The CID officer steps out of the house, shaking his head, “You couldn’t leave any of them alive could you?”

The LT looks at him “Well there was the one Twilight kicked.”

“Broken spine and neck, remind me never to get kicked by her.” He chuckles.

Blaze looks up, “What about the one I shoulder checked?”

“How fast where you going when you hit him, he looks like he was hit by a car… crushed chest, broken collar bone, cracked skull.” The officer says, looking at his notebook. “And that’s what the coroner could see visibly.”

“Umm, maybe 50mph I guess.” Blaze says with a light laugh trying his best to look innocent.

“Well now we have a problem,” the police chief says, walking up, “I don’t know how safe the Hunters’ will be, we can provide a little police protection, but if they come back there could be trouble.”

“At least it now gives you a reason to arrest them at the compound.” The LT suggests, “Or court grounds to at least get a warrant for illegal weapons.”

“ATF and FBI are moving in today. Though they may try and go after Rebecca again.” The sheriff says.

“Oh NO, they are NOT driving us off our farm,” Ah-Pee’s dad says.

“The police can only provide limited protection.” The sheriff continues, “We’re undermanned, the best option is protective custody.”

“I’ve already called the boys, they’ll be here tonight, my brother and his kids should be here tomorrow, give us a few days and we’ll have a few dozen guns here. You do NOT attack us on our land.”

“You know I can’t support vigilante actions.” The sheriff turns to face Ah-Pee’s dad.

“This isn’t vigilante, we won’t go looking for them, but if they come here, we have every right to defend our home.” He states firmly.

“Ok ok, we would like to put Rebecca into custody though, if we can remove her, maybe we can defuse this.” The sheriff looks worriedly at her.

“My place is with my family.” Ah-pee says, looking sternly at the sheriff.

“How about this,” I chime in, “we’re on R&R for the next few days, staying over at a friend’s place, how about she come with us, we’ll be able to get back here in a hurry if needed, but she’ll be out of sight of the Army for now.”

The LT looks at the Sheriff and CID, “Not a bad idea, we can keep her safe, without making her feel like she’s in protective custody, at the same time you can get to work on the AoG’s.”

The sheriff shakes his head “What pisses me off is the FBI says we can’t release any information about the cause of this. They are afraid the public relations issue especially given the fact that this was over some animals, no offense ma’am, their words not mine.”

“Well, remember, the punishment for horse theft in these parts used to be hanging.” Ah-Pee chuckles. “So they can consider themselves lucky, otherwise I’d say hang them all.”

We all blink, looking at Ah-Pee.

“Well they can’t have it both ways, if I’m an animal then I’m a horse or pony, as such punishment was death by hanging, now it can be as much as 60 years in prison.” She crosses her forelegs, looking at the sheriff “So which way they go, they kidnapped me or stole a pony, either way, they face serious charges, and I think horse theft carriers the heavier penalties.”

The sheriff chuckles, “Ok, FBI and ATF are going to love that.”

Turning she trots inside, then comes out a few minutes later with a pair of saddle bags on, “Ok Twilee, let’s go and have some fun, since your all on vacation, I’ll see about cooking the boys up something special when we get where we’re going.”

I head for the driver’s door, “Great, I’ll drive.”

“No way Corporal, I’m still mad that you teleported upstairs, you are on light duties, meaning limited magic, no teleporting, and no extended use of other spells, meaning no driving.” Henry says.

Huffing once I got into the back, and was joined by Ah-Pee on one side, and blaze on the other.

“Oh come on lil’filly, you know they are just trying to keep you safe.” AP says with a laugh.

Blaze puts his wing over my back and looks at AP, “Lil’filly? You’ll say that but you won’t say sugarcube?”

“Look, Sugarcube is something the show made up, people in Texas don’t really talk like that.” She says, looking at Blaze sternly.

Looking back at the squad I giggle once, than I look at Blaze and narrow my eyes.

“Oh I know that look, what’s on your mind Twilight.” Blaze said.

“Well there’s 3 of us back here.” I say.

Ah-Pee looks confused, “So?”

“Got the move’s got the mojo,” I start smiling evilly.

Ah-pee tilts her head “No harder working ponies around.”

Blaze moans and covers his face with his other wing, “we are a trio, work as a team?”

Over Eric’s cry of agony up at the front of the van, all three of us pipe up at once “we’ll be the first ponies out on the flag waving scene.”

***

Volker growls into the phone “So where is she?”

“She was in early yesterday, but said she was feeling really sick, wanted to pay some bills then go home, she almost threw up on the floor of HR. She hasn’t called in yet today though.”

“Well can you send me a second temp, the one you have here can’t seem to find phone even under the pile of paperwork.” Volker is less than happy, if there is one thing his old secretary is good at, it is paperwork, and supply generates a lot of paperwork.

“I’ll see what we can do.” The HR rep said.

Sitting in his chair he sorts through the emails for today when his temp comes running in, panting “Found it, today’s flash traffic from the JCOS and Whitehouse. Top of the list, the Presidents backpedaled on his views on handling the pony problem." She stops and looks confused, "what pony problem?”

The Admiral takes the papers from her, “Running short of mules for use as pack animal in area’s such as Pakistan, Iraq and Afghanistan.” Volker says sternly, and sit down to read.

“Oh.” Turning, the secretary goes back to look for yesterday’s communications under the pile.

“And now he wants a live in peace with them, and his own daughters living there. I knew he didn’t have the will to do what was needed.” The Admiral says, shaking his head.

***

“Ok explain to me, you only saw the show once, and yet you knew the words to the songs by heart, how the heck is that possible.” The Lt asks.

“I have no idea, and it wasn’t cuz we sang it before, or heard it before…” Blaze says, shaking his head.

“Magic?” I say, getting out of the van.

“I think that’s your go to answer for everything now Twilight.” Henry says with a chuckle.

Ah-Pee shook her head “After my change I watched the series myself, just to see, IF we are to believe that the series is real, a snap shot of our lives, then would the music be real? Or was that just added as filler for the kids?”

Yiska stops in his tracks and looks back, “Twilight, you don’t speak Navajo right?”

I shake my head slowly.

“And Strawberry Sunrise and the Crystals didn’t speak it, yet, remember the medicine circle, they all picked up the chant?”

“You’ve got to be kidding me.” The LT says, “Music is instinctual?” The LT just starts to laugh.

Eric, on the other hand, just groans. “Great, a race of Mockingbirds, one starts singing and they all know the words.”

“Not mockingbirds.” Blaze says, rearing up and spreading his wings.

I took the hint and crouch in a mock charge, horn glowing, Ah-pee seeing both of us, moves up beside Blaze on the other side, going into a crouch head low snarling.

“Mockingjays,” Blaze says, then Henry does the whistle from the movie.

We all just collapse laughing, sometimes we need to do something like that to blow off the stress, and man we had stress all this week. Looking around, grandfather’s truck has already been delivered, and grandfather himself is standing on the porch smiling.

“I see the great spirits have kept you safe, and helped you find some peace.” He says.

Ah-Pee looks at me “Great spirits?”

“He’s helped me get a handle on my unicorn spells, and helped us learn about our history, so I give him the benefit of the doubt.” I say as I roll to a standing position. Glancing at the van, I pull out a small box of tobacco from my pouch and trot up, offering it to grandfather.

“You have rescued another friend I see?” He says, taking the box, “You have formed a wheel with her, a circle. We will see how strong at the fire tonight.”

“Ah what? A who?” Ah-Pee blinks, looking at Blaze.

“I don’t know most of the time either, and he’s my grandfather.” Blaze says, shaking his head.

Trotting inside, I go upstairs and get myself dressed again in my shorts and t-shirt before trotting down, bag over my back. At least I am dressed now, but honestly, walking around without clothing on isn’t that bad. Ponies didn’t wear clothing all the time I guess.

Walking out, I head down to the river, I take a seat under a tree leaning back against it, then take an apple out of my pack to eat. Relaxing, feeling the wind in my mane, playing with my ears, it’s hard to describe the peaceful moments like this. No cars, no guns, no stress, just a moment to sit and relax.

I watch the birds flying low over the water, a large trumpeter swan swims slowly in the river, tilting my head I watch it before tossing it a few pieces of apple to eat. The sound of hoof beats announces the approach of another pony.

Sitting beside me Ah-Pee smiles, “hiding?”

“Resting,” I say softly, “and thinking.”

Adjusting her bandana around her neck Ah-Pee sits beside me, back against the tree, half laying backwards she looks out at the river. “Cute outfit, didn’t know they made PT gear for ponies.”

“Yeah, found it at the PX, apparently with a few ponies there, they opted to try and treat us with some dignity.” I say, offering her an apple.

“That’s the hard part, getting looked at or treated as an animal.” Ah-Pee bites into the apple, holding it between her forelegs. “If it’s just me, just my family, I guess just me and other ponies like you, I don’t seem to mind or even consider myself different.”

“I love being a pony, I know it is what I’m supposed to be, but it more than that, now it just feels so natural and normal, it hard to think of walking on 2 legs again.” I say, tossing the swan another bite.

“How about the mare part,” Ah-Pee says, taking another bite out of the apple, “does it feel natural?”

“Yeah, I guess, it’s just, I get confused.” Looking over at Ah-Pee I sigh, I don’t know why but she’s easy to open up to, “it still doesn’t feel real at times, and other times it’s to real, going into the girls bathroom just felt strange.”

“Every woman, every mare, is different, we don’t all like or want the same things. We do get confused, trying to figure out what we want to do, its normal. I’m not going to say forget that you were a guy, that’s not possible or fair to you, all I’m going to say is be yourself. Don’t let other’s tell you that you have to act like this or that.” Ah-Pee says and poked my nose with her hoof. “Look at me, I grew up scrapping with my brothers and shooting, pretty much a tom boy but I still go into the girls bathroom.”

I giggle softly at that one, “Ok I get it.” Leaning over I give her a gentle hug.

Hugging back she smiles, “Good, cuz you’d look really silly going into the boys bathroom, and trying to fiddle with your pony tail there.”

“Hey, I like the ponytail I don’t know why but I do. I know it’s not the style in the show but being active, a free mane kind of gets blown around.”

Looking up at her green mane she giggles “Mine just sort of poofs up like that unless it gets wet, so it’s generally out of my way. I probably have enough that I could braid it or such, but for now, this works.”

Above us a tree branch creaks. I look up to see Blaze lying on a thick branch watching us. “Hi Rainbow.”

“Hi girls, hope I’m not interrupting, whatcha talking about?”

“Mane styles, makeovers, pony tail verses perm, you want in?” Ah-Pee says, smiling. “We could probably figure out something to do with your mane.”

“Ugh, no thanks, I didn’t even think Twilight was into that.” Blaze says, sitting up. “Hey Ah-Pee, you know about horses right?

Ah-Pee nods looking up at the blue pegasus, “Yep, grew up with them all my life.”

“Yeah grandfather tried to get me to understand them when I was growing up, to build a tie to them. Sometimes I wish I did… but how often do they come into heat?” Blaze asks, tilting his head.

“Generally every 4 to 10 days every out of 28 days, they are long day breeders, spring summer and slowing down in fall. Why?”

I let out a small whimper at that. “4 to 10 out of every 28?”

Looking at me she blinks then looks up at Blaze and gives the tree a solid buck knocking him right off his perch. “Blaze you idiot,” she snarls.

Catching himself midair Blaze takes off quickly, “I was just asking for my benefit.” He says, escaping Ah-Pee's wrath.

Sitting back down, Ah-Pee puts her head over mine and hugs me gently. “It’s nothing to worry about or fear, it’s part of being female, and every girl gets a little scared about it in their lives. First we're not animals and we're not horses, so it’s likely not going to affect us as much. Second you’ll have me to help you through it. It’s something we can work though and figure out together.”

I nod slowly, and take a breath, “Just when I think it’s over.”

“Let’s change this subject, though remind me next time we see Blaze, I have to explain to him what a gelding is.” She looked sternly in the direction he flew.

“So what do you want to talk about then?” I hoped she has something else we can concentrate on.

“This medicine thing, what is it?” She sits back down beside me, asking.

“I’m not sure, it’s a sort of a fire, with chanting and drums and such, Native American but... us ponies keep having visions there.” I shake my head, “I don’t understand it myself but, it seems to bring out our magic.”

“You mean your magic?” She said.

“No our, pegasi, unicorns, earth ponies all have their own magic. It comes from deep inside of us, some pegasus can control it enough to change or affect the weather, but even small things like forming clouds and laying on them… earth ponies use their magic to increase their strength, stamina, as well as affecting the ground making plants grow faster even in bad soil.” I say.

“Well that explains why I can out pull a horse that’s 4 times heavier than me.” She says.

“I think unicorns are high magic, with magic in their horns, pegasus are middle magic, with magic in their wings, and ponies are low magic, with their focus being their hooves.” I say, getting up, “Let’s go, grandfather should be waiting for us.”

Moving up beside me she leans her shoulder against mine, “Should I be bringing popcorn or something?”

I start giggling again. “No, no, just bring yourself, but thanks for that one.”

We walk slowly towards where the medicine fire is usually set up giggling as we go until we spot Blaze flying in. Quickly he lands on one side of me, and all of a sudden I feel like I am being used as a shield.

Ah-Pee leans her head forward, looking around in front of me at him “Our next lesson will be on geldings.” She says.

“Hey, hey, I was asking for my benefit, to know if I needed to avoid you or something.” He says, looking over my back at Ah-Pee.

“Well you could have had more tact about it, you know how Twilie is about these things.” I blink, looking back and forth if this keeps up much longer I felt like my eyes will derp or something.

“What should I have done, waited till you were alone?” He asks, shaking his wings a bit.

“Yes, that would have been the smart thing to do.” Ah-Pee snorts.

“Look, Twilie’s my best friend, I would never do anything to hurt her on purpose, and never want to see her get hurt. I may say stupid things, or tease her, but I’d never hurt her.” He says, scowling at Ah-Pee.

I just stop and watch them keep walking in front of me, sitting down I mumble “Man, I wish she'd brought the popcorn now.”

“If she’s that important, think first before you ask something like that.” Ah-Pee stomps her hoof.

“When did you become her protector, I did just fine keeping her safe before you showed up.” He snorts.

Looking between the two I blinked a few times. Apple family will meets rainbow family ego. Shaking my head I clear my throat.

“Wait, are you actually jealous of me spending time with her?” Ah-Pee looks at him blinking.

“I don’t know, I guess... I lost her once before to Night Light because I was stupid, I don’t want to see her get hurt again.” He says.

“Who the heck is Night Light,” Ah-Pee says, looking at him seriously.

Stomping his hoof, he shakes his head “I have no idea! And that’s what makes this…”

“Night Light is, or was, my husband. He’s Twilight Sparkle's and Shining Armor’s father. The problem is, past that I don’t know who he is really, and I don’t know anything about us. I look at his picture and feel nothing. Discords curse wiped him from my mind.” I say.

That was enough to get both of them blushing, apparently they forgot about me while arguing about me. Walking up between them again I give Blaze a nuzzle “You're my oldest friend Blaze, and nothing’s going to stop that, I trust you with my life, and I always know you have my back.”

Looking at Ah-Pee I give her a nuzzle, “You and I have a connection that goes back, I feel like I can talk to you about anything, I don’t want you two fighting with each other. Cuz that hurts me more than either of you think.”

Looking at each other Blaze and Ah-Pee both huff. Picking up the pace a little I trot up to the fire and gulp.

Grandfather sits at the head of the fire again with his rattle, there are 4 drummers there this time. each with a handmade drum, crafted with beads on them. There are also several masked men that stand up. Most of the masks are terrifying, completely or nearly completely faceless, with no features of man or creature. Four of them, however. are different, their costume and style is more brightly colored, and they wear animal masks. A great stag, a raven, a horse, and another bird... a crane maybe, all I can tell was it has a long beak.

Blaze leans forward, whispering, “Hopi? Why are they here? Kachina Spirits are Hopi, I’ve only seen them once when I was little at a mixed nations meet in Flagstaff.”

A younger man quickly moves us to the fire, sitting Blaze across from his grandfather, Ah-Pee and I are sat facing each other. I sit and watch the rest of our squad get sat in the circle too, spaced between us around the fire.

The drummers start their beat, Grandfather start his chant, quickly picked up by the other singers. The dancers began stomping the ground slow at first, but building up to faster movements, I notice the two different styles of dance right away, between the faceless Navajo, who move around using what look like canes to make their movements look four legged at times, and the Hopi dancers who are faster and more mobile.

Ah-pee across from me is stomping her hooves in time with the drum beats causing sparks to rise, lost in the flames, looking over at Blaze I can see his wings spread wide, eyes closed as he chants, sounds of the dancers surrounded me and again I can feel pressure building behind my horn, getting stronger with every step.

Looking down in the fire I find myself beginning to chant as well, even though I don’t know the words, the music flows over me and through me as it seems to be doing with the others. In the fire I can see a pair of great wings rising, taking form is the princesses head and horn, a great white mare of fire, and sun. Her rainbow mane flowing behind her as she rises up, wings spread wide, horn glowing, pulling the fire up with her.

Grandfather taps his rattle in time with the music throwing some herbs into the fire, causing it to flash even brighter, the image of Princess Celestia looking down at us, towering over us, her wings going to their full length making the bonfire seem massive. The flashes of images, of Twilight asking Blaze why he didn’t choose her. Of Twilight cuddled in Ah-Pee’s forelegs crying in a bedroom. Images of Ah-Pee and Blaze yelling at each other outside Twilights house, all could be seen in Celestia’s wings.

The image explodes into a laughing Discord, arms spread wide yelling out “Your mind shall be weak, your outlooks bleak! Forgetting everything and living like a fool!” Discord’s laughter filled the air but is quickly drowned out by the screech of a great eagle. The image of a great bird swirling in the fire, followed by a raven drawing the flames into a tornado… All around us the thunder of hooves can be felt, and the fire withdraws back down, the image of King Aspen and Prince Haakim standing proud and true, both in their armor as the image of Discord is driven off.

With one last handful of herbs, the fire subsides. I sit for a long moment, panting hard, trying to figure out what I saw. Grandfather stands, speaking first in Navajo, then in English as he looks down at us.

“The spirit of the sun, that brings life and light, that fights back the frost. The great bird and animal spirits, we honor and thank them for their gifts and help. This was a healing ceremony, one met to bring the restoration of harmony with the supernatural spirits, with the aid from the Yei, we have sought to return balance.”

The LT looked at me blinking “Was that Celestia and Discord?”

“You saw them too?” Ah-Pee says, blinking.

Looking over I see Blaze’s head low, tears on his cheek and muzzle, looking up at me all he can muster is a weak “I’m sorry, I have stayed closer to you.”

***

“We can’t let this go unanswered.” Slamming his fists on the table the young man stands up, “These ponies are an abomination to God.”

“Easy Edward, we won’t let it stand, we have to take our time though, the ATF and FBI are circling, and eight of our brothers are dead because of those creatures.” The older man says evenly. “They will be avenged though, there are other places that have ponies, we could strike there.”

Several men stand around the room, the large table, and dim lighting gave it the appearance of a bunker, though most tornado shelters could be considered bunkers of a sort. The maps on the wall were fairly blank though a few pins are there. LA, Los Vegas, and Gallup are pinned.

Edward paces “The sooner these creatures are gone, the better the world will be.”

“But if we act too fast, we could cause public outcry against us.” The older man says.

“Then we bide our time, but we will strike back, and next time it won’t be trying to capture, it will be to kill, to exterminate. These animals need to be culled.”

Walking over to the map the older man picks up a pin, “And we will strike, where there are a group of them, when we are ready.” He says, putting a black pin into the map. “We will hit them where they live.”

***

Blaze is lying in the grass by the river, ears drooping, eyes focused on the water. Trotting up slowly, I sigh and lay beside him, leaning into him just so we touch, hoping physical contact will help a bit

.

“I keep having flashes of hurting you, and I can’t stand thinking of causing you pain.” Blaze says softly.

“Rainbow, try thinking of it this way, if you hadn’t, then Sparkle and Dash would never have been born, and how many times did those two save the world?” I say with a weak smile. “Maybe it was destiny that we not be together, for the sake of the world.”

“That’s not fair.”

“Fair is vague at times, and that was 40 years ago or more.” I say, “We're friends again, and I’m here for you.”

“And what about Night Light?” Blaze asks.

“I still don’t remember him, don’t know him, maybe someday it will come back to me.” I say softly, then gently lick Blazes ear, “but that won’t stop us from being us.”

“Twilight, if I were to ask you out on a date, what would you say?”

“If it’s just a date, I’d say yes. I still have a lot to come to terms with about myself, but I like spending time with you. Kissing, making out, other things, I’d be saying no to but not because of you, or Night Light, or anything like that, but more to do with me.” I say with a huff. “One thing I do know, do remember though, is I think you’re cute.”

Blaze blinked a few times, “Cute?”

“I know, I think a stallion’s cute… I’m that far gone.” I say with a sigh.

Ah-Pee trots over, lying down beside Blaze and giving him a nuzzle. “Sorry Rainbow.”

Blaze blinks “Yeah, apparently us fighting goes way back.”

“I think we were friends, just things went wrong and never got resolved properly.” Ah-pee said.

I give a light chuckle “Yeah, it took Discord to fix our friendship.”