Everyone was worried, Kamina had been missing for days. When Gilda and Blitz returned home, they found the front door wide open, the living room a mess reminiscent of someone leaving in a hurry, and no sign of the prince anywhere. They started to search immediately, but turned up empty hooved/taloned.

Everyone was informed, including the princesses, who ordered a contingent of guards to the town to help with the search. Twilight was sprawled out on her desk, distraught, looking over a map of the region that had huge red tints laid over it, displaying where they'd searched and found nothing. “Kamina...where are you...?” She levitated over a bottle of Applejack Daniels and took a deep swig. “This is all my fault....”

Everypony was taking this hard, but Twilight took it worst, feeling responsible since she was the one who selfishly kicked him out over something stupid and petty. She was supposed to be a smart pony, but this just proved that, in life, she wasn't a smart pony at all. She knew Nyx wasn't intentional, and that even so, she wasn't HIS filly, he just gave her back to Luna. But the thought that he'd have a child with anypony but her, Trixie or Zecora first just infuriated her to the point of irrationality. And now here she was, regretting her stupidity at the bottom of a bottle.

This was the sad sight that Trixie walked in on. She didn't blame Twilight for anything, because she too felt a little put-out at the thought of Kamina siring a child with somepony else too, but she got over it much sooner because she cared about him more than some selfish desire to be first. She walked slowly up to Twilight and embraced her from behind. “You need to sleep Twi.”

“Not until they find him.” Twilight was about to take another swig from the bottle when Trixie took it in her own magic, and put it down firmly on the desk.

“That isn't helping. You can't do this to yourself.” Trixie firmly stated, and started pulling Twilight away from the desk. “Now come to bed.” Trixie found little resistance from the sleep-deprived, drunk and distraught mare as she nearly dragged her to the nearby bed, and helped her into it. “I'll be joining you in a minute.”

“It isn't the same...without him....” Twilight sniffled as she hugged a pillow, missing the firm mass of muscle she was so used to spooning, before falling into a light, fitful sleep. Trixie left the room, and quietly closed the door, before walking to the next one and knocking on it.

“Enter.” Trixie entered the room to find it transformed from a normal bedroom, into a complex and cluttered alchemy lab with a cauldron in the center, vented via a talisman overhead that swept any smoke out the nearby window. The walls covered in tribal knickknacks, most notably the wood masks. On the bed in the only clear corner of wall sat a meditating Zecora, who cracked an eye to look at her guest. “My divination has proven fruitless, I fear my methods might be useless.” Zecora's stoic face cracked for a moment, she missed her rhyming sessions with Kamina, who enjoyed them to the point of making songs with them.

Trixie sighed in despair as her head lowered and ears flattened. “Trixie thought as much.” She cringed, she reverted to third-person when distressed. “I mean, Zecora; Twilight is getting worse. Could you make some of that tea she loves so much? It will help her feel at least a little better.”

“My tea may be good, but help her I don't think it would.” Zecora sighed. [Do you mind speaking Zebrican?]

[It's fine, I know it's hard to focus when you're so distressed too.] Trixie said as she approached the bed, and put a hoof on Zecora's hoof. [But even if it is a momentary comfort, isn't it worth it?] Trixie asked, desperate to help Twilight as she was to see Kamina again.

Zecora nodded, and patted Trixie's hoof. [Yes, indeed it is. I shall have to make a trip to my old hut though, I have run out of the leaves, and my stock there is still full.] Zecora stood, and kissed Trixie on the cheek. [I shall return before sunrise.]

[Please be careful.] Trixie said as Zecora trotted over to her saddlebags.

[The Everfree might be dangerous, but so am I.] Zecora reminded her as she left.

===//////>

Fluttershy was regretting her decision. The Cutie Mark Crusaders were planning a sleepover for weeks, but with all the commotion caused by Kamina's disappearance, it looked like they weren't going to be able to go through with it. Fluttershy had heard of it when they were complaining about it to Rarity who had just told them she was busy helping with the search and was too tired to watch them, and she opted to watch them instead, beings her work as the town's animal caretaker was a full-time job as it was, so she had the same energy as usual.

It was such a mistake.

They were so rambunctious, they couldn't stay still, they refused to keep quiet, and worst of all they didn't like her games! She thought she had this in-hoof, but she clearly got in over her head. She was quietly trying to round them up for bed, her meek and gentle tone barely heard over the three filly's cheers and shenanigans. “Oh my, please, don't-.” Fluttershy turned from Apple Bloom to Sweetie Bell, who looked like her sister Rarity, only with naturally curly pink and purple hair, parted on her head by her horn and green eyes. “Sweetie, that's not-.” She turned to Scootaloo; an orange pegasus with purple hair and dark purple eyes, her style an exact copy of her idol Rainbow Dash. “Scootaloo look-.” *crash* “Out....”

“Sorry....” Scootaloo apologized as she looked at the shattered vase.

“Well look what ya did scoots. I guess we'd best simmer down huh?” Bloom asked as she walked towards the mess.

“Yeah, if Rarity saw this; she'd blow her top. We're just lucky Fluttershy is so nice, or we'd be getting an earful right now.” Sweetie stated as she saw Fluttershy hover over the mess with a broom and dustpan, sweeping it up. “We're sorry.”

“It's ok girls. You were just playing. But it is getting late and-.” '*ROAR~!* A vicious leonine roar echoed from the forest, making Fluttershy squeak in fear, and the fillies to huddle around her.

“W-what was that miss Fluttershy?” Scootaloo asked with a stutter as she hugged one of the mare's hind legs.

“Y-yeah! That was some kinda scary!” Bloom confirmed, hugging her other leg on the other side.

“Was it some sort of monster?” Sweetie asked from under Fluttershy, peeking her head out from between her forelegs.

Fluttershy calmed down rather quickly, because she both knew what it was, and the fillies were looking to her for comfort. Fluttershy would always put someone else's feelings before hers, especially if they looked to her for help. “It was just a manticore girls, don't worry. They don't leave the forest-.” Fluttershy's reassuring statement was cut off from the thudding sounds of a fast-approaching large being, but it's mewls and whines were not that of a hunting beast, but a scared animal. Fluttershy had to help.

“Girls, go upstairs, don't come outside.” Fluttershy herded them upstairs, and put them in the bed, the fillies looked at her in worry. “Don't worry, everything will be fine.”

“B-but that's a manticore! It'll tear ya apart!” Bloom knew what Fluttershy was going to do, she didn't want her to.

“No it won't, it's one of my friends. He's just a big old pussycat. Now stay here; I'm going to go see what he needs.” Fluttershy closed the door to her room, and locked it. She felt it was mean of her, but it was for their own good. She flew downstairs and out the front door, to find the manticore she befriended nearly a year ago that fateful night, covered in cuts, a fractured tail, broken wings, and a bleeding snout. “Oh my goodness! Mister Whiskers, I'll help you, come here.”

Fluttershy led the whimpering alpha predator around her cottage to a large pen which was empty at the moment, and got him to lay down on a large bed of hay. He'd been limping, so Fluttershy examined his right foreleg first, and found that his right one was fractured. “Oh you poor thing, what did this to you?” As Fluttershy got out her medical kit, she listened to his whines, growls and other verbal noises for his explanation. “What? A monster? Killing all the predators in the forest?”

The beast explained to her, as best he could, about a winged beast barely a third his size, attacking, killing, and eating the predators of the forest. It was fast, unbelievably strong, and intelligent enough to use advanced tactics. It had already killed an entire pack of manticores, and he'd been guiding his pride away from the area when it attacked. He held it off as long as he could so his mate and the others could run, but even though he put up a good fight, he was no match. Ultimately it gave up at seeing something else nearby it felt more worth it's time, so he came here for treatment, and to warn her.

“Oh dear, oh my, this isn't good.” Fluttershy locked up her cottage, windows too. Told the girls what was going on, and told them to stay put. Since the path to town followed the edge of the Everfree, the monster might just pounce on them on the way there. She might make it, since she could fly, but three helpless fillies? Faust no, not a chance. They had better chances of hiding in the cottage, and hoping the monster didn't attack her home.

She flew as fast as her weak wings could, breaking a personal record as she arrived at the library, beings it was being used as the headquarters of the search; Twilight could quickly contact the guards to alert them to the danger. She raised a hoof to knock frantically, and tapped it gently, barely making a sound. Thankfully, the door was enchanted for such a thing, as Trixie heard it anyway, and answered the door. “Fluttershy? What are you doing here so late? The search doesn't start up again until the morning.”

“Trixie, a monster is hunting all the predators in the Everfree.” Fluttershy explained in a panic, which to Trixie and all other normal ponies, was a tone one might consider normal.

Trixie blinked. “Yes, that is a serious issue, but why is it-.”

“It could come here! It might hurt innocent ponies like it's hurting innocent animals! It's very dangerous, and I can't just move away from the forest.” Fluttershy explained, and Trixie sighed as he gestured for Fluttershy to come in, but Fluttershy declined. “I can't, I have the Crusaders at my house. I have to get back to them, but please keep everypony out of the Everfree.”

Trixie's eyes widened in sudden terror at remembering something. “She isn't back....” Trixie flashed away, leaving Fluttershy confused, and Trixie returned in a flash, shaking Fluttershy by the shoulders in panic. “Zecora hasn't come back from her hut yet!”

Fluttershy became equally panicked. “Oh no! That monster might get her! She can handle the normal animals, but this monster eats them!” Fluttershy took to the air. “Tell the guards, I'm going to her hut.”

Trixie balked at Fluttershy's bravery. She was usually the most skittish pony around, for her to volunteer for something so dangerous.... “No! It's too dangerous!”

Fluttershy leveled a surprisingly intimidating glare at Trixie. “And one of my friends is in there! I'm going, you spread the word.” Fluttershy took off for Zecora's hut, know where it is because it is one of the few weeping willows so close to the edge of the forest.

===//////>

Zecora panted as she warily held up an impromptu staff she picked up a few scant moments ago. Whatever manner of beast this was, she'd managed to catch on to it's pounce, and dodged the first attempt, then deflected the following ones with the staff, which was showing stress fractures. She stood on her hind legs, as natural in such a pose as if she were bipedal. [Show yourself you craven beast! I will not be tonight's feast!] Zecora ignored that she essentially rhymed in Equestrian in Zebrican.

[As fierce as always, fair Zecora.] She felt a chill at the deep and raspy voice that responded. This was no beast. [I am pleased you pass such a simple test of agility, but what of strength?] Zecora barely managed to spin around and block the incoming strike, her staff snapping as a golden talon passed through it with brute force, and grabbed her throat before pinning her to a tree. She grasped at the being's foreleg with her hooves, trying in vain to remove it from her neck. [You are so beautiful my dear, it is no wonder my heart was captured by you both in body, and in spirit.]

The moonlight finally exposed the being through the canopy, and Zecora gasped at recognizing Animak. [You? Who are you?] She didn't mean his name, and he knew this as he leaned in to her, and nuzzled her cheek to her confusion.

[Don't you recognize me? I mean, yes, there are some cosmetic changes, but I am still the same stallion.] He leaned up, and nipped her ear gently, licking and sucking it, getting her excited, and her eyes widened in horror.

“Kamina?” He put his other talon's index to her lips, and backed off enough for her to see his smirk.

“It's Animak now.” He leaned in to kiss as his wings enclosed them.

===//////>

Fluttershy tapped tentatively at the hut door, and then shook her head at her silliness before she opened the door. “Zecora? Are you here?” Fluttershy visited now and then, usually for remedies, but since Zecora moved to Twilight's, she had little need to come to this place anymore. She was still accustomed to Zecora's storage though, having seen it a couple of times. She checked, and the tea leaves were gone, that meant that Zecora must have been here, but she didn't make it back.... “Oh no, please be okay.”

She turned to leave, but froze and averted her gaze. She'd left the door open. Inside the hut was a cockatrice, glaring at her, practically demanding she look it in the eyes. “I'm sorry mister cockatrice, but I like not being a statue. You'll have to get your meal someplace else.” She kept her eyes away from it, being the only defense against such a beast. It had sharp teeth and talons, but was essentially harmless outside it's lethal gaze. They fed by absorbing the life force of their stoned victims, which meant this monster could be centuries old.

It was clearly patient, and wasn't in dire need of a meal however, as it merely watched her leave. It must have already claimed a victim recently. She hoped it wasn't Zecora. That would mean she'd have to either kill it, or force it to return her friend to normal if that was the case, and it'd be easier to kill it than force it to do something against it's very nature. Fluttershy wouldn't harm a fly if she could help it, but if she had to, she wasn't beyond doing something she'd regret for someone else's sake. The possibly hundreds of lives it claimed was worth a single monster dead.

Such thoughts sickened her, but Fluttershy knew it was the responsible and sensible thing to do, if it came to that. Otherwise, it was best to let it be, it was a living being like all others anyhow, just trying to exist as it was born to.

Fluttershy followed the path back towards town, looking for any sign that Zecora was attacked, or had left the trail. “*gasp* Oh no.” She galloped up to a familiar set of saddlebags, a simple green hemp thing that Zecora was known to use. It was intact, and seemed to have been tossed off willingly. There were signs of a scuffle, the ground was disturbed in a manner as if she'd tried to defend herself from something...a griffin. “These are big paws, and talons. Why is a griffin doing this?”

Fluttershy sniffed around, and blinked in surprise. She smelled the tell-tale scent of a mare's arousal. It was something all ponies knew, beings they have such a volatile estrus. Whatever happened, it had excited the zebra, and while odd and unusual, Fluttershy could use this to try and track her down. She took a deep whiff of it, got accustomed to the musky scent, and began to follow it off the trail, through the trees. It got stronger as she went, and she gasped and galloped up to the sprawled and spent form of Zecora, exhausted and had a few scabbing cuts in places. Clearly having just had sex not long ago.

“Zecora! Are you okay?!” Fluttershy shook her friend, getting a moan out of the mare who opened her eyes, and took in Fluttershy, before gasping.

“Run gentle mare! He is changed, become unfair!” Before Fluttershy could ask what Zecora meant, she squeaked at feeling a massive being literally drape over her, his legs letting him stand as he literally stood over her, pinning her wings just by being there, and she looked up in terror at the huge griffin who looked down on her in amusement.

“Well, if it isn't the quiet one.” Animak reached up and held her chin, turning her head a bit to look at the shivering and whimpering mare in profile. “Hm, you are cute. I see why Big Mac has a crush on you.”

Fluttershy blushed scarlet. “B-b-Big Macintosh?” Fluttershy was too shy to admit it, even as the other girls engaged in girl talk, but she like many mares in town had a huge crush on the big strong stallion. She liked him not for his muscles, his build, his strength, those were bonuses in her eyes. It was because in spite of all that, he was gentle, he was kind, caring and not one for many words. The few times they actually encountered each other, they seemed to have entire conversations just looking at each other, no words exchanged. It was wonderful.

“Yeah, so you're off-limits. Bro code and all. I'd be quiet about it, if he wasn't so damn nervous about telling you himself.” Animak walked over her, uncaring for how his whole underside dragged against the scared pegasus. “So Z, how're ya doing?”

“Surprisingly well, considering you mounted me like a doll rather than an equine.” She hissed as she moved and broke open one of the cuts on her upper back. “Beast, release him. I implore you, return my beloved.”

Fluttershy was confused, but Animak laughed. “That fool is gone! He was weak! Only the strong can continue on ahead without limit! Only those willing to trample all in their path can pierce the very heavens!” Animak's words made Fluttershy gasp, and her gaze narrowed.

“What have you done with Kamina?” She asked in all seriousness, and Animak turned towards her with an eyebrow raised.

“Oh? That's a surprisingly stern tone coming from the whelp of the herd.” He turned around, and lowered his face into hers. “Want to run that by me again?” He was surprised when instead of cowering and backing off; Fluttershy pressed her face into his, her eyes seeming to burrow into his soul through their gaze.

“Where. Is. Kamina?” Animak shuddered, shocked, his Will was wavering, how could this be?

“I-I am Kamina! That fool was too weak, so I took over!” Animak felt sweat under his feathers as she closed in further, and he backed away. {What's happening?! Why can't I fight her?!}

“Listen here mister! Kamina is a bravest, strongest, and kindest pony I know! You may be him, or a part of him at least, but you are not Kamina! What is your name?” Fluttershy demanded, and Zecora watched the scene in amazement.

“A-Animak...I'm-.”

“Everything Kamina isn't. He can't hurt the innocent for no reason, he can't hurt those he loves like you do, and he can't leave anyone who might burden him behind. Instead, he brings us up! He makes us better!” Fluttershy then surprisingly pounced on the huge griffin, easily three times her size, and knocked him over onto his back, pinning him as she stared into his very soul. “Give. Him. Back!”

Animak's eyes seemed to shake, before they lost their cold indifference, and he blinked. “Shy?” Fluttershy immediately hugged his neck, and cried into his feathers. “What's wrong Shy?”

“I'm sorry! I didn't mean to yell at you like that! But he was being such a meanie, and he hurt you, and-!” Kamina hugged Fluttershy back, sobbing as he hid his face in her mane, and she quickly forgot about herself, and nuzzled into his neck. “It's okay Kamina. I'm here. Everything is fine.”

“No it's not! There's this beast, this Animal inside me, and I...I....” He broke down, blubbering as he refused to let his friend go. Feeling like if he let her go he'd fall back into that dark, loveless place. “Shy...I'm scared....” {...Me too....} 'Go away!' {I can't...for what it's worth...I'm sorry....}

“I am too. But I'm here for you. We're all here for you.” Fluttershy let him let it all out, his wails reaching into the night, Zecora smiling sadly as she looked on.

Author's Notes:

Crazy, crazy, crazy.

It happens to the best of us....