Raven was content, happy even to be back and asleep in her own bed. It was the perfect temperature as well, not too cold and not too warm. The sheets were clean, the bed soft. Nothing could ruin this moment.

She flinched however, when a tiny pair of claws landed on her forehead.

Raven groaned.

There went that moment of serenity...

With a second groan, the princess opened her eye and glared up at the creature that decided to use the exact moment to perch himself atop her forehead. Staring down at her was her new black and white pet magpie, Stardust. The obnoxious little bird continued to stare down at the woman, his head turning every which way as he examined his owner's less than pleased features.

Stardust chirped, clearly demanding attention.

Raven let out another frustrated groan at being awoken and disturbed so rudely and closed her eye, rolling onto her side and causing the avian to jump and flutter in the air briefly with a couple frantic wing beats as she turned over to go back to sleep. It was just after sunrise and still too early to get up. She liked her sleep when she earned it. Which she did.

Stardust landed back on the side of her head.

Raven let out yet another frustrated groan. "What?" she moaned to the magpie. "It's too early for this…"

Stardust hopped a quarter turn, then a second time with another quarter turn, paused, did a third turn before finally coming full circle back to his starting position with a chirp. Honestly, the human was so unsure as to whether or not he was actually as smart as she had been told he had been or was just trying to act dumb for attention. She continued to ignore the avian as best as she could with him still perched on her noggin.

Leaning over her face, Stardust chittered and chirped softly before he let out a very loud caw and flapping his wings.

Raven flinched at the ear-piercing noise that was let out directly in her left ear. Out of frustration, she growled angrily and slapped at the magpie, sending her pet bird into a frenzy of frantic wing beats and squawks before he quickly took off and flew around the room a couple of times.

He landed back on her head a minute later.

"What…" the human groaned.

He chittered softly before leaning over her face yet again.

Then, he pecked her on the forehead.

"Ow!" Raven yelped, immediately sitting up and grabbing at her throbbing forehead. "What? What did I do!" she seethed, glaring at the bird as he circled above before coming back and landing on top of her head yet again. She continued to glare at Stardust before letting out a defeated sigh. It appeared that he was not going to leave her alone. "What?" she asked a third time, defeated.

Stardust once again clocked his beak against her metal eye patch, which made a loud clicking noise that reverberated throughout her skull. He did it again, and again, and again, eventually settling on a constant rhythm of pecking. Raven stared at her wall with a bemused expression, slowly licking her lips.

He liked the noise it made.

"Stardust?" she asked, causing the bird to pause, adjusting himself atop her head to turn and look at her one good eye. "Could you please stop that?" she smiled, asking kindly.

Click.

Raven immediately frowned.

He really liked the sound it made. Now truly defeated and bested by the tiny avian, Raven slumped as her pet shamelessly clicked away at her eyepatch, occasionally biting at its surface and clicking his beak together. Admitting her defeat and with sleep no longer a viable option, the princess knew she was no longer going to go back to her cozy bed so she might as well get up. Raven tossed her sheets aside, Stardust never moving as he played with her eyepatch.

The human was about halfway towards her dresser when she felt the bottom of Stardust's black beak work its way under her patch. Before she could reach up and stop him, the magpie had already removed her eye patch with a jerk, popping it right off her face.

"Hey!" Raven immediately protested, but it was too late. Stardust had already taken to the skies and well out of reach. She didn't even try to jump after him, Stardust was already too high in the air and still very nimble at his age. The avian continued to squawk and circle joyously around the room happily at the acquisition as the human placed her hands on her hips in frustration. "Get down here mister!"

Stardust chirped, mockingly!

There were three knocks on her door that caused the human to turn towards the noise.

"Princess?" a maid asked as she gently opened the door and poking her head in. "Oh, you're awake." The maid fully opened the door and stepped inside, ready to greet the day!

Raven's eye went wide in panic. "No wait close the-" But it was too late. Stardust took his opportunity, beelining his way right for the escape. The little magpie dive bombed towards the maid, roaring right over the mare’s head and causing the poor girl to squeak and duck out of reflex. "Dammit!"

Raven immediately went after her pet, zooming past the surprised maid and her confused guards and out and into the halls of the castle. Dressed in nothing but her panties and a tank top, Raven took off like a bat outta hell, tearing after her pet bird to desperately try to get her patch back.

Her bare feet padded along as the woman ran frantically to try and catch her rascally pet.

She was very much debating whether or not she should have left him in that forest…

Weeks prior.

Somewhere in the eastern bogs just west of Fillydelphia was a small abandoned village located deep within the swamps. Swallowed up by the tests of time and the moss and vines that thrived and survived there. It was there that the princess could find her charge. In the abandoned town only one pony remained, a strange conjure by the name of Cattail, descended of the famed mare by the name of Meadowbrook.

Mage Meadowbrook.

One of the Pillars of Equestria and a healer by trade. A mare so in tune with nature that she had been given the district honor of meeting with the God King Oberon. The last pony to see him in the flesh and earn his blessing.

But the druid was elusive.

Much like many of the animals that populated his woods, he would be seen only when he wanted to be seen. Only those who were worthy could see him in all his glory. But he had not been seen by anypony in centuries. However, it was through Zephyr that she had given the human a few different options for her to do in order to find the missing druid, many of which she would never do. They were guarantees however, but she would never do them.

Like intentionally injure an animal?

No.

Live with a pack of wolves?

Pass.

Burn down the forest?

…

Pretty sure that would end in a serious lawsuit.

Just about everything involved being one with nature in some way or another. Meadowbrook had earned her respect through her ability to heal others with the uses of natural herbs and plants. She also knew how to conserve the natural resources, never once taking more than necessary. She even used her talents to aid the creatures of the forest as well by helping with injuries and illnesses. Meadowbrook loved everything and treated it with the utmost respect.

But that had taken years. Meadowbrook had started her apprenticeship as a mage at a very young age and before her disappearance, had spent nearly every day practicing her craft for almost a decade before she met Oberon during one of her herbal searches.

Raven didn’t have a decade.

So, she opted to go with the least damaging but most embarrassing…

“I can’t believe I am doing this…”

Raven took a deep breath and for the millionth time, surveyed her surroundings and making damn sure that no pony was in the area and watching her. But this was a guarantee, especially if she channeled her energy into the earth. Her best option was to be as natural as possible.

Basically, get naked and walk around while channeling her energy.

Raven shook her head in disbelief as she grabbed at the hem of her shirt but paused. She stared at the cloth before lifting her head and looking to her right and at her warframe. He watched her intently, his gaze still lingering on her hands. “No fancy idea’s now…” she threatened with a point of her finger.

Frost just lifted his head and stared at her in slight confusion.

Raven took another deep breath. Come on, she had done this plenty of times in front of her boyfriend and she was more than comfortable with her body! So why the hell was she so nervous all of the sudden? Perhaps it was due to the fact that she was alone, and it was solely for one purpose. Then there was also the fact that if any pony got a picture of her naked, it would be the talk of the world.

Raven took one more, deep and somewhat calming inhale. “Okay…” she breathed. With that, she tugged at her shirt, pulling it over her head and folding it as neatly as she could, letting her bra and breasts bounce once before she handed off her shirt to Frost before she quickly reached for her belt and undoing that, then the button on her pants, and unzipping her zipper. The princess lifted her right leg and tugged at her shoestrings before removing her shoe and sock in one jerk. She shuddered at the disgusting feeling of the muck and mud oozing between her toes. It was warm, wet, and vile all around. She barely even started this whole debacle and the princess felt so violated that a shower was in order. It took a little bit more time, but eventually, her left foot soon joined her right and the unfortunate woman let out a disgusted whimper.

Raven was a bit of a tomboy that had no qualms with playing in the mud and getting dirty when need be. But there was something about swamp muck that was just wrong. The water was nasty and undrinkable; the mud was thick like molasses and it stank. That’s not including the fact that it seemed to stick to everything.

With extra caution, Raven tugged at her shorts, pulling them past her knees and easing her muddy feet through the leg holes. It was a miracle she didn’t get any mud on the inside of them. Now left in her matching black underwear, the young woman's pants joined her shirt in Frost’s arms before she reached behind her back and unclasped her bra, easing it off her breasts and shoving the article at Frost, who gently took the garment. Raven grabbed the hem of her panties and quickly shoved them down her legs with such ferocity that put the best strippers to shame. Much like her shorts, she did her best to keep them clean.

Now fully naked -and blushing like a sunburned tomato- it was time to just be over with this embarrassment.

“I am so glad I don’t get off to this shit,” she grumbled, squishing her way into the forest and splattering mud with each step. “I think this will ween me of sex for a month, ugh…”

So she wandered into the woods, soon getting lost within the swamp with no destination in mind. But Raven did as she was told and channeled her energy into the ground, sending out a beacon in hopes of drawing out the sneaky druid. Raven wasn't sure how long she had been wandering for or where she currently was at the moment. So her footsteps seemed to be the loudest noise within the marshland, but she could hear frogs and toads croaking in the distance. There were even large insects, mostly dragonflies that flew between the trees like air small ships. Birds also chirped and sang their little songs.

It was beautiful, actually, in its own way.

Stepping over a fallen log, Raven continued to stare into the canopy. That mistake however, would cost her as she was not looking at her footing. Just as the princess was bringing her other leg over the rotten log, it was then that she lost her footing.

“Shit!” Raven cursed, falling backwards and making a very loud and wet splat as she landed back first in the thick and gooey mud. The poor girl was speechless, holding her arms up at her sides to keep from getting more mud on her already soiled body.

As if it would matter at this point.

Her initial shock however, slowly morphed into anger as the tenno threw her head back, screaming like a child and slamming her fists into the mud, which only covered more of her bare skin in thick muck. “FUCK!” she cursed, but her anger did not last. Why would it? She was covered in muck and nothing less than a good shower would fix the issue. Raven could feel the warm water ooze into places that it should never have or ever be allowed to have access to. She really hoped that her cleaning didn’t involve a high-powered hose between her legs…

With a defeated sigh, the human used the log as a crutch and pulled herself into standing position. “I hope I don’t get a rash from this…” Once her feet had a firm purchase in what she was now sure was nothing less than raw sewage at this point, only then did she shake her arms and send some of that muck flying. Raven did her best to wipe the muck from her body, mostly her legs, but it was all in vain.

She did her best to clean her crotch, to no good avail…

It was useless…

She was actually about to cry and could feel it coming on too.

Raven sniffled as a lone tear worked its way down her cheek and dripped into the water below with a soft bloop. It was followed by another and another before it became a steady stream of tears. The poor girl eventually lost all control, sobbing loudly as she finally admitted her defeat. She was filthy, naked, and felt like a cheap whore. The distraught woman turned around, planting herself on the log with a wet splat and resting her elbows on her knees and just sobbed.

Her body was starting to itch. She felt disgusted. Violated in so many ways and just desperately wanted to go home.

There was suddendly a chirp next to her.

The princess swore she was just hearing things, that it was just some animal off in the distance, so she just ignored the cry for help.

It happened again, then came a long string of them. Through her tears, the young human slowly turned her head to the right and towards the sound. Sitting next to her on the log, left wing limp at its side was a little magpie chick, not very old by the looks of it but old enough to have fledged. But he was hurt, very much so that he couldn't fly. He seemed to have noticed the human and came to her for aid. So, he hopped close to her, begging desperately for aid.

"Hey little guy," Raven sniffled, wiping her nose with one of the few clean spots on the back of her arm before she reached out with both hands, cupping them around the chick. "You look hurt."

She pulled him in close, easing the little fella onto her lap for examination. He stared up at her with that look of pain and anguish in his eyes that begged for help. He clearly needed that help and she was the only one who could provide it. So, Raven gently grasped at his limp wing, carefully lifting it so that she could examine it for further injuries. The skin wasn't broken, and it didn't appear to be broken either, perhaps sprained?

Thinking on her feet, Raven tenderly released the wing, letting the little guy rest before she reached over and pulled some loose strips of bark free from the rotten log. She measured them out to the length of his wing and snapping them to an appropriate length before grabbing at some vines that grew on the log as well. Lastly, she peeled off some soft moss as a buffer before she began working.

"This is probably gonna hurt little fella," she warned the magpie. Gingerly, she rested his wing atop one of the strips of bark and moss before sandwiching it with the other strip. Finally, she did her best to keep the splint snug and not to lose nor too tight as she tied it off with the vine. All the while the little chick let her work, doing his best to stay still. "There," she finished with the last knot. "That should hold till we get you to a vet."

"There is no need."

Raven jumped, holding the equally startled magpie close with one hand and using the other to cover her breasts while she crossed her legs to protect her crotch. The woman immediately looked over her shoulder and watched in awe as the being she had been searching for wandered his way around the log and in front of the human.

Oberon, God Kind of the Forests and Guardian of Nature.

Like the minotaurs far to the east, he stood on a pair of cloven hooves and skinny legs. The two pieces of his robe that draped down each leg were beautiful and looked like butterfly wings that molded up and into what almost looked like roots of a tree. Small pedals that resembled his robe protruded from his shoulders and forearms. His helmet was smooth save for the two vertical V shaped notches and six glowing orbs that almost resembled eyes. Lastly, a pair of curved horns with more leaves sprouting from them adorned his head. The final thing that Raven had noticed was the dark flowing cloak that covered his back.

As if to finish off the true druid of the wood’s vibe, dark purple lotus flowers randomly appeared and fluttered to the ground before disappearing just as fast as they appeared.

"May I?" He asked, holding out a single hand.

Raven glanced down at the little excited magpie chick that was squirming within her grasp. "Uh… sure… here."

She handed the little guy off and used her now free hand to protect her modesty.

"You know," Oberon started as he held up the little chick. "Sometimes, we all deserve a little compassion."

Raven watched with deep interest as the warframe began to heal the wound with a beam of violet energy, the little magpie chick chirping and squawking with joy as the pain seemed to seep away.

"There," Oberon said happily before he began to untie the splint.

A smile worked its way onto the princess' features as she watched the chick jump and flutter with joy. He took to the air, happily circling the warframe, who let out a deep, but joyous laugh.

Raven couldn't help but titter softly as the little guy came full circle and back to her, landing atop her head and perching himself there.

"Seems he likes you."

She glanced up at the chick, then back to the warframe. "So, it would seem," she smiled.

"So, tell me. What is a human doing in my woods… and naked at that?" Oberon inquired.

Raven's blush returned in full force as she shrank on her log, her grip tightening around her body. "Uhm… Zephyr told me this was a surefire way to find you," she admitted, averting her gaze.

"Oh? And what does my feathered friend seek?"

"Less about your feathered friend and more about your priest friend Harrow," she explained, looking back up at him. The chick perched on top of her noggin settled into a nesting position. "He wanted me to find you. Along with the rest of your squad."

The warframe hummed in thought at the news, rubbing his chin with a lengthy finger. "Hmm… and what of the others?" he asked, holding his hand out in question.

"Other than Zephyr, they should be waiting at the castle above the Tree of Life," she explained, shuddering as a light breeze ran across her skin.

The mud was also starting to dry…

"Then I shall head there post haste," he replied with a nod.

"Uh… before you go…" Raven asked softly, causing the warframe to look down at the bare human. "How come you have been treating me with respect?"

"What do you mean?"

"Everyone else has tried to kill me," she admitted.

Oberon didn't reply immediately as he thought about his response. "I buried my hatchets years ago with the Orokin. It brought me nothing but useless anger. That, and you are clearly not Orokin."

"Thank you!" Raven shouted, throwing her hands into the air.

She glanced down.

Both her hands immediately snapped back to where they had been a moment prior, her bluch returning in full.

"You may want these," Oberon offered, holding out a set of makeshift underwear made from vines and large leaves.

Raven stared at the makeshift garments before she let out a defeated sigh. She took them with one hand and quickly put them on. A pair of large leaves covered her groin and buttocks respectively while a different pair of leaves covered her breasts.

"Thank you…"

"You're very welcome," Oberon replied with a curt bow. "There is a clean pool not too far from here that you may clean up at. I shall lead you there if you would like?"

"That would be greatly appreciated," the human thanked the warframe as she stood.

That was also the day Stardust became her new best friend.

But boy was he being a particular pain in the ass today…

Bubbles let out a less than feminine and not so professional snort of a laugh as she watched her favorite princess tear past her and down the hallway leading towards the dining hall in nothing but her underwear. No amount of shouting or threats phased the determined magpie as he raced his way far ahead of his owner.

With patch in beak and dining hall door wide open, the magpie shot into the dining hall and out of sight.

Celestia was already at her seat, waiting patiently and occasionally sipping from her cup of tea as she read the morning paper.

"Get back here mister!"

The princess lowered her paper just in time to see her daughter's new pet swoop into the room and head towards the highest perch within the dining hall. He also appeared to have something in his beak. Her daughter padded in not too long after him.

She stared at her half naked daughter with a blank expression before going back to her paper.

"I know this is technically our house, but you just can't walk around half naked everywhere," Celestia chastised, raising her paper and going back to her reading. "Ponies do work here after all." Raven glanced towards her mother, panting slightly from her lengthy jog through the castle. "What is your new pet doing anyway?"

"He took my eye patch," Raven explained with a vertical swipe of her arm before letting it slap her bare thigh. The human glanced over her shoulder at the sound of hoof beats clicking against the floor. "Also, you might want to tell Aunt Luna what you just told me…."

Celestia furrowed her brow, frowned and swiftly lowered her paper before her eyes went wide.

"LUNA WHY ARE YOU NAKED!?"

Raven ignored her mother's quarrel with her aunt. She had bigger fish to fry.

Like trying not to kill her new pet magpie.

"Stardust you come down here his instant!" she shouted, pointing a finger at her feet.

He just placed her patch on his perch, holding it in place with his claw atop the piece of metal and…

Pecked at it.

Raven pursed her lips…

"Don't make me sick Philomena on you!"

That caught his attention, his head snapping up at the name.

Philomena had taken -pun not intended- the lost chick under her wing. She took care of him and watched over him as if the magpie was her own chick. She loved him with all her heart.

She was also a cruel bitch when she had to be. The phoenix handed out punishment without remorse or hesitation.

Stardust stared at his human as if silently asking, 'you wouldn't dare…'

Raven narrowed her eye threateningly.

She took a deep breath.

That was warning number one.

The princess pursed her lips in preparation for a very loud whistle.

That was his second warning.

Stardust didn't want to tempt fate and he jumped with a yelp, letting out a panicked squawk with a flare of his wings before he grabbed the patch with his beak and dove towards his human.

With a victorious smile, Raven held out her right arm for the avian to land on. He gently fluttered onto her wrist, to which she held out her left hand expectantly. The magpie forked over his toy and kept his head low and gaze averted as Raven placed her patch back where it belonged over her right eye before she glared disapprovingly at her pet.

But she couldn't stay mad at him.

Stardust shied away further, going as far as inching his way down her arm. The little chick was pleasantly surprised however when he felt her fingers begin to scratch at his neck feathers.

"You're a goofball, but you're my goofball," the princess giggled as she began to run her fingernails across his skin and through his head feathers. Stardust chirped happily and apologetically, crawling up her arm and eventually perching himself on her shoulder.

He gave her a loving nuzzle.

She returned the gesture in kind, rubbing her cheek across the top of his head before she gave him a soft kiss as well. With loving nuzzles and kisses received, Stardust made a leap for the top of her head, gently grabbing her hair in his claws and beak and pulling himself onto his favorite perch. The little magpie swayed with each step as the human padded her way towards the table, just in time to see her mother fall back into her own seat with a sigh.

"I swear, taking care of one child was hard enough …" Celestia mumbled exasperatedly as she held a hand to her head.

"In my defense, I had a fairly reasonable excuse," Raven replied as she pulled out her chair and sat down. "I'm also partially clothed as well," she said as she grabbed Stardust and gently set him on the table.

He immediately hopped away and towards the fruit platter in the center on the table. Philomena swooped into view not a moment later and landed next to her loving chick, happily nuzzling him.

"He stole my eye patch."

The phoenix paused, then pulled back before knocking her unruly chick on the top of the head with the bottom of her beak. Stardust flinched, holding both of his wings to shelter the new lump on his head as his mother glared disapprovingly down at him. Philomena pointed towards Raven with a wing and a squawk before crossing them over her breast. Stardust got the message and grabbed a grape before scurrying across the table and towards his human with wings flailing like a frantic child.

Raven rolled her eye playfully and held her arms out. But the poor boy was so scared that not only did he run straight to her, but the little magpie jumped right down her shirt headfirst. He wiggled partway down her bosom before he stopped moving, feeling as though he was more than hidden from danger.

Both Celestia and Raven giggled at the sight of Stardust's feathered butt and legs as they stuck out of the human’s top.

He whimpered pathetically…

"Come here you," Raven softly stated, pulling her top out with one hand as the other gently grasped the magpie and pulled him free. She gave him a reassuring kiss on the beak before placing him back on the table and holding him close to her breast, rubbing his head feathers tenderly.

Philomena hopped her way over towards the duo with a grape in her beak, glaring all the way at her chick. Once she was close enough, the pheonix dropped the grape with a soft thud as she settled in next to the chick, who had been averting his gaze as he nommed away at his own grape in shame. The flame paterened avian rested a wing atop his back and snuggled in next to her son.

It was at that moment that Raven caught a glimpse of something strange happening out a nearby window.

There was a bright flash of light before a dark purple hue bled through the windows, bathing the room in a violet tint.

"Mom, what is going on?" Raven worriedly asked.

Celestia, who had turned back to glance out the nearest window.

It has begun.

"Sweetie," Celestia said with the utmost seriousness as she turned back towards her worried looking daughter. "A threat has been made in lieu of the wedding." The solar mare glanced back towards the window as if to fully confirm her statement. "Shining Armor has deployed his shield. We're officially on lockdown."

One of the many protocols the guard could enact in times of danger. It was not often when the military would enact such extreme measures, but when it was, it was of the utmost seriousness. Many were having flashbacks.

"Where do you want me?"

"You," Celestia pointed at her daughter who was now holding both pets that much closer. "Are to help with the guard. We are cracking down on laziness, doubling patrols, and doing everything we can to make sure this attack never happens."

"Hopefully that is enough of a deterrent," Raven stated.

"Indeed."

"What of the wedding?" Raven asked, trying to lighten the mood, regardless of the massive shield looming overhead.

"Twilight and her friends should be here in a few days to help with preparation," Celestia explained as Raven suppressed the urge to groan. "You are to be Cadance's lead bridesmaid as you know."

Raven nodded.

"I get the joy of juggling both the wedding and this latest debacle…" Celestia bemoaned. "But don't hesitate to ask Luna, or even Moony for help."

"Moony?" Raven raised a brow.

"Nightmare hates it, so I pester her with it," Celestia smiled cheekily before going back to her more serious tone and look. "This is a perfect opportunity to strike a serious blow to the Equestrian hierarchy. With all the princesses, the captain of the guard and the rest of the royal family in attendance, we are at serious risk of attack."

"All of us in one place? For sure."

"Which is why I also want guards with you at all times," the matriarch ordered. "I know how much you don't like it, but we can't be taking unnecessary risks.”

“I think I can suffer through it for the foreseeable future,” Raven commented with a shrug. “We don’t need a repeat.”

“Indeed.”

With that, both mother and daughter shared their morning meal and discussed further plans for the wedding. Luna eventually returned -fully clothed this time- and joined in on the discussion and grabbed her own meal. Celestia was also kind enough to get her daughter a pair of pants before she left the room.

So, with belly full, magpie on head, and a lot to think about, the human wandered her way back towards her room so that she could fully change into something more comfortable and begin her day. As she rounded one of the last corners that lead to her room when she spotted Cadance headed right towards her. This was perfect, as the human princess needed to discuss something with her pony cousin.

“Cadance?” Raven smiled, causing the mare to lift her head from where she had been staring at the floor. “Are you okay? You look lost?”

The mare furrowed her brow and frowned. “I’m fine!” she snapped, causing the human to reel back slightly at the harsher tone. "And why do you have that… creature on your head?"

It almost sounded like Cadance wanted to say pest but kept it slightly more… 'civilized.'

"That's Stardust."

Cadance narrowed her gaze and cocked her head to the left slightly.

"My new pet?"

Still not ringing a bell.

"It's not important," Raven dismissed with a wave. "How are the preparations going?"

"Fine!" Cadance snapped again and casing Raven to furrow her brow in confusion. "Why does everypony keep asking!" she shouted this time, throwing her arms into the air. "Look, I have enough stress as it is! So just… leave me alone!" Cadance spat. With that, the mare stormed past the human and down the hallway.

Raven was dumbfounded. Terribly confused as she turned back slightly to see her cousin stomp around the corner.

"Niece Raven."

The human turned back towards the voice and was surprised to see Nightmare Moon approaching her from the same direction Cadance had come from.

"Did you hear any of that?" Raven asked with a point of her thumb over her shoulder.

"Indeed," Nightmare replied with a nod of her head and a frustrated look in her eye. "She snapped at us earlier." The dark mare came to a halt before the human and crossed her arms under her armored breasts. The mare was wearing her iconic armor, most likely in lieu of recent events. "Something is not right."

Raven glanced back over her shoulder. "I agree, Nightmare."

"Nightshine."

"Pardon?" the human asked as she turned back towards the mare.

"Our name," Nightmare replied. "Call us Nightshine."

"Okay…" That was going to take some getting used too. Whatever, there was a bigger issue. "Anyway, you're correct, something seems off about Cadance. She's usually not this… hostile. Even in her most stressful moments, she has never acted like this. She usually cries."

"Doth thou think it is because of the wedding?"

"I'm the head bridesmaid," Raven responded. "I'm supposed to be helping with the wedding. She knows that she can confide in me. The fact that she hasn't worries me." The human followed the mare's lead and crossed her arms as well. "Keep your eyes sharp and ears to the wind. Something's up. And I don't like it."

"Will do."

"Keep me informed as well."

"You have my word," Nightmare -er- Nightshine replied before both royals bid their farewells.

Author's Notes:

Uhm, since it is the month of spooks, I don't know if I am going to do a holiday chapter. I've started something, but I really don't have a middle for it. So well see.