"My lady, why won't you eat? Please eat." Asked a feminine voice.

Sitting at a large banquet table were five individuals including Eve the draconequus.

The room they were feasting in seemed to be fairly decorated; modeled after royal architecture, Canterlot architecture to be specific. A large chandelier hung overhead attached to the ceiling, and spread out about the banquet table were numerous sweets and gems. There were two wooden doors leading out of the room into different sectors of this supposed castle; but ultimately there wasn't anything really suspicious about it. Well if you didn't count six very strange unseen hybrid creatures as suspicious, but that was another matter entirely.

four out of the five individuals were looking to Eve; as if waiting for her to say something.

While the fifth was at Eve's side, standing beside her chair. She bore black fur and looked like a humanoid panther. Her body also seemed to be quite defined, having lots of muscle; but even so it wasn't hard to tell this particular creature was built more for speed and agility rather than being a sole powerhouse.

The panther woman like the others wore very peculiar clothing; except she looked as if she were preparing to go survive out in the wilderness. She had a pair of cargo pants as well as combat boots; and a black tank top to match. Her eyes were golden and she had very strange white triangular patterns beneath her eyes. She wore a necklace with a zebra pendant; perhaps signifying she held a personal attachment to them.

As she loomed at the side of Eve's wooden chair, one arm hung over the top as she lowered her frame to look at the baby draconequus more closely, she whimpered. "Come now, you can't just sit here and starve yourself forever. That just isn't healthy my lady." She also seemed to possess a very similar accent to Zecora.

Eve stated simply in an apologetic tone. "I'm sorry Ms.Prowl; I'm not that hungry right now."

Mr.Talon, a dragon and fellow ally under Eve, couldn't help but wince in distress due to her words. But he remained sincere, looking towards Ms.Prowl with a sigh. "The lady isn't hungry; allow her to do as she wishes."

Eve looked to Mr.Talon with a smile.

The baby draconequus certainly looked worse for wear, deep bags underlining her eyes as it looked as if her mane had been thrown into a blender; like she hadn't gotten a good night's sleep in days. She chuckled softly "Thank you Mr.Talon." She then looked up at Ms.Prowl with that same childish smile; "I'm sorry Ms.Prowl," and then to all the others sitting around the table before pushing back her chair and hopping from her seat. "I'll be going back to my room now you all; please enjoy the food. If you're in the mood for anything different, please come tell me."

Ms.prowl just smiled affectionately, looking down at the baby draconequus. "It's fine my lady. Thank you."

"Hmhm okay." With that the baby draconequus slowly walked over towards one of the wooden doors at the opposite end of the room, leaning up on her tippy toes and turning one of the nobs before sluggishly pushing open the door and making her way through, then shutting it behind her saying no more.

As Eve left the room there was a sudden mood shift between the remaining individuals.

They all looked to one another, as if implying they were all thinking the same thing.

Ms.Prowl gritted her teeth angrily. "I swear if the lady doesn't eat anything soon, I'm going to force feed her!"

Mr.Sham, sitting alongside what appeared to be a humanoid Komodo Dragon; cocked his head to the left. "I would suggest against that Ms.Prowl."

Ms.Prowl crossed her arms as she she scoffed. "Tch! That child doesn't know what she's doing!!"

Mr.Talon nodded. "My thoughts exactly."

This caused the rest of the group to eye the dragon curiously; and some found his words quite suspicious.

The komodo dragon couldn't but hiss at Mr.Talon. "What're you suggesting Talon?...And before you answer; you may want to reconsider your life expectancy."

Then the last mysterious individual bounced onto the table; heading straight into Talon's face and snickering wildly. She appeared to be a strange foxlike creature with sharp, curled tusks. She like the others, wore very peculiar clothing but her's seemed to be fit more for somepony who belonged to a certain faction rather than to send a message. She wore bandages around her upper torso and looked to be wearing what appeared to be a kilt covering her lower half as a large strap held up a large curved sword hanging on her back. And as she grinned fiercely at the dragon she slowly started to unsheathe that sword with a raised brow. "So....tell me Talon what would you rather lose first? Your legs or your arms?"

Mr.Talon simply kept his arms crossed as he sighed heavily. "Well I'm happy to know that you're all capable of staying loyal but honestly; don't be idiots! Of course I would never consider betraying the lady. But we must consider whether or not the lady is fit for being the leader of the island, she is still young. I say it's time one of us took over in her stead."

Mr.Sham blinked a bit, as his sharp spear like arms twitched in response to that. "A replacement?"

Ms.Prowl snarled fiercely at the dragon. "Don't be absurd! I am here for the lady, not to serve you!"

Mr.Talon closed his eyes. "Tell me Prowl, how many attempts have been made on the lady's life since you've arrived here? And how many times has the lady personally gone out herself to deal with the situation?"

This caused the panther to freeze as she looked to the lower left. "Tch!...Why's that matter?! We're more than enough to stop anypony who dare threatens her life. Especially a couple of washed up gryphons and prancing little ponies. Let them come, let them bring their knights, their rulers, their magic. I'll deal with them."

Mr.Talon continued, looking to the rest of the group. "I feel the lady is starting to arrive at the point which she feels she's done enough in order to ensure the safety of this island and the creatures that dwell here. She is losing her motivation to continue doing anything; and I'm not sure how long we'll be able to ensure her protection if she holds no more regard for her own life. And I'm certain you've all noticed, she hasn't been acting herself lately."

There was a brief silence between all of them as they looked to one another.

Mr.Talon continued. "At times, I even start to think the lady doesn't even believe I'm real."

The tusked foxlike woman raised a brow; laughing hoarsely. "Hahahaha! That's just crazy!"

Mr.Talon looked to her worriedly. "Crazy wouldn't be surprising...."

Mr.Prowl looked towards the ground disheartened, clenching her fist. "So what do you expect us to do?"

Mr.Talon looked at her with a firm nod. "We'll start discussing distribution of power; and the best way to go about this situation of course. We're the adults here, we don't need to rely on a little girl to make decisions."

As Eve sat in her private chambers; all she did was continue to peer up at the marble statue she'd carved out in the center of the room. It was dark, and majority of the room was covered in shadow, the only shade of light being what little that came through the window, revealing the harsh blizzard outside. There was also the constant thunder that boomed every now and then as well. She looked at the statue tiredly; and after a few seconds of simply staring she looked towards the ground with a soft smile. "Did I do a good job momma?" But there was only silence to follow her question.

The baby draconequus just continued to look towards the ground with that same soft smile; the blizzard outside her private sanctum creating a rough ambience. She stood to her feet sluggishly as she looked up towards the statue. "I'm going to go look for more now. I'll be back soon." But as the baby draconequus turned; it was revealed that the statue wasn't even one of Cheerilee, no something much more twisted than that. The statue had the head of Cheerilee, the body of Celestia, and each individual leg bore a different shape, one a claw, another a paw, another a hoof, and the last a talon, as Twilight Sparkle's crown rested on the statue's head. While the shape of the tail was like that of a draconequus's.

But as Eve turned to walk away, leaving her quarters; a chilling voice followed afterwords.

Yet it was hollow, familiar.

It was Cheerilee's. "Why're you disappointing me little Eve?"

Eve's eyes widened as she turned to look towards the statue. "W-What? But...Momma! I-"

"Silence! Don't you dare refer to me as your mother." Cheerilee's voice snapped angrily.

The baby draconequus trembled as she nodded, immediately lowering her head in fear.

Cheerilee's voice only continued. "Do you truly believe this is enough to make up for what you've done? Why do you enjoy hurting your own mother so? What causes you to treat me so poorly; have I ever wronged you?"

Eve shook her head, refusing to make eye contact with the statue. "N-No ma'am..."

Cheerilee's voice fell silent for a moment. Before speaking up again except the tone had changed significantly; the voice altogether was now somepony different, it was Twilight Sparkle's. "Your time is almost up little draconequus. I hope you're ready by then. Look at you, still a frail little child even with all your special powers. You're not worth my time, you never were."

The baby draconequus bit her lower lip as tears swelled within her eyes; the small pellets hit the marble floor.

Twilight Sparkle gasped. "What's this?! Aw; are you crying? Why're you crying? Are you scared?......"

Eve shook her head. "N-No ma'am..."

Her voice persisted. "Aw, do you want somepony to hug you and make it all better? Maybe you want a free hoof out as well? For somepony to tell you it's all just okay, that you were in the right? How sad..."

The baby draconequus slowly broke down, trembling as she rubbed her eyes.

"STOP CRYING!"

Eve shrieked as she nodded once more, wrapping her frail arms around herself as she kept her head lowered.

The voice changed once again; this time to Princess Celestia's. "Is this how you portray us little one? As the cruel monsters? Are you still so lost in your own delusions that you look at pony society as the enemies? Perhaps you do, it's to be expected of an immature child who knows nothing about the world. Even after all that I've showed you, you still have your doubts? This is truly disappointing Eve."

Eve looked up towards the statue shaking her head, desperately attempting to explain herself. "N-No ma'am! I promise, I promise I've learned my lesson! P-Please...don't be angry with me!..."

The voice paused once more; before it continued, still in Princess Celestia's tone. "Good, then there is still hope for you yet. You may have thrown your own life away with your irresponsible and brash actions, but perhaps there are others you can aid to help make up for it. You think helping these creatures is what I want? No, you must make up for it through the blood of those you killed, pony blood. You have yet to repay your victims for the crimes you've committed."

A shiver ran down the baby draconequus's spine as she obediently stood there before the statue, and she seemed hesitant to speak but she did so anyway. An obvious hint of fear in her voice. "B-But...the equestrians don't like m-"

The voice cut in, and suddenly it'd changed back to Cheerilee's. "Are you threatening my wishes again Eve?"

Eve stopped talking, and just looked towards the ground. "No ma'am it's just-"

Cheerilee's voice continued. "Perhaps you need another punishment? Would you like that? To be punished?"

Eve's eyes widened as she shook her head. "No! Please; I'm sorry momma I-" And the baby draconequus covered her own mouth immediately, backing away from the statue as she trembled.

Cheerilee's voice spoke in a cold desolate manner. "It seems you still don't understand your place you twisted little creature. Didn't I tell you not to refer to me in such a manner? What a bad child, ignoring her own mother's orders."

The baby draconequus continued to tremble, shaking her head. "P-Please! No...I..I'm sorry, please momma I-" And tears streamed down her cheeks as she grew silent, obedient; she'd said it again.

Cheerilee's voice sighed heavily. "Face the wall."

The color sunk from Eve's face as she slowly turned, facing the wall.

Suddenly a large shadow slowly started to appear on the ground from where the statue was.

And as the baby draconequus looked towards the ground; seeing that large disfigured shadow looming closer and closer to her, a shiver ran down her spine. She whimpered softly.

The voice now seemed much closer as it spoke. "Now look at me Eve."

Eve shook her head. "N-No! I won't! I don't want to!"

The voice snapped angrily. "LOOK AT ME THIS INSTANT!"

The baby draconequus sniffled as she turned to look back towards the statue; and as she did so she shrieked in fear, scurrying back against the wall and closing her eyes.

The voice continued. "This is what your irresponsibility has done. This is the result of your pitiful wishful thinking."

Eve's expression sunk as she nodded, and she expressed nothing, looking at the ground with lifeless eyes.

The voice sounded a little more relaxed. "You realize that enough, will never be enough; don't you?"

Eve grinned sadistically; chuckling beneath her breath. "Enough, will never be enough."

The voice sounded pleased. "Good; now go, and remember, I'm always watching. And I'm always there."

Eve giggled; smiling as her red iris's focused on the statue and all fell silent, it only being her in her private quarters as she remained stationary in place. "Yes ma'am."

Ponyville, the peaceful town where Twilight Sparkle and her friends reside. It was nearing the end of winter, and finally the winter-wrap up would begin soon. So as ponies were out and about even during the evening, enjoying what little time they had left with the beautiful fluffy white substance, there was a certain alicorn preparing for a more personal task.

"Twilight where are you going?" Asked a curious Spike.

Twilight was in the middle of packing some bags as she chuckled softly, looking back towards the baby dragon. "Don't worry Spike, I'm just going to talk to Princess Celestia about some private matters. I won't be gone long." And with that the alicorn left her small home, trotting out the door and exiting out into the small town. It was late, and the stars were already laid out overhead as the violet mare looked towards the full moon with a heavy sigh. Are you sure you wanna do this Twilight?

The mare couldn't help but feel a slight hesitation in pursuing this idea. But when she thought about it, she recalled her reasons, motivating herself to continue. No; she definitely had to do this. So she opened one of her small knapsacks; unfolding an equestrian map as she had a specified area circled towards the northern mountains. She then looked back towards the full moon. "Well; here I go again."