The sound of the wind rustling though her mane, the smell of wildflowers assaulting her nostrils, the sound of wave upon wave crashing upon the shore and the warm feeling of the sun on her coat. Zecora didn't want to open her eyes, she didn't want to confirm if she was dead even though she knew full well that Ponyville was nowhere near the ocean.

"You can fool yourself all you like young one but laying there like a lump won't fool reality."

Zecora's ears twitched, It sounded sort of like her mother but the pitch was a little bit higher. Zecora opener her eyes and saw a pair of legs, but something else behind the legs, green cloth. Zecora Stood up and stared at her ancestor for a moment.

"I remember you walking into the core as it collapsed, did I die as well?"

"I think we are dead, not exactly sure though. Our legends said nothing of death being like this." Said a familiar voice.

Zecora turned her head. Her mother was a bit further back examining some dandelions by a field of tulips.

"Honestly I expected death to be well, less pleasant and more black and white like the legends say." Imani said while takinga bite of the dandelion. "Hmmm, quite crispy."

Alahla shook her head. "Back when I was younger I was taught that death was a black swirling pool that led to the underworld where all souls were eventually recycled. I guess this is a better alternative though."

Zecora put her hoof to her chin. If this was truly the afterlife, then where was every other pony trapped in the spear.

"I don't think this is the afterlife, at least not yet."

"Why do you say that?" Alahla asked.

"Firstly where is every other pony?" Zecora spun around in place, but could only see grassy fields as far as the eyes could see. The only exception being an ocean or lake a short distance away.

"Maybe there's something down by that body of water over there?" Imani suggested.

"Well mother, it's better than just standing her and admiring the grass. Also why are you eating the flowers?"

Imani pulled he head up from the ground, her mouth stuffed full with tulip blossoms.

*gulp*

"Speak for yourself, You know how long it has been since I last tasted food, much less had any sensations." Zecora walked behind Imani only to be beaten to the punch by Alahla. Alahla put her head on Imani's flank and pushed her forward.

"I did not stay trapped in my own invention to stand around not knowing if I am dead or alive. You can feed your face later. I want this over with."

Zecora couldn't put her hoof on it. Alahla was nothing more than a mopey shambling mess when she saw her last but now she was all gung-ho about everything. For some reason she couldn't shake the feeling that the core was behind her emotional instability.

"Alahla...or grandma I guess?"

"Do I look old to you?" Alahla said with one raised eyebrow.

*gulp*

"Well you are thousands of years old at this point." Imani said as she swallowed her food.

"Ah-But...bah, point taken. What do you want?" Alahla said with a huff.

"I was wondering, back in the core. Was the core messing with your emotions or were you really regretful?"

Alahla pondered the question for a moment before answering. "I guess you could say that deep down I do feel responsible for all the terrible things my creation has done but at the same time I realize that it is only a tool...or was only a tool. I can't beat myself up for someone else abusing its power; even more so that it had tampering from the old council all over it." Alahla scratched at her mane. "I guess the core amplified negative emotions, something I sort of had a hoof in but never to that degree."

"Anyways, I suggest we investigate the body of water over there, all of us." Zecora shot a glare at Imani who was eating a few dandelions. "I do mean everypony."

*gulp*

"Fine, fine." Imani said as she rolled her eyes.

The group made their way toward the body of water chatting amongst each other until Zecora stopped, the other two bumping into her.

"What's wrong?"

Zecora pointed to a black obsidian beach. In the distance their was a pier adorned with seaweed and moss; it looked as if it hadn't been up-kept in years. The other two Zebra walked up to Zecora's sides, taking in the view.

"Obsidian sand, That's odd, I do not see any volcanoes nearby that could have deposited it." Alahla said.

"Oh, there are volcanoes in oceans as well." Imani said.

"S-seriously? How does the water not put them out?" Alahla asked;exasperated.

Imani had a smirk on her face from ear to ear. "Oh, somepony with an interest in geology. You will find we have discovered many things since your time. Like how all the continents move around on giant plates of rock and-"

"No I mean over the-

*BLLLLLLLRRRRRRMMMM*

Zecora, Alahla and Imani put their hooves over their ears as a loud horn blared from some mist that was forming on the ocean. Alahla cracked open an eye and watched a large ominous looking barge sailing toward the pier at speeds no barge should ever move at.

The barge moved right up next to the pier, the mist slowly clearing to reveal a pony in black standing on the edge of the barge closest to the pier.

"Is that-" Alahla asked.

"Yes, Death itself." Imani replied.

Zecora grabbed Imani with both hooves around her head and pointed her in the direction she was looking. "Not death, her. That's who I was looking at."

Sitting in the obsidian sand some ways away from the pier was Maskia herself, staring into the water somberly. Alahla turned her head, ignoring deaths advance and focused on Maskia.

"I see the wielder of the spear is here as well...but she looks so" Alahla struggled to find the words for a moment. "Un-lively."
Alahla took a few steps toward the black shore when Death stopped face to face with her, breathing heavily.

"You will not communicate with the dead and the living must not cross the line into the realm of the dead nor interfere with their boarding of the barge to the afterli-" Death held his hoof up as Alahla walked right on by him like he didn't exist.

"H-how dare you ignore me!" Death leaped into the air and landed in front of Alahla, his eyes glowing blood red. "How dare you ignore the-"

*Snap!*

Death reeled back, howling in pain as Alahla delivered a vicious headbutt to his face.

"AAhhh she broke my nose, she broke my nose!" Death was holding his face in his skeletal hooves as Alahla approached Maskia, who stood up in confusion.

"So...Zecora, If I ever give you flak about your stubborn attitude ever again, remind me that it came from her." Imani said with her mouth gaping.

"I'll say, I see where we all get our thick skulls from as well." Zecora said as she watched death try and put fragments of his face back into place.

"I guess we follow?" Zecora suggested.

"As long as death doesn't have any objections." Imani raised an eyebrow at Death.

"Sure, fine, you asked nicely but me and Alahla will have words right after I fix my face." Death pulled out a tube of what looked like gorilla glue and began to put the fragments from his nose back in place like a jigsaw puzzle.

Zecora and Imani made ways to where Alahla and Maskia seemed to be in a perpetual staring contest, neither one of them seemed to want to say the first word.

"I'm sorry." They both said in unison.

"No, Let me go fir-" Both said in unison again but stopped mid sentence.

Maskia put her hoof up in the air, watching as her daughter and granddaughter walked up to them. "No, I must repent for what I have done. The atrocities I have committed in my greed for power are unforgivable."

"It's not entirely your fault. I-" Just then a cloak of shadows appeared between Alahla and Maskia. It quickly formed into the shape of death , this time brandishing a rather nasty looking scythe.

"Listen here or-"

"Or what? You will kill me?" Alahla shoved her face right into Deaths, making him wince for fear of receiving another headbutt.

"I have just spent thousands of years trapped in my own creation, thousands of years isolated and wallowing in my own regret as I watched soul after soul be absorbed into the weapon from the remaining copies spread throughout the world."

Death didn't seem to have retort. The look on his face was of fear, that his main trump card had already been exhausted. "I-if you don't listen to me I-I will keep you here in purgatory forever."

Alahla laughed out loud, a horrifying, powerful laugh. "I don't fear death or this place." Alahla pointed to the vast fields of flowers, grass and small dirt mounts scattered among the fields. "Isn't exactly the doom and gloom you pretend it to be. It is just another prison, albeit a far more interesting one than my previous prison."

Alahla took a step forward, her hoof hitting the sand in front of her, but instead of it killing her and greying her color like Maskia's coat; like death said it would, the sand erupted in grass and flowers.

"But- How did?" Deaths face froze, as if Alahla had broken the laws of nature itself.

Alahla swatted the scythe out of Deaths hooves where it landed blade first in the sand some distance away. "My title, 'The Emerald Queen' was not for my tastes in clothing, my gem rich economy or any other nonsensical jealousy codswallop the council pulled out of their behind. It was my perfection of the shamanistic arts, to be one with nature."

Deaths red eyes when small as pinpricks. "Oh, you're one of those. I have dealt with your kind in the past. Your connection wanes with age, eventually you will succumb to my realm."

Alahla stomped on the ground which erupted in flowers, her eyes glowing blue and her voice changing to a much deeper tone. "Be that as it may, death does not bother me but you WILL allow me to get some closure to the event's I unwittingly set into motion so many years ago."

Death looked over to Zecora and Imani, looking for some kind of support but only getting shrugs in return. "V-very well, but you time is limited in this world, due to you three being alive."

"This shouldn't take too long. Wait over there, Maskia will be boarding the barge momentarily." Alahla said in a demanding but calm tone.

Death shook his head quickly and trotted over to the pier, tripping over his own robes in what looked like a nervous panic.

Alahla watched as death boarded his barge and hid himself behind the captains cabin. "Were were we? Oh yes." Alahla beckoned Zecora and Imani to her side, each a little apprehensive about approaching her after her spat with Death.

"Come on you two. I don't bite...hard."

Zecora and Imani looked at each other and then at Maskia who was also beckoning them over to her.

"Well, I Guess it's time we all settled down and talked this over." Imani said.

"I guess so" Zecora replied.

The pair moved to Alahla's side and sat down in the grass that was sprouting all around her but oddly avoiding the small patch where Maskia was laying down.

"Zecora..." Maskia said in a somber voice. "I- I can't even imagine the hatred you bear towards me. I know I can't ever make up for the horrible things I have done or how I tried to kill my own great granddaughter or how I tortured you into doing my bidding."

Zecora sat there on the grass, somehow she felt she was going to be far angrier than she thought but after witnessing what the weapon did to Alahla, a much stronger shaman than Maskia could ever dream of being; she felt somewhat sympathetic. If the weapon could partially corrupt even the strongest willed then how could a Zebra in her early sixties have any chance.

"Grandma...I don't know if I can forgive everything you have done but I want you to tell me exactly what happened. How the weapon fed off of you and turned you into a monster."

Maskia pawed the black sand with her hoof. "How far back should I go?"

Imani spoke up. "A couple months before I contacted you from within the spear."

Maskia looked down at the sand, as is she was ashamed of herself. "I...was in a relationship then. It had been a decade since my husband had passed away from illness and I was feeling lonely. With Imani no longer speaking to me becuase of a earlier fallout and not knowing exactly where Zecora was, I needed someone to talk to."

Alahla laid on the grass. "Understandable. Continue."

"Normally I don't mix with the younger generations but a friend told me I should try and attend ...oh what did they call it again...a rave."

Zecora looked taken aback for a second. The thought of her grandmother headbanging with glow sticks in her mouth was just weird.

"I tried to dress like all the youngsters do and attend one of these events but I found it distasteful. All the youngsters wouldn't even so much as tell me what was going on, let alone make eye contact. Except for one, a stallion in his mid thirties named Greymane."

"So, you found a date that night?"

"Not just a date, a strapping young stud that swept me right off my feet. I thought I was immune to all the flirty tactics of stallions in my advanced age but he had a way with words and knew all the right buttons to push. He even knew right where I like my ear nibbled. A true Casanova."

Zecora raised am eyebrow and shuffled uncomfortably at the next question she was going to ask. "Wait, ear nibbling? You two didn't-"

"Yes, we did. On the third date two weeks in. He seduced me with that magical tongue of his massaging my flank as he-"

Maskia was interrupted by retching sounds from Zecora and Imani.

"Yuck Grandma, There isn't enough mind soap in all of Equestria to get rid of that mental image." Zecora said as she covered her eyes with her hooves, Imani doing the same.

"Mom, gross. I can still see it when I close my eyes."

Alahla glared at Zecora and Imani, contorting her face in disappointment.

"Hey now, I have needs too. Anyways, I thought I had given up carnal desires like that years ago. It had been a decade since I hit menopause and I haven't done anything since then."

"Go into detail, it is important. Ignore the immaturity from the other two behind me." Alahla said while sending Zecora and Imani mean glares from the corner of her eyes.

"Well, he started off by nibbling my ear and caressing my legs. Didn't take him long to seduce me, I actually wanted it. It been so long since anypony touched me that way.

"Nope, nope, nope, nope, nope!" Zecora covered he ears as Maskia continued her story, getting a glare from Alahla for her efforts.

"It was around eight at night when we started and he didn't stop until well after midnight. He made me feel alive again, like I was worth loving again. Also his dong was mass-"

Alahla put her hoof up. "Not that far into detail. I think Imani is about to lose the food she ate earlier." Imani was a few yards away, dry heaving.

"Well, lets just say it was one of the best nights I had in a long time. He left that night with me on the bed still in a dazed ecstasy. For the next two weeks or so we did it every other night."

"But something happened right?"

Maskia started to cry but wiped the tear from her eyes as it came out. "About a week before my daughter contacted me about being trapped in the spear I visited Greymane at his home. What I found cut me so deeply...he was colt cuddling. I found him in his bedroom rubbing his entire body on a younger stallion. He tried to explain that he wasn't serious with him and invited me in for something he called "double trouble" but..."

Maskia wiped away a few more tears before continuing. "I couldn't believe he cheated on me. Worse still I as angry at myself for falling for such a obvious sweet talker. I went home that night and didn't come out until I was contacted a week later by Imani."

"How did you feel that week and how did you feel after your daughter contacted you?"

"I- I was hurt. It been so long since I had any kind of intimate contact with anypony and being betrayed that way made me reclusive, I didn't even want to talk to my secretaries. After I heard about Imani's plight I was elated, the tribe thought her dead after her personal effects were found and not her. It was a chance see her again for the first time in many years, I was hoping we would even be able to set aside our differences."

"That apparently never happened. Something went wrong I presume?" Alahla asked.

"No, at least not at first. I called for a ground caravan and went myself. It Took up to a couple of days to reach where she was last seen but we found the chamber containing the weapons parts within an hour after arriving. I was the first to touch it." Maskia shook her head. "That was the problem, I should have never touched it in my emotionally volatile state. The moment I laid my hooves on it I felt a sensation, something like unabated rage built up in me but then quickly subsiding. I had other examiners look at the parts when I got back to our tribes main encampment. They detected nothing out of the ordinary around it."

"They missed something?"

"A whole bunch of somethings. I became more irritable as time went on, even when I was well away from the weapon thoughts kept popping in my head, thoughts about revenge, things I would have never even considered. I even had thoughts about executing every single homosexual; be it mare or stallion."

"Did you ever have those thoughts before?" Alahlah asked?

"Of course she did, just not to such extremes. That was the fallout we had so many years ago." Imani interrupted.

"Explain" Alahla said.

"Less a year before Zecora came of age the council passed a very regressive law. That any pony or zebra found colt cuddling or filly fooling would be put to death. Lesser punishments were at the sole discretion of the tribe elder, in our case Maskia" Imani said.

"The council gave me the option to kill them or give them a moderate level of punishment. Personally I didn't actually care about what other ponies did in their bed but I did agree that the act was disgusting and unnatural." Maskia stirred the sand on the ground. "Me and Imani got into a fight over it. I wanted to make the punishments dealt out only if I absolutely had to, like if a council arbiter was in town."

"While I wanted the law redacted. Many of the lesser tribes were not given the same leniency as the Windrunners and had to kill violators under the law. The only reason they gave us leniency is becuase we nearly usurped then during your time Alahla. If the law wasn't redacted I was going to declare economic sanctions on the council. I even had the full backing of the border patrol tribes to do so" Imani said while stomping the ground angrily.

"I told you. We didn't have the funds for a full scale war and if we did manage to put economic sanctions on the council they would surely declare war on us. We were not in a position to bully them!"

"And letting that filth get away will taking away our sovereignty, our peoples rights was perfectly okay with you!" Imani was geared up and ready to fight, she was gritting her teeth and puffing out her nostrils and chest.

"Settle down! Both of you!" Alahla slammed her hoof into the ground and sprouted many small tree saplings. "Now, calmly explain."

Maskia started talking again, this time in a lower voice. "The councils new law put me in a very tight spot. I didn't like it any more than Imani did but in order to keep the peace and not show our hoof I needed to make temporary concessions. The council arbiters rounded up a few younger fillies that were caught kissing one another. I had to make the decision on their punishment becuase they were found on our lands..."

"She gave them fifty lashings each, in front of all the other tribe members. She even looked like she enjoyed it." Maskia interrupted.

"I had half a dozen arbiters watching me. I had to look like I was serious about the law. Did you notice any other arbiters hanging around afterward? No, they left becuase they didn't have to hang around thinking I wasn't a council loyalist."

"One of those so called "Arbiters" blackmailed Wenna;Moon Walker and Sundances daughter. They had their way with the poor filly and left town."

"Who do you think hired the lions to have them killed?" Maskia was nearly ready to foam at the mouth in rage.

"Enough! I see where some of the pent up anger and animosity comes from." Alahla moved under the shade of one of the saplings she sprouted. "I want you to continue right after you found the spear."

Maskia sighed heavily. "I limited my work on the weapon to just a few days per week after I noticed it was beginning to affect my judgement and temper. I had an arbiter bring another victim of that horrible law before me. My judgement was a thousand lashings at first but I caught myself and sentenced him to a hundred hours of community service. I had to bribe the arbiter to keep his mouth shut about such a light sentence."

"I assume it only got worse?"

"Far worse. I stopped working on the weapon a week before Imani stopped contacting me. I kept feeling waves of paranoia followed by lust for power and anger; even urges to dole out punishments for petty crimes. I kept in my room but no matter what I did the feelings kept getting stronger. I was contacted by Imani the day before I finally stopped realizing what I was doing, when I no longer had the will power to fight. The next day I remember vividly, but it was like a dream, a dream I had no control over. A horrible, terrible dream..."

Maskia covered her face and began to cry loudly. "I tried to stop myself, I really did!" Maskia continue crying until Alahla hugged her from the side.

"Everypony here has made mistakes, some of them judgmental, some of them bad luck and some by lack of options. I need you to tell me what happened next, I need to know."

Maskia dried her tears and sniffled. "I went outside for some fresh air for the first time in a week or so and saw the same stallion that betrayed my heart hugging on some other stallion. He looked at me for a moment and smiled meekly before turning back to his 'friend' like I didn't exist." Maskia sighed heavily. "The next thing is knew I was heaps angry, I gridded my teeth so hard that my gums bled. Next thing I knew I was losing control. I called a guard over to me and had him arrested for colt-cuddling."

"Was It intentional or?" Zecora asked.

"No, I hated him for what he did to me but I was the Windrunners elder, I never abused my post as a leader...not until that moment. The local arbiter was in town and heard of my arrest, how I lost my temper in front of half the town. He wanted to know what kind of punishment I would give. What happened next is when I new I lost it, what was worse is how it was like watching a bad movie reel; except I couldn't turn it off."

"The punishment was harsh wasn't it?"

Maskia stared at the ground. "Not just harsh. I had him stocked in front of the town. Then I ordered him to be quartered..."

Zecora and Imani put their hooves over their mouths in surprise but Alahla seemed unfazed, most likely due to her seeing far worse punishments in her time. "I see...a truly horrible way to go."

"It gets worse, his brother and elderly mother begged me not to kill him, as did most of the town. But I had lost control of myself at that point. Somewhere in my mind the real me was still watching but unable to do anything. Half the towns folk that could leave left for smaller towns that day. The ones that remained were mostly visiting outsiders."

Maskia began to cry again. "I failed my people but worst of all I betrayed myself and tried hurt my granddaughter soon after. Instead of freeing my daughter I kept her trapped and started to use the weapons other powers to raise and army, something the council loved. After so long they finally had the Windrunners as their magical puppet again."

Alahla hugged Maskia again. "I was reading into your mind when we were talking, the memories you have are clouded, just like Brennen's was."

Imani stepped forward. "It's almost exactly how Brennen's transformation occurred. His was faster due to his inexperience with shamanistic arts and how powerful the enchants used to be. However, the end result was the same, he became a puppet for the council and the very worst of his being was brought out. He was intentionally baited to be a bringer of war and suffering to further their goals."

"When we get out of here we should hunt them down and make them pay for-"

Maskia put her hoof over Zecora's mouth. "No need to get angry. I already killed them, this council may have gotten the weapon they wanted but they could not control it. I slaughtered them and every single one of their family members when they tried to reign me in. I even killed the innocent ones..." Maskia stared at the ground somberly.

"What is done is done. The best we can all do now is move on with our lives."

"I-I guess you're right. I'm very much dead and my loved ones still live on." Maskia stared at Zecora with her vibrant blue eyes. "Zecora, I'm sorry for all the horrible things I have done, even if I wasn't completely in control some part of me wanted to do those things."

Zecora didn't know what to do. Deep inside she still had a little bit of hatred toward Maskia but she knew that it wasn't her fault, that the capacity for evil and cruelty exist even in the most timid ponies.

Zecora stared back at Maskia. "I forgive you. I can't keep blaming you for what happened when other ponies have succumb to that weapons insanity much quicker." Zecora nuzzled Maskia, both of them standing head to head on one another for what seemed like an eternity. They both broke heads and Imani approached Maskia.

"We never got to reconcile our differences. I didn't like some of your backwards thinking but...you never deserved this. No pony deserves what you have been though."

"Imani...I may have been stubborn and we may have butted heads on many things, but it never meant I stopped being your mother. I just wish I could have freed you before my sanity slipped away."

Both ponies stood there staring at each other, the wind blowing blossoms though their manes. Imani quickly broke down in tears and lunged at Maskia, the elder mare pulling her into a hug.

"If only I hadn't been so headstrong and gung-ho about everything. I trapped myself in that weapon becuase of my own stupidity."

Maskia patted Imani's mane. "There, there. You have bigger things to worry about than my passing or did you forget that you are now a grandmother yourself?"

Imani lifted her head up. "But I know nothing of how to be a grandparent. What if I make the same mistakes with her as I did with you?"

Maskia laughed. "You don't have to raise the foal, that part is up to Zecora and Fluttershy. Your job is to drop tidbits of wisdom here and there, maybe foalsit once in awhile."

"Is that it?" Imani asked.

"Oh and spoil the foal. Not too much but just enough to keep Zecora on her hooves."

Zecora frowned at Maskia and Imani as they laughed together.

"You don't have much time left here. Your allies in the living world will soon be waking you all out of the coma you are in. I suggest you make the last of the farewells quickly." Death chuckled as he walked back onto his barge after the brief interruption.

Alahla stepped forward toward the pier. "I request that you take my life in exchange for Maskia's!"

Death stopped halfway up the plank leading to his barge and turned around slowly. "You headbutted me in the face, broke my nose, disrespected my authority and broke the rules of purgatory and death itself. Are you seriously asking me to grant such a request? Why would I bother?"

Alahla rolled her eyes. "I have read enough legends about you to know that answer."

"Which is?" Death asked.

"Because you enjoy having the last laugh and theirs rumors that you get off on it too."

Death let out a blood curdling laugh. "Yes and unbelievably on both counts. However, I cannot grant that request. It is completely outside of my power."

"Load of elephant dung it is!" Alahla yelled angrily.

"Don't get your mane all in a frazzle. Maskia's body was atomized after Zecora broke the core holding the weapon together. She has no physical body to return to. No body, no deal." Death finished snidely.

"Then Take M-"

"No!" Maskia stood up. "I will not have another life taken away becuase of my mistakes."

"I should have died centuries ago and I am not ready to deal with such an alien world, so far removed from my own time. At least this way everypony wins."

Imani put a hoof up, waving it about like a school filly.

"Yes, Imani? This isn't class you know." Alahla said.

"Alahla, I don't mean to demean your knowledge but soul transfer has been done before. When a soul from one pony is transferred to another it begins to take on the shape of that ponies original body."

Maskia nodded her head. "It would be a pointless endeavor.to try and bring me back. I have hurt far too many ponies and left a legacy of terror and destruction. If I were to come back somepony would surely kill me again shortly after. I don't think I could live a life where I am constantly looking over my back to make sure there isn't a dagger wielding assassin or a poison tipped blow-dart heading my way."

"But- I helped cause all that pain. I should be the one punished."

Maskia walked over to Alahla. "If you still feel guilty there is much good to be done in our homeland. Many families are broken, fields burned and wrongs to be righted."

"But-"

"There is also a foal, a foal that is a very powerful foremost that could use your tutoring. A foal that could use a great grandmother." Maskia said.

Alahla thought for a moment. "I am kind of young to be a great grandmother at the age of thirty eight. I didn't even get to see my own daughters wedding to be a grandma first. Wouldn't their be ponies after me as well? I did create a dangerous weapon."

"Doubtful" Maskia replied.

"Yeah, only a few ponies ever bothered learning the history of the weapon. Those that did respect you. The history books are silent as well about your identity the last time I checked, They don't go back that far." Imani added.

"Oh look, time's up. You have ten seconds." Death interrupted with a sly grin on his broken face.

Zecora, Imani, Alahla and Maskia all looked at one another. It was almost as if they were reading each others mind as they all gave each other a large group hug.

"Goodbye and lead a good life. We will all see each other again...someday...."

Zecora, Imani and Alahla slowly faded from view, leaving only Maskia and Death.

"So, Maskia, you about ready to go?" Death asked.

"Yes, I am ready to receive the punishment for my evils." Maskia replied.

Death ran his hoof over his face in frustration. "I'll never understand you mortals fascination with good and evil or your fascination that there must be an eternal punishment for what is ultimately a mortal lifetime of misdeeds."

"You mean there is no, oh what was it "hell?" No repercussions whatsoever?"

"There are, but only to the ponies you wronged on the other side. It's not like they can hurt you or anything. I guess you will understand when you get there." Death walked up to the cabin at the back of the barge and peeked his head in. "Say, I'm not due back for another couple hours at least. Want to play me in a few games? It's always boring playing on my own."

Maskia walked onto the barge. "What did you have in mind?"

"I have Chess, Twister, Scrabble."

"Chess will do, I am far too old to be playing Twister."

Death looked disappointed as he pulled out a fold out table and a chess set in a black and green box. "No one ever plays me in Twister" he said as he set up the chess pieces;taking black for himself.

"Maybe becuase you cheat by disassembling yourself?" Maskia said as she made her first move.

"I wouldn't do that. I always play fair when playing Twister" Death said as he moved a knight out of it's starting position.

"I doubt that" Maskia replied as she made a move, and then another move as death moved his knight up further.

"Why do you say that?"

"Well, it's either that or you are a pervert."

"Wait how did you-"

Maskia made her next move. "Checkmate." Maskia had a sly grin on her face. "And I didn't know, there is only a few reasons males ever play Twister. That and your reaction gave it away just now."

"Fair enough, another game?" Death said grumpily as he stared at the board.

"Sure, All I have now Is time."

Zecora began to slowly open her eyes, but quickly closed them when she felt a sharp pain on her side.

"What do you mean we are our of morphine? Yes, yes fine, but tell those griffons to hurry up, we have thousands to treat and not enough supplies to do it."

Zecora knew that voice anywhere. Twilight sparkle was arguing with somepony near by. Zecora opened her eyes again and watched as the arch mage ran from bed to bed treating ponies with injuries of varying severity. After making a quick injection on a mare missing one of her legs she rounded about back to Zecora's bed and checked the vitals, not paying attention to Zecora.

"Odd, she should be aw-" Twilight looked up at Zecora. "Oh, that's why. You're awake." Twilight began to unwrap Zecora's bandages on her side, hovering a ointment for wounds you could make with local plants. She removed the last bandage and with a magically sterilized leaf pressed the ointment up against Zecora's side much to her discomfort.

"Cry about it later. You got off easy compared to some of the others."

"Others?" Zecora asked.

"Yes, others. Thousands of others. Broken bones, heavy bleeding, missing limbs. When your daughter hit the spear with her weird magic a whole bunch of ponies flooded out of it. Then she put a shield around Maskia as the weapon back-lashed and atomized her body."

"Ayanna!" Zecora tried to roll out of bed but was hit in the side of the head by a stand holding an IV bag.

"Are you crazy or something?" Twilight lifted Zecora back into bed and checked the entry point in Zecora's foreleg. "Good, you didn't tear the vein out." Twilight lifted Zecora into the air and wrapped bandages around her midsection before settling her back into bed with a frown.

"Your Daughter is fine for the most part. I have her sleeping in the Ponyville hospital infant ward until testing for diseases is complete. Until I clear you, I need you not to go running off. You already saved the day and your daughter is fine, I don't need you running off like some rescue ranger and getting yourself hurt when supplies are so thin."

Twilight stuck her head out the tent and yelled. "Rarity! I asked for bandages, tape and gauze half and hour ago.

A reply came back in the form a of a posh whine. "But Twilight~ white is such a boring color, the other bandages are not out of the tie dye solution yet."

Twilight ran her hoof down her face in frustration. "Fine, but I want those disinfected before you bring them in."

"Twilight, How is Fluttershy doing? Or Princess Luna? Did a pony named Alahla come out as well? Why are we so short on supplies?"

"Fluttershy, hell everypony is going to need counseling after all of this. This quacks in Canterlot are going to make mint from the Canterlot reserve I bet. Luna is still down but stable, There were waaaay too many oddly named Zebra for me to remember them all and the shortage is only temporary; we had aid granted to us by the griffon queen."

"When can I get out of here?" Zecora asked.

"Once you tell me what these brain patterns mean? It's not like any coma I've ever seen before." Twilight held up a long sheet of paper that Zecora didn't seem to comprehend. Twilight shook the pages in Zecora's face as if she knew anything about nuero-science.

"I...had a very close call with Death. In a very literal sense of the word."

Twilight dropped the pages and looked at Zecora, a pale frightened look in her eyes. "Wait, literal Death? Big open grassy fields with a ugly pier on one side by a vast ocean kind of Death?"

"You met him?"

Twilight shuddered all over as if a cold breeze hit her in the back. "Oh yeah, I met that jerk. I remember how much pain he put me in. How much I had to endure to save one life."

"You will have to tell me about it sometime. Is there anyway you can clear me for release? I'm sure someone with far worse injuries could use the bed I'm in."

Twilight looked outside to find a long line of makeshift chariot ambulances arriving. "You're right I guess, but if you start feeling any pain or dizziness I want you to see a doctor immediately."

"I'll be sure to keep that in-"

Twilight got right in Zecora's face. "No ambiguity or stubbornness on this one missy. Any pain and right back into the bed with you. Am I completely understood?"

Zecora could feel the sweat rolling down her brow. Twilight may be a practiced physician but she gonna give a pony a panic attack one of these days. She thought as she swallowed some air.

"S-sure, pain, dizziness, doctor. Got it."

Twilight continued to stare at Zecora while removing the tubes going into her leg, as if staring into her very soul. Twilight quickly finished re-wrapping the wound on Zecora's leg and gave a smile. "Have a nice day, and tell Fluttershy I said hello."

Zecora hopped out of bed and walked out the tent, just as she poked her head out of the tent a group of doctors with a bed nearly took it off, just barely grazing her ear. In the distance she could see literally hundreds of medical tents, a plethora of doctors, nurses and other medical staff running around like the place was practically on fire.

"Zecora, over here!" A pony wearing a beret motioned her over to a little off to the side place between the tents. When Zecora got over to the tents she noticed that she had seen this pony before. But this time his body was covered in scars and puncture wounds.

"Brennen?" She asked.

"Yeah, I know. I'm scary looking, I get that a lot now that I'm back in my body."

"It is a bit jarring to look at."

"Well, soon as I find a good surgeon I will get it all fixed. Eleena on the other hoof isn't so lucky." Brennen sighed heavily.

"What happened?" Zecora asked.

"Her body is a mess, her pelvis is shattered, bones broken and a spear wound through the ribcage. Cadence was able to save her but it's going to be months before she can walk again."

"Is there anything I can do to help? I know some ponies in Ponyville that may have space open at their residence, assuming it isn't demolished or on fire that is."

Brennen looked up at Zecora. "No, I will find my own way. I can make and sell potions that history has lost to time. When Eleena is out of intensive care she will have a mansion in her name if I have anything to say about it. She deserves all of that for what I did to her."

Zecora sighed. "That's all water under the bridge now. You two have a fresh start, as does every other pony trapped in that weapon. It's not everyday that you get a second chance at life. Make the best of it." Another bed whizzed by Zecora. "By the way, have you seen Alahla around?"

"Yeah she was cleared almost immediately. She headed toward the infant ward at the Local hospital. At least that's where she told me she was going."

"I swear by my aunt, Rarity; If I find another tie-dyed bandage I will shove them collectively up your fat ass!" Cadence yelled.

The entire ward went silent, ponies stopping in place to listen.

"I'll have you know my posterior isn't fat, it is nice and firm, thank you very much!"

"Nah she's got a huge ...what them city folks call it 'badonka-donk'" Applejack yelled.

Laughter erupted all over the medical ward. The laughter was a welcome sound to Zecora, it means that at least some normalcy had come back to Ponyville.

"Well, I wish you the best of luck Brennen. Give Eleena my regards. "

Brennen nodded and waved as Zecora made her way out of the crowded encampment and into the open. She hadn't noticed before but far above her all kinds of flying creatures were in the air. Pegasi, dragons and Griffons were all carrying supplies. There was even an odd Changling or two carrying what their small bodies could. Zecora had to shake her head to bring her out of the amazed daze. I guess when tragedy strikes everypo- everyone comes together to help. She thought as she made her way into the field in front of the hospital.

The hospital looked like it was still running on reserve power, some technicians were busy setting up what looked like a cluster on solar panels on the roof. Zecora walked into the hospital to find it just as busy as the medical camp. Ponies rushing left and right with medical supplies, paper work and moving patients around. One of the doctors looked at Zecora for a moment before asking her a question.

"Please don't tell me you're here to tell us more are on the way, we are absolutely swamped and their is not a room to spare. We even had to convert half the infant ward to makeshift rooms becuase the em ward is full."

"No, I am here to see my wife and daughter." Zecora replied.

"Oh, you must be the lucky...err...mother? I dunno what to call you exactly but you can find both of them in the east part of the infant ward."

Zecora nodded and thanked the doctor before walking into the stairwell that led to the infant ward.

"Hey!" The doctor yelled.

Zecora turned her head.

"Tell those other two Zebra no mojo-funny business in my hospital."

Zecora had half the mind to walk over and correct the doctor on his error about Zebra 'mojo' but thought better of it. She had more important matters to attend to. Zecora walked upstairs into the infant ward and looked around. On one side were a row of beds occupied by Zebra with varying degrees of injuries. On the other was Fluttershy resting in a bed with Ayanna breastfeeding, surrounded by Celestia, Imani and Alahla.

Fluttershy looked over the side of Imani and whispered "Zecora!" In a barely contained, excited kind of way. Ayanna lifted her head up and stared right at Zecora.

"Wret!" She said exuberantly.

The other ponies turned around and watched as Zecora walked up and nuzzled both Fluttershy and Ayanna in a big group hug.

"Zecora, I am glad to see you are all right." Celestia said.

"I told you she would be fine. I would find it embarrassing for any Wind Runner to die from a simple spear wound." Alahla said as both Imani and Celestia rolled their eyes.

Zecora noticed something different about her daughter, the symbol on her flank seemed to be missing. "Fluttershy, did you notice her cutie-mark is gone?"

Fluttershy looked at Ayanna and back at Zecora. "Yes, but your mother and...err...Alahla was it?" Alahla merely nodded. "They explained that our daughter severed her shamanistic connection with nature when she saved the lives of all those ponies inside that weapon."

"Your daughter, Ayanna" Alahla interrupted. "Exhausted a lifetimes worth of power in just a few brief moments. There is a chance that with practice she can become a foremost in the future, but for now her future is for her to decide."

Fluttershy looked at Zecora "You named our daughter Ayanna?"

"It's a name that means 'Blossom'."

"Oh, I like that name." Ayanna nuzzled up against Fluttershy affectionately. "I think she likes it too."

"Zecora, a word in private if you will." Celestia said as she motioned her head to a nearby corner.

"I'll be right back." Zecora walked with Celestia over to the corner of the room.

Celestia lowered her voice to a whisper. "I know who Imani is, I have met her in the past when she asked for funding for digs but I have no idea who that other Zebra is. I figured she was a family member, a cousin maybe?"

Zecora shook her head. "She is the head of the Windrunners and the oldest surviving member."

"She is an elder?" Celestia looked perplexed. "But I thought Maskia was the only remaining elder. My reports say she slaughtered the others near her stature."

Zecora sighed. "I must have your word that you will not freak out or take any hostile actions toward her. The things I tell you must be kept between us and only us."

"But-"

"But nothing, you could endanger her life if word got out as to what she is." Zecora said firmly.

"I agree but I still don't get what all the-"

"Ahem." said a stern voice from behind Celestia.

Celestia rounded about to stare at what she figured was one of Zecora's relatives.

"I am Alahla. I am partly responsible for all the terrible things that have transpired recently."

Celestia was taken aback. "I don't follow. I was under the impression you were a cousin or a elder as Zecora put it."

Alahla shook her head calmly. "You may know me better by my nickname ' The Emerald Queen' "

Celestia's eyes widened. "So...If I remember my history correctly, you are the one that created the spear Maskia used. The one she nearly killed my sister with." Celestia stature changed from that of benevolence to stiff, as if ready to defend herself.

"I have no quarrel with you, Alicorn of the sun. I merely made the weapon, I never authorized it to be modified to be so terrible."

Celestia didn't seem to know what to say next.

"If you want to strike me down then I can understand that. I have but one request, that you let me live long enough to repair the damage my creation has wrought." Alahla bowed respectfully before Celestia before turning her back on the aggravated monarch.

Celestia felt her anger leave her body. She turned her back on me? Surely she knows I was ready to pounce. She thought.

"Zecora, explain."

"She doesn't deserve to be punished more than she already has your highness. She was trapped in the core of the weapon for a very long time, forced to swim though her own amplified anguish."

"She was trapped in the weapon? An ironic twist of fate." Celestia said as she watched Alahla talk with Imani about personal matters.

"I believe you can trust her, your highness."

"Why should I? She essentially created a weapon of mass destruction." Celestia snapped.

"And not once tried to escape her fate. I saw what happened, she let herself be impaled by her own creation to free the pony using it from it's grip. She turned her back to you when she knew she had more than enough power to kill you in your weakened state."

It hit Celestia like a ton of bricks. Zecora was right, she had been using her full restoration spell too much. so much that she was at less than half strength. A talented unicorn could off her if they wanted to.

"See what I mean. She is a rare case. She has an absolute connection with nature, she may not be anywhere near as powerful as Maskia was but she is much stronger than multiple talented unicorns."

"Yet she doesn't use it. She could have easily killed me just now and taken full control." Celestia walked up behind Alahla, the shorter Zebra turned around slowly.

"I misjudged you. It may take me some time to get used to the idea of trusting you but I will honor your request, on the condition that you work with Imani here on the restoration committee for your homeland." Celestia turned her head to Zecora. "I ask for your assistance in this endeavor as well, Zecora."

Zecora walked over to Fluttershy and her daughter Ayanna, nuzzling them both affectionately. "I decline. Maybe when I was younger I would have jumped on such a trial but..." Zecora stared into the eyes of her daughter. "I have a much bigger job to attend to."

"Which is?" Celestia asked.

"Being a parent."

Celestia finished brushing her hair as she stepped out into the moonlight from her tent. She knew it was nearly time to perform her midsummer duties, although being the first year doing it in new zebra capital of emerald city was making her nervous to say the least.

"Dear sister" Celestia jumped slightly at the sudden sound of Luna's voice.

"Why are you so jittery?"

"I know the wars been over for so long but some of the Zebra still hold a grudge against us for the war...and setting up a constitutional council with your oversight."

"Those ponies are in the minority dear sister. You brought prosperity and equality to a people who up until that point only knew varying levels of unfairness." Luna looked up at the clock hanging on the side of Celestia's tent. "Sister, you are a minute late, we can discuss this later. Go!"

Celestia walked out into the moonlight, crowds upon crowds of Earth ponies, Pegasi, Unicorns and this year a plethora of Zebra, including a few Zebra hybrids; something that was originally forbidden in these lands previously. As she walked onto the podium she nearly had to cover her ears from the thunderous cheering, as she peered over the podium she realized why.

There were far more ponies here than she thought, nearly the entire population of Zebra in the entire country showed up. So much so that the crowd was little more than a sea of white and black stripes. Oh, my she thought to herself as she looked upon the waiting crowd.

"Pst, what are thine doing?! Large crowds never bothered you before. Don't screw this up!"

Celestia turned her head for a moment to see Luna with a frown on her face. If I botch this I'll never hear the end of it from her.

"Ahem."

"Ladies and gentle colts. I, Princess Celestia am proud to hold this years midsummer festival here in the emerald city. It has been a long journey since the end of the war seven years ago. Many families on both sides lost loved ones, many homes were destroyed on both sides, livelihoods destroyed and tears shed. I regret to this very day the massive loss of life, even ponies I saw as enemies still had families they were hoping to go home to, many of which never did."

The crowd was silent.

"However, there was a saying; an old saying from one of the wisest unicorns ever to live. 'If great creation eventually breeds great destruction, than great destruction must bring greater creation' that little nugget of knowledge was from Starswirl the bearded, in one of his last few entries into his journal. I see what he meant now, that out of the past tragedies you all have forged a great bond with one another. Pony kind and Zebra alike working together to build a future together out of the ashes of tragedy."

"Today may be a day for the celebration of the sun but the true celebration is every single Pegasus, Zebra, Earth Pony and Unicorn in this crowd. I will raise the sun today, in hopes that your strength of unity will shine forever under its light." Celestia raised her forelegs to her sides and spread her wings wide. She slowly lifted her body into the air, her horn glowing a muted yellow as she did. With a thrust of her forelegs into the sky the sun rose behind her, the ball of light settling in a position to look as if she was lifting it with her bare hooves.

"Ohhhh!" The crowd said in unison as they watched Celestia move the sun into the sky. She stopped just a few feet off the ground and lowered her forelegs, landing with a soft thud on the wooden floor of the stage.

"This concludes the morning ritual of the summer sun celebration. Let the festivities begin!"

The crowd let out a deafening cheer and applause as Celestia made her way beck into the tent.

"If thou was any cheesier thine would swear you were a quadruple topping cheese pizza." Luna said haughtily but soon changed her tone. "All the same though, I am proud of you big sister. The prosperity we have brought to everypony out there is only matched by the reconstruction work being done in the northern badlands."

"Yes, how goes the empire of the changelings. I heard both Cadence and Shining Armor didn't take too well to my orders."

"Cadence was fine with it and Shining as well after he heard what Chrysalis did to save his sisters life. As for whats going on, maybe you should ask her yourself. He personal airship arrived during your speech." Luna pointed outside to a black and green blimp that was sitting a short distance away from some food stands.

Celestia stopped out and watched both Chrysalis and Twilight Sparkle step off of the blimp, Twilight stopping to grab a order of hay fries from a local stand.

"Twilight!" Celestia yelled, waving at her former pupil.

"Celestia!" Twilight set her hay fries on the side of the blimp, spread her wings and zoomed toward Celestia. Grabbing around her neck in an enormous hug. "It's been too long! I missed you!"

"I missed you too Twilight. And Chrysalis, looking good." Celestia looked at the queen of changelings from horn to toe, she looked so much different than she used to. Her long sewer colored hair was now a vibrant spring green, her black chitin no longer has a sulfur like look to it but instead that of shiny black licorice. Her wings were light green with very light pink tips, almost as if she dyed them, her torso was more of a emerald green with the added effect of her no longer being as skinny as a rail.

The most positive change however was in her face and health. Gone were the random holes all over her body, her twisted horn and angry pitted eyes. They had been replaced with a smooth black sheen, soft light green eyes and a smooth crescent horn.

"My, my Celestia. If you keeping looking over me like that I may have to invite you over for 'lunch' " Chrysalis licked her lips seductively. "Maybe even brunch too."

Celestia went bright red in the face. "How about breakfast? I skipped mine."

Chrysalis looked at a crowd of ponies. "Speaking of breakfast..." Chrysalis inhaled deeply. "All done, oh and that green colt over there was staring at my flank. I'll 'deal' with him later."

"So Twilight, I guess the restoration project is going smoothly then."

"Some hiccups here and there, mostly from Chrysalis trying to seduce my brother and some workers." Twilight shot Chrysalis a glare.

"What? It's what changelings DO, not my fault if Cadence can't keep her man pleased." Chrysalis saw the green colt quickly turn his head again. "If you'll excuse me, I think I'll partake in the 'festivities' while you two catch up." Chrysalis walked by the green colt, whispering in his ear as she went by. "Meet me in my blimp and I'll show you what that flank you like so much can do" before heading off into the crowd.

Twilight rolled her eyes. "You will have to excuse her. It's getting to that time of year and shes constantly on the prowl."

"Walk with me Twilight, we have much to discuss" Twilight nodded in response and levitated her hay fries off the side of the blimp, keeping them hovering at her side.

"So, how are your friends doing? It's been so busy that we barely ever see each other anymore."

"Well, Rarity has fell on hard times. Hoity Toity lawered up and claimed copyright infringement on her new line." Twilight said as she ate a fry.

"Copyright infringement? I don't know what that is."

"It's not a law Equestria uses. He filed the petition in the griffon lands. Think of it as a system where if you invent it then no pony else can copy it, distribute it, modify it or make money on it. If you ask me the entire system is a load of tosh." Twilight ate another fry.

"Kinda seems fair, Although how long does this copy right thing last?" Celestia said as she levitated on of Twilight's fries to her mouth.

"I told Rarity not to bother fighting it. It's not like griffon law extends out to Equestria but she insisted on selling her garments there. Anyways, to answer your question that contract extends to about fifty years after the death of the creator. On top of that it makes inventing things a gigantic pain in the flank."

"That long? And why?" Celestia asked as she took another fry from Twilight's box.

"Imagine for a moment that I invented a new kind of, I dunno, rocking chair. But when you try and market it you find out that the spring you invented was in fact invented by someone else before you. Now they want you to stop making your rocking chair unless you pay them for using their idea."

"Sounds like a disaster waiting to happen. I always preferred things like that to settle themselves. If the copycat makes a better product than the original than everypony wins. That kinda system sounds like it would charlie horse inventors."

"It eventually does." Twilight reached for another fry with her magic but found none. Looking at Celestia suspiciously.

Celestia grinned sheepishly. "How about I treat you out to lunch?"

"That's fine, I'm starved. Also, no PVP?"

"PVP? What's-"

"Sorry, Luna expression there. Been hanging around Chrysalis too long." Twilight rolled her eyes as she walked into a large tent with wooden picnic tables stacked in lines. Red cloth, condiments and menu's adorning them. Celestia took her seat opposite Twilight whom immediately began to browse the menu.

"So many Apple based foods, it's almost as if-"

"Howdy ya'll!"

"Called it." Twilight said as she turned her head to shoot a smile Apple Jack's direction. Apple Jack stood at the end of the row of tables waving while wearing her "Kiss me, I'm an Apple" apron. Next to her was a mare that Twilight didn't recognize at first but quickly realized who it was as she walked up to the table. What used to be bunched up strawberry red mane tied with a pink bow was now Rapunzel levels of length with little pink bows down it's length. What used to be a blank spot on her flank was now an Apple with a flower growing out of it's top.

"Apple Bloom? Is that you?" Twilight could hardly believe it. She was almost as big as Apple Jack.

"Sure is Twi." She replied in her adorable accent. "Few more years ahn I'll be runnin an Apple farm of my own."

Apple Jack walked up to the table. "Not before college you won't. You remember what Granny smith left in her will. Edumacation first, apple's second."

Apple bloom frowned at her big sister before turning to Twilight and Celestia with a big smile. "What would you two folks like to drink?"

Celestia looked on the menu, there were only three options for drinks; water, Apple cider and alcoholic cider. "Cider please and an order of hay fries and fruit salad."

"Ahn you Twi?"

"Alcoholic Cider, hay fries and a double bark burger, no onions."

Celestia raised an eyebrow. "Little early to be hitting the keg Twilight."

"Alicorn biology, I'll only have a glass, I won't even get a buzz. Besides, I need a drink after dealing with the bug queen hitting on me for the last couple weeks."

Celestia set down her menu and Apple Bloom jotted picked both of them up and walked into the back.

"Well, look at the time, we shouldn't even be open for a couple ours. Mind iffin I join ya?"

"By all means Applejack, make yourself comfortable. And Twilight I'm sure it isn't that bad. I remember that one time four years ago when you Really enjoyed her company." Celestia said with a sly wink.

"Princess!" Twilight went red in the face. "Well, yeah...but if memory serves you're the one that setup that little date."

"Well she said she was a licensed masseuse. I didn't think it would go THAT far." Celestia grinned sheepishly, trying to cover her lie.

Twilight rolled her eyes. "It wasn't that bad to be honest. Being a changeling and all she knows all kinds of things about pony anatomy."

"I see, I'll have to take her for a test ride myself sometime." Celestia said coyly.

"Uh, Princess?"

"Oh, sorry Applejack. I got carried away. How have you been doing?"

"Well, after granny passed we had a couple bad harvests. I think even the trees were sad that she was gone. I mean She's that one that planted most of them. Iffin it wasn't for Apple bloom new irrigation technique I don't think we woulda been able to keep the farm running to be honest."

"What kind of invention?"

"I can answer that. " Apple Bloom trotted up to the table, two plates of food balanced on her back, two on her head and four drinks looped though her long tied mane. She quickly set down Celestia's and Twilight's food before giving her sister an Apple fritter and Apple Cider. She dropped a plate of Apple Pasta and Cider for herself on the table before joining the group.

Apple Bloom sat Next to Celestia, directly across from Apple Jack. "Ya see, I invented a gravity based irrigation system. I had a large pot collect melting ice from the mountains during the early spring and filtered it before it entered a big downward pipe system. The nice cold water would shock the trees awake and they start doing what Apple trees do, make Apples."

"She got her cutie-mark the day she finished it." Applejack added as she took a bite of her fritter.

"Interesting. How are the other crusaders doing? Did they get their cutie-marks yet?" Celestia asked.

"Well, Scootaloo got second place in the Fillydelphia X games, earner herself a scooter cutie-mark. She still says that Bance Larmstrong pony was using some kinda enhancement drugs or sumthin. Sweetie Belle will be singing on stage at the end of the festival tonight, shes amazing to listen to."

"And Babsy?"

"She's a cadet police pony at the Manehattan academy. She told me a position of authority suits her temperament. I want to agree but she has a mean streak sometimes."

Celestia took a few bites before continuing. "So how is Pinkie Pie doing?"

"You might see her around, She's in charge of the decorations this year with a couple other Zebra." Apple Jack said.

"She doesn't show it but shes been down recently. After the devastation suffered by Ponyville she offered up her adult store as a shelter to the towns folks. A lot of fillies and colts were asking all kinds of questions about the products in her store and mare mayor didn't take too kindly to it and revoked her license."

"And then mayor Mare got herself voted out next election, by a landslide victory in Pinkies favor if I remember right." Apple Bloom added.

"Pinkie Pie in a position of authority....that is a horrifying thought." Twilight took a drink of her hard cider. "Simply terrifying."

"Well it's not all bad, at least the schools avoid that abstinence only non-sense the mayor put in place." Apple bloom slurped up a noddle.

"Anyways, the stress is getting to her. Too much work and not enough play I reckon."

"Oh, has anyone heard anything from Rainbow dash? I heard her daughter is almost six now." Twilight said.

Celestia seemed sad. "So much work and I keep missing these kind of things."

"Her name Is Dizzy Dash, she's fast like her mom but not exactly the most co-ordinated Pegasus. Shoulda seen her doin flying lessons outside the school, crashed right though the roof and wrecked a couple classrooms in the process. She didn't have scratch on her either." Apple bloom said.

"You think being a Wonder Bolt AND becoming captain after Spitfire retired would allow her to get Dizzy into flight school with ease." Apple Jack took another bite of her fritter.

"Nah, I heard the instructor at the academy saying that her wing power is too high for her body size still. She won't be able to control them properly for another year. Shoulda seen Soarin's reaction, he was furious about that."

The group finished up their meals. Each talking about past events until the last bite from Celestia's plate was gone.

"Delicious as always Apple jack. How much do I owe you?"

"Not a tootin thing. Family always eats free at any Apple family establishment. Except you Apple Bloom, you eat too much."

"Huh?" Apple Bloom responded with a blank stare.

"Just kiddin, but seriously, if ya keep eatin pasta yer butts gonna be huge."

Apple Bloom looked at her fairly skinny behind. "I can spare a few pounds, stallions love - oh what was it again. 'junk in the trunk'." The ponies at the table shared a hardy laugh as they got from their seats.

"I guess you're in charge of the banquet tonight?" Celestia asked.

"Well, us and the Carrot family." Apple Jack replied. "They are a bit late this year, airship traffic and all."

"I look forward to it. Shall we Twilight?"

"Yep. See you later AJ!" Twilight waved before heading back out into the festival grounds.

"There is one pony I haven't been in contact with. She even refused a bravery coronation stating 'she wasn't any ponies hero', I almost wanted to give her another award for modesty."

"That would be Zecora right?" Twilight said as she walked along Celestia's side. "I haven't seen her in about four years now. Her, Fluttershy and Ayanna disappeared into the northern mountain ranges after a attempt on her life by one of Maskia's less than sane cohorts. She mentioned that in order to protect her family she needed a special enchantment that could only be cast up there."

Celestia stopped. "She could have just asked for protection, it's not like our guards have a whole lot to do."

Twilight shook her head. "I think all of the Wind Runner family would rather die than have 24/7 protection. The only ponies more stubborn than them is the Apple Family."

"I guess so. I remember offering Alahla protection since there was always a chance someone that was inside the spear would want vengeance." Celestia said as she looked over Twilight's shoulder at somepony that seemed familiar.

"I couple tried, but Alahla doesn't play games when it comes to combat. One tried to attack her outside of a school building."

"What happened?"

"Let's just say the attacker got his flank kicked pretty bad. He tried to hold one of the little fillies in the playground hostage as a bargaining token. It didn't end well."

"For the filly?" Celestia seemed distracted as she looked over Twilight.

"No, the filly needed counseling after Alahla exploded the would be assassin's head."

"Brutal. Excuse me." Celestia moved past Twilight with lightning speed, something was telling her somepony she knew was over in the crowd. Celestia trotted to the spot where she saw the pony last. "Where is she?"

"Above you, Celestia ma'am."

Celestia looked up. A pair of magnificent white and black wings was casting a shadow above her, the sun behind it was making it hard to make out any distinct features.

"Oh, sorry about that. My wings have a tendency to do that." The winged creature landed on the ground in front of Celestia. She was wearing heavy coat, typical of those worn in northern hemispheres. Her wings would put a griffons to shame in terms of sheer size and muscle mass. She had a mohawk like so many Zebra like her but hers was black with pink spots instead of black and while.

"I know you, but from where..." Celestia couldn't put her hoof on it. This filly reminded her of somepony she knew.

"Ayanna! What did I tell you about flying off like that." Fluttershy came walking from the crowd of ponies. Zecora carrying large mountain backpack not too far behind.

"Ayanna? Fluttershy! Zecora!" Celestia was overjoyed, before she could even speak another word a lavender purple blue shot past her and grabbed Fluttershy in a tight hug.

"Oh, I missed you so much!" Twilight said as she hugged Fluttershy with all her might.

"I missed you too Twilight but If you don't mind I need air." Twilight loosened her grip on Fluttershy, letting the shy Pegasus hug her back. They were soon joined by Celestia and Zecora, Ayanna hovering above trying to fit into the group hug; finally settling on just wrapping everypony up under her massive wings.

"Group hug!" Ayanna yelled as she pushed her parents and their friends close together.

The group embraced one another for a moment before breaking up.

"I haven't seen you ponies in ages, where have you been?" Twilight said with a perky tone, barely controlling her excitement.

"Walk with us, we have much to discuss." Zecora nodded to a nearby hill top. "Preferably away from prying ears."

The group moved out of the noisy streets and into an open meadow on top of the hill.

"As you know there are still remnants of Maskia's insanity hanging about. Some of them liked the old ways and wanted to remove me, Fluttershy and Ayanna. While me, Imani and most certainly Alahla can look after themselves I feared my wife and daughter could be used as bargaining chips against me."

Celestia spoke up. "I offered your entire family guards. For a lifetime if needed."

Zecora shook her head. "Some of these ponies are master assassin's employed by the deceased council and Maskia. Some of them could easily slip by said guards, I am talking nearly killing you levels of skill here Celestia."

Celestia gulped, remembering her all too close brush with death.

"So? I could have put a un-plotable spell on you all." Twilight said.

"Great minds think alike Twilight, but the unicorn variant of that spell wanes with age. You could cast a semi- permanent version on my daughter till she came of age but that would leave Fluttershy vulnerable. I had a far more powerful spell in mind."

"You know I could have just attached a un-plotable with a secret keeper spell on myself." Twilight seemed distraught, the idea of her friends not trusting her magic seemed to make her agitated. "That way they have to get the secret counter word from me."

"Twilight" Fluttershy butted in. "I can appreciate that but some of these ponies are ruthless, they would have no quarrel with torturing that information out of you."

Twilight tried to argue but a stare from Celestia made her think better off it. "Twilight, they have a very good point. Your Alicorn powers will not be complete for many more years. If they were to capture you, they may not be able to kill you but they could put you though unimaginable pain. Zecora didn't want you to have a target on your back."

Twilight grumbled. "I get it. I guess I can respect that but I'm still a little hurt you didn't ask anypony for help. You must have known we would."

"Twilight, I'm sorry we didn't ask but what we wanted to do needed to be kept a secret to everypony except us three." Fluttershy pawed the ground anxiously. "I really am sorry."

"We put a very powerful shaman enchantment on us all. Any pony that has negative thoughts within miles of us will forget what they were doing and focus on something else. Not only that but if they get anywhere near us, they cannot see or hear us." Zecora pointed at Twilight. "Think that you wanted to kill me."

Twilight was taken aback. "I can't do that!"

Fluttershy butted in. "Do it Twilight...for science."

"Fine, Zecora, I hate you, your ugly stripes, your fat face, your inadequate magic and I wish you would drop dead."

Twilight blinked and when she opened her eyes Zecora, Fluttershy and Ayanna were gone. "Oh, where did they go?"

"What do you mean Twilight they are still the...Oh, huh, they disappeared from my sight as well. Interesting."

"Heh okay Zecora, jokes over. You can come out now." Twilight strained her ears, no response.

Twilight felt something touch her side. Her head darted to the side to see a fuzzy image of Zecora, more akin to a cloud than a pony slowly come into view before her. "Gah!" Twilight jumped in surprise. "Don't do that!"

Zecora giggled, Ayanna and Fluttershy doing the same.

"Sorry, I actually had to touch you to cancel out the other part of the spell." Zecora said still giggling.

The group walked back into the town, Ayanna grabbing a cotton candy from a vendor on the way though the Forrest of tents.

"So, Zecora, what have you been doing for work these past years?" Celestia asked.

"Before Maskia passed on she told me the location of the councils treasures. I have been buying supplies and donating them to tribes that were affected by the war. The funds are nearly used up however."

Celestia stopped in place. "I was wondering why so many of the further out villages didn't require our assistance."

"Yeah, moms been really busy these last few years. All the hiding until the enchantment took hold, charity work. I was almost getting sick of it all." Ayanna fluffed her wings indignantly. "I was barely even allowed to fly most of the time for the fear I would be spotted. But next year I enter the Cloudsdale flight academy, I can't wait to show everyone my stuff."

Twilight looked at Ayanna's flank and noticed that it was a image of a pair of wings made of fire.

"I guess your talent is flying fast? You and Rainbow Dash would get along great."

Ayanna looked at her Cutie mark for a second before replying. "It is now."

"Wait what do you mean by that?"

Fluttershy walked close by Twilight whispering in her ear. "She's a bit sensitive about that, just so you know."

Twilight lowered her voice. "Why, I don't get it. She should be proud of her cutie mark."

Fluttershy nodded her head. "Oh, she is but it's her second one. You see, the spell we cast to protect us had some pretty nasty consequences on the caster. Originally it would have stripped Zecora of her powers entirely, for the rest of her life."

"Did it?" Twilight whispered.

"No, Ayanna completed the spell and sacrificed her own abilities. She earned that cutie mark a year later in the originals place."

Twilight let what Fluttershy said sink in for a moment. She couldn't even fathom what it would be like to have one's destiny stripped away from them. "Is she okay with that? I mean is there a way to fix it?"

"There is Twilight but the only pony that would be able to do so has been dead for over seven years now." Zecora turned her head, she was obviously listening in on Twilight and Fluttershy's conversation. "I still wish it was me, but Ayanna made her choice. Once the enchantment was in place there was nothing I could do to help her, even removing it wouldn't reverse the effects."

"I'm fine about it. Shaman magic is a boring destiny anyways, I prefer to have the sun on my back the wind in my mane and the clouds under my wings." Ayanna said triumphantly but with a very badly hidden hint of regret.

"By the way Zecora where are we going?" Twilight asked.

"To meet with an old friend." The group rounded a comer of a rodeo tent and spotted a large family of ponies. The two larger ones were easily identifiable as Brennen and Eleena but the ten or so smaller colt's, fillies and one foal puzzled Twilight.

"Brennen! Eleena!" Zecora waved at them as they approached.

"Zecora, Celestia, Ayanna, Fluttershy and...Twilight?" Brennen stared at Twilight for a moment. "errr...with wings?"

"Long story, short story is I'm an Alicorn now."

Brennen's eyes drifted up to the crown Twilight was wearing on her head. "And a princess I see."

"Yeah that too. Though I'm not much for the attention I always get from it. By the way are you babysitting for some of the festival goers today?"

Brennen looked confused but Eleena stepped up after putting her foal down in the stroller to nap. "Oh, no these are all our kids."

Twilight did a double take and recounted all of the ponies aside from the adults, a total of eleven kids counting the foal in the stroller. "But...it's ...seven...only...years." Words Twilight, use them! Twilight took a deep breath. "How? I mean-"

"Let's not get into the logistics shall we? Lets just say me and Eleena are a very 'active' couple."

A couple that has apparently never heard of a condom or birth control before. Twilight thought to herself as she looked over the swarm of children around Eleena's legs.

"So I see the family has grown much since our last meeting. The last time I saw you Eleena had just given birth to triplets."

Eleena blushed. "Well, I had twins nearly every time after that. Brennen may be small in stature but he's amazing in...well" Eleena lowered her voice. "Not in front of the kids" she giggled.

"I remember you saying you were going to get a big house of something, how did that work out?" Zecora asked.

"Splendid actually. I have a 28 room mansion on Zigguart lake. Potions have been selling like hotcakes recently." Brennen beamed as he talked, he was obviously very proud of himself.

Celestia learned to whisper in Twilight's ear. "That explains all the kids, that lake used to be mined for chemicals used in powerful aphrodisiacs. Just breathing in the air around the lake could get an adult mare riled up enough to even jump on a stranger in lust."

Twilight's ears perked up. "Seriously?"

"What do you think Chrysalis's massage cream had in it hmmm?" Celestia said coyly.

Twilight's ears folded back. "I will get you back for that one of these days." She knew she was faking anger, she enjoyed it as much as Chrysalis did. Twilight noticed something odd about Zecora as if her mind was focused on something. When she looked at Brennen the result was the same, both ponies were in something of a staring contest. Twilight quickly realized they were communicating telepathically. It took her a moment or two but she managed to eavesdrop on the conversation.

Do you have it? Zecora asked.

I do, but are you absolutely sure you want it? It's only a prototype after all.

Can you bring it to the hill during the festival dance?

I can, I guess you want to use it on Ayanna then?

Yes, but I will make the choice hers. She has grown quite accustomed to her second talent. Zecora's eyes shot sideways, she seemed to notice Twilight eavesdropping in on the conversation.

I think Twilight can hear us. We will talk in private later. Zecora shot Twilight a reassuring glance. Don't worry, what I plan will harm no one.

"Mom, can I fly around the fairgrounds. All this walking stuff is boring me." Ayanna tugged on Fluttershy's wing.

"Okay dear but, I want you to stay within the grounds. No flying off on any adventures okay?"

"Okay, thanks mom." Ayanna said as she crossed her wing tips behind her back and took to the skies.

"Anyways, would you folks like to join us in a few games of kickball? The field is open." Brennen said.

"Sure, adults vs the kids I suppose?" Celestia asked.

Brennen's children lined up in a near military like fashion, one of them saying "lets pwn these noobs!" before the whole lot of them set off into the nearby field.

Brennen turned to the remaining adult ponies. "you...may want to warm up a bit, my kids give no quarter when it comes to games."

"Feels so good to have the wind in my mane again!" Ayanna soared through the clouds while looking down at the festival below. "Wow there must be at least a hundred thousand strong down there." The sea of black and white stripes was mesmerizing, almost to the point of hypnotizing her. Ayanna wasn't looking where she was going and bumped into something.

The creature she bumped into spun around with her, both of them locked together until the the spinning momentum was used up. The only thing she could see until then was a blur of cyan and rainbow colors. When she finally managed to untangle herself she was staring face to face with a blue eyed, cyan coated Pegasus.

"Sorry, my bad." They both said in unison.

Ayanna could have sworn she seen a pony like this before. Cyan coat, rainbow colored mane and tail in a short sporty style, but this filly was too small to be THE Rainbow Dash of the Wonder Bolts.

"You wouldn't happen to be related to Rainbow Dash would you?" she asked.

"My mom? Last I checked yes, I am related to my mom. My name is Dizzy Dash, who're you?" Ayanna watched Dizzy's eyes fall on her enormous wings.

"I'm Ayanna, Ayanna Wind Runner."

Dizzy's eyes went wide, almost as if she had just seen the worlds largest triple chocolate sundae. "Ohhhh, I remember my mom talking about you. Are you Fluttershy's daughter by chance?"

Ayanna blushed crimson. "Yes, I am. How did you know?" Dizzy pointed at Ayanna's abnormally sized wings.

"My mom mentioned that you have the largest pair of wings in all of Equestria. She said yours could even give a dragon wing envy."

Ayanna blushed again. Normally the folks that meet her make fun of her wings but this little filly seemed to genuinely like them. "Thank...I umm, don't get many compliments on them."

"Meh, body shape never mattered to me. Then again..." Dizzy pointed to her own wings. They were a fair size for a filly of her age but the feather structure was entirely different. Most of the feathers were angled and set up in such a way to allow for excessive amounts of speed while the feathers used for turning looked small and horribly underused.

"Ya see, I'm one of the fastest fillies in the clouds but I umm...don't exactly turn on a dime."

"Really? I bet I'm faster" Ayanna said flexing her wings.

"Oh really? Wanna prove it?" Dizzy swept her hoof though her mane. "Let's see..." Dizzy surveyed the area, looking for a suitable goal post. "Something easy to keep in...ahh, there!" Dizzy pointed at a cave a few miles from the festival grounds.

"I'll race ya to that cave." Dizzy said excitedly.

"I err..my mom said not to leave the skies of the festival grounds."

"Pfft do you want your mommy to hold your hoof like a foal. C'mon its not that far away." Dizzy teased.

"Fine but lets get back over the festival as soon as we finish racing. Last thing I need is to be grounded for a week." Ayanna glided over to Dizzy's side as she pushed some clouds into place for them to stand on.

"Rules are simple, if any clouds get in your way, you must go around them if you can. First pony to the cave wins."

"On your mark" both ponies bent their front legs.

"Get set" both ponies arched their flanks into the air, spreading their wings out behind them.

"Go!" Both ponies took off so fast that the cloud landing they made was nothing more than a puff of smoke. Both ponies were neck and neck, with Dizzy slowly gaining the advantage.

"Gonna have to move faster than that to beat me." Dizzy dash's wings became like that of a humming bird, a mere blur of cyan feathers as she easily pulled far ahead of Ayanna. "See ya later slow poke!" Dizzy was too busy taunting Ayanna to notice a cluster of clouds coming up fast.

"Instead of gloating you should be watching were you're going." Ayanna pointed out the cluster of clouds ahead.

Dizzy managed to barely graze the first cloud only to slam face first into the next one. Ayanna managed to roll elegantly around the obstacles, pulling dead in front of Dizzy as she tried to get her bearings.

"Big deal, these clouds are only a setback!" Dizzy pulled herself from the fluffy ruins of the cloud she crashed into and took off after Ayanna. When she finally caught up she realized passing her would be a problem. Her wingspan was not only large but every flap dead behind her displaced a lot of air.

I can't go under her, all that air so displaces can knock me around, don't wanna try the sides either. The last thing I need is it to be slugged by one of those things. If I climb above however... Dizzy started to ascend into the air above Ayanna when she noticed her turning on her back.

"Oh no you don't" Ayanna gave a powerful flap upwards, sending her to the ground at high speed and knocking Dizzy off balance.

"Hey that's cheating!" Dizzy yelled as Ayanna was a mere hundred or so yards from the finish line.

"I didn't lay a hoof on ya. I only returned the favor!" Ayanna replied as she turned around and landed just outside the cave entrance.

Dizzy landed seconds later, puffed out her chest and walked up nose to nose with Ayanna. "You dirty cheater! I demand a rematch!"

Ayanna stepped back. "You cheated first! I couldn't balance the wind on my wings properly with you chopping it up in little chucks ahead of me!"

"It's called dispersion drag, all Pegasi are unaffected by it at birth only....oh." Dizzy looked at Ayanna's wings again. "I forgot that you are not one hundred percent Pegasus, you might be missing some of the magical flying enchantments we get at birth."

Ayanna sighed. "Sorry, I didn't know about that. Sorry for accusing you of cheating, you didn't know I didn't have those and I thought you were intentionally cutting my air supply off."

"Yeah, well, I was just as bad for assuming. Still friends?" Dizzy said as she outstretched her hoof.

"Still friends." Ayanna said as she shook Dizzy's hoof. "I mean it's only a race, there will be plenty more where that came from."

"So if your wings are not for speed then what are they really for?"

"Oh, I can move fast but I am much better at acrobatics and lifting than speed." Ayanna replied.

"Neat, so whattya wanna do now? Cloud dodging? Spin drives?"

"No, I need to get into the sky above the festivities. Last thing I want is being grounded for a week."

"C'mon" Dizzy poked Ayanna in the side. "Where's your sense of adventure?" Dizzy's eyes went wide. "I know we could explore that cave. I bet there's treasure in it."

Ayanna looked at the cave behind her, her nostrils instinctively taking in the air coming from the dank cave. "I dunno, I don't detect any predator smells from the cave but it kinda has a salty, sulfur kinda smell to it."

"Maybe it's a hot spring. I heard Zebra are real fond of them." Dizzy said as she jumped up and down excitedly.

"We are but... I'm not sure. I don't remember hot springs having a sulfur smell to them."

Dizzy poked Ayanna's side. "What's wrong...chicken?"

Ayanna didn't know what to do. Every part of her was screaming that something was off about that cave but she didn't want to look cowardly in front of her new friend. She didn't exactly know how to deal with this situation, all the mountain seclusion never prepared her for this. "I-ummm." Dizzy made the decision for her and charged into the cave laughing "Hey slowpoke, I bet I find the spring before you!"

"Dizzy!" Ayanna yelled after Dizzy to no avail. "Great, now what do I do?" Ayanna looked toward the town, it would take a few minutes to get anypony out here, even if she did get help she would still be grounded AND Dizzy might get in trouble or worse in the time needed to get an adult.

"Here goes nothing." Ayanna charged into the cave, a cave which was oddly not as dark as she once thought. Littered along the ground were pools of water with something silver at the bottom of them. I wonder what that is? she thought as she smelled the air. "This way" Ayanna ran down a few more twists and turns before Finding Dizzy Dash sitting down, deciding which way to go in the fork.

"Dizzy, this is dangerous not to mention we will get in serious trouble."

Dizzy turned around, flaunting a coin in her hoof. "There is treasure in this cave, and I'm gonna find it!"

Before Ayanna could stop her, Dizzy ran down the right fork in the corridor. Ayanna trailing behind the faster Pegasus. Is she nuts? It's probably just some coin a traveler dropped...

Ayanna headed down the right corridor only to find something odd, not a single gold coin like before but a small pile that almost came up to her knee's. Maybe she was right, maybe there is treasure in this cave, but what kinda hiding spot is so close to- Ayanna had a epiphany, smelling the air she noticed the sulfur smell was much stronger than before. "No, No. It can't be. Not this close to a city." Ayanna smelled the air again, she got a slight hint of what smelled like lizard molt, a ingredient in one of her mothers potions.

No, No, No nonono. I gotta catch up to her. Ayanna thought as she took off as fast as her legs and wings would allow. I got to get to her before she wakes the-

"EEEEEEEEKKK!!!!!!"

"Dragon..."

"Long time no see Flutters!"

Fluttershy took her eyes off the sky for a moment to watch a familiar cyan, rainbow maned pony in a Wonder Bolts jumpsuit approach her.

"Oh, Rainbow Dash. It has been a long time, how have you been?" Fluttershy said as she kept looking into the sky.

"Is something wrong Fluttershy? It's not like you to break eye contact when greeting somepony."

Fluttershy took her eyes off the skies. "My daughter Ayanna, hasn't lapped around this spot again like she does every few minutes. I'm sure it's nothing though, she probably got distracted by one of the rides or something."

Rainbow dash looked up in the sky. She could count a handful of younger fillies at lower altitudes holding friendly conversations with one another. "You know, I don't see my own little basket of terror up there. I coulda swore I told her to stay under three thousand feet this time."

"Basket of terror? Who is that?" Fluttershy asked.

"My daughter, Dizzy Dash." Rainbow Dash replied.

"Why would you call your daughter such a thing. That seems rude."

Rainbow dash rolled her eyes. "I mean it in a nice way. Besides it is pretty accurate, she's reckless, bossy, doesn't like to lose and has a huge overinflated ego for a filly her age. I think she get's it from her dad."

Fluttershy stifled a giggle. "I'm sure she does. Could you do me a favor, fly up and see if you can spot them. You can get up higher than I can; much faster too."

"Sure, I need to stretch my wings anyways. What does your daughter look like?"

"She has a black and pink Mohawk and ginormous wings, you can't miss her."

Rainbow Dash took to the skies with gusto, leaving her trademark rainbow colored blur in her wake but after a few tense moments of looking she yelled. "I don't see either of them, I'll check the vendors square."

"N-no, come down. This is way worse!" Fluttershy felt her heart skip a beat. Her body was numb and perspiring profusely.

"Fluttershy, what's wrong?"

"D-danger, find Zecora!" Fluttershy yelled in a panicked voice.

"Got it!" Rainbow Dash turned around to find Zecora, who was also sweating profusely but was keeping the rest of her body in check.

"Hun-I"

"Calm down, I feel it as well." Zecora said before Fluttershy could finish.

"Feel what?" Rainbow Dash asked.

Zecora didn't reply, instead removing one of her rings around her leg and floating it in mid air. "The spell that protects our family warns if any being is near us or Ayanna with dangerous intent. Rainbow, I need for you to get Celestia and Twilight. Warn them of the possibility of one of Maskia old supporter may be nearby."

Rainbow Dash gave a little salute and took to the skies.

"A-any idea where Ayanna is?" Fluttershy said as she stared at the scying device Zecora had floating in front of her. "Outside of town, due north."

Ayanna ran down the corridor until she reached a wide open room, Dizzy Dash shaking with fear behind a small rock in it.

"Are you okay?" Ayanna said with a whisper.

Dizzy nodded her head and pointed behind Ayanna. In the corner of the room was a pile of bones, the remains of a long dead pony. Ayanna face went pale but she closed her mouth to stifle a scream. Ayanna quietly tiptoed over to Dizzy and whispered. "This is a dragons lair, we need to get out asap!" Ayanna could hear the low rumbling of a dragon in deep sleep, a lucky break that Dizzy's squeal did not wake it.

"Follow me we need to-"

The light from the entrance to the room began to fade as a massive tail blocked the path out.

Ayanna and Dizzy went still as they felt something massive begin to move, the room being illuminated by torches far above as the dragons fire lit them one by one. Ayanna and Dizzy peaked over the rock they were hiding behind. A massive green dragon, thousands of gems, gold and silver planted around his scales, began to sit up, swinging its head back and fourth with sickening cracks.

"There is no use hiding, I can smell you. Come out so I may gaze upon what silly treasure hunter dare stumble into my home." The deep bellowing voice sent shivers down Ayanna's spine. This wasn't the first dragon she had come in contact with but smaller white northern dragons are far friendlier than what she read about green dragons.

"You have ten seconds to show yourself before I raise the temperature in here hot enough to cook meat."

Ayanna looked at Dizzy, who was still shaking violently, but trying to step forward.

Ayanna stepped out from behind the rock, keeping her head low and submissive. "I-I'm sorry mr dragon. M-me and my friend were exploring, well Dizzy was exploring this cave. W-we didn't know this was your home."

The dragon stared at Ayanna and then Dizzy for a moment. "Ahhhh, mere children have stumbled into my home. It has been so very long since I last talked with any other being. I find it amusing that the first thing to stumble upon me in ages is a innocent filly-" The dragon narrowed his eyes as if he was having a hard time focusing.

"Interesting. A Zebra filly and a Pegasus, but the Zebra filly has wings, very powerful wings."

"Ummm...y-yes mr dragon. My mom was a Pegasus and my other mom a Zebra." Ayanna tried to keep her tone quick but respectful.

The dragon raised one of his mighty claws and scratched behind his neck scales. "Two mothers? Intriguing, I thought the council forbade such things."

"Th-the council has been dead for over seven years, mr dragon. Princess Luna and a constitutional assembly now run the country."

"Ahhh, Luna. Last time I saw her she was but a filly and I was a fiendishly good looking three thousand years old."

"If I may mr Dragon, how old are you?" Ayanna asked.

The dragon scratched his chin, knocking a coin out from under one of his scales as he did. "Last I checked about ten thousand. Give or take a few centuries."

Ayanna swallowed air. That makes him a Greater Wyrm! This isn't good... Ayanna thought to herself as sweat rolled down her mane.

"How old are you young one? Also, I would like to see the other one half hiding behind the rock."

Dizzy Dash slowly walked out from behind the rock. Keeping her wings down and her head low to the ground, trying not to make eye contact.

"Do not fret young one. I do not try to harm ponies unless I am provoked. Least of all little fillies like yourselves, last thing I need is having to move my home becuase angry villagers want vengeance."

"I-I'm six years old, mr dragon s-sir." Dizzy said meekly.

"I'm seven years old, mr dragon." Ayanna said.

"Please call me Balthazar." The dragon leaned his face over to Ayanna and Dizzy. "May I ask what your names are?"

Dizzy stepped forward. "My name is D-dizzy Dash."

Ayanna stared at the dragon for a moment. There is no way I can tell him my last name. If I remember my history lessons correctly, green dragons are mortal enemies with the Wind Runners. "My name is Ayanna Windmere."

Balthazar growled, lifted his head into the sky as he narrowed his eyes on Ayanna. "I small a falsehood young Zebra. Tell me your real last name."

How did he- Oh Ayanna forgot she has a very obvious wing twitch that Fluttershy caught onto whenever she lied, this dragon must be very well versed to catch onto something like that so quickly. "My....my last name is...Wind Runner."

The dragon's eyes went blood red as he lifted his head into the sky and let out a titanic roar, shaking the room to its very foundations. Ayanna grabbed Dizzy and put her wings out. deflecting small falling stones with them. The dragon kept on roaring however, his rage shaking loose larger rocks until a stalagmite fell toward the two fillies. Ayanna freezing in place as certain doom rushed toward them. Just as the stalagmite was about to impale both Ayanna and Dizzy a large scaly claw grabbed the rock and tossed it aside.

"That name....incites so much rage in my heart." The dragon stared at the two fillies for a moment. "But I have a dragons code to honor. Despite your ancestry I will not harm children, however I will not tolerate your company. Leave now and tell no one of my location."

"O-okay Balthazar, we will leave you alone." Ayanna turned around only to still have Balthazar's tail blocking her path.

"Let me get that for you. You should feel lucky, if you were an adult I would have not hesitated to roast you alive where you-" The dragons face contorted in rage, behind his tail was Zecora, Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash, all funneling into the room to pull Ayanna and Dizzy out, only to be blocked by the tail again.

"You!" Balthazar pointed, smelling the air to make sure he was correct. "You are the parents of this little crime against dragon kind aren't you?"

Zecora kept her calm instinctively shielding her daughter with her body. "Yes, I am one of her parents. I am very sorry she intruded on your lair but you must know she meant no harm."

Balthazar learned back, smoke coming from his mouth. "I will allow the fillies, the yellow Pegasus and the Rainbow colored Pegasus go free, but you, you must stay here. I have much unfinished business with the Wind Runners."

"Mom, you can't do that!" Ayanna cried as Fluttershy tried to usher her to the back of the cave. "He means to kill you!"

"I know that child!" Zecora yelled, sweat rolling down her face. "I need you to leave this place, if he means to attack me then I don't want any of you getting in the crossfire."

Zecora narrowed her eyes. "Balthazar I presume?"

"I thought my name long forgotten to history. How is it you know me?" Balthazar asked as he scratched his chin.

"You are the one that ordered the attack and consumption of any Zebra. You ordered them to eat anypony they came across, be it foal or otherwise." Zecora loosened up a bit but still kept light on her hooves. "I know you want to kill me, for what my ancestors did but I am not responsible for the actions of those before I was born."

Balthazar let out a triumphant bellowing laugh. "Do not try and talk yourself out of this confrontation. I swore to my dead brethren long ago that I would kill every Wind Runner I came across. The only reason-" Balthazar pointed at Ayanna "she lives is becuase my personal dragon code forbids me from attacking those that cannot defend themselves or children."

Zecora and Balthazar stared at one another, gritting their teeth until Balthazar made the first move. Zecora dodged to the side only to be swatted to the ground by The elder dragons tail, leaving her on the ground, vulnerable.

"I really hate leaving orphans but at least she has one parent left." Balthazar lifted his massive claw into the air and came down toward Zecora. Zecora's eyes lit up to block only to have something grab her by the side and fling her out of the way. Zecora got her bearings and watched in horror as the dragons massive claw came down towards Ayanna.

"Hmm?" Balthazar opened his claw, stopping just over Ayanna and picking her up. "You must be silly in the head, I could have crushed you like a fly and not even noticed."

"Ayanna! You have done enough! Let me and your mother deal with the dragon!" Zecora yelled up to Ayanna who was standing in the dragons palm, staring him down.

"No, mom. I have to take responsibility for my own actions." Ayanna stared the dragon dead in the eye. "I bet you feel high and mighty fighting something less than a hundredth your size don't you?"

"Well I-"

"Well what? Killing my mother won't bring back your friends and family. She isn't responsible for those deaths, even my ancestor is only partly to blame. She only made the weapon, the council is the ones that chose to use it." Ayanna had her wings puffed out in anger, walking up the dragons arm as she spoke.

"But Wind Runners are-"

"Are what? Evil? Reckless? Crazy? Some of us may be but harming the innocent becuase of someone else's crime is hardly a worthy goal and most certainly not behavior befitting an elder Wyrm."

Balthazar growled angrily but before he could speak Ayanna was dead in his face, her wings still puffed out angrily as she stared him in the eyes while standing on his snout.

"Even if you killed her it would just be an empty victory. None of your family would come back-"

"Ayanna that is quite enough young lady!" Fluttershy yelled up to Ayanna her face full of fear.

"I know what I'm doing mom. I seen you do it a dozen times by now." Ayanna turned her attention back to Balthazar. "and all you would accomplish would be leaving me one parent short, Equestria short a hero and two of the most powerful beings on the planet hunting your murderous hide down."

"I do not fear Celestia or Lun-"

"No, do not laugh. You may be a elder dragon but you are not immortal." Ayanna sat down on the dragons snout and calmed herself. "Listen, if you kill my mother you would only continue a cycle of hate and suffering that has been going on for many generations. I don't hate you and I know deep down you don't hate me." Tears began falling from Ayanna's eyes. "Please Mr. Balthazar, can't we all just get along...maybe even be friends?" Ayanna made a puppy face that she seen her mother do when she wanted something done.

Balthazar's eyes welled up with tears. "That was the most beautiful thing anyone has ever requested of me." Balthazar lowered his snout to the ground allowing Ayanna to hop off into the crushing hug of both her parents.

"Maybe all these years I was blinded by rage. I was so hurt from all the loss that I lashed out in anger at those that had nothing to do with my grief." Balthazar turned his attention to Zecora. "You were wrong you know, I only ordered the war as part of a long dead dragon council. I never ordered them to eat and most of us were in agreement that most Zebra should be scared away and not killed. But...." Balthazar lifted his head up. "Adolescent and teenage dragons are another story. Normally they sleep much of the time after getting their fill of gems but our people were so desperate that they turned to eating Zebra for food."

Balthazar moved his leg to show a gemstone with two names carved in it. "We even went as far to cannibalize each other."

Ayanna read the gemstone. " Brutus Greenthumb and Daisy Thunderstroke? Who were they?"

"One of them, Brutus was my only son. The other was a Zebra mare that he fell in love with. Towards the end of the war she treated my sons wounds, even though she was technically the enemy. In return for her kindness the Zebra council burned her alive as a heretic. My son died trying to save her, that is when I heard the name Wind Runner." Balthazar sighed. "I heard it was one of your tribe that forged a weapon to kill dragons in a single blow."

"That's true but she didn't exactly have an choice in the matter. She was an illegal shaman and the council wanted her expertise. If she refused..well, I wouldn't exist."

"They would have surely executed her to exonerate themselves." Zecora added.

"Indeed they would have. I never thought about that way. I always thought she did it willingly for profit. Maybe I was wrong all these years, if only I could have...and pardon the pun, get the story right from the horses mouth."

Zecora stepped forward, unsure if she should tell Balthazar that Alahla was still very much alive.

"Something weighs on your mind. Tell me, I have feeling it is relevant to our encounter."

Zecora took a deep breath, signaling her family and friends to step back into the corridor with her tail in case things got dangerous. "The creator of the weapon, Alahla Wind Runner, still lives."

Balthazar seemed taken aback but oddly intrigued at the same time. "I do not understand. It has been thousands of years, surely you jest. She must be long dead by now."

"Ironically she ended up trapped inside her own creation, made to suffer in amplified regret for eternity. We released her from it just seven years ago."

"I see. I guess she is a formidable weapons maker again?" Balthazar seemed both afraid although he tried hard not to show it.

"Quite the opposite actually." Fluttershy said as she stepped out of the corridor. "She has been working to help those in need, she serves on constitutional board as well as helping found the emerald city not too far from here. With Luna's help she has turned a once xenophobic wasteland into a a equal country for all."

"I must meet with this 'Alahla' sometime soon. But maybe in a few days. I need a nice nap to think this over. If you would be so kind as to leave me with my thoughts. I have much to go over." Balthazar began to blow out the lights above the room one by one.

"Mr B-Balthazar?" Dizzy Dash spoke up. "Thank you for not eating my friend or me."

The elder dragon looked down at the rainbow colored filly with soft eyes. "No, thank you and your friends for visiting. At the very least I walk away from this encounter a bit wiser than I once was."

Balthazar blew out the last torch above his lair and laid his head down, drifting into a deep sleep.

Fluttershy whispered to everyone "Everyone out, quietly now." The group moved down the corridor and out the cave, moving some distance away before stopping. Zecora turned her head at Ayanna in what looked like face of both joy and disappointment.

"You know this could have easily ended very badly. Both of you could have died before anypony reached you."

"Z-zecora ma'am, it was my fault. I'm the one that goaded her into chasing me into that cave. It's just...I don't have many friends. I wanted to make the most of it." Rainbow Dash put her foreleg around Dizzy.

"I know the feeling squirt but putting everypony in danger isn't a good way to keep friends. Oh by the way you are so grounded. Two weeks, double studies and air drills; all of them high speed turning."

"The same goes for you Ayanna, triple herbalism homework, double biology as well." Zecora said with a smile. "Only one week though, the way you handled that dragon was beyond your years, crazy, stupid and reckless yes but still beyond your years."

"Can the groundings wait till after the festival at least?" Ayanna asked.

Fluttershy fired both of them a smile. "I'm just glad you're both okay. Sure, but tomorrow morning its hit the books or err...sky for you Dizzy."

Rainbow nodded her head. "Yeah, why not. Would be a waste to have the rest of the festival wasted doing flying drills."

The group walked back into town just as the midday fireworks went off.

Dizzy walked alongside Ayanna, her new friend in awe of her. "So Ayanna, what you did back there was awesome. I mean staring down a dragon hundreds of times your size."

"I think I get it from my mom." Ayanna replied.

"Errr...which one?" Dizzy asked.

Ayanna sat on a hill just outside of town, staring up into the starry sky. Most of the celebrating had died down, her belly was full, her legs tired and her ears a little bit ring-y from all the excitement earlier. At least here she was well away from the crowds and had time to think and admire the night sky.

"Ayanna, may I have a word with you?" Ayanna turned her head and watched an exhausted Zecora and Fluttershy walk up to her sides and lay down in the soft grass.

"Sure, what's up?"

"We have something to show you, something you ultimately need to make a decision on very soon." Fluttershy reached into her backpack and pulled out a glowing blue gem, setting it on the ground.

"Today more than ever has shown me that there are ways to get past the protections we put in place. Be it child-like recklessness, beings of greater power or just getting hurt doing the right thing. This gem will erase your current cutie mark and restore the power you were born with. You will be able to defend yourself if the need ever arises."

Ayanna stared at the glowing blue crystal, the glow illuminating her face. "So, if I use this crystal, I can be like I was before all the protection spells were placed on us?" Ayanna thought hard for a moment. Did she really want that kind of responsibility? Did she really want to spend more time studying shaman magic? What would her friends think of her doing strange magic they have never seen before? So many questions swirled in her mind, but no matter what she kept coming back to the same answer.

"Moms , I love you and all and I know you want to protect me or at the least help me protect myself." Ayanna hugged both of her parents and stood up to make her answer. "But I must decline."

"Why!?" Fluttershy asked.

"No offense but I rather not double my studies for something I do not need nor this world needs." Ayanna pointed to the emerald city behind her. "You see that warm glow, that's the glow of thousands of happy ponies. That's the glow of years of hard work to make better lives for themselves. Using that gem would paint a giant target on my back, imagine if someone wanted to corrupt me, make me another grandma Maskia."

Zecora looked at Fluttershy and then back to Ayanna. "Are you absolutely sure you want to stay as you are? This gem is extremely hard to make and only has a limited chance to use its power, you may not get another opportunity like this."

Ayanna picked the gem off the ground and placed it in front of her. "Allow me to demonstrate a less subtle way of saying no." Ayanna lifted both forelegs into the air and used her powerful wings to vault her forward, her hooves smashing the gem to bits.

Zecora and Fluttershy nodded their heads in agreement. "We understand. I guess this means you will be attending the flight academy with Dizzy Dash next year?"

"I haven't decided. I have all the time in the world to find out what I want to be. Even if my Cutie mark tells me to be a flier I at least want to try other things." Ayanna nuzzled both of her parents. "We can talk more about this stuff tomorrow, for now I need some rest for all the extra studies I have to do." Ayanna waved goodbye as she headed back into town, a giant smile on her face.

"So, hun." Zecora said.

"Yes, I know. When did our little sunshine grow up to be so self confident?"

"I don't know. All the terrible things she had to endure at such a young age and hopefully our tutelage turned her into a very balanced, headstrong filly. Our little girl is growing up it would seem." Zecora said with a smile.

"I guess you're right. She has face death in the eye, saved thousands of lives and stared down a dragon. Some of it before she was even fully aware of what she was doing. I guess she just wants to be a normal pony now. I think she has had her fill of adventure for one lifetime." Fluttershy said as she leaned up against Zecora.

"I think we have my love. I can't find any fault with her wanting to stay as is, only time will tell if it was our parenting or the events in her life is what shaped her."

"Speaking of, I just got a letter today from our doctor to the north." Fluttershy said as she cuddled with Zecora.

"About? I hope you are not ill."

"Nothing major, just another one *yawn* on the way..." Fluttershy nodded off. Her neck laid over Zecora's shoulders.

"Another child? Dear Fluttershy, I welcome the challenge."

"I do too" Fluttershy said in a half drowsy voice.

"I love you Fluttershy."

"I love you too, Zecora."

Zecora stared into the night sky until her own drowsiness overtook her. It felt good to finally be at peace once again. All the trials and tribulations had only brought them closer together, their daughter would someday be an amazing mare and her loved ones, friends, family and all were safe, well fed and loved. They even had another foal on the way, another blessing that she never expected.