Luna giggled as she played cloppy-hooves with Strawberry, her face scrunched up as she focused on the pattern Strawberry had taught her. She liked having Strawberry live with them while Mirage was away with Dark and Ash, it was like having another sister to play with.

Sitting across the room, Meadowlark brushed out her mane as she got ready to meet with the Mares Circle. "Strawberry? Have you seen where Celestia has gone off to?"

“I haven't seen her this morning.” Strawberry shook her head. "She was already gone when I woke up."

Meadowlark pursed her lips. "That's strange. That's very unlike her."

"She's been helping watch the little foals," Strawberry said. "Perhaps she was needed there early and she forgot to tell us."

Meadowlark thought about it and nodded. "That's probably it." Putting her brush away, she turned to them. "Strawberry, when you see her next remind her that she is to tell me when she is leaving. None of this disappearing. Alright?"

Strawberry lowered her hooves from Luna's and nodded. "Yes, mam’."

"Mama?" Luna called. "I want go play with Aurora today?"

"I'm sorry sweetie. I'm going to be too busy to take you out to her farm today," her mother said. Luna's heart fell with disappointment and she began to pout. Her mother was always too busy to take her out. "But, if Celestia has time, she and Strawberry could take you out later. Okay?"

Luna perked back up and happily clomped her hooves together. "Really!?"

Strawberry smiled and mussed Luna's mane. "Of course we will."

Luna's mood improved immensely and she didn't make a fuss when her mother took her to the longhouse. Racing to her basket in the back, she rooted through her toys as her mother sat down with a group of older mares to discuss matters of the community.

Shifting a funny tangled stick that had only one end to the side, she took out her blocks and set them out on the ground. Stacking them together, she quickly built a small village. Satisfied with her work, she next took out her two carved ponies and placed them in the center of her village.

"Brave Charge, where's was you?" Luna said, moving the carved mare as she spoke. "I have callings and callings for you."

"I hurried and am here's now, Luna!" She answered, moving the stallion. "What you need?"

Luna shuffled her mare figure closer to the stallion. "Brave Charge, there's bad Dragon hurting ponies. Please make go away!"

Reaching into her toy basket, Luna took out her newest toy made for her by Timberline. A Dragon. It had a bulbous body, an overly large head and a short stubby tail. She had heard that dragons had wings, but this one didn't. She didn't mind though, she just pretended that it was a Earth Dragon instead of a Sky Dragon.

Letting out a mock roar, she moved the Dragon into her village and began knocking down her blocks.

"Not fear, Luna!" she said, moving back to her stallion. "I fight it!" She set a tiny spear into a cleverly made slot in the stallion's mouth and charged at the dragon.

Sifting back to the Dragon, she shoved it into the stallion and knocked him over.

"Oh's, no!" she wailed in horror. "his too strong!"

"I's fight too!" Luna cried out, moving the mare figure forward to the stallion. Taking up the spear, Luna stabbed it at the Dragon. Letting out a roar, she toppled the Dragon over onto its side and released a croaking sound of death.

She righted the stallion and moved him closer to the mare. "You are bestest Lulu! Kiss kiss!" She began tapping their noses together with little smooching sounds. Suddenly, her ears perked up when she heard raised voices coming from the circle of mares.

"A messenger from Dark? Of course. Please send her in." her mother ordered.

A pegasus mare with a pack on her back stepped into the longhouse and made her way over to the group. Stopping before her mother, the Pegasus respectfully bowed her head. "Greeting's honored Herd Mother."

"Greetings, Cirrus Swirl," her mother replied with a nod of her head. "You bring word from my mate?"

"Indeed I have." Cirrus nodded. "The Herd Father was very insistent that I first share his love for you and his two daughters." Cirrus Swirl said, sounding slightly embarrassed. There was a murmur of mirth in the gathering of mares around her mother. Hearing them talking about her father, Luna rushed over to her mother to listen.

"Please return our love back to him and Ash, upon your return." her mother requested, placing her hoof around Luna to hold her close.

Cirrus Swirl bowed her head. "It will be my pleasure."

"Thank you," her mother said gratefully. "Now, please proceed with the rest of your message."

"The captured slaver is named Nada, and he's from a land called Minos, which lies across the Burning Sands far to the east." Cirrus said. "The Pegasi avoid the Burning Sands. Any who have tried to cross it, never return. It's a testament to the hardiness of donkeys for making the journey," she added, sounding impressed. "Anyways, Jennet the free slave, has healed well and has been helping Brightstar learn some of the secrets of this other land." Reaching into her pack, she took out a strange cylindrical object and held it out. It was about half the size of a pony's head with an opening at one end. "This is the first one they successfully made."

"What is it?" Reaching her hoof out, her mother lightly tapped the object's side, hearing a light ringing tone at her touch.

"She calls it pottery." Cirrus Swirl answered. "I was told that it's made from fire-baked clay. Brightstar hopes to use it to hold grain and other foods to keep the rodents from getting at it."

"This thing is made from something as common as clay?" her mother asked, carefully picking up the pot to look at it more closely. "Amazing." She passed it over to the other mares for them to look at.

Reaching into her pack, Cirrus Swirl pulled out another strange object. It looked much like the material that Tranquil wove from plant fibers, but it was nearly white and much softer looking. "The Unicorns wish to gift this to you, Herd Mother." She held it out and draped it over her mother's outstretched leg. "It's called cloth."

"Oh, how wondrous," her mother marveled, examining the fabric.

"It's made from spun sheep's wool." Cirrus Swirl explained. "It's a rather remarkable process to watch."

Luna wrapped the cloth round herself. "It's nice and warm, mama," she said, poking her head out.

"Do you like it sweety?" her mother asked, looking down at her.

Luna smiled and nodded.

Cirrus Swirl's expression became serious. "Dark asked me to leave this part for the end. Starless the Enchantress has decided that the slaver, Nada, for his crimes, will be cast into the Enchanted Beast Pool."

There was sudden exclamations of shock around the room. Meadowlark looked like she was going to be sick. "Starless told us about that pool, but I never expected that it would ever be used... like this," she said in a hushed voice.

Luna, peeked out from the fabric she had bundled herself into. "Does that mean the bad pony won't be a pony anymore?"

Her mother looked down at her. "Yes sweety. It means he'll be turned into an animal."

"Really!?" Luna perked up, thinking it would be fun to become an animal. "Would he be a bat, or an opossum?" She liked opossums. They were cute and hung down from their tails.

"I don't know, sweetheart," her mother replied. "Nopony knows what animal they would become when they go in."

"Oh. Okay." Luna burrowed herself back into the cloth, and soon found herself growing drowsy in its comforting warmth and slowly slipped off to sleep.

"Thank you Cirrus, for your hard work." Meadowlark said, turning back to the Pegasus. "Please stay and rest. Food will be brought to you."

Luna didn't know how long she slept before she was suddenly awakened when a distraught Strawberry came shouting for Luna's mother.

"Strawberry, not so fast, you're not making any sense," Meadowlark said to the filly as she rushed up to her. "What do you mean you can't find her?"

"It's Celestia!" Strawberry blurted out. "She's missing!"

Luna yawned and lifted her head, discovering that she had been placed in a basket with the blanket of cloth while she had slept.

"Calm down," her mother said. "She has to be here. Did you check with the other fillies?"

Strawberry nodded. "I asked them all and none of them have seen her today. Nopony has!"

"None of them?" Her mother looked perplexed. "Melodious? Would you please go find Whistle Reed and tell her that I would like to see her, quickly."

Luna rubbed at her eyes, wondering why her mother was suddenly looking so anxious.

A short time later, a pale mare with bright green mane hurried into the longhouse. Stopping before her mother, she raised her hoof to her heart and bowed her head down. "You called for me, Mother?"

"Yes, Whistle Reed " her mother replied. "Did my daughter leave through the gate today?"

Whistle Reed shook her head. "No. I've not seen her since I went on duty this morning."

"What about during the night?" Meadowlark asked. "Could she have left then?"

Again, Whistle Reed shook her head. "Dark ordered that the gates be closed and barred during the night. Nopony is allowed to pass through until the morning."

Luna was trying to understand what was going on. Was sister in trouble?

"Whistle Reed, I would like you to organize a search," Meadowlark said, sounding concerned. "I want everypony questioned and everyplace inside and outside the walls searched for Celestia."

Whistle Reed set her hoof to her heart and bowed her head before rushing out to start the search.

Luna was scared with how her mother was acting. Climbing out of her basket, she rushed to her mother, holding her hooves up to be held.

Picking her up, tears began to well up in her mother's eyes as she held her close. "It's okay Luna. Your sister is just playing a game. They're going to find her really soon."

Sitting by the practice yard, Wild absently watched as Shadow Play sparred against Ash. The gelding was twice the colt's size, and held an obvious advantage, and yet he still struggled to land a hit. Ash's normally serious expression was focused as he seemed to read Shadow Play's every move, parrying and blocking with amazing skill, born from the colt's hard training.

It had been two days since his encounter with the Manticore and Snap was still not talking to him. Wild let out a sigh. "How long is she going to be angry with me?" he asked, looking over to Hoof Strike.

"Don't worry about it so much." Hoof Strike said. "She's as stubborn as her mother. She'll come around. Eventually."

"I hope so," Wild said. He didn't understand mares. You would think he'd snuck up and pulled the Manticore's tail with how she reacted to what had happened to them.

"Come lad. Let's work on your forms. You need to practice your hoofwork more." Hoof Strike said, standing. "It'll help clear your mind."

Sitting outside her mother's hut, Snap scowled as she worked on the loom set out before her. It wasn't as big as the ones the Unicorns were using, but that didn't make it any easier to learn. Letting out a sigh, she leaned back to rub at her shoulder. For days she toiled on it, trying to weave a simple blanket, but only managed a single hoof length of patchy colored cloth. This was a lot harder than she thought. How did Tranquil make it look so easy?

Inside the hut, she heard little West start to cry, his little voice pitched high with hunger. Her mother's voice soon began crooning at the foal as she worked to calm him. His cries were stifled as her mother put him down to nurse. Her mother's milk was slowly coming in, but only for brief feedings. Hardly enough to satisfy the colt's growing hunger. While she was there, Dove was an enormous help keeping the foal fed properly, but soon she was going to be leaving and her mother was growing worried that her milk wasn't going to be ready.

After a time, her mother stepped out of the hut carrying little West tucked up close against her chest. "I gave him what I could, but it won't be long before he's hungry again. Where's Dove? She knows when the foal normally likes to be fed."

Looking up from her work, Snap shook her head. "I don't know. I haven't seen her." It wasn't like Dove to slip off without telling them, especially if she was going to miss a feeding.

"Snap dear. Please go and fetch Whisper Wisp," her mother said, settling down in the soft grass. "With Dove gone, she'll need to nurse him."

Setting her work down, Snap prepared to go when she noticed Dove hurrying over. "Oh, there she is."

"Oh thank the stars," her mother said in relief.

Following along with Dove was the mysterious Unicorn shaman, Soothing Melody. Her pack of strangely assorted things on her back "Greetings Honored Mare." she said, greeting Tiger Lily.

Tiger Lily looked surprised to see the shaman. "Good afternoon, Soothing Melody. What brings you by?"

"Dove has been coming to me to learn what I know about healing herbs," Soothing said. "She mentioned to me that you've been having some difficulty."

"Difficulty" Tiger Lily asked. "I'm not sure what...?"

"Dove has explained to me that you've been trying to bring in your milk," Soothing said.

"Yes, that is true." Tiger nodded. "I have been having a difficult time of it. Is there a way that you can help me?"

"Perhaps," Soothing Melody said, setting her pack of herbs down. "Please pass over the foal to your eldest daughter so I may examine you."

Snap moved to her mother and took little West from her, sitting with him to the side to watch. Soothing Melody bent down closely to examine her mothers udders. Using her hoof, she felt them, massaging her soft mounds with a thoughtful frown. Working out a dribble of milk from her teat with a light push, she bent in close to sniff it. "Hmm..."

Turning to her pack, she began rooting through her gourds, pausing occasionally to sniff at it's contents. Taking out a stone bowl, she added five orange pods with blue spots into it, along with three, red colored leaves with two lobes, a yellow mushroom, and a butterfly wing that sparkled like a rainbow in the sunlight. Taking up a long rounded stone in her magic, she used it to grind them together. Adding water from a gourd, she touched the stone bowl with her horn and the mixture inside the bowl began to boil, filling the air with a sharp, sweet scent.

Returning to her pack, Soothing Melody took out a small flower Snap had never seen before. It had six, bright green, twin lobed petals with a white line tracing down the center of each petal forming a star. Floating it down to the bowl with her magic, she added it in and slowly began to stir with a stick. After a few moments its color turned to a deep crimson. Pouring it into a cup, she took it over to her mother and held it down by her udders. There she pressed at her teat and expressed a few drops of her milk into it. After a few moments, it turned to a light pink.

"Here, drink it." Soothing Melody said, holding out the mysterious concoction to her mother.

"What is it?" Tiger asked, taking the cup. "Some kind of Unicorn magic?"

"No. Nothing like that. This is something anypony can do." Soothing Melody said. "It's a potion made with nature magic."

Snap's ears perked up. "Nature magic? What's that?"

Soothing Melody considered her thoughtfully. She picked a clover and held it up in her magic. "Everything in nature, from the most simple clover to the mightiest tree, is imbued with a form of magic. If you have the knowledge to do so, you can meld their essences together to create something wondrous."

"Really?" Snap said. "That sounds really amazing."

Holding the cup up to her lips, Tiger blew on it to cool it before drinking it down. "That tasted... odd," she said, lowering the empty cup.

"How do you feel, mama?" Snap asked.

"I have a funny taste in my mouth." Tiger said. Suddenly her eyes grew wider. "Oh my... oh my..." She looked down to her udders. "They feel warm and tingly."

Snap wondered if it was her imagination. Her mother's udders looked more rounded than they did just moments before, and her teats had darkened slightly. Watching, she saw her mother's soft mounds grow more rounded as milk began to drip from her teats.

"My apologies honored daughter," Soothing said, taking the colt from Snap's grasp with her magic, to set him to Tiger's udders to nurse. Soon the sound of loud suckling filled the air as well as the colt began to feed.

Tiger let out a revealed sigh "Oh, that feels wondrous."

Snap moved over to Soothing as she repacked her pack. "So anypony can learn this nature magic?"

Soothing Melody paused, her eyes examining her. "If they have the talent and patience to learn. Yes."

"Can you teach me?" Snap asked.

"No." Soothing Melody resumed repacking her things.

"No!?" Snap said, disappointed. "But why not? You're teaching Dove healing herbs and stuff. Why can't you teach me this nature magic too?"

"My reasons are my own, and I have given you my answer." Soothing said, with a note of finality.

Snap sat down with a disappointed frown.

Setting the last of her gourds into place, Soothing Melody looked up. "How is that young colt of yours doing? The one with the shoulder."

"Wild? He's probably off getting eaten by a dragon for all I care." Snap said, her voice going cold. "It would serve him right. I hope it chokes on his idiocy. Star's knows, he's got enough of it."

"Snap!" Tiger said, shooting her a shocked look.

Snap's ears wilted under her mother's furious gaze.

"This has gone on long enough!" her mother continued. "I only allowed this to continue for this long because I believed that you would come to your senses!”

“But mama!” Snap objected. “That fool stallion nearly got himself killed on a stupid adventure that they shouldn’t even have been on!”

“Yes. He nearly died,” her mother said. “And yes. They shouldn’t have been out there without a proper escort, but they are young, and being stupid goes with being young. Wild fought bravely protecting others and should be commended for it, not punished! It’s time for you to put away your hurt feelings and mend things between you two. Do you understand me? I will have no more of this foolishness from you. I raised you better than this."

Her mother was right. She'd been lashing out at Wild, blaming him for what had happened The thought of how close she had come to losing them. Of losing him. She had been surprised at how much it hurt. It was something she'd never felt before. It was like her heart was being crushed in her chest.

She was such a fool! An idiot and fool. How was she ever going to make this up to him!? "Oh mama!" Snap suddenly rushed forward and threw herself into her mother, burying her face into her mane. "I've been absolutely horrible!" she wept.

"I know sweetheart." Tiger wrapped her hooves around her daughter and spoke softly into her mane. "It’ll be hard, but the sooner you speak with him, the better it will be. For the both of you."

Leaning back, Snap wiped at her eyes and nodded. Standing, she rushed off to find Wild Bolt.

Soothing Melody silently watched Snap leave with a bemused look. "I take it the colt has healed well then?" She answered her unanswered question to nopony in particular.

Wild Bolt walked, not seeing where he was going as he moved along the fringe of the settlement. Hoof Strike had finally gotten fed up by Wild's lack of concentration and sent him off for the day, telling him to only come back when he found his head.

Wild had thought about finding Jennet, but ever since his and Snap's fight, she'd been avoiding both him and Snap. Hiding from them really, spending all her time helping Brightstar. A couple of times he thought he spotted dried tear stains under her eyes, but when he asked her about them she brushed it off and remembered something she had to do before rushing off. She was stuck between him and Snap and it was hurting her.

Suddenly Wild felt a weight come down on his back as two hooves wrapped around his neck.

"What'cha doing!?" Journey's voice cut into his thoughts.

"Thinking," Wild answered.

"Thinking about what?" Journey asked.

"Thinking about things."

"Thinking about what things?"

Wild sighed. "Thinking about important things."

"Thinking about what important things?"

At any other time, this exchange would have been annoying, but now, it was just getting really irritating ."Thinking about really important things."

"Thinking about what really important things?"

Wild knew that he was fighting a losing battle. If he was going to have a chance at winning he was going to have to cheat. "I'm thinking about kissing Snap."

"Eewww!" Journey exclaimed in disgust.

Wild couldn't help but grin.

Journey gave his head a shake. "Well anyways, I found something funner than that icky kissy stuff." Journey said.

"Oh?" Wild figured the colt just wanted to catch lizards sunning on the rocks or something.

"I found a cave!" Journey exclaimed excitedly. "You want to go explore it."

Wild thought about it. It did seem like a good way to distract him from his troubles with Snap. It also sounded kind of fun. "Yeah, sure. It'll be something to do. Let's go."

Journey let out a happy whoop and hopped down from his back. "Come on. It's down the eastern side of the valley. Back where the woods grow up against the cliff."

Wild trotted after the colt. Moving down the valley, it quickly widened out into rolling grass covered hills with bight, colorful patches of flowers. Soon they came to stone fenced pastures that was being made to hold the sheep. Perched on a hill overlooking the grazing sheep, a stallion sat with a crooked staff leaned up on his shoulder. The stallion waved at them as they passed following the well worn path further down the valley.

It was so beautiful here. Soon, the caravan would be heading back to the Earth Pony settlement with packs full of newly made textiles. Snap had decided that she was going to remain here with her family, helping the Unicorns. Wild was divided with what to do. Part of him wanted to stay, but he knew his father would be expecting his return with the caravan. He thought about asking Jennet if she wanted to come with him, but he quickly discarded that idea. If his father saw him with a donkey, he'd be set to the fields until he fell over in exhaustion every night for an entire season.

They followed the path south until Journey turned off to cross over the stream. Walking across the gentle grasslands, they headed towards the cliffs to the east. Cresting a rise, the whitewood forest came into view. To the south, sat Jewel Lake, it's surface sparkling in the sunlight with swans gliding gracefully across its clear surface like puffy clouds in the sky.

Descending to the forest, Wild paused to run his hoof over the white bark of one the trees that gave the forest its name. "How much farther is this cave?"

Journey pointed ahead and said, "Not far. It's just up there."

Wild nodded and was about to continue on when a dark form suddenly leapt out from a bush and charged right at him. He had left his spear behind and he only had time to let out a surprised shout before the form was on him. Two great paws caught him on his shoulder and bore him to the ground. Landing on his back, he stared up in horror as the Manticore opened its fanged maw over his face. Feeling it's hot breath washing over him, Wild clamped his eyes shut as he prepared himself for death.

Instead of the painful feeling of his flesh being ravished and his bones being cracked open, Wild was shocked to feel the rasping lick of the Manticor's warm tongue as it suddenly began licking him. Blinking his eyes open, Wild gazed up in shock as the air thrummed around him with the deep sound of the beast's purring.

"Wild!" Journey cried out in alarm.

"It's okay," Wild quickly assured the colt. "He's not hurting me." Wild didn't understand it. Why wasn't the Manticore eating him? It weight was crushing him and it took some effort to wriggle his way free. Regaining his hooves, Wild felt himself being butted by the Manticore as he affectionately rubbed it's head against him. Hesitantly, he reached out and scratched behind the massive cat's ears.

Something about the Manticore seemed familiar. Examining the creature, Wild noticed some half healed injuries across its body, including one on its shoulder. "This is the same Manticore that attacked us!" Wild exclaimed in surprise.

Journey moved to Wild, eyeing the Manticore as he went. "Yeah, I think you're right. What is it doing here?"

The Manticore suddenly turned and bound away, its dragon-like wings partially unfurled. A moment later, he reappeared carrying what appeared to be a deer leg in it's mouth. Coming back up to them, it dropped it at Wild's hooves and sat back with a oddly pleased look on its face.

A strange thought came to Wild as he considered the Manticore and its offering. It was such a strange thought, Wild had to rethink it through several more times before concluding that it was the only thing that made any sense. "I... think he was looking for us."

Journey looked speculatively at the Manticore then shook his head and said, "No. I think he came looking for you."

"Me!?" Wild blinked at the Manticore who was now busily grooming itself. Why would it be looking for him? It didn't seem to want to eat him. In fact, it seemed he wanted to be friends. Wild would have laughed if he hadn't just received a tongue bath from it just moments before. A Manticore wanting to be friends with a pony? Was that even possible?

Journey moved up to the Manticore and started to pet it. "So, what are you going to name him?"

"We're not naming him!" Wild exclaimed.

"Aww, why not?" Journey leaned up on the Manticore to scratch at it's head.

Wild couldn't believe he was having this conversation. "Because he's a monster!"

"Well, that's a terrible thing to say about him! He's a nice monster!" Journey said. " How about we call him, Fang."

"We're not naming him Fang!" Wild said firmly. Turning, he paced a few steps away, feverishly thinking of what he should do. Somehow, he needed to get the Manticore to leave. How do you chase a Manticore away? Manticore's weren't known for running away.

"Hay Wild! Look at me!" Journey called out to him.

Letting out a sigh, Wild turned and gasped. Journey sat perched behind the Manticor's great mane as the two of them leaped playfully around the trees.

"What are you doing? Don't ride him!" Wild groaned.

"Oh, come on!" Journey said, laughing. "It's really fun! You should try it!"

Wild felt like running his head into a tree. "Stars shine on me! What am I going to do!?"

With the basket balanced on her back, Radiant approached the High Blood Stables entrance. The opening was several times wider than it was tall and the stone floor was worn smooth from the countless hooves. Two Casters stood guard at the opening watching every pony as they passed into and out of the stables. Most mare's were not allowed inside the stables, but Radiant, being the High Blood daughter of Astral, was free to come and go as she pleased.

Her Caster training had gone on longer than expected and she was running late in bringing Frost and Horizon's evening meal. Her escape a few night before with Eclipsea was fortunately being blamed on the Enchantress. Rumors were now flying through the lower Unicorns about how the Enchantress, upon seeing the plight of the mystic, flew in on gossamer moonlight to whisk her away to her Eternal Garden. Her mother looked like a storm cloud about burst when she heard the news of Eclipsea's escape, and she ordered the Casters that had been set to watch the mystic that night be sealed to the stones for two days without food or water.

Passing through the opening, the Casters let her through without challenge. Moving deeper into the stables, Radiant bore to the right at the first fork. The volcanic rock was honeycombed with chambers and pockets, widened with magic and time. Glow crystals, set into the walls lit the way as she moved down the passageway. Ahead of her a figure suddenly stepped out of the tunnel in front of her.

"Oh, hello again," Phantom Dawn said, smiling at her.

Phantom Dawn was the son of one of the most powerful of the Patron matriarchs. He was tall with broad shoulders. His coat was moonlight-grey and his long opal-white mane fell in wavy curls around his neck. His eyes were a deep sapphire blue that nearly caused Radiant to lose herself in whenever she gazed into them. He was the prize of the stables with his breeding price being so high, most families would be ruined if they tried to meet it.

"Good evening, Phantom," Radiant said, giving him a warm smile. "It's nice to see you again."

"As always, your coming brings joy to me, for I am blessed to gaze upon your beauty once again," Phantom Dawn said, touching his hoof to his breast. "Thy absence is like a cold night upon my heart that yearns ever for thy sweet company."

Radiant felt her cheeks heat up as she blushed. "Ah... thank you."

"Please." Phantom Dawn said with a shake of his head. "Should the sunset give thanks for sharing it's splendor each morning? Does a flower seek approval to unveil it's glorious petals? Neigh! For it is I who give thanks at the beauty revealed me."

Radiant felt her cheeks heating up even more at the stallions flowery words. By the moon, he was a handsome stallion.

Stepping closer, Phantom Dawn lightly brushed his hoof along her jaw as he leaned in close. "You know, a mare of your fine breeding, deserves a worthy stallion of high standards."

Looking up into Phantom's deep sapphire eyes Radiant felt her heart quicken. "Oh?"

"Indeed." Phantom continued. "Our pairing would produce such beautiful foals, they would be the envy of every High Blood mare."

Radiant felt her flush spread down her entire neck to her back as the stallion leaned in close, his scent filling her senses.

"I have spoken to my mother about becoming your mate," Phantom continued, his breath tickling her cheek. "She seemed quite agreeable to it."

"She did?" Radiant found her breath quickening.

"Yes," Phantom said. "If your mother agrees, then it will be I who will be filling your womb with foals instead of that... runt unicorn."

Radiant's lips firmed in sudden annoyance. "I would appreciate it if you didn't speak of Frost like that."

Frost was rather small for his age, but he was remarkably sweet and kindhearted. It was a trait that was missing in a lot of stallions in Radiant's opinion and it was something she liked about him.

Phantom Dawn placed his hoof to his breast and bowed his head. "Oh, you are absolutely correct, my dear. I apologize most humbly for my crude comment. It was wrong for me to speak so of the colt."

"Thank you," Radiant said, stepping away. "I'm sorry, but It's past time that I must be going now."

"Oh! Yes of course. How rude of me. I'm keeping you from your task." Phantom said, hurrying along with her. "Here, let me assist you." Before Radiant could protest, Phantom snatched up her basket of food and set it onto his back.

This was a disaster! What was she going to do!? Phantom couldn't discover the secret she had hidden with Frost! Schooling her face, she smiled at him. "Why thank you. That's very kind of you."

Continuing on with Phantom by her side, Radiant struggled to keep her nervousness from showing. Weaving their way through the maze of interlocking tunnels, they finally came to Frost's chamber. It's entrance was set higher up on the tunnel wall with hoof-notches carved into the sloping rocks below.

Stopping, Radiant took back her basket and said. "Thank you again for your help." When she moved to go, Phantom abruptly threw his hoof up in front of her and stopped her.

Phantom frowned in disapproval at the steps leading up to Frost's chamber. "Radiant my dear. I cannot allow you to endanger yourself on such poor hoofholds . Please remain here while I fetch down the colt for you."

Radiant stared in horror as Phantom started for the steps that led up to Frost's chamber. She needed to stop him before he saw what was hidden up there! Thinking as fast as she could, she failed to think of a single good idea! With no other option, she panicked and did the first stupid thing that came to her. Summoning her magic, she snatched up a small stone and threw it at Phantom, shouting, "Look out!" The stone flew and struck Phantom's flank with a light thunk.

Phantom whirled about, his horn flashing with magic at the unexpected attack.

Radiant pointed off into the darkness of the tunnel "It came from over there!"

"You villain!" Phantom cried out in outrage into the darkness. "It will take more than a mere pebble to defeat me!" Pausing a moment, Phantom Dawn took her hoof and kissed it. "Apologies my dear, but I must leave you. There is a task that needs to be seen too." With that, the stallion rushed off down the tunnel, the light of his horn faded off into the distance.

Radiant watched him go and let out a relieved sigh. She couldn't believe that it had actually worked. Lifting her hoof, she looked down at the spot where Phantom had kissed her. Why did her heart start racing when he'd kissed her?

The sound of a hoof scraping on rock caught her attention. Looking up, she saw Frost looking down at her from the opening to his chamber. "Why did you bring him?" His blue eyes had a strange coldness to them.

"It couldn't be helped." Radiant said, climbing up to him. "He kept following me."

"I noticed that you didn't seem to mind." Frost said, his expression becoming more stiff.

"What's the matter?" Radiant asked, pausing to look at him. He was acting really strangely.

Frost shook his head. Summoning his magic, he lifted the basket of food off her back. "Nothing." He then turned and walked down the narrow tunnel.

Radiant stared after him. After a few moments, she followed after. The narrow tunnel quickly opened up into a small, rounded chamber, its smooth walls glittering with minerals. Set into the center of the ceiling, a glowing crystal filled the room with it's soft light. Interspersed into the walls were smaller alcoves that were big enough to hold a pony.

It was out of one of these alcoves that Horizon Flicker poked his head out. When he saw Radiant come in, he smiled happily and jumped down to rush over to wrap his hooves around her leg. "Radiant!"

Smiling down at the colt, Radiant warmly embraced him back. At first, she tried to not like him. It had been because of him that she had lost her big brother, Rising. But despite her initial feelings, she quickly warmed up to the colt. He was just so warm and exuberant, she couldn't help herself.

Horizon was the son of a sea tribe's Matriarch. One day, while he was out on the beach playing with the other younger foals, he saw a careless filly that had gotten caught out on some rocks when the tide had come in, leaving her stranded away from shore. Seeing the water lapping at the filly's hooves, he cast out his magic and pushed back the sea, allowing him to walk out to the stranded filly and bring her back to shore safely. Word of his amazing feat came to her mother's attention, where she then decided that he was worthy to exchange her brother for.

"Did Dazzle come too?" Horizon asked, looking up at her with his bright eyes.

Radiant shook her head. "I'm sorry. Not today." Horizon was to be Dazzle's mate when they were older, but for now, the two had become friends since his arrival. Normally, Radiant would have brought Dazzle along so the two could talk and play a bit, but today Dazzle had upset their mother when she had interrupted a meeting she was having with her Casters and had been given extra magic lessons to teach her discipline. Radiant remembered being given those extra lessons herself. They usually consisted of useless tasks. For her, it had been moving a large pile of stones from one spot to another, then back again until she was told to stop, which usually didn't happen until she'd collapsed in exhaustion.

Frost had sat down with the basket and was eating an apple he had picked out of it. His expression was odd, almost angry looking.

"Frost?" Radiant said, crossing over to him. "What's the matter? You're acting weird."

Frost chewed his apple for a moment, his eyes refusing to look up at her. Then he asked. "Do you like him?"

Radiant was caught off guard by the question. "Who do you mean?"

"You know who I mean." Frost said angrily, his gaze snapping onto her. "You like him, don't you?"

"Phantom?" Radiant guessed, surprised at how angry he appeared to be. "Well... yeah, a little bit. He's kind of sweet in a way."

"That stallion is horrible!" Frost exclaimed, his half eaten apple suddenly crushing in his magical grasp, its juices splattering to the ground. "He's vicious and cruel!"

Radiant pursed her lips at the waste of food. "Frost, why are you acting this way? Phantom has been nothing but friendly."

"That's only because he's trying to gain your favor!" Frost snapped.

Frost's strange attitude suddenly became clear to Radiant. "You're jealous!"

Frost glared down at the basket of food, his ears quivering. "No, of course not."

Radiant knew he was lying. "Yes you are! You're afraid I'll choose him over you!"

"I am not!" Frost shouted angrily, storming to his hooves. Horizon, frightened at his outburst, vanished into one of the alcoves. "You must believe me, you cannot trust Phantom! He's dangerous!"

"Don't raise your voice to me!" Radiant glared angrily at Frost. He had never shouted at her before. No stallion had. "Remember your place! What I do with Phantom is my business. A stallion would know to keep his muzzle out of where it doesn’t belong!"

A look of pain suddenly flashed across Frost's face. "Fine. Do whatever you want with him. Have his foals for all I care." With a flash, Frost suddenly vanished in a burst of snowflakes, that drifted down in his wake.

Radiant stared at the spot Frost had been standing just a moment before. She had taught him that flash-travel spell herself, along with a several other spells. She had been surprised with how quickly he learned during their magical sparring matches. If he wasn't a stallion, he would have made a good Caster, probably one of the best.

A soft scuffing sound drew her attention up to a alcove above her. There she noticed the end of Frost's silvery-blue tail draped over the edge as he sulked inside.

Letting out a sigh, Radiant put Frost from her mind. Going to the basket, she collected some food and moved across to an alcove in the back of the chamber. Ducking inside, she summoned her magic and cast a light spell around her horn, lighting up the small space to reveal Eclipsea laying in the corner of the small alcove.

When she came to Frost for his help, he expressed to her his misgivings about her plan to hide Eclipsea there, arguing with her about how much trouble she would be in if what she had done was discovered. In the end, despite his feelings otherwise, he agreed to help her and Eclipsea. He sent her back out while he somehow slipped out of the stables by some unknown way, meeting her shortly after at the place where she had hidden Eclipsea. There he collected the blind mare from her and slipped back in without anypony being aware that he'd even left. When she later asked how he had done it, Frost only smiled at her and said that is was a secret.

"I brought you food." Radiant said, placing the food down in a wooden bowl.

"Oh, thank you dear." Eclipsea said with a smile.

Horizon's head peeked out over Eclipsea's back. "Is it safe?"

"All is well again." Eclipsea reached her hoof out and mussed the colt's mane. "It was just a little lovers spat, nothing to worry over."

Radiant glared at the Mystic. "We most definitely are not lovers!" she huffed out in irritation. Her and Frost's pairing had been arranged by her mother, and even though she had grown rather fond of him, she didn't think that it was love.

"My pardon," Eclipsea said, bowing her head. "I sometimes confuse the order of things."

Radiant sighed and sat down . "What am I going to do with him? He's been growing more belligerent and willful every day. Perhaps it was a mistake to teach him magic."

"I had a dream." Eclipsea said, gazing at her with her sightless eyes. "I saw a young mare walking alone through a forest. The trees were dark and shrouded her way. Suddenly, she found her path diverging before her and she stopped. One way, led to an Eagle that had wings as wide as the whole sky. The other way led to a Hare, whose fur was white as pure new fallen snow."

Radiant found herself leaning forward as she listened.

"The young mare had a choice, go to the eagle? Or the Hare?"

Radiant waited expectantly for Eclipsea to finish. "Well? Which one did she choose?"

"That...” Eclipsea said with a thoughtful nod of her head, “has yet to be decided. The young mare I saw in my dream, was you."

"Me!?" Radiant blinked in sudden shock.

"Yes, my dear," Eclipsea said. "I saw two paths laid out before you. One will grant you great power and admiration. The other will lead to great heartache and strife. Choose wisely, for one leads to life, while the other is to your destruction."

Radiant sat back, stunned by Eclipsea's telling. Was it true that the Mystic could dream of things that might be? The Hare and the Eagle. Frost and Phantom. Two paths leading to two stallions. Who would she choose? Who would bring her power? And who would bring her heartache

Unbidden, tears began to form in her eyes. What was she supposed to do!?

With Journey riding on his back, Wild returned back to the settlement. It had taken them a while to convince Ardor, the name he had decided to call the Manticore, to go back to it’s home. It seemed that Ash had done something to it when he commanded it to no longer hunt ponies, for now it was as playful as a foal. Wild agreed with Journey about keeping Ardor a secret until they could figure out how to convince everypony that he wasn't dangerous anymore. This wasn't going to be easy. He wanted to bring this to Starless, but she was away on some secret task somewhere and he was going to have to wait until she returned. Whenever that was. In the meantime, what was he going to do?

"There you are!" a familiar voice cried out. Snap came trotting over to them. "Where have you been? I've been searching all over for you!"

"We went out exploring," Wild answered simply. It was true, sort of.

Snap looked at Journey as he peered around Wild's neck. "Journey. I would like to speak to Wild for a bit alone. Would you please head off for home."

"What did you do now?" Journey whispered into Wild's ear as he slipped down from his back.

Wild only shrugged at the colt as he trotted off.

Alone, Snap took a deep breath and let it out. "Wild. I want to say that I'm sorry."

Wild blinked in surprise. "What for?"

"For the way I've been treating you." Snap answered, shifting awkwardly. "I'm sorry. When you all came back and I saw blood on you. I… I thought that…” She took a breath and let it out. “It really scared me and I took it out on you. I shouldn’t have yelled at you."

Wild gaped at her, then caught himself. "Hay, it wasn't so bad. I get yelled at much worse from my pa whenever he gets angry at me."

"No. No. It's not okay." Snap insisted, stepping even closer. Wild leaned his head back at her sudden nearness and swallowed as he gazed into her large eyes. "I shouldn't have done it and I hope that you'll forgive me."

Wild felt his cheeks flush as her breath tickled his lips. He had to struggle to hold himself back from trying to sneak a quick kiss. "I... I... forgive you."

Snap suddenly lunged forward and wrapped her hooves around his neck with a wild cry. "Oh thank you!" she said in relief.

Wild started to reached up to return her hug when she suddenly pulled away and leapt around to start shoving at him. "Come on! We need to find her!"

"Her!?" Wild asked, stumbling forward under her forceful urging. "Who are you talking about?"

"Jennet of course!" Snap answered. "She needs an apology too!"

"But why do I have to come?" Wild complained.

Snap continued to shove at him. "Because this is also your fault!"

"My fault!?" Wild exclaimed in confusion. "But you just said..."

"Are you still on about that?" Snap huffed. "Would you stop dragging your hooves or am I going to have to drag you all the way there?"

Wild sighed and relented. He remembered some advice Hoof Strike shared with him once. It takes a wise stallion knows when to lose, especially to a mare.

Luna was in a bad mood. It was because of her sister that she wasn't allowed to go out and play with Aurora today. Despite a through search of the compound and the surrounding area, no sign of Celestia was discovered.

Her mother was in a frantic state, breaking into tears and clutching Luna in worry for her missing daughter. Melodious stayed by her side, trying to console her while Strawberry watched over her two colts and Luna. Going to bed that night with her belly filled with her mother's warm milk, Luna snuggled close to her mothers breast and drifted off to sleep.

Luna dreamed. She was standing in a grassy field with the moon high overhead. Its soft light, bathing the land in muted colors that shimmered and danced in her vision. In the landscape of her dream she heard Celestia calling to her, her voice drifting to her on the wind.

"Tia?" Luna called, trotting forward. The land blurred and she suddenly found herself standing on a hilltop overlooking a valley with a small stream that curved in long winding bends down its center. "Tia?" Moving again, the land blurred and she was now perched on the edge of a mountain. Below her, a great waterfall cascaded into a deep crevasse in a shower of mist that cast a moonbow over the falls. "Tia? Where is you?" Stepping forward, the land blurred and she was atop a sand dune, surrounded by a sea of sand that stretched off to the horizon. "Tia?" She stepped and now she was in a forest, it's dark trees crowded over her, their gnarled branches appearing like claws grasping at her. "Tia?"

Silence.

Luna stepped again and found herself in a glade. A thick bed of soft moss covered the ground and a clear brook, sparkled in the moonlight. "Tia?"

Suddenly her ears perked up when she heard singing. Hurrying across the glade, Luna plunged into the forest, her short legs carrying her over the soft mossy undergrowth as she sought out the source of the sweet melodious voice, raised to the night. The voice pulled at her as she hurried through the forest, drawing her onward as she pushing through ferns and climbing over mushroomed covered logs. Breaking into a clearing, she found a mare sitting on a rock.

The mare was pale white with vibrant red hooves that faded up the length of her legs and her mane and tail were the color of rose petals as they drifted lightly in the soft breeze.

Slowly, her hooves moved as they carried her closer to the beautiful mare. The mare looked down at her with her ruby colored eyes and smiled warmly as she approached. With every step, something nagged in Luna's mind. A feeling of wrongness that surrounded the mare. Each step she took became harder for Luna to resists. Something was very wrong! She needed to stop!

Gathering her will, Luna fought the pull of the mare's song and slowly brought her hooves to a halt. The mare's eyes widened. "Such strength in you, little one."

"Where Tia!?" Luna demanded. Surely she would know where her sister was. "Where my sister!?"

The mare smiled at her. "You want to go to your sister? I know where she is." Standing she moved towards her. "Come. I'll take you to her. It's not far"

Luna felt the wrongness of the mare grow as she reached out for her. Something in her told her that the mare was a bad mare. "No!" Luna cried out. The moon overhead flashed, and a soft light suddenly enveloped Luna.

The mare hissed in pain and snatched her hoof back, her eyes now filled with rage. "I will make you pay for that for a very, very long time little filly. A very long time indeed."

A darkness suddenly shot out from the mare's shadow and enveloped around Luna. Within the darkness, the glow that surrounded her dimmed as the darkness crushed down on it. Luna didn't know what would happen if the darkness touched her, the thought of it sent chills down her spine.

Luna knew she was in a dream. She didn't know when it had started, but as she got older, her control over the dreams had been growing stronger. Sometimes, she could even enter another's dream if they were sleeping close enough to her. Closing her eyes, she focused on her need to wake up, A moment later she became aware of the feeling of her mother's warm body against her own. Opening her eyes, she let out a breath of relief when she saw that she was in her home. The fire, in the firepit had burned low and their embers glowed softly, filling the room with its muted light.

Suddenly, she became aware that there was something nearby. Standing just a few paces away was a shadow pony staring down at her with glowing yellow eyes.

Terrified, Luna screamed in terror.

Her mother startled awake at her outburst and clutched her tightly. "Luna! What's wrong!?"

Strawberry had also awakened from her sleeping pallet and the door flap moved aside as the two guards posted outside rushed in, their eyes searching the room for danger. Finding nothing.

Weeping into her mother, Luna told her about the mare she saw in her dream and about the shadow pony.

Crooning to her, her mother softly stroked her head. "It's okay, it was just a dream."

"But mama!" Luna complained.

"Shh," her mother shushed her. "It's okay. I'm here and I won't let anything hurt you."

Seeing that they weren't needed, the two guards turned to go.

"Is there any word yet about Celestia?" Meadowlark quickly asked, catching the guards before they stepped back out.

The two guards sadly shook their heads.

Suddenly, there was a commotion outside and Melodious came rushing in with a frantic look on her face. "They’re gone!"

Meadowlark quickly stood and rushed to the frantic mare. "Gone? Who's gone?"

"My colts!" Melodious cried out. "They were with me when we went to sleep, but when I woke, they were both gone! Somepony has taken them!"

Author's Notes:

I apologies for the slow chapter releases. I have been having trouble keeping myself motivated as I was before. I still work on the story every day, but find that I am struggling to focus on the work. I know that despite the legth of this chapter, it didn't have a whole lot of actual progress. It was mainly a setup for upcoming chapters.