1055 AD, November 14th

“…” Zecora stared at the clay pot before her, watching with a critical eye as the sun’s rays washed against the ornate exterior. “Mm-hm…”

She turned to an old cloth that had been laid out on the ground and picked up a piece of wizened bark from the selection of ingredients.

From a short distance away, the princesses and the other current residents of the library watched with baited breath as Zecora sniffed the bark. Most were still bedraggled from being woken up so early in the day, though some fared it better than others.

“These are the methods zebra shamans use to determine the authenticity of their ingredients?” Underneath Sunset’s eyes were dark rings, but she didn’t seem weighed down by fatigue, still as alert and scrutinizing as ever. “She’s sniffing it.”

“It’s their way.” Celestia quietly replied. All her attention was centred on the zebra.

“She… she’s literally licking it now.”

“… It’s their way.”

Zecora smacked her lips loudly after nibbling on the bark and, with a satisfied grunt, dropped it into the clay pot. The swirling, dark green mixture inside rippled from the added ingredient and a small amount of green gas started rising. Zecora grabbed the rim of the pot with both forehooves and carefully tipped it to the side so the morning rays lit up the liquid. The volume of gas increased as if the mixture was consuming the sunlight.

As Zecora carefully fixed the pot so it was standing upright again, a rush of wings signalled the approach of Rainbow Dash. She quickly went out of her diagonal descent when she noticed Zecora working and instead gently flapped over to there the others were standing.

“Hey, what’s up?” Rainbow Dash greeted once her hooves were on the ground.

“Good morning.”

“Greetings, my friend.”

“Yo.”

“Hey, Dash.”

“‘Sup?”

“Ugh, now the pegasus is here…”

“Oh, so funny, ha ha – eat a dick, Sunset,” Rainbow Dash shot a glare at the scowling unicorn before looking up at Celestia, her expression softening. “So is Zecora doing that thing that’ll kill Nightmare Moon?”

“She just started it,” Celestia replied. She brought a hoof up to her eye to get rid of any crust she missed. Ironically, she was not an early riser, and felt sweaty and gross from waking up. “The mixture’s being done, but the final ingredient won’t be added until noon, when the sun is strongest.”

Rainbow Dash nodded. “Ah…” She quietly joined the others in watching Zecora for a few moments before frowning and turning back. “Can’t you just make the sun go by faster?”

“She said the ingredient would ‘know the difference’.” Celestia’s face creased like she didn’t understand the words either.

“Huh… okay then.”

Zecora had put in another ingredient: the hair of a baby lion. The mixture turned a darker shade of green and, for an instant, it seemed as if the gas swirled to form the head of a roaring lion before a stray wind scattered the apparition.

She reached for the golden trite flowers next.

“I met with Bulk Biceps yesterday…” Rainbow Dash said. “He said that the Wonderbolts aren’t answering to Nightmare Moon. They’re going around helping other settlements though.”

Glancing away from Zecora, Virtue asked, “So they’re gonna help us out?”

“Definitely. They got, like… a huge morale boost when they heard the princesses and the Element bearers…” She paused and cringed guiltily. “When they heard about our escape.”

Spike hid his claws behind his back so nopony could see them curl into tight fists. He reminded himself that Twilight would be alright and that once she was safe and sound, he was going to make her a plate of pancakes, just the way she liked them.

Any alternative was…

He wasn’t going to think about it.

Rainbow Dash continued. “They want to help.”

Celestia frowned worriedly. “Nightmare Moon would not take that news lightly. I would hate to see anymore ponies come to harm because of their goodwill.”

“With all due respect, Your Highness, just because you don’t want them to help, doesn’t mean they’re going to listen,” Virtue replied knowingly. “I’m sure they know that they’re at risk if they help, but sometimes it’s worth it. No pony in their right mind wants somepony like Nightmare Moon in charge… especially if they knew exactly what she is.”

“… I suppose you are right,” Celestia sighed. “In that case… the only way to express my gratitude for such bravery is to accept their help, however shape or form it may come in.”

Virtue nodded in response and his eyes flicked to the length of her horn before quickly darting back to the ground. “Um, if you don’t mind me asking: how’s your horn, Your Highness?”

“Much better, thank you,” Celestia reached up with one forehoof to gently tap it, producing a soft clunk. “Especially when there isn’t a chunk of obsidian in it.”

Luna shuddered at her side with a grimace. “The sooner I rid myself of that memory the better…”

Poomf

A mustard-yellow puff of gas bloomed from the pot and rolled over its rim. Zecora seemed pleased by this as she grinned and nodded to herself; she gave a few flicks of her hoof to clear some of the gas before lifting the pot’s lid from the length of cloth and fitting it on neatly. Her lips moved to speak a few words nopony could hear, but the lid of the pot twisted in place, seemingly of its own will.

The others watched and waited with baited breath as Zecora rolled the old cloth into a bundle, picked it and the pot up, and trotted over to them.

“You may all relax, it was a successful batch,” She said with a calming grin. “Now, we shall plant the cleansing joke seed, and soon, we shall see it bloom at noon.”

There was a collection of relieved sighs as well as a flare of fresh hope, for their captured friend and for the future of Equestria.

“Is there anything you need help with, Zecora?” Celestia asked.

“I appreciate the offer, but you need not bother,” Zecora aimed a smile and a wink at Spike. “If I am in need, Equestria’s ‘number one assistant’ will heed.”

Spike drew himself up, preening like a rooster with pride. “Eeyup, that’s me. Totally not like Virtue over here who can’t organize a single bookshelf.”

“Tch, keep on it, little dragon,” Virtue scoffed and playfully brushed Spike’s dorsal ridges before quickly stepping back from a counter-snap and moving to head back into the library, chuckling. “So who wants breakfast? I make a pretty mean radish soufflé.”

“I’m going back to sleep.” Sunset grumbled, pushing her way back into the library.

Virtue would have called her out on it, but he was quietly impressed that a petite mare like her could shove him aside, and by the time he stopped being impressed, she was out of earshot, so he simply rolled his eyes and continued towards the kitchen.

“I haven’t had radish soufflé in eons!” Luna quipped, wings flaring in excitement as she made for the library, too.

“Aren’t you allergic to radishes?” Celestia frowned.

“Oh, so I get a meagre rash on my face?” Luna waved her off as she went inside. “Tis barely noticeable, ‘Tia.”

“If that’s barely noticeable, then what’s subtle?”

“Hey, um… Princess?”

“Yes?” Celestia turned to Rainbow Dash. When she received a negative shake of the head, she frowned in confusion and turned the other way, finally looking down. “Ah… forgive me, I wasn’t paying attention.”

An unfamiliar pony had shown up while she wasn’t looking; a light grey pegasus mare with a sandy blonde mane and, rather worryingly, two eyes that appeared to have trouble deciding on which direction to look in.

One eye was trained on Celestia, but the other was veering to the side, vibrating as if trying to follow its twin.

Celestia had met with many ponies with disabilities, so she kept the surprise out of her face and smiled warmly.

“Erm, who are you, my little pony?”

“Derpy Hooves,” The mare said brightly. “Some ponies call me Muffin. Mostly because I like muffins.”

“Ah, so do I.”

Derpy beamed even wider. “Really? That’s cool,” Suddenly, her face fell and she gasped. “Oh, I just remembered what I came here for! There’re some ponies and griffons at the gate asking for you.”

Celestia’s eyes widened. She could see Zecora and Spike also start in surprise from behind Derpy and tilt their heads curiously. “Griffons, you say?”

“Yeah,” Derpy nodded and scratched the side of her head with a strained expression. The creases under her eyes deepened as the renegade eye attempted to fixate on Celestia. “And, uh… well, not all of them were asking for you. Just this one stallion. He was pretty loud about it, too, and kept saying all these really long words. It was weird because he wasn’t even using them properly.”

‘Loud, using long words and not even correctly… Could it be?’

“… Could you lead me to them?” Celestia asked.

Derpy nodded and flapped her wings to take to the air. There was a chilling moment where she swayed and Celestia’s muscles tensed to catch her, but the smiling mare quickly balanced out and maintained her altitude with practised ease.

It was very impressive.

“I’m going to see what this is all about,” Celestia told the others as she spread her own wings. “If Luna asks, tell her where I am and to not worry.”

Zecora nodded and Spike gave a playful salute. “No probs.”

“I can’t stick around for too long,” Rainbow Dash said with an apologetic shrug. “The weather team’s really fallen behind on bringing winter in, so I gotta go and help sort things out around eleven.”

“I understand,” Celestia gave a powerful flap and she was airborne, hovering in place as she then said, “I’ll see you all later. Take care.”

“See ya.”

“Farewell, princess.”

“Bye!”

Derpy ascended higher into the air and soared out over the thatched roofs of Ponyville’s homes, Celestia following in her wake, briefly looking over her shoulder and below to wave at the others, who responded in turn.

It was early in the day, so there weren’t many ponies out and about just yet.

The few that were out were mostly pegasi or earth ponies; they saw Celestia flying in the sky and greeted her with a cheerful wave and a hearty ‘good morning, princess’. After so many days of being locked in a dark cell with only Nightmare Moon’s jeers, taunts, and – Faust help her – teasing cake-eating sessions, it was a welcome reprieve.

“So how are you, Miss Hooves?” Celestia asked once she was flying directly beside Derpy. The mare’s speed was unexpected, but perhaps the thing with her eyes wasn’t a disability after all.

“Good!” Derpy replied with a happy grin, one eye focused and the other trailing off to stare at the ground. “Just got voted ‘Employee of the Month’ at my job.”

“Congratulations – what job is it that you do?”

“Delivery mare. Mostly just letters and stuff, but my boss is finally letting me help moving bigger packages,” A blush stained Derpy’s cheeks as her good eye looked away, which meant her other eye chose to focus on Celestia. “Had an accident with moving a piano at my old job.”

“Are you alright?”

“Oh, I wasn’t hurt. It was, uh…” She suddenly gave an expression of fright and quickly turned to look straight ahead, a fake grin spreading onto her face. “H-hey, look! We’re here!”

“Uh…?”

Celestia would have politely pushed for more information about this ‘incident’ with a piano, but her train of thought was derailed when she took one look at the large party gathered by the gates of Ponyville’s high barricade walls and her suspicions were confirmed.

“Abysmal! Unthinkable!” A familiar stallion was shouting and gesturing emphatically, much to the mounting headache of Mayor Mare and the veiled amusement of the rest of the party. “I have been waiting for three minutes! This town is not that big! Why is it taking so long to get a simple message across when you just said that the princesses aren’t too far from here?”

Mayor Mare sighed and took off her glasses so she could rub the spot between her eyes. “Prince Blueblood, if you could just perhaps follow the league of any sane pony and wait for another minute or so – unreasonable as that may sound to you – then I’m certain the princesses will be here shortly.”

Blueblood recoiled like he had been shocked. His gaze hardened and he whispered, “Are you… mocking… me?”

“… Am I?”

Celestia sighed and turned to Derpy. “Thank you, Miss Hooves,” She stopped in place and descended to ground-level before closing the few yards between her and the party. “Blueblood, please restrain yourself before you frighten the children.”

“I’ll frighten as many children as I…!” Blueblood’s eyes widened as he saw her and, as if a switch had been flipped, he let out an undignified whinny and sped over to her. “Aunt Celestia!”

Incredible, seeing as he often got winded trying to open a window.

Nevertheless, Celestia smiled gently and stroked the stallion’s mane as he hugged her foreleg. It was nice to see a familiar face, even if it belonged to somepony who could be… difficult.

“Oh, you cannot imagine the joy I am feeling right now!” He cried with utmost sincerity. “It was a nightmare living beneath… well, Nightmare Moon’s reign. She ignored any of my attempts to talk to her, her brutish guards harassed me to the brink of tears, and she seized half my fortune!”

“I’m so sorry, Blueblood.”

“She distributed it across Canterlot’s districts!”

“I’m… still sorry?”

“I tried to fight her in my own subtle way and with the strengths I have, but she brushed me aside as if I was nothing. My complaints and insults fell on deaf ears, and her Praetorian brutes regarded me as if I was bubblegum on the underside of one’s hoof! Never have I felt so… so much like a… commoner…”

“… Sorry?”

“But I didn’t let that get me down!” Blueblood sniffled and released Celestia’s foreleg from his death grip and stood proudly, his chest puffing out. “Oh, you should have seen it, Aunty! I showed that beast what for! I packed all my things, rallied the griffon delegation, and led them out of Canterlot in the dead of night when Nightmare Moon and her forces were preoccupied!”

“We found him trying to negotiate peace relations with some pigeons to carry his things,” From the party, a griffon walked over to them, his colour markings and plumage familiar to Celestia. “To his credit, he managed to convince them to stop defecating on his belongings.”

“Marquess Aldo! I had heard of your arrival in Eques…” Celestia pursed her lips down at Blueblood as he hugged her leg again before looking back up, smiling. “In Equestria. I’m sorry it’s… not under better circumstances.”

“Hardly your fault,” Aldo replied with a shrug. “Gods know the Griffon Kingdom has had its fair share of dictators and tyrants… even if some books say otherwise,” He shook his head before turning slightly to gesture to his fellow griffons. “These are the guards that accompany me: Luigi, Alessio, Natale, and Vittorino.”

The guards each bowed respectfully upon being introduced, their beaks almost kissing the ground as they did. They were all fit, healthy males and clearly well-trained.

“And of course you know my daughter.”

“Yes, Mistress Gilda, was it?” Celestia aimed a companionable smile at the sole female griffon that huffed and harrumphed in the back. “Are you well? The trip here wasn’t strenuous for you, was it?”

“I’ve flown farther in my sleep.” Gilda rolled her eyes.

“Gilda…”

“What? Dad, you know I’ve actually done that.”

“No need to be rude about it,” He sighed and shook his head again. “Forgive her; she’s had to put up with a lot of unforeseen developments this month.”

“It’s quite alright. But how did you… Ugh, Blueblood, could you please just…? Yes, because I’m starting to get numb. Thank you,” Celestia shot an apologetic look at Mayor Mare as Blueblood trotted over to spill his woes before turning back to Aldo. “But how did you know we were here? And for that matter… why come in the first place? I doubt your status as a foreign diplomat will dissuade Nightmare Moon from coming after you if she finds out you’ve been speaking to us.”

“Ponyville seemed like the most likely place you’d go to; it’s the closest and you and your sister have spoken very highly of it. Add in that it’s the home of your Element bearers and it just seemed obvious,” Aldo looked over his shoulder. “Not only that, but, uh… we weren’t exactly travelling ‘light’.”

Celestia followed his gaze to see a wagon full of luggage and suitcases which the griffon guards were glaring at intensely. The initials on each item, ‘BB’, made it pretty clear as to who it belonged to.

“I see. How much of his luggage did you convince him to throw away?”

“A little over half. You can thank my daughter for her compelling argument against him.”

Gilda guffawed proudly. “Heh heh heh, yeah – keeping some luggage and not having your legs broken is better than the opposite.”

“Impressive.”

“And to answer your second question…” Aldo turned back, his expression calm but carrying a glint of steel. “I decided quite early on after meeting the ‘Empress’ that I, for one, would have no part in playing bedfellows with the likes of a creature such as her.”

“Hell yeah! Screw that bitch!”

“Language, Gilda.”

“Magnifico! Al diavolo che pony!”

“… Like I said… a lot of unforeseen developments.”

“I’m glad to hear that, but I can’t expect you to put your lives on the line to help us, Aldo. Your…” Celestia lowered her head within whispering range. “Your chick and your guards will be in danger. And what of your kingdom and countryflock?”

Aldo gave a small, humourless smile. “I am well aware of the risks, Princess Celestia… but I’m afraid certain events have tied my talons.”

“What do you mean?”

“… I received a letter from overseas not too long ago…” Aldo began with a sigh. “My home has just entered a state of emergency which makes travel by boat and airship impossible.”

“What?” Celestia’s eyebrows drew together in concern. She briefly glanced to read the expressions of the guards and saw their expressions and body language turn forlorn on hearing their Marquees’ words. “A state of emergency?”

“Violaziones…” Aldo answered grimly. One of his talons tapped against the dirt. “Dozens of them suddenly opening and allowing the creatures from the other world to spill in. Most of them occurred in major cities and a lot of their services are down. For the time being… we are stuck here.”

“I’m so sorry.”

Aldo nodded, grateful for her sympathetic words, and continued. “I have seen the true face of the ‘Empress’ and I do not like it. Even when I first met her, I debated whether or not to return home and it was only because she had the means to close the portals did I remain. However…” He turned to look off in the distance, at the mountain that rose up high on the horizon and the city that had been built into its cliffs. “Last night… things took a turn for the worst.”

Celestia didn’t like that; not one bit. A chill went down her spine as she wetted her lips and said, “Blueblood mentioned that Nightmare Moon and her forces were preoccupied? What did he mean by that?”

Aldo continued staring at the distant city for a few moments longer before finally facing her, expression grim. “Last night, an enemy force invaded Canterlot; they were intelligent, dressed for war, and unresponsive to any attempts at diplomacy.”

“No…” Celestia pressed a bare hoof against her lips as her mind instantly filled with horrific images. “Are… are they still there? What of the populace?”

“Canterlot is not burning as far as I can see and the enemy seemed more interested in capturing than killing,” Aldo frowned deeply. “Some tried to attack us, but my guards were able to dispatch them. They are… You have heard of Fumo Demoni? Wisp Knights?” Celestia nodded. “Imagine that, but on a smaller scale and made of flesh and blood instead of smoke. You, princess, are actually taller than all of them, though I and most ponies will only reach just above their waists.”

“… I had feared something like this,” Celestia shook her head in dismay. “Ever since we became aware that the Fractures were letting in things from another universe, I had feared of something sapient and powerful catching wind of our existence.”

“Sapient, perhaps, but far from powerful,” Aldo reassured her with a sympathetic nod. “They bleed just as anything else underneath their armor and, as much as it pains me to say this, I have faith that Nightmare Moon will be able to drive them out of Canterlot, if she hasn’t already.”

Celestia didn’t want to paint her foe in any sort of positive light, but she couldn’t help but hope the same thing, that Nightmare Moon would rise to defend Canterlot. It wouldn’t be out of genuine empathy or concern – not with that demon, parasite, whatever she was – but out of pride and the reluctance to see her playground ruined by anything besides herself.

She shook her head again, sadly. “And you chose then to leave the city?”

“I fear the price for gaining Nightmare Moon’s aid in closing the Violaziones in the Griffon Kingdom is too high for my tastes,” Aldo grimaced sourly at a memory that left a bad taste in his mouth. “And with the sudden interference of this new enemy… I doubt she will be even parting with the Resonator anytime soon. I was already toying with the decision to come find you when I had heard of your escape and what happened last night only cemented my choice.”

“I see. Marquess… Aldo, I am touched that you want to help, but I fear for your lives.”

“It’s not as if we’d be safer in the city or back in the kingdom, especially if this new enemy can use Violaziones to appear anywhere,” Aldo countered and then grinned. “Truthfully, I can think of no safer place in Equestria than here.”

‘But can I even protect you? I couldn’t protect Twilight, couldn’t save her, couldn’t…’

Celestia chased the dark thoughts from her head. Too many ‘what if’s and ‘couldn’t’s that would do nothing but drag her down and her heart heavy.

“I’m flattered you think that, Aldo…” She said, stifling the unease that she felt. “If you truly want to help, then I’m not going to turn it down. Welcome to Ponyville.”

“Oh Faust! The backwater is strong with this one!”

Several looks of disdain and exasperation were directed at Blueblood as he curled his lip distastefully at Big Mac, innocently dragging along a wagon full of apples.

Celestia sighed. ‘Oh dear…’

“Tell me, stallion that places the ‘country’ after ‘bumpkin’ with gusto – do you enjoy the set of joker cards fate has so cruelly dealt to you?”

Big Mac came to a stop and gazed levelly at the smaller stallion, a stick of hay twitching in the corner of his mouth. “Hmm… Ah ain’t you, so can’t be tha’ cruel.”

“Wha-? Pfft! Blagh?!” Blueblood recoiled, completely speechless as he watched the offending farm pony walk off at his own leisure pace. “Th-the nerve! The nerve, I say! Mayor Mare, your sway of power over these commoners is deplorable! Mayor Mare?”

“She left, genius.”

Gilda’s remark sent Blueblood into another fit of outraged splutters and Celestia was quick to go to his side before he had an aneurysm.

“Come now, Blueblood,” Celestia gently soothed the flushed stallion and guided him in the direction of the library. “Why not try and relax? I’m sure Luna would love to catch up with you.”

Blueblood accepted the remark at face value, oblivious to any sarcasm in any shape, way, and form. “Y-yes, a spectacular idea. Oh, and somepony will need to bring my luggage, too. Where is the nearest servant?”

Celestia looked back at Aldo helplessly and he replied with a ‘dunno’ shrug. “Oh, I’ll get that. There’s no need to-”

“Preposterous!” Blueblood politely excused himself from Celestia’s guiding foreleg and trotted back to the luggage. “You should have no need to bother with such trivial matters! Of course, neither should I, but if the help around here is so incompetent that they are not at the beck and call at a moment’s notice, then I suppose I will have to take the initiative. Stand aside, my avian compatriots, and I shall attend to this.”

Gilda and the guards obeyed, hiding snickers and grins beneath talons and wings as they watched the noble stallion march up to the tower of luggage with purpose in his stride.

…

Celestia rubbed the back of her neck sheepishly as Blueblood struggled. Aldo went to her side and flexed a supportive wing against her back.

“There is always a silver lining, Princess. He’s making an attempt, no?”

“Ugh… We’ll give him a few more minutes, then head to the library. I suppose you can call it our ‘base of operations’. Luna would love to meet with you.”

“As would I.”

“And we’re on the cusp of a method that may put an end to Nightmare Moon.”

Aldo blinked in pleasant surprise. “Truly? That is wonderful news.”

“It is…” Celestia’s brief smile waned as her gaze was drawn back to the horizon, to the far-off city.

‘But I wonder how we are going to implement it… Stay strong, my faithful student. We’ll be back for you… I promise.’

“…”

“…”

“…”

“…”

“So…” Spike grunted as he uncrossed his legs and lay flat on his belly, using his arms as cushions to rest his head. “Do you have to say everything in rhyme?”

Zecora’s gaze didn’t shift; her eyes remained locked onto a small pile of disturbed earth as she replied, “No… but it’s expected back in my home.”

“Doesn’t that get difficult?”

“It is easier there than here; Equestrian has so many variances, and quite honestly, I find it queer.”

“… Ever started a sentence you realized you couldn’t rhyme?”

Zecora’s lips twitched into a smirk. “‘Orange’ and ‘purple’ are my bane; I recall when I first used them and had to trail off in vain.”

“Huh…” Spike looked back at the dirt pile, mused quietly for a few seconds, and then looked back at Zecora. “What about… ‘forage’ and ‘hurtful’?”

“…” Zecora pouted, a surprisingly immature act from one Spike thought of as being very wise and mature. “Well, here is one sentence I just don’t want to rhyme now.”

Spike couldn’t help it; he laughed, loudly.

“Sounds like you two have finally gotten heat stroke, hm?” Virtue chuckled and approached them with a plate carrying two glasses, one of chilled water and the other chilled juice.

Spike eagerly sat up as Virtue levitated the plate lower so he could get his claws around the glass, saying his thanks and taking a long sip as the plate then floated over to Zecora.

“You jest, dear Virtue…” Zecora grinned as she gratefully took the glass of water. “It is winter and this day is cool.”

“Right – just making sure your brains aren’t cooked eggs,” He chuckled again. “Seriously though, you two have been out here since we got up,” Virtue jerked his head in the direction of the treehouse. “You sure you don’t want to come in?”

“Nah, I’m good staying out here,” Spike said with a satisfied sigh. He had drained the glass within seconds, crunched the ice cubes and everything. “I can sleep in when the weather starts getting colder.”

Zecora hid a sad smile behind the rim of her glass.

She knew that Spike wanted to hang around her because he saw Zecora as a surrogate for his missing caretaker, Twilight. Having somepony to follow and perform menial tasks for gave him a sense of routine and filled the space in his heart that formed when Twilight was captured.

Zecora let him do things for her because of that small amount of peace he got and she suspected he would want to do even more after getting his hopes dashed upon hearing that Twilight…

She shook her head.

“The time for the cleansing joke to bloom is drawing near,” Zecora looked up at the sun to check its position. “It will not be unusual for it bloom early either, so I would rather be here.”

“Really?” Virtue’s gaze went to the pile of dirt that seemed so bland for the importance it represented. “So how’s it going to bloom? Spike told me about some truth seed you planted a while ago and how it just sprung up in, like… two seconds.”

“The name and beneficial properties are are a mislead…” Zecora took her eyes off the dirt to fully face Virtue. “The truth is that it will look more like a weed. But looks can deceive; the spindly plant that will grow here is the final and most potent ingredient that our mixture needs.”

“And when we add it… it’ll kill Nightmare Moon?”

“It will stun the spirit and cleanse Twilight of her presence without a doubt, but for anything more, we will need to see how the spots turn out.”

Virtue frowned. “Spots?”

“On the stalk, there are spots of various colours that determine its potency; the brighter they are, the stronger the mixture will be.”

“So is that good?” Spike asked, pointing at the slender, sickly white shoot stretching out from the dirt.

“Yes, like that,” Zecora pointed to the spots running along the stalk. “Red, green, yellow – the brightness shows…”

She trailed off.

“…”

Virtue and Spike stared blankly at the growing shoot.

Zecora suddenly made a shocked keening noise and scrabbled for the pot she had set aside. “Oh, stars and moons – how could I be so dense?” A few words in her native language spilled out as she grabbed the pot and placed it beside the shoot; it was still growing. “Spike, Virtue – please stay back.”

Virtue grunted and hummed in bewilderment as he took several steps back while Spike shot up onto his feet, asking, “C-can I do anything? Do you need anything? I thought that maybe… Y-you know what? Imma go get the others, is that cool? Is that- okay, I’m going to get them. Hey, guys?! It’s working!”

As Spike ran into the library, his shouts fading in volume, Virtue watched as Zecora muttered under her breath in her native language and did something with her hooves; it looked like she was trying to dig up the earth around the shoot, but then he looked closely and saw that she was drawing small symbols.

And there was definitely magic in the air – even if he hadn’t cast a spell to detect it, there was a distinct tingle in the base of his horn.

‘Faust, that must be some strong magic if I can feel it without trying to…’

The shoot had turned an olive-shade and was about the length of his foreleg while being about half as thick, though it was somewhat curly, so it could have been longer; the spots were many and very bright, and the tip was peeling apart to reveal a singular, dark purple bulb.

Zecora’s sketched symbols gave a white glow before dimming, each one seemingly charging the shoot with magic as it twitched and the bulb flared larger and darker.

Virtue heard the thunder of many footsteps behind him, but didn’t turn to check, and was soon surrounded on each side.

“It’s working?” Celestia asked in a hushed and hopeful whisper.

“See, now this is what I expected when she mentioned a magical concoction.” Sunset drawled with a so-so tone.

“Ah, yes… this.” Blueblood nodded sagely, as if he actually had any inkling as to what was going on.

“Incredible…” The newly-arrived Marquess Aldo muttered.

Zecora stopped sketching symbols and paused for a few long moments, her eyes intense and completely laser-focused.

“…” When the shoot gave one final shudder and went still, a massive grin spread across her face, and she looked up at the row of expectant gazes. “It is done.”

Upon hearing those three words, the row of faces lit up and some cheered happily. The griffons were a bit more composed – mostly because some were still unsure about what the growth of the shoot meant – but even they smiled and laughed along with those who had more in-depth knowledge.

The only one who didn’t truly celebrate was Sunset, though to her credit, she managed a half-hearted smile and raised her voice to say ‘yay’ before falling back into a scowl when an over-exuberant Spike went to hug her leg.

“Ah, if only the other Element bearers could be here…” Luna sighed. She knew it was only natural to want to spend time with your loved ones after such an ordeal, but still…

“Now all need be done is to add the cleansing joke…” Zecora swiped her brow with one hoof, a shiver of relief going down her spine at such a successful…

…

Odd – the shiver was still going down her spine… and now her ears were twitching.

Zecora’s smile slowly fell as a chill went through her body. It was a very strange sensation, but not wholly unfamiliar. It was the feeling she often got whenever she saw any of the creatures that arrived…

Through the Fractures…

“…!” Zecora gasped softly and turned around, praying that perhaps she was mistaken, or that it was a different type of danger altogether. “No, no…”

Celestia was the first to notice the zebra’s distress. “Zecora? Are you…” The princesses’ initial joy slowly grew cold and was replaced with worry and concern. “Are you okay?”

Zecora glanced over at her after doing a full turn, moved her lips as if to say something… and then turned her head skywards.

Even her stripes went pale.

And when Celestia followed her gaze, she understood why.

Vmmmmm

“Fracture!” She shouted in horror as the unnatural, white light grew from a single dot and started zig-zagging across empty air. It droned a mind-numbing note and flashed rapidly, as if struggling to maintain its own existence. “Everyone! Get-!” Celestia puffed out her wings and pushed those closest to her – Virtue and Aldo – back. “Get away!”

‘No, no! Why? Why here? Why now?’

The anomaly drew a crowd: passing earth ponies and unicorns stopped on the streets and pointed in shocked awe while flying pegasi quickly made an effort to put as much distance between them and Fracture.

But it seemed as though distance had no visual effect, for pegasi that were yards away could see the Fracture clearly, as though it was right in front of them. The fact that everything else was gradually shrinking as they flew away just made things even more confusing and they clutched the sides of their heads, teeth clenched and eyes watery as pain lanced through their skulls.

VMMMMMM

The light grew stronger and the sporadic flashes came more frequently, effectively making it impossible to stare lest one have a seizure. Those directly underneath the Fracture could feel something akin to static electricity dancing across their bodies – even if they knew, somehow, that it wasn’t the static they knew – and the dreadful drone grew both lower and higher in pitch, steadily reaching a crescendo that made it hard to even think until-

A booming roar cut in sharply, as if a record player had been put back on play. It was a sound both organic and not.

CLANK

Vmmmm

The terrible droning note faded and so did the Fracture’s unnatural, burning light. Everyone was free to look back up without being blinded…
Straight at the Wisp Knight that was splayed out on its belly.

Blueblood’s pupils shrunk to pinpoints. “Uh… O-oh my…”

The Wisp Knight’s helmet rotated a full 180 degrees to reveal a jagged tear in the metal that ran down its faceplate lengthwise. There were no eyes to be seen in the black smoke that churned within, but there was no doubt that it was staring directly at him.

The Wisp Knight violently shuddered and its right hand curled around the hilt of a longsword, small compared to the creature, but frighteningly large to everyone else; the worn and chipped blade was a little over half the length of Celestia’s body.

“A-ah…” Zecora was behind the Wisp Knight and her shaky inhale drew its attention. The helmet continued rotating until it had completed 270 degrees and met the zebra’s stare. “…”

Zecora looked down at the cleansing joke and the clay pot.

The Wisp Knight shuddered again and pushed up onto its hands and knee; one knee because the right leg was missing, the cut – a very messy one – being made by something sharp and very heavy. Black smoke gushed out of the hole as if it was blood.

“…” Celestia saw Zecora’s gaze and charged up her magic before saying, “Zecora. Move away.”

“…” Zecora looked at the Wisp Knight and then back at the cleansing joke.

The Wisp Knight gave a low, blood-curdling growl that trailed off into a draconic hiss.

“Zecora. I don’t want you to get hurt,” Celestia licked her lips and felt her sister’s magic as well. “Just slowly… move… awa-”

Zecora lunged for the sprout.

The Wisp Knight dug the claws of its gauntlets into the dirt and pushed off into the air, shrieking wildly and bringing its sword in an overhead swing as its prey moved to protect the sprout.

“DIIIIEE!!”

Author's Notes:

Note 1: Wisp Knight Sword - a worn and brittle longsword that would be unwieldy to any without strength and size equivalent to that of a Wisp Knight.

The weapons of Wisp Knights are designed to reflect their unnatural and tormented state in order to strike fear into the hearts of their foes. A great majority of the Wisp Knight armaments would be far more effective and durable if they were forged with practicality in mind rather than intimidation. Perhaps this is why the ability to produce blasts of concussive force was added, to balance out the ineffectiveness.

The Wisp Knight that wields this sword recalls the name ‘Anastasia’ with the resonance of rage.

Note 2: Cleansing Joke - originating in Northern Zebrica, the cleansing joke is distantly related to poison joke, but its effects are far more beneficial and are used in several popular Zebrican concoctions that are devised by shamans and witch doctors.

The maturation of a cleansing joke can be sped up dramatically through cultivation techniques known by zebra shamans. They do not keep these techniques a secret and are glad to teach, but the techniques require zebra magic, which is different to the magic prevalent in ponies, griffons, and dragons in the same way salt water is different to fresh water.

Currently, cleansing joke is quite endangered, so it is only used in the most dire of circumstances, and no shaman would see it go to waste.

Note 3: Griffons can fly in their sleep. It's not recommended and frowned upon, especially by owners of expensive windows.