Author's Notes:

Sorry for the long delay.

Frost Conjure dangled the carrot down to the rabbit as he enticed it to take it. "Come on. I won't hurt you."

Sitting in the grass before him, a little rabbit sniffed at his offering. It seemed reluctant to get any closer, so Frost set the carrot down and stepped back to watch as the rabbit moved in and began nibbling on the orange treat.

"Frost...?" a soft voice called out to him.

Lifting his head, Frost looked around. He was alone in the grassy meadow. Who was calling him? He hadn't seen Radiant since she left to search for the stallions that had been taken from the common stables below. Did she return?

"Frost...?"

This time Frost clearly heard the call coming from the nearby grove of trees. Since the incident with the common stallions, the Keepers had been keeping them contained to one side of the crater for the last couple of days. Today was the first day they felt safe enough to allow them to range free again. Could this be one of the keepers calling for him?

Standing, Frost walked over to the grove. "Hello?" he called out.

"Frost...," a mares voice called to him again.

She sounded like Radiant! Peering inside the grove of trees, he could see a figure waiting for him inside. "Radiant? Is that you?" He'd not seen her in days. Not since she was away hunting for the stolen stallions. He ducked his head under a branch and walked into the grove. The grove wasn't big, and his way got easier as the trees lightened near the center. As he got closer he could see that the figure waiting ahead was a mare. "Radiant?"

"No dear." The figure answered with a soft laugh. "Don't you recognize me? I’m your mother."

Suddenly Frost blinked as the figure became clear and he saw his mother smiling at him. "Mother?" his heart started racing in his chest as he gazed at her. Without thinking about it, he rushed to her and threw his hooves around her neck. "Mother!" He wept into her neck as he clutched her tightly. She was alive!

"It's okay now sweety, I'm here now," she assured him, gently brushing his mane back.

Something about this seemed wrong to Frost. How was his mother here? She was dead. Blinking his eyes, Frost leaned back and the image of his mother grew hazy. "What...? Who...?"

Suddenly her horn flashed and everything was fine again. Of course she wasn't dead. Why would he think that? She was right there in front of him!

Settling into the grass together, she pulled him in close to her side. With her hoof, she tenderly embraced his cheek. "Oh my sweet. I'm sorry for being away for so long." She reached out and kissed him. Not on his cheek or forehead like she normally did, but on his lips. "My, have you grown. You've become such a fine stallion."

Frost smiled and rubbed his cheek to hers, like how he used to do it when he greeted her. Her rich scent filled his nose and he felt a strange thrill rush through him. There was something about her scent that made his body start to stir. "Mother? Are you... really here?"

His mother smiled and nuzzled him along his neck. "Yes sweety. I am." She assured him. "I'm so sorry for being away for so long. I'm here now and I need your help with something." Her lips came to his again, but this time she kissed him much longer. He could feel her hoof travel along his body until it came to his sheathed stallionhood and begin stroking him.

This felt wrong, but he didn't stop her as she coaxed his stallionhood out until it was prodding her teats.

Her lips broke from his and she looked down at his fully erect stallionhood. "Oh yes. Such a fine stallion you've grown into."

"Mother? This isn’t right..." Something was wrong.

His mother smiled at him and nuzzled his cheek before she lightly kissed him again. "Don't you love me?" Her horn flash again as her magic flowed out around him.

The wrongness of what was happening vanished as her magic enveloped his mind. "Yes. Of course I love you." he assured her as everything became right again.

She smiled and took his lips with hers again. Her lips were so soft and warm and he couldn't help but think of Radiant's lips when they had accidently kissed that one time.

“Radiant…”

His mother scowled as her magic tightened around him and all thoughts of Radiant suddenly vanished. Pushing him over onto his back in the soft grass, she climbed onto him and leaned down close to him. "Do you truly love me?”

Frost blinked up at her and nodded. "Yes mother. Of course I do."

She smiled down at him, pleased. She then cast a spell and Frost found he was unable to lift his hooves. "Then show me how much you love me." Adjusting herself on top of him, Frost felt his stallionhood poke up into something very hot and wet.

Her lips came back down to his, and her tongue invaded his mouth as she lavished his tongue with her own. Suddenly she broke away from their deep kiss and moaned out in pleasure as she pushed herself down. Frost felt his mother's heat envelop his stallionhood as she sank down on him. All thoughts about how wrong this was, disappeared from his mind as the sensation of what was happening overtook him.

With a slow steady motion, his mother fully took him in until she was seated firmly onto his lap. Frost was amazed at how hot and smooth she felt like along his stallionhood. Smiling down at him, his mother leaned forward and lifted herself off his stallionhood until only a little bit remained before lowering herself once again back down.

Frost groaned. The sensation of plunging back into her hot depths was incredible! The sound of their wet smacks sounded in the still grove as she brought herself down on him over and over again. Her face twisted in the throes of pleasure as she drove herself down repeatedly onto his stallionhood.

A part of him was still telling him that this was terribly wrong, but he couldn’t quite focus his mind on what it was.

Frost felt his stallionhood throbbing with a need to burst and release his potent seed into his mother as she plunged herself onto him. The need was growing almost painful now as he groaned with the strain. "Mother! I'm... about to...!"

"Give it to me!" His mother cried out as she frantically plunged herself down onto his stallionhood. "Fill me with your fertile seed!"

Frost cried out as she plunged herself down onto him one last time. Groaning with the release, Frost felt a surge of his virile seed gush out deep into his mother's womb, filling every part of it with his essence.

His mother smiled as she caressed her hooves over her womb. "Oh, my son. I can feel it. I can feel your filling me," she moaned out in pleasure.

With a final few jerks of his hips, Frost emptied the last of himself and collapsed back down to gasp for breath. Without pulling herself off, his mother laid herself down onto his body, and lightly kissed and nuzzled his neck. "You were wonderful my sweet little colt. You've made your mother very happy today."

Her horn glowed brighter and she touched it to his head, everything went dark.

When the mare was done, she removed her horn from the colt's head and pulled herself off of his softened stallionhood, slipping it out of her with a wet slick. He'll not remember any of this, and whatever he does remember, would merely seem like a dream.

"I don't understand why you must play this game with him," a older mare said, stepping out of the trees. "Why must you make him believe that you were his mother?"

“Because it’s easier to hold the colt’s mind in thrall with love, and what colt doesn't love his mother?” Glittering Crystal answered. “Also, because I enjoyed it.” Smiling she leaned down and kissed Frost as he slept.

Her mother frowned down at her. "Just as long as you bear a strong foal."

Glittering Crystal stood and rubbed her stomach with a dreamy look. “Oh. I’m sure that our foal is going to be very powerful indeed." She paused to look down at the sleeping colt. "Oh I wish I could see my dear little sister, Radiant's face when she learns that her stallion bred a foal into me."

"Don't ever call her that!" her mother snapped angrily.

"Why not?" Glittering Crystal asked, turning to her mother. "We share same sire after all. You made sure of that when you went to him."

"Don't be foalish!" her mother said, turning to leave. "They must never discover this secret..."

"Oh don't give me that mother!" Glittering Crystal said, following after her. "Just admit that you'd love to spit this in Astral's ugly face that you bred her stallion! Just as I want to do to my dear half sister! I want to grind this into Radiant’s pathetic face and make her choke on it!"

"Enough!" her mother shouted furiously. "I will hear no more of this! Now come. We need to leave before we're discovered."

The two slipped off together through the trees.

Sometime later, Frost woke and scratched at his head as he tried to recall how he had ended up there.

Snap dozed, her face pressed up against something warm. She could feel something resting over her neck as she slowly roused. Blinking her eyes open, she found herself pressed up alongside Wild's body with her head tucked up along his chest. His hoof was draped over her neck.

Suddenly her mind jumped into the recolonization that she was sleeping against Wild and she jerked her head up! The side of his chest was smeared with her drool. She reached up to rub at her eyes, but found them trapped under a blanket that had been draped over her and Wild.

"Finally awake?" her mother asked. Looking up from the cradle she was rocking.

Snap flushed as she sat up. Taking the blanket, she settled it over Wild. "You could have woken me up." she said, checking on Wild Bolt. His breathing was much better and his fever seemed to have gone down. Checking under the wrap, she found his wound was a lot less inflamed. Whatever the Bitter Salt was that Soothing Melody put in it, it was working.

"And ruin a perfectly tender moment between you two," her mother scoffed. "Not on your life. The last time I ever saw you sleeping that deeply was when you were a little filly sleeping with Ground."

"Please don't compare Wild with my brother." Snap groaned.

"I'm just saying," her mother said with a shrug.

Just then the flap opened and Starless came in, her Enchantress mask covering her face. "I can't believe them!" she shouted angrily, flopping her rump down next to the cradle and flipping her mack back to look inside at the sleeping colt. "Taking the stallion like that!"

"I don't really see what's wrong with that." Snap commented.

Starless sighed and rubbed her head. "I wanted to wait before doing anything this drastic until I had more of their Common Blood turned to our cause. Well, at least they only took unclaimed stallions, and only the ones that wanted to come."

Whisper Wisp came in carrying a bowl of strawberries in her magic. "Are you ready?"

"Yes, I am" her mother answered, "but he's still asleep." she looked to the colt's cradle.

"That'll be fine," Whisper said, sitting down next to her mother.

Snap watched, curious about what they were doing. Whisper Wisp took one of the strawberries and smashed it with a stick inside the bowl until it was a sticky paste. She then began applying it to her mother's teats.

"What are you doing?" Snap asked, confused as to why they would do something like that.

"I'm trying to encourage my milk to return," her mother answered. "Whisper Wisp is a Milknurse, and she says that this will work."

"I have helped several mares milk come in," Whisper Wisp said, taking little West Wind out of his cradle. West began wailing as he complained about having his sleep disturbed. "All it takes is the right stimulation." Holding him to one of Tiger Lily's strawberry covered teats, she quickly got him to latch on and suckle. "The strawberry on her teat will encourage him to suckle despite there not being any milk. He will need to be set to suckle as much as possible. It will also help if any family members could assist with this as well. The more stimulation you get, the better."

Snap's ears shot up when she heard this. "Mama, your not going to have me...?"

Her mother smiled at her and shook her head. "No, sweety. Your father will be happy to help me with that. After all, he's hardly left them alone since we became mates." She then turned to Starless. "Which reminds me. You should have Ground switch to the other one for a while. You’re looking a little lopsided."

Starless looked startled. "Really?" She looked down at her udders. "Hmm. Perhaps you’re right."

"Ground always preferred going to the left one when he was a little foal," Tiger continued. "Try putting bitter-root sap onto it to encourage him to go to the other one for a while. It worked for me."

Snap couldn't believe what she was hearing. "Wait!? You let my brother... suckle you!? But he's a grown stallion!"

"Honey," her mother said, turning to her with a knowing smile. "Your a mare now, so you should know this. You can take the teat away from the colt, but you can't take the colt away from the teat. You'll learn this soon enough."

"It was a little strange at first," Starless added. "But it quickly became something… rather enjoyable."

Snap felt her face flushing hot. Was this really something mares and stallions did together?

"Okay, let's switch him to the other one for a bit." Whisper Wisp said to her mother.

Two days later, Wild's condition improved to the point where he was starting to complain.

"Stop treating me like a little colt!" Wild gripped. "I'm a stallion. I can feed myself."

"Of course you can," Snap patiently agreed. "Now open wide." She held out a spoon filled with mashed apples.

Flushing angrily, Wild reluctantly opened his mouth to let her slip the food inside. "Why can't I eat a normal food instead of this mashed stuff?"

"Because it's easier for you to eat mashed food, and it was fun to make," Snap explained. "Now open up for the mama bird!"

Wild glared at her as she slipped another mouthful of mashed apple into it.

Today, Wild was going to be moved to her parents hut with Jennet, to free up this one for some of the stallions who had been crammed all together in a few of the other empty huts.

Spooning in the last of the mashed apples, Wild swallowed. "There, are we done now?"

Snap let out a giggle as she picked up another bowl. "Nope! I also made mashed carrots! Yummm!"

"Definitely not!" Wild exclaimed with a shake of his head. "I am not going through that embarrassment again!"

"Aww, is the wittle colty getting cranky?" Snap said, using her foal voice.

"Stop that!" Wild snapped angrily.

"Does wittle Wildy need to take a nap?"

"No mare's worth this!" Wild groaned.

"What's all the ruckus?" Tiger Lily said, stepping inside. Holding little West in her hooves, she examined the pair with a critical eye. "Feeling better?" she asked, looking to Wild.

Wild quickly nodded. "Ah... yes! Very much so."

"Good." She said with a satisfied nod. "When Hoof and Ground arrive with the litter, they'll take you to our hut."

"I don't need them to carry me," Wild said, looking ready to stand. "I can walk myself."

Tiger Lily frowned down at him. "I'm sure you can, but if you even try, I'll tie your hooves together and have Hoof Strike carry you back like a foal and rock you to sleep each night as he sings you a lullaby."

Wild gaped at her in horror. "You wouldn't!"

The tiny mare met his gaze evenly. "Don't test me on this, colt. You will regret it."

Wild's gaze fell to the ground. There was something about the diminutive mare that made him feel like she was not somepony to mess with. "Yes ma'am."

"Now, Snap dear." Tiger said, looking to her daughter. "You know I don't like food to be wasted. Please finish off what you have there."

Snap's eyes shot wide as she gaped at her mother. "But..."

"Don't doddle dear." Tiger told her, with a stern tone to her voice. "Please have it all gone before your father and brother get here." Turning she slipped back out the door leaving her daughter gaping at her back.

Wild grinned and snatched up the bowl of mashed carrots and spoon. "Open up for papa bird! Here comes the worm!"

Snap's ears dropped down as she glared at the stallion. "You're really enjoying this aren't you?"

Wild Bolt nodded smiling and scooped some of the mashed carrots into the spoon. "Now be a good filly and don't make a fuss, then maybe you'll get a strawberry when your done."

Snap blew out a breath. No stallion was worth this.

Jennet was happy to see Wild when he was carried into the hut. She'd been worried about him since she heard about his illness and asked about him daily. Thanks to Soothing Melody's healing remedies, her injuries were rapidly improving and she was able to move around now without opening any of the gashes on her back.

Sitting up against the wall. Wild Bolt felt awkward as Jennet sat close to his side. She kept trying to bring him things like food and blankets. He already had several of the Unicorns new blankets behind his back and another across his lap with a hot, fire-baked potato in his upheld hoof. Since his arrival, Jennet had been doing everything she could to see to his comfort. Wild Bolt had been flattered by the attention she was heaping on him, but it was quickly growing tiresome.

For some reason, Snap seemed irritated at Jennet's fawning over him and kept trying to engage her in conversation, but with little success. Finally, tired of her hovering over him, Wild asked her to tell them of herself and her journey here.

"You want to hear about me!?" Jennet seemed surprised, even a little embarrassed by his request. "There's not much to tell, and most of it you wouldn't find all that interesting."

"Oh, please do!" Snap pleaded. "I've been so wanting to hear your story."

"Very well then." Jennet agreed. Her eyes dropped down to look into the fire. "I was born in a pit. My mother was a slave working in the copper mine. I don't remember much about her. When I was just old enough to be weaned, I was taken from her and thrown in with other foals my age to start working at another mine. They had us digging through the soil looking for the green ore they use to make copper." Her eyes suddenly became saddened. "It was then that I became friends with Benny and Abelle. We looked after each other and made sure the overseers didn't find us alone."

Wild got the feeling that there was more to her statement, but was afraid to know what it was.

"During the spring, Abelle went into heat and the overseers gave her to one of the other slaves as a reward. When she returned, she had bite marks on her neck and a swollen eye. She didn't tell us what happened, but there was no need to anyways, we already knew. It was a several moons later that she knew that she was with foal. She was happy, but at the same time, she knew that her foal would know nothing but the life as a slave, and begged me and Benny to buck her in stomach to force her to miscarry, and save the foal that life."

Snap covered her mouth in horror.

"We couldn't do it. We couldn't hurt her and her foal. She was our sister. We loved her too much" Jennet said, shaking her head. "As time went on and her belly grew larger and she would start to feel her foal move within her. It was around this point when word of a revolt was rising. The masters had made a mistake and allowed too many of us to work the mine with too few overseers. One day it happened. It was quite sudden and I wasn't sure at first what was happening. There was a lot of yelling and we saw donkeys attacking the overseers. During the chaos of that night, we and many others managed to escape."

Snap clapped her hooves together in joy at the turn of her story, but Wild knew that there was worse things coming. He'd been there and seen it.

"During our frantic flight, we were soon separated from the others when we were unable to keep up." Jennet continued. "Alone, my sisters and I set out, heading for the setting sun. For a cycle of the moon, we crossed over mountains and burning sands until we finally reached this green land. We thought we were finally safe, but somehow a hunting team had tracked us. They had followed us for a while thinking that we knew where the others had gone and that we would lead them to them. When they finally lost their patience, they quickly moved in and before we even knew they were there, they had us surrounded."

Snap let out a moan of dismay at the turn of the story.

Looking over at Snap, Wild couldn't help but wonder if she had actually thought they were going to escape!? Didn't she know that they had been captured?

"The cruelty they brought down on us..." Tears began welling up in Jennet's eyes. "Oh, Abelle, Benny!" She fell down into Wild’s lap and started weeping great wracking sobs.

Wild Bolt didn't know what to do as he stared down at the weeping donkey in his lap. This was well beyond anything he'd ever had to deal with before! Reaching down, he awkwardly stroked her head.

Snap moved around to Jennet's other side to add her support. After a time they heard her breathing even out as she silently slipped off to sleep. Great. Wild thought to himself. He was now stuck with a donkey sleeping in his lap. For some reason, this didn't bother him that much. Without knowing why, he began humming a song.

Snap's eyes grew wide as her ears shot up straight. "Where... did you hear that song you were humming?" Snap quietly asked. For some reason, she looked flustered.

Wild shook his head. He had no idea where he had heard that song or even remembered the words. "I don't know. It was just a melody that's had been floating around in my head. Why?"

Snap blinked at him. "Ah... I was just wondering, that's all. It sounded nice. Almost like a lullaby."

Wild thought about it. "Yeah, I guess you're right. Huh... weird."

Snap let out a chuckle and scratched at the back of her head. "Yeah, weird."

Unable to move with Jennet laying in his lap, Wild Bolt leaned his head back against the wall and let the half remembered melody flow through his mind. Unable to resist its soothing effects, his eyes drifted closed and soon he too was asleep.

Snap sat back as she watched over the pair as they slept. She couldn't help examining Wild's face. He seemed so peaceful. The gash that now ran down his face added character to him and made him seem older in some way. It was a mark he had earned saving a mare. Snap considered him many things, but being heroic wasn't one of them. What he'd been though had marked more than just his face. He'd changed. Not once since he'd returned from the confrontation, had he tried to kiss her or even look at her flanks. His eyes had grown distant and cold. She could tell that he was hurting inside.

Wild face suddenly crinkled up and he let out a moan, his head lolled to the side. "No... don't..." he muttered in his sleep.

Snap reached out and lightly brushed his mane back out of his face. "Shh, it's okay. You defeated him. He can't hurt you anymore," she told him softly.

"Snap..." Wild's face softened as he slipped back into a peaceful slumber.

Snap took a blanket and settled it over Jennet. It was clear to her that Jennet was infatuated with Wild Bolt. It was understandable. He rescued her and slew one of the monsters that had been hurting her.

Suddenly there was a commotion outside. Rushing out, Snap saw ponies looking up at some glowing red lights atop of one of the high ridges. Noticing Tranquil, Snap hurried over to her. "What is it?"

"The sentries have spotted ponies entering the valley." Tranquil answered, her face creased with worry. Abruptly the red light turned to blue and Tranquil let out a relieved sigh. "Blue means that they're Earth Ponies. That would mean that Dark and the others have arrived."

Seeing the blue light from the sentry above, the rest of the Unicorns went back to their tasks. Despite their peaceful lives here, they were always under the constant worry of being discovered. Snap had seen their escape route and sorely dreaded ever having to take it. It was a single pony trail that wound up the edge of the cliff face and let out into another valley. Snap hated heights with a dread and never wanted to set hoof on that path.

Going down to the edge of the settlement, Snap waited for the others to arrive. The sun grew close to the heights above them when she finally saw their distant forms, weaving their way up along the valley trail. Her mother joined her with a freshly fed West, who's little belly bulged out with his large meal. Giving her the colt to hold, Snap cooed down at West and cuddled him close to her chest. She still couldn't believe how adorable his little horn was!

As the ponies drew closer, Snap was able to make out Dark in the lead with Brightstar. Following behind was Dark's little sister, Mirage, Dove, and Dusty's mother, Pebble Stream. Six other stallions and mares made up the spears that protected them. Trailing along with them were two colts. One was Dark's foster colt, Ash, and the other Snap instantly recognized as her little brother, Journey, who she had left behind under the care of Birch Bark and Floral Scent.

"What is he doing here!?" Snap exclaimed.

"Apparently, he wasn't happy being left behind and decided to follow your example," her mother answered, looking over at her in amusement.

Tranquil and Dusty arrived together, with Starless and Ground coming a few moment later.

Starless stopped next to Tiger Lily. "How's Jennet and that colt Wild, doing?"

"They're healing, though I do worry for the colt." Tiger answered.

"Oh?" Starless said, looking down as the smaller mare.

"His physical injuries are healing, but it's the one on the inside that is still a problem." Tiger explained. "If it’s left untended, it will kill him just as surely as his other wound would have."

Starless nodded, silently thinking over her words. "What should we do then?"

"I'm already working on it," Tiger answered. "In point of fact, it’s my dear daughter that is actually working on it, though she doesn't fully realize that she is."

"Snap?" Starless looked over at the young mare as she and Tranquil fussed over little West.

"Indeed." Tiger nodded. "I'll leave his care in her hooves for now, and only help out whenever needed. She's doing a wonderful job as it is."

"Is that why you insisted that he be moved to your hut?" Starless asked, turning back to Tiger.

"Mostly," Tiger agreed.

"Mostly?" Starless repeated.

Tiger smiled and didn't answer as she turned to watch Dark and the others approach. Other Unicorns began to gather around to watch.

"Greetings, Honored Herd Father." Starless greeted Dark, formally.

"Greetings, Honored Enchantress," Dark greeted her back, his voice raised to let other Unicorns hear.

"I welcome our friends the Earth Ponies to our home." Starless continued. "Please, come in and be at home. Places have been prepared for you."

"Thank you for your kind hospitality." Dark finished their formal greeting.

Suddenly, Pebble Stream broke ahead and rushed up to her son. "Come with me. I need to tell you something," she said, pushing Dusty to the side. "You come too," she added to Tranquil.

Dove was next as she hurried over to Tiger. "We came as fast as we could. How is she?"

"Doing very well." Tiger answered. "I'm sorry. You may have wasted your time coming. A Unicorn Shaman came and treated her as well as another that came up."

"A Shaman?" Dove asked. "What's that?"

A type of Unicorn healer, I guess." Tiger answered. "For some reason, the Unicorns are reluctant to talk about her. Starless didn't even know that she was here, let alone when or how she came to live here. Shamans are normally solitary and are only visited on need. She lives alone outside the community in the middle of the valley along a rock outcropping. You very likely passed her on your way here. Her skills are really quite amazing."

"Really?" Dove tapped her hoof to her chin. "Perhaps my time wasn't wasted in coming here after all. I might be able to learn some new things from her about healing," her musing was suddenly interrupted when Dusty cried out.

"What!?" Dusty exclaimed to his mother before wobbling on his hooves and collapsing into a limp heap on the grass. Tranquil let out a happy sequel and hugged Pebble.

"Huh... that's interesting." Tiger mused, watching the scene.

"Oh?" Dove glanced down at her.

"She's pregnant." Tiger said matter of factually.

"How did you know?" Dove asked in surprise.

"Simple," Tiger said with a knowing smile. "I've seen that reaction many times before. Plus, I can just tell."

"Oh really?" Dove said, a smile coming to her lips. "Well then, what can you tell about me?"

Tiger turned to her and blinked in surprise. "You too?"

Dove smile broadened and she nodded, her hoof going to her belly.

Tiger laughed and drew Dove into a hug. "Well, this is joyous news! Strongbuck must be absolutely over the moon about this!"

Dove nodded with a laugh. "It wasn't quite as dramatic as Dusty's reaction, but both Bell and Strongbuck were both very happy with the news."

Tiger caught a hint in her voice that told her that there was something else to her statement. "But what else?"

Dove blinked in surprise, then smiled. "Can't hide anything from you, can I?"

"And you can't stall with me ether." Tiger reminded her.

Dove sighed and sat down next to her. "They were happy to find out that I was pregnant, but they were also very worried," she explained.

"Was it because of your previous miscarriages?"

Dove nodded. "They're worried that it will happen again."

"And you're not?"

Dove rubbed her stomach with an odd smile. "When I was called to Aurora, I met some very strange... creatures. They looked like deer, but I had a feeling that they were something else entirely, and I was only seeing them as deer."

"Do you think they were the Great Spirits?" Tiger asked.

"Possibly." Dove had tried to fathom what they could have been, but never came to an answer. "I'm not sure. Whatever they were, they had magic well beyond that of the Unicorns. When I agreed to take Aurora, the doe did something to me and my milk came in so I could feed her."

"Really?" Tiger said in admiration. "I wish I could have her help with that too."

"I can't explain it, but I feel that she did something else to me that day as well," Dove continued. "I believe she healed the weakness within me that prevented me from carrying a foal."

"She told you this?" Tiger asked.

Dove shook her head. "No. I just feel it." She struggled to find an explanation. "When I first discovered that I was pregnant, I just knew that it was going to be alright. I can't really describe it," she said, shaking her head. "Strongbuck and Bell didn't understand and argued for me to not risk the journey here because it would be too much of a strain."

"Oh, posh!" Tiger waved her hoof dismissively. "A little walking's not going to harm a pregnant mare."

"That's what I told them!" Dove exclaimed, heatedly. She then sighed and looked back down at her. "Little Aurora got so upset over our arguing, she started crying. Once I had her settled back down, we talked more and I convinced them that I was needed here. It broke my heart seeing little Aurora balling her eyes out when I left."

"Oh, the poor thing." Tiger said sympathetically, knowing just how hard it must have been for the filly to see her mama go. "Which reminds me. Journey!" She called out.

Her colt's head suddenly popped up from a stone wall. "Yes mama!?"

"Come and give me a hug and kiss." She held her hooves out to her colt.

Leaping over the low stone wall, Journey ran into his mother's hooves.

"Oh, I've missed you." Tiger said into her colt's head as she kissed him. "I'm sorry for being away for so long."

"It's okay mama." Journey assured her. "I know you were doing good here."

"That's my little stallion." Tiger praised her son. "Now, let me introduce you to somepony." She turned to look for her daughter. "Snap...? Snap? Where have you gone off too? Snap? You'd better not have just stolen him! Snap!?"