High up on the reaches that overlooked the Unicorn's hidden valley, Ash appearing like one of the multitudes of rocks jutting out along the ridge, sat wrapped in his rough plan grey cloak. Below him, the entire length of the valley stretched out to the south. To his left ran the whitewood, curving along the eastern side of the valley. Sitting serenely along its edge was a glittering lake its jewel like surface sparkling under the sunlight. Further out, the new pasture lands were being tended by the Unicorn stallions, their sheep grazing lazily in their fields.

Ash took no notice of the sights below him as his gaze rested fixed to the southeast. Towards his home, and heart. For several days now, his sense of Celestia felt strangely numb and indistinct. What did it mean? Was it because he'd been away from her for so long? Or was it something else?

His dreams had returned. Night after night, he wandered the wasted lands, it's dust choking him with his every step through the ruined world. His hooves were cracked and split, and soot billowed off his coat like smoke, carried off by the dry wind that blew unopposed across the desolate land. A long horn, crusted and cracked, thrust up from his forehead, and two great feathered wings coated in dust, fanned out along his sides.

Reaching his hoof up, Ash set it over his chest. The gem that used to reside in his heart was now gone. Taken by the dark magic that inhabited the Spider Queen's body. He knew that the dark magic was somehow apart of the being he'd glimpsed in the other realm. The nameless being he started to call the Night Terror. Ash feared what would happen when his gem fell into its possession. Would it be able to corrupt him into the creature named Ruin?

A few paces in front of him was the edge of a cliff that fell away to the valley far below. All he had to do was take those few steps and Ruin would never be. Everypony would be safe. At least from him.

Suddenly, he noticed a glint of color far off in the sky flying closer. A Pegasus! As he watched, the Pegasus seemed to be struggling as it flew towards the valley, its flight wobbled and dipped erratically as it made its way. Something was wrong! Jumping to his hooves, Ash rushed down the path, heading back down to the valley floor.

Reaching the bottom, Ash found the Pegasus mare being helped by two other Pegasi as they carefully lowered her to the ground. She had a songbird cutie mark and her long red mane that was normally kept back in a braid that nearly touched the ground, was undone into wild tangles. He recognized her as a messenger pony named Sparrow Call. Her wings were in taters. Her feathers were bent and missing all over, and her light yellow coat was marred with cuts and slashes that still seeped blood along her sleek body. Running along the side of her neck was a deep gash that nearly came to her throat.

"What happened!?" Stratus Streak demanded, rushing out to her. "Somepony, fetch that healer mare, quickly!"

"Griffon's attacked me," Sparrow said, gasping for breath as she sat down. "I was careless and didn't see them when they came out of the sun and they were on me before I knew it. Fortunately, they were young and inexperienced, and they failed to dispatch me on their first pass, giving me the opportunity to evade them by ducking into a nearby thunderstorm."

"Raven Wing!" Stratus Streak called out to a nearby dark coated stallion. "Gather a strike wing! We're going to teach those griffons a lesson about hurting ponies."

Dove soon arrived and rushed to Sparrow, frowning as she examined the injured mare. "Some of these are pretty deep. I'm surprised you were still able to fly."

"We Pegasi are tough!" Stratus said proudly. "We don't let little things like scratches stop us."

Dove looked back at the stallion with a flat look and lifted a dubious eyebrow at him. "I believe it shows the hardiness of mares more likely."

"I need to see Dark." Sparrow said, trying to climb back to her hooves. "I have an important message for him."

"It can wait," Dove said, holding the struggling mare down. "We need to see to your injuries first."

"No! No! You don't understand." Sparrow complained. "I need to see him. My message is very important!"

"Need to tell me what?" Dark's voice suddenly asked, trotting to a stop.

"The home of the Earth Ponies is under a curse!" Sparrow said. "Foals are vanishing during the night with no trace to tell where they have gone! Your mate desperately calls for you to return home as swiftly as you can come!"

"The foals are vanishing!?" Dark repeated in alarm. "What of my foals? What of Celestia and Luna!?"

Sparrow Call grimly nodded. "Your eldest was the first to vanish, followed by four others. Your youngest one, Luna, still remains."

Ash felt his heart lurch in his chest. Celestia was missing!?

"I need to get back!" Dark said. "Somepony find Brightstar and my sister and tell them what is happening! We'll leave as soon as supplies can be readied!"

"Papa! What about me!? I'm coming too!" Ash shouted, rushing to the stallion's side.

"No!" Dark turned to him. "You heard what she said. Foal's are going missing." Snatching the colt up, Dark hugged him. "I won't risk you too. I'll find Celestia and bring her back home where she belongs, safe and sound."

"But papa! I can help!"

"I'm sure you believe you can," Dark said, setting him down.

"No! I really can!" Ash pressed fervently. He placed his hoof to his chest. "Celestia and I are bound together. A piece of her lives within me. I can feel her. I can help find her! I know it!"

Dark paused to study him. "Are you sure?"

Ash nodded.

"It's going to be a hard journey. We'll be pushing hard and there will be little time to rest," Dark said. "Are you sure you want to come?"

"Nothing will stop me from going to her." Ash declared firmly.

"Very well," Dark said with a resigned breath. "Star's above forgive me. I hope I don't end up regretting this."

"Dark!" Brightstar shouted as he galloped over. "I heard what happened."

"Say your goodbys and get your things ready," Dark told him. "We're heading back as soon as we can get our supplies."

"I think I have a way to get us back home more quickly!" Brightstar said. "Follow me."

He led them back to an area along the cliff side to the east, where he'd been working on some of his new projects like the pottery kiln. There he directed them to a wooden frame sitting on the ground with two long poles sticking out of one end.

"This was Wind Walker's idea," he explained, nodding to a burly pale blue violet Pegasus stallion with dark grey mane that covered his eyes.

Dark frowned as he examined the frame. "What is it?"

"It's a flying sled," Brightstar said. "We were making it to carry supplies by the Pegasi, but I figured that it wouldn't be that much different to carry ponies."

Dark pursed his lips as he examined the sled."It's not very large.I doubt that more than two ponies could fit on it."

"Yes. That is true," Brightstar agreed. "You're going to have to choose who goes with you."

Dark nodded thoughtfully, considered who would need to come with him. "Dove would never forgive me if I didn’t take her."

"Papa!" Ash jumped forward. "What about me!? You said I could come too!"

"Okay, okay, we'll find room for you too." Dark said, patting him on his head. "How soon until it's ready to leave?"

"We still need to test it first," Brightstar said. "But I think it'll be ready by tomorrow."

Starless held her intricately carved mask up in her magic and gazed into its empty eyes. The Enchantress had become much more than she had ever expected her to become. She had first donned the mask to instill fear and terror, but now, ponies looked at her with hope and respect.

Her tent flap pulled aside as Ground slipped inside. "You okay?" he asked, seeing the odd look on her face.

"I was just thinking," Starless answered, without looking up. She felt Ground's strong hooves encircle her from behind as he tenderly embraced her. Letting out a contented sigh, Starless leaned back into his firm, comforting chest. "Sometimes, it just seems so much."

"Oh?" Ground murmured into her mane.

"I mean, I'm just a normal Unicorn mare." Starless explained. "There's nothing really all the special about me, and yet, here I am leading a movement against the bloods. I created the Enchantress to help me do this, but over time, she's become something greater than I could ever be."

"That's not true," Ground said, shaking his head. "The Enchantress is who she is, because of you. You imbued her with your heart and gave her life. You are much more than a normal Unicorn.. You are Starless the Enchantress. And the mare I love." He bent his head down over hers and took her lips with his own.

Starless snuggled into his embrace, not wanting him to ever let her go. He was her strength. She didn't know what she would do without him. Since coming so deep into Unicorn land, Starless' sleep had grown more troubled, causing her to wake in shivering hysterics. Each time she woke, Ground was always there to hold and comfort her, whispering reassuring words into her mane until she drifted back to sleep again.

None of the others knew of this. After all, she was the Enchantress. What would they think if they ever knew that their great leader had trouble sleeping through the night like a frightened little filly?

Like all good things, her intimate moment with Ground regretfully came to an end when a scratch at the tent door flap announced Moonglow's arrival. Ground released his hooves from around her and stepped back, taking his place behind her.

Starless slipped her mask on. "Please come in," she said, pulling the door flap aside with her magic.

Moonglow ducked inside the small space and respectfully bowed her head down. "Good morning, Mistress."

Moonglow looked exhausted. Starless suspected that she might not have gotten any sleep during the night. "Please sit and tell me how it went?"

Moonglow sat with a grateful sigh. "Sneaking inside was a little harder than I thought it would be. They increased sentries posts and patrol routes all throughout the mountain. It took me longer than I thought to locate them."

Starless held her breath. This had been the most dangerous part of why they were here. Not all Casters were loyal to Astral. Some enjoyed the position their station gave them, but didn't go beyond what their duties required, preferring instead to spend more of their time relaxing and having fun. Others Casters, like Starless, who had been raised from Lower Bloods, were looked down upon by the High Bloods. They were seen as mere, Higher, Common ponies and not deserving of equal status. Most ended up allying themselves to various High Bloods as subordinates to do their bidding, while the rest were left to be drudges of the other Casters, sent to do the most distasteful or degrading duties that were too important to leave to common bloods. That was how Starless found herself far off in the wilds escorting a foraging party when they were attacked by that hydra.

"It wasn't easy convincing them to listen to what I had to say," Moonglow said, stifling a yawn. "They're afraid. They've seen what happens to ponies that have been caught talking about the wrong thing."

Starless nodded sadly. Ponies were being hurt because of her.

"It will take some time, but I believe that many of them will eventually join with us," Moonglow said. "We'll have to go slowly with them, and only meet them in small gatherings at first."

"Very good," Starless said, pleased. They needed those Casters. With them on their side, they would have eyes and ears high up in the Black Mountain. With them, they will be the seeds that will grow throughout the Casters, gathering others into their ranks.

Suddenly, the door-flap pushed aside as a vulture skull thrust inside. Moonglow let out a startled squeak as her horn flashed with magic.

"Dizzy Spin," Starless said with an exasperated sigh. "Didn't I ask you to take that thing off when you come into camp? You know how much it disturbs the other ponies seeing it on you."

Letting out an amused giggle, Dizzy slipped her vulture skull off. "Sorry. I forgot."

"Please, just try to remember next time." Starless suspected that Dizzy was being forgetful on purpose. This wasn't the first time this had happened. She seemed to take a perverse delight in startling ponies. "So, what is it you wanted?"

"That old one's come back," Dizzy said. "She just entered the forest with the others."

Starless nodded. She had been worried that they would be found out. "Good. Please keep an eye on them and make sure they don't get lost to the meeting point."

Dizzy nodded and vanished back outside.

"Ground, please see that my escort is readied," Starless said standing. "I'm going to meet them myself." Ground gave her a questioning look, but left to do as he was asked without commenting. "Moonglow, would you please accompany me as well? There are plans I wish to discuss with you."

Sweet Blush wiped sweat from her forehead with the back of her hoof. It was unusually hot today as they made their way out to the Enchantress' meeting spot.

Her grandmare had woken her early that morning, looking oddly thoughtful as she rushed her out of their sleeping chamber. Hurrying after, Sweet Blush was surprised that her grandmare wasn't heading to Hazy Day's chamber like she expected, but instead, she led her deeper down to an area she had never been to before. Using their horns to light their way, her grandmare muttered softly to herself as she wove her way through a maze of chambers and tunnels. Here and there, they would see ponies slinking in the darkness, their gazes cold and unfriendly as they passed them by.

The ponies living here were exiles and thieves, rejects that were forced to live in hiding. "What are we doing here?" Sweet asked, shining her light into the darkness.. "I thought we were going to meet Hazy and her son?"

"We are. I just want to see to this first," her grandmare answered. "Now quiet. We don't want to draw too much attention to ourselves here."

Entering a large chamber, her grandmare came to a stop and tapped her hoof on a stone three times, letting the sound of it echo off into the darkness. After repeating it two more times, a greenish light suddenly appeared from the far side, and slowly approached them, revealing a dirty old mare with moss growing in her mane. "Did you bring it?" she asked, revealing her missing teeth.

Without answering, her grandmare lifted up a pear in her magic and held one out to the old nag who instantly snatched it away and stuffed it into her mouth, biting down and gumming it into a sloppy mush that dripped down her chin. "And the rest?" she asked, not bothering to wipe the mess from her chin.

Her gandmare held up another pear, but held it back before the old nag could snatch it from her. "You get it after you lead us to her."

The nag scowled. "This way." She turned and led them across the chamber into a low tunnel. After crossing through nearly a dozen dank chambers and winding passageways, they came to a small opening in the side of the passage and stopped.

"This is it?" her grandmare asked, whispering softly to keep her voice low.

The nag nodded. "She'd be in there. She only goes out at night."

Considering the foul looking nag, her grandmare slowly nodded and held out the second pear. Snatching it into her magic, the nag shoved it into her mouth and quickly scurried off into the darkness.

Ducking her head, her grandmare slipped inside the small passageway and disappeared inside. Sweet Blush hurriedly followed after her grandmare.

Inside, the walls were jagged and rough. Moving as carefully as she could, Sweet Blush flinched when her shoulder scraped against the sides of the narrow passageway. After a short ways, the passage led into a small chamber lit by a single glow crystal. Piled up against the back wall was a small bed of leaves and moss.

Looking around, Sweet saw that the rest of the room was empty.

Her grandmare carefully examined the empty chamber. Stepping closer to the bed of leave, she leaned her head down towards a deep patch. "You can come out. We're not going to hurt you. I give you my word."

At first nothing happened, then suddenly something shifted in the pile and an eye appeared.

"There see," her grandmare said, stepping back with a warm smile.

"W-who are you?" The mare asked, her eyes shifting anxiously between Sweet Blush and her grandmare. "Why have you come?"

"I am Sylvan Serene, and this is my grandfilly, Sweet Blush," her grandmare said, introducing them. "I heard talk among the other mares about you and your daughter."

The mare's cobalt head shot up higher as a dangerous look came to her eyes, her horn flashed as her magic suddenly coursed through it. "My daughter! Is that why you have come!? " she demanded. "My mother sent you didn't she!? I'll kill you before you hurt her!"

Sweet Blush rushed to her grandmare in alarm, but was stopped by her upraised hoof. "Peace, Azure Shard. As I said, we've not come to harm either you or your daughter," her grandmare assured the mare. "In fact, we're here to help."

Azure climbed out of her bed of leaves and stood with her head lowered, her horn still glowing with power. "I've heard that before, and have always been betrayed in the end. Go back to my mother and tell her that she is going to have to kill me before I let her hurt my little filly!"

"Hurt your filly!? That's horrible!" Sweet Blush exclaimed in horror. "Why would she want to hurt her own grandfilly!?"

Azure Shard blinked at her in sudden confusion. "Surely you would know why my mother would have sent you! Why else would you have come!?"

"I promise you, your mother did not send us," her grandmare quickly answered. "Several years ago, I've heard talk about what happened between you and your family. Gossip really, about how you ran away from your family to protect your foal, and have been hiding in the lower chambers ever since."

Azure Shard's stance became less tense as she listened.

"I commend you for your bravery. Not many mares would have the same conviction to do what you did," her grandmare continued. "It's a rare trait that is sadly missing in many now."

Sweet Blush was confused. "Grandmare, I don't understand. Why did she have to run away and hide from her own family? From her own blood?"

Her grandmare looked back at her with a thoughtful expression, then turned back to Azure Shard. "Would it be okay if we saw her? I give you my oath as matriarch that none of my blood with harm her."

Azure Shard considered them for a long time, her expression hard and unwavering. "If you break your oath."

"Then the blood of my blood be given as the price," her grandmare finished.

Azure Shard's stance slowly relaxed as her horn lifted. "Razzle. It's safe to come out now."

For a moment nothing appeared, then a tiny head suddenly poked out of a small fissure along the wall, quickly followed by the rest of the filly's body. Despite her small size, the filly appeared to be old enough to be weaned from the teat. Her eyes were vibrant blue and her coat was a grayish blue violet, with a deep green colored mane that sat in wild tangles along her neck. It was when Sweet Blush looked up at the filly's horn that she understood why her family wanted her dead. Instead of being straight and tapering into a point, it was bent and twisted like a old tree branch.

She was a Cursed Born. A foal born with a deformed horn. Foals like hers were believed to be evil, bringing disasters like sickness, famine or even death to those around them. Ponies hurt in an accident were said to have been touched by a Cursed Born. Sweet Blush felt a sudden sense of apprehension as she gazed down at the filly, could it be true what they say about them?

"This is my daughter, Razzle Dazzle," Azure Shard introduced her.

"Why hello there sweetie!" her grandmare happily greeted the filly. "My, aren't you just the prettiest little filly I've ever seen!"

"Did you hear her, mother!? Did you!?" Razzle exclaimed happily, running over to her mother. "That old mare said I was pretty!"

"Yes dear, she did," Azure Shard said, wrapping her hoof around her daughter. Looking back up, she studied them. "Now. Tell me why you have come."

Her grandmare nodded, expression becoming serious. "There's a change coming. A remarkable mare has come from the wilds and challenges the rule of the Bloods. She teaches a return to the old ways."

"What does that have to do with why you are here?" Azure Shard asked.

"There was a time when Unicorns stood and faced their enemies together as one. Our very survival being dependent on us all working together to overcome enormous adversity," her grandmare continued. "Now, only a few stand on the backs of many, leaving families to struggle or be crushed under their hooves. Mothers turn on their daughters for the sake of the purity of their bloodlines and discard those that they see as unfit to be their progeny. The Enchantress doesn't do this. She accepts all ponies no matter their birth. I have seen this myself."

Azure Shard looked down at her filly and tightened her grasp on her. "Who is this Enchantress? Why does she do this?"

"Some say that she is Fata Morgana herself, reborn to save us again like she once did," her gandmare answered. "Whether this is true, I don't know, but I like to believe it is. What I do know is that she seems to draw out the best of ponies. Dirt ponies, Pegasi, Unicorns, they all follow her, growing stronger through their unity, even despite their differences."

Azure Shard frowned as she silently considered them, her eyes unreadable."Even down here I hear things," she said, suddenly breaking her silence. "It is whispered that the Enchantress uses a mask to hide her hideous face and has fangs to feed on the blood of ponies during night."

Sweet Blush's grandmare turned her attention down to little Razzle. "Many of those same ponies also call your daughter a monster too, but you already know how ridiculous that is, don't you?" She turned back up to Azure Shard. "I have been with the Enchantress. I've stood as close to her as I am to you. I can tell you that she is no more a monster than that adorable filly standing by your hooves."

Azure Shard reached her hoof around her daughter and held her closer. "They all learned to never say anything within my hearing. Those that had sense anyways."

"I say such ponies deserved whatever they got." Sweet's Blush's grandmare said with a firm nod. Magic suddenly enveloped her horn and with a flash, a single pear appeared and floated down to Razzle. "Here you go sweetie. A little gift for you before we go."

Razzle gasped as her face broke into an ecstatic smile. Magic flashed from her twisted horn, and the pear suddenly shot away in a blurring crack. Sweet Blush gave a startled scream as the pear stopped right before her face. Azure Shard let out a relieved sigh as she lowered the pear she had just managed to catch back down to her daughter. "Sorry. She has trouble controlling her magic."

"Quite all right. Nopony was hurt," Sweet's grandmare said, with a dismissive wave of her hoof.

Sweet Blush had to bite her tongue. Nopony was hurt! She had nearly died from a pear!

"We should be going now. There is a task we were asked to see to," her grandmare said, moving to the exit. Pausing, she looked back. "If you would like to meet the Enchantress and see for yourself whether she is a monster or not, go to the old oak tree in the clearing to the south at midday." With that, she bid her a good day and moved off.

Sweet Blush followed after her grandmare, glancing back once as she made her way down the narrow tunnel. That had been a very strange exchange. "Grandmare, was it wise to tell her about the Enchantress? If she went to any of the Casters, we'd be in a lot of trouble."

"Oh, she won't do anything like that," her grandmare said, confidently. "She has much more important things to consider."

Sweet Blush thought about pressing her further on it, but decided that her grandmare probably knew better than she about such things. "Grandmare? Where did you get those pears?"

"I took a few from the meeting last night," her grandmare answered, "I figured they'd come in handy."

"Did you steal them!?" Sweet Blush was shocked. Her grandmare stole from the Enchantress!

"I did no such thing!" her grandmare snapped. "They were giving them away! I only took a few."

Sweet Blush let out a groan of dismay. "Oh grandmare! I can't believe you! You stole from the Enchantress! She really is going to turn you into a mouse!"

"Pah!" her grandmare said, flicking her hoof. "It was for a good cause anyways. She'll understand."

Their meeting with Hazy Day went as planned. Her son, Chipped Hoof, despite his obviously sickly body, was practically giddy with excitement. For short periods, he would canter along with them until he was forced to stop and catch his wheezing breath, slowing them with his periodic stops.

What a pair the two of them must look. Chipped hoof was three seasons younger than her and half a head shorter. He had knobby knees and his eyes were set slightly too wide on his narrow face, making him look a bit like an owl. His ginger colored coat was slick with sweat and his near black mane fell in long mussy curls along his neck and shoulders.

Turning off onto an old overgrown path, Sweet Blush let out a relieved breath, glad to be away from all the watching eyes. Those mares should be ashamed of themselves.

The sun was rising to midday as they finally came to a clearing. Sitting in the center was a an ancient oak tree, its massive branches spreading out wide over the ground. Pausing, Sweet Blush's grandamare studied the clearing. Seeing nopony there, a look of disappointment came to her eyes. "I was sure she would..." Suddenly, a head appeared, lifting up from the long grass. Letting out a relieved breath, a smile came to her face. "Come along. We have friends joining us."

Starless stepped lightly along the narrow path, winding her way through the dense forest. Ahead of her was Ground, his head held up and alert for any danger that might be missed by the pegasi. A doe lifted her head from a small stream to curiously watch as they passed her by.

Moonglow, trailing just behind her, was lost in thought as she mused over things Starless had suggested to her. Spread out around them was the ring of Earth Pony guards. For their size, Earth Ponies were remarkably silent when walking through the woods. More than a few times, Starless had been surprised when one had walked up behind her without her noticing their approach. How could those huge hooves of theirs make so little sound?

From above, a form appeared and glided down to land with graceful sweeps of her wings. Thankfully, Dizzy Spin wasn't wearing her hideous vulture skull, instead she had tied what appeared to be eagle feathers into her mane and shaded her eyes with black ash to give her a more fierce look.

"They've safely made it to the meeting point," Dizzy said.

"Very good," Starless said, pleased. "Where they followed?"

"No." Dizzy shook her head. "But two others did join with them before they arrived."

"Casters?" Starless had the sudden urge to ready her magic.

Dizzy shook her head again. "No, I don't think so. It was a young mare and a filly."

Starless relaxed slightly. A mother and daughter then. Sylvan Serene is probably doing the same for them as for Hazy Day and her son.

"Mistress," Moonglow said, moving over to her. "We don't know who these two new ponies are. That old one might have been careless and let too much slip to the wrong ears. You shouldn't risk yourself. Send your Earth Pony to question them first."

Ground's face hardened at Moonglow.

"No," Starless shook her head. "Sylvan Serene wouldn't be that careless. She knows what she is doing. They're here to meet me, and I am not going to deny them that." Starless turned to look up at Ground. "Please escort me to them."

Ground nodded and turned back to the path. A short time later, they came to the clearing. Breaking away, the guards slipped off to encircle around and keep any unexpected ponies from approaching without being challenged. Stepping out of the trees, Starless made her way across the clearing. Ahead of her she could see the waiting ponies.

Standing next to his mother, a young stallion caught her attention. His ginger coat was stretched tightly over prominent ribs, and he was rather small for his apparent age, suggesting that his growth was stunted. Tiger Lily was going to be livid when she sees the horrible state the colt's condition was in.

Obscured by the others, Starless couldn't quite make out the unknown mare and her filly as she approached. Was her mother purposely hiding her from her sight? Why? Was she trying to protect her daughter from her?

Coming to a stop before Sylvan Serene, Starless inclined her head. "Greetings Honored Mare. You did very well completing your task. Did you have any trouble?"

"Greetings Great Mistress," Sylvan Serene bowed her head down low. "It pleases me to tell you that we had no difficulty at all. As far as anypony is concerned, all they saw was two matriarchs taking their wards out together. Something so common, it'll be gone from their minds as soon as we passed out of sight."

"Excellent," Starless said, pleased. She then turned her attention to Hazy Day and her son, Chipped Hoof. "Welcome. I am pleased that you both arrived without harm. We have food, so please eat and rest." Hazy Day, kept bobbing her head and thanking her as she took the food that had been offered. Chipped Hoof looked dazed as he gazed at her, unable to even utter a word. Smiling under her mask, Starless picked up a large carrot from the basket, and held it out to the young stallion. "Here, eat. There is plenty to go around."

Chipped Hoof hesitated a moment before taking the offering. "Thank you," he said, the unfamiliar words coming awkwardly to him. In a few quick bites, the carrot vanished.

"Try to not eat too fast or you might get a bellyache," Starless said, giving him a cooked potato wrapped in lettuce leaves.

Taking a bite, a look of surprise flashed across his face as he chewed more slowly.

Satisfied that he wasn't going to choke, Starless turned back to Sylvan Serene. "I see you also picked up two others. Are you going to introduce them?"

"Oh yes! Of course," Sylvan Serene replied hastily, she and her daughter then turned to reveal the mare. "This is-"

"Azure Shard!" Moonglow exclaimed, her horn flashing as she jumped in front of Starless. "We've been betrayed! She's a Caster!" With a crack, a bolt of magic shot out of her horn right at the mare.

Azure Shard's horn blazed brightly as Moonglow's bolt shattered against her hastily raised shield. The little filly screamed in fright and huddled under her mother's hooves.

"Moonglow, stop!" Starless shouted. This didn't make any sense, if a Caster had come to attack, why did she have a filly with her!? "She didn't do anything!"

Moonglow ignored her as her spells continued to batter at Azure's shield, the ground shaking from the violence of her assault. Hazy Day cried in terror as she and her son huddled on the ground with Sylvan Serene and Sweet Blush shielding them with their combined magic. Jumping out of the trees, Earth Ponies rushed into the clearing with their spears leveled ready to defend Starless.

"No!" Starless shouted to the guards. "Stay back!"

Suddenly, Azure Shard's horn flared brightly as she sent a spell into the clouds above. A moment later, a bolt flashed down with a thunderclap and exploded to the ground narrowly missing Moonglow, flinging dirt and stone in every direction. An instant later, another bolt struck, followed by another and another.

Starless suddenly heard Ground cry out as he jumped in front of her, protecting her with his body just as a bolt came down a span from her. With her ears ringing from the thunderclap, Starless was horrified to see Ground bleeding from multiple wounds he had taken across his body.

"Ground!"

"I'm fine," he assured her, his face set stiffly. "Don't worry about me."

Moonglow and Azure Shard's horns both flashed brightly as they both prepared to attack each other again. Acting quickly, Starless summoned her own magic and flash traveled, appearing directly between the two combatants. "Stop!" Both Moonglow, and Azure Shard's spells slammed into her shield from both sides and the world exploded in a flash of white. Starless felt like she was being crushed and ripped apart at the same time as she strained to keep her shield from shattering into a million pieces. The ground beneath her hooves shook as the air roared with the blast.

Panting for breath, Starless blinked her eyes as her senses slowly returned. Her shield was spider-webbed with cracks and splits that started to crumble and dissolve into sparkling motes of magic. The ground around her was rent and blasted flat from the back-blast of magic. A dozen strides away, Moonglow groaned in a daze as she lay on the ground.

"Ground. Please see to her," Starless ordered, gesturing to Moonglow. "Make sure she's okay."

Turning, Starless searched for Azure and found her lying in a heap further away in the grass. She had taken the full impact of the blast to protect her filly.

"Mother! Please get up!" the filly cried, pushing at her mother with her little hooves. "Mother! Mother please, wake up!" Tears fell down her cheeks.

Starless started to rush to Azure Shard to check on her when she suddenly noticed the odd shape of the filly's horn. Gasping, Starless stumbled to a stop as she stared at the filly. She was a Cursed Born!

The weeping filly suddenly threw her head back with a scream that split the air, her eyes flashed as her twisted horn exploded with power. The grass around her and her mother was suddenly ripped apart as the filly's magic roared around them, swirling like a cyclone high up into the air. Rocks and other ground litter was pulled in and instantly obliterated to dust. Clouds swirled in the sky as they were drawn inward, lightning flashing in their depths as if to echo the filly's pain.

Starless dug her hooves in, as she fought to keep herself from being pulled into the maelstrom. Such power! Cursed Born's were named so due to the havoc they wrought when their magic goes wild. Normal Unicorns could safely focus and channel their magic through their horns with relative ease. Cursed Born's magic flowed like a river cascading down rapids and waterfalls. Strong emotions like fear or anger would easily send it over its banks to ravage the land.

Starless stumbled as her hooves slid on the dirt. She needed to stop her before she destroyed herself! Flash traveling with all the wild magic rampaging around her, would likely turn her inside out! Turning, Starless looked back at Ground. There was worry on his face and he was yelling something to her, but she couldn't make it out.

Knowing he wouldn't be able to hear her, Starless said, "I love you," before turning back to face the maelstrom. Calling on her magic, she cast a shield around herself. Setting it in place, she cast another layer over it, followed by a third.

Fixing her eyes forward, Starless lifting her hoof and stepped forward. Cracks suddenly appeared on her outer shield as it made contact with the edge of the maelstrom. More cracks appeared, spreading quickly across her shields surface until it suddenly shattered and was blown away in glittering light. Gasping at the backlash of her broken spell, Starless pushed on, plunging herself right into the storm of wild magic. Her shield began to fracture, another step, and her second shield was ripped apart.

Stumbling, Starless nearly fell. She felt like her head was going to explode. Lifting her gaze, she moved on. Summoning all the magic she had, she shored up her last shield as it too began to fracture apart. Great gaps opened up in it's protective surface, and tongues of destructive magic clawed through at her. Starless cried out in pain as it scoured at her body. She wasn't going to make it! In a few moments she was going to be torn to pieces.

Tears leaked from her eyes as she contemplated what was about to happen. Ground, my love. I wish... I could have seen our foals. They would have been so beautiful. Images of Ground and her laughing together as they played with their children flashed through her mind, and the ache that clenched her heart at its loss.

No! I will not fail! Gritting her teeth, Starless pushed forward. A step, then two. Her tattered shield splintered and shed even more pieces, nearly coming apart. She was almost there! With a final push, her shield crumbled just as she stepped through, coming into the relative calm of the center.

Gasping for breath from the exertion, Starless' mask slipped free and dropped to the ground at her hooves, it's enchantments vanishing, returning her coat to its normal color. Azure Shard was laying on the ground with her eyes shut. A quick check showed that she was still breathing. Floating a span in the air was the little filly, her eyes burning with power as her deep green mane drifted in wavelets about her head. Her bent and twisted horn crackled as it blazed with magic.

"Little filly! Your mother's okay!" Starless shouted up at the filly. "She's only asleep!"

The filly's ear twitched.

"Please. You need to stop! You're going to hurt yourself!" Starless pleaded. "Your mother would be really sad if you got hurt! You don't want her to be sad do you!?"

The filly's eyes slowly blinked as they shifted down to look at her mother.

"Little filly. Can you tell me your name?" Starless asked.

Tears soaked the filly's cheeks. "R...azz...le," she managed to answer.

"Razzle," Starless repeated. "That's a lovely name."

Razzle whimpered as pain came to her face. "It... hurts."

"I'm sorry. I know it hurts," Starless said with sympathy. "I'm going to try and help you. Okay?" Starless encourage her. The filly was terrified. And it was because of that, her magic was running out of control. It was a testament to Azure Shard that she had been able to keep her daughter's magic contained for so long. "Now, I want you to think about how much your mother loves you. Think about how good it feels when she holds you at night and about how warm her milk is when she nurses you. Remember all the times your mother has been there for you, keeping you safe and warm whenever you're scared." Starless slowly began moving closer to the filly. She needed to be very careful with Razzle. One slip and they'd all be destroyed.

"Let your mother's love fill you." Starless continued. "There's nothing to be afraid of. Close your eyes and release your fears." Starless watched breathlessly as the filly slowly drifted a little lower. She needed to do more, but what? Searching her mind, she suddenly recalled something Tiger told her once about how to deal with foals. If everything fails, just sing to them.

Looking up at the filly, Starless took a breath and began to sing.

Like a storm passing, the maelstrom faded away. Holding her hooves out, Starless collected Razzle as she slowly descended into them. Blinking down at the slumbering filly, Starless breathed out a sigh of relief. It was over. Gazing down at the filly, Starless smiled as she gave her chubby cheek a quick nuzzle. "You're quite a lot of trouble for being so small."

The hurried sound of hoofsteps brought her attention up to find Sylvan Serene rushing over to her. Their eyes met and recognition flashed across through them. Starless' heart jumped. Her mask!

Sylvan bent down and picked up her fallen mask, brushing the dirt off it she held it out to her. "Here, you lost this."

Taking it in her magic, Starless slipped it back on. "Thank you, Sylvan."

Sylvan smiled and bowed her head. "Honored to serve, Mistress."

A large shadow suddenly fell on her as Ground swept her up into a hug, taking care while doing so from crushing the foal between them. "I thought I was going to lose you."

Starless shook her head against Ground's strong chest. "Really, my love. She was only a little foal."

"Mistress," Moonglow said, coming up from behind Ground. She stopped with a frown of distaste at the foal in Starless' hooves. "What is it you wish done with that thing?"

Before Moonglow knew what was happening, Ground moved to loom menacingly over her. "If you touch that filly. I will kill you."

Moonglow recoiled back from Ground, her eyes going wide. "But it's a Cursed Born! It should be dispatched along with that Caster!"

Starless moved around to stand alongside Ground. "They will not be harmed. Caster Azure, and her daughter will be joining us."

Moonglow looked confused. "But..."

"I will not repeat myself," Starless said sternly, lifting her head higher.

Moonglow blinked at her in surprise and lowered her head. "Yes, Mistress. It will be as you say."

"Moonglow," Starless continued. "My need to act to subdue this filly today was entirely unnecessary. Your actions here were the sole reason that this crisis emerged in the first place. It was obvious at a glance that Azure was here seeking our help. Help that turned into you attacking her!" Starless paused to take a calming breath. "I am very disappointed in you. I thought I could have more trust in you."

"Mistress." Moonglow pleaded, her head hanging down. "Please, forgive me."

Starless considered Moonglow, her eyes boring down into her. "No."

Moonglow's ears wilted.

Starless turned to look down at Azure Shard. "Seek her forgiveness first. Once she has granted it to you, only then will I see that you are ready to receive mine."

The sound of wings announced Dizzy's arrival as she flew in and landed nearby. "What Unicorn craziness is going on here!? I understand the need to keep things secret, but don't you think a glowing tornado of destruction might attract a bit more attention than you might want right now!?"

Starless suddenly realized that Ponies would have seen that display all the way to the Mountain! "Yes, you're quite right. Ground, would you please carry Azure Shard." Ground nodded and gathered the unconscious mare up onto his back.

"Me and my grandfilly will be heading back." Sylvan Serene said.

"No, you'll be coming back with us as well." Starless said, turning to the older mare.

"But-" Sylvan began.

"There are important things I wish to discuss with you," Starless interrupted her. "Plans I want you to be apart of in this area."

Sylvan glanced to her grandfilly and nodded her agreement.

With Azure now safely settled onto Ground's back, they quickly began making their way out of the clearing. Ahead of them, two figures suddenly appeared out of the trees to stand in their path. A young Unicorn stallion with a brilliant white coat and silvery-blue mane, and an older dirty-grey Unicorn mare with a faded-white mane.

How did they get so close without any of the pegasi seeing!? Starless clutched the foal tighter to her chest as she summoned her magic. The Earth Ponies rushed forward and leveled their spears at the pair.

"Greetings Enchantress." The mare said, pointing her head in her direction. Starless gasped in horror at the sight of her missing eyes "My name is Eclipsea. I've been dreaming about you."