collar tightly to avoid falling. When they did get to the Castle, Autumn had to cross a moat full of heads of those who were killed by the Antis. She prayed that when this was over, they would come back to life like her mother told her. She made sure not to fall. It was tricky, and literally stinky, work to get across, but she finally got through it. Luckily for her, she found a small crack in the wall so she got through easily.
She saw it looked rather like the Faust Garden her mother told her about. Hiding behind a bush, she saw that the King was playing croquet the same way Queen Faust did. She dodged the tied-up hedgehog that was shot. As she ran over to help the poor thing, she heard clapping.
“Where’s my ball? Pitch!” the King David called.
“Yes, your Highness” Twilight nodded before running off to retrieve it.
Autumn herself had already untied the poor thing. It was squeaking possibly from the trauma and fear. It only calmed down when she fully untied it. By that time, Twilight had found her, and the creature fled.
“Well, if it isn’t the wrong Autumn” she mocked Hazel’s tone. “What brings you here, hmm?”
“I’ve come to save Anastasia and everyone else if possible”
“You won’t be able to save anypony if you’re the size of a gerbil”
Autumn thought for a bit. “Well, do you have more of that cake that made me grow before?”
Twilight nodded before fidgeting in her pocket. “Yes, I have saved a little left”
Meanwhile, David was getting rather impatient. He was beginning to wonder if Twilight was helping the hedgehog escape. He and the others then went over and began to walk where the Alicorn headed off.
Twilight had already given Autumn the small piece of ‘Eat Me’ cake, checking to make sure that no one was there yet. Autumn herself had already begun to eat the cake, but was already taking two mouthfuls of it.
“Not all of it!” she tried, but it was too late. Autumn was growing again, but this time, too much. “No, don’t do that! Oh dear!” she sighed before running off.
Autumn herself was already too tall. She towered over the giant hedge in the garden that she hid behind. When the King and the others came over, he was rather confused. He knew Lauren, but never met her daughter. He didn’t know it was her.
“And what is this?” the King asked.
“It’s a who, your Majesty” Twilight corrected cautiously. “This is…Cam…”
“Cam?” he titled his head in confusion.
Autumn thought fast. “From Cambridge”
David sighed before turning back to her. “What happened to your clothes?”
Autumn thought a bit before speaking. “I outgrew them. I’ve been growing an awful lot lately. I tower over the others at the Fandom side. They laughed at me. So I’ve come to you, hoping you might accept me as I am”
David smiled gently. “My dear girl, anyone with a hate for the Fandom side like that is welcome in my court” he then turned to the others. “Someone find her some clothes. Make them from the curtains if necessary. But clothes, please, for this enormous girl”
Autumn smiled. She had them fooled.
“The snowflakes sound sad today, have you been speaking with them?” Snowdrop asked when she passed by them, followed by several OCs. She was wearing an icy blue dress with white lace and had snowflake designs on it. She was wearing her Alicorn Amulet-like crown.
“Yes, Snowdrop” a skeletal pony answered.
“A little gently, please” she asked, to which he nodded. “Thank you”
She then turned around when she saw Winona approaching the area. She asked to be excused, and they all nodded before leaving to their paths. She thanked them for it. She was walking as lady-like as she could to maintain a stature infront of them. Only when they were all away did she walk faster like herself. She kneeled down infront of Winona before she used a spell to allow her to speak.
“What news have you brought, Winona?”
“Autumn…has come to Wonderland…” the dog panted.
The Alicorn smiled at the news. The heir was here. “Where is she now?”
“At the…Anti’s Castle…forgive me…I made her diverge…from her path…”
Snowdrop pet the dog gently. “No, that is exactly where she will fill the Quillette Blade. We have our new Queen. Rest now, you’ve done well”
“We must find Autumn, Bret, we simply must” David spoke as they both paced around in his thinking room. “Without the Jabberwocky, the Fandom side will surely wipe against us”
David’s thinking room held a regal display of royalty. The furniture was held up by several ponies they captured. They were heaving on their backs as they tried to keep their positions. There was a veranda which gave a clear view of the moat full of the heads of those they beheaded
David sneered. “They are the craziest forms of fans I have ever seen. Why do they adore her little kids’ show but not ours?”
“I cannot fathom it. We are far superior”
“Yes, but Lauren’s My Little Pony show can make nearly anyone fall inlove with it. Men, women, young, old” he then turned to those ponies holding up the furniture. “Even the furniture”
“Even the Queen?” Thomas eyed one specific head in the moat.
Tom looked down to where he was looking. Floating down in the moat was the head of Dana Perino, one of their other workers at Fox News and the former Queen of the Hater side. They found that she secretly loved the show and they simply had her beheaded.
“I had to do it” Tom spoke. “She would’ve left us”
While they spoke, they had no idea that Twilight had tiptoed into the room to retrieve the Scroll of Events which was on one of the tables. She stealthily made her way through. The ponies there did their bests to stay quiet so as to not get her caught. It was a good thing that David and Bret were too preoccupied with plans that they didn’t even notice her. She then managed to leave as quickly as possible.
Autumn was trying to find her way to Anastasia’s room. The Antis decided to let her live if she kept making some nice outfits for David to wear. Still, she had a chain on her left hind leg to keep her from escaping, but provided enough room for her to work with. Bret then went and pinned Autumn to a wall. “I like you, Cam” he whispered seductively. “I like largeness”
She sure didn’t like him. “Get away from me!” she then shoved him aside before walking on.
Neither was aware that an Anti was watching them before slinking away.
“They’re wonderful” Autumn complimented the outfits that Anastasia made. The young dressmaker was able to create such stunning suits that her mother would be proud of. They came in all types of designs under the style of royalty. They were perfect.
“It’s so nice to be working in my craft again. My mom Rarity would be proud” she smiled as she stitched another one to add to the many around.
“It’s just a pity that you have to make them for him”
Those words made Ana suddenly stop working. She suddenly began to mumble something incoherent. She sounded like she was wondering about something. Autumn couldn’t make out her words. The mare then walked from the sewing machine a distance off before she kicked at the empty mannequin infront of her. She could’ve done more damage to the room if Autumn didn’t stop her by making her face her.
“Have you any idea why a raven is like a writing desk?” Ana asked her riddle again. “I’m frightened, Autumn. I really don’t like here. It’s really crowded with enemies in here”
The girl knew that she was upset about her surroundings. She would be too if she were forced to sew dresses for kidnappers.
“Have I gone mad?”
Autumn didn’t want to hurt the mare so she tried a trick she learned from her father. She put her hand on the mare’s head as though to feel her temperature and spoke up. “I’m afraid so, you’ve gone entirely bonkers”
Ana seemed troubled.
“But let me tell you a secret: All the best people are”
Her words made her calm down.
“Anastasia, where are my hats?!” the king called out in angry tone. “I’m a very busy man!”
Ana then whispered to the girl. “I’ve heard that she keeps the Quillette Blade somewhere in the Castle. Go to Twilight, she may know. Find it, Autumn, and take it back to Snowdrop”
“We’re going to Snowdrop together”
She pretended to be frustrated with a sigh. “Why is it you’re always either too small, or too tall?”
Autumn looked around for any familiar faces she knew were on her side. Though she had to look for one, the others would be very helpful. She soon came across two.
“Cake Twins!”
“Autumn!” they both smiled when they saw her. “How do you do again?”
“I’m happy to see you both again too, but where’s Twilight?”
“How is it that you’re now so big?” Pound asked.
“She’s not big, Pound! This is how she normally is!”
“I’m certain she was shorter when we met!”
“No, she drank that old DRINK ME potion to get through the door, remember now?”
“Oh yeah”
She sighed. “Where’s Twilight?”
“This way!” they both pointed to opposite directions before noticing where the other was pointing. “That way!” they pointed again in opposite direction.
She blew a raspberry in frustration.
It wasn’t so hard finding Twilight after the twins finally agreed on which way to go. She was kept around to make appointments possible, but knew very well of where the Quillette Blade was. Twilight pointed to the shack in the middle of the stone area. “The Blade is hidden inside”
Autumn took a step forward as the Alicorn warned her to be careful. She then looked around nervously before she went to follow her. The girl then neared the door, recognizing a familiar smell. She was no dog, but she knew the scent was familiar. She peeked in through a small crack in the wall and saw it.
It was the Ursa Major they ran into earlier, now lacking an eye and sleeping softly.
“I’m not going in there. Look at what that thing did to my arm” she then showed her wounded arm to Twilight. It was now swelling red and didn’t show any signs of healing.
She got worried when she saw it. “Why didn’t you mention this before?”
“It wasn’t this bad when it had first aid”
“Oh dear” Twilight took a deep breath to calm down.
Autumn then thought for a bit before an idea came to her mind. She called out slightly, but not loud enough for anyone to hear. Hazel appeared. Autumn requested for the Ursa Major's eye she obtained a while back, and she reluctantly gave it before disappearing again. She then told Twilight to go, assuring her that she would be alright.
With a deep breath, Autumn opened the door and went inside. The sound was enough to rouse the Ursa from its sleep. It growled slightly at her before she held out the eye after removing it from the jar.
“I have your eye” she then rolled it over to it.
It looked down with its only eye and growled slightly at her before she backed up into a corner to show she was no threat. It then settled down and put the eye back into its socket.
She then went around the creature to find an object being hidden by a cloak above it. She removed it to reveal a chest with several marks embedded on it. She tried to open it, but it was locked. She tried to break it, but those sounds were enough to make the Ursa turn its head to her and roared.
She tried to open the lock as much as she could, but it was stuck. She was suddenly starting to feel weaker and tried. Between trying to break the lock and falling, she fell. She sat beside the chest before she checked her scratched wound. It was swollen and not healing. The sight of it suddenly made the Ursa seem sorry for her for what it did because it lied down. She then passed out.
“Cam forced herself upon me. I noticed something though on her. She has the mark of a Pegasister on her” Bret lied as he was being held for questioning before the King. He was brought in after one of the fellow Antis told on him as he was trying on the new suits Anastasia made. He rejected them all quite harshly.
David looked at the accused man for assurance. He always believed in Bret as his most trusted adviser.
“Off with her head!”
Autumn then woke up when she heard a growl nearby. She looked up to see the Ursa Major staring at her. It somehow managed to get all the requirement the Antis put on it off. At first, she thought it was going to kill her, but it didn’t. It was showing her the collar on its neck also showed a key. It was safe to assume that was the key of the chest. She reached out slowly for it, enlisting a growl from the creature. She retracted back slightly, and waited for it to calm down before she went and finally go the key.
As she pulled back, the Ursa then began to lick her wound. She was confused and a little disgusted at first, but let it be. As it licked the wound, it began to heal until it was normal. She looked at it to see that it was well now, just going to be a scar, The Ursa then nodded to her.
“I suppose this makes us even now” she spoke to it.
It seemed to agree as it laid down to rest.
She then turned and fiddled the lock with the key until it finally opened. She lifted the case and saw the object within. It was a small knife with the markings of a quill. It was no doubt to be the Quillette Blade. She lifted it up, feeling a warm surge of energy radiate from it. It was as though she could feel her mother as she held it. She then stood up and left the shack with it, giving one last look at the sleeping Ursa Major before leaving.
“Stand back, Anastasia” Autumn called as she entered the room with the Blade and got ready to use it on the chain that held her close to the table. “How’s this for kindness?”
Ana tried to warn her. “No! Don’t! It mustn’t be used for anything except…”
She was interrupted when the door behind them opened with a bang. Two guards came in with Bret. “Arrest that girl for unlawful seduction!” he accused.
She guessed he was doing this to get even with her for not letting him have his way with her. The two guards approached while Ana started to walk infront of her. “Take it to Snowdrop!”
“I’m not leaving without you!”
“Go!” she then grabbed two of her rolls of fabric and threw it down on the guards as thought they were scrolls.
Their weight was enough to make the guards incapacitated when they were trapped under them. Bret then went forward to try and attack Ana himself. She threw a hat she was working on at him, which he slashed in two with his sword. She then reached for the mannequin nearby, but she couldn’t due to the chain. Autumn pulled it from the table to allow her to move more. Ana then grabbed the mannequin and used it as a shield to protect herself from Bret’ sword. She then used her magi cot grab the powder nearby and hit Bret several times with it before he was slightly dizzy. She then found her perfume sprayer and got ready to spray it in his face as he neared her.
“Run, Autumn!” Twilight cried out, covering her mouth when she realized what she had done.
Both Bret and Ana then looked at her. Ana got worried know that he knew who she really was while Bret smiled now. “Autumn”
She gulped in fear now that they knew.
“Run!” Ana cried out.
The girl did so reluctantly. When she was gone, Bret turned his face back to Ana, only to be met by a spray of perfume that got into his eyes. He was able to slip slightly to make her fall to the ground unconscious. He eyed the door that his target took to escape.
“Seize her”
Autumn ran as fast as she could to get away from the guards that were now catching up to her. She didn’t know how long she could go on. She was tired and weakened so it was only a matter of time before she would collapse. Her legs hurt and her throat was burning, but she had to keep going. It was soon in vain when another troop confronted her from the front. She was surrounded. They neared in for the kill when a glow appeared infront of them and exploded; sending them all flying a distance off and knocking them all out unconscious.
When Autumn opened her eyes, she was surprised to see it was Hazel. She actually came to her rescue. She was panting as though tired before she looked back to the girl she was protecting. “Are you alright?”
Autumn nodded.
“Good, I came on time” she then turned her head back when they both heard a new group of footsteps nearing them. She took out a piece of EAT ME cake she kept in her dress’ pocket and took a small nibble, causing her to grow to Autumn’s height. She then took her by the hand before she started to dash off with her.
The girl was surprised at that. Hazel was really hostile towards her and told her she would only come if she called for her. She just not only saved her from capture but was now leading her out by the hand herself. She thought she would either turn into her Butterfly Dodge form or use her Pegasus form to carry her, but she didn’t. This was new.
They soon managed to get out of the castle and onto the ground where the Ursa Major’s shack was. But they were soon ambushed by another troop of Antis. They were everywhere. And there was so many of them in every corner. They pointed their spears at them threateningly. Autumn noticed that Hazel looked like she was preparing for another dazing explosion as she shrank to normal size when they heard a voice.
“Autumn” Bret called, making them both turn his attention to her. Autumn pointed the Blade to the knights while Hazel took out her dagger and was pointing it to them as she circled around the girl protectively.
“Of course, why didn’t I see it before?” the Knave mocked. “But has been so long when we met in reality and you were such a little tyke back then. Give me the Blade”
“Stay back!” Hazel warned. Autumn swore she saw her fangs peeking out and dripping with venom.
“The King will be so pleased. He will take great pleasure in cutting off your head”
“Not if I can help it!”
“I’m surprised you still stayed with the Fandom despite everything that’s happened” he spoke to Hazel.
“I’m surprised you stayed with him despite how you are at risk yourself”
Right as soon as she spoke, roaring was heard from behind them all. They turned to see that the shack where the Ursa Major stayed suddenly broke open. They then watched as the Ursa came over to Autumn’s side and gestured for her to get on. She did so, also pulling up the Pegasister with her. They then held on tightly as The Ursa got out of the castle with them on it.
“Oh! Autumn!” Winona cried out as she showed herself.
“Winona, to Snowdrop!”
The dog obliged by braking and running a distance ahead of the Ursa to lead the way. They were surely on an advantage now. They got the Quillette Blade, what was needed to ensure victory on the battleground.
“You’re Highness” Bret called as he ran to David. “Autumn has escaped!”
The King seemed surprised. The girl was in his castle and he didn’t even know it? She was even able to get out? He slapped the Knave as hard as he could.
“…on the Ursa Major”
Another slap, atleast things couldn’t go any worse.
“…with the Quillette Blade”
That was the worst thing to happen. He slapped him so hard he fell to the floor. “HOW COULD YOU LET THIS HAPPEN?!”
“It appears she has her mother’s cunningness” he then took a deep breath. “But we have an edge over them: Her friend Anastasia, and the Captain’s guardian”
Autumn held on tightly as the Ursa Major ran to follow Winona as she led them to Fandom’s Castle. Hazel was right behind her, holding on as well to avoid her own falling. They both then noticed that the Castle was just up ahead now.
It was beautiful. It had the structure of Twilight’s Castle. It had several snowflakes hovering over it. There were carvings on the sides of the walls, as well as how it looked like it was made of some wood. As they neared the mini-barrier protecting it, they were confronted by five guards.
The leading one was a Pegasus that they could assume was from the show. The others were a Griffon, a grown dragon, a donkey, and a robotic pony. They each wore armor that appealed to their sizes, and each wielded a spear.
Winona cowered down for forbearance. The Ursa Major may have been away for quite a long time, but knew he had to cower in order to not anger them into attacking. Autumn herself was unsure of what to do. She wanted to go up and tell them it was fine, but they didn’t know if she was the one they waited for. Hazel simply got off the Ursa and walked up to them.
They eyed her and checked before confirming she was one of them. “What’s the password?” the leading one asked.
Rather than an answer, she glared. “Password? Look at me!” she grabbed him by the collar without any mercy to make him face her eye to eye, making the others around seen surprised and fearful. “I am your Captain! The Captain does not recite the password!” she punched him in the face, kicked him in the stomach and right where the sun don’t shine, making him fall down.
“The Captain makes up the password, idiots!” she yelled at them. “And I’m about to make a new password right now. The new password is DON’T ASK THE CAPTAIN FOR THE PASSWORD!” she yelled at the top of her lungs as she sent them flying a few feet back from her volume.
They all stared at her, the leading guard more frightened than the others. They all then moved aside so as to avoid making her angry, and avoid her wrath.
She then took a deep breath before recomposing herself. “Stay close to me” she spoke to the ones behind her as she led them in.
Autumn did as she was told. Even though she had a size difference, she did not want to end up like that pony guard. They then left the Ursa at the nurse’s office for checking and Winona at her room to rest. They then went up to the Throne Room and found Snowdrop sitting on the throne that had her cutie mark on it. Hazel then left to go to her own room to get some rest. Several OCs smiled as Autumn walked past them.
Snowdrop smiled warmly as she stood up from her throne. “Welcome to Fandom Castle” she greeted the young Autumn.
“Believe this belongs to you” she smiled as she handed over the Quillette Blade.
Snowdrop seemed surprised to see it. She couldn’t believe it was here again. She closed her eyes as she felt its blade with her hoof before smiling. She enjoyed the warm feeling it gave her.
“The Quillette Blade is home again” she then put it on the arms set nearby. “The armor is finally complete” she then turned back to Autumn. “Now all we need is a Champion” she then noticed how much taller the girl was. “You’re a little taller than I thought you’d be”
“Blame it on too much EAT ME cake”
“Oh” she smiled before offering a hoof. “Come with me”
Snowdrop still had the antidote to the EAT ME cake and gave enough of it to Autumn to make her return to normal size. She was rather concerned when she learned that they had Twilight. She gave Autumn a violet dress that was just her size so she could have something to wear. She then led her to a room she was to stay in.
It had creamy white walls and chestnut shade railings. It had a balcony with large windows for doors so she may gaze out. There was a mirror on a dresser beside a wardrobe filled with dresses for different occasions.
Her bed was a white mattress with a white pillow and brown, wooly blanket. She thanked Snowdrop before the Pegasus returned to her duties. She then lay on the bed and drifted off for some sleep.
“One…two…three…” Hazel counted with her eyes closed before she looked down. “What’s the matter, Sweetheart? Can’t go any further that in the ones digit? I’ve sat on rookies that had more umps!”
“How are you so heavy?” Autumn groaned as she tried to do push-ups while Hazel sat on her back. She fell down from the weight.
It had been a day since they got out of the Anti’s Castle and escaped with the Quillette Blade. Still, there were a few more days before the due date and they had to prepare for such. Autumn was very inexperienced in terms of actually fighting so she had to have someone to train her. Hazel was assigned for the task, and she making sure the girl had a hard time.
“Hazel, don’t you think you’re being a little bit harsh?” Snowdrop asked while she watched.
“Hey, if she doesn’t man-up to the level the rest of us have here, she’s going to be dead meat in a heartbeat. She needs to be pushed to her breaking point as the others here have. Besides, Typevader here was the one who assigned me to her”
The said Brony nodded. “Be careful, though, okay? It seems our Princess here is very delicate”
“Do you treat everyone in the army like this?” Autumn whined underneath the Captain.
“No, just in their training, but I need to be strict. I’m not Captain for nothing, Dervila”
“Since when have you gone strict? And why do you keep calling me Dervila?”
“Hey, stop talking. Just follow my regime and taking down the Jabberwocky will be easier than shooting fish in a barrel. Now give me another set!”
“I trust then that your training today went well?” Snowdrop asked awkwardly. Autumn had gone through Hazel’s regime for the day and was dismissed as the Captain had to attend to ‘other businesses’. Now, she was sitting on a couch opposite of Snowdrop in the living room.
“If you mean by back-breaking, then yes” she stretched slightly to fix her back.
“Right, I apologize for her attitude lately. She hasn’t been like her old self in quite a while”
“No kidding. How did this happen?”
Snowdrop looked down with a frown as she didn’t want to speak. Her face was rather solemn.
“Snowdrop, how did this happen?” she asked again, this time more urgent.
The snow filly sighed before she began to speak. “You noticed how much she’s changed? And I mean also physically”
“I noticed. She’s grown up and wearing armor”
“Yes, but have you noticed something else? Something missing?”
Autumn thought for a bit as she tried to remember what changed in Hazel. Let’s see, she’s still wearing a black dress and boots. She’s wearing armor. She’s wearing a hat, that’s new. But…then it hit her.
“Hester!”
Snowdrop nodded solemnly.
“Why? Where’s Hester?”
Again, the Alicorn refused to respond.
“Where’s Hester, Snowdrop?”
“I could take you to her” Typevader spoke up as he entered the room.
The Alicorn with them grew alarmed. “Typevader, please don’t”
“She wants answers, I’ll show her”
“Type, you know how much it upsets Hazel”
“She’s away, training herself at the Army Training Room. I mean, come on, Snowdrop. Twilight said it herself that Autumn needs to know and befriend all of us otherwise she really won’t be strong enough to fight even a dog”
The snow filly looked rather nervous and unsure. “But her OCs…”
“Are with their Mom. Everything will be fine”
“I would love to meet Hester. Mom said she was nice” Autumn spoke up before anyone else could.
Snowdrop sighed before nodding. “If you get caught and kicked out of the room by her Partner, don’t say I didn’t warn you”
Typevader soon led Autumn up to one of the rooms in the Castle. It was a very private area from what she could tell and was heavily guarded. They soon managed to reach the room by the end. Inside were six coffins, each having the name of a Brony or Pegasister on the front, along with their aura’s photo. In the middle was one body lying on a white bed. One the bed was a familiar figure.
Autumn slowly approached Hester lying on her bed. “Um, hello, Hester. I’m Autumn. I’m sorry for disturbing…” only when she got close did she notice it: Hester was dead. She was pale and lifeless. Eyes were black orbs. She had several cracks in her body. Her hat was also gone, but then again it was seen worn by Hazel.
“Yeah, she can’t hear you” Typevader then casted a faint spell. It did nothing at first, but then, Hester suddenly bounded up.
“Hello, Autumn. I’m Hester. Would you like to know what killed me?”
Those very words made Autumn nearly faint as she fled from the room. When she did, Typevader let go of the spell as Hester’s body dropped dead and lifeless again.
“I’m sorry, old friend” he apologized softly as he fixed her blanket and left the room.
“Now you see why?” Snowdrop asked when Autumn came back, all horrified at what she had seen.
She nodded.
“Tell me, how did that happen?”
She sighed. “When you thought we didn’t exist. Everything here is a reflection of what happens out there in the real world. While you were struggling to believe we were existing or not, Hazel and Hester had gone into the battlefield. Without Lauren to hold the barrier up, it broke down. The King was going to kill us all. He already killed so many, and others were taken as hostage. Among the dead were Hazel’s brother Trey and her sister Spring. Among the hostages, her adopted father Shadow Kirby”
Autumn was starting to get it. “That’s terrible”
Snowdrop nodded. “With almost all family members gone, she could’ve broken down from pressure. She still had one more that helped her”
“Hester”
“Yes, but it didn’t last long. They had to go for one last resort that would hold off until you came of age for Twilight to find you”
She then picked up a book from the shelf nearby and flipped it to a specific page before showing it to the girl. “Hidebrits have this ability that would allow them to create several mini-barriers of refuge all alone without any help from either me or Twilight. But it always came at a cost”
Autumn read the part. “It would slowly tear them apart, forming cracks in their being”
“Indeed, it was dangerous, but they had to take it. They slowed the process down by taking on the cracks together. But when their power had to be used, it was already the end of the line, supposedly for both of them”
Autumn peeked up.
“Hazel knew what would happen, and she hated for it to be. Hester had to be the one in control since she was the actual bearer. But once used, it would kill her. Hazel couldn’t save her. The next thing we knew, we had several barriers around us and she was walking home with a dead Familiar in her arms”
Autumn covered her mouth from shock.
“She took a long while to mourn. She didn’t speak, or eat for several days. When she left the house, she wasn’t the same anymore”
“Poor girl”
Snowdrop nodded. “That wasn’t the worst part”
Autumn listened for it.
“Ever wondered why she’s acting so hostile to you?” she paused for a moment before speaking. “The moment Hester died was the moment you assured yourself we don’t exist”
Autumn gasped in shock. So that was why Hazel hated her so much. She let her Familiar, her only family left, die. She was hurt badly and still mourning.
Hazel walked past the desk next to Hester before looking at her dead Familiar. She was so at peace now. She was completely free from the pain and horrors going on. She still remembered that day she died. It was too much.
She noticed a small tear and wiped it off her. Hester didn’t move at all, but if she were alive, she could’ve smiled at her. How she missed her smile. She held her close as small tears came to her eyes. She then carefully laid her back down. She wiped her own tears off. She felt the essence of the Hidebrit Gene circulate in her. Hester died, but a part of her managed to live on now in her.
“I’ll make them pay, Hest” she spoke to her softly. “I’ll make sure they pay”
Autumn looked to find that she was in nothing more than a dark room. It was an endless abyss. Nothing was there. No one was there. It was just her. She was feeling scared at what was going on, but she tried to remain calm.
Sob
Her head lifted when she heard that. A faint sound of crying was heard, echoing in the emptiness. Someone else was there. She walked steadily around, following the sound until she came across something weird.
“Hester?”
Hester Hide sat crying, her back turned to her. The Familiar did not stir. She steadily put a hand to her back after kneeling beside her. The Familiar perked up and looked over to her.
“Lauren?”
“No, Hester, I’m not Lauren. I’m Autumn, her daughter”
“Autumn…” she then glared. “Why are you here?! After so long only now you show up! Why?! Did you leave us there to die?!”
“I’m sorry. I really am”
“You should be! Now look where we are! I’m dead, and Hazel’s poignant! Do you hear me?! Or did you not care?!”
The girl flinched at her anger. Though small in form, she was definitely tougher. She only noticed she was barely keeping it together. Her voice was cracking. Her tears were flowing.
Steadily, she reached out and enveloped her in a hug, ignoring her protests. The Familiar angrily kicked and flailed around but to no avail. She soon wore herself out and broke down in a torrent of tears. The girl did her best to comfort her.
“I’m sorry” she spoke when she calmed down.
“Don’t be. I practically deserved it”
“Autumn, can you do me a favor?”
“Sure, what is it?”
“Help Hazel”
The girl was surprised at that. “What?”
“Please, I need you to help my sister. She’s angry, yes, but she’s very heartbroken inside. She never was the same after I died, but I don’t want her to be stuck this way forever. I tried to tell Twilight, and Snowdrop, but they couldn’t do it. You, on the other hand, may have a chance. All she needs is some care and comfort. She will be difficult at first, but you will be able to reach her eventually”
The girl stared at the Familiar for a bit before deciding so. Hazel was very cold and always seemingly on edge. But she knew that it was probably to hide her pain. She could’ve left her there to run alone, but she didn’t. She could’ve let her be captured, but she came. Perhaps there was some hope for her.
“Okay, Hester. I’ll do my best”
“Thank you” she then rested beside her. “Can I stay here a bit, until you wake up? It’s so lonely here in this limbo”
“Alright, Hazel, do you know why I have called you here?” Snowdrop asked the young Captain. She had her summoned for a discussion involving her attitude towards Autumn. She had prepared some tea for both of them.
“Let me guess, is this because of the Autumn girl?” she folded her arms, obviously bored.
“I’m afraid so” Snowdrop nodded, putting her teacup down. “You are well aware of what would happen if she doesn’t have everyone on her side when she goes into fight”
“IF she goes into fight” she emphasized ‘if’. “She said it herself, she doesn’t slay”
“She’s confused, and overwhelmed by everything around here. You remember very well that you were Lauren’s guide when she was here. Autumn may have learned about Wonderland through the many tales she told her, but she needs to learn about this new environment we all are in. I was hoping if you, her mother’s guide, could…”
“Correction: I WAS her guide, before she…” she didn’t want to remember the last part.
“I know your resentment towards her, but I’m asking for this small favor. Lauren didn’t mean for that to happen, so don’t blame her. Please, can you just forgive Autumn and help her for once? She’s vulnerable if not all her friends are gonna be with her. She’ll need you”
The Captain kept a poker face before glaring. “Where was she then when we needed her most?”
Snowdrop sighed. She couldn’t get her to help. This was hopeless.
“It’s a good thing then that I decided to do this” Brutalight spoke as she entered the room.
Right then, Hazel started to notice something else: She was suddenly shrinking slightly. She had a feeling that it was not the DRINK ME potion that tea was laced with. She felt herself getting younger.
“What did you do?!” she demanded.
“I had a feeling that you didn’t want to cooperate, so I laced your tea with some Youth potion. Relax; I only used enough to make you grow back eight years”
“Brutalight, I said no!” Autumn yelled at her.
The now twelve-year old child lunged at the Pony Freak, taking her down by surprise. She tried to get up, but she proved to still be stronger than her age and size. “I’m done playing games!”
She then straddled Brutalight as she began to strangle her. The Alicorn tried to pry her off with magic, but the child was still very experienced due to how she put a Magic Restriction Ring on her horn. She began to throttle her without mercy. Every once and a while, she made sure to punch her in the face or kick her in the stomach.
“Of all…things I have faced…you are…by far…the craziest thing…I have encountered…” Brutalight choked out.
Right at those words, they all noticed something: There was some black liquid seemingly dripping from where Hazel’s covered, left eye was. She parted it slightly, only enough for Brutalight to see. Right then did the mare look like she was watching a horror movie.
“Change me back! Change me back! Change me back!” the child on top of her yelled at full volume.
“I can’t! It’s permanent for four days!”
Hazel stopped her whole torture process. She let Brutalight go with a loud thud. By that time, the Alicorn was already covered in bruises. She was never going to forget that experience for the rest of her life. She started to crawl away after the ring was removed, keeping a wary eye on the child who attacked her.
“Next time, I turn you into foal, or worse!” the Captain threatened. She wiped away the black, before eyeing Snowdrop and Autumn. “So how does changing me back to twelve years old solve anything?”
“Well, we are aware of your background past and all that, and how your attitude seems to be like a reflection on how your mother was like” Snowdrop spoke up.
“I am nothing like Deceptive” she called her mother by her name. “Unlike her, I don’t abuse my kids”
“But your attitude in battle is somewhat similar to her. If Twilight were here, she would agree that your anger and rage came from her, and you’re now using that in battle”
“And what if I was? Again, I don’t use it on my kids”
“That’s the thing. You see, we picked up something coming from your house. We’re going to arrange for Autumn to live there with you for a while to see how you handle your family matters, and also meet the OCs”
They didn’t know if it were either from anger or if she had a fit of Bipolar Disorder, but her eye twitched. “WHAT?!”
“Just for a few days! We have to let her meet them” she tried to not make her angry.
“She’s gonna get herself killed in there. I’m not the only one here who has resentment towards her. They have me, but they also miss their other Mom”
“A few days, okay?”
Autumn backed away slightly as Snowdrop seemed nervous. If she could attack the Queen of Pony Freaks in a way that would send her into permanent fear, what could she do to them? Finally, Hazel sighed as she walked out of the room.
“Don’t say I didn’t warn you” she grumbled.
They watched her leave before letting go of the breath they had all been holding.
“She doesn’t even need weapons, her tantrums are deadly enough”
Autumn had been accompanied by Snowdrop to get to Hazel’s house. She always wondered why the girl stayed in an ordinary home and not stay in the room reserved for her and Hester where there’s more safety. She learned that Hazel hated fancy objects due to how it brought back painful memories of her past. That was highly understandable.
When she got to the front path of the house, she was greeted by one of the OCs. It was Bunita, or Bunny, the little firstborn and Original. She looked a little different now. She had two yellow flaps coming out of her neck. She was wearing a white nightgown and was glaring at Autumn.
“Oh, hello, you must be Bunny” the girl tried to be friendly to the OC.
“It’s Bunita Katsuma to you, perp!” she yelled at her, cold and hostile. “Walk and talk with me, I haven’t got all day!”
Autumn thought that was a little rude, considering how the alien was only about seven years old according to Snowdrop. Nonetheless, she followed her to the front door.
“Okay, you’re going in. Keep your head down, your breathing normal, and with good behavior, you’ll be out in time for my graduation ceremony” right after those words, the alien turned into a mist and went in through the chimney.
Autumn knocked on the door, and was greeted by Hazel. She wasn’t wearing her armor right now, just her black dress. Right now, she looked just like how Lauren described her to be, only with shorter hair and tired eyes.
“Hey, Hazel, I hope I’m not late for dinner”
She still glared at her, probably still angry about being stuck in her twelve-year old form again. She gestured for her to come in before closing the door.
“And I hope you don’t mind sleeping in the kid’s room tonight, Sweetheart”
Hazel’s home was very well-kept. It was just simple and homely. It looked like an ordinary, average home. There were some photos around. Dinner was good too. Autumn wondered why, apart from Bunny, the OCs weren’t around. Hazel explained that she keeps them in curfew and their bedtime is always 8:00 PM every night. If she didn’t know better, she’d make a good mother in reality. She did wonder what was that about earlier from the incident with Brutalight and what was that coming from her eye, but the child always changed the topic.
“Watch your back” Hazel warned as Autumn entered the room where the OCs slept.
“Thanks, Hazel, can I just say…” she was cut off when the door slammed in her face. “I guess not”
The room of the OCs was pretty nice. It had rather peculiar beds, but it was explained that it was the OCs decision. She saw Bunochius, who was wearing a dark blue nightgown. She was sitting on a bunk bed. There were carvings on the bedposts.
“Oh, hey, you must be Bunochius” she greeted her. “Nice symbols, what’s that?”
“That is the mark of my Mother, who you left to die, so I know why I’m always empty”
“Quite the love of a child” she mumbled. “And that?”
“The marks of both my Mom and Mother together, meaning I will always love both and they always love me, and I will kill anyone who tries to intervene”
She was getting uneasy. “And that?”
“An explosion, so people will know I will unleash havoc on them if they try anything to upset my family’s happiness”
“Kinda looks like a sea urchin”
“Does it?” she looked at it.
“Yeah”
“Well, it’s hard to carve on wood with your claws, okay?!” she yelled, angrily.
“Woah, whoa, chill down, why is everyone so on edge here” she then noticed how another OC was acting. “And what’s up with her?”
Sitting on a bed made a fur was Brazy. She wore a red nightgown. She was grinning creepily, as she pet a doll she made from a filly. She then pulled the head right off and licked it. The mere sight of it made Autumn almost want to throw up.
“Yeah, I wouldn’t mess with that one. She’s been driven mad due to the goings on, and Mom tries anything to help, if you catch my drift”
Autumn smiled at the sudden calmness. “You’re welcome. I’m gonna go sleep now” she tried to climb up on the bunk bed on top.
“Hey!” she whipped the girl with a diamond attached to a string from her hat, making the girl fall. “I get the top bunk, punk!”
There goes the progress. “Ow, what was that?”
“I amplified my diamonds in the hat so they could be weapons” she growled before climbing up to the top to sleep.
Autumn sighed before she lay down. So that was what Hazel meant by she wasn’t the only one who was angry at her. Those OCs, young as they are set to, really have an attitude. She hoped that she could get them to be nice soon.
Out of the glint of her eyes, she watched as Bunster went to her electronic bed. She was wearing a faded pink nightgown. When she noticed Autumn, she glared angrily and made a sign that said, “I’m watching you”.
Now the girl was unsure if she could sleep at all with the mad OCs around her.
“I AIN’T GET NO SLEEP CAUSE OF YOU! YOU AIN’T GETTIN NO SLEEP CAUSE OF ME!”
Autumn awoke with a jolt to the sound of yelling and pots and pans banging together. She was getting deaf from all that. Once she recovered, she noticed who was waking her up like that. It all the four OCs, each armed with pots and pans as they formed an Indian circle around her as they kept yelling and banging the objects.
“LET ME HEAR YOU SAY WHOMP, WHOMP, WHOMP, WHOMP! GET UP! GET THE HECK UP! WHOMP! WHOMP! WHOMP! WHOMP! I AIN’T GET NO SLEEP CAUSE OF YOU! YA’LL AIN’T NEVER GET NO SLEEP CAUSE OF ME!”
Autumn tried to get them to stop, but they proved to be merciless to their act. She hid her head under the pillow in an attempt to block it out. Unfortunately, one of the OCs just had to Fluttershout’s daughter in design so she was still louder than her Sisters and still sounded so loud, no matter what Autumn tried.
Finally, Hazel came in and stared at the sight before her. “Children, stop!”
At once, they all stopped their antics.
“That is no way to treat a guest, even if they ARE the reason all of this happened” she reprimanded them.
“But, Mom, she turned you back to twelve!” Bunochius pointed out.
“That’s not an excuse to deprive her of sleep. Now go downstairs and eat your breakfast. I want those pots and pans back where you found them by the time I get down”
They all sighed before making their way out of the room. Hazel sighed. “It’s okay, Sweetheart, they’re gone now”
Autumn peeked out timidly. “What’s with the wake-up call?”
“That I don’t know. I was downstairs, preparing breakfast when I noticed that the pots and pans were missing. I then heard yelling and banging up here so I came to investigate. I guess they really hate you to the point that they would wake you up in the worst way possible”
Autumn sighed as she sat herself up. “Thank you for stopping them”
“Don’t thank me yet, Sweetheart” Hazel then tossed over a white shirt with a black pants over to the girl. “Wash up in the bathroom before joining us for breakfast. It’s the one with the yellow door”
The girl watched as the child left the room. She did as she was told, taking a shower in the bathroom. It was normal temp so she was fine. When she was done, she found a towel on the sink that had a paper on it, “Autumn’s”
She smiled before she started to dry herself off with it. She checked it before to make sure it wasn’t a prank by the OCs to dirty her again, and it was clean. Then again, the paper had Hazel’s handwriting. Only when she was all clean did she put on the shirt and pants. They were just her size.
She then went down for breakfast. The OCs were each eating something different. Bunny was having some salad. Brazy was finishing up on some eggs. Bunochius was having some egg sandwich. Bunster was sipping some cocoa.
She walked over to where Hazel was. The child was wearing a pink, flowery apron with white lace over her black nightgown. If she didn’t remember what happened with Brutalight, she looked rather adorable.
“Why are you staring?” the child asked, snapping Autumn out of her thoughts.
“Sorry” she hung her head low.
“It’s fine; I wear this every time I make a meal so there won’t be a mess. I didn’t choose the design, it was…” she stopped herself before handing Autumn a bowl of oatmeal and a spoon. “And in case if you’re asking why all their breakfast meals are different, it’s because of the different Versions they’re in”
Autumn nodded before taking her bowl to the table. “Aren’t you eating with us?”
“I’ll wait until you guys are done. I need to clean anyway”
“I can…”
“It’s fine”
Autumn said no more as she went to the table to take a seat. It was a little awkward sitting with those angry OCs. She saw one seat empty, but Bunochius was leaning her paw on it.
“Will you mind if I sat in that chair?” she asked cautiously.
“Yes!” Bunochius yelled before she took another bite of her sandwich.
She settled on a seat beside Bunny. Compared to the others, she was the least aggressive. As she ate, she couldn’t help but notice how the OCs looked now in daytime when not in their nightwear.
Bunny was wearing a white dress suited for the apocalypse, and her belt had a small dagger. She had yellow flaps sticking out of her neck. The flower on her collar wilted a bit and had a torn petal.
Brazy was wearing what looked like her version of Pinkamena’s dress. This one had the cutie marks of her victims. It lacked wings, and it was a cloak rather than a dress. She still had her horn collar, but it was slightly torn now.
Bunochius had looked rather tired. The gemstones on her hat were dull and rough on the edges.
Bunster was slightly dull-colored. Her left eye was bandaged. Her ribbon was faded and had a small tear in it. Her left ear was droopy. There was a burnt mark on her tail.
“Isn’t it a little dangerous for a kid with paws?” Autumn asked when she saw Brazy playing Five Finger fillet with her Agony Blade. She knew that the Huntress was immune to its effects, but was still worried.
“I wouldn’t make eye contact with her when she’s playing” Bunny spoke monotonously while popping a lettuce leaf in her mouth.
“Why?”
She got her answer when Brazy lunged forward and knocked her out of her chair. She only skedaddled away with her creepy giggle after she shoved an ordinary knife in Autumn’s mouth.
“Dervila, we’re gonna be out on your training today after breakfast. Better get ready” Hazel spoke up as she went upstairs for her armor after cleaning all the OCs plates and putting her apron aside.
Autumn groaned at the mud beneath her. Hazel may have been regressed down to twelve years old, but she still was capable of her duties as a twenty year old. It didn’t help so much that she had a smaller version of her armor with her. When someone tried to make fun of her because of her age, she made sure they walked away crawling.
Now, she was training Autumn for battle. She had dragged her through the obstacle course and military practice grounds. She had to also teach her how to fight with an actual sword, but got pinned down by the child each time.
“Come on, Dervila! The mud is your friend!” Hazel yelled at her before making her drop down and roll herself in it. “You gotta feel it! Rub in it! Smell it! Watch it!” Autumn looked up to see that Hazel had made a mud ball before throwing it in her face. “Taste it!”
“Okay, Hazel, your shift is over for now. Meet us in the living room at the Castle in half an hour, okay?” Typevader spoke as he entered the room.
“Understood” she then stared down at Autumn, who was trying to get up from the mud. “I’ll be back again soon, Sweetheart”
They couldn’t tell if she was teasing or not because she didn’t smile as she made her way out.
Typevader then helped the Princess to her feet. “I take it your day is not going very well?”
“Quite horrid, even her OCs hate me”
“Well we can deal with that later, for now we must get you all cleaned. Come now”
“Hey! I escort her in these grounds!” Hazel suddenly appeared as she took Autumn by the hand to lead her to the girls’ room.
Typevader chuckled at the sight. Normally, it’s the adults that guide the child by the hand, and now it’s been a change in roles. “Oh look at you, Autumn, commanded and led by a child”
Autumn cleaned herself up and wore a purple shirt with a plum skirt and magenta boots. She and Hazel soon returned to the Castle to meet with Snowdrop again. Right now, the Princess and Captain were walking down the hallway to the bedroom floor with the snowflake Alicorn.
Hazel was beginning to look nervous and uneasy as they walked through the regal halls. The setting was bringing back scary memories of her past. She wondered why she was brought along to go up here, but her fears were drowning out everything else. She fought the urge to let out a whimper, but the other signs were unable to be controlled. Her breathing was starting to get a little more uneasy. Her pupils were dilating. Her heart pounded.
She felt her scary memories come back to her. Her mother killing her pet bunny, her mother stealing her brother and sister’s souls, her mother separating her from Hester, her mother beating her till she bled, Hester trapped in a dark room, almost being killed by when she was finally put to justice…
“Hazel?”
Autumn’s voice snapped her out of her trance. She looked up at the woman. Was it her, or did she actually look concerned for her? She recomposed herself, but her fear was still there.
“Yes?”
“You seemed a little uneasy, are you alright?”
“Sweetheart, why haven’t I been?”
“You know, I could hold your hand if you’re getting scared” she offered.
“I’m not scared of anything! I was just thinking!” she then sighed. “Why are we here again, Snowdrop?”
“You’ll see soon”
They soon stopped infront of a door that had the symbols for Hidebrit: Two shy eyes peeking out of a bush, a pair of fangs beneath them. Hazel and Hester only went there sometimes only when needed, and they almost always had to have Shadow Kirby come along or they won’t calm down.
Snowdrop took out the key and opened it. Inside was a single bed fit for two. The room was a shade of faded pink with a lightbulb to light it. There was a shelf with books nearby. There was also a desk with pens and pencils for writing or drawing. There was also a dresser with a brush and mirror. It also had a window that gave a clear view of the Fandom side.
At that moment, Hazel already got the picture of what was going to happen. “No. No. No. No. No way. No”
“Yes, Hazel, you’re going to spend some quality time with Autumn here for the whole day. Don’t think I haven’t forgotten how much you fear the fancy quarter of the Castle if you’re alone. With Shadow not here, you need a substitute”
“No one can substitute dad”
“I know, but you must give her a shot. Yes, you have someone who takes the role of a father in your life. But you don’t have someone who takes the role of a mother. Every child needs both parents if he or she is to grow happy”
“Give it a chance, Hazel” Autumn called to her. “Hester would’ve wanted it”
The mention of her Familiar’s name caught her attention. “What do you know of Hester?”
“She was someone who meant a lot to you. She was your best friend, sister, and Familiar. You were always together…” she paused and bit her lip before continuing. “…and the reason why you hate me”
Hazel was surprised at how much the girl knew about her Familiar. She was not even afraid to admit she was the reason why she was alone. Still, she stood her ground as she faced Snowdrop.
“Dad’s enough! And if I did want a mom, I would’ve still longed for it! And besides, why her?!” she pointed to Autumn angrily, small tears appearing in her eyes. “She’s literally the last person I want since what happened to Hest!”
Autumn had to have her say. “Hazel…”
“Shut it! You don’t know what this is like! It was hard enough without dad, my brother, and my sister and yet you had to take the last person I had left! Why did you take away the one who meant the most to me?!”
“Look, Hazel, please” Autumn put a hand on the child make her pay attention. “I know what it’s like to lose someone you love. My mom died before my own eyes. She was my mother and family. I miss her smile and strength everyday”
“I miss my Familiar Hester Hide. She wasn’t even mentally strong, but she was my only family” Hazel’s voice began to crack at that.
“As long as you keep holding onto the past like that, you’ll never get to truly grieve her” that made the depressed child look at her. It was like she understood her pain. “Give me chance, okay? I promised to my mother to look after you and the others before she died. I know I can’t replace Hester, but I can help you to truly grieve her”
Hazel looked like she was thinking for a bit. Autumn was afraid of how she would be if she said no. Hester was the main reason why she was upset and cold. She may look tough and merciless on the outside, but on the inside she’s broken and still hurt. All of the pain was hidden for so many years. She was training the soldiers roughly so they won’t end up like her Familiar. She needs someone to talk to.
Finally, she sighed as she wiped away her tears. “Fine” she hid her hurt with anger.
Well, this wasn’t going so well. Autumn tried to get Hazel to atleast smile with the activities she was doing in that room with her. Snowdrop and Typevader were watching from a distance. They first tried drawing; Autumn made a sketch of her and Hazel happy, but the Captain made a sketch of her blowing Autumn up. Then they tried eating bagels; but Hazel hated the peanut butter that Autumn put on them. They then did some yoga, and the child was getting annoyed. Now, came the most awkward task.
“Fourth Test: Smile!” Autumn coached.
That was the thing. She never smiled since the day on Hester’s death. She never wanted to. She didn’t even feel it anymore. Now, she hated her decision to give the Princess a shot.
“Come on, like this, see?” she showed her smile.
Hazel tried to make herself smile, but it wasn’t working.
“Come on, show me those pearly whites!”
She was starting to feel some uneasiness. This was just like with her mother.
“Come on, you can do it!”
At that moment, her patience snapped. Her fear turned into anger. Taking a deep breath, she yelled.
“Um, Hazel?” Autumn got frightened at her.
She dodged to avoid the girl from attacking her. She got out of her range as the child threw a tantrum. She wasn’t even going for a single thing now; she was attacking everything in her sight. She was kicking around pillows and books with abandon. The black stuff from earlier was coming out again, but she didn’t even mind it, and her hair still covered the eye. All the while, she was yelling in anger.
Typevader, Snowdrop, and Autumn all hid behind one of the shelves for protection.
“Oh my goodness, I have never seen this angry before! It’s like she’s gone worse!” Autumn panicked.
“At this rate, we’re all doomed” Snowdrop covered her face.
“RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!” Hazel yelled before covering her face and dropping down on the ground as she began to roll around with abandon. They couldn’t even tell if she was having a tantrum or she’s gone mad.
Autumn cautiously approached her. She knew the dangers, but she had to calm her down. “Um, Hazel?”
The only response she got was another yell.
Carefully, she picked her up, but held her at arm’s length to avoid getting attacked. Due to how young she was now, she was slightly smaller than her so she was easier to pick up, but not easier to calm down. She flailed like a worm on a hook as her yelling echoed in the room.
“What do I do now?!” Autumn asked as she tried to keep the child from slashing her face off.
“Throw her out the window!” Typevader yelled, completely frightened and scared of the angry child.
“Restrain her!” Snowdrop cried.
“How?!” She didn’t even know what to do anymore. There was only one shot left, risky but she had to take it. Taking a deep breath, she pulled Hazel in for a bear hug. She made sure it was tight enough to not let her attack her. She yelled and kept thrashing about before her movements began to grow slower and finally stopped.
Autumn grew slightly worried when that happened. Her initial struggles were the worst thing she ever saw, but her now utter calmness was more alarming.
“Hazel?” she slowly put her down. “Are you okay?”
The Captain walked backwards a bit, staggering a little. She steadied herself, but didn’t move after. Her expression was blank. Everyone watched from where they are to see what she was going to do next. She didn’t even move after. She looked into the empty space as an old memory found its way back to her.
Lauren held Hysteria close to her in a loving embrace. This was going to be her fight for when she was going to reality to face the real-world counterpart of the Anti’s King. Everyone who Lauren befriended and met with were all scared and uneasy. She spent a moment with each to say a farewell, and let them for the best that she comes back.
She let go of Hysteria as the filly walked a bit backwards before separating back into the duo that formed her.
“Promise me one thing” Lauren whispered to them.
They nodded to listen.
“Look after her for me, okay?”
“We promise” they both said at once.
She smiled warmly at them before returning her gaze back to the others. They were all so upset and afraid of what awaited them. She was going out to face the danger’s counterpart in reality. This act will either be the one to save them, or the one that will ruin them. She walked over to the mirror as Twilight escorted her. She wiped away a tear from the mare’s eye before she went to join the others.
She stood on the mirror’s entrance, ready to go. She looked back at them. They were all waving at her. Some stronger ones hid their tears, other let them fall freely.
“Wish me luck, everypony”
Hazel always felt what Hysteria felt in that form. She always remembered that hug. It was the last one she ever shared with Lauren, together with Hester. It was almost like her dad’s. She never had a hug in a long time. Autumn’s reminded her of it, and was breaking the stone wall she built around her heart.
She felt her tears fall. The black from her left one was replaced with normal water. She bit her lip as she tried to swallow her sobbing. It was a hard battle as it just shook her body.
“Hazel?” Autumn called to her again.
She looked up to her. She knew it was her the moment she fell down, but she was trying to convince herself it wasn’t. Heck, she even looked almost exactly like Lauren. And her Essence? You know the answer. Before Lauren left to the battle she returned from, she made her and Hester promise that they would look after her daughter as they did to her when she comes. She never breaks promises, but she did, because she was angry and hurt.
One’s Essence can sometimes be slightly broken or dented for a while if they feel extreme and insatiable hurt or guilt. Right now, hers was already having a small crack in the middle. It hurt slightly, but she had another hurt in her. The sorrow and pain from Hester’s death was consuming her. It hurt so much that she used her temper to hide it. But now, it was all too much to conceal.
“I’m sorry!” she sobbed as she lunged forward to the Princess. “I can’t…I can’t do this anymore! It hurts! It hurts! It hurts!”
“What hurts, Hazel?” Autumn tried to ask the crying child. She couldn’t speak anymore as her voice choked with sobs. She held her close in a comforting embrace as she pet her hair to try and calm her down. “Shh, it’s okay, Hazel, it’s okay. Whatever hurts, just tell me what it is. I’m here for you. Just let it out, let it all out, don’t hold it back in. Just let it out”
And she did.
From a distance, Typevader and Snowdrop looked on. Crying, that was the one thing they never saw Hazel do since the day Hester died. She was never seen crying again. They got it now. On the outside, she was tough and merciless, and the inside was soft and still broken. Autumn had found that part of her.
Autumn sipped the tea that Snowdrop had called up for. They were still trying to process what just happened back there. Now, they were all in the living room again with Typevader. Hazel had worn herself out from crying and passed out. Autumn tucked her in her bed so she could get some rest. It looked like she hadn’t in quite a long time.
“Teen or adult, she’s still prone to passing out after a sob fest” Snowdrop mused.
“How did you know that would calm her?” Typevader referred to the tight hug from earlier.
“I don’t know. I just…I felt she was angry and something was hurting her from the inside other than mourning and I just had to pull her in for a hug. I guess it really must’ve brought back her sensitive side”
“I hope she gets some sleep now. She hasn’t in a long time”
“Wait, how long?”
“About a week or two”
“WHAT?! How do you live with that?”
“She barely slept ever since she came out of the house in her mourning. As a Lieutenant, she made sure to never miss a shot when firing, either in the air or the ground. She got promoted to Sergeant soon after causing a massive explosion with Digi Reset’s help in the Anti’s camp. But then came that day when she used her Hysteria form. She also had help from her mentor Eifos and the girl ended up creating an army to be led from her clay dolls. It ended up with killing hordes of Antis. That’s how she became Captain. Ability to lead forces of her own and merciless killing on the enemy was all she needed before the highest ranking was given to her. Luna told me that she doesn’t want to sleep as she fear she would dream of being with Hester again only to wake up and realize she was dead”
“Hysteria was already a killing machine before Hester died. She was even worse with anger from what happened to one of her halves” Typevader read the girl’s recorded files.
“By the way, how were the OCs?”
“They hate me because they blame me for the death of their Mother. I don’t blame them, it’s mostly true. They all looked rather different though”
Snowdrop nodded. “Yes, their forms changed too to suit this environment. They did it themselves”
“I hope they can forgive me” Autumn looked down at the cup in her hands.
The snow Alicorn nodded. “I hope so too”
Typevader spoke up. “Ahem, back to the main topic at hand here?”
“Right. Autumn, are you aware of the Essence in each of us?”
She thought for a bit. “Mom mentioned them at one point, why?”
“Has she told you about the Hidebrit Gene then?”
Snowdrop then began to explain what had happened with those who contained the Hidebrit Gene. Apparently, their auras tend to change slightly if the Gene is within them. It becomes some sort of enhancer. It makes them stronger and allows both Hider and Biter qualities to be present. That was one of the reasons why it was so valuable.
Another discovery had been made at one point when Twilight came to tinker with them. She found that each time the Hidebrit Gene enters a new host, it gets stronger, and so does the Essence of said host. The Essence gains a new trait when the host dies: It stays in their body unless absorbed. Because of this, the remains of all former Hidebrits were kept in one single area of the Castle to be protected.
“Why would she keep them in the Castle?” Autumn asked.
“We found something rather intriguing if the Essence of these Hidebrits are absorbed. It turns out that, even if temporary, these are able to provide a type of power each. They’re like superpowers, and they each depend on which one is taken in”
“Like…?”
“The red one in the form of a six-point star causes some sort of daze effect, show memories or visions, or may cause the enemy to be infatuated with you. The orange lightning bolt grants electric attacks. The green cloud aura allows you to heal yourself and others. The deep blue musical note induces the ability to levitate your target in any way you want. The sky blue hexagon provides trapping attacks. The violet bow allows you to cause spikes to appear”
Autumn nodded as she took count of each. “There were six Hidebrits in total”
“No, seven. They were seven. You know who it was”
The girl thought a bit but knew the answer. “Let me guess: The family didn’t give her up without a fight”
“Nope, we had to promise that they could visit anytime they wanted”
“What does hers grant?”
Snowdrop sighed as she glanced at Typevader. He took a while before answering for her. “We can’t find Hester’s Essence”
“What do you mean?”
“By the time her body was transferred here, her Essence was gone. We don’t know what happened to it. All we know was that hers came in the form of a yellow glimmer of light”
“Don’t you think Hazel…? I mean, I think she would hate for what remained her Familiar to be used like a Guinea pig”
“She’s mourning, but I don’t think she would have the guts to take her Familiar’s Essence into her. Taking it in will also mean taking in the Hidebrit Gene. She was weaker than her so she knew it would tear her apart”
“Twilight found it to be a loss, a very high loss really”
“Why’s that?”
“Twilight found that though absorbing just one is great alone, absorbing more will cause more power. You won’t just get more of their powers together. You will get their strength and your own power increases. She found that six were able to activate some sort of ‘Boss Form’ as Spike put it. It causes the user to gain a higher form and there would be no limit to their abilities. But seven of them were a complete mystery as soon as Hester’s went missing. But she did theorize that it cause unimaginable power”
“It sounds dangerous”
“It is” Typevader agreed.
“Only a few of us could harness its power without so much damage. Twilight and I have been able to use it and we survived. Hazel was a complete mystery because she was so afraid and she was locked in a house. But, on the other hand, you are here to see if you could do it”
Autumn was dumbstruck. “Me?”
“The Jabberwocky is extremely powerful and massive in size. We already have the one weapon capable of killing it, but it needs some strength inside it to be able to do more than just slay. This will cause the beast to be dead permanently. And we need you to absorb the auras for when the battle is over, we need a new barrier”
“Right, and you lack one of the needed people to perform it”
“It states an ALIVE one. And the last one is dead. But still, Wonderland needs an heir” Snowdrop eyed the crown in the distance. It was Lauren’s crown. It was protected by a magic case that kept it safe from those who tried to steal it. It was still beautiful and glorious, despite the many years it has been kept in.
The snow filly walked over to it and placed her hoof on the casing. It was cold to the touch, but she didn’t mind it. She gave a soft smile. “I called her Auntie, and she loved me like a niece. That day she never came back made me sad. The OCs here were also upset too. That day she left, she gave me a small kiss on her head. I can still feel it at times”
Autumn could feel her sadness. This was one, if not the only, thing that they had to remember her mother by. This was in a sense her inheritance as well. The ones who live here, the ones who roam, the ones who died, they all depend on her as they did with her mother.
She was beginning to understand now. This place was connected to her mother in a way. When she died, the connection made its way to her. That would explain the weird dreams at night. With all her doubts about the existence of this place, it began to wilt and everything in it began to change to adapt it. That would explain why they were so adamant about finding her. It was so she could repair it. She broke this realm and now only she could repair it. She felt it was what her mother would’ve wanted.
“I’ll do it, for you, and for my mother” she spoke atlast.
Snowdrop turned back to her, nodding while wiping a tear away. “Thank you, Autumn”
Typevader hid the tear in his eyes. “Well, it’s not a true party without the guests of honor. I’ll go fetch them”
Mommy! No!
Why to us, Mom?
I’ll carry you on, dear.
That low maker…that traitor…that liar…
“I noticed something else about Hazel recently when I got here” Autumn spoke as she and Snowdrop walked in the hallway to where the bodies of the Hidebrits were kept.
“And what would that be?”
“She calls me Sweetheart or Dervila, rather than my real name. Why’s that?”
The snow filly chuckled slightly. “Oh, I should’ve known she would do that to you too. Hazel has grown quite fond of names that have special meanings to them. She gave us each a nickname that suits us. But you’re the only one here who she calls by Sweetheart. I don’t know why”
“Well, what does she call you?”
“She’ll sometimes refer to me as Yukiko, it’s a Japanese name that means ‘Snow Child’. No surprise there” she chuckled at the nickname. “She would also call Twilight Hoshiko, meaning ‘Star Child’”
“I wonder why I’m the only she calls Dervila”
Right then, Typevader busted in the room, panting as he caught his breath. He seemed rather horrified and alarmed as his eyes widened from fear.
Autumn was now in a panic. She thought everything was fine now. She thought that one time would be enough to calm Hazel down so she would be her friend, but she was wrong. She, Snowdrop, and Typevader ran to the makeshift morgue, only to find that the Brony was right. All the Essences were taken from their hosts. Only was clue was around: A whisper of pink mist. They hurried over to Hazel’s room, only to find the girl was gone too.
“But how?” Snowdrop panicked. “She made sure those windows couldn’t have been opened”
“She must’ve used her butterfly form” Typevader suggested.
The snow filly gingerly pried the window open and found a few remains of pink mist out. “I think we may have a problem”
“No doubt, we have to find her”
Snowdrop nodded as she gestured for Autumn to get on her back. She did ride a horse before as a child, so she knew how to get on. She clung onto the mare for dear life. Snowdrop then spread her wings as she and Typevader took to the air. They flew as fast as they could, trying to see if they could find any clouds or remains of pink mist left around. That was impossible as it seemed that the girl may have used her Hysteria form so as to not leave a trail.
They decided to try and see if she retreated to her house. No luck. They checked the army area. No luck. There was only one place left around to look: The asylum where she used to go to. The building was in ruins due to the damage done. Still, they had to try.
They made a good choice as they soon found her standing in the middle of an old room. She had her back turned, looking out a window. From the looks of it, she was all grown up again. They guessed she must’ve used it to turn herself back to twenty years old.
“Ironic. You only ever go searching if it meant you get something new and fresh out of it” she spoke without moving from where she was.
“Hazel, what did you do with the Essences?”
“Oh, don’t worry, I wouldn’t dare harming them. It would remind me so much of Hest, since she was one of them”
“Hazel, why are you doing this? I thought we were alright now” Autumn tried to reason with her.
“Alright? You expect me to trust you if you can’t trust me?” she held up one of the bagels they ate a while back. It was torn in the middle, exposing a small pill inside.
They all gasped as they looked at it. That wasn’t just any pill. That was one of the meds that Hazel was prescribed to for her Bipolar Disorder. They all stared at Autumn, who knew she had been caught in the act.
“You actually thought I’m angry because of some condition? Well, guess what!” she whipped around as all six of the Essences of the Hidebrits floated around her. “I’m not!”
They all stared at her in surprise. She had all of the Hidebrit Essence with her. She wasn’t even shaking as she absorbed their power. Without warning, she brought out her own Essence, and they were even more shocked at what happened.
Her Essence, a magenta heart, contained Hester’s yellow glimmer Essence.
“Ever wondered why you couldn’t find it? She gave it to me before you took her body away. Along with it, the Hidebrit Gene. I’ll admit, it hurt, but I learned to ignore it, just as she did when she was nearing her last breath”
Right after those words, her OCs suddenly came out of the shadows. They were all snarling and acting like animals ready for the hunt. Each was armed with their own weapons.
Bunny was already with her dagger and the spots of where her elements were began to glow. Her white dress had been torn up, and her fur was untamed as chains attached to her paws dragged from behind her. Her fangs sharpened and she wore a thorn crown as her neck flaps pointed.
Brazy brandished her Agony Blade as the spirits of her Victims appeared to her side. Her stitches seemed to have popped as blood dripped out of them. She looked like she was deteriorating as well.
Bunochius made her spots glow as her fangs sharpened. A white mist began to circle around her.
Bunster exposed her fangs and claws, ready to strike FNAP style. The bandage on her eye was removed and revealed it was a broken eye replaced with a laser one. She also was torn up.
Hazel then absorbed all Essences at once. There was a bright flash of light, causing everyone to cover their eyes to avoid being blinded by it. They all then reopened them to see a major change had occurred in Hazel.
She was in Hysteria form, but this time, she was a grown mare than a young filly. She looked like the Hysteria form from earlier, but this one had the height of Cadence. Her wings were also the same way. Her visible eye began to tear some type of red liquid, possible blood. The black stuff began to come from the other eye again, before Hazel parted her hair slightly to reveal her hidden eye. It had a small crack going across it. It was black in the iris and red in the pupils. It was cat-like, and a mix of blood and black was what came out.
“Sweetheart, don’t you know? I’m the Angel of Death!” she showed her Hidebrit fangs. She then caused the deep blue music note to come into her Essence as she hid Hester’s. This then allowed her to bring out their Essences and lift them up in the air after they all turned to the same color.
They all struggled against this will, but it was no use. It was too strong.
“I don’t bear any ill will towards you, Typevader and Snowdrop. It’s this traitor who I’m after” she spoke as she gently pushed Snowdrop and Typevader into a make-shift cage made from the thorns of the violet bow. She then caused Autumn to come forward via the blue note.
“Hester was more than a Familiar to me, or the OCs. She was their Mother, their maker, loving her as much you loved Lauren. She was my other half, my comfort, my sister figure, there thick and thin” she spoke, hiding the hurt in tone.
“AND YOU TOOK HER AWAY!”
Right as she yelled those words, she caused Autumn to slam into the wall behind her. It hurt like no tomorrow. She got up, but was met by several bolts of lightning. She dodged as much as possible, despite her weakness. Yet, she was getting tired and her body hurt. As if the lightning wasn’t enough, spikes appeared as well. It was a mix of dodging what was on the floor and in the air.
It was a tough battle. But Autumn could see what was going on back with the Hidebrit. She was attacking with no mercy, but she still could sense pain and anger. She was acting aloof and looking past her, as though she didn’t want to see her face as she attacked. Her hair covered her eye again though slightly, but she supposed it was to hide other hurt.
“Hazel!” she called to her.
The girl didn’t even look her way.
“Hazel!”
She didn’t respond.
“Hazel, stop! This isn’t what she would’ve wanted!”
The mention of those words suddenly caused her to stop. The thorns stopped sprouting as they retracted back into the earth as the lightning stopped. Autumn looked back at the girl to see how she was acting.
Hysteria seemed to have stared into an empty space. She was looking down, but her eyes began to redden as the black from her left eye went away and something else happened to it. She couldn’t make out what it was as she covered it whole again.
Autumn felt sympathy for the girl as she slowly but tentatively walked to her. They were the same height now, able to see eye to eye.
“She wouldn’t have wanted this. I mean, she probably told you not to. I know what I did was wrong, I know that now. But this thing you’re doing will not change anything. It won’t bring her back. But if you carry on, you’ll be doing something worse than what happened to you. For both you and your OCs”
The OCs watched on to see how their Mom would react, same with Typevader and Snowdrop. For a moment, those words seemed to have gotten to her. She looked like she was about to give in. Suddenly, she caused the blue note to suddenly slam Autumn back into the wall again.
“Have at it, kids” she spoke to the OCs before she used her Butterfly Dodge to flee.
“You’re the one who let Mother die” Bunny spoke, venom starting to drip from her fangs.
“And Mom suffer” Brazy spoke eerily.
“Letting Mother die was your first mistake…” Bunochius added.
“We’re gonna make sure it’s the last you’ll ever make!” Bunster giggled like an insane child.
This battle was even worse. Bunny was using her Elemental abilities to cause spikes to try and pierce Autumn. Fireballs were often thrown at her. She had to jump up when she stamped on the ground with her front paws to cause the earth below to crack open. Thunder and lightning clouds were hard to dodge. As if that wasn’t enough, she could whirl her tail until it created a cyclone which she launched at her.
Brazy was more difficult. She lunged at her regularly with the Agony Blade in paw. She often summoned the souls of the Victims she killed and made them attack before they faded away again. She often tried to bite her herself.
Bunochius was stronger. She used Ear Rape screams that grew even more deadly when in Filly form. She could evade the enemy by taking to the air. She took a gem from her hat again before using it as a whip from the air. Her Elemental attacks were even more powerful than her original’s.
Bunster was more mechanical. She used cupcakes which turned into bombs and let them blow up upon contact. Cakes that were thrown could trap Autumn, making it more difficult for her to escape. Her laser eye sometimes activated and shot a laser beam at her that felt like fire.
Autumn thought she was about to face yet another long battle, but she was wrong. She was saved by a shield made of ice. She looked and saw that Snowdrop and Typevader had escaped since the Brony could teleport. The OCs then turned their attention over to the intruders.
“Go! We’ll cover you!” Typevader called as he used shield spells to get Autumn away from the attacks while he and Snowdrop distracted the OCs.
The Princess nodded as she ran to escape the room and find her main target.
Autumn ran as fast as she could to keep up with Hysteria. The girl had an advantage due to her constant use of Butterfly Dodge. She was always landing atleast seven feet away from where she was before turning back to normal. But the Princess knew that she would tire out soon.
Her calculations were correct once the mare used one last move to go farther before stopping to catch her breath. From the looks of the place, it was an old asylum room.
“Hazel, please wait!” she called to her as she rushed over, trying to catch her own breath.
“Just stop!” the girl yelled at her. “Just stop right there, okay?!”
“I can’t stop. I wanted to at first, but now that I know, I want to keep going. I know mother would’ve…”
“Lauren didn’t care about us! She promised she would come back, but she never did! We fought as long as we could, until our secret was revealed to the others and Hester had to die! The OCs I carried with me never stopped crying for days after their Mother was dead. I fought all alone without her! You don’t know what this is like!”
“She cared about you, she did. You guys did everything together!”
“And you didn’t even believe it when she told you! If you believed, Hester would still be alive! It’s your fault she’s dead…” the girl looked down as the tears brimmed her eyes and her voice hurt. “…Hester was killed because of you…”
“Hazel…”
“Just shut!” the girl tried to hide her tears. “You weren’t there”
“How could I know if you don’t tell me what happened?”
At that, the Captain switched Hester’s Essence with the red star-shaped one. She let its light engulf them as she glared. “I”LL SHOW YOU!”
Snowdrop entered Hazel and Hester’s room cautiously. She was carrying a bowl of food with two spoons and forks. The duo didn’t seem to acknowledge her presence as Hazel kept brushing Hester’s fur while the Familiar kept drawing in a notebook. Both had a solemn look on their faces.
“Hey, I brought you some rice and egg in case you guys were hungry” she spoke softly, her smile just as kind.
They didn’t respond as they just carried on what they were both doing.
“Okay, I guess I’ll just leave it here then” she placed it on the nightstand beside them.
They didn’t move from where they were.
“Okay, just call if you need anything” she then made her way to the door. She them both one last look before leaving the room.
It was only when she was gone did Hazel speak. “They’re trying too much”
“We’re being distant from them, love”
“I know. It’s just…I miss dad so much…and Spring…and Trey…”
It had been two months since Lauren left and the barrier broke. They tried so hard to repair it, but it didn’t have an anchor to bind to. Without protection, war broke out. Spring and Trey were killed on the battlefield. As if that wasn’t enough, two weeks ago, Shadow Kirby was captured by the Antis. Now, the Partner-Familiar duo only had each other to cling onto for support. Twilight and Snowdrop had them move to the Castle for their protection. Hazel was too depressed to even protest as Hester did her best to not arouse any fear from the trauma of her past.
“We can’t let them get away with it” Hester spoke as she turned around to face her Partner.
The Pegasister knew what that meant. They were part of the war forces as well. But at one point, on the battlefield, Hester had let out her Hidebrit attack and their secret was revealed. That just did them both in. First their siblings, then their father, and now Hester’s secret was revealed. There was nothing to hide anymore.
“We have to stop them, Hest. We have to buy Lauren and Autumn sometime”
“Exactly, Hazy. But you know what it had to be”
The Partner nodded. “No more hiding, huh?”
“No more hiding”
A mad Hysteria in Hidebrit mode tore into one of the Sergeant Antis infront of his troop. They all watched in horror as the young filly killed the adult leader. They tried to flee, but the filly was fast, especially since she could now fly.
Her Essence came out, a magenta heart with a yellow glimmer in the center. She used the Hidebrit one to cause the Antis to levitate in thin air with a yellow aura. They struggled to break free from her bonds. Efforts were futile. Before they knew it, the filly flew right infront of them after lining them up like a war troop. She then dove in and began to kill them mercilessly as she went down the line. The ground was painted with their blood and decorated with their remains.
Hysteria sighed before calming down and splitting back into the two who formed her. The duo staggered a bit, but was alright nonetheless.
“That…went…well…” Hazel breathed out.
“Never thought I’d see you willingly let that form kill”
Hazel then noticed there was something new on her Familiar. “Hest, what’s that?”
The Familiar looked to where she pointing and her eyes widened at what it was. She now had a crack in her left ear. It was shallow and small, but definitely a crack.
“It has begun”
Hazel flinched as another crack appeared on her body. This time, on her cheek. It had been two weeks since she and Hester had begun to use the Hidebrit Gene to kill Antis. They almost always attacked in Hysteria form as that was the only way they could both attack at once. But one time, they attacked in separate form and Hazel learned Butterfly Dodge. This Butterfly Dodge was like her ability to turn into a butterfly, but this time, she turns into a swarm and can reappear in Pegasister form several feet away as it was temporary. It was like teleportation, but it does leave a trial of pink mist.
But that not the main concern. Their constant use of the Hidebrit Gene has led them to gain several cracks in their bodies. They were extremely painful, a price paid for constant use of a highly powerful gene. Originally, it was supposed to be just Hester, but Hazel took on half just to split the pain. Right now, they had an equal amount.
Hazel had cracks in her left arm, right leg, on her forehead, across her left eye, and now the new one on her cheek. Hester had hers on her left ear, base of her right ear, on her left paw, her tail, and two others on her face.
“You alright?” Hazel asked after catching her breath.
“You’re asking if I’m alright? You’re the one who got the newest crack” Hester pointed out.
“I worry more about those with me”
Hysteria screeched as she dove down to catch her targets. She was so close, but they managed to evade her teeth by ducking down at the last minute. She landed with frustration into a trap. She was helpless as the rope had tangled around with her wings and hooves. The duo of Antis smirked as they neared her.
“Finally, we got the massacre killer” one smirked as he reached for his knife.
Inside her mind were Hazel and Hester in the darkness. Hazel struggled to break free as Hester tried to find a way out. Her eyes glimmered when she saw an opportunity.
Hysteria allowed the Gene to activate again as the Antis pointed the gun at her. He shot, but it didn’t reach her. It stopped an inch away from her face. They were surprised at that. But they got frightened once the yellow aura appeared on it. She then grinned when she made it face the other way before letting it go. It shot the Antis right in the head. Her yellow aura then engulfed the gun that he dropped before she made it shoot his partner. She then found their knife and used it to cut herself free.
Only when she was free did she split again. The duo staggered to keep their balance.
Hester bit her lip to avoid whimpering. “My cheek one just got deeper”
The appearance of cracks stopped after the one on Hazel’s cheek appeared. Since then, the only difference was that they got deeper with each use. It hurt a lot, for both.
“How long do you think we keep doing this?” Hazel asked, worried.
“I while, we’ll be alright, Hazy”
They were about to start the trip back when Hester suddenly began to descend from the air. She was surprised at that. She tried to get up and float again, but she couldn’t.
“Hest, what’s wrong?”
“I…I can’t float”
“You were only waiting for this moment to arrive” Hazel sang softly as she lay down in bed with Hester.
This whole battle has taken a dreadful toll on both of them as they tried to buy Lauren time with the attacks of the Hidebrit Gene. Not only were they tired and exhausted, as well as the cracks deepening, but they had to face another fatality. Despite their efforts to slow down the pain process by splitting up the cracks, it still had to take its worse out only on the main carrier.
Hester had lost the ability to float due to weakness and one day, she couldn’t walk anymore. She was now carried around by her Partner. Hysteria was still at full power, but getting tired as well.
“How much longer must we go on, Hest?”
“Just a little more”
Hazel and Hester were out on the battleground. Cracks were now evident on their bodies from the amount of power that was used from the Hidebrit Gene. It was starting to consume them. They glared down at the King of Antis. It focused solely on them, as if the rest of the Fandom side did not exist. He gave a smirk as he knew their current condition. He was mocking them. He knew that with cracks on their beings like that, it would be a miracle if they came out alive.
The duo glared at him, tears from the pain brimming in their eyes. They used already too much in making a barrier that would keep some remaining parts of Wonderland Fandom safe. They had to use it one more time, as Hysteria, to stop the King from having full power. In Hysteria form, it has to be Hester who is in control due to how the Gene resided in her.
Hazel looked down at her Familiar when she remembered what they had to do. Her Familiar was hurting, but willing to risk her life to just buy Lauren a little more time. She couldn’t bear the thought of how it would be once this was over. If this pulls through, they may survive, but Hester will die. This time, for good. It will be the salvation of all for the sacrifice of the one most dear.
She felt the fur of Hester’s paw holding her hand. It was always so soft and fluffy that she sometimes forgot that this was only her Wonderland counterpart. If she dies here, what will her real-life one become? She felt tears spring into her eyes, this time from emotional pain. She didn’t want to lose her. She lost enough family already; she can’t lose the last one she had left.
Hester heard her Partner’s sobbing and looked to her side to see her crying slightly. She was confused as to why.
Hazel then spoke between her sniffles. “Hest, stay with me, please?” she sounded like she was begging. “I can’t lose any more people I’ve loved”
The Familiar looked at her in surprise. She knew what that meant. She was begging her not to die. She looked down as though in making a decision, before closing her eyes and looking back up to her. She gave a faint smile and giggle.
Hazel looked at her in confusion. Why was she happy? She then saw their whole world turn black, meaning one thing: Hester already made them switch to Hysteria form and was now on her way out. She gave her one last word before leaving.
“One more time. I’ll be fine. Sometimes peace is just enough”
And then it all went black.
What she saw after everything went back to normal made her cry.
She soon regained consciousness. Her hand felt her head, and she felt the cracks there were now gone. She wondered why. Wonderland was still hurt and broken, but atleast the King was gone. Where was Hester? She heard a groan, and what she saw horrified her.
Hester lay on the battlefield’s ground. The cracks on her body were now bigger and deeper. She could see her inner essence now, and the Hidebrit Gene peeking out. There was no surviving those cracks. She held her dying Familiar in her hands and began to cry.
“No!” she cried out. “Hester, no! Don’t leave me! Please don’t be the seventh the child in the row!”
The auras of the six former Hidebrits came near them, waiting for the seventh to follow them. Hazel held her closely as though it would prevent her from dying. She didn’t care that her voice hurt or the amount of power that flowed in her. She didn’t want her to die. Without her, she’d be all alone.
She felt a paw wipe a tear off her eyes, and glanced down at the yellow being she held. Hester gave her a smile of someone who was at peace and ready to accept her fate. She spoke in a whisper what may be her last words to her.
Autumn fell out of the vision of memories that Hysteria was giving off using the red Essence. She didn’t want to, whatever was holding it seemed to have been weakening. She looked up to see that Hazel was barely holding herself up. The Essence she held ranged from red star to yellow glimmer. She was biting her lip as she tried to avoid crying.
Autumn wanted to leave from what she saw. She wanted to get out. But this, time, she didn’t. She could feel Hysteria’s emotions through all that. She could feel the loneliness and hurt. She walked up to the Pegasister.
“Go on. Play it out” she spoke to her, cupping her face in her hands. “I’ll be here with you, until the end”
She wasn’t sure if the girl really listened. But the red Essence came again as she let it speak.
“Seven…you have seven...” Hester choked out weakly. The cracks in her body were getting to her.
Hazel knew what it meant if all auras of the seven former bearers of the Hidebrit Gene all gather up, but she didn’t want to have it. She wanted her Familiar.
“Please…Hest…don’t do this…” she pleaded.
“Set them free…you’ll be okay…I’ll be right here in your heart…I’m just sad I won’t see the day of our victory…do it for me, Hazy…”
The Pegasister bit her lip as her tears fell down. Her Familiar was telling her to move on as her dying wish. It was so painful for her to lose her. She was the only family she had left. Spring and Trey were killed and Shadow was kidnapped. Still, she didn’t want to disappoint her Familiar.
“I will carry your soul with me…wherever I go” she promised.
Hester smiled weakly with a weak giggle cut off by a cough. “Hazy…can you…smile, for me?”
Hazel looked at her in surprise. She was asking her to smile for her as she died. She didn’t want to see her sad. “Hest…”
“Please…” she cut her off. “…One last time?”
Hazel felt her tears rise again all the more. She bit her lip before forcing the biggest smile she could muster. “I’m…I’m smiling, Hest”
Her Familiar smiled weakly back at her. “Always be brave…thank you….” Were her last words before her eyes closed as she took her last breath.
Hazel held her smile for as long as she could before it faltered into a cry. She sobbed loudly at her loss. Her cries were so loud that the ones back at the camp could hear her and were now trying to get to her. Along the way back, she didn’t let go of Hester’s body. She carried it all the way. She cried the whole time as others showed their sympathy for her.
Hester had died, and a little part of her died as well.
Hazel carried Hester’s body oh so gently. She was acting as though she were still alive. She didn’t speak to anyone as she went home to where her OCs were. She laid Hester down on the couch, wrapping her in a blanket. It was only by nightfall did the four come home.
“Mom! You’re here!” Bunny cheered.
She looked at them, sadly.
“Hey, why the long face?” Brazy got worried.
She bit her lip. He had to tell them. “You know that your Mother and I love you all, right?”
They all nodded.
“Then you know that what we do is for your good and safety, right?”
“Mom?” Bunochius was uneasy now.
“Where’s Mother?” Bunster asked.
“She had to do something to save us all from doom. And, she…” she felt her tears rise. They were all fully worried now. “Your Mother…she’s not coming back”
They all gasped when they realized what she meant. Hester was dead. Their maker and Mother was dead. They all began to shed tears as they hugged their remaining Mom for support. She did so. She felt her own tears share. It hurt so much, for all of them.
“Mommy…”
“Why to us, Mom?”
“Who did it?! I’ll kill them!”
“Please no…”
Hazel held onto Hester’ paw. Here, bodies don’t rot. But she could still feel how cold she was. She let her stay in the basement downstairs on a table. The kids mourned along with her. Their own anger and pain caused them to change their forms to suit the new environment they were in. They went to see their Mother, but they were heard howling at night to mourn her.
Hazel hadn’t left the house. She stayed and ate every little. She found that the crack in her left eye was still there, but it closed up. It was scar now. Still, if she got angry, it would turn black and tear black tears. She let her hair hide it.
“Hester, you were more than a Familiar to me” Hazel spoke her eulogy. “You were like the sister I never had. You gave up your life for mine and everyone else here. The only thing now is…I don’t know how my life works without you” she sniffled as she wiped her tears. “Goodbye, Hest”
She couldn’t take it. The pain was unbearable. It hurt too much. She didn’t even know where to go on from here. And even if Autumn came back, they lacked a Hidebrit for the barrier. It’s not like she felt she was coming back anyway.
Suddenly, she felt a yellow light infront of her. She opened her eyes to see what it was. It was Hester’ Essence, a yellow glimmer. In it was the Hidebrit Gene. She suddenly felt her hand move on its own. The Essence then came to her hand before it entered her.
She gasped loudly when she felt it in her. She could felt her strength in her. She felt her fangs sharpen as the Gene kicked in. She could feel Hester. She was in her now.
She felt anger in her rise. She knew who was at fault here.
“That low maker…that traitor…that liar…”
She took Hester’s hat off and put it on her own head. “I’ll carry you on, dear. They’ll pay. They’ll all pay!”
Autumn fell out of the vision again, this time because she was let out. She got the idea that it was the last memory. Now she understood why. She felt their pain and sorrow too. It was almost as though she was connected to her.
She looked down to see that Hysteria was holding up barely. Doing it once hurts, but reliving it is much worse.
“You let her die!” the girl yelled. “If it weren’t for you, she would still be here! But no! You didn’t believe, and she died in vain!”
“Hazel, please…”
“Hazel is no more! She died a long time ago, with her Familiar! I’m Hysteria, the Angel of Death!” she then lunged forward and seized Autumn by the throat, pinning her to the wall as they collided.
The woman felt pain in her own throat as she felt her trachea close up on her. Yet, between the still-mad eyes, she could see the reluctance and sadness. She felt that she didn’t want this, but was acting as though she had no choice.
“H-Hazel…this…this isn’t you!” Autumn spoke up. “Stop acting like the cold killer you’re not!”
She then placed a hand up to the Captain’s hair. She went to see the side that was covered by the brown locks. Hysteria was confused, but didn’t move. She then flinched slightly as Autumn moved her hair away from her eye, revealing the teary hazel brown eye hidden.
“There, better now” Autumn smiled kindly when she saw it. “I can see your face completely now. You’re still the same little girl my mom talked about”
She shook a bit. Her hands withdrew from the Princess as she tried to not let her other eye get wet.
“A little grown up now…but I never expected to see you like this. You’re strong and no longer in need of medication. You’ve survived for so long in this apocalypse she left you in. It’s been so long, hasn’t it?”
She sniffled a bit before nodding.
I can’t believe I tried to think that she didn’t exist. Now look at her. She’s tired, hurt, lonely, depressed, grieving, and in pain. She and the others had gone through enough. I should’ve never doubted mom.
She began to sob loudly again. She tried to hide it with her hair as she looked down and wiped off her flowing tears. “Calling me the little weak girl, huh? Now you’re acting as if y-you still c-care, a-and j-just…” she started choking on her tears. “Just stop…please…you’re the reason…all this…happened…you’re the reason…Hester’s dead…you let her die…”
Autumn shut her up by hugging her tightly. Hysteria was stunned and unable to speak. She peeked through her brown locks. It was also right then did the OCs, Typevader, and Snowdrop enter the room.
“If I knew all this would happen…I would’ve stop this! I was upset because I thought it’s what got my mother killed. Now I understand. She wanted to keep you all safe. All those years, and all that pain…Please…Hazel…Bunny…Brazy…Bunochius…Bunster…I’m sorry…forgive me…”
The girl weakly used Butterfly Dodge to get out. “I’ll never forgive you!”
She then switched to the orange lightning bolt and purple bowtie aura to cause their abilities to appear. Autumn had difficulty to doge them both at once. She did her best. She could tell that the use of the auras was now hurting Hazel and it was only a matter of time before she tires out.
She was right. The lightning and thorn attacks became weaker and slower. Then, they just stopped altogether. She turned her attention back to the owner and found that she had collapsed. She had turned back to her Equestria Girl form too. She rushed over to her, worriedly.
“Are you okay?” she picked her up.
“Even all that…I’ve…lost…” she breathed out through her near-sobbing. “You can do to me…whatever you’d like…”
Autumn chuckled. “I’ve told you once, and I’ll keep saying it until you let it be. I want to be your friend, Hazel”
The girl seemed surprised. “Still…even after…all that…hehe…” she laughed weakly.
That was the first time she heard her laugh, and a small smile formed. It wasn’t forced or plastered on, but a genuine smile. The Pegasister then weakly put her hand to the Princess’ cheek.
“You know, I used to hate you…because of what happened…because how you didn’t believe we existed…and that I thought you only cared because of your mother…but now…I believe in you too”
Autumn smiled down at Hazel. “I’m sorry I made you guys wait so long”
“You sure you can do this? You’ve just cried again and used up a lot of power” Autumn asked, concerned for the Captain.
“Relax, Dervila. Awhile ago, when you thought I passed out, I was just faking it so I could sneak out. Trust me, a lot has changed since the war” Hazel proved her point by doing a backflip and landing perfectly without fault.
The Princess nodded, quite astonished. “Alright then”
They were in the Throne Room with Snowdrop and Typevader. The Brony held a jar that contained some of Twilight’s Essence in it. In the middle of them all was a suit of armor holding the Quillette Blade. They were preparing to cast a protection spell, similar to the Barrier’s hold, on the objects for when the true battle comes. This was also to renew the power within the objects. Twilight was still held captive by Antis so they had to use a substitute until she came back.
Typevader readied the Essence. Snowdrop charged up with her snowflakes in position. Hazel absorbed the Essences as they entered her own all at once and changed her form to Angel of Death. They all prepared to fire all at once.
Then, they all let loose. Beams of power came from each source as Typevader struggled to keep the jar open and Autumn tried to keep her footing. It felt like being blown away by a tornado, but they knew they had to keep standing. It took a lot of strain and strength, but both were able to stand their grounds.
The Essence in the jar was gone. Snowdrop’s snowflakes disappeared. Hazel had returned to her Equestria Girl form. She let the Essences go back to their hosts, thought Hester’s stayed. Both the OC and Pegasister were looking a little pale and were wobbly.
“Are you guys okay?” Autumn asked.
“…It hurts so bad…” Hazel breathed out.
“Typevader…catch me…” Snowdrop spoke weakly. Right after those words, both fainted.
“Hazel!” Autumn rushed forward and caught her before she made contact with the ground.
“Snowdrop!” Typevader managed to catch her before she fell as well.
“How is she?” Autumn asked after tucking a fainted Hazel in bed. She and Typevader already tried to resuscitate both the Captain and the OC, but they were both out like a light. Luckily, they still had a pulse each so they assumed they would come to soon. For now, they just picked up who was in their arms and laid them in their respective rooms.
“Still out cold like her snowflakes” Typevader spoke. “Her breathing was normal, yours?”
“Fine as well. Why didn’t you tell me that it would be so strong that it would cause them both to faint?”
“I wanted to, but Snowdrop forbid it”
“Does Hazel know?”
“She knew, but she felt she could do it”
Autumn sighed as she sat down a chair she set up beside the girl on the bed.
Typevader made a chair for himself suddenly appear before sitting down beside her. “What’s wrong?”
“Pretty much everything. From the moment I fell down that rabbit hole, I’ve seen things that shouldn’t be. I’ve done things I never thought I could do. I’ve met people who I thought would never exist. It’s just so…” she expressed with her hands.
“I know how you feel. I had the same expression when I fell down. There was some confusion, and doubt, and a little fear, but I adapted. If I can, then so could you”
Autumn sighed. “That Anti King is really bad”
“So I’ve been told. How bad?”
“Perfectly horrid”
“And his…” he was afraid to ask. “…strength?”
“Bogus”
The Knave shuddered at the thought. “I may not have seen it for myself, but I do know that his real-world counterpart was the main host of Fox News. Nasty people, really. They are true rivals to your mother’s work. I can’t believe them at times”
“Can you imagine the things that go on in that Castle?”
He paused for a bit. “Well, yes, I can. I’ve heard a lot about it from the lucky few who got out. Winona also informed me of it. But we don’t need to keep worrying so much. With you as our new Queen and Champion, the Fandom will rise against them”
Autumn was still afraid of that thought. Champion and Queen, can she really be all that? She didn’t want to dull the mood so she changed the topic.
“How did you become Knave?”
Typevader smiled softly. “That’s quite a story”
They were interrupted by a loud scream in the hallway. The Knave immediately got to his hooves and ran down the hallway, eyes wide from fear. “I’m coming, Snowdrop, I’m coming!”
Autumn sighed. She looked to see that Hazel had woken up, but was still falling back to sleep.
“Mm…what happened?” she spoke weakly.
“Snowdrop, I think. Its okay, go back to sleep” she assured her.
The only response she got was the girl closing her eyes before slipping back into a dreamless sleep. Autumn smiled softly as she fixed up her blanket and propped her chair up beside her and grabbed a book from the shelf before sitting down again.
“I’ll be right here”
The Anti’s Castle was flown into frenzy. Many of the Captives had escaped after someone got in and broken them all out. Among them were the Cake Twins, Anastasia, and Twilight. They all managed to flee for their lives after their bonds were broken and able to run.
Tom watched on angrily. “Prepare the Jabberwocky for battle. We’re going to visit our competitor”
Night had arrived in this Wonderland realm. Snowdrop and Hazel had regained consciousness and were now currently back to normal. They both resumed to normal duties before retiring to the Castle for the night. Now, Autumn was talking with Snowdrop on the balcony while Hazel was ‘making up for lost time’ and Typevader was watching around for signs of danger.
“The time for action almost upon us” Snowdrop spoke to Autumn. “You will need all your strength and courage”
Autumn sighed. “I’ve always learned about war at school, but I never thought I would be participating in one, let alone leading it”
“I never thought I would regain my sight, be well-known for the first snowflake, or become an Alicorn”
The Princess smiled. “I wonder: If you knew how to defeat it, why didn’t you kill the Jabberwocky yourself? You must have the power”
“I am but a snowflake weaver and maker. If we were in Undertale, I would represent the Pacifist Route. It is against my new vows here to cause harm to any who live here”
“197…198…199…200!” Hazel spoke as she finished her push-ups with two thick books on her back. At the last count, she pushed them off her and quickly cleaned herself up before joining the view with the two.
“Well, I’m back on track” she breathed.
“You’re advanced on track. You just ran around the Castle grounds with two heavy bags of rocks tied to your back and got to your attacking again. I’m surprised you still were able to do those push-ups” Autumn eyed her worriedly.
“Can’t be Captain if I don’t push to my limits and breaking points and then push right through them, Dervila”
“Sometimes I wonder if Deceptive still has some influence in your psyche”
Snowdrop smiled at the conversation before her ears pointed over when she heard something. She felt a snowflake come back to her before she held it and closed her eyes to see what it found. She smiled before she let it go and looked through the telescope nearby.
“We’ve got guests” she spoke as she left to go inside.
Autumn decided to see what she meant by that. She went over and looked in the telescope and smiled at what she found. In the distance, just nearing the Castle, were Twilight, Snowdrop, the Cake Twins, Applejack, and someone she hadn’t expected to be back.
“What’s going on? What can you see, Sweetheart?” Hazel asked.
“You’ll be happy to see this, Hazel” she let her see through the scope.
The Captain looked through the lens and was happy at what she saw. But what made her even happier was who else came with them. Following close behind them was none other than Shadow Kirby.
“Dad!” she cried out in joy.
They both went down to join Snowdrop and Typevader. Winona came alone as well. It was a happy reunion for all of them. Winona was so happy that she leapt onto Applejack, who was just as happy while she was licked in the face. Hazel was so happy that Shadow was back that she wept with joy. He was happy to be back with his daughter. Twilight was finally happy again as well as she was welcomed back by Snowdrop and Typevader with the Cake Twins. Autumn was relieved to see that Anastasia was back and alive.
“I can’t believe that you’re here” she smiled at the Pegasus.
“Neither can I, but here I am. I’m back, and alive, and all in one piece. And you’ve returned to your normal size. It’s not too big or small, or too much or too little, it’s great size, it’s a perfect size, it’s the right proper Autumn size”
“Ana!” Autumn cried to snap her out of her madness fit.
“…size” she calmed down before speaking again. “I’m fine”
That was when she noticed something. “Where’s your hat?”
The mare felt at her head and looked around before a familiar face dropped down, holding her hat. “I believe this belongs to you”
Ana smile as she accepted it back. “Thank you, Bunny”
“Bunita ‘Bunny’ Katsuma!” Hazel called to her sternly. “So that’s where you were! I was so worried, young lady!”
“Sorry, Mom”
Everyone had all settled into the guest rooms of the Castle. The other areas of refuge had just had their barriers broken down. Now every surviving Brony, Pegasister, OC, and Canon Character had all taken refuge in the Castle. Some took up the guest rooms while others took the ones underground. Others in the war zone set up camp near the grounds or on the grounds. It’s a good thing the area was big enough for situations like this.
Autumn was reflecting on the balcony for the events of tomorrow. Tomorrow was all up to her now. If she refused to fight, the Antis would take over and Wonderland would fall into ruin, and with it, the last piece of connection she had with her mother. If she did, she would have to face the dreaded Jabberwocky.
“Dad and the others are alright now. They’re all currently resting from all that torture in the Anti’s Castle” Hazel snapped her out of her thoughts as she came over.
“Good to hear”
Both smiled before a cold night breeze flew by and Autumn shivered from it. Hazel wrapped a coat on her to keep her warm.
“What about you? You’re sleeveless” she asked.
“I told you, I’m adapted to the cold, Sweetheart” she smiled at her.
She smiled back. “You really did have a good smile”
“It’s been years since I last did it. You remember when that was, right?”
Autumn nodded.
“After her dying wish, I didn’t want to ever smile again. To smile would show I was happy. But because they took my happiness away, why should I smile? There was nothing to be happy about. She was sunshine when I was having my dark days. I was hers as well. But now, you gave me a reason to be happy. You helped me find hope, and I thank you for this”
Autumn smiled at her. “I’m happy I did help you”
There was silence for a while before the Captain spoke up again. “Well, you do know what day it is tomorrow, right?”
“Third Victory Day, how can I forget?”
“You must get some sleep for tonight. You will need it”
“I’m not sure if I could sleep at ease”
“I have a sleeping pill in my emergency kit. I keep them fresh”
Autumn looked at her. “You knew it was me all along when I fell, didn’t you?”
She raised her arms in surrender. “I knew just from your Essence. It’s almost like Lauren’s. I felt Hester’s say the same thing. Indeed, you look just like your mother”
She nodded as she followed Hazel back in the building. “Hazel, why do you call me Sweetheart?”
“Hest and I always had a thing for calling each other affectionate names. She called me love aside from Hazy. I sometimes called her dear apart from Hest or Hesty. I guess it grew on me and you looked like a Sweetheart” she smirked.
Autumn smiled a bit before frowning suddenly. “I will miss you when I wake up”
"You're still convinced this is all just a dream?"
"Of course. I'd dream up someone who was half-mad"
"Well, you'd also have to be half-mad yourself just to know how it's like"
She smiled at that. "I guess so"
“We all will miss you”
The next day…
Twilight’s trumpet blared off as she and the rest of the Mane Six blew their trumpets all at once. Every Brony, Pegasister, OC, and Canon Character had already gathered in the main courtyard for an announcement.
“Hear ye! Hear ye!” Twilight cried out in the Royal Canterlot voice. “Here we are on Third Victory Day, the assigned day of which we will, after many years, be freed from the Antis and balance restored to our realm! But as any other battle we have gone through, we will need a Champion to lead us against the main enemy! Who will step forward to fight for the freedom of the Fandom side?”
“I shall step forward” Anastasia volunteered.
Snowdrop, Twilight, and Hazel looked at each other, rather worried.
“You were almost beheaded by them” Typevader pointed out. “Perhaps I should go”
“I’ll do it” Bunny spoke up.
“No! Me!” Pound called, holding up his dagger.
“No! Me!” Pumpkin copied her brother.
The barrier holders all looked at each other nervously before nodding. Twilight took out the Scroll of Events and unrolled it for all to see. They all stared at the image on the Third Victory Day. It had the same thing: Autumn with the Quillette Blade, about to slay the Jabberwocky.
“No other slayer, no how” Pumpkin looked distraught.
Pound shook his head. “If it isn’t Autumn, it isn’t dead”
Snowdrop nodded before turning to the Princess with them. “Autumn, we have no other choice. But you do. This fate is up to you now”
Autumn looked at her in disbelief and back at the others. She was the only one who could wield that Blade. She was their only hope now.
She ran to escape to the Castle gardens.
Autumn ran as fast as she could. She had to get away from all that for now. No one went to try and stop her. She only ever stopped when she reached a sitting area in the garden. She sat down to catch her breath and recollect her thoughts. She had a lot on her plate now. She heard what Pound and Pumpkin said. It was all up to her now. If she wasn’t the slayer, it won’t stay dead.
“Still a coward, I see” a small voice called up.
She looked up to see Discord. He was looking down lazily from a bed made of cotton candy.
“Discord? What are doing here?”
“I can’t stay awake much longer now”
She was scared from that. “You’re going to die?”
“In a way. This Corruption is killing me, literally”
“Don’t go. I need your advice. I don’t know what to do”
“I can’t help you if you don’t even know who you are or who you are meant to be”
“I know who I am! My name is Autumn, I live in the US. I’m an only child. My father was Craig McCracken. My mother was Lauren Faust. She was the maker of several well-loved cartoons including My Little Pony: Friendship Magic. Her death is unknown but is suspected to be a murder. I’m her daughter. I’m Autumn Faust”
“Autumn, atlast” the creature sighed happily. “You’re just as funny as you were during the first other times you fell here as a child. Wonderland, as you remembered”
Autumn looked down when she heard that. “Wonderland…”
“What do you call yourself?”
“Autumn, Autumn Faust”
“Autumn Faust? THE Autumn Faust?”
“We shall take you to see Sunny Shores, Clementine Jr., and Anastasia”
“She’s the right one. I’m certain of it”
“Clementine, please no, not at the table. Here, have some tea”
“And what is this?”
“I’m Pound Cake, she’s Pumpkin Cake”
“Contrariwise, I’m Pumpkin Cake, and he’s Pound Cake”
That was when Autumn realized it all. Falling down, the dreams, the representations, the death, these weren’t fiction, they were all real. And this wasn’t the first time she fell. When she was a child, after Lauren’s death, she met them all before. She’s only having a rerun of the past.
“My mother wasn’t lying at all when she told me about this realm. It was never just a dream. This realm is real! And so are you and so as the Fans!” she cried.
“And the Jabberwocky” Discord reminded her. “Remember: The Quillette Blade was once wielded by your mother and now can only be wielded by you. It’s all that creature ever wants. All you have to do is hold onto it”
She nodded in understanding.
“Farewell and goodluck to you” he spoke weakly as he began to fade. “Perhaps I will see you again when this all over, or in another life, Sister”
She heard no more from him as he disappeared.
Everyone was in place for battle. Almost all from the Fandom side had to have a part in the war. Some others stayed behind in the Castle for protection, all under the supervision of Typevader. He had a snowflake given by Snowdrop that allowed him to see the goings-on. They were still separated by rank according to what they were capable of. The battle ones were already in the frontline, led by Hazel who was now in her battle gear. Snowdrop was in the front with Twilight, both ready for battle as they were also in battle armor.
They all suddenly turned head when Autumn arrived on the scene. She rode on the back of the Ursa Major, and was now in the armor that came with the Quillete Blade. Said weapon was in its sheath by her side. She also had the shield it came with.
She nodded and smiled to the leading trio, who returned it. Hazel then went to the Ursa’s side like a coachman.
“I thought you said you didn’t want to escort her” Twilight smiled.
“I said I escort the real one” she looked up to the lady riding. “And she is the real one”
Finally ready, Twilight and Snowdrop walked up ahead in the leading line as Hazel escorted the creature Autumn rode on as the rest of the army followed.
The battlefield was dark and made anyone with a weak heart uneasy. It was set at the border of where the main barrier used to be. The land had lacked plants and the sky was dark and cloudy. The sun fought to appear past the clouds. A dead tree rose from the ground to mark where the center of the two sides stood. A bit of a distance off were the remains of the Castle of the Two Sisters.
The two sides had marched on continuously to each other, their leaders at the frontline to lead them. All were armed and had taken up position. Finally, they stopped, standing only a meter away from one another.
Twilight and Snowdrop then gestured for them to stay put where they were now before they began to walk up to the King. Hazel then helped Autumn off the Ursa Major. Tom then got off his chariot, being pulled by ordinary horses, and went to face them. Twilight went to the center marked by the dead tree with her trumpet in hoof. Snowdrop then faced to Tom.
“Hello, King Tom”
“Hello, Princess Snowdrop”
Twilight then took a deep breath and blew the trumpet. “On this, the Third Victory Day, the two sides, Fandom and Hater, shall send forth their Champions to do battle on their behalf”
Snowdrop, still a young peacemaker, tried to see if she could change Tom’s mind. “Oh, Tom, we don’t have to fight”
He glared. “I know what you’re doing. You think you can blink those pretty little eyes, and I’ll melt, just like Dana did”
“Please” she offered a hoof.
He flinched slightly from her resemblance to Dana. She was kind and sweet, just like her. She wasn’t her maker, but it still hurt.
“No!” he yelled, making her pull her hoof back. “This realm is to be ours! This Fandom must die! Jabberwocky!”
At his cry, the lines at the Hater side all looked behind themselves. Tom gave one last glare to Snowdrop, who then decided that it was no point anymore. They withdrew from each, still shooting daggers at the other. Twilight looked nervous as she watched them leave. It was as they all saw the giant black mound in the distance did she flee back to her line. Clementine got frightened from what he was seeing as he tried to hide behind Bunny, who then just turned back to her Summon form on her surviving Mother’s hat.
The mound behind the Hater side looked ordinary at first, but then it took shape. A bat-like wing sprouted right out, followed by another. Then, a head came out and roared. The Jabberwocky was worse than they could imagine. It resembled a dragon, but was even more sinister. It had a very long neck separating it from the rest of the body. Its hind legs were tough and no ordinary weapon could pierce its hide. It had small hands like that of a T-Rex. Its tail was long and spiky. Its head had small frills at the sides from the neck to the ears. Its midnight black scales covered the whole of its body. Its eyes were red as blood with cat-like slits. It had sharp fangs and a long, forked tongue.
From their area, Autumn was already frightened at the sight. She had seen and heard many things before, but this was the one which made it to top one on her list. “This is impossible”
“Only if you believe it is, Sweetheart” Hazel spoke, a hint of fear in her tone and unable to take her eyes off the beast.
“Sometimes, my mother used to tell me about seven impossible things before breakfast”
Hazel nodded before grinning slightly. “That is excellent practice. However, just at the moment, you might want to focus on the Jabberwocky”
Tom smiled at his Champion before he looked back at Snowdrop. “Where’s your Champion, Snowdrop?”
“Here” Autumn spoke, hiding her fear as she came up.
Tom glared at her. “Hello, Cam”
As the Jabberwocky approached, all the others stepped back a safe distance so as not to interfere or get in harm’s way. They all watched from the sidelines to see what happens. Autumn took a deep breath to recompose herself and begin counting.
“Seven impossible things. Count them, Autumn. One, there’s a potion that can make you shrink”
She and the black beast were now infront of each other. She held the Quillette Blade up infront of him, making him roar down at her.
“Two, and a cake that can make you grow”
“So, my old foe” the beast spoke in a low voice. “We meet on the battlefield once again”
Autumn was confused at that. She was sure she never met this thing before as it was scary enough to haunt her dreams for life. Nor was she sure if Lauren actually faced him before in another adventure she didn’t say.
“We’ve never met” she spoke.
“Not you, little spawn” he turned his attention back to the weapon in her hand. “My ancient enemy, the Quillette one”
“That’s enough chatter!”
She then flew her weapon back and struck him as his tongue flung out again, cutting it off. From the sidelines, Snowdrop held the urge to puke. In retaliation for his tongue, the beast then turned back and flung the Princess down with his tail. The sight of it made Hazel glare as she fought to keep herself from going up there.
“Three, animals can talk”
She managed to evade from the beats stomping on her by rolling before she stood up again.
“Four, Autumn, creatures can disappear”
She tried to strike at this creature, but he kept dodging to avoid the fatal strike.
“Five, there’s a Hidebrit Gene with unknown power”
The beats roared as it blew its fire breath on her. She was able to evade it by using the shield.
“Six, there’s a realm called Wonderland”
Six down and one to go. This was the one that Lauren didn’t tell her about. She just told her about the six very clearly, but the seventh was kept as a riddle. She said something about ‘an heir slaying the beast’. She had no idea what it meant back then, but now she got it. She was the heir, and the Jabberwocky was the beast. That meant only one thing.
“Seven, I can slay the Jabberwocky”
She then lunged forward and slashed at him, but he dodged each time. He then tried to bite her, but she got away by going beneath him and tried to pierce him at the heart. He just jumped up and flung her off her balance with his tail. She fell a long distance off, separated from the Quillette Blade. The beats saw the chance to rid itself of the only thing that could kill it. He tried to get to it as autumn fought to crawl back to it. She was saved when the thing was distracted.
Hazel, due to her promise, had taken out her dagger and stabbed the tail of the beast. It tried to slash its tail at her, but she easily ducked.
But it was enough to anger Tom. “The Captain’s interfering! Off with her head!”
At his words, Thomas withdrew his sword from its sheath as the rest of the Anti’s forces followed suit. Hazel grinned deviously as she took Hester’s hat off before letting it shrink into a small clip, giving it a small kiss, and putting it in her pocket. She then raised her sword as the rest of the Fandom side followed her.
Autumn got up and managed to seize her Blade. She tried to evade the Jabberwocky as she climbed up the stairs of the ruined tower. She ran as fast as she could to try and get away from it. She paused for a moment as she looked down on what was going on back at the battlefield.
All war had broken loose. Pound and Pumpkin Cake were fighting side by side, sometimes switching upon cue to avoid getting stabbed by the enemy’s swords. The Ursa Major was able to tackle down serial Antis by pouncing on them. Clementine shot magic blasts from the air as he rode on Anastasia’s back, sometimes switching with Sunny to keep from getting tired. It was Captain vs. Knave as Hazel and Thomas engaged in a deadly sword fight.
Autumn snapped out of the view as she realized she couldn’t keep an eye on her friends when she had a real problem of her own. She managed to get up to a flatter area of the ruined building, holding her Blade out incase her opponent came around. There was nothing in sight and the only sound was her heavy breathing and swords clashing.
Then she heard his roar and reacted fast enough to run. She hid behind a pillar to avoid his sight for a moment. He breathed his fire breath around, but the pillars seemed to be immune to them. When she got a chance, she ran for it. He set her off balance by his tail. He then tried to throw the broken pillars at her, but she was able to move just in time.
She ran up the staircase immediately. He was hot in pursuit as he nearly corned her at one point, but she avoided his bite by going underneath him. She ran as fast as she could, hoping to get away, but she was soon cornered. The end of the staircase came, and she couldn’t escape.
Back on the battlefield, it was almost as though the Knave and Captain had been equally matched in their sword fight. The Knave dodged Hazel’s strikes easily and when she was near his range, she just used her Butterfly Dodge to avoid him. At one point, their swords clashed as their eyes met. He glared at her, heavy with intent to kill her. She grinned from ear to ear, as though toying with him. It soon became clear why when she sent a blast of the Hidebrit Gene out from her Essence and he was thrown off balance. She then raised her sword over him, her eyes gone mad for bloodshed. He raised his hands up in defense and surrender, as though pleading her not to.
Autumn managed to jump onto the Jabberwocky’s long neck. It took all her strength and courage not to let go as he tried to get her off him. Finally, she saw her chance. When he raised his head up and threw her off right above his neck, she knew what to do.
“OFF WITH YOUR HEAD!” she cried as she landed, chopping his head clean off.
Time seemed to have stopped at the moment that Autumn had beheaded the Jabberwocky. Everyone suddenly stopped fighting as they watched the body of the beast fall to the ground while its head rolled down the stairs of the building. Even the forces at both sides had halted the battle as they looked on. All eyes had focused on the final sickening thud of the head reaching the ground. At the sight, Hazel had snapped out of her insanity fit and backed away from the Knave before dropping her sword and putting Hester’s hat back on.
Finally, the Champion descended from the staircase. She was slightly bruised from the falls and close calls, but okay. She stood proud for her victory, and the victory of her side.
“Kill her!” Tom tried one last time.
“There’s no point anymore, sire” one soldier sighed.
“How dare you? Off with his head!” he pointed to him.
But none of it came. All Hater soldiers just looked around, the opposing Fandom soldier just watching them for any move. They didn’t do anything anymore. They all just dropped their weapons in defeat before going back to their side. The Fandom soldiers, seeing as they have won total victory now, dropped their weapons as well before returning back to their side. In the distance, the remaining captives of the Fandom side were running back home, free atlast.
Tom looked around as it unfolded. It couldn’t be. They had lost for good, hadn’t they? It seemed like they all had.
“There no point in fighting anymore” Twilight spoke up as she approached, but minded her distance. “Even if Lauren is dead, she still won because her daughter carried it on. And just assure you of this: There will always be another heir to the throne here. Whether it will be a King or a Queen, they will inherit the throne and carry on this legacy. You may go back to your side of this realm as we go back to ours. And should there be any more war, I believe you know what the outcome will be now”
Tom looked in shock, but knew that was true. There was no point anymore. They would always find a way back to win. He turned head and left with the rest of his side.
Twilight smiled gently as she turned back to Snowdrop and nodded, who then called for Hazel to come over. She did so.
“Think you can do it?” she asked.
“If she could, then so could I” she smiled.
They all nodded together as all soldiers of the Fandom side gathered around. Autumn went along to see what was happening. Twilight and Snowdrop then flew up to sky right where the barrier’s end was. The lavender Alicorn then charged up her, causing the entire Fandom side was covered in her magic aura. Snowdrop began to twirl as her snowflakes surrounded her, while several other snowflakes started to come on the aura spread across the Fandom side. Hazel then switched to her Hysteria form and flew up to them. Inside, she was charging up the Hidebrit Gene for one last blast of power. She felt a warm presence with her as she felt as though two arms held her in a loving embrace. She then got to the center of where the two were and let it all out at once. Everyone had to cover their eyes to shield them from the blinding light. Only when it was gone did they reopen them. It was what they saw next did they all smile.
Their barrier was back, intact and whole. And with it returned, their whole Fandom side had recovered as though the war never happened.
All three participants then flew back down to recover from the massive use of power. Hazel only took a deep breath before she went over to Autumn.
“Are you alright, Dervila?” she checked for any signs of damage.
“I’m fine. But you should be the one who I’m worried about”
“Another day, another pain”
She then glanced back at Twilight and Snowdrop, who nodded. She then took the Princess by the hand as they all went back to Fandom Castle.
“Come along, Dervila, you can’t be late for your own coronation”
The celebration was a blast. Autumn was crowned the new Queen of Wonderland’s Fandom side and everyone was so happy for their new ruler. There was singing and dancing and joy had spread throughout the land. Everyone was so happy to be back to normal. Indeed, with the war gone, their peaceful forms had returned.
Now came the next event, watching as Autumn returned back to reality. It was sad, but they knew she had to go home as well. They all were at the mirror of which would take her back home.
“You have our gratitude for this” Snowdrop spoke.
“We shall welcome you anytime you come back” Twilight added.
“As I with all of you” Autumn smiled at them. She then turned to the other person who hadn’t spoken. The Pegasister looked almost like she had been told back then now, but she still wore Hester’s hat and her eye bags remained.
“You could stay” Hazel spoke at last.
She smiled at her kindly. “What a wonderful idea, a crazy, mad, wonderful idea” she then frowned. “But I can’t. There are questions I have to answer, things I have to do”
Hazel looked down, rather sad at that. She was brought to face her again.
“Be back again before you know it” she assured her.
“You won’t remember me” she sounded scared.
“Of course I would. How could I forget? How could I forget any of you now?” she then paused for a moment before she spoke again. “Hazel, why do you call me Dervila?”
“Dervila is an Irish name for ‘Poet’s Daughter’. I thought it fit since Lauren was thought of as a poet to all who loved her work, and you were her daughter” she smiled at her. “A daughter Hester and I promised to protect when she comes”
Autumn smiled at her, then back to the others before she walked up to the mirror. She then stood and gave them all one last look before she went through it.
Autumn had made it back to the camp. For the first time in her life, she made a real smile for her father. Craig couldn’t have been happier. As they all settled down back to their rooms, Craig just had to ask.
“You didn’t mention your resolution”
She smiled at him. “My mother wouldn’t want to see me so upset and let her death be what ruins my life. I will carry on, her memory in me. And I know what she told before was true. I know she would’ve loved to hear it”
Craig smiled at her before kissing her head. “I know she would”
Autumn smiled as she closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep. She was ready to move on with her life. She was well now in both mind and body. And if she wasn’t, there was one place she could go to that would make her feel at home.
“She met with us again for tea at Anastasia’s today. From the looks of it, she really was raised well” Hazel reminiscence the latest event to Hester’s body.
It had been about a month since Autumn had fixed everything in Wonderland. The whole Fandom side was at peace again. There were no signs of the Antis’ attacking again. Occasionally, Queen Autumn would come and visit for relaxation and to check on them all. It had been great since then.
Despite how happy things were now, Hazel was still depressed over Hester. It wasn’t as serious as before and she was even helped through it. The OCs had returned back to their normal, ‘cute’ forms and even accepted the new Queen as a friend. The funny thing was that, a week after Autumn was crowned and Wonderland was restored, those Bronies, Pegasisters, OCs, Familiars, and Canon Characters who died have started to come back to life.
The only one who didn’t was Hester. Hazel wondered why, but Twilight eventually concluded that since the Hidebrit Gene went into her now, it meant that her sacrifice is the one that must be.
“It’s funny. I still forgot to do one more promise” Hazel spoke as she turned to Hester. “Before you closed your eyes, you told me to always be brave. I thought it meant that I should be brave on the battlefield. But now I know what you were trying to say. You wanted me to be brave even after you’re gone. You wanted me to move on and be able to live. That’s why you gave up your life for mine”
She wiped away her tear. “And I’ve decided. If Autumn can love on with the death of her mother, then so could I with you. I’ll admit: It’s a little different since Lauren is dead both here and in reality, while you’re only dead here but your real-life one is in a coma. I can only hope you’re doing okay there. Thank you so much, Hester. I’ll be okay now. Watch out for me, okay?”
Hazel smiled at her Familiar’s body. She turned around to get up and leave. She took a deep breath to compose herself for what lay ahead of her.
She suddenly felt a feeling of love and warmth on her. It was surprising, but so familiar to her. She felt a little lighter on her eyes. She felt her area around them, and was surprised that the eye bags were now gone. What’s more, her damaged hidden eye was now fully healed and she could see through it clearly again. Why was that? She took out her Essence and saw something she was surprised to find.
It was just a magenta heart now.
She heard a faint cough behind her before she turned around. Her eyes suddenly filled with tears of joy as a smile sprung on her face.