Author's Notes:

Some time ago, I rushed naming a character and have always regretted the name I chose for her. I have decided to change the name Flutter Sigh, to Butterfly. I hope this doesn't cause any problems, but since she's been only in a few chapters, it shouldn't be too bad of a change to get used to.

"Do they look bigger to you?" Tiger asked, holding back her hind leg to expose her udders.

"They definitely do look a little more rounded." Snap answered, examining them. "Have you noticed any leaking yet?"

Wild felt awkward as he sat back, trying not to look himself. It was hard. His eyes kept roaming back to admire the filly-like mare's shapely mounds. He couldn't help comparing them to Snap's as he felt his face growing hot. Why did looking at her udders seem wrong? And yet… he couldn’t help himself.

The sound of heavy hoofsteps drew his attention over to Hoof Strike as he walked over to him. Nestled into the crook of his foreleg was the tiny form of West Wind. "I have to go. Here, hold him." He bent down to give the colt to him.

Wild felt a sense of panic rush over him. "Wha...!? I'm a stallion. I don't know anything about holding foals!"

"Stop your foalish griping and just hold him." Hoof Strike growled at him, depositing the slumbering colt into his hooves. "There, see. It's not that hard."

Wild sat stiffly as he nervously held the foal. "What do I do if he starts crying?"

Hoof Strike looked down at him. "Comfort him, what else?"

"But, what if...?"

"Look," Hoof Strike said with a patient sigh. "You are making this a lot harder than it actually is. Just sit there and hold him. If he gets fussy then rock him, sing to him, or tell him a story. That's all there is to it. Just relax and you'll be fine." Giving his head a light pat of assurance, Hoof Strike left, ducking out the door.

Wild had never been so uncomfortable in his life. At any moment, he felt that the foal was going to wake and start crying, and then things would grow increasingly worse from there. After a while, Wild noticed that the foal wasn’t screaming, peeing or otherwise making a mess on him in some disgusting way, and a small sense of pride came to him as he slowly began to relax. He was doing it!

The colt's warm breath tickled his coat as he slept. Looking down at him, Wild was surprised at how tiny the colt's hooves were. He'd never really looked closely at a foal before. Here, held in his hooves, was a new pony life. The colt's little lips kept making little sucking motions and Wild found himself smiling as he wondered what he was dreaming of. A pleasant warmth settled in his breast as he watched the foal sleep against his chest.

After a time he noticed that Snap and her mother had gone usually quiet and he glanced up to find them both watching him with odd little smiles.

Wild flushed with embarrassment. "Ah... Hoof Strike told me to hold him." He didn't know why he was telling them that. It wasn't like he was doing something wrong.

"Did you see it?" Tiger asked her daughter.

Snap nodded, her eyes not leaving Wild. "Yes mama, I did."

"What?" Wild felt a strange sense of foreboding as the looked at the two. What did they see?

Snap shook her head at him. “Nothing you need to concern yourself about," she answered, waving her hoof dismissively.

"At least... not yet." Tiger added with amusement.

What were these two mares talking about!? Wild felt he was missing something important. Held in his hooves, he felt West squirm with a muted whine.

Tiger stood and walked over to him. "Here, I'll take him so you two can go."

"Go?" Wild asked, feeling oddly reluctant in giving up the foal to the small mare.

"Weren't you taking Wild out for a walk today?" Tiger asked, turning to look at her daughter

"Oh, that’s right!" Snap exclaimed, standing up. "There's a place I heard about that I wanted to visit." Moving across to to door, she turned back to Wild. "Come on."

"Be sure to be back for the celebration later." Tiger Lily called out as she settled back down with the foal.

Wild Bolt followed behind Snap as she hummed happily to herself. She seemed to be in a good mood today. Moving down through the settlement, they saw ponies getting ready for the nights festivities. The Unicorns had never celebrated anything before and the Earth Ponies were helping them set up. A large area was being cleared for the gathering with wood being brought in for a large bonfire.

Colored strips of the new fabric that the Unicorns were producing was being wrapped around poles and tied to lines that stretched overhead to add a festive color to the event. Wild Bolt noticed a loose strip of pink colored cloth that had been blown off from somewhere, drift down and land by his hoof. Picking it up, he looked at Snap as an idea came to him.

"Snap. Hold still a moment." Trotting over to her, he used the strip to tie the end of her mane together along the side of her neck. "There. That'll keep the wind from blowing it around and messing it up."

Snap blinked at what he'd done and flushed. "Um... Thank you."

Leaving the settlement, they followed the trail as it descended down the valley. Wild Bolt's shoulder still hurt, but it was improving every day. His limp wasn't as bad today as he walked beside Snap. The air was crisp with a slight chill as it flowed along the valley, bringing the smells of the forest below.

"Such a beautiful sight," Snap said, looking around.

"It is indeed," Wild Bolt answered, keeping his gaze focused on Snap.

Snap noticed him looking at her and flushed. Smiling she playfully pushed him away. "Stop that. I was talking about the valley!"

"Oh yeah, right," Wild said nodding. "I was talking about that too."

"You are such a bad liar." Snap scoffed.

Wild Bolt grinned as he looked back at her. "Oh? So then if I told you that you were the most beautiful mare I've ever seen, you'd know if I was lying or telling the truth, right?"

Snap's eyes suddenly had trouble meeting his as her hoof stumbled a step.

Behind them, they heard hoofsteps quickly approaching. Looking back, they saw Jennet rushing over to them. "You must hide me!" she cried out as she huddled herself on the far side of Wild Bolt, clutching at his neck as she peeked over his shoulder.

"Who are you hiding from?" Snap asked, looking back at the settlement.

"Brightstar!" Jennet exclaimed, ducking her head back down. "He won't leave me alone! He's always after me asking me more questions! He's now obsessing about pottery!" She let out a groan as she sagged down warily on Wild's neck. "I wish I never told him about that. When will I learn to keep my mouth shut around that stallion?"

"Well, you are welcome to join us," Snap offered. "We're going out for a walk to stretch our legs."

"Oh?" Jennet perked up. "That sounds like a wonderful way to hide from that nattering stallion. Let's get going."

Jennet clung to Wild's side as they descended into the majestic Unicorns hidden vale. The valley widened into gentle grass covered hills that stretched wide between two mountain chains as it gently descended down, where it eventually exited between two white capped peaks, the Unicorns called the guardian sisters. Passing between them was the only safe way into or out of the valley that didn't involve climbing up a goat path.

Scattered about the land, resident sheep grazed lazily upon the hills. The sheep were apparently the secret to the Unicorns fabric. They somehow used their wool to make thread they then wove into cloth. Wild now had a blanket made from it that kept him warm through the chilly nights. It truly was a miraculous material.

After a while, Wild Bolt wondered where Snap was taking them. She mentioned a place that Starless told her about. The settlement had vanished far behind them. Pausing a moment to look around, Snap turned off the well worn path and headed across the field. Wild Bolt and Jennet followed along with her. Crossing the field, they came to a small hill and climbed to the top. Cresting the top, Wild Bolt gasped at what he saw. Stretching across the entire hilltop was a field of pale yellow snapdragons.

Snap Dragon let out an excited sequel and rushed out into the field. "Just look at them! Aren't they beautiful!?"

Wild couldn't take his eyes off of Snap as she danced about in the flowers. She looked so beautiful. Smiling at Snap's exuberant display, Wild Bolt moved out into the field and lowered his head down to sniff at the flowers. Suddenly he felt a weight slam into his side as he was knocked down to the ground!

Rolling over, he was surprised to find Snap giggling as she trotted around him.

"Why did you do that!?" Wild demanded, glaring up at her.

"Do what?" Snap asked with an air of innocence.

"Push me!" Wild answered, gathering himself.

Snap spun around to trot backwards. "Push you? Why would I push you?"

Wild climbed up to his hooves. "That's what I'm asking you!"

"That is an interesting question that probably has a very interesting answer." Snap said, trotting around to stop in front of him. "A question I will only answer, if..." she stretched her hoof out and lightly tapped him on his nose. "you catch me." She then galloped off across the hilltop.

Wild blinked after her departing form as she stopped and waved her rump, blowing a raspberry at him.

"What is she doing?" Jennet asked, looking at Snap with a confused look.

"She's teasing me," Wild answered, a grin coming to his face. "Come on!" he shouted back as he lunged into a run. "Help me catch her!"

Snap squealed as she saw Wild coming and dashed away.

Jennet trotted after him. "Why do we want to catch her?"

"So I can sit on her and make her beg for mercy!" Wild answered.

Jennet shook her head as she ran after them. "Ponies are strange."

Wild's shoulder felt tight, and it kept him from closing with Snap as she stayed just ahead of him. Racing around the hilltop, the three chased one another. Jennet had been confused at first, having never really played before, but was quickly swept up into the spirit of the foalish fun and was soon squealing like a filly, punctuated with loud bays of donkey laughter.

Gasping for breath, Wild stumbled to a stop and collapsed to the ground. He couldn't remember the last time he had ever had so much fun! Trotting over to him, Snap and Jennet flopped down next to him.

Snap threw her legs up and began rolling on her back, her hooves splayed up into the air. She looked a complete fool, but that didn't matter to Wild Bolt. Smiling, he rolled himself up onto his back and joined her in her ridiculous antics while Jennet watched with a bemused look at the pair.

After a time, Wild flopped down in exhaustion. Next to him, Snap moved herself around to look at him. "Wild, would you tell me about your mother?"

"My mother!?" Wild exclaimed, surprised by her request.

"Yes," Snap nodded. "Please."

Jennet sat up and nodded her agreement with interest.

"Why do you want to know about her?" Wild asked.

Snap hesitated a moment as her eyes grew troubled. "When you were delirious with fever, you were calling out to her."

Wild considered her for a time. Letting out a sigh, he then laid his head back into the flowers and stared up at the sky. "Well. I don't remember much about her. She died when I was still young." Wild Bolt started, his tone becoming mournful. "What I remember most about her is her smile. Her eyes always sparkled when she smiled. At night, I would crawl onto her belly and lay there pointing out stars to her. When it got cold, she'd wrap her hooves around me and tell me stories until I fell asleep. She was the most beautiful mare I ever knew."

Snap felt a warm flush spread through her heart with a little sense of jealousy as she listened to how he described her.

Jennet listened with a sad look of longing. She hardly remembered a thing about her own mother. The only thing that she recalled clearly was the scent of hickory smoke that had soaked into her mother’s coat from her time feeding wood into the fire kilns.

"One day, some dragons appeared." Wild Bolt closed his eyes as pain flashed across his face. "The herd was in a panic as the dragons circled over us. Mama took me to a nearby outcropping of rock and shoved me into a small crevice, telling me to hide there until she came back for me."

Snap noticed Wild was starting to shiver and saw that his eyes were squeezed tightly shut. She felt a horrible dread at what he was about to share.”

"I waited... and waited..., but my mother never returned for me." Wild voice was filled with sorrow. "The dragons had taken her from me."

Snap felt tears welling up in her eyes as she set her hoof over Wild's. Her touch seemed to ease him as his body slowly relaxed. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bring up such a painful memory."

Wild blinked his eyes open and looked down at her, giving her a reassuring smile. "It's alright. It happened a long time ago. I've gotten over it."

"Oh, Wild," Snap said softly, looking into his eyes. "I told you I could tell when you were lying."

Wild sighed and laid his head back down to look up at the sky. "Can't slip anything by you, can I?"

"Look," Snap exclaimed, pointing up at a cloud above them. "It's a chipmunk. Do you see it?"

Blinking up at the little puffy cloud, Wild failed to see anything resembling a chipmunk. "It looks more like a goofy pony head with his muzzle bent to the side and his ear bent way down."

Snap laughed. "No it doesn't, it looks like a cute little chipmunk. Look. Its tiny ears are right there and its little tail is over there. Jennet, tell him that you see it too."

Jennet started up at the cloud, perplexed. "I don’t understand. It's just a cloud."

Snap shot a look over at Jennet. "What do you mean it's just a cloud!? It's obviously a chipmunk! Surly you can see that!"

Jennet shook her head. "I see just a cloud."

Snap frowned and pointed at another cloud. "What does that one look like?"

Jennet considered it for a moment. "A cloud."

Snap gasped in dismay. "You don't see anything else. Perhaps a rabbit, or a one legged pony?"

Jennet shook her head. "Why would I?"

"Because it's fun!" Snap sat up. "Haven't you ever looked at a cloud and used your imagination to see things?"

"I was a slave," Jennet answered bluntly. "Staring up at clouds wasn't something we did."

Snap looked horrified. "Well that just won't do!" she exclaimed. "Cloud viewing is a very important activity to learn. Without it, life is just not worth living." She patted the ground next to her. "Come on, I'll show you how it's done."

Jennet turned to Wild with a questioning look. "Do I have to?"

Wild smiled and nodded his head at her. "It's too late now. You'd better do what she wants. It'll make things easier on you in the end."

"Oh shush!" Snap said, waving her hoof at Wild.

As he idly listed to Snap explaining about cloud viewing, Wild laid back to enjoy the feeling of the warm sunlight on his coat as he slowly slipped to sleep. When he woke a short time later, Wild was shocked to find that both Snap and Jennet were curled up against him, fast asleep.

His heart suddenly started racing as he looked down at the pair. Snap looked absolutely serene, with her head resting on his side. A beauty well matched to her namesake. Next to her, Jennet looked peaceful with her face set with soft lines as she slept. Wild couldn't help but notice that Jennet was rather beautiful in her own way. Her two adorable long ears offset her rounded cheeks, balancing it with her prominent muzzle and wide set mouth. Her features were so different from that of a pony's, but no less beautiful for it.

Reaching his hoof out, Wild lightly brushed it along her mane. There was so much sorrow and pain held within her slight form. It was a wonder she looked so peaceful right now as she slept. Crisscrossed along her back, ugly half healed slashes marked her coat. He knew the pain that each mark had caused her.

Blinking her eyes slowly open, Jennet met his gaze with her own remarkable light blue eyes that always seemed to pull at his heart.

"Huh?" She sat up and looked around in confusion. "What...?"

"You fell asleep." Wild filled her in, holding back a laugh.

"I did?" Jennet rolled her shoulder and yawned. "Oh. I guess I did."

Alongside her, Snap muttered a complaint at being disturbed and buried her face into Wild more.

Looking up at the sky, Wild was surprised at how late the day had gotten. "We need to head back. Tiger Lily is going to pull of my ears if I don't get you two back in time for the welcoming celebrations." Leaning forward, Wild poked at Snap until she finally jumped awake.

Starless stood before the gathered Unicorns on the practice field looking them over. Ten mares of wildly differing ages stood at attention as they waited for her orders. Beside her, Moonglow watched curiously. Starless had asked her to bring her ten of the weakest Unicorns for some special training.

"Thank you all for coming." Starless said, greeting her volunteers. "I have asked Moonglow to gather you all for a very special task I wish done."

A mare took a step forward and dropped to her knee. "Mistress. Tell us your desire, and it shall be done."

Starless blinked down at the mare as she considered her. "Always so eager, Dipsy Daze. Well, this time you may regret your eagerness." Moving to the side, Starless stepped up to a massive boulder that over-topped her by two lengths. "I want you to move this."

Dipsy Daze's eyes widened in shock as she gazed up at the massive stone. "Mistress!?"

"This is the task I set to you," Starless commanded, looking down at the mare. "Move the stone."

Climbing to her hooves, Dipsy walked over to the stone. Setting her hooves firmly in the ground, she summoned her magic and wrapped it around the stone. Gritting her teeth, she strained as hard as she could to lift it until suddenly her magic shattered from the strain.

Stumbling back, Dipsy recovered and rushed up to the stone and threw her hooves into its side and pushed as hard as she could, her legs straining with the effort. Panting for breath, she collapsed back onto her rump to rest. "Mistress. I'm sorry, it's impossible."

Starless walked up to her and tenderly set her hoof to her cheek. "I assure you that it is not impossible."

Dipsy Daze blinked up at her.

"I make this promise," Starless said, looking down at the young mare. "Before the sun sets this day. You will move that stone."

Dipsy's eyes shot wide. "Mistress!"

"It is done," Starless declared. "My pledge has been given. Will I be proven a liar today?"

Dipsy leapt back to her hooves and shook her head. "Never, Mistress."

"Then I shall share a secret with you." Starless whispered to the mare. "An impossible task can be overcome with the help of friends."

Dipsy blinked with a look of confusion.

Starless turned to the gathered Unicorns. "Please come forward and gather around Dipsy, please." She waited as they did as she asked. "Now, what I am about to ask you all to do, can be dangerous if not done properly. I ask you all to not attempt this without either me or Moonglow supervising." She looked to each as they gave their agreement. "Good. Now, please close your eyes and relax. I want you all to summon all the magic you can and hold it ready."

Starless watched as each mare's horn began to glow with their magic. "Good, now I want you all to reach out to Dipsy Daze with your magic. Don't try to force it, just reach out to her." She then turned her attention to Dipsy Daze. "Dipsy Daze, I want you to open yourself to them. Like a flower opening itself to the sun, let their magic flow into you."

Dipsy Daze stood with her eyes shut as she focused on opening herself up to them. Her horn flickering as her face became strained with effort.

"Draw it in, don't pull." Starless repeated. "Guide it like a river as it flows into you."

Sweat dripped from Dipsy Daze's brows as her horn began to glow brighter and brighter. Her face tightened with ever increasing strain. "I can't... Its too much..."

"Now lift the stone," Starless commanded.

Dipsy Daze's magic exploded out of her horn. Wrapping around the boulder the massive stone shuddered and broke itself from the ground. Slowly, it lifted free from the ground and moved a full span to the side before dropping back down with a deep thud that shook the earth under their hooves.

Dipsy Daze let out a gasp and collapsed to her rump, gasping for breath with great heaving breaths. The other mares around her all sagged down in exhaustion.

Smiling under her mask, Starless stepped around the boulder. She couldn't believe it! She hadn't been sure that this was actually going to work! Did her plan actually have a chance to come to fruition!? Did she dare hope? Stepping around to Dipsy Daze, she gently laid her hoof onto her shivering shoulder. "I am proud of you. I knew you could do it." She turned to look at all the others. "I am proud of you all. What you have done today is a first step towards the defeat of the Night Mare Astral."

Despite their weariness, the gathered Unicorns all began smiling, their eyes coming alight.

"This is enough for today," Starless told them. "I don't want you all too tired for the grand welcoming celebration tonight."

As the Unicorns all began to disperse, Moonglow stepped up next to Starless. "Mistress. What use is it to teach them how to magic share? It's too slow and cumbersome to use in a fight or even use in day to day tasks."

"'What use is it?' you ask?" Starless replied with a smile. "Very likely our only chance at victory."

"Mistress?" Moonglow asked, confused.

"Think on it." Starless told her, walking away. "I'm sure a clever mare like you will figure it out."

Starless sought out Dark and found him speaking to the new stallions with Hoof Strike and his son Ground.

"I want you all to remember that you are now free stallions. You will need to be responsible for your actions from now on. Anything you do will have consequences," Dark stated, sternly. "No more will you have all your needs taken care of by others. You will have to learn to stand on your own and find your place here. Be an example to the stallions that follow after you. Make a better world here for the future and the foals that will grow up in it."

Hoof Strike now stepped forward to look over the stallions. "I have taught you what I could. What you become is up to you. Don't let me down or I'll make you regret it."

"And please try and keep the rowdiness down tonight." Ground added. "That means no fighting, even if it is over a pretty mare." That got many of the stallions to chuckle. "That is all. You're all dismissed to get yourselves ready. I recommend taking a bath because you all kind of stink."

Watching the stallions leave, Starless approached the trio. She wished she could take her Enchantress mask off to kiss Ground, but had to settle for a quick embrace before turning to the other two. "So? Are they ready?"

"They have no idea what they are getting into." Hoof Strike said with a sigh.

"I believe they'll figure it out," Dark said, "eventually."

"I did." Starless added, looking into Ground's loving eyes. "With a bit of help."

"You were worth the trouble." Ground replied with a grin. "If just barely."

"I will make you regret that later," Starless said, giving him a wink.

"I look forward to it," Ground answered in kind.

"You two..." Dark murmured, shaking his head with a smirk. "What a pair you two make."

"That's right!" Hoof Strike declared with a stomp of his massive hoof that shook the ground. "I couldn't be more proud of my colt and his filly!"

Starless felt her face flush under her mask at the proud look Hoof was giving them. "Well..."

Hoof suddenly reached out and swept her into a crushing hug along with Ground. "Nothing makes me happier than to see my foals being happy together!"

Starless struggled to breathe under the stallion's affectionate embrace.

Dark watched the tender moment with a amused smile. "So, how did it go with the special training?"

Gasping for breath, Starless clutched at Ground as she used him to support herself. "It went exceedingly well, much more than I had dared hoped"

Dark nodded thoughtfully. "Then you believe your plan will work?"

Starless shook her head. "It's too soon to say. I'll need to expand their circle more until I discover their limit." Starless turned to look back over the Unicorns hidden vale settlement. "I'm going to need more Unicorns. A lot more, if my plan has even a glimmer of hope of succeeding." Starless turned to look back at Dark. "I'm going to need to risk going to the Black Mountain."

"Are you sure?" Dark asked, his eyes troubled.

Starless nodded. "I'll need to speak to them myself if I'm going to convert enough Unicorns to our side."

Dark looked troubled by her decision but nodded anyways. "Just be sure you're careful. Okay?"

Starless smiled. "Don't worry. I have Ground to watch over me."

Dark considered her for a time. Stepped closer, his gaze becoming serious. "Did you tell her?"

Starless' heart jumped in her chest as she shot a look back at the settlement. "No. Not yet."

"Don't let it go for too long," Dark warned her. "She needs to be prepared."

"I know," Starless said with a sigh. "It's just... I don't want her to hate me for what I'm going to do to her daughter."

"I don't think she'd hate you," Dark said. "She'll probably will be angry with you for a while, but she won't hate you."

Starless didn't feel very reassured.

"If you want," Dark said, stepping closer to her. "I can talk to her for you."

Starless shook her head. "No. I should be the one to tell her. Thank you though."

The sound of hurried hoofsteps announced Mirage's approach. "Brother. Stratus Streak just arrived with a company of Pegasi."

Dark turned to her and nodded. "Oh good."

"Starless," Mirage said, looking to her. "Isn't it about time that you got ready?"

"Ready?"

"Yes," Mirage answered, moving around to usher her along. "For the stallions welcoming celebration. You want to look your best for it, don't you?"

Starless shot a look up at the sun and muttered a oath when she saw how late it was. "I'm sorry Dark. We'll have to leave our meeting with Stratus for later."

"I understand." Dark nodded to her. "It can wait until tomorrow."

Wild felt tired. Wet from his bath in the stream, he shivered in the chilly air as he made his way back to the hut. Earlier, when they had returned from their afternoon out together, Tiger Lily had quickly swept Snap and Jennet away and sent him off to wash with Journey. Arguing with her that he didn't need a bath only earned him a level glare that made him hurry off to do as she instructed. How did she always seem to do that?

Following along with him, Journey continued telling him about all the interesting places he found while exploring around the vale. Wild nodded as he half listened to the colt.

"Wild?" Journey asked, looking up at the young stallion. "How do you let a filly know you like her?"

"What?" Wild asked, glancing down at the colt. "What do you mean?"

Journey suddenly looked embarrassed. "Well... You know the group of Pegasi that just arrived? Stratus Streak's daughter came with them."

Wild searched his memory. He'd met Stratus a few times before and he seemed to recall a pretty little filly that sometimes accompanied him. It took him a moment to remember her name. "You're speaking about Butterfly?"

Journey nodded.

"Oh... ah..." Wild had no idea how to answer the colt. "I'm probably not the best one to ask about something like that."

Journey swung around came to a stop in front of him to look up at him. "Oh please! She's going to be there tonight!" the colt pleaded. "I don't want to make a fool of myself in front of her!"

"Then I'm definitely not the right one to ask," Wild answered, shaking his head. "I've been nothing but a fool and an idiot when it comes to fillies."

Journey sighed dejectedly and looked down.

Wild felt bad about not being able to help the colt. Stepping closer, he set his hoof onto his shoulder. "I'll tell you what. I'll share with you some of the mistakes I've done, so you won't hopefully repeat them yourself."

Journey looked up at him with sudden joy. "Really!?"

Wild nodded and began walking with the colt falling in beside him. As they headed back to the hut, he shared his first disastrous attempt to claim a filly he liked and how she ended up cracking one of his ribs when she bucked him away.

"So remember," Wild said down to the colt. "Never nip a filly in the flank unless you're ready to dodge her kick."

"Ready to dodge. Right!" Journey nodded, his face set seriously.

Approaching the hut, they found Hoof Strike standing outside.

"Sit," Hoof Strike ordered, nodding down before him.

"Why?" Wild asked.

"Sit," Hoof Strike repeated, his voice becoming firm with his order.

Letting out a sigh, Wild Bolt moved over and sat before the stallion. Hoof Strike moved around behind him, and much to his surprise, he felt a comb pull through his mane.

"What are you...!?" Wild started to rise, but a firm hoof came down onto his shoulder and forced him back down to his rump.

"Sit," Hoof Strike repeated as he resumed brushing his mane out.

"Why are you brushing my mane?" Wild asked. "As I already told Tiger, I'm not going to tonight's celebration." Wild tried to look back, but Hoof Strike firmly forced his head forward with his oversized hoof.

Letting out another sigh, Wild glared ahead as the oversized stallion brushed out his drying mane while Journey watched on with an amused look. Hoof Strike was surprisingly skilled at working out the knots and tangles throughout his mane and tail. When he was done, Wild was amazed at how his mane and tail now flowed with his movement. Done with him, Hoof Strike moved on to brush out his son's mane. Wild was stuck sitting on a log as he waited. Hoof Strike for some reason wouldn't let him leave or go inside.

Sighing, Wild rested his head on his propped up hoof. What was taking them? Glancing at Hoof Strike to see if he was watching, Wild slowly began to creep his rump to the side as he prepared to slip away, but froze when he saw him staring at him. Lifting his massive hoof, Hoof Strike firmly jabbed it at the log under him. Letting out another sigh, Wild shifted himself back into place and scowled down at the ground.

"You cleaned up quite nicely I see," Tiger's voice announced as she stepped out of the hut, looking at him. "Good."

Wild couldn't help but gape at the mare. She was gorgeous! Her golden orange coat shone in the late day sun, and her yellow and black streaked mane was tied back into a loose braid that fell down along her neck. Set over her shoulder was a sharp red colored shawl much like the ones he had seen some of the Unicorns wearing.

Stepping out of the hut behind her mother was a sight that literally took his breath away. Snap blinked at him with her large eyes. Her coat had also received the same treatment as her mother and practically glowed now. Her mane had been gathered at its end and tied with the same length of pink ribbon he'd given her earlier, but now with a fancy looped knot he'd not seen before. Settled over her shoulder was a light pink shawl.

Next to come out was Jennet. Her soft nut brown coat was more vibrant. Her mane had been tied back with a lager white ribbon tied into a large looped knot much like the one on the end of Snap's mane. Another one adorned the end of her tail. Instead of a shawl, she wore a short light brown cloak that hid her injured back.

Last out was Dove, carrying a cooing West Wind in her hooves. Her peach colored coat too had been washed to a glossy shine. And her deep purple mane and tail was decorated with strips of various colored ribbons that had been woven throughout it. Set over her shoulder was grey colored shawl.

"So?" Snap asked, gliding by him with a smile. "What do you think?"

"Ah..."

"He appears to have lost the ability to speak," Dove noted with amusement.

"Don't tease the poor colt," Tiger Lily lightly rebuked them. "Now, come along. We don't want to be late." She motioned for them to start moving. Wild went to sit back down, but Tiger Lily paused to look at him. "And what do you think you are doing?"

"I'm staying here." Wild said.

"Oh?" Tiger lifted her eyebrow at him.

"I don't really like celebrations." Wild shook his head. "Ponies are always trying to talk to me and ask me about things. I'll wait here and sneak in later for the food."

"Well, I'm sorry you feel that way" Tiger said to him evenly. "Now, get your rump off that log and get moving before we are late."

"But..."

Tiger leveled her gaze at him and Wild snapped his mouth shut. "You do not have an option in this. You are coming. Now, stop wasting time."

Snap and Jennet came up alongside him, each flanking a side. Letting out a sigh, Wild dropped his head and nodded.

As they headed off, Snap and Jennet stayed close beside him, their shoulders brushing up against his. Wild suspected that they were there to keep him from running off. His suspicions heightened even more when he noticed Hoof Strike walking closely behind him with Journey.

"You're enjoying this, aren't you?" Wild asked Snap.

Snap beamed at him and nodded. "Very much so."

"I'm so excited!" Jennet added breathlessly. "I've never been to a celebration before!"

Wild grumbled silently as he walked. Why were they forcing him to go? He hated these things. All it was was a bunch of speeches followed by ponies wanting to talk or sing bad songs. The only good thing was the food. That and the mares. And now here he was being escorted to one by two fillies.

The gathering was being held just outside the main settlement. Against a small rise, a large flat topped stone jetting out of it. Standing on it was Dark with Ash by his side, Next to them was Stratus Streak with his daughter Butterfly.

Starless, in her guise as the Enchantress, stepped out onto the stone and looked out over the gathered Unicorns. Her long white cloak rippled in the light breeze. "Greetings free Unicorns!" She announced, her magic carrying her voice across the gathering. "Today, I am pleased to announce the admission of new ponies into our community." She gestured to the stallions as they moved out into the cleared space below her rock. "They come to us as equals. Please welcome these free stallions into our fold!"

A cheer went up from the gathered Unicorn mares as the stallions moved out among them.

Starless waited as she let them greet the stallions. "Next, I wish to express my pride in you all. Through your hard work, and creativity. You have created something new and wondrous!" Tranquil stepped out with a bundle held in her hoof. Using her magic, Starless lifted the bundle up and unfolded it, showing a large bolt of cloth. "Thanks to your fine work, we now have something we can use to trade back to the Earth Ponies for their kindness. No more will we have to live off the generosity of others. Now we can earn it with our own work."

The gathered Unicorns clomped their hooves in approval and cried out with a great cheer.

"To assist in this, Plum Notion and some of the stallions have agreed to become caretakers for the sheep in our vale. They will watch over them and keep our valuable resource safe and bountiful within our lands."

Wild yawned as he listened. He knew this was going to happen, just a bunch of boring talk. Suddenly he felt a hoof jab him in his side and he glanced over at Snap as she glared at him.

"Stop yawning," she hissed.

Wild shrugged at her. "I can't help it."

Wild noticed that Tiger Lily and Jennet had vanished somewhere during the speech. Little West Wind was still with Dove so they didn't slip off to see to him. So where did they go off to?

Wild felt his side get jabbed again. "Pay attention!" Snap hissed.

Folding his ears back in irritation, Wild jabbed Snap back. "Stop poking me."

Snap's eyes flared and she firmly stomped her hoof onto his.

"Would you two settle down." Dove whispered, adjusting a fussy West in her hooves. "Save the flirting for later."

Snap gasped and jerked her gaze forward, while Wild in turn felt his cheeks starting to burn. They were not flirting! ...Where they?

"Lastly. I ask for Blue Swirl, Kindwhinny, Flint Heart, Far Treader, Cotton Cloud, Dusty Stride, and Wild Bolt to present themselves to me." Starless the Enchantress called out.

Wild Bolt blinked, stunned at hearing his name called. Why was she calling them up? Glancing around, he thought about finding a place to hide.

"What are you waiting for?" Snap snapped. "Get moving." She shoved him forward.

Stumbling out, Wild glared back at Snap as she stuck her tongue out at him. Grumbling to himself, Wild moved forward and circled around to the top of the rise to join the others that had been called up. Standing next to Far Treader, Wild could feel all the ponies eyes on him and tried to make himself look as inconspicuous as he could.

"These ponies that stand here before us, have done a great deed. They have taken down a vile slaver group that was hunting dangerously close our lands. In so doing so, they have ended their evil and freed a poor donkey mare caught in their grasp." She turned to look at Jennet who had moved out onto the rock with Tiger and Ground, who was carrying a bundle on his back. "We are Free Unicorns. Slavery will not be tolerated on our lands and punishment will be server for any caught hunting here. Let us also welcome Jennet the free donkey, and show her the same kindness as you would show to any pony, for she is sister to us."

The gathered Unicorns all cheered and stomped their hooves.

Starless the Enchantress waited until the crowd grew quiet again. "In honor of their brave and valiant act, I give them these gifts." Ground stepped forward and Starless lifted a folded rich green colored cloth up from his back and carried it over to Dusty with her magic. Unfurling it, she revealed a new cloak and set it around his shoulder, clasping it around at his throat. "We used the copper you captured to make the clasps. A more proper use for the metal I think."

Dusty looked down at his cloak and reached up to touch the copper clasp in wonder. Watching, his mother and Tranquil were both crying together with pride and joy.

Moving to each of them, she took a cloak from Ground, and settled it around their backs. Wild felt a strange sense of amazement as he felt the cloak settle over him. Green was the newest and most difficult dye the Unicorns had so far created, coming from a tiny berry bush that grew high up in the mountains. He had watched them making it.

Starless stepped back and nodded to Jennet. "And now Jennet wishes to give her own thanks."

Jennet nervously stepped across the stone to Dusty. Pausing before him, she thanked him and gingerly reached out to kiss him on his cheek. Moving along to each of them, she repeated this until she finally reached Wild. Pausing before him she looked back at Tiger Lily as she crossed over to them carrying something long, wrapped across her back. Jennet lifted the wrapped object from Tiger Lily's back and turned to Wild. "Wild Bolt. For saving me, you've earned my eternal gratitude." She unwrapped the long object, revealing a spear. "This spear is from the one you vanquished in my defense." She held it out. "Please accept it."

Wild looked down at the offered spear. The last time he had seen it, it had been embedded into a stallions heart. It had been cleaned and the copper spear-tip had been polished to a shine. Reaching out, Wild took it onto his hoof, its weight settling into his grasp. It felt strangely heavier than he remembered.

Jennet leaned in and planted her lips to his, kissing him. Wild's heart jumped and started racing in his chest as he found himself leaning into her warm lips. Distantly, he heard the crowd cheering as his knees grew weak. With a smack, their lips broke apart and Wild nearly collapsed as Jennet moved back to rejoin a smiling Tiger Lily. Wobbling in place, Wild grinned as his head spun pleasantly. Perhaps coming to the celebration wasn't so bad after all.