Trixie’s felt her jaw ache as her teeth continued to give off an audible chatter. Her breath came out in clouds as she, Wanderer, Tourmaline, and Tormod walked through the fog-enshrouded forest. Having seen frost on the dried grass this morning, she had wanted nothing more than to curl up in her bedroll, hunched next to a large campfire.

“Trixie is freezing out here!” she said as she rubbed at her shoulders. “Why did we leave the village when we could be keeping warm next to a fire and some hot soup?”

“Because we promised the Elder we’d go scouting this part of the woods today,” Tourmaline said, her own breath misting. “And you volunteered, remember?”

Trixie grumbled as she tugged her hat lower, wishing she still had her cape. “Trixie is beginning to think it wasn’t the best idea.”

Tormod’s ears flicked as he looked off into the woods. “I wasn’t expecting it to be this cold either.” He gave his sister a sly glance. “And here I would have thought our resident pegasus would’ve seen it coming and gave us some warning.”

A small, almost dog-like growl escaped past Tourmaline’s teeth. “Just because I’m a pegasus, doesn’t mean I know everything the weather is gonna do.” She gave her brother a glare, even if a playful smirk pulled at her lips. “And here I’d thought the all-powerful unicorn could just make the sun brighter and keep us all nice and toasty.”

“And have Princess Celestia have me do it everyday for the rest of my life? You’re funny, feather brain.”

“Horn head.”

Trixie shook her head at the otherwise offensive term as the two siblings shared a laugh. A smile played at her own lips as it seemed her companion’s spirits had returned to them. It felt like it had been forever since she last saw them poking fun at each other and enjoying themselves. They were almost like their old selves when their adventure started… before everything happened.

Before she could let that train of thought take hold, Wanderer piped up. “Well, if you ask me—”

“Which we’re not,” Tourmaline snarked.

“Gonna tell ya anyway,” Wanderer fired right back as he smiled at her. “I love the cold. It feels so refreshing to be out enjoying the weather like this. The crispness of the air, how fresh it tastes, I love it.”

Trixie felt her jaw drop. “How can you be enjoying this?” Trixie asked, her tone reaching an octave higher. “Trixie is freezing!”

“He’s been like that for as long as I can remember,” Tormod said as he walked beside her. “Even when I’m needing a jacket, scarf, and boots—and still freezing my tail off—he walks around with maybe a scarf on and is perfectly fine.”

“It’s infuriating,” Tourmaline added, giving the earth pony a glower.

Wanderer’s smirk took a smug turn even as he continued to prance along. “All I hear is jealousy.”

“Shall we talk about when it gets hot and humid, Wanderer?” Tourmaline asked, her tone practically dripping honey. “And about how much you moan and whine about how hot and unbearable it is? Not to mention how much you—”

“It’s not my fault I sweat,” he interrupted, jabbing a hoof at her.

“Pour is more like it,” Tormod said, nodding sagely.

“Run, maybe?” Tourmaline debated, a wisp of a smile on her face.

“I’m surrounded by comedians.” Wanderer grumbled and kept walking. “Come on, Trixie, before their bad sense of humor rubs off on you.”

Trixie chuckled and the three continued on their way. As they walked, Trixie felt her focus slipping inward. The chatter between the three fell away to background noise as she recalled the latest lesson she, Tormod, and Faith had sat through with the Elder. A soft frown tugged at her face as memories of their discussion filtered through her mind.

“Tormod, do you remember the other night when the Elder told us about the Gorgon and the Great Mother?” she asked in a low tone.

He looked over at her, an ear flicking as he leaned in closer. “The history lesson or the one about the Spirits?”

“Both,” she said. “I think that there’s some connection between the Great Mother and the Gorgon, and I don’t think it is just because they’re enemies. Something about how the Elder was explaining it seemed off.”

Her friend pursed his lip a moment before asking, “Tell me what you’re thinking?”

Tugging her hat lower as a breeze threatened to knock it from its perch, she said, “You know how the Gorgon is the Spirit of Disease?” She made a face and stuck her tongue out. “More like the Spirit of Death if you ask me.”

“And I don’t think you’re wrong either,” Tormod said, his own brow furrowing.

“The Elder said that she and the Great Mother have been fighting for centuries, doesn’t it make sense that the Great Mother is also a Spirit?”

A thoughtful frown pulled at his lips as he considered the question. “I… don’t know. It does make sense when you put it that way, but why would a Spirit take the form of a giant tree? Why not something else more… mobile?”

“Maybe it’s because she’s the opposite of the Gorgon. She’s supposed to be a spirit of disease or death, maybe the Mother is the spirit of health or—”

“Life?”

“Exactly what Trixie was thinking,” she said as she ducked under a low-hanging branch.

Humming, he hopped over a down tree before speaking. “We can always ask the Elder when he teaches us next. We still have a month before the solstice, so we have plenty of time.”

“What’re are you two talking about back there?” Wanderer asked them, looking at them from over his shoulder.

“Just discussing the history lesson the Elder gave us,” Tormod called ahead.

“Mind sharing? I’d like to hear it.”

After Trixie and Tormod finished telling the other two their ideas, Wanderer rubbed at his chin, a pensive frown on his face. “You might be onto something. It makes a lot of sense,” he said as he adjusted his hat and looked off into the trees. “It could mean that we’ve living under the shade of a Spirit most of our lives.”

Tourmaline tilted her head as she looked at the forest canopy above. “Life and Death, Order and Chaos, I wonder if there are any other spirits out there we don’t know about?”

Tormod shrugged. “There might be. Lets just hope they’re not causing any trouble. I think Tyranny, Discord, and the Gorgon are enough as it is.”

“You’re not wrong,” Wanderer muttered. “If they do, I’m sure the Princesses and the Elements of Harmony will take care of them.”

Trixie snorted, the idea of Twilight and her band of friends once again saving Equestria from certain doom caused a small wave of jealousy to rush through her. That wave couldn’t take hold, however, as she realized it wouldn’t be Twilight and her friends saving the day this time. It was going to be the Great and Powerful Trixie and her friends who were going to save Equestria; she intended to make sure everypony knew it once they got home.

A sudden gust had her shivering and rubbing at her legs again. ‘If Trixie doesn’t freeze to death before hoof!’

Tourmaline shuddered and flapped her wings faster to keep them warm. “C’mon. Let’s finish what we’re doing so we can get back and warm up.”

They shared a nod and the four continued on their path. As Trixie walked beside Tormod, she caught herself wondering how her wagon was doing. She had left it behind at Wanderer’s home, and he swore that his mother would look after it and make sure it was safe, but she could help but wonder if she also kept it up for her. She’d have to make sure the axles were still oiled, otherwise they had a habit of locking up if they weren’t moved on the occasion.

A sigh escaped her as she thought back to that small little space she called her own and found herself missing it. Her bed that was just the right amount of comfort, her storage chest that had all her props and various knick knacks, and the one armoire that held the few other outfits she kept for special occasions, all of which she wished she could see again.

As much as she wanted to return to her beloved wagon, she felt a smile grow as she considered her surroundings. Despite all the turmoil she personally had endured, the more she thought on it, the more she realized she no longer regretted her choice to stay. Her father had spent many nights reading to her as a filly. Stories of grand adventure, his own magic shows, and other things like that, and she had always imagined herself in the place of the heroes in those stories.

A smile spread across her face as she realized she had done exactly that. Not only had she become a famous stage magician like her dad, but here she was being a hero in an adventure herself. True, she shared the later stage with a trio of friends she had made, but, ultimately, she found it better that way.

Her gaze shifted to Tourmaline, and she felt her smile slip. ‘Two friends and an… acquaintance is more like it.’ Her glare hardened before she had to look away from the pegasus. ‘No, not even that.’

Finally—after only having to backtrack once due to Wanderer’s errant sense of direction—they came to the outcropping of stone that they had chosen to be their destination. The trees had thinned as the elevation turned hilly again, and she was glad to get an open view of the sky. She did, however, eye some of the stones that jutted from the ground.

‘I swear to Celestia if they move on me again, Trixie is out of here.’

“Well, here we are,” Wanderer said as he looked around. “At least we can say our trip was boring if anything.”

“Other than you getting lost,” Tormod said, rolling his eyes. “Even so, we’d better take a look around. Cold as it is, I’d rather do a better job of scouting than showing up and leaving again.”

Wanderer glowered at him, even if he smirked at the same time. “Spoilsport.” He looked around before gazing up at the stones that towered above them. “I can get a good view from up there and have a look around.”

Tourmaline raised an eyebrow at him. “Ooor… I can just fly up and look around. It’d be easier,” A teasing smirk pulled at her face. “And wouldn’t take near as long as waiting for you to scramble up there.”

“Is it pick-on-Wanderer Day or something? You guys are merciless,” the earth pony muttered even as the other three had a chuckle at him. “No, I’m going to climb up and look around. I want to stretch my legs for a change.”

Trixie looked up at the stones as well and shuddered. “Well, Trixie isn’t about to climb up there herself. She’ll wait down here, out of the wind.”

“I like her idea,” Tormod said as he eased himself on the ground before looking back at Wanderer. “Don’t slip and fall from up there, I’d laugh watching you bounce.”

Trixie was sure what Wanderer muttered wasn’t anything kind or flattering as he turned to the cliffside. Spotting a few places where the rocks jutted out, the earth pony leapt from one to the other as he scaled the cliff. Watching him jump, Trixie shook her head as it didn’t seem to wind him at all.

“Sometimes, Trixie envies how earth ponies never seem to get tired. If I tried to do the same thing, my legs would be sore for weeks.”

Tourmaline watched as Wanderer finally made it to the top and looked around from his perch. “It’s frustrating, I agree, but that energy of his is one of the reasons we never quit adventuring. Every time we wanted to call it quits, Wanderer was the one there cheering us on and helping us along.”

“Just like when we were foals,” Tormod said, also watching the earth pony as he kept a hoof on his hat to keep it from flying. “If it wasn’t for Wanderer, we wouldn’t have done even a part of the things we’ve done. He’s always looked out for us like that.”

A warmer smile played across Tourmaline’s face. “And he still does, despite all the teasing we give him.”

Trixie turned from watching them to see Wanderer make his way back down the cliff side. As she did, she realized that Wanderer had done much the same thing for her as he did for his two best friends. He had always looked out for her, even from day one. He helped her with adjusting to camp life, to keeping with her when she struggled, to support her even when he was at his lowest. A smile tugged at the corner of her lips as she realized that there was more to this pony than the light-hearted, easy-going personality he constantly wore.

“Did you see anything up there?” she asked as he landed near to them.

With an absolute straight face, he said, “I saw trees.”

Trixie felt an eye twitch even as Tormod pinched at his forehead. “Oh, dear Celestia....”

Wanderer laughed and only laughed the harder as he hopped away from Tourmaline as she tried to whap him upside the head. “Come on. You guys had that coming.”

“You’re insufferable,” Tourmaline growled at him.

He smiled wider. “I think you mean ‘adorable’.”

“No, Trixie thinks she had it right,” she said as she shook her head. “Now we can go back to village and warm up, Trixie thinks it will be lunch time when we get there.”

“Something warm does sound good,” Wanderer said as he rested a hoof on his belly as it gave off a growl. “Let’s get going, shall we?”

Before they could turn, something white lazily drifted from the sky to land squarely on Wanderer’s nose. His eyes crossed before he shook his head, sniffing. “What in the world?”

They looked up as more soft, wet flakes fell from the sky.

“Snow. Of course it would snow while we’re out here,” Tormod grumbled before glancing at his sister. “Can’t you do anything about it?”

She glowered at him. “You know as well as I do that the weather around here doesn’t listen to us pegasi. I’m lucky if I can get the fog to clear when we want it to.”

Tormod sighed. “Fair enough. My shoulder aches when it rains, and it’s starting to now with the snow.”

She hummed even as the flakes started clinging to her mane. “Let’s go then.”

As they turned to go, Trixie’s eyes widened as she stared up at the overcast. “Umm… everypony, what is that?”

They whirled at her tone and followed her gaze back up, and Trixie shuddered at they gasped. “Sweet Celestia…” Tourmaline whispered.

Above, Trixie saw countless birds flying across the sky. Anywhere from small songbirds to massive birds bigger than she was darted across the sky. All of them flapping their wings frantically as they flew towards the Mother Oak.

“There’s so many…” Wanderer breathed as he stared up at the sky.

“Even the Great Hawks are up there and they never move far from their nests,” Tourmaline said as the air grew louder with shrill squawks and cries.

“What in the world could’ve possibly driven them away?”

The four gave startled yelps as a family of rabbits scurried past them, followed soon by a mother fox and her pups. Looking around, Trixie could see many other animals rushing away in the same direction as the birds.

“What is going on?” Trixie yelled as she hunkered down as more animals fled past them.

“Tourmaline!”

Wanderer didn’t have to bother as the pegasus flew up to the air. Giving the birds—especially the hawks—a wide breadth, she narrowed her eyes in the direction they all came from. “There’s something moving over there, I can see the trees shake.”

“Check it out but—”

“Don’t risk it, I know,” she deadpanned before speeding away.

Wanderer grumbled even as he stared after her. “I swear she does that on purpose.”

Before Trixie could make comment, she blinked as Tourmaline jerked to a stop midair. She hovered in the air only for a moment before turning back. The pegasus flapped her wings frantically as she screamed at them.

“Run! They’re coming!”

“Tourmaline, what is it!” her brother called, his eyes wide at her panic.

“Who?” Wanderer shouted before he and the other two land-based ponies yelped as the ground rumbled beneath them.

Trixie stumbled and fell to the ground with a grunt. Pushing herself up, her ears stood erect as the sounds of chitinous screeches reached them. Her breath caught as she felt as if something had reached inside her chest and grabbed her heart with cold hooves.

“Oh no!”

“Beetles! Everypony, run!” Wanderer cried as he turned to run.

“Wanderer, stop!” Tormod yelled, using his magic to catch his friend by the tail.

The earth pony jerked to a stop. “What?!”

“This way!”

Wanderer blinked before scowling. “Right. Go!”

Trixie found herself galloping beside her friends as they tore through the forest. Fallen leaves, twigs, and freshly-fallen snow churning underhoof as the screeching of the beetles drove her to run even faster. They ran alongside woodland animals in their panic as the monstrous horde pursued them.

“Just how many are there?” Trixie asked as she jumped a fallen tree.

“I don’t know,” Tourmaline shouted as she flew alongside them, casting frequent glances over her shoulder. “All I know is there were more than I could quickly count, and they’re all heading for the big tree!”

Wanderer ducked his head as he plowed through a low hanging branch. “We’ve gotta warn the village.” Looking at Tourmaline, he said, “Fly ahead and let the deer know. Maybe they can stop them before they reach the village.”

Tourmaline’s expression bordered between outrage and worry. “I’m not leaving you guys!”

“We can outrun the beetles, Tourmaline, get the Elder and Faith so we can stop this.”

“Don’t worry about us. We’ll be right behind you,” Tormod said even as a grimace crossed his face.

Tourmaline gritted her teeth as she looked between them with worried eyes before frowning. “Fine! But don’t you dare do anything stupid like try to hold them off! I’ll kill you myself if you do!”

The three only ran faster as the pegasus flapped her wings and shot ahead of them—disappearing into the swirling snow.

As Trixie ran, she found herself gulping for air as he legs burned. Why did they have to go so far out from the village in the first place!

“W-Wanderer, I’ve got to stop,” she heard Tormod say. The pain in his tone had her looking at him with worried eyes. “My leg, I can’t keep running.”

Wanderer looked back at his friend. “Come on, Tormod, we’re almost there.”

“I can’t. My leg’s—” He screamed in pain before tumbling through the loam.

“Tormod!” Both she and Wanderer shouted, skidding to a stop.

Trixie rushed to his side, a cold feeling gripping her belly as she saw her friend hold his shoulder, his visage twisted in agonizing pain. “Tormod, are you all right?”

He hissed as he tried to get back up on his hooves. “My shoulder’s burning. I can’t walk on it.”

Wanderer looked past them as the sounds of the beetles grew louder. “We can’t stay here. They’ll catch us at this rate.”

Tormod pushed him away. “Go! I’ll be—”

Even Trixie cringed at the scowl that crossed the earth pony’s face. “Shut up, Tormod!” He looked at Trixie. “Help me get him on my back, I’ll carry him.”

Before Tormod could protest, Trixie slapped a hoof over his mouth. “Trixie agrees. We’ve got to go.” This time, she scowled at him. “Trixie’s not leaving her friends behind.”

As Wanderer kneeled, Trixie’s horn lit to help place the other unicorn on his back. Once he was in place, they all turned as a tree crashed to the ground behind them.

“Go!” They shouted in unison, Wanderer and Trixie taking off as fast as they could.

As they ran, Trixie used her magic to keep Tormod safely on Wanderer’s back. Casting a look over her shoulder, she could see numerous forms lurching through the fog after them. Their screeching setting her teeth on edge.

“They just don’t give up!” she heard Wanderer say, the earth pony daring a look behind him as well.

“It’s like they being driven by something,” Trixie shouted, ducking under a low-hanging branch. “Are we sure they’re not being chased by something too?”

“Not slowing down to find out,” he said as the two rounded a large, fallen tree. “We get to the village and the deer will deal with them.”

“Down!”

Reacting to the shout, the two of them dove to the ground and a flurry of spears sailed out. The screeching of the beetles took a shriller edge as the first few fell to the onslaught.

Trixie was there to help Tormod up even as Tourmaline flew in, joined quickly by Faith and a number of the deer warriors.

“Thank the Mother you are all well,” Faith said, as the deer rushed ahead to engage the monsters. “I had feared we would not have made it in time.”

“We were managing,” Wanderer said as he got back to his hooves, accepting his hat back from Tourmaline. “Can we fight them here?”

Faith looked back at the fight and a worried frown crossed her face. “No, we cannot. Our Elder wanted us to get you back so we can make a stand at Maederhallow. Quickly, help Tormod so we can flee.”

“Right,” Wanderer and Tourmaline said in unison.

As Trixie helped lift Tormod again, Faith lifted her voice to shout, “Adaziiwa, mutt juks! Juks ci Vualazcuttif!”

As they ran, Trixie looked back to see the deer break off from their fight—one unfortunate buck being pulled under as he turned—and joined them in their retreat.

“Faith, what are going to do?” Trixie asked as they fled from the pursuing beetle horde.

“The Elder wants us all to gather outside the Great Mother, she will protect us,” the doe said as she bounded beside her friends. “We will muster and drive them from our home.”

“What about the kids? They can’t fight those things,” Tourmaline asked, even as they managed to put some distance from the beetles.

“They are being rushed to the Great Mother. She will protect them.” Faith looked back and urged them on. “Come! We are almost there!”

Trixie lowered her head and gave a boost of speed. Knowing that safety was just ahead drove her past the ache in her legs.

Clearing the trees, the Great Mother and the village of Maederhallow came into view. She could see the deer had taken up weapons and watched the trees with a grim determination. Even as they made it past the protective ring of warriors, Trixie knew that the deer would never give up an inch of their home without a fight.

As they made the village square, Trixie saw the Elder bound towards them—his usual calm visage replaced by a deep frown. “Faith, have they all returned?”

“Only one of ours did not, Elder, he was taken before he could join the retreat,” she said, as she helped the hissing Tormod off of Wanderer’s back.

His frowned turned to a scowl and his gaze darted to the treeline as the screeching grew louder. “He will be avenged.” He started towards the ring of warriors before glancing back. “Catch your breath, Faithful Watcher, then join me at the front. We will see that Gorgon will be without minions when this day is done.”

As Trixie watched him go, she felt a chill run down her spine. While the Elder had never shown anger before, the apparent calm he wore seemed more unnerving than if he had flown into a rage.

She looked back as Tormod got to his hooves, his injured leg quivering as he put his weight on it. “Let’s go, everypony. They’re going to need all the help they can get.”

Wanderer tugged his hat lower, his own visage set. “I’m running back to our camp for a moment, gonna need something,” he said. Not waiting for a reply, he turned and thundered down the lane for their camp.

Trixie shivered as the screeching grew louder. “They’re getting close. Can we really fight them all?”

Tourmaline gathered another spear from a collection the deer had left, hefting it a few times with her front hooves. “Do we have a choice? This isn’t just some hit and run. As many as I saw, I’m sure the beetles mean to wipe out the village.”

“I’m surprised Harbinger hadn’t tried this earlier,” Tormod said. “Leaving the village alone to prepare seemed a mistake, my guess is they realized it and sent the beetles after us.”

Tourmaline hummed and tucked the spear under a wing, just in time for Wanderer to come galloping back. Trixie could see that he now wore a one of the timberwolf claw weapons on his right front leg.

“Now to see if all that training we did comes in handy,” he said, turning towards the village outskirts where the Elder was addressing his people. “Come on, Tourmaline, let’s go help.”

Taking in a shuddering breath, Trixie put her fear into the back of her mind and stood taller. “Trixie is coming to help.”

“Are you sure you’re ready for this?” Wanderer asked, concern making its way into his tone. “We really don’t have many places to go if we have to.”

“Trixie knows, and if it comes to it, she’ll join her friends in getting to safety at the Mother Oak.” A confident smile spread across her face. “The Great and Powerful Trixie will show everyone that she is the Great and Powerful Trixie firsthoof!”

A frown pulled at Tourmaline’s face. “This isn’t the time for showboating, Trixie, this is a fight for life and death.” Her scowl deepened. “Don’t you do anything that will put us at risk again.”

Trixie held her chin higher. “Trixie has learned. She will prove it.”

“Good,” Tormod said as he gingerly put weight on his leg again. “Let’s go.”

Tourmaline turned a worried look his way. “Are you—”

“Shut it, Tourmaline,” Tormod said, a rare hardness to his tone. “I am not staying behind this time.”

Even as she tried to protest, he shoved past her and Wanderer. The two shared a look before following after him. Walking behind them, Trixie was sure the two were worried about him, but even she knew that the unicorn was not going to be talked out of it.

She blinked as Tourmaline lagged behind to walk beside her. Feeling the fur along her spine start to stand, she expected the pegasus to threaten her again.

“Trixie,” she whispered.

“What?” she all but snapped.

“Do me a favor,” Tourmaline said, turning a look her way and Trixie blinked as she saw worry in her eyes. “If this goes badly, please get my brother to safety. I can fight better knowing that someone will be there for him.”

Trixie looked at the unicorn as he lead them to the gathering of deer and nodded. “Trixie promises.”

“I’m holding you to it… Thank you,” she said as if an afterthought.

Trixie watched after as she took to the air, her brow furrowing. Was that Tourmaline trying to be nice? She shook her head, now wasn’t the time for that.

Standing beside Wanderer and Tormod, they turned as the Elder continued speaking.

“My brothers and sisters of the White Tail, the Gorgon and her Harbinger think to eliminate us so that they can ensure her release,” Faith translated for them as she stood by her grandfather’s side. “She sends the creatures she has corrupted to wipe us out, which shows how truly desperate she is.” His gaze swept over the gathering as every buck, doe, and pony watched him with rapt attention. “But today, the White Tail will survive. The White Tail will live on as we always have. Our enemies have tried to end our lives before and they will have no more success today than any day in the past.”

A few glances were spared towards the ponies, but few of them held hostility.

“Today, we will render the Gorgon defenseless. Her minions will learn what it means to truly rile the White Tail and, when she realizes she will never seen freedom again, we will celebrate our victory even as she wails with despair! The White Tale will prevail! We are the Great Mother’s children! The day will be ours!”

Trixie grit her teeth, her ears pressing against her head at the sheer volume of the cheer the deer let out for their leader. Every weapon was raised, and every voice carried their determination. Every warrior’s face held the confidence that their home was secure. As the deer rushed to form a line in front of the village, she looked over at her friends—and Wanderer as he retrieved his hat from tossing it up in the air with the cheer.

“What should we do?”

“Standard thunder and lightning techniques?” Tormod asked, turning his gaze Wanderer’s way.

Wanderer plopped his hat on his head, pulling it snug. “Not with this many. You two keep me and Tourmaline protected and help the deer out if they need it. Your magic will be really helpful out here.” He turned a look Tormod’s way. “Should I have to say it?”

Tormod rolled his eyes. “‘Get away if things go bad.’ I get it. Just don’t be an idiot out there.” He turned his gaze to his sister. “Goes double for you.”

She snorted, a smile crossing her face. “You ready?” she asked Wanderer, a hint of challenge making its way into her voice.

His grin widened, an eager gleam in his eyes. “Let’s.”

Watching the two join the deer at the front, Trixie felt her own smile grow. Seeing the spark the two had during the fight with the timberwolves filled her with her own confidence.

“What should we do?”

Scarlet Scroll’s ear flicked at the question, turning to regard the pony who had spoke. “What do you mean?”

The pony looked between her fellows and to the young fawns that hid deep within the roots of the Mother Oak—protected only by the elderly deer that were too old to stand in the frontlines. “Are we just going to hide here? Will the deer protect us?”

“Why should they protect us?” another pegasus said. “They don’t like us at all. I’m surprised they didn’t throw us to the monsters.”

Scarlet furrowed her brow at her fellow pegasus, her lips pulling back in a scowl. “That was a stupid thing to say. If they wanted to kill us, they would have done it while we were still under Harbinger’s control.”

That brought a few agreeing murmurs and the pegasus ducked her head, looking away.

Scarlet flicked her mane out from in front of her eye, only for it to resettle back in its place. “Look. I’m not happy about being here either, but we really don’t have any choice right now. At least the deer are kind enough to keep us safe while they fight with Harbinger. We should be thankful for that.”

“But do you think they can do it?” the first pony asked, turning a worried glance towards the exit. “There were a lot of beetles. What if they sent all of them after us?”

Scarlet turned to look in the same direction, though her worry was not for the same reason. Thoughts of Rogue and Stone Hoof out there fighting the deer right now almost made her want to vomit. The thought that her husband would be killed when he had no control over his actions caused her stomach to clench.

“So what if they did?”

She and the others turned as the elderly pony, Ol’ Nut, stepped near. “Even if that bugger Harbinger sent’em all. The deer’ll send’em runnin’ right quick.” He scrunched his face up and itched at his nose, “I got ta know a few’o them deer, they’re a tough bunch, I’ll tell ya that. If anypony is gonna do it, it’ll be them.”

“But what if—”

“If ifs’ were bits, I’d be rich,” Ol’ Nut said. “Ain’t no point worryin’ over somethin’ ya can’t change.” He popped another acorn into his mouth—which Scarlet noticed the crazy old pony did often. “I bet all the acorns in the woods that there won’t be any’o them bugs left when Luna rises her moon.”

“But what if Harbinger sent everything they had at the deer?” Scarlet asked, earning quick glances from the others. “What if they sent those of us who haven’t been cured yet? What if our friends and family are out there right now fighting the deer?”

The ponies shifted their weight, each of them looking to the other for answers none had.

She started as she felt a hoof rest on her shoulder. “That be mighty stupid’o them to send everything they had, Scroll. If I had to guess, Harbinger kept the others close by to keep that key safe.” He lowered his hoof as she moved away from his touch. “They’re a horrible lot, but they ain’t that stupid.”

She let a slow breath escape her, despite his comforting words, horrible images of her husband on the end of a spear just wouldn’t leave her mind. The more she thought on it, the more she had to keep the tears from falling; the cold feeling in her gut from growing.

“What about the others?”

Scarlet looked at the pony who spoke. “What others?”

“Wanderer and his friends.” The pony again nodded towards the exit. “They’re out there fighting. They’re fighting alongside the deer when they could be in here hiding with us. What are we going to do about them? Are we just going to let them die too?”

A frown pulled at her face and she looked away. Wanderer and his band are out there fighting of their own choice—a stupid choice at that. They’re needlessly risking their own necks when the deer are more than capable of protecting them, it was stupid to be out there.

Her eyes drifted to the ceiling. ‘But then… if it wasn’t for them, I’d still be under the Gorgon’s control.’ She scowled and stamped her hoof. ‘Those idiots! They should know better!’

“Scarlet? What do we do?”

She turned back to find the group looking at her. Looking between them, she realized they waited on her word, on her direction.

“What do you mean? I’m not a leader.”

“Yer the mayor’s wife, the closest thing we got right now,” Ol’Nut said, earning agreeing words from the others. “Whatcha think we should do?”

She looked away, a frown pulling at her lips. “I-I…”

Wanderer tensed as he saw the massive bugs amble from the trees. He all but gagged at the aridic odor the bugs gave off and found it hard to keep his stomach from emptying. These beetles, now that he got a good look at them, were frothing at the mouth, and what looked like ichor drained from their eyes. They walked on those viciously-pointed legs, but he could see that they appeared somehow thinner than he remembered.

“Faith,” he whispered as the doe stood nearby. “Do you see what’s wrong with them?”

She nodded. “They are diseased, the Gorgon has pushed them past their limits and her disease tears at their bodies.” A pitying frown tugged at her lips. “They are suffering.”

A sigh blew through his nose before a thought caused his frown to deepen. “Can we catch the disease?”

Another nod. “Do not let them bite you, if you can help it. We can treat the disease after the battle, but a bite avoided is best.”

Snorting, he released the claw from its holder, the sharp edge locking in place. “I’ll make sure not to let them nibble on me then.”

She gave him a satisfying nod before bounding for the Elder.

As Tourmaline was to say something, the beetles stiffened—as if struck—before erupting into a chorus of horrible screeching.

The Elder lifted his voice in a battle cry and his warriors flung their spears at the charging horde. The foremost beetles crumbled under the barrage, but more climbed over them to get at the deer.

“Wanderer! Keep them from flanking us, we’ll handle the main swarm!” Faith shouted before charging at the nearest beetle.

“Right!” he shouted, though he doubted she heard him as the deer met the monsters head on. Turning to look at his pony friends, he said, “You heard her, keep them off of them.”

“Come on!” Tourmaline called before flying ahead.

“Trixie, Tormod, keep close!” Wanderer said as he also rushed ahead.

One red and one violet beam blasted out, taking the closest beetle in the side. The thing screeched and Wanderer dashed in and brought back his hoof. The claw weapon sunk deep into the weakened chitin and the beetle’s shriek took a higher pitch. Whirling, Wanderer bucked the beetle as it tried to turn after him. The kick flipped the beetle over and another red beam hit it the face.

Leaping over it’s fallen companion, another beetle aimed its horn at him. With a gasp, he jumped out of the way, the beetle’s horn digging deep into the soil. Seeing the monster struggle to free itself, he rushed back in, the claw weapon piercing the side of the bug’s head.

Taking the brief lull in combat, he saw Trixie and Tormod keeping close to him. The two blasted at any target they could find, and Wanderer privately admitted there was no shortage of them. The deer were in full melee with the bugs, thankfully, the weakened beetles were not as skilled or able to keep up with the lithe deer. He saw Faith take down one with a planted spear, that the hapless beetle skewered itself on trying to get at her. The Elder wielded no weapon, instead using his magic to blast any bug in his sight.

Wanderer looked around, panic gripping his belly. “Tourmaline!”

He swore as another beetle rushed from the trees at him. Setting himself, he readied to meet the monster’s charge with one of his own. He dove to the side as the beetle stumbled, screaming as a spear sunk into its back. Picking himself up, he saw Tourmaline swoop in and retrieve her spear.

She gave him an impish smile. “You know, it’s adorable how you still think of me while fighting for your life.”

“Love you too,” he muttered as he dusted his barrel off. “Did you see how many of them there are?”

“A lot.” She shook her head. “I haven’t seen all of them, but there can’t be that many, right?”

“Maybe—” His eyes widened and he pulled her towards him as another beetle jumped for her. Landing on it’s slain companion, the beetle flailed as it tried to get at them.

He shared a look with her as the beetle freed itself. “Let’s do this,” he said before running to the thing’s left side. “Hey! Ugly! Over here!”

The beetle hissed and turned to gouge at him with it’s horn.

All the opening Tourmaline needed to drive her spear into the things exposed neck.

The monster’s shriek turned watery and Wanderer dashed back in and stabbed the thing as well—ending its misery.

Despite it, Wanderer didn’t feel any surge of pride in putting it down. Rather, only a sickening feeling twisted at his gut.

“Celestia’s mane, I hate this,” he said as he freed his weapon.

Tourmaline gave him a sympathetic look before nodding. The two ran back as they saw Trixie and Tormod blasting at a beetle that rushed them. “Little help here!”

Luckily, they didn’t have to worry as the beetle fell to their combined attacks. Wanderer frowned as the two were sweating and panting from their exertion.

“You two all right?”

Trixie nodded, though she watched the continuing battle with growing worry. “Trixie is fine, but she doesn’t think we’re getting anywhere. Everytime we put one down, two more come from the trees.”

“We’ll tire out at this rate,” Tormod said as he shot another beetle that was pressing a group of deer.

“We got this—”

“Look out!” Wanderer whirled at Trixie’s panicked shout and the three of them scrambled out of the way as a large oak tree fell towards them. Said tree fell over a number of the deer tents, smashing them to splinters and torn cloth.

From the torn ground, erupted more of the beetles. The monsters charging into the collection of homes.

“Dang it! They’re getting into the village!” Tourmaline shouted.

“We need to stop them!” Tormod said as he blasted at the beetles that emerged from the ground.

Wanderer dashed ahead and stabbed at a beetle that tore through another tent. The monster hissed and tried to bite at him—foul-smelling froth flying everywhere. Scrambling back from the bite, he sucked in a breath as the beetle chased after him. Off balance, he grabbed the beetle by the horn, using all of his strength to keep it from reaching him.

“Need help here!” He screamed as the beetle forced him back, his hooves digging into the soil.

The beetle jerked as a spear hit it from the side. The motion caused Wanderer to lose his footing and fell back as the monster pinned him to the ground.

His scream reached a higher pitch as the bug still tried to bite at him, moving his head and neck away in time to keep it from sinking its pointed maw into his flesh.

As the monster raised its maw to bite at him again, another spear sailed out and took it through the side of the head. Wanderer barely could blink before a number of deer tackled into it, freeing him from its pin. As he got back to his hooves, he saw the deer—Faith included—pry their spears loose from the now-still beetle.

“You are not bit, are you?” Faith asked, worry plain to see in her eyes.

He grunted as pried his claw weapon from the ground. “I’m fine, just made a mistake.” He looked around and frowned as more beetles tore through the village. “Did they get past you guys?”

She shook her head. “No, the Elder sent me and others to keep the village safe.” She hefted her spear and shouted something in the deer language before looking back at him. “We can’t let them get to the Great Mother.”

Tugging his hat lower, he nodded. “I won’t let it happen.”

Joining the others, they pursued any of the beetles that rampaged through the village. Whipped into a frenzy, the beetles gave them all a chase, stopping only when one was caught and put down. Tents and other structures were torn apart, and any deer not fast enough to get away was trampled underneath.

As they chased after another bug, a frown pulled at his face. “Faith, there’s something wrong here.”

“You are right,” she said as they rounded another tent. “I can only think the Gorgon is controlling them with her disease.”

“Can she do that?” he asked. “I thought Harbinger was the only one who could do that?”

As the beetle ran, Faith hurled her spear, striking the beetle from behind—though the spear bounced off its carapace.

“I really do not know,” she said as she scooped up her spear mid stride. “Come. We can corner it at the center.”

Wanderer lowered his head and charged after the bug as it made the village center. As the beetle slowed, he jumped onto its back, locking his legs around its neck. The beetle screeched and tried to shake him. Clamping his back legs around the beetle’s neck, he brought his claw weapon back and stabbed it at the base of the skull. As the beetle crashed to the ground, he jumped clear and landed on his hooves—right in front of a glowering Tourmaline.

An impish smile burst across his face. “Told you that rodeo lesson would come in handy one day.”

“I swear,” she muttered, shaking her head and chuckling. They turned as they saw Tormod and Trixie chase after another beetle as it entered the village center, followed closely by another bug with deer warriors chasing it.

They rushed to help, but the two groups easily put the monsters down.

Gasping for breath, Faith looked between them. “Is everyone okay?”

After a chorus of affirmatives from the others, Tourmaline looked around, her brow furrowed. “Faith, something seems wrong here.”

As they turned to regard her, Tormod nodded. “I agree. This seems too easy. All of these bugs led us to the center of the village, but why here? Most of the deer are fighting on the outskirts.”

Trixie’s eyes widened. “You don’t think—”

“Move!” Wanderer shouted before the ground erupted out from under them—tossing deer and pony alike around like ragdolls.

As Wanderer picked himself up, his eyes widened as more holes appeared around them. From each hole, another beetle pulled itself free. Soon, over a dozen of the monsters had the small group surrounded.

“An ambush?” Tormod asked as he hopped back as the group stood back to to back. “I thought these things were mindless?”

A beetle screeched at him, waving around its horn.

“Just had to insult them, didn’t you?” Wanderer grumbled as he donned his hat again. Looking back at his group, he easily saw the beetles had them outnumbered. Counting his friends and Faith, the other deer only added their number to nine.

“Faith, can we call the Elder for help?” he asked as the beetles stalked closer, their movements slow and deliberate.

She looked around, her brow furrowing, the grip on her spear tightening. “We can try, but I am unsure if they can get here in time.”

“Celestia’s mane,” he swore, turning to look at Tourmaline as she hoovered above. Before he could say anything, however, a shout rang out from behind the beetles. The monsters turned as Scarlet Scroll descended from above and landed a double kick on the back of a beetle. The monster shrieked and tried to turn to get at her but took a solid swing from a wooden mallet wielded by Ol’Nut.

He cackled as he hefted the hammer over his back. “Ha! Still some kick in these old bones!”

From behind, all of which carrying an assortment of gathered weapons, charged the former Bringers.

As the bugs turned, Wanderer lifted his own weapon. “Quick! While they’re distracted!”

With a battlecry, the small group of nine attacked the off-balance beetles. When the last beetle laid still, Wanderer looked at the battle weary group. He frowned as a few of his fellow ponies sported wounds and would need to be treated quickly, even a few of the deer looked like they’d been put through the ringer.

They all turned as they heard a victorious cheer rise from the outskirts of the city.

“Quickly, those injured, please seek the healer’s tent, we’ll be there to treat you soon. Everyone else, come to the front, we need to see what has happened,” Faith said as she turned to address the ragtag bad.

As Wanderer followed after Faith, he turned as Tourmaline and Scarlet Scroll hovered above them.

“I didn’t expect you of all ponies would come out here and fight, Scarlet Scroll,” Tourmaline said to her. “Glad you proved me wrong.”

“I’ve doing that all our lives, Tourmaline,” the other pegasus sniffed. “I couldn’t let one of you accidently kill Rogue or Stone. Brainwashed or not, they’re not responsible for what they’re doing.”

“Luckily, the other Bringers aren’t here, or not that I saw,” Tormod said as he limped along. “So, we should be thankful for that.”

“All I can tell is them beetles is the only ones Harbinger sent,” Ol’ Nut said as he balanced his mallet on his back, popping another acorn into his mouth. “An crackin’ their shells ain’t no harder than crackin’ acorns.”

Wanderer snorted. “You should try hitting them when they weren’t so sick.” he said, rubbing at his foreleg. “Let me tell you, it was painful.”

“Bah! Yer just outta shape, colt,” the older pony said, giving him a playful wink.

His shoulders slumped. “I swear, I’m just a target for sarcasm today,” he grumbled.

“You make it so easy,” he heard Trixie say. He turned and gave her a suffering look, which only earned a chuckle out of her.

As they made the outskirts, they could see the deer warriors ending the beetles that still squirmed—putting them out of their misery. Wanderer saw the other warriors gather around the Elder, lifting and shaking their weapons in a victorious cheer as he spoke to them.

“Elder!” Faith shouted, a happy smile spreading across her face. “Is the day ours?”

Before the buck could respond, his eyes widened and his gaze darted behind her. “By the Mother…”

Wanderer felt a chill run up his spine, the look of fear on the Elder’s face was nothing he ever expected to see. “What’s th—”

A collective yelp was given as the ground shook. Lasting only a second, Wanderer scrambled as another tremor happened, then another.

“What is that?” Tourmaline asked, her fear making its way into her voice.

They all whirled as the sounds of tearing wood came from within the trees.

“Wha-What is going on?” Trixie said, her voice wavering.

They looked back at the Elder as he continued to stare into the trees, his eyes wide and jaw hanging agape.

“Nzuwlmucquz!” Faith shouted.

He blinked and turned to look at her, his voice a near whisper as he said, “Muicq...”

“Look out!”

Wanderer whirled to see a large oak tree sailing right for them!

He threw his hooves up in a fruitless effort to protect himself, but shouted as a golden beam struck the tree, splintering it into pieces.

Deer and pony alike recovered to see something emerge from the tree line. A collective gasp was had as a massive tree guardian stalked towards them—its heavy footfalls tearing the earth with each step.

“N-No… I cannot be,” Faith stuttered, falling to her haunches.

Looking closer, Wanderer could see there was something very wrong with this tree guardian. Its sap-yellow eyes were now a nasty green—ooze seeping from them. The bark covering its body looked rotten and diseased, and he saw that a portion of its trunk was missing on the side—looking like it has been blasted off. The once verdant-green beard was torn and missing whole chunks.

“W-Wanderer...isn’t that…” Tourmaline started.

He felt his blood freeze as he realized he had seen this guardian before. “The one that was guarding the key!”

“But… but it was dead!” Trixie screamed as she stepped back. “Harbinger killed it!”

“Did he bring it back?” Tormod asked as he and so many others backed away as the thing approached. “Can the Gorgon actually do that?”

Finally, the Guardian stood in front of the amassed deer and looked down at them with its sickly-green eyes.

Moving past her shock, Faith bound for it. “Nouzleuw! Fquc qub—”

“Muicq! Wi!” the Elder screamed before using his magic to throw her away.

Just in time for the Guardian to slam a fist into the spot she just occupied.

Terrified screams erupted from the deer as the guardian lashed out with a sweep of its arm—the poor few who got caught were sent flying away.

“Menqc, Fqeca Cuet! Cqeb eb wi tiwnaz u kqetl im cqa mizabc, joc uw ujivewuceiw im cqa Nizniw!” the Elder shouted before his magic gathered around his antlers and shot the imposing guardian. The thing groaned and brought back a fist to punch. Jumping aside, the Elder scrambled away as a leg the size of a large tree near stomped him flat.

Even as the deer hurled spears at the monster, Wanderer saw their weapons did little to even slow it—let alone stop it.

“What do we do?” Trixie cried, averting her eyes as a pair of deer were too slow in dodging an attack.

Scarlet Scroll backed up, her eyes wide with terror. “What can we do? We have nothing that’s going to hurt that thing! It’s going to kill us all!”

“Mtaa! Zow ci cqa Nzauc Vicqaz! Bqa fett pzicakc iio!” The Elder shouted as he blasted at the thing again—jumping clear as the monster tried to smash him again.

Wanderer watched as many of the White Tail broke off and fled for the Mother Tree—the stubborn ones remaining behind and hurling what spears they had at the Guardian.

“He said to run! All of you go!” he ordered as he grabbed the mallet from Ol’Nut.

As the ponies turned to flee, Tormod looked at his friend, his eyes wide. “What are you doing?”

“Something!” Wanderer said as he hefted the large hammer. Turning to look at Tourmaline, he said, “Tourmaline, can you carry me into the air and get above him?”

She sputtered before yelling, “Are you insane! You—”

“Run!”

Scrambling away, the ponies fled as the monster stomped at them. They ran past tents and other structures as the Guardian made its way into the village. Despite the deer’s best attempt to stop it, the Guardian tore their homes apart with every step or swipe of its arms.

The ponies ducked behind cover as they watched the Elder and Faith pursue it. The doe lagged behind her grandsire as he blasted again at the creature. The monster groaned as the magical blast took off part of its bark skin and turned to punch at him again.

“Wif, Muecq!”

As the Elder jumped away, and the Guardian’s fist slamming into the ground, the doe jumped and landed on the outstretched arm. Running full out, the doe ran up the limb—the Guardian’s eyes following her. With a battlecry, she jumped and plunged her spear deep into one of the four eyes of the creature. The monster roared anew as green ichor erupted from the wound. Twisting its torso, the doe’s battlecry turned to a fearful scream as she held on for dear life.

“Faith!” the ponies screamed as the monster flailed about, trying to dislodge her.

Faith’s scream reached a higher octave as she flung loose.

“Tormod!” Trixie shouted and the two unicorn’s horns lit up. A red and violet aura surrounded the doe and she grunted as she bounced across the terrain.

As Wanderer and his group ran to her side, the Elder blasted the monster again, drawing its attention away from her.

“Faith, are you all right?” Trixie asked as she helped the doe back to her hooves.

The doe’s visage twisted in pain. “I am bruised, but I will be fine.” She turned a pained smile at them. “Thanks to you both.”

Looking back at the Guardian as it continued to tear the village apart, Wanderer saw the Elder continued his game of ‘keep away’, which only seemed to anger the monster.

Growling to himself, he turned to Tourmaline. “Tourmaline.”

As their gazes connected she gave him a firm nod. “Something.”

“You two…” Growling in frustration, Tormod glared at them. “We’ll keep you covered, but the moment things go wrong, I’m dragging you both to the tree by your tails if I have to.”

Not even bothering to reply, Tourmaline scooped up Wanderer in her forelegs and flapped her wings, carrying him into the air with her.

“I’ve never seen them so mad…” Tormod uttered as he watched them.

Trixie laid a hoof on his shoulder, nodding. “We need to protect them.”

Closing his eyes a moment, he blew a sigh through his nose. “Right.”

As Wanderer felt the odd sensation of flight, he watched as a pair of red and purple beams joined the golden beams of the Elder strike the Guardian.

“It’s like we’re not even hurting it,” he said as his two friends scrambled in different directions as the Guardian attacked them.

“I don’t think it’s alive, Wanderer,” Tourmaline as she strained to keep them in the air. “What’re you planning to do?”

He gripped the mallet in both front hooves, the wood creaking in his grasp. “When it’s not watching, throw me at it. I’m going to hit it as hard as I can.”

“What if that doesn’t work?”

Looking up at her, he gave her his lopsided grin. “It’s all I can do, Tourmaline. I don’t have magical beams or the Elements of Harmony, all I have is my strength.”

She smiled at him. “And me.”

“And you,” he said, his smile taking a softer turn. “Love you.”

“Love you too,” she said before turning back at the Guardian as it had its back to them. “Ready?”

He tugged his hat lower, shoving his fear into a corner of his mind. “Let’s do it.”

Pulling a loop, Tourmaline flapped her wings frantically as she charged after the monster. With a shout, she hurled him as hard as she could.

Using both her built-up momentum and his own strength, Wanderer brought back the mallet for a swing. Shouting, he swung the mallet as hard as he could as the Guardian turned.

The resulting hit splintered the mallet into pieces, but caused the Guardian to stumble.

But not fall.

Scrambling to catch himself, Wanderer managed to bite into the vines of the Guardian’s beard—keeping himself from falling underneath. He barely had time to orient himself before he felt the Guardian wrap its hand around him and lift him up. Screaming from the press, Wanderer tried to kick himself free as the monster brought him up to its eyes.

As the monster stared at him—Faith’s spear still lodged in place—he struggled to so much as wiggle under its grasp.

“Why couldn’t that have worked?”

He screamed as the Guardian brought its arm back to throw. Magical beams and spears soared out to strike the monster, but didn’t stop it from hurling him like a stone.

“Wanderer!” Tourmaline’s frantic scream filled the air as she flew after him.

Wanderer flailed about but saw that Tourmaline was chasing after him as fast as her wings could go. Putting on a burst of speed, she wrapped her forelegs around him, but the sheer momentum wasn’t going to keep them from crashing into the trees.

Cringing, Wanderer wrapped his forelegs around around her and prepared for the worst.

They crashed into the trees with pained grunts, but it wasn’t the hard trunks he landed against. Instead, as the two neared, the trees twisted their limbs to form a mattress of red and golden leaves. The two hit hard enough that Wanderer felt his air blasted from him as they tumbled to the ground.

“Wanderer…” Tourmaline coughed as she turned to him, her eyes filled with worry. “Are you okay?”

He nodded as he struggled to fill his lungs with air again.

She sighed with relief, her eyes ringed with moisture as she held him.

“Tourmaline! Wanderer!”

They turned to see Tormod and Trixie run after them, panic in their expressions.

“Sweet Celestia, are you both all right?” Tormod asked as he quickly crushed his sister in a hug.

“We’re all—

They whirled as a roaring voice shouted. “Enough!”

The ground shook and a large root-like growth erupted from the village center. Atop of it, stood the Elder, his eyes glowing white and what appeared to be roots wrapped around his fetlocks as the growth reached to be eye level with the monster.

“You will no longer harm my children!” he shouted, though the voice that sounded from him wasn’t his. Instead, his voice was replaced by a woman’s, deep and ageless.

Wanderer shuddered, the power that emanated from that voice caused goosebumps to grow, yet there was something familiar about it. Like something he had known all his life.

The Guardian whirled to the Elder and brought back a fist to smash at him. A barrier formed around the Elder and the Guardian’s arm collapsed in on itself as the force of the hit caused the limb to splinter.

“You will leave and never touch my children again!” Energy collected in front of the Elder and a blast struck the Guardian square in the torso.

The hit lifted the thing off its legs; sending it crashing down and smashing more tents and Trixie’s stage under its great weight.

As the Guardian righted itself, it turned back at the brightly-glowing Elder but stopped. With a jerk, the creature turned and fled for the trees.

Another blast took the thing in the back, blasting a hole through its trunk. The creature stumbled, but kept its retreat and disappeared into the tree line.

“Never again,” the Elder said in that odd voice, watching after the retreating monster.

“Nzuwlmucquz!” Faith shouted a happy and relieved smile on her face as she bound after him.

He turned a loving smile to her and opened his mouth to speak.

Only for a ear-piercing shriek of agony to erupt from him.

“Wha—” Trixie started before she whirled as Wanderer also screamed. Hunched over, he screamed in agony, clutching at his ears.

“Wanderer!” Tourmaline shouted anew as he and every deer fell clutching the sides of their heads, their screams filling the air.

“What’s going on?” Trixie asked, her eyes wide with panic. “What’s happening to them?”

“Wanderer, talk to us!” Tormod ordered, trying to calm his friend.

“The forest!” he managed between hisses of pain. “The whole forest screams in pain!”

“How—”

The three whirled at a maniacal laugh. Their eyes widened and jaws fell slack as Harbinger floated through the air towards the Elder as the buck twisted and turned, rooted to the spot by the growths around his legs.

“I bid you greetings, Drasil,” Harbinger said as he floated within feet of the Elder. “Rather, I bring you a gift of my mistress.” He licked at his pointed canines as he sneered. “For all of those millennia in prison, my mistress sends her regards.”

The Elder grunted and grit his teeth as he tried to look back at him.

Harbinger laughed. “Oh, don’t worry, Drasil. I will gift my mistress the joy of ending your children’s lives right in front of you.” He turned to sneer down at the ponies as they stared up after him. “Before she does the same to Celestia and Luna.” Turning back to the buck, he gave a quick, insulting salute. “Until the Solstice.”

Laughing, the unicorn flew through the air, weaving past the two bolts of energy that flew at him and disappeared after the Guardian.