*Knock knock knock* Lyra rapped hard on Fluttershy's door, harder than normal but she figured all the ponies making chatter inside would make her unheard if she knocked politely. "Coming, excuse me, pardon me."

"Sugar Cube, this is your foal shower, you just let me handle the door okay?" The door opened to reveal a blond haired, stetson hat wearing, orange earth pony. "Well Howdy Lyra, Bonbon. I reckon yer late because the shop held ya up?"

Lyra sighed "Yeah, filling out a order for the Wonderbolts is a freaking nightmare sometimes. I am glad Zecora's always around to help get the herbs we need for our shop, without her we would be terribly behind."

"Speakin of the dad...err...would it be mom to be?" Applejack paused for a second, looking back at Fluttershy and then back at Lyra. "Where is the dad to be anyhow?"

A yell from the crowd in the back that sounded oddly like Rainbow Dash caught their attention. "I saw her in Canterlot this morning, she said she would be in a meeting with Celestia for a few hours."

"That answers that question. Anywho come on in, join the party!" Applejack stepped aside to allow the couple in. The small cottage nearly had every pony from Ponyville inside. Applejack and her family, Rainbow Dash and Soarin, Cadence and Shining Armor. Pinkie Pie, Mr & Ms Cake , as well as the twins. Even Cranky Doodle managed to attend the party. On the far end of the room stood Fluttershy. Her demeanor had changed so much over the last couple years, despite being quite a bit heavy no doubt in part to being pregnant and having odd choice in ear jewelry, she seemed more outgoing then before. Not hesitating to mingle with the townsfolk in the least. Setting her present on the table Lyra looked about the room. Strange stretch marks along the ceiling were obvious signs of magical elongation and it seemed some of the chairs and tables were magically replicated.

"Oh don't worry about those, I assure you they are ninety-nine percent safe." Lyra turned her head to find a Lavender coated, indigo maned unicorn with a pink stripe down her mane. She wore a brilliant star sparkling cape that ended around her neck with a gold seal that bore a half crescent moon and a sun that seemed to move around one another clockwise.

"Twi...Twilight Sparkle? Is that really you?"

"Silly who else do you know with this exact coat and hair combination?"

"I mean look at you with your fancy cape, and whats with the weird emblem in the center?"

Twilight blushed furiously. "Oh, this. It's nothing that special, just a old cape I had lyin around."

"Darling you really must stop being so modest. If I were Arch mage of Equestria I would surely flaunt it. That position commands respect" Rarity said sipping a glass of wine.

Lyra's mouth hung open. "Wow! Arch Mage...err what is an Arch Mage?"

Rarity shook her head and set her glass on the table. "Twilight, you are gonna have to educate everypony here it seems." Twilight grabbed Rarity in a headlock and started to whisper in her ear.

"Rarity, you are embarrassing me. I don't want to show up or show off at Fluttershy's foal shower. It would be rude." Twilight broke the hold and grinned sheepishly at the crowd of onlooking ponies. Fluttershy stepped up out of them her body barely able to fit through the crowd.

"Twilight I wouldn't be bothered. You been keeping us in the dark about this whole Arch mage business for over a year now. I would very much like to hear what you been up to...if that's okay with you that is."

Twilight looked around, the entire crowd of ponies were staring at her, waiting for her to spill the beans on her position. "F...fine. The Arch Mage of Equestria is the only position that can overrule a command by Celestia herself in matters pertaining to magic." Most of the ponies in the room looked dumbfounded, with the exception of Rarity most had broken into whispers or so shocked they completely missed biting into their pie.

Grinning sheepishly at all the ponies staring at her she felt the panicked urge to elaborate. "I mean I can still be overruled by a vote from both sisters or multiple votes in the senate."

Lyra butted in "Still how is it that you have that much power Twilight? I mean I never heard of a pony that has the authority to tell Celestia to shove it. How did you even get that position?"

"Well, The last pony to hold this position was Star Swirl the bearded, he had to beat Celestia in a one on one magic duel. I, on the other hoof had to deal with both Celestia and Luna at the same time." The ponies in the room looked at Twilight quizzically, some of them looked like they didn't believe her but Fluttershy interrupted.

"Oh how wonderful. How did you do it Twilight? Celestia and Luna have thousands of years of practice over you. It just seems so farfetched. No...not like I'm calling you a liar or anything, I'm just curious how you did it."

"We all are" said bonbon nodding.

"I still don't believe her, It's just so strange that a single unicorn, just barely of mare age is able to fend off two of the most powerful beings in Equestria" Rose said haughtily.

"Are you calling the most powerful unicorn in Equestria, the element of magic and my best friend a liar Rose?" Everyone in the crowd stood slack jawed at Fluttershy as she stared down Rose. "Well? Are you calling her a liar?" Fluttershy stared at Rose as if burrowing into her very soul with her stare.

"O..Oh course not Fluttershy...I...I just was curious how she did it, that's all." Rose looked pleadingly at Twilight Sparkle mouthing the word's 'help' under her breath.

Twilight giggled to herself before putting a hoof on Fluttershy's side. "It's okay Fluttershy, no harm, no foul."

Fluttershy turned to Twilight smiling and scratching behind her mane. "I'm sorry about that. Living with Zecora these last fifteen months has been making me a feel a bit more assertive...maybe too assertive at times." Fluttershy turned back around to the terrified Rose. "I'm sorry about that Rose. I just get a bit defensive around my friends."

Rose looked over Fluttershy at Twilight Sparkle, trying desperately to avoid the yellow Pegasuses gaze. "Umm..Twilight could you tell us how you got your position as Arch Mage Please?"

"I would be honored."

"And that's how I beat Luna and Celestia in a magic duel."

The room was dead silent. Twilight couldn't tell if half of them were afraid of her or were genuinely shocked. The silence persisted for a good minute or two until a certain energetic pink pony broke it. "I can't believe it."

"What part can't you believe Pinkie?"

"I can't believe the author was so lazy to use a scene transition with asterisks so he could avoid writing out how you beat Celestia and Luna in magic duel. I find it incredibly unprofessional and lazy. Hmmp."

"Umm..are we on the same subject Pinkie?"

Just then Applejack walked out of the kitchen carrying a tray of cupcakes diverting Pinkie's attention. "Ohh cupcakes!" The pink party pony bounced energetically over to the tray Applejack was carrying leaving the other ponies dumbfounded by her comments.

"What do you think she meant by that?" Bonbon asked.

"I have no idea nor do I ever want to know. The last pony to try and explore Pinkie's thought process ended up in the Ponyville hospital for two weeks trying to pick up what pieces of sanity he had left. Just toss it up to her being herself. everypony is better for it" Twilight said waving her hoof about matter-of -factly manner.

Bonbon stood up. "I think I'll go ask her about it. I think not knowing would drive me insane."

"Your funeral Bonbon."

"Anyways so how did you beat both Alicorns again? I mean, that's some really weird magic."

"Yes turning all of Luna's offensive magic into moon pies and all of Celestia's into Honey was no easy task."

A shout from the back of the crowd made Twilight's hairs stand on end. Pinkie pie popped up out of the back yelling, a half eaten cupcake in her mouth. "C'mon, you skipped it then teased them with a minor hint of what you were too lazy to write? The only way this fic could get any worse is if Twilight was suddenly a Alicorn doing the monster mash with a human. Sheesh." Pinkie stormed back into the kitchen muttering obscenities under her breath.

"Just ignore her everypony, shes being more Pinkie than usual today. Anyways yes, I did turn their magic into sugary sweets although Celestia didn't seemed bothered about it saying something about getting some new soldiers together for a 'glazing ritual'.

"You mean hazing ritual, right sugarcube?"

Rainbow Dash pushed aside some ponies from the back of the crowd laughing to herself. "No, she means glazing ritual. Ya see last year while we were on a date we watched Celestia spray down some of the younger recruits from the royal guard and well...lets just say our glorious leader is a bit of a cougar if ya get what I mean."

"Ahem. Let's try not to focus on Celestia's ..errr...other activities, this is Fluttershy's foal shower after all."

The front door opened up and a familiar Zebra wearing a black bowler hat and a Silver and bronze earring walked in. "Zecora!" Fluttershy pushed aside a few ponies as she ran up to nuzzled the Zebra as she put her bowler hat on a hat rack by the door.

"My, my, you shouldn't be moving so fast with child my dear."

"I'm sorry, you just have been so busy recently we don't get enough alone time." Fluttershy said rubbing her mane underneath Zecora's chin as if she we a cat. "So how was the meeting? Any news from the front?"

Zecora could barely contain the smile on her face as she cleared her throat to repeat what she had learned at the royal meeting. "Maskia had ordered a full ceasefire. She has called a meeting at the border with Celestia and Luna to discuss her terms of surrender."

The room broke out in a roar of cheers, ponies hugging one another and some of the pegasi doing cartwheels in the air.

"Wait, wait wait..this is kinda bad news" Twilight said. The other ponies stared at her as if she was crazy. "No I mean the fact the war is over is good but the fact that she could demand she keep her leadership role in the surrender terms. She could still hurt others in her lands."

"That is part of what we discussed Arch mage Twilight. We are setting the terms of surrender whether she likes them or not."

Twilight blushed "Please, just call me Twilight."

"As you wish Arch...er I mean Twilight. As I was saying, she can think shes getting off easy all she wants but the truth is we have her last bastion of power surrounded and the backing of every smaller tribe in the region. If she surrenders she will not be tried for war crimes but will be stripped of any power and exiled. If she refuses we simply capture her and she spends the rest of her life in a penal colony."

"Oh, so what happens to the Zebra lands then? Will it just fall into chaos?" Rainbow asked.

"No, General Luna has offered to set up a parliament in that region that must obey the basic rights set fourth by Celestial or Lunar law. There will be no more killing of those Maskia deems 'unclean' in that region anymore." Fluttershy hugged Zecora tightly, tears flowing freely onto her coat.

"I..I'm so happy. No more guard escorting me where I go, no more looking over my back and no more hearing horror stories of Zebra getting tortured." Zecora pulled the crying Pegasus into a strong hug.

"Now, now dear. This is no time for sorrow, it is a time for celebration. Applejack, break out the party cider and umm...some non- alcoholic cider for the mother to be if you will."

"Whoo hooo free booze!" Berry Punch yelled from the back of the crowd.

"Now, dry those tears honey. Let's open up your foal shower gifts." Fluttershy nodded and walked over to the table. Turning to the rest of the ponies in her home she raised her voice.

"Thank you everypony for helping us through these tough times. I propose a toast before I open up all these wonderful gifts on this table." Applejack walked into the living room with two large barrels of cider on her back. Rainbow Dash dead behind her carry a large plate of mugs. Other ponies lined up to fill their mugs while Zecora got non- alcoholic Cider for Fluttershy and herself.

"I want to give a toast to Rainbow Dash and Soarin for all the financial help they have provided during all the time I was cooped up and unable to work." The other ponies took a drink except Rainbow Dash and Soarin.

"Shucks Fluttershy, it's just bits. Those are replaceable, you're not."

"Still the thanks is all the same" Fluttershy replied with a smile.

"The next toast is to Rarity, who made me and Zecora wonderful clothes for our wedding and upcoming newborn." The white coated fashionista stepped forward bowing graciously.

"It was my pleasure dear, we can't have the worlds first Zebrasus ..or would that be a Pegabra, flying around looking like a fashion disaster now could we."

"Umm Rarity, we don't know what it is exactly but I'm sure it would look great in the clothes you made." The other ponies in the room gave Fluttershy odd looks. "Oh we got ultrasounds done, it's just we didn't want to know any details. Just wanted to know if it was developing correctly. It would ruin the surprise if we knew." The ponies took another drink as they nodded in agreement.

"Next a toast to Arch ma-"

"Twilight if you would Fluttershy."

"A toast to Twilight for helping nurse Red Heart during the ultra sounds to make sure my baby was developing right. "The ponies in the room rose their collective mugs and drank deeply from them.

"The next to last toast-"

"Umm Fluttershy, I hate to be a bother but I need to get another barrel from the back. Can ya hold on a sec." Applejack headed the back door and into the garden to get another barrel of cider. A few moments passed and the orange farmer walked into the room setting the barrel down. Ponies lined up to fill their mugs once more as Fluttershy continued.

"The next toast is to Bronze Hoof who took a poison dart to save my...and my unborn foals life. He couldn't make it tonight becuase hes on guard duty at town square." The ponies in the room rose their drinks again.

"Lastly...I want to thank everyone here for the wonderful presents and for watching my back these long months. If it wasn't for the ponies in this town being so vigilant, me or Zecora wouldn't be here today. You all have my eternal thanks." Fluttershy set her mug down and walked into the line of ponies, hugging them one by one.

"Shucks sugarcube, you don have to thank anyone here. We are one big family that looks after one another."

"Still It's good to know I have friends that care enough to help me when I need it most." Fluttershy wiped a tear from her cheek. "I love each and every one of you like a sister or brother."

"Bleh enough with the sappy stuff Flutters, why don't you open your presents?"

"Okay Rainbow."

Fluttershy started opening the presents one by one, until only one large red present in the corner remained. "Oh I wonder who this is from." Fluttershy read aloud the green tag on the far side of the present.

"Dear Fluttershy and Zecora, although we cannot attend your foal shower due to circumstances beyond our control we send our blessings to your newborn foal and our hopes that the love you have found lasts forever.

You close Friends

Princess Luna

Princess Celestia

Arch Mage Twilight Sparkle

The Town of Ponyville

ps: Celestia want's pictures of your Foal for the history books. She doesn't think we have any pictures of Zebrasus..or would it be Pegabra in the Canterlot archives."

"See even the Royalty doesn't know what to call it." Rarity said sipping from her wine glass.

"Zecora do you want to help me open this one?"

"Yes, dear."

Zecora grabbed the far right end of the wrapper with her teeth while Fluttershy grabbed onto the far left with her wings. "And a one, and a two" both pulled at the same time only to stagger a bit back when the paper came off nearly effortlessly. Fluttershy's eyes widened with awe at the golden glow coming from where the big red present once stood. Sitting there with tatters of red wrapping paper around it was a large ornate silver and bronze chest. A gold key sitting on top of the chest being carried by what looked like silver versions of Fluttershy and Zecora.

"Twilight, this safe is beautiful but we have nowhere to really put it."

"Open the safe up silly. The big surprise is inside."

Fluttershy picked the key gently off its ornate perch with her teeth and slid it into the keyhole. The top popped open immediately. Fluttershy and Zecora looked inside to find not only a reasonably large pile of bits but many scrolls along the far side of the chest. Zecora picked one up and unfurled it, reading aloud.

"The bearer of this scroll can exchange it for a home expansion of no more than one bedroom and one bathroom from the Flimflam brothers carpentry service."

"Huh I always wondered what happened to those two swindlers" Applejack said.

Bonbon And Lyra smiled at Zecora. "That one if from us, we hope you two have wonderful." Lyra lowered her voice to a barely audible whisper near Zecora "and kinky"

"Life together" The pair finished together.

Fluttershy picked up another scroll, this one with silver lining along the edges. Unfurling the document she read aloud.

"The bearer of this deed shall be granted no less than twenty acres of land around the ever free Forrest."

"That one was from granny smith. The apple family has owned that land for decades but didn't know what to do with it. I reckon Zecora knows what to do with it though."

Zecora smiled as she picked up another scroll. Unfurling it, she read aloud. "The bearer of this scroll shall receive no less than twenty cupcakes."

"Oh, Oh that one is from me!" Pinkie Pie yelled bouncing out of the kitchen, a horrified Bonbon behind her.

"What's wrong Bonbon?" Lyra asked.

"Pinkie said we all don't exist. That we are the product of a perverted author who has written us to all be lesbians so he can put up in steamy situations for his fanfic. She said that these strange monkey things; humans she called them, like masturbate to us doing said steamy things."

"Oh Bonbon, Humans don't exist. If they did we would have evidence of it."

"I saw it Lyra Pinkie held me outside of a black box, there was a bag of Doritos to the right and mountain dew cans everywhere on the left. A statue of Twilight Sparkle sat on top of the strange box above me." Lyra put a hoof around Bonbons shoulder.

"Nah, Pinkie prolly just spiked your cupcake. You're seeing things, that's all."

"I hope you are right Lyra...I hope you are right."

Zecora removed the last scroll from the golden chest and unfurled it. "This scroll represents a full scholarship to the Cloudsdale Flight Academy or Celestia's School for gifted Unicorns." Zecora looked at Rainbow Dash and Soarin, both of which has big grins on their faces. "This must be your doing correct?"

"Yeah it was us. We heard that Zebra's have magic and stuff but we wanted your foal to have options in the future. You know in case it has wings."

Zecora nodded curtly to Rainbow Dash. "There is one thing you must know however. Not all Zebra are born capable of doing magic. It is a rare gift that if usually only passed down from mother to foal, there are only maybe a dozen family lines in my homeland capable of such offspring. I do not know if our young-ling will be magic capable until it is a few years of age at the least."

"Oh, well. If push comes to shove that scroll IS refundable."

Fluttershy giggled to herself. "No, the gift is wonderful dash. Even if our foal can't fly or do magic we are still grateful for your gift." Fluttershy turned to the other ponies in the room. "We are grateful for all these gifts. I couldn't ask for better friends."

Zecora scanned the room, beaming faces everywhere. She couldn't of dreamed of such a turnout or that the love of her life, a shy Pegasus that came to her in heat would be the mother of their foal. She sat there watching the crowd contemplating all that has happened, all the pain and war, all the hate and injustice, all of that was over. All she had to do now was live a happy life with that shy mare that came to her with a problem..sooo many moons ago.

(Oh c'mon that was perfect ending and now you're cheeseing it up with badly written exp*gagging noises*)

(Enough booze for you for the night sugarcube. You and yer silly imaginary fourth wall.)

"Is the Ceremony prepared?" said a callous voice in the shadows.

"Yes my queen but we do not have enough POW's for the ritual. We may just have to settle on a weaker version."

"THERE WILL BE NO COMPROMISE!" the dark figure slammed her hoof hard into the ground. "Gather up a few soldiers and call them traitors if you need to."

"But my queen that would be traitorous to our..."

A beam of light struck the servant right in the chest, killing him instantly. "You, handmaiden take his seal, you are now top adviser. I suggest you follow my order unless you wish to share his fate."

The panicked mare grabbed the medallion of the sizzling zebras corpse and muttered "yes, your highness" in a squeaky tone as she ran down the halls to carry out the Queens order. "Tomorrow is the day I end this war. Tomorrow is the day I become the most powerful Shaman to ever live.

(mmmrp I am not drunk Mrrpp. I swear that author is using some terrible Disney cliche right now!)

(Sugarcube, have you been getting into derpies meds again?)

(I have no...well maybe just two or three but I swear I'm mmrrrp)

(For petes sake enough with the imaginary humans stuff. Sheesh.)