Tick, tock.

The stallion looked down at the sleeping mare, from her pure caramel colored coat to the pinkish blonde mane with the rebellious green stripe.  She was laying spread eagle on a bale of hay, although no matter how hard it tried, the hay would not hold against her mane.

She was pure, in every sense of the word.

Grandpa Apple brushed a stray hair out of her face; even now he couldn’t look away. The body of the mare was made without imperfections. She was truly beautiful; the only thing that could have been said was her undercarriage. In the center of her barrel was a cracked diamond shape patch of white fur.

“My darling little angel,” the stallion said looking away into the dark emerald crystal. “We shall be together soon enough.” He whispered as he carefully draped the shard around the mare’s neck.

Then he sat at the foot of the pile of hay, watching. Seconds turned into minutes as he waited, he knew soon her soul would attach itself to her knew host. Granny Smith would be young again. Grandpa Apple only smiled.

Kirk

The stallion whipped his head back as he looked down to the barn door, a small sigh of relief passed his lips as he seen the familiar coat of his granddaughter shuffle into the barn. From first glance he could tell she was in a foul mood.

“I still can’t believe it, all that work and we can’t even get near him.” The Apple mare grumbled.

“Well it is what Princess Celestia ordered, let’s just get ready, Pinkie will be here tonight. I cant believe you got me up this early in the morning.” Replied the rainbow maned Pegasus. “Besides, I think Twilight got the worst of it. I still can’t believe she tried to use the alicorn amulet.”

“Yeah, I’m planning on visiting her soon. I just got word that my mom and dad are in town.” A small smile worked its way into her cheeks. “If dad is here then at means…”

“Well hasn’t my little Apple Seed grown up into a beautiful young mare?” The Apple stallion yelled down casually.

The words were almost like honey to her. As her gaze shot up to her Grandfather. Since she was a little filly she had been filled to the brim with stories and the adventures of her Grandpa and dad. In her mind he was a legend.

A pony that stood for everything she believed in, her idol, her grandpa.

“GRANDPA!” Applejack squeed like a little filly on a Hearth’s Warming Eve morning.

A low chuckle left his lips as he turned and quick covered his beloved’s new body in hay. After which he eased down the small ladder taking great care not to make too much noise. The moment his back hoof touched the barn floor he found himself piled on by an eccentric mare.

Grandpa… nearly died.

“Off!” wheezed the stallion. He could almost feel his bones being crushed under her weight.

“Oh, sorry Grandpa.”  Applejack said as she stepped off. “I didn’t mean to, I forgot to take the medicine.”

“It’s alright, just give an old stallion a chance to breath. Wow have you grown Little Seed. Last time I saw you, you were barely thirteen. Now look at what a beautiful mare you have become.”

“Aw shucks.” Applejack tried her best to hold back, but the red tint in her cheeks was clear and visible for all to see. “Thankyou.”

Rainbow Dash had waited far too long for her taste, although she had a healthy respect for the elderly Apple stallion, Applejack had recited all of his adventures and deeds to the point to where she herself could say them by heart. He wasn’t any Daring Do, but he was close.

“Hey,” Rainbow Dash said as she gave him a nod. “Sup.”

“Well if it isn’t My Little Dashie, rumor has it you joined the Wonder Bolts.” Grandpa Apple said as he gave his granddaughter a few nuzzles against her cheek.

Dash didn’t say anything, as for once talking about her accomplishments wasn’t on her mind. All she could do was look at Grandpa Apple.

Several moments passed before he rolled his eyes, “No, I didn’t forget. I got your gifts in the cart in the other barn. I got presents for everypony.”

“Score! I knew you would remember.”

“Of course, Grandpa never forgets a promise.” Applejack beamed.

“I also got something special for you, Applejack, but it’s going to have to wait. I think your father would want to be the one to tell you” Grandpa stated.

“Actually this is perfect timing,” Rainbow Dash said as she trotted next to the ‘elderly’ stallion. “Could you help us move some stuff from town to the spare bedroom?  Normally it would be nothing, but I hurt my left wing a tiny bit chasing this idiot around town.”

“Now, as in now, now?” The stallion questioned.

“Yeah, we’re getting ready for Pinkie Pie to come back, she is going to need tons of moral support and she will be back today.”

“Hmmm. Well I’m a little busy at the moment.” He let out a small huff. “Can’t you get the girls to help? I’m sure they would go help if you said they get their cutie marks.”

“Grandpa! I can’t believe you would even say that?” Applejack said her mouth slightly agape.

“Sorry Hun, I can’t help right now. Besides you know I was kidding, partially.” He chuckled.

Rainbow Dash nudged his side coaxing the stallion with a smirk, “C’mon, don’t you want to show off for the fill—“

“No.” The stallion dead panned.

“Don’t pester him Dash, let’s go get the cart and get things going before day break. Besides it looks like it’s about to rain.”  Applejack said.

“It IS about to rain, I can feel it in my wings.  Let’s just do this tomorrow; I’m sure we can set Pinkie up with Rarity for tonight.” Rainbow stated, “You know how much Rarity loves drama.”

“No Rainbow—“Applejack cut herself off as she felt a tender hoof wrap around her.

“Applejack, I know you want to be there for Pinkie. I think we all do. I will be busy most of tonight in here. So Pinkie can sleep in my room for now.” Grandpa Apple said, his tone carried wisdom and certainty.

Applejack sighed, she knew his word was law, “Fine, grandpa.”

“Don’t give me the pouty face. Oh and when are you going to find yourself a nice stallion, I’m getting impatient, I need grandfoals to spoil.”

Applejack could feel the skin below her coat start to heat up. “Grandpa, now is not the time to be talking about this.”

Knock-Knock

All went silent as the looked at the large barn door. The stallion looked at the clock and to the door. He could feel an itching suspicion. Something was wrong.

The door pressed opened; there standing at the threshold was a stallion. His mane was covered in a golden helmet. Whether he was a Pegasus or not was undetermined, there was armor plating covering his back.

The stallion looked around until his eyes fell on the trio in the far side of the barn. He cleared his throat and nodded, “I am sorry for barging in, but I am on an urgent order from Princess Celestia herself to track down a Mr. Apple, G. Apple.”

Grandpa clicked his lounge in irritation, “I am him. Do you need something?”

“Sir! I have been ordered to escort you to her royal highness immediately.” The stallion said as he touched his armor showing proper honor and respect.

“What did you do?” Applejack whispered.

Grandpa Apple just ignored her, “I am sure the princess must be making a mistake, I am but a simple farmer pony. I have no need to the attention of her majesty. Please tell her thank you and give her regard but I am very busy today.”

It was at the moment nine ripped stallions walked on either side of the him, each dressed in the same armor as the one in the center.

“I am sorry sir, but if you don’t come willingly, I have orders to bring you by force.”

Grandpa Apple stood still for a moment and made his way to the center of the room. “Nineteen versus one. You should have brought more back up” the stallion said with a smug smirk.

The stallion though didn’t waver, “Please Mr. Apple, all of us here know of your deeds and exploits. You have the respect of every pony here. I ask you not as a soldier but as a fellow citizen of Equestria. Please, we have a vagabond in our custody right now that is charged with pony napping Princess Luna. He refuses to speak to any pony but you. Please, we need your help.”

The room fell silent again; the pony bowed his head low, leaving only a shadow to etch out his features.

“What is your name soldier?” Grandpa Apple question, his demeanor changing to take a proper stance.

“My name is Ember Mist of the Mist household. I am the Captain of the second division, fourth squadron.” He said, speaking in soft tone.

Grandpa Apple trotted slowly to the center of the room, “You must care for your Princess dearly if you come against me.” He turned her head back to Applejack. “I will be back soon; I have business to attend to. Make sure nopony touches the hay upstairs.”

Few words of gratitude were exchanged, nods and so forth as Grandpa Apple now left with the burley band of soldiers. Leaving the two mares standing in bewilderment.

Applejack raised a brow, “Do you think they were talking about—“

“Who else!” Rainbow Dash said cutting her off. “I bet he knows how cool your grandpa is and is trying to get him to pull some strings to get him off.”

Applejack shook her head, “It’s best not to even think about it. Grandpa is a smart pony; he won’t fall for a few honeyed words.”

Rainbow Dash folded her wings, and let out a small sigh. “Well let’s just leave him to it then.”

Applejack looked at Rainbow Dash. “You seem oddly… agreeable.”

A small grin worked it way onto the cyan blue Pegasus, “Aren’t you a little curious… what Grandpa was doing upstairs?”

“No,” Applejack said sternly. “What Grandpa does in his personal time is none of our business—“

HmmmmmMMMMMMMMRRRRP

Rainbow Dash It was soft at first. Her ear twitched. Frantic, her eyes searched for the source. “Did you hear something?”

Applejack shook her head and tried to clear away the thought from her mind, “Nope, definitely didn’t hear growling coming from the hay loft.”

Rainbow Dash, of course, didn’t listen. There was definitely a noise. With a few gingerly flaps over Applejack, she shook her head firmly. After blinking a few times as her eyes came into focus and gave her a full view of the hay loft. It was almost completely obvious, there was a long birth of flat hay and in the center was a large lump.

“Rainbow Dash – get your feathered flank down here this instant. You heard was grandpa said.” Applejack scolded.

Rainbow Dash crept over to the pile of hay, as she drew close, she reached out with her hoof and gingerly pushed a few strands of hay to the side. “Please don’t be a monster.” she prayed, her voice growing fainter and fainter as each strand fell from its place. Rainbow swallowed and braced herself as the last few strands were removed. What Rainbow Dash found was not a monster.

It was a mare, appearing a little older than Fluttershy. She looked like a sleeping angel nestled on the hay. She was the single most beautiful mare that she had even seen in her life.

POMF

Rainbow-Dash could feel her wings becoming erect. It was at that very moment, the mare opened her eyes. She lifted her hoof and reached out as slowly as possible. “Hi.”

“Hi.” The hay mare said.

Her coat was a mixture of gold and brown. She had long, rich and soft looking mane. The mare’s eyes held Rainbow’s attention, they were a soft shade of pink, but what was getting to her wasn’t the color. They were filled with wonderment; each looked like a small jewel that seemed to sparkle in day where darkness could not touch.

She looked innocent, her mane was in a slight dishevel, but even then she looked almost like a perfect goddess.

The mare gingerly smiled, “Do you have any food?”

Rainbow just nodded slightly, “Who are you?”

“Rainbow Dash,” Apple Jack said as her hooves could be clearly heard ascending the stairs. “When I get my hooves on you I’m going to—“Apple Jack cut herself off she the hay mare came into view.

“Hi,” The hay mare said. “Do you have any food?”

“Who in tarnation,” Applejack said trying to get her jaw to hinge back in. “Ahh, hi, who are you?”

The mare tilted her head to the side, a slightly dazed expression, “I don’t know? I can’t seem to recall. I am hungry though; can I have some food please?”

“Let’s get her some food…” Rainbow Dash said, eye eyes never leaving the beauty before her.

Both eyes fell on the mare as her stomach finally protested against its owner. The low rumbled was almost loud enough to drown out the conversation.

“Sure, come on Sugarcube, let get some grub in yah and you tell us how in the hay you got here.” Applejack nodded, trying her best to look away, and failing.

Apple Jack groaned and put her hooves up to her muzzle. She was sure of it now, this mare was a monster.  Nine, completely full baskets of apples all completely devoured, completely consumed by her greedy maw.

“Can I have some more?” The mare asked polity. Her face was covered in apple bits, which looked good on her. Almost everything in the room looked good with her; it was unearthly how well she fit in.

“Sure!” Rainbow said, pushing more apples in front of the beauty before her. Only for an orange hoof to slide them back seconds later.

“Not so fast, first, tell us your name, I want to know who is trying to eat us out of house and home.” Apple Jack said not at all bemused.

The mare ponders for a moment, thinking, she had a veiled collection of memories. All thoughts were a blur to her. Like they were there, but only pieces of them, remnants of what once was. Her name was one of these pieces.

“I don’t know.” The mare answered honestly. “Can I have more apples now?”

“C'mon Sugar, you have to have a name.” Apple jack said, moving the apples as she tried to swipe another.

The mare looked to the side, honestly perplexed, “I don’t know it. I might have one but don’t remember… can I have an apple please?”

“Apple jack just give her an apple, she might not want to tell—“

“I don’t know it.” The mare chirped, “But if you give me a name I will have one.” The mare said thinking of the best solution that best got her closer to apples.

“You don’t need to cry Sugercube; it’s not something to be cry over.” Apple jack said sliding the apples over.

“Crying?” The mare said.  She felt her muzzle, there were indeed tears running down her face. It was an odd feeling, she couldn’t describe it. It felt like there was a piece missing, an emotion that was tied together with crying. “How strange.”

Rainbow Dash was already on it as she quickly started to wipe away each tear. “I know, we should call you Emerald, after that green stripe in your main. Also, an emerald pendant around your neck.”

Emerald felt it inside of her, a rush that traveled down her spine. It felt right, like a puzzle peice fitting into place.

“I like it, call me Emerald.” The mare smiled, Applejack didn’t like this, something felt off about this mare, fishy, suspicious. She had no evidence to prove otherwise beyond the fact she was sleeping in her barn.

Rainbow Dash though, was acting like a smitten filly. This mare was just the right amount of everything. Everything about her was pure and innocent, like a filly who knew not the ways of the world.

The mare looked around, blinked a few times and sniffed. “What’s that smell, it smells sweet?” she chided.

Apple Jack raised a brow and repeated Emerald’s motions. She sniffed the air, there was an unnatural sweetness about it, and it was a scent she knew well. It was musk, a scent that hung in the air when a mare was in heat. She knew it wasn’t hers, she knew what she smelled like. “Dash, for heaven's sake, really?”

Rainbow Dash shook her head, “That’s not me, and I don’t spread that around you guys.” Rainbow slightly lied. This though, wasn’t her; she knew her scent better than any pony.

Both didn’t say a word as realization came to them. Simple process of elimination told both of them who was the culprit. Which told a lot about the mare that even she didn’t know.  She was in heat, this time of the year that was to be expected. The scent though meant she was ready, and willing, for sex.

“Can I have some more apples now please?” Emerald asked politely.

It only took half a second for Rainbow Dash to come up with a plan, “Actually, Emerald, how about you and me go get something to eat in town. I know this nice little place on the other side of town—“

Apple Jack deadpanned, “Really Dash… really!?”

Dash turned and whispered to her friend, “Quiet, I’m trying to work here. I’m not going another year without getting laid. A hoof doesn’t cut the fat if you catch my drift. Besides you smell that, she obviously likes me.”

Apple jack continued her deadpan stare, “Dash, get real here. We have a lot more important things to do than you trying to fool around. Besides you met her not thirty minutes ago!”

“I would love to,” Emerald said, nuzzling her head in-between the two. “This looked fun, I wanted to join in.”

Rainbow Dash stepped back twice, the musk was almost overwhelming. It was definitely Emerald giving off the scent. She thought wasn’t acting ashamed or embarrassed. It was a level of confidence that Rainbow admired.

“Alright,” She said trying to get her wings to stop pulsating. “Let’s go.”

Rainbow Dash eagerly moved to the side and guided the mare to the front door. Taking in every moment of her moment to her scent. She was almost completely perfect.

Apple Jack though didn’t say a word in edgewise. Normally she would continue to scold her friend. This was an off day. She could relate, she too was feeling nature’s bite at her loins.

A thought then hit the apple mare.

What if she didn’t have to be alone this year… no one would judge her if she too joined in. It would only take around five minutes to get the room ready for Pinkie. Grandpa was always meticulously clean and she hadn’t seen Granny Smith all day.

She knew finding a stallion would be out of the question. A mare though, no, she knew what she was thinking. She wanted to join them. She couldn’t lie to herself. She and Rainbow Dash have joked about the idea for years.

Maybe this year it would be time to see if there was any water to that idea. Granted there was no romance between them, it was just a service, a friend helping a friend. Emerald… she will be the key to breaking the ice.

“Wait, I’m coming with!” Apple jack said as she hurried along, leaving behind a faint trail of her own musk.

It was almost overbearing, the smell of strawberries and lilacs was almost enjoyable if the smell was not so overpowering.

Fluffy hated the smell of strawberries. He did though, love his niece. She was his world. She now was sound asleep in her own bed. Two female body guards posted around her at any given moment. Diamond wasn’t even allowed the privacy of the bathroom anymore.

She was on total lockdown.

Fluffy could only watch over her like he always did. He was not going to make the same mistake twice. He knew it was a bad idea to let his incompetent brother-in-law chooses to be her butler. It only goes to show you just how two faced some ponies can be.

He had lost his sister; he would not lose another loved one. Diamond was his only family left in the entire world. She was a delicate flower and he was damn sure she was going to stay that way.

The stallion nodded to Diamond’s body guards and made his way into the hall. He would love to stay and watch over her, but his job entailed protecting his boss. Not that anyone would be fool hardy enough to even try.

“Pardon me, Nightshade?”

Fluffy turned around; it was a mare he recognized. She was Loral Reef, a full time maid that joined the family a year or so ago. Her background check came back clear. She was middle class, three sisters, no brothers.

She had an ash grey coat, chestnut hair and deep blue eyes. Her cutie mark was that of an iron horse shoe. She didn’t have much presence. She faded into the background. Although she did have a set of glasses that kept falling down her muzzle.

Fluffy were sure she had a filly too. She was around Diamond’s age. He was almost sure of it.

“I’m sorry to bother you sir, my name is Loral, Loral Reef. I was wondering if I could…” she shifted nervously in place. “I know this might sound a little odd considering… but I, well.”

Fluffy stomp his foot in irritation, there was nothing he was more annoyed about than a pony who didn’t know what they wanted. The mare almost jumped a foot in the air.

“I’m sorry, Please don’t fire me!”

Fluffy shook his head and scraped the ground twice with his hoof. It was a calm gesture. Thankfully a well-known one amongst the staff.

“I’m sorry, I know this maybe a little weird… but I was hoping to talk to you about something a little personal.”

Fluffy nodded in response, this wasn’t the first time a mare approached him. He being single was a problem; he just had no real interest in women. He wasn’t gay; he was just very content with his life right now.

“Well you see… I have seen the way Diamond has been acting this past week or so. She seems more cheerful. I know what he,” the mare didn’t want to say your name and get him angry, you were a sensitive subject. “But she really has turned around in such a short time. She is eager to help out in the kitchen; she also picks up her room all by herself. No to mention—“

Fluffy almost cut her off completely, he refused to hear the small benefits that came from his master’s idiotic plan.

“But to the point,” Fluffy tuned in again, “I have a daughter, her name is Twist. She normally comes around the servants quarters when I get off work.”

Fluffy nodded, that’s where he remembered her. Her daughter was a red manned wonder who sold peppermint sticks on Sunday at the market in town. They were of excellent quality.

“Well… I really don’t know how to ask this without it sounded weird… but since if Diamond could get such good results I’m sure…” Fluffy could feel a twitch growing on the back of his neck, “My daughter is coming of age soon, and she is shy and a bit of an outcast. She told me though she has a crush on a certain stallion, you, but she is too shy to do anything about it. I was wondering if you could… play along. Something similar to what Diamond went through, I think she might come out of her shell more if she had a special… pony?”

Fluffy couldn’t believe what he was hearing, but now he knew why he always got extra peppermint sticks every time he bought from her. He actually liked the little filly, she was adorable. Not in a romantic type of way but enough to put stock in her feelings.

The stallion tapped the surface of the floor two times and traced a half oval over it.

Loral got the message, as she had grown accustomed to take orders from a pony with zero verbatim. “Talk later…” The mare thought for a moment, trying to organize her words just right. “Thank you.” Was all that she could come up with.

Fluffy turned and left down the hall, trying to spare the mares feelings of the awkward separation. He already had it in his mind to turn the filly down. She would have to go through life like every other mare that age.

The stallion finally reaches his destination, Mr. Rich’s office. He opened the door to find the stallion eagerly flipping through page by page of what looked like to be an arrest report. Your photo was posted on every sheet.

“Nightshade,” Mr. Rich said not even looking up from his documents. “I have a special assignment for you.” He nodded, just barely catching the eye of his employer. “Two actually. Our friend Frost is currently under lock and key and heavy security. I need you to kidnap him and bring him here.”

Fluffy only nodded, it was a task he was more than skilled for.

“Good. The second task I want to you do is explain to me why Twilight was wearing the alicorn amulet!” Mr. Rich slammed both of his hooves on the desk. Sending his #1 father mug skittering to the very edge of the table.

Fluffy knew then he was in trouble.

“Ten years ago I told you to destroy that cursed amulet! What do I come to find out,” He pushed two stacks of papers over revealing a picture of his friend Marcus, a pawn shop owner. “You gave it to your damn friend to hold onto! Did you know he sold it?”

Fluffy did not know he sold it; he would be having a few very select words with him..

“Before you get Frost I want you to go to the hospital and retrieve the amulet. You made the damn thing and now you’re going to do what you were supposed to do ten years ago and get rid of that damned item!”

Filthy turned and looked into an old photo that was sitting on a mantle. It was a photo of him and Diamond as a foal. A unicorn with a flaming red mane was holding her, covered in sweat and tears, but smiling was Diamond’s mother, Sapphire Moon.

“If Diamond ever finds out what really happened to her mother, I don’t think her poor little heart could take it.”

It happened in a moment, Fluffy could see Filthy talking but no words were reaching his ears. He could taste copper in the back of his throat as it started to fill with blood. The world became nothing but a blur to him as his head soon found the cold stone tile.

After all of that, that all he could feel was the burning in his throat. It had been ten long years since he had last spoke. The words though did not fail him in his time of need.

“Help.”

“I didn’t mean to!”  Pearl was pleading as she vigorously started to clean up the bed.

Orion sat in silence as he wiped off the residue that was now clinging to his coat. Bits of what he assumed were her breakfast was now getting picked out of his fur.

“It’s alright Pearl, let’s just not tell Magnum about this. I don’t want any remarks about you puking on me.”

Pearl couldn’t help but blush furiously, this had never happened before. “I’m sorry, I won’t tell. I don’t know why, I was feeling perfectly fine.”

“Until you got on me,” the stallion joked. “I guess I make you sick.” He shook his head as he took off his unused condom. “I guess I should be going, I’m not in the mood to try. Maybe next time?”

Pearl nodded, “I’m sorry, next time I’ll do that thing you like.” She said giving him a wink.

Orion chuckled as he made his way to the shower, “Yeah, I think Dazzle would love to hear that.”

The mare loved her job, she really did. Every day was filled with what she loved most, helping out ponies in need. What she didn’t like doing was sitting around being forced to look after two sleeping mares.

She was the best nurse that the hospital had to offer, so she was volunteered for this very delicate post. The care of Princess Twilight Sparkle and her mother Dazzle Sparkle. Both were unconscious, both were resting.

Both needed little to no attention, leaving her with ample time to think about what she was not getting this year again.

Laid.

PllLoop

The mare almost jumped a foot in the air as she rushed over to the eldest of the two occupants. She was completely passed out, but lucky her head fell to the side. Two large puddles of stomach bile found their way onto the floor.

Nurse Red Heart almost jumped into action as she fixed and reset the mare to a comfortable state, puke free, in less than thirty seconds.  A small sigh left her lips as she turned around to dispose of the used cloths.

Only to bump into the coat of the most handsome stallion that she had ever seen.

Secretly she wanted him to push her to the ground and take her on the floor. Sadly, she knew that was not the case. She had to be professional. “I’m sorry sir, I must ask you to leave. Only family is allowed during visiting hours.”

The stallion nodded, “I am family. That is my mother and my sister.” Shining Armor said.

The mare was about to question him when all the proof she needed walked in just moments after, the alicorn of love herself, Cadence.

Nurse Redheart bowed low; she knew she was going to be working overtime now for sure.

The changeling queen was pressing her luck.

The bright blue stones that was stopping her from becoming fertilizer was more than abundant. Sadly, that didn’t stop her from trying to escape. She had knowledge. dangerous knowledge.

She knew she had to find you even if it cost her life.

Regrettably, the poison was more active than ever. The moment she stepped out of Alicorn Way. She could feel it begin to course through her body once more. All she had at her disposal was rocks. Nothing more.

“I must warn him!” she said to no one.

It took all of half a moment for her eye to twitch as she puked up seven large shots of bile. Chrysalis slumped over as all the energy she had now left her. She couldn’t feel her insides, it was almost magical. For a brief moment she was at peace as her eyes fell heavy and she began to slumber.

The mare shot up from her jungle bed, sweat almost covered her completely. She was covered in leaf wraps and ointments.

Only to turn her head as she started to puke, all over the striped coat of her savior.

“I see that you now have awoken, I hope this is not my gratitude token.” Zecora said bemused.

Cheerilee shook her head as her vision came back to her. “Where am I, how did I get here?”

“I found you at the river’s edge; you were taken by the waters’ dredge.” Zecora said.

Cheerilee shook her head, trying to think how she ended up in the river. Once the memories returned she almost jumped out of the makeshift bed. “I need to warn the town, she... they! They’re both changelings!”

“Whoa, settle down there Cheerilee, what in the pony world are you telling me?”

Cheerilee started to shake, “It… was… I don’t know! I saw it though. I was at Sweet Apple Acres. I went to thank Grandpa Apple for helping us… I went to his room and the door was cracked. I saw it! He forced Epona into the bed and stuck her with some wild blue syringe!”

Zecora ears perked up as the name was mentioned, “So tell me, what you saw?”

“She changed… Epona changed! She wasn’t lying, she was Chrysalis, the changeling Queen. He put her on his back and I ran and hid. I wanted to confront him but I wanted to see what he was going to do. I followed him to some cliff—“

Zecora turned and went to the table; quickly she put several large doses of blue powder onto a cloth.  “A changeling you say, a dangerous game you play to follow him during the day.”

“I stuck to the shadows, he didn’t see me. I saw him though, he burst in green flames and turned into some huge monster! I saw him jump into Alicorn Way. I saw him change—“

Cheerilee fell still as her eyes began to force their way shut. Her mind began to close off as she was forced into the land of dreams.

“I know what you say is true, my family has helped him make that changeling brew. Sadly I cannot have you tell, for our futures rides on him being well. If the town knew what dangers they were in, the evil one would surely win. So rest my friend and when you awake, your memory will be gone of today; it’s for your own sake.”

“Now I won’t take no for an answer!” Discord said being oddly attentive.

“I am perfectly fine Discord,” Cup Cake said as she tried to get out of the bed only to be magically bound to it moments later.

“No, you are not,” Discord said as he magically fit himself with a nurse outfit. “No one has ever puked up my cooking before. I will not have my second friend ever dying before I can prove her wrong.”

Cup Cake didn’t say anything as she resigned herself to her bed prison. She didn’t want to say it but it really felt odd. She wasn’t feeling sick at all until just a few hours before.

It was almost magical.

“Discord… can you do me a favor at least?” Cup asked weakly.

“Anything my NGGFCC” Discord said smiling from ear to ear.

“NGGFCC?” She questioned.

Discord waved a dismissive paw, “New Great Good Friend Cup Cake.” He said like it was almost obvious from the get go.

Cup only chuckled a little, “Can you go get the twins for me? It’s not fair that—“

Snap

It was as fast as she could have blinked; her little ones appeared before her. Both Pound and Pumpkin were sound asleep in a crib that she had never seen before.

“That was fast…” Cup said both happy and surprised.

Discord put a warm paw on her barrel pushing her into the bed, “now rest.” He commanded. Like that, Cup Cake fell asleep. Discord yawned as he too decided to join her in slumber, a black couch  appeared next to the bed moments later.

Only moments after Discord joined the mare in slumber, a scroll appeared on his lap.

The Mare stood in amazement.

No, amazement was not the word, fear was the word. She was sure they were there a minute ago. Both of the twins were sound asleep in their crib.

“Where did they go!” Mary shouted to no one, as she scrambled to try and find where they had gone. She didn't want to even think of what you and Cup Cake would do if you lost them.

Knock Knock Knock

Mary quickly trotted to the door hoping that the twins would be just beyond them. Pumpkin could have teleported them outside. That is what she hoped.

On the opposite side of the door though was Lyra, she was completely covered in sweat, breathing hard.

“Mary, have you seen the newspaper?” Lyra said quickly, not even giving greetings.

Mary looked down at the newspaper that Lyra had brought with her. No words left her lips as she felt her breakfast start to work its up her throat. One the front page was her bent over her desk, her beloved fully inserted inside of her. She could tell from the camera angle this was taken from a pegasus outside her office window.

It was at that very moment, Mary knew her political career was completely over.