Author's Notes:

Sorry for the long wait. I've been busy with the new project. The Herd Life (General Version.) It's the same as Herd Life but with the clop bits removed for those who don't like that stuff or are too young. I am doing this in preparation for a audio drama that will be based on this story.

In a secluded part of the forest, a Unicorn and an Earth Pony faced each other as they prepared to battle.

Holding herself delicately balanced on her hooves, Starless gazed steadily at her fearsome opponent. Carefully positioning her hooves, she shifted her grip on her short spear, a gift given to her by Ground, and lunged forward to attack. Her hooves flew across the turf as she closed on her enemy. Ground reacted to her attack; he hefted up a massive log next to him and heaved it at her. With a lightness of step that was as fluid as she was lovely, Starless easily sidestepped the missile as it crashed down next to her with a thunderous crash.

Focusing her power, Starless hurled a bolt of magic at him, but it shattered when he viciously backhoofed it away with a swing of his massive hoof. Starless smiled when she felt her heart race with the thrill of their fight. In quick succession, she fired two more bolts at him as she closed in, her spear held ready for a quick slash.

Rearing up, Ground quickly crossed his hooves and let her magic slam into them, protecting himself from her bolts as they shattered around him. Regaining his stance, Ground readied his own spear as Starless closed on him. Focusing on a spot just behind him, Starless cast a flash-travel spell, vanishing mid stride just as they were about to come together, reappearing moments later behind him as she charged at his unprotected rear.

If Ground was surprised at her sudden shift of attack, he didn't show it, as he swiftly bucked out his hind hooves at her. Starless was forced to throw herself back to keep her head intact. Shifting his stance, Ground rotated around with a vicious swipe of his spear that nearly took off her ears, as Starless just managed to barely duck under it. Seeing an opening, Starless slashed her short spear at his chest, but he somehow used the back haft of his spear to knock it away before it reached him. Rotating her grip, Starless quickly reversed and thrust at his ribs. To her dismay, Ground caught her spear with his hoof and knocked it out of her mouth with a swipe that sent it flying off into the grass.

Muttering a curse at losing her spear, Starless slammed her eyes shut and cast a dazzle spell right into Ground's face. Shouting out in surprise, Ground fell back as he blinked his eyes. Seeing her opening, Starless brought her leg around and kicked one of Ground's leg. Pain lanced through her leg as it rebounded off of his. It felt like she had kicked a tree! Spinning herself about, Starless bucked out with both of her hooves at his chest as hard as she could.

Instead of feeling her hoof connect with his chest, Starless abruptly felt her leg stop as Ground seized it in his mouth. Letting out a surprised yelp, Starless was suddenly yanked around as her hooves left the ground. The world whirled around her as she was spun around in the air by her back hoof. With a throw of his head, Ground released her and she screamed in terror as she flew through the air. Fighting down her fear, Starless twisted her body just as she hit the ground and managed to roll herself to a painful stop.

Clambering back up to her hooves, Starless turned to meet Ground as he charged at her again. Lifting his spear, he chopped it down at her. Knowing that there was no way she could catch it like he had done to hers, and there was no time for her to use magic, Starless quickly rotated her stance and blocked it with her horn. With a crack, Ground's spear snapped in half as it broke around her horn.

Spitting out his ruined spear, Ground brought his back-hoof around and swept her off her hooves. Landing on the ground, Starless desperately rolled away as Ground slammed his hoof down, just missing crushing her under it. Regaining her hooves, Starless shot a hasty bolt at Ground, striking him in his shoulder and causing him to stagger back a step with a grunt.

Rolling his shoulder, Ground let out a snort and came at her. Starless let out a frightened yelp and flash-traveled a dozen strides away, the limit of her range. Snatching up a large rock in her magic, she hurled it back at Ground who met it with his massive hoof and smashed it into gravel with a single punch.

What was she going to do!? Starless' mind leaped about for any idea that might work. Quickly thinking, she came up with a plan that was as stupid as it was crazy. Letting out a breath, Starless lunged forward and charged. Seeing her coming, Ground set his stance and readied himself. Just before they came together, Starless closed her eyes and cast another dazzle spell. Bright sparks suddenly flashed from her horn as she quickly flash traveled to the air just above Ground.

Dropping down onto his back, Starless wrapped her hooves around his neck and held on tight as Ground began bucking and whirling himself about, attempting to throw her off. Her body slapped and rubbed against his muscled back as she fought to hold herself on. Her grip began to falter and she knew it was only a matter of time until he dislodged her from his back.

With her head snapping back and forth from her wild ride, Starless desperately snatched up something from the grass with her magic just as she felt her hooves slip free. Tumbling through the air, she landed heavily on the ground.

Looking back up, she found Ground standing over her with his hoof poised to strike her down. "This fight is over. You lose. Yield."

"Are you sure about that?" Starless asked, a smile coming to her lips.

A sudden look of alarm flashed across his face when he noticed her glowing horn. Bending his head up, he looked up and saw his broken spear held suspended point-down over him, ready to dispatch him with a flick of her will.

Regaining her hooves, Starless smoothly stepped in close to Ground and set the tip of her glowing horn to his exposed throat. "Do you yield or do I have to kill you?"

"I... yield, " Ground declared, lowering his hoof back to the ground.

Elation surged through Starless. She had defeated him! "Yes!" she shouted in joy as she leapt into the air. "Yes! Yes! Yes!" She chanted, hopping around the stallion like a yearling filly who had been given a strawberry.

Ground watched her victory antics with an amused grin. "Congratulations. You were amazing."

"Are you kidding!?" Starless shouted, turning back to him. "I was scared out of my mind! Everything I tried was useless against you! I was desperate and doing anything I could think of just to keep myself alive! I made so many mistakes. I should never have gotten so close to you! I kept hesitating when I needed to act more quickly and I barely had any strategy whatsoever! I was all over the place."

"Don't be so harsh on yourself," Ground said. "You did wonderfully. You kept your head and recognized when something wasn't working and tried something new until you succeeded. I must admit your final tactic was inspired."

Starless felt her face flush as she looked up and met Ground's proud gaze. Her heart began galloping in her chest like a wild herd of ponies. She suddenly made a decision, one she had been avoiding for much too long. With a quick step forward, Starless pressed her lips to his.

As their bodies embraced, she found his lips were surprisingly soft against hers. Widening her mouth, she welcomed the tender touch of his tongue as it intertwined intimately with hers. She could feel his breath huffing out onto her cheek and she knew he was struggling to control himself. Breaking from the kiss, Starless raised her lips to his ears and whispered the words she had been wanting to say for so long but had been too afraid to utter.

Ground blinked down at her, obviously surprised. Starless smiled back at him as she trotted a few paces away, swishing her tail in an obvious attempt to entice the stallion.

Ground watched her with a yearning look in his eyes before letting out an eager nicker. As he trotted up to her, Starless suddenly flicked her tail into his face before moving out of his reach. Ground was confused for a moment until he saw her look back over her shoulder with a come get me look. Smiling, Ground increased his pursuit.

Swaying her hips and swishing her tail, Starless playfully nipped at Ground as she circled around him. Slowing, she allowed him to come just close enough to reach his muzzle under her tail to take in the scent of her aroused marehood. The sudden feeling of his tongue lapping up along her sensitive, wet folds sent jolts of pleasure shooting through her body as he tasted her sweet nectar.

With her face flushed with heat, Starless leapt forward, racing ahead with Ground hot on her hooves. She danced and wove herself around as she led Ground around in a merry chase. Ground's ears were pinned forward as he snorted his eagerness. Staying just out of his reach, Starless would nip or buck at him whenever he drew too close to her, forcing him to keep himself just out of her reach.

Frustrated at being denied his mare, Ground suddenly reared up and pawed his hooves in the air as he let out a bellowing whinny. Lunging forward, Ground blocked her way with his powerful body, forcing her to stop. Starless froze in surprise as he lowered his muzzle to the top of her neck to sniff at her, his hot breath panting out across her coat in great puffs. Feeling his touches as he loomed over her, Starless couldn't help lifting her tail to fan her aroused scent into the air, enticing her chosen stallion. Ground sniffed and let out an eager snort as he began to bump her around, trying to get at the sweet feminine juices dripping from her marehood. Starless nickered softly as she was forced around, her tail lifting as her body eagerly encouraged his advances.

The sudden touch of his tongue as he delved into her marehood sent tingles shooting through her body. Starless threw her head back and whinnied in pure bliss. She had imagined this! Dreamed of it! And none of it prepared her for the true touch of a stallion. Her heart was pounding in her breast as she fought to breathe. Each lap of his tongue sent her pleasure soaring to ever higher peaks until she suddenly felt her body clamp down as a cascade of pure, blissful pleasure rolled through her body like a raging thunderstorm. Wave after wave of pleasure ravished her body as she whinnied wildly into the sky.

Panting for breath, Starless was left shivering as her orgasm slowly began to diminish. Lust filled dreams and times spent alone with a busy hoof hardly compared to what Ground managed to do to her with just his tongue! Suddenly, she felt a heavy weight come down onto her back as Ground mounted her. With hardly time to even gasp in surprise, she felt his stallionhood prodding at her sodden marehood, seeking a way inside. With a shocking suddenness, she felt him push into her.

He was big, but not as big as she had imagined for a pony his size, and she was thankful for that, as she felt her marehood stretching out to take him in. It hurt, but it also felt good. She could tell that Ground was keeping himself back from ramming himself into her as fast and hard as he could, giving her a chance to adjust to his intrusion. She wondered if Ground had also purposely lavished her marehood with his tongue to help ease this moment for her.

Arching her head back, Starless groaned as she felt Ground force himself ever deeper into her body. She had been told that it would hurt to be taken by a stallion for the first time, but it would soon get better as her body adjusted to him. Biting her lip, Starless endured the stinging discomfort as Ground grunted into the back of her neck, his hot breath puffing out across her coat. The sensation of feeling Ground moving so deeply inside her was overwhelming. Why had she been so afraid of this?

The feeling of his pelvis pressing up snugly to her rump snapped her attention back to what was happening. She was amazed to find that she had somehow taken him all in. She had never felt so full before.

Above her, Ground held himself still as he licked and kissed her neck, giving her time to adjust to him. She appreciated his holding back for her. The discomfort was quickly fading into a rather pleasant sensation. She was surprised at how hot his stallionhood felt inside her, and she was able to feel the rhythmic pulses of his heartbeat.

Turning her head back, Starless took his lips with hers. This was how two ponies where supposed to be. Joined in both heart and body. The Unicorns have forgotten that. In their lust for power, they lost that most simple of principles and treat it as a chore. Feeling Ground's hooves tighten around her sides, Starless released his lips with a gasp when he suddenly withdrew his stallionhood up to the tip before slowly thrusting it back into her.

He moved slowly at first, his pelvis seating itself snugly against her rump with every thrust. Her eyes slipped closed as she lost herself in the steady sensation of being filled over and over again. The pain was completely gone now, replaced by a pleasant tingle that grew with every plunge of Ground's stallionhood into her depths. She could hear Ground grunting over her as he muttered something about how tight she was.

The pleasant tingling sensation deep within her was growing rapidly into an intensity that had her groaning into the air. Ground was wildly slamming himself into her now, his breath puffing out onto the back of her neck. She could tell he was growing close. Her own body was reaching its own limit as well. The tingles deep within her had grown so intense, she had to bite her lip to keep herself from screaming.

Ground suddenly bit her crest as his forehooves tightened around her barrel. Starless let out a whinny as she felt her body clamp down on Ground's furiously thrusting stallionhood. Waves of blissful pleasure once again rocked her body, even more intensely than before. Ground let out a strained groan as he rammed his hips into her rump with a wet slap and held himself as deep as he could. Starless' eyes flew open as she felt his head flare within her depths. A moment later, she felt his warm seed surge into her waiting womb.

Gripping her crest tightly in his teeth, Ground's hips jerked with each spurt, as his seed gushed into her. Starless' body clenched and rolled across his stallionhood as it attempted to coax out as much of his seed as it could. Gasping for breath, Starless was left trembling as their shared climaxes slowly receded. Ground sagged down on her back as he released her crest, his chest heaving with his heavy breaths.

It was over. She had been claimed by her stallion. His virile essence now filled her body. She felt his stallionhood tug at her as Ground withdrew it from her. With a wet sound, a deluge of fluids spilled from her marehood as it slipped free. Moving around next to her, Ground nuzzled her neck and she returned his sweet affections.

"We've been gone for a while. We should head back before they start wondering where we’re at."

"You're probably right," Starless reluctantly agreed, though she didn't want this moment to end. "But before we do. It would probably be a good idea for us to wash in the stream first."

Walking side by side, the two lovers walked across the grassy field.

"Where are you?" Snap Dragon asked, covering her eyes with her hooves. After a moment, she dropped her hooves down and exclaimed, "there you are!"

Little Cloud Hopper squealed and clopped her hooves together, her little wings buzzing with delight.

Cloud Hopper was the foal of one of the weather pegasi that had been called out to help deal with a rogue hail storm that was heading toward the fields. It wasn't often they got to watch over a young pegasus foal, and Snap was happy to help with the foalsitting.

Snap covered her eyes again. "Where are you? I lost you! Cloud Hopper! Cloud Hopper, where have you gone!?" Snap dropped her hooves down and gasp in surprise. “Oh! There you are!”

Cloud Hopper squealed once again in laughter, her wings buzzing so hard in her excitement, she momentarily lifted off the ground.

"What are you doing?" a voice asked.

Snap's laughter soured as her smile fell. She knew that voice. Standing behind her was the son of the Lakeside herd Chief, Wild Bolt. After their unpleasant meeting in the hills, she had hoped to never see him again.

"I'm playing with Cloud Hopper," she answered flatly, not bothering to look back at him.

"Is that what that was?"

Cloud Hopper was joined by Sparkling Brook, and the two started to play together. "If you're lost, I can give you directions back to the lakeside settlement," Snap offered, lifting a sleeping Summer Rain from her lap so she could stand, holding the colt in the crook of her foreleg she turned to face Wild.

Wild Bolt waved a hoof. "Look. I know we got off on the wrong hoof. I came to make peace and apologize. Okay?"

Snap lifted an eyebrow dubiously. "Really?" She had trouble believing anything Wild said, especially when he was flashing that slanted grin of his at her.

"Listen. My pa is going to be busy for a while and we're not going to go back home until tomorrow morning," Wild Bolt said. "Lets ditch this place and find something fun to do."

Next to her hoof, little Winter Snow sneezed, blowing out a glob of snot that hung down from his nose. "Sorry, but I'm busy." Reaching down she picked up Winter by the back of his mane and carried him to a basket filled with large broad-bladed leaves to wipe the snot off his nose.

Wild Bolt sneered in disgust as he watched her clean the colt’s nose. "What about them?" he asked, pointing to the other mares laying on the edge of the play area. "Why can't they do this?"

"Because they're needed to nurse hungry foals while their mothers are away," Snap answered, setting Winter back down.

Wild Bolt stepped in closer to her, blocking her way. "Come on. I'm sure they'll be fine without you for a while. It's not like they can go anywhere," he said, leaning in close to her with that lopsided smile of his. "I can show you some fun things we can do together. You'll love it, I promise."

"I'm sure I won't," Snap answered evenly. "Look. I'm really busy. Unless you want to help, I'll have to ask you-."

"Me!? Help with the foals!?" Wild Bolt exclaimed. "Are you kidding!? That's mare's work!"

Snap couldn't help but grin. "Well then. I guess that means this is goodbye then."

Wild Bolt didn't look happy at all and appeared like he was about to storm off, but then he suddenly surprised her when he reached down and picked up Winter Snow. "Okay fine. What do I do with this thing?" he asked with a look of distaste, holding the colt awkwardly.

Winter blinked at Wild Bolt for a surprised moment as the young stallion held him up, then abruptly the colt began to pee on him.

Snap laughed at the sight of Wild Bolt as he flailed about with the colt, his face panicked. "Take it! Take it!” he pleaded for her to take the colt.

Snap could hardly stop her mirth as she collected the young colt from the distraught stallion, making sure to keep him pointed in a safe direction. "You should be more careful with how you hold a colt. They have a habit of letting loose when you least expect it."

Wild Bolt looked furious at her as he finally stormed off.

Snap hugged Winter Snow, snuggling her cheek up to his. "Oh, my little hero!"

On the far side of the play area, little Luna played with a carved wooden pony. Hopping it across the ground, she pretended that it was running through a field. She wished she had a second one so she could have them race together. Suddenly, she heard a filly let out a shriek of distress. Looking over she saw Aurora stumbling around with a terrified look on her face. The necklett that usually hung from around her neck was missing.

Luna got up and rushed over to her friend. Aurora didn't see her as she blindly stumbled into her. Luna knew her friend needed her necklett to see. Searching around, she saw Dainty Daisy and Wishsong rushing away with it. The two fillies had stolen it! Aurora looked on the verge of tears. She was terrified of the darkness.

"No be afraid," Luna said, trying to reassure her friend "I go get back!"

She patted Aurora before rushing off to fetch her necklett back from the two thieves. Wishsong and Dainty had run over to a tree near the fenced edge of their play area and were each trying on the necklett. Seeing them, Luna felt anger rush through her. Aurora needed that to see and they were treating it like just another toy!

Seeing her rushing over to them, Wishsong and Dainty fled, running along the fence. In their haste to get away, Wishsong stumbled into Dainty and they both fell to the ground, the necklett flying off in their fall and landing on the grass before them.

Luna paused alongside the pair and glared down at them. "You bad fillies!" she rebuked them.

Walking past them, Luna went to pick up the necklett, but suddenly a black form shot down from the sky and snatched it up in its claws.

Luna watched in horror as the crow flew up with its newly acquired prize. "Bad awk-awk! Not yours! Give back!" she shouted up at the winged thief in outrage.

With the help of Misty Valley's daughter, Sparkling Brook, Aurora was guided to her, her white eyes staring blindly around her. "Woona?"

Luna watched as the crow flew about and landed in the tree nearby and disappeared into a hollow. Rushing under the tree, Luna searched about for a way to climb up. Finding nothing she could use, Luna turned to Aurora. "Urora, give me up-up!"

Aurora blinked blindly at her and shook her head. "Mamma said no up-up's."

Luna thought about it and knew that this was the only way. "Need up-up. Pretty-please. No tell."

Aurora nibbled her lip as she contemplated it, then finally nodded. With the help of Sparkling Brook, Aurora lined herself up with Luna. Luna felt the familiar tingle around her body as her hooves lifted off the ground. Floating up, Sparkling Brook directed Aurora into bringing Luna to a branch. Wrapping her hooves around the branch, Luna gathered herself and clambered up the branch to the hollow in the tree.

Gazing into the dark interior, Luna wondered where the crow had gone. Stepping inside, she descended into darkness. With her hoofsteps echoing off the walls, Luna made her way deeper into the hollow, curving around. She suddenly jumped when she heard feathers rustle ahead of her and claws scraping on wood. The light of the opening receded behind her as she plunged ever deeper into the darkness.

Something suddenly exploded into the air as she nearly stepped on it, causing her to leap back in alarm. Its dry wings fluttering wildly as it flew about her, it took her a moment to realize that it was just a moth. As it whizzed by her, it suddenly halted mid flight as it became stuck in something. Its wings desperately flapped as it attempted to free itself, but that only caused it to become even more trapped in the webbing. Something dark slowly descended from the ceiling and Luna recoiled in horror when she saw that it was a rather large spider. Reaching the struggling moth, the spider grappled it with its long legs and sank its fangs into it. As the moth ceased struggling, the spider quickly spun it into its web.

Swallowing her fear and disgust, Luna carefully moved on, passing right under the spider. Seeing its glittering eyes watching her as she passed, Luna felt her skin crawl. Moving through the darkness, she could see the glittering eyes of other spiders creeping along the walls and ceiling. Feeling things lightly brush up against her, she fought the urge to scream and run, focusing her mind on her task to retrieve Aurora's much needed necklett.

Moving past the spiders and their webs, Luna turned to a chamber where she heard a strange chattering sound coming from just above her. Looking around, Luna strained to see what was making the sounds. The ceiling above her appeared to be moving. Stepping forward, her hoof bumped into a bulbous mushroom cap growing out of the wood floor, the bump caused it to glow slightly, filling the room with a soft eerie green light. Suddenly, the chamber was filling with loud flapping sounds as bats scattered. Luna let out a screech of fear and threw herself down as the bats flew over, their wings bushing at her mane as they passed around her. Holding herself as low as she could, Luna waited until the bats vanished up a dark hole in the ceiling.

Regaining her hooves, she heard the caw of the crow coming from just ahead of her. Heartened that she was getting close, she moved on. Soon, she entered a chamber that was so dark, the couldn't make out a single thing. A light breeze ruffled her mane as she slowly worked her way blindly forward, and her heart suddenly leapt up when a terrifying howling sound suddenly filled the chamber all around her. The howl rose to a shriek before descending down to a low moan.

Luna wanted to cry and hide herself under her mama. Gazing around into the utter blackness, Luna suddenly understood what it must be like for Aurora. Scrunching her face up, Luna made her brave face and pressed on. Feeling her way, she found a wall blocking her way. Searching around, she found a small opening just big enough for her to squeeze herself into. Looking into the opening, she saw that there was a soft light somewhere ahead.

Taking a breath, Luna crawled inside. It was tight. She felt the top of the crevice pressing into her back. Shifting her body, she was able to work her way forward. The tightness on her back grew as she moved forward and she worried that she might get stuck. Forcing herself on, Luna felt bugs and beetles start coming out of the wood and crawling on her. With her legs trapped, she was unable to fend off the horde of insects as they swarmed over her.

Shutting her eyes to keep them out, Luna fought from screaming and frantically backing herself back out. Dragging herself forward, the crevice grew so tight she could hardly breathe. Struggling, Luna wiggled and shimmied herself until she felt herself shift. After a long while, she continued to work herself through until she felt the crevice widen around her

Gasping for breath, Luna swiped the insects off of her as she pulled herself out. Standing, Luna looked around and found she was in an large open chamber. Gazing around, she wondered how something so big could be inside the tree. Ahead of her, she saw a nest sitting in the center of the floor. Resting in the nest, she could see Aurora's necklett.

With a cry of joy, Luna rushed forward to collect her friend's necklett. Suddenly, a black form shot out of the darkness and she felt the sting of it nipping her ear as it passed. Retreating a few steps, Luna watched as the crow vanished back into the darkness. "Bad awk-awk! Bad!"

When Luna tried to move toward the nest again, the black form of the crow suddenly reappeared and struck at her, nipping her painfully in the side of her neck. Proceeding onward, the crow continued to streak out of the darkness to strike at her until she retreated back.

"Awk-awk is very bad awk-awk," Luna snapped at the crow. She was frustrated and angry. Aurora's necklett was right there in front of her and the crow was keeping her from it!

Wiping the tears from her eyes, Luna set her little hooves in determination. Kicking her hooves back, she leapt forward and charged. Instantly, the crow was back on her. Ducking her head down, Luna tried to dodge the feathered fiend’s attacks, but it was just too quick and it was scoring bites all across her body. Luna struggled onward, enduring its beak as it snapped at her.

As she drew closer to the nest, another crow appeared as it joined the other on its attack on her. With a flurry of black feathers and the stabbing pain of their bites, Luna fought onward as their clawed feet tugged at her mane. More and more crows appeared as they swarmed the air around her. The crows’ attacks on her were overwhelming.

Step by step, Luna fought on, bringing herself ever closer to Aurora's necklett. Each step closer to the nest she took brought ever more attackers out onto her. Her will wavered and she knew that all she had to do was turn back to make the attacks end, but the thought of her friend having to live in constant, unending darkness drove her to push on.

At last, her hooves brushed up against the edge of the nest. She had made it! As suddenly as they had appeared, the crows vanished back into the darkness around her. "Bad awk-awks go bye-bye," she said in relief. Quickly, she reached down and picked up Aurora's necklett. A bright light suddenly appeared and Luna looked over and saw an opening in the wall she'd failed to notice before. Walking over to it, she found that it lead back outside.

Stepping back out into the sunlight, Luna looked down and saw Aurora and the other foals below.

"Well, hello there, my courageous little filly." A silvery coated mare walked over and looked up at her with a warm smile. “Well that just won’t do.” Picking her up off the branch, the mare lowered her down to the ground. "There. It's much safer for you to be down on the ground, don't you think?"

Luna smiled up at the mare before rushing over to Aurora to give her back her necklett.

"Are you really sure you want to do that?" the mare suddenly asked her. Luna paused in confusion at her question. "What has she done to earn it? It was you that went through all the trouble to get it back. Wouldn't it be right for you to keep it instead?"

Luna didn't have to think about it to know that that was wrong. She didn't do this for herself. She did this to help her friend regain something important she had lost. "It's Urora's." Lifting up the necklett, Luna set it around Aurora's neck. The color flooded back into Aurora's eyes as her sight returned.

The silvery mare nodded down at her with approval, a smile coming to her lips. "That was very kind of you."

Luna smiled. "I'm a good filly. My mommy says I am."

The mare's smile broadened. "And your mommy is absolutely right. You are a really good filly. So good, I want to give you something."

"Is it yum-yums!?" Luna quickly asked. "I like yum-yums!" Ash slips her some honey sweets sometimes. Mama doesn't like it when he does, saying it'll upset her tummy.

The silvery mare let out a light laugh and shook her head, "I'm sorry, no yum-yum's." Luna's face fell. "But I promise that I'll have some for you the next time, okay?"

Luna smiled up at her again and nodded happily.

"Good. Now close your eyes for a moment."

Closing her eyes, Luna felt a light touch on her forehead as the mare kissed her. A strange but pleasant warmth flowed into her. Opening her eyes, Luna looked up at the mare curious about what she had done.

"Stay true to your courageous heart, my little huntress," the mare said, leaning back from her. "I look forward to seeing the wonders that will come from it."

"Luna!" Snap's voice called out for her.

Luna reached up and touched her hoof to her chest. It felt warm inside.

"Luna, where are you?!" Snap called out again. Her voice coming louder as she drew nearer. "There you are. Didn't you hear me calling? Your mama is here."

Luna went to say goodbye to the nice silvery mare, but discovered that she was gone.

Starless couldn't help blushing under her Enchantress mask. The memory of what she and Ground had done was still very fresh on her mind. Her mane and tail were still moist from her bath in the river, and she hoped it was enough to wash off the smell of what they had done.

"Have fun?"

Starless spun around. Dizzy Spin sat on a nearby branch looking down at them with her ridiculous vulture skull tipped back. "What do you mean by that!?"

Dizzy flew down and landed next to her, a mischievous smile coming to her lips. "Oh, only that you two have been gone all morning and now I find you prancing back like a filly who got her first kiss." Dizzy flew up and hovered just before Ground as she leaned close to him. "So, what have you two been doing? Huh? A little tickle in the bushes?"

"What we've been doing is none of your business!" Starless snapped, instantly regretting her rash outburst.

"Ohhh!!?" Dizzy twirled around in the air. "This sounds interesting!" She then looped her hoof over Ground's neck. "Tell me. Is she a whinny-er, or a neigh-er?"

"Dizzy!" Starless' horn crackled warningly.

"Oops," Dizzy said, darting up. "Looks like I need to go. I'll see you later, Ground, for the details." Dizzy then vanished, flying off to annoy some other pony somewhere.

Throughout the encampment, Unicorns were working with Earth Ponies as they built log-stacked homes. In a cleared out area, ponies practiced with their staves, moving through forms taught to them by the Earth Ponies. Shadow Play, the gelding that had pledged himself to her, sparred with Hoof Strike. His face was set with determination. His stave furiously cracked off of Hoof Strike's as the two circled around each other.

"There you are!" Tiger Lily exclaimed, storming over to her and Ground. "Where have you two been!? I've been looking all over for you!"

"We were out practicing with my new spear in the woods," Starless answered, hefting her short spear. Next to her Ground quickly nodded.

Tiger Lily frowned at her and her son. "I can't say that I've not been expecting this, but I also can't help but feel that this is not the best time for it." Tiger let out a sigh. "Well, what's done is done. If a foal comes from this, we will find out in the proper course of time."

Starless felt her face flushing. She should have known that Tiger would be able to somehow tell. "I'm not in heat, so that shouldn't happen."

Tiger eyed her and shook her head. "Sweety. If you think you can't become pregnant unless you are in heat, you have some things to learn. Life can surprise you. It has a way of finding a way."

Starless' heart leapt up. She had failed to consider that possibility! What if a foal resulted from their joining? Would it be an abomination? What about what she was doing here with the Unicorns? Could she continue to lead them in such a condition?

Tiger noticed her anxiety and smiled. "Hey. Don't worry about it, Sweety. Ground's a good stallion, if a bit thick in the head at times. You can count on him to be there for you if anything comes of this. Now, we need to be going. He's waiting for you."

Starless had to rush to follow along with Tiger Lily as she led them through the encampment. "Who's waiting for me?"

"You'll see soon enough."

Starless moved in alongside Tiger Lily and looked down at the small mare. "How did you know?"

"About what?"

"About what me and Ground did," Starless answered.

Starless glanced up at her with a raised eyebrow. "I'm his mother. I can tell."

"Really?"

"Of course," Tiger Lily said with a knowing nod. "His father gets the same stupid look on his face when we have our special time.”

Stupid look? Starless looked back at Ground and carefully examined his face. To her, it looked as dopey as it always did.

Coming to a large, log-stacked structure, Tiger Lily led them inside. In the center of the floor, a fire had been lit, throwing its light across the room. Sitting by the fire, Dark looked up at them as they filed inside. Sitting by his side was his fostered colt, Ash.

Dark didn't rise as he gazed steadily at her. Feeling a little anxious at this sudden meeting, Starless walked over and sat across from him. Removing her Enchantress mask, she set it down as Ground joined her side. With Dark being busy with the new Lakeside settlement, Starless never had a chance to really explain to him her plan.

"Tell me," Dark said, looking across at her. "What do you two think you are doing here?"

Hiding against the wall, Radiant Sunset held herself still as she listened at the mouth of her mother's chambers. Her mother was furious.

"Who is this Enchantress!?" her mother screamed.

"We don't know," Glittering Crystal answered. "All we know is that she's appeared out of the wilds, confronting several of our foraging teams. She has with her several fearsome creatures under her thrall and she speaks with a great authority, spreading sedition among the ponies, calling you and those who follow with you,... Oathbreakers, for breaking the vow given to honor Fata M-."

"Silence!" Radiant heard her mother shout, her voice quivering in rage. "I am the Great Matriarch Astral! I will not be bound by some meaningless promises of ponies long since dead! I want it to be known that if any pony is caught speaking of this, they will be dragged outside and beaten for all to see before they are hobbled for a day without food or water. If they are caught again, the punishment will be doubled!"

"And what of the Enchantress?"

"I want that one brought to me alive," Radiant's mother answered with an almost eager glee in her voice. "I have something special planned for her."

Radiant felt a shiver run down her spine. Whoever this Enchantress was, she'd better stay as far from her mother as she could.