Gusty looked up at the sharp rock face of the mountain. At the top was her destination, Canterlot. There, where those mysterious alicorn regents governed, she would get some answers. Answers for that demon in the cave, answers for their harsh justice system, answers for whatever questions she would ask them. Gusty needed those answers. The thought of actual risposte was the only thing keeping the nagging sensation of something watching her from sending her into insanity.

It had been bad enough already having those strange flashbacks during the last few days. And they all had started with the monstrosity named Stormwalker. If he had not been lying, the princesses would know more about him and if he was connected to what was happening to her, she hoped. Though that would matter little if she couldn’t bring her daughter and companions to Canterlot Palace by lunchtime today. And frankly, Gusty had long ago run out of ideas on how to get up to the city atop the spire.

She had been awake the longest, having woken to the sounds of a particularly annoying songbird that seemed to not tweet in tune with the rest of the morning avians. Bunker had recently finished making breakfast and she had even eaten whilst staring at her problem hoping that a solution would come to her. She felt as if she had known it just yesterday but now it was lost to her mind. Her young surrogate daughter’s yawning drew her attention from the rock face.

“Mmmmm!” she cooed poking her head out of the sleeping bag she had shared with Gusty, “What smells so good?”

Gusty thought about the flaky, salty-sweet pastries Bunker had made from the flour he had gotten from the bakery mare. It made her mouth water even though she wasn’t hungry anymore. “It is morning biscuit, mine mother taught me how to make.” Bunker said. Gusty absently watched as he gave Amethyst a few of the “biscuits” and smiled as she munched happily.

Meanwhile, Zeccaran rolled over and groaned, from where he sat on the other side of the small fire. Sitting up he looked at her and made eye contact. He held it briefly and then yawned. “Sooo, Gusty, how are we all supposed to get to Canterlot exactly?” he said as his voice raised up from natural low of his yawn.

Gusty grimaced at him. “Well...I...I really don’t know.” She said shrugging. “I can’t carry you all up there, even if I did it individually, I would get too tired, or I would take too long.”

It was the among the several scenarios she had already thought of, saying it aloud made it sound even worse.

“If I tried to levitate you or Bunker even then it would too much of a strain, we have things we actually have to do once we are up there.” She paused, as Gunther barked at a passing moth. “And wow. I totally even forgot about your dog, how in the world are we gonna get him up there!?”

Zeccaran smiled. It was his mischievous, tormenting smile that he put on when he knew something she didn’t.

“What?” she asked him.

He giggled lightly to himself.

“Come on out with it!” Gusty demanded her frustration forcing her into a slight yell.

“You forgot. It was your idea and you forgot! ” Zeccaran laughed merrily.

She scowled at him in deep irritation.

"Watch this!" he declared between bursts of chuckles.

Gusty watched. She was not pleased with what she saw either. Dull green light surrounded Zeccaran, his body began shifting and changing, and almost immediately what replaced Zeccaran on the ground was a large eagle. Only the eagle still had the dark mauve eyes of the zebra she knew too well.

Somewhere in her mind Gusty had known he could shift shape. That was the key to it all. She bit her tongue to avoid vehemently cursing in front of Amethyst.

“I forgot you can turn into different animals…” she grumbled through her teeth.

Zeccaran offered her several squawks that sounded like he was laughing at her. She decided to ignore him, poorly. Such shape-shifting, to her knowledge, was rare among creatures these days, but she had seen many a druid in her travels. More than anything it reminded her that Zeccaran actually possessed real magical skill. Nature-based or otherwise he had a lot of utility. Still the whole situation left her facehoofing herself.

“Well, now it’s really easy to get up there. Bunker help me clean up camp and we’ll get on up to the city.” She said.

“What? Just because he can turn into bird you think we can scale mountain in few hours? Is crazy.--Whoa!” Bunker stopped as Gusty surrounded him in her levitation and picked him up off the ground. He flailed about trying to keep his balance on a nonexistent center of gravity.

“Hold still. You are making it harder to hold you! I need to see if I can do this for the 20 to 30 minutes it will take to fly up to the city.” she demanded.

Bunker continued screaming “PUT ME DOWN!” or “I'M GONNA PUKE” as she tried to practice. Gusty gave up when she decided that she would just do it anyway. Bunker would have to learn to sit still as she flew, otherwise it was gonna be a bad fall. She took the entire time Bunker was cleaning camp to tell him so too. She told him the same sentence every time he finished pulling things into his pack or her saddle bags.

“Squirm like that when we start flying and I don’t know if I will be able to catch you should I lose my grip on you.” she said admonishingly for the last time as he fastened the buckle on his bag. Gusty rathered not have her significant other plunged to his demise on the account of his weak stomach. But getting to Canterlot and informing the leaders of the country of the events of the cave was absolutely imperative, and even though she liked him Bunker’s life paled in comparison to the rest of all ponydom.

“OK! OK! I get it! Don’t struggle too much or fall to horrible death on ground.” He groaned.

She nodded with a smug grin and opened her wings. She flapped once pulling her hooves off the ground before realizing the rest of their supplies lay on the ground. “Amethyst!” She yelled.

“I’m right here, and now I can’t hear!” Amethyst cried from her back. At some point the little filly had scrambled up onto her without Gusty noticing. Gusty simply pointed at her saddle bags.

“Strap those to me with your magic. And we’ll get up to the city.” she said to her young filly.

It took her daughter a few moments but everything was quickly tied either around her belly or strapped down to her armor. Gusty re-readied her wings. She looked over at Bunker who had been waiting with a grimace while she helped Amethyst get all the bags attached to her. He paced back and forth looking up and down and occasionally bouncing on his hooves. Eventually they made eye-contact.

He was silent. His eyes worried. “I won’t drop you. Just trust me and relax,ok?” She told/asked him. He nodded sharply.

“Do it. To the top of the mountain we go!” He proclaimed, Gusty letting him finish.

She surrounded him in her magic and began to pump her wings. Zeccaran in his big eagle form did the same, Bunker’s equipment in one talon and Gunther in the other.

Slowly they began to ascend. Gusty led the zebra-bird back and forth in a long elliptical so they would ascend in a lazy spiral near the rock face of Canterlot Mountain. The entire time Bunker remained pliable in her telekinesis his eyes closed as he floated behind her. It took longer than Gusty expected, like following a winding river across a flat plain, its curves and meandering path stretched and crooked, such was the journey up to the city gate.

Finally above the edge of the cliff, Gusty gazed on the alabaster walls of Canterlot. They seemed dull compared the soft green of the grass that grew all the way to the edge of the rock. She lifted Bunker over to the ground first and let her magic grip fade, she then glided down and landed gently in the soft foliage. Beside her Zeccaran gasped for air as he converted back into a pony his body was drenched in sweat.

After blubbering for several minutes he mumbled, “That was my work out for the week.” Gusty simply nodded in agreement, she was also tired from the mile high flight.

Eventually, Bunker spoke up. “You know. Though I did just basically nap whole flight, don’t we need to get inside the city?”

Gusty felt a resurgence of energy. She desperately needed to get inside the white marble walls and find the palace before anything else happened.

“Let’s go!” she said hopping up.

Everypony followed her lead. Amethyst even giggled some at Zeccaran and quickly helped herself down from Gusty’s back and jumped onto the back of Gunther. Hitching a ride there while she teased the zebra, who was still spluttering and wheezing.

They approached the big gold-gilded iron gates of the city. Gusty instinctively folded up her wings. She always did when meeting new ponies. Typically they made quite the racket if they saw she was an alicorn. Oddly she thought, Zeccaran had not, it was that respect that had let them become friends initially. But for now, her wings were better out of sight, out of mind.

She looked at the busy crowd pushing in and out of Canterlot hauling wagons and carts. A single pair of guards stood watch. They wore golden armor that shined in the sun. Each wielded a simple spear, both unicorns, one white-coated and blued eyed, his counterpart light-brown with amber eyes. Gusty walked regularly not worried about their presence, they seemed far too bored to notice her party. Well, that is what she thought, it was wrong of course. A mare nearby shrieked when Gunther barked at her idle whistling.

“Was that a timberwolf!?” The white one shouted, his spear being brought down to point towards Gusty. His brown companion halted hoof-traffic exiting the city by promptly slamming the gate shut with his horn. Everypony already outside hurried away, the few folk trying to get into Canterlot backed away from the party. Exposed, Gusty proudly trotted up to the gate guards

“Yes it is! And let me explain to you boys why he is perfectly tame, we’ll start with my daughter who, oh-so-casually rides upon his back…”

It took about 10 minutes for Gusty to convince them, but they decided Gunther was not a safety hazard. They agreed to not bother the oaken dog any further too. Satisfied, Gusty finished up her argument.

“Now if you would just let us inside we are really in quite the ru-”

“No. That dog can’t go. Safe or not, the mere sight of him will cause a panic. He has to stay out here. We will watch him for you, and tell next shift too.” Brownie said. Gusty had already forgotten their names.

“Good enough for me.” She said.

“But-” Zeccaran started.

“Shut it, Zeccaran. We need to get moving.” she silenced the zebra.

It was all business now. She needed to find the princesses and tell them about the Cave. She needed answers. She needed to keep surging forward. In her impatience, the guards opened the way and the group quickly trotted into the city. Gusty picked up Amethyst with her telekinesis and put her on her back.

“Good bye for now Gunther!” the filly proclaimed from her perch as they left the poor tree-mutt outside the city. Confused merchants gazed past them trying to see what Amethyst yelled about as they passed the interrupted commuters.

Quickly they found themselves in a wide cobblestone square surrounded by restaurants and shops. Gusty looked about for signs to indicate what way they should take to get to the other alicorns. Besider her Zeccaran made some sort of exclamation. That distracted her from the smells of food that had managed to halt her advance.

“What?” She asked.

“Mom! Look!” Amethyst said. Gusty saw Zeccaran pointing at a huge pillared and spired structure. It had both battlements and impressive aesthetic towers. Its roofs were covered in ivory, gold, and some ruby and purple colored material. It was as impressive as it was opulent. Gusty actually gasped, the building was truly beautiful.

“Ok.” she started after she got her bearings back, “We know where to go. Let's take the street that points towards its steps, there!” She began running towards it. Ponies just got out of her way, staying to the sides of the streets as if they were used to galloping groups of misfits charging down their streets. But not that it mattered, at this point Gusty didn't even care if Bunker and Zeccaran could keep up with her.

After another 10 minutes of running she was walking up the white marble stairs to the main doors of the palace. Bunker and Zeccaran had kept pace quite well. They were next to her as she ascended the steps. She cleared the top, and wide path adored with a fine, thin red carpet stretched out before her and went into the palace and led to a set of stairs. The stairs split and angled to two identical doors on the left and right. The room was immaculate, filled with blue and gold banners. Each having specific sides of the hallway. They were elaborate in design and showed images of alicorns. The blue featured the moon too, while the gold ones featured the sun. The rest of the floor of the antechamber and further down the main hall was made up of some type of extremely shiny purple tile. It was very impressive and was a great showcase of the wealth this nation had. Though that wasn’t important to Gusty. She desired something much more valuable, knowledge

The teal alicorn pulled Amethyst off her back and opened her wings to their full width. She stood as tall as she could and proceeded to walk as daintily as possible through the open front doors of the palace. In the exact same fashion as the city gate, a Brownie and a Whitey stood at the sides of the open door.

They looked at her briefly then exchanged glances. “So what are you gonna do with your half of the reward?” Whitey asked.

“I’ll buy that ring for my marefriend.” Brownie said.

Gusty gave pause to look at them again. They stopped speaking immediately. Each took up a position next her.

“If you would come with us Miss Gusty…” Brownie said. “...quarters have already been prepared for your arrival.” Whitey finished.

“I appreciate the hospitality gentle-stallions but I must speak with the Princess Celestia at once. Assuming that Princess Luna is asleep.” Gusty stated, turning on her diplomat’s voice. “But you could take my bags, my companions’ bags and my daughter to the prepared location. Just show me which room Celestia is in.” She had said this while simultaneously heaving all of her and her party’s equipment on the two stallions.

She hoped it would work as a distraction. She even took her sword off and made sure that they had both Bunker’s axe and Zeccaran’s sickle.

“Awwhhh. But I want to meet the Princess too!” Amethyst complained. Gusty picked her up from her ground and held her up and smiled at her. “You will, but not right now. Right now Mommy has to talk to the Princess about that demon.”

“Oh you mean that stallion named Stormwalker? Ok. I don’t want to go then.” Amethyst said grimacing. “Come on boys. Take me to our room!” She barked authoritatively to the two guards.

Gusty beamed with pride. Already able to boss full grown males around! She couldn’t be happier with her surrogate daughter as she set her down to take the lead before the guard stallions.

“Miss” asked Whitey, as they all progressed down the hall, “Did your daughter just mention Colonel Stormwalker was a demon?” Gusty froze. She hadn’t realized that Amethyst might have just blurted out some important clue about her party’s mission.

“No. I don’t think so. She probably is just confused. She was there when the demon in question appeared and Stormwalker was was there too, etc. Kids mind’s you know..” she lied.

“Makes sense to me” chuckled Brownie. “He’s mean in a fight but he’s easily the nicest guy I’ve ever met.”

It had worked. Gusty exhaled carefully and started walking again. Though she was unsure about how nice Stormwalker was.

They went into the palace and up the stairs on the right and beheld an elegant platformed flooring that lead down to a large foyer with an immense glass roof above it. They traveled down the elegant place and proceeded down a hallway that seemingly stretched for a half-mile to a set of enormous golden doors.

Shortly, the stallion’s stopped at a crossing hall.

They quickly explained that her new residence was all the way down at the very end of the hall on the right. Celestia was located in a room down the left hall at the end of the only left turn. They carefully indicated that the princess would be having brunch like she usually did in the “Amore Room” as it was called. They mentioned that the door would be painted red and departed. Amethyst leading them to the right, acting like she knew where she was going between all the suits of old body armor and tapestries.

Gusty followed their instructions turning at the small hall and found herself standing outside the so described red door which was partially open. She could hear a mare’s gentle voice and a stallion’s deeper tones coming from the room. She tried to make sense of what they were saying but couldn’t really.

Bunker stood there looking at her confused. “Why not just go in?” He asked softly.

She frowned at him.”Because I want to hear what they are talking about. It might be something I wouldn’t hear otherwise.” She snarked back.

“What? Why would not one alicorn not help another?” He continued.

“We all have our reasons.” Zeccaran said as he slowly put his hoof on the door and ending the conversation.

He locked eyes with Gusty. She nodded to have him open the door.

The zebra opened it with a silent and light pull. Harsh sun poured at Gusty’s eyes making the figures in the room silhouette into featureless grey outlines briefly. She walked in first. As her vision cleared she saw about a dozen guards lining the sides of the room. Their spears at their sides. A large window with its dark red curtains was on her left. Paintings of beautiful landscapes and intricate carved pillars on the other. The back wall was a full mural of a city in the clouds. In the center of the room a dark mahogany table was set with food and fine china.

Gusty saw a tall, slender white alicorn sitting facing her. Her pretty face, highlighted by a dazzlingly magenta eye, looked at her with curiosity and surprise, a seemingly alive mane of a borealis obscured the rest of her features. A long horn managing to protrude from its thick, ever-moving mass.

Time then slowed as an all-too-familiar presence focused in on her. The ever-nagging sensation of being watched spiked to a feeling of direct and present observation. As fast as her body would allow Gusty looked at the other pony at the table. He wore matte steel armor. His half-folded wings bore long dark blades, and his mane was a shiny black. His ears swiveled back to point at her, fast even in her slowed perceptions.

Stormwalker turned around and met her fearful gaze. Gusty was rendered immobile and was forced to stare at his face. Over the top of his left eye and down his face he bore a broad scar that looked like it had once split his skull apart. Gusty looked for his fangs and his slit pupils but found herself disappointed. He was still just as handsome as before, maybe more with that rugged scar. But Gusty could care less, he was a monster no matter how pretty he was on the outside. Her resolution made her notice how extremely tired he looked, bags deeply creasing his face below his eyes. He even seemed to be thinner once he stood. How he had even survived the fight with the Shade she did not know. Even for a creature like him that could regenerate, such a foe should have proven fatal.

Time seemed to catch itself and restart normally. In the next instant of staring into the eyes of that winged demon, Gusty saw disbelief, anger, happiness, shock, fear, relief and many other emotions flash through his eyes. But he settled just fast as he had quickly flashed through those emotions. He chose determination as if ignoring the whirlwind of ocular expressions he had experienced. He stood up from his chair and faced her. His big body and fully extended wings blocking Gusty from seeing Celestia.

“Detain them.” He snarled.

Gusty went to move but found herself suddenly looking up at the vaulted ceiling of the room. The sudden change reminded her of the stun-bolts she had taken during the train heist, really it could be nothing else. She was now pinned to the ground, a hard and unforgiving combination of metal and flesh was pulled tight around her neck. The tremendous weight of what felt like one of the marble pillars of the room held her to the ground.

As her vision and head cleared she looked around enough to her left and right to see Bunker and Zeccaran each restrained by a pair of the Royal Guards. They were held down in much the same way she assumed she was being held. Gusty was quick to realize that it would have taken at least four of the guards to equal the strain on her body that she was feeling. It was possible. They did actually seem quite competent. However, there was no way that the hot breaths of the thing holding her was a guardspony, Stormwalker was too narcissistic to let the guards pin her down. Into her ear he spoke aloud, in his demon speak, as if to confirm what she was thinking.

“I know you can understand me. Please, listen to me. And listen very carefully” he said. His words seemed to be cautiously chosen. Even in this Abyssal tongue they were sincere and pleading in tone.

Some time, long ago, Gusty had learned the awful language, back in the Cave she had intentionally ignored Stormwalker’s words. Now, with one of his forehooves pulled around her neck and his mouth which felt as if it was literally in her ear she couldn’t not listen to him.

She jerked about briefly, hoping to possibly loosen his grip. His leg was like iron shackles and provided no give at all. She half-grunted-half-growled at him in anger and disgust for having to respond to his demon-speak.

“What do you want, demon?” she answered in his language.

“Paint whatever picture you want of me. But, for no reason. No reason at all, in any way, shape, or form, tell Celestia about what I really am. I don’t care if you describe me as a butcher or whatever else. Just don’t describe my true form. The results will be catastrophic!”

Stormwalker was actually scared sounding. That alone confused Gusty.

He survived the Shade, does he not posses the ability to do as he wishes? She thought. Perhaps he was still recovering, or Celestia had a way to defeat him. No matter the the reason, Gusty decidedly did not plan to do as he wished. In fact, she was certain this was all an act to get her to come along with his plans quietly.

“I don’t believe you! Why would I ever listen to you again? Vile demon! Do you think you could deceive me so easily?” She retorted whilst trying to free herself again. She made no progress but she did manage to look about the room.

Bunker and Zeccaran and even the guards looked particularly concerned with the conversation she and the demon-pegasus were having. Eventually she managed to find Celestia, who looked more confused than anypony else. Before she could make eye-contact or speak to the other alicorn, Stormwalker pulled his foreleg tighter around her neck, forcing her to look to the ceiling again.

"No. I don’t.” He started. “Unlike before, I have no reason to deceive you. But since you won’t listen to me...I’ll play the part of the evil villain you take me to be. Let’s just say that that whether or not I’m telling the truth, your lack of cooperation will put the million or so innocent ponies of Canterlot in mortal danger. Something I know you would never do.” his stated with soft confidence.

Damnit! Gusty gritted her teeth in thought. If she revealed his secret, either way, she would be responsible for the lives of all the city. How did he already manage to have such a strong sense of my morals? She quarreled with the thought. The demon only been around her for about thirty minutes. Was he simply guessing or did he possess powers I don’t yet comprehend? She realized as the rest of her mind resigned that she would have to listen to him, against her better judgement, again.

“You win this time,” She snarled back to him, her own voice in the demon-speak even harsher than his. “But the moment I can get away with telling her, I will.” Her admonition was met with a low chuckle.

“I would expect nothing less, my dear. Though I hope I can persuade you from such foolish-”

“That.”

“Is.”

“Enough!”

The mare’s voice echoed in the room, even through Celestia’s anger her regular Equestrian almost sing-song compared to Gusty’s previous conversation.. Stormwalker’s grip on her neck loosened significantly and Gusty gazed upon the glorious creature’s full profile.

Celestia was nearly as tall as Stormwalker, just barely taller if you counted her horn. Now visible her tail was much like her mane, ever-shifting and enormous in both length and volume. Her head, her chest, and each hoof was covered with golden regalia, She certainly fulfilled the part of royalty in both physical beauty and regal bearing, but something was preventing Celestia from being perfect. This time Gusty could see both of her eyes. They had a hard piercing glint in them that was somewhat colored by disappointment. Celestia’s gaze was fixed on Stormwalker. She kept opening her mouth to say something but would stop and frown, each time her grimace deepening. After a few seconds, the princess finally caught herself

“Release them! And explain yourself!” She demanded, slamming down her right hoof.

Gusty felt her heart jump for joy. She couldn’t imagine Stormwalker talking his way out of this quagmire. His whole plan was about to be ruined by his own arrogance. Gusty grinned mischievously and looked around the room, only to see the Royal Guards not following the princess’s orders. Instead, they looked over at Stormwalker, concerned looks on their faces.

“It’s okay boys. Objective completed. Go ahead and let them go, you are dismissed.” He said calmly.

Gusty felt the demon’s weight lift off of her body and his hoof completely remove itself. She also caught the edge of Stormwalker’s left wing as it folded while he stepped away from her. Its soft texture giving her chills. Similar to the chilly anger that rolled from Celestia’s tongue.

“By whose authority do you dismiss my guards. Colonel?” she said, venom dripping down every word.

“And how dare you treat our guests this way!” Celestia continued, Gusty felt her smile returning. “And that-that, foul language! Whatever it is: I want nopony ever speaking it in my presence ever again! And tell me what you said to Gusty, Colonel. Now!”

“That is business meant only for Gusty and myself. Long ago you told me that you didn’t want to know of what we spoke.” Stormwalker seemed as affected as a rock would be from tongue lashings his voice even and calm.

“Not that I expect you to remember though,” He suddenly snarled. “That’s how memory spells work, right? You start to remember then…” Stormwind trailed off. Gusty was pretty sure the demon really loved the sound of his own voice.

Gusty turned to look at Celestia to listen to her response. But the mare only stared off vacantly before shaking her head and blinking rapidly. Gusty’s compassionate instincts kicked in.

“What did you do to her!?” She yelled at Stormwalker.

He looked at her over his body with his good eye. Gusty actually balked at his sad and empty expression unaware that he could make such a face.

He looked tortured as he spoke, his demeanor differed so great than what she expected Gusty was unable to snark a response.

“I may have been the reason, but it was her own doing.” He looked away from Gusty and back at Celestia.

“I-...I thought I...” Celestia paused. “It seems I have forgotten why I was upset with your explanation. Still. That was no way to treat Gusty and her companions.” Celestia groaned out in response.

“They left me for dead in a cave, fighting an eldritch Shade that could have easily killed me and destroyed this whole world, and you expect me to treat them with kindness? I know we are overlooking the occurrence due to the circumstances but that doesn’t mean that what they did was acceptable.” Stormwalker snapped back, covering up his earlier gloom

“Neither were your actions.” Celestia continued their argument forgetful of her own sudden lapse.

“Better the temporary damage to a single pony than to sacrifice the world, the decision was the best and only choice I could make. You know full well I would have never done that had they not already completed the ritual before I got to them. I even planned on ensuring her horn worked again myself.” the demon lied, Gusty knew better to believe him, especially that last sentence.

“It seems that our arguments always end in this circular-type of stalemate. If I say anything else you can just counter it with ‘it wasn’t the compassionate thing to do, but it was the right thing to do And I cannot say you are wrong because the completion of the ritual would have meant the Shade being summoned. Which I would say happened anyway so all you did was harm an otherwise innocent foal, and you would say “that these three fools here are responsible,” Celestia waved a hoof with bravado, “and you would be right, but you are only right because you apparently scared them enough to do it...Let’s just leave it at this: you did what you had to and neither of us liked it but you accept your decision and I do not.”

Gusty had barely managed to follow Celestia’s argument. She rattled off the whole thing so quickly Gusty was certain she broke some sort of world-record time for eloquent words in five seconds. Typically she was really good with following logic trains but it seemed that Stormwalker and Celestia were actually debating some obscure moral point that weighed the value of lives against one another. She suddenly found herself unsure if Celestia was going to be able to help her at all, even if she did divulge Stormwalker’s true nature to her fellow alicorn. Still it was worth the risk.

“So, just cut out all the banter we could have had at once, huh?” Stormwalker jabbed back at her. “I won’t lie I actually enjoy arguing with you-so, I’m disappointed. Or perhaps you are now focused on gathering a new perspective with which you intend to thoroughly jape me?” he tilted his head towards Gusty but remained looking at the princess.

Gusty saw Celestia smile at Stormwalker. It was a genuine, happy smile. One that would only be shared between the closest of friends. Gusty thought perhaps Stormwalker had had a simple, survival-related, reason for keeping his true nature a secret, but seemingly like all things pertaining to the demon-stallion there were layers of intrigue to pull away.

Why can’t he be straightforward like the other demons? She scoffed in her head.

Stormwalker half-turned around. His head remained peering at Celestia, Gusty could barely make out the edges of his right eye. “Alright then, ‘Tia. Seems we will have to pick up this argument at a later time.” He began to leave the room.

He paused before reaching the door and cast a smug smirk at her.

“Oh, Gusty.” purred the demon.

Gusty felt the return of the prickling sensation, Stormwalker’s leering gaze crawling up her back.

“Try to stay out of trouble, we wouldn’t want another fight would we?” he smirked.

Gusty blew a long angry raspberry at him.

He slid out of the room on and pulled the door shut with a wing, his smile never fading. Gusty continued to blow her raspberry out of anger and boredom. She had been anticipating this moment for several days and it was completely anti-climatic.

Gusty was unsure if he had even been there, it was almost as if she had just been dreaming. Still blowing her raspberry she turned around and rolled her eyes. She caught Celestia’s gaze. Her alicorn counterpart seemed to be looking about her group a grimace pulling her pretty face into a smirking frown.

“Explain. Now.” Celestia demanded as her eyes narrowed. “It is rare that the good Colonel lies and when he does it's like trying to find a needle in a haystack.”

Gusty began recounting the events adding a lot of significant detail about her dislike of Stormwalker. She was careful to leave the details Stormwalker’s demonic transformation just like he had forced her to. Celestia nodded politely as she told her story her face slowly becoming more annoyed. Eventually, a moment before Gusty accounted how they had summoned the Shade Celestia grunted in frustration. She broke her patient look for an upset one.

“Literally the same as the Colonel’s. Are you sure there aren’t any other details? Anything he may have missed that you didn’t? How about you my fair zebra? Zeccaran was it?” She turned a nearly angry glance at Zeccaran.

“Well, everything Gusty told you is right.” the zebra started. “I keep trying to think of anything we missed but there’s nothing out of place.”

Celestia sighed in a resigned manner. “Are you sure?” she asked again.

“I am concerned about the method of Chrysanthemum’s tribunal but as far as that night is concerned the only thing I have to say is that Stormwalker is a very unpleasant creature once upset. He gave Bunker the beating of a lifetime and basically cut me in half. Only reason we aren’t dead is because of Gusty and her magic. I’m sorry but there’s nothing more. Had I known the details of the ritual before I got there I wouldn’t have summoned the Shade, but… well, like I said we were pretty desperate.” Zeccaran concluded.

Gusty noticed Celestia’s brow furrow in thought.

“How did you know how to complete the ritual? She asked slowly her eyes narrowing. Gusty realized she wanted to know how he had done that too. Zeccaran had really more struck her as a skilled fool, not a prophet of some dark cult. It didn't help that he had been dodgy when she asked him herself.

“Yeah. How did you? I meant to ask but we’ve been too busy…” she said.

Zeccaran’s jaw hung slightly open in response. He pulled up a hoof to his face and rubbed his mohawk.

“I don’t really know.” Gusty looked over to Celestia and they exchanged a look of raised eyebrows of doubt.

They looked back at Zeccaran. He seemed genuinely lost in thought trying put things together

“It’s like... it’s like I had this dream. That I knew the process from before somehow. But I can’t place it.” Zeccaran said hitting his head with his hooves alternatively “Like, honestly it’s there. But I can’t make it make sense. It hurts to try.” Zeccaran gave up shaking his head in defeat.

A flash and hum overtook Gusty’s senses as a golden aura of magic hung over Zeccaran’s head for but a moment. If she had blinked she would have missed it, Gusty turned to see Celestia’s horn slowly extinguishing its magic.

“A memory spell. Not my specialty, but my sister’s. If anypony will be able to decipher the hidden meaning behind the ritual and your mental troubles it will be her.” Celestia determined.

“Luna? Is she awake? I need both of you for...something…” Gusty narrowly restrained herself from blurting out Stormwalker’s secret. If all three of them worked together she was certain they could overcome the demon and keep the city safe. But, the trouble was that Stormwalker had intentionally separated them. Gusty was sure he had gone to ensure Luna would be preoccupied with something he made up, or worse, did to her.

“Oh, no. Luna should be asleep for another hour or so.” Celestia smiled warmly her eyes looking to another place. “She would happy to help once she is awake, in fact, I’ll go wake her now, myself. Please, return to your room and I will meet you there with her. It’s been a long time since we both were needed to solve a mystery…”

Celestia led the way out of the room, Gusty and her male companions followed.

“High Winds, please escort Miss Gusty and her friends to their room.” The princess asked kindly, before turning and continued away from the Pegasus guard she had addressed. He saluted her before turning and simply asking them to follow him.

She and her party followed the young guard back the way the came. They continued past the intersection that led to the throne room and the entrance hall, on the left and right respectively. Persisting through a massive ball room and entering another long hall were many guard ponies bustled about. After a moment and going up a narrow set of stairs that arched over up to an indoor balcony having past through the staircase's its mirrored brother mid way down the hall. Once on the second floor the moved down the hall following it as it turned right. As the hall then turned left they came to a a gilded white door. High Winds gave a short bow and a wave of his hoof indicating for them to enter. He then turned and left down the hall that had led to the door, quickly disappearing never to be seen again.

Gusty was pleased to find herself entering a lavish living space. Beside her Bunker loosed a low gasp as they strode onto a silken carpet of white. It was soft enough to almost convince Gusty it was a cloud. Otherwise the room was adorned with dark purples and blues featuring two massive couches and a dark mahogany coffee table. On the far wall full-paned Prench windows and doors reached up to the extra tall ceiling allowing anypony inside to see the sky and a view of the city with ease. The doors led to a small balcony that featured black metal patio furniture. There was also a door on either side of the room, one was open.

Amethyst came bounding from the open door on the right of the living room. She was chewing on what appeared to be a cookie. “Momma! They have a kitchen, and it’s full of food! I even made some cookies!” The young filly floated several out of the kitchen in her pink magic and gave them to Gusty.

Bunker went towards the door on the left and opened it and entered. Gusty followed him into what was a short hallway finding a bathroom, a small bedroom clearly made for a filly, and a master bedroom. Bunker whistled in admiration at the sight of the enormous bed in the master room.

“You know. I hate to say-but..” Bunker yawned widely. “I is pretty tired from the last couple of days...and big bed…” he swooned visibly. Gusty rolled her eyes and gave him a shove.

“Just take a bath first, I don’t want the sheets ruined until we both are in there.” She gave him her best naughty grin. The big stallion nodded while biting his lower lip.

“I’ll be sure to rest well then.” he said before kissing her and practically skipping towards the bedroom’s attendant bath chambers.

Gusty returned to the living room to find Zeccaran idly staring at a wall. Amethyst was buried in the thick cushions of the couch munching cookies and humming to herself. Gusty cleared her throat enough to get Zeccaran’s attention, and motioned for him to go out to the patio. He trotted lazily towards the big glass doors with her. Once outside Gusty broke her silence.

“We have to tell them.” She began. “Stormwalker has to be stopped. You saw what he was capable of, and he beat that Shade too! He’s a monster, the princesses need to know! And that memory spell on Celestia! And you! Tell me what you know about those cultists! Ugh! So many questions!” she grumble-growled.

“Umm. Gusty. That’s all well and good but, we’ve got company…” Zeccaran pointed towards a tower that extended away from the main palace about fifty yards to their right.

From a small balcony of the spire there were number of unicorn guards visible. On the pointed roof of the battlement the hulking mass of a familiar shadow gazed down at Gusty, flanked by a pair of pegasi. The shadow nodded its head and the hiss of red stun bolts filled the air, even though the unicorns couldn’t see the command.

Gusty dove down below the marble railing as the four unicorns fired. Zeccaran who had followed suit screaming. “Ok get ready to fire back, I’ll distract them, then we’ll dive beck inside.” Gusty nodded, then gasped as fire sparked on Zeccaran’s hooves. She barely had time to catch her falling composure before the zebra stood on his hind legs and yelled hoarsely, “NOW!”

Fire erupted from Zeccaran’s hooves, the heat was incredible and the display terrifying, but his malice was directed away from her. The bloom of flames shot towards the unicorns who promptly took cover behind their own marble banister. The fire missed them miserably and didn’t even hit the tower where they were but the effect was undeniable. Gusty readied her own stun bolts, unlike the train, she wouldn’t be outdone by other ponies.

just as soon as the unicorns stood to check if they still had their manes she fired a stun bolt. It hit the one poor fellow squarely in the face. He dropped down limply, hidden by the banister. The remaining unicorns returned fire but not before Gusty noticed the two pegasi leaving the shadow’s side. Though distracted she managed to dodge the red balls of knock-out energy. The pegasi were quickly closing and Zeccaran was looking more nervous by the second as he narrowly escaped the electric crackle of the bolts himself.

Gusty then decided to bring out an old favorite of hers, a holy shield . It didn’t work like a normal barrier shield a unicorn could cast, in fact it didn’t prevent anything from entering its perimeter. Instead, the shield would disorient anypony foolish enough to enter it. She had cast it on Amethyst the day before when the cockatrices had attacked but now she cast it on herself. The shield would hopefully show off its worth this time. She took to the sky to meet the incoming pegasi.

The pegasi passed through the outer barrier of the shield before they could pull away. Gusty only caught a glimpse of their befuddled faces before they past her not even sort of trying to swing their hooves at her. She turned to see one of the pegasi fly headlong into the wall next to the doors of her apartment and then slide unconsciously down to the patio balcony. The other randomly veered back towards the tower he had flown from and crashed through a window on its bottom floor.

Gusty heard a growl come from the angry shadow atop the spire. More stun bolts flew but missed her, she retaliated with two more of her own. The two bolts both hit the same unicorn and sent him spinning in a circle. He comically hit the one mare that was with the unicorns and knocked her out cold.

Gusty started a laugh, “Ha! Some Royal Guards these ponies were!” she chortled out.

The shadow on his perch yelled down at her and the remaining unicorn. “Forget the zebra! Focus only on her!”

Before jumping from the spire and diving towards her. The shade of the big beast cleared and Stormwalker’s visage matched his voice.

Gusty barely had time to keep Stormwalker from tackling her out of the sky. Her magic had no effect on deterring or disabling him at all. Holy spell or not it could be broken by willpower, something the demon clearly did not lack.

After passing through her shield he agilely flipped out of his dive with phenomenal grace even in his armor. She made eye-contact with Stormwalker for the briefest moments. In his eyes all she could see was desperation, primal and ravaging. Gusty’s heart jumped into her throat. She was overcome with the urge to run from him. He had something debaucherous planned for her and Gusty didn’t want to find out its details.

She immediately put as much distance as her wings could make between them. Gusty was up and over the roof as a sss-pop of a teleportation spell completing buzzed to her left. It was the last remaining unicorn. He hurled a stun bolt at her but missed miserably. Gusty turned around as she zipped by him only to see Stormwalker a few feet behind her and gaining rapidly. His big wings and evident skill in the air making him faster.

A massive rush of air and the swoop of Stormwalker’s body passed just in front her nose. A great clammering and shattering of roof tile followed. Gusty passed just over the top of him shocked he had missed.

“I overshot! I friggin’ overshot! I don’t believe it!” The demon-stallion cursed loudly.

Gusty wasted no time reaching her full flight speed. She buzzed along the roof of the palace perhaps two yards above its sloped surface. The occasional sounds of the unicorn teleporting after her caught her attention. She turned her head just in time to see a much more well-aimed stun bolt fly at her. She tucked in her left wing and rolled to her side in the air, making the magic lance miss. She was about halfway to the front of the palace where she could reach some actual guards or better yet, Celestia. Gusty turned to check on her tail, only to find Stormwalker gaining on her from about twenty feet away.

She reflexively gave a brief shriek and returned to flying as fast as she could. It didn’t seem to matter though, the demon was too fast in the air. She could feel his wings displacing the air near her back hooves within a few seconds She partially looked left to see where he was at, catching him in her furthest peripheral. He was making his move to tackle her recklessly. Gusty didn’t have to time to react. She closed her eyes a braced for impact.

Gusty felt the heat of the stallion’s body graze against her own. It passed over her down flapping wings and touched her back then passed by giving her chills. She opened her eyes and looked to her right, the direction the heat had moved. Stormwalker’s armored backside was all that could be seen as the stallion crashed through the roof this time. He sent shattered tile and splintered wood flying as he vanished into the palace. Gusty heard several very choice curses in Abyssal die away as he fell further into the building.

She found herself laughing with delight. There was no way this was happening. Not when she had confirmation the very same klutz that had fallen through the roof had killed a Shade and utterly devastated a group of ponies without breaking a sweat. Gusty kept cackling until the hiss of a narrowly missed stun-bolt forced her to stop.

The unicorn was back at it. She flew off attempting to outdistance his ability to teleport. She quickly was nearing the front of the palace and her chance to alert the guards loyal to Celestia. The unicorn had been slowly losing ground the entire time. Gusty was confident she’d be able to ignore him when as snap-hiss occurred just in front of her.

The unicorn had managed to teleport all the way out in front of the palace’s edge. With him had come blood and decaying sparkles of mana burn. Gusty could see the red coming from his ears, eyes, and the base of his horn as he started to fall to the ground. Now in the open air herself she dove to catch the poor fool before he met his end on the marble staircase below, if he wasn’t already dead.

She caught him just before the ground. Checking for a pulse Gusty was pleased to find one. She hovered to the entrance patio as the two guards from earlier rushed up, their faces gaunt with worry. “He’s alive! Get him some help quickly, he mana burnt himself. I need to find the Princess!” The guards obliged with quick and gruff agreement and took their wayward comrade away. Gusty hoped the injured stallion would be alright, he probably was just following orders like any good soldier would.

Gusty rushed into the palace to find Celestia…

Zeccaran pursed his lips as Stormwalker and Gusty flew over the top of the palace. The unicorn teleported after them leaving the zebra to stand idly on the balcony alone.

He turned to look at the door behind him. The big glass panes were covered in a strange blue sparkling aura. Puzzled he pushed the blue field to find it soft but firm. It refused to give even the slightest distance to his touch. Zeccaran knew of two ways to dispel shield magic: specific dispelling curses or overwhelming the caster’s power with repeated attacks. Lacking dispelling curses Zeccaran took the only option remaining and pulsed out another beam of fire.

After the fire abated the zebra beheld a completely unaffected shield. Around the wood and glass, the alabaster stone had been scorched black from the blaze. Whoever had cast the shield was indeed a powerful mage, but this wouldn’t deter him! Zeccaran angrily fired another jet of flame at the shield and the door.

The results were the same.

Zeccaran fell to his rump and glared at the shield. At a loss, there wasn’t much else to do besides perhaps throw himself to his death from the high balcony. However, the shield aura suddenly sparkled like twinkling stars and then disappeared with a small whoosh. Zeccaran stood up in disbelief gawking at the now empty silence of the breeze as the light hum the shield had been making had ceased. He slowly reached up for the door and pulled down the handle to open it.

The door gave with no issue and Zeccaran trod into the quiet room. He could hear Bunker snoring from another room and see Amethyst sprawled out on one of the enormous sofa’s her eyes closed. A set of dainty hoofs made noise as somepony entered the living room from the kitchen.

Zeccaran could hardly believe his eyes. A tall mare entered the room, her fur the most magnificent midnight blue imaginable. Her mane and tail alive waving and sparkling like stars in the night’s sky. Her beautiful teal eyes looked at him room inquisitively, their long lashes and light blue shadow deepening her gaze. She wore the symbol of the Moon wrapped in silver and onyx, like the tiara that was buried in her star-swirled mane. It was the Second Princess of Equestria: a pony Zeccaran thought he’d never meet, even with the last few days’ events.

He fell down in a low bow. “Princess Luna!” he murmured reverently. He heard her walk towards him, she released a small hum of confusion.

“Strange. Why are you not asleep? When I cast the spell everypony was in the apartment.” He voice was relaxed but archaic.

“Gusty and I went out on the balcony, Princess...where we were attacked by Colonel Stormwalker and a group of guards. What’s going on? Why were you trying to make us fall asleep?” Too curious Zeccaran dropped his formality midway through his answer. He had to ask, he needed to know.

“Oh. Oh, dear. And if you are in here, t-that means that Stormy must have failed to capture Gusty...which…” She fell silent looking at the ground. “I NEED TO FIND MY SISTER!” she proclaimed face strained with worry. Zeccaran watched, with his questions unanswered, as Luna bolted toward the door.

Knock knock knock.

Luna froze mid-gallop. She looked back and forth before turning around as the knocking ensued again. She met his eyes and motioned for him to answer the door. Zeccaran made a face of weary acceptance and plodded up to the door.

The zebra opened the door to reveal Celestia and her shining white coat.

“Hello Zeccaran. May I come in?” She asked kindly.

“Sure, I figure you can answer my questions since your sister won’t…” Zeccaran was starting to feel rather stepped on and his attitude was becoming snide.

“My sister?” the big mare asked her neck swiveling to watch him as she entered the room. “What do you mean?”

Zeccaran pointed back at Luna he was peeking up from behind one of the sofas with a frown. As elated he was to have finally met the real Princess of the Night the zebra felt angry that she appeared to be an ally of Stormwalker.

“Luna! I’ve been looking for you! What are you doing in our guests’ apartment?” Celestia questioned.

“Oh! Sister, I had asked one of my guards alert me if they were to arrive during the day, I seemed to have missed Miss Gusty though.” Zeccaran knew that Luna was lying but what she said seemed rehearsed. Celestia didn’t notice and continued to speak, Zeccaran waited looking to pick the best time to seek the truth.

“Well, I am glad you are as excited as I am about Gusty Twilight, but what’s more important is actually Zeccaran here” Celestia started. “He has a rather powerful memory charm placed on him I was hoping you could take a look at it for me so we could piece together some of the more confusing events of the Cave.”

“Ah. Well...um…” Luna nervously glanced back and forth between him and Celestia. “Sister I placed that spell on him. When we have a more appropriate time I will gladly remove it and go over my reasons with you but right now there are more important things for you to attend to.”

Zeccaran wasn’t sure if he had heard her right but he was pretty sure Luna had said she was the culprit. Why would she have done it? It potentially explains some of my memory loss or these weird bouts of returning knowledge, but how...His thoughts were interrupted by Celestia.

“You?! You put the spell on him?! Luna tell me everything. Tell me now!” Celestia screamed.

“Tia..I-I..I can’t.” Luna stammered.

“What do you mean you can’t? Luna something is going on here. I know it is! For most of the last two days I feel like I can’t remember things. And I keep getting random flashbacks of...of...terrible things. From when our parents-and...Stormwalker from when he was younger...ugh...why can’t I remember anything about him? I’ve known him for his entire life! And I can’t even remember his first name! You better not have placed some memory curse on me at his request! Recent events have made it abundantly clear to me that he cannot be trusted!”

Celestia angrily yelled most of her rant. Zeccaran watched as Luna shrunk down onto her rump looking smaller and smaller as Celestia shouted. Once the elder alicorn finished she began panting, her face was flushed as if she was embarrassed and guilty. Luna slowly stood up slowly looking at the ground dejectedly.

“Sister, you placed that curse on yourself over twenty years ago.” she said solemnly. Zeccaran’s mouth gaped open in shocked comprehension. He had noticed Celestia’s strange “zone-out” earlier but hadn’t taken what Stormwalker had said seriously.

“If I had placed the curse why is it breaking now? Celestia asked the question on his mind

“I’ve looked over the spell myself, It seems that when you created it you made a failsafe. It had to do with Stormy. I think you are only supposed to remember if he does something that harms innocent ponies. But at his request he asked me to leave my diagnosis at the most basic level for he feared removing the charm would greatly endanger the nation.” Luna had regained most of her confidence.

“There might be more to it too. Gusty’s presence could have been a trigger, but I don’t know. The spell is incredibly complex, even more so than the dreamwalking I do. Either way, he was...scared I think, of the spell breaking. He has always been somewhat scattered when it came to his describing his relationship with you…”

Celestia nodded briefly but otherwise made no reply. She stared off in silence her face confused and sad. Luna crossed the distance and hugged her sister making Zeccaran feel rather alone and small compared to the situation. He opened his mouth to finally speak when the door was slammed open.

“Celestia! Zeccaran!” Gusty shouted. “The guards said you both were in here, come on we need to find Luna before...oh!”

Zeccaran snickered as Gusty was rendered lost for words. His friend shut the door behind her and looked as if she was trying regather her thoughts. It lasted but a brief moment.

“Princesses! Your beloved Colonel Stormwalker has attacked Zeccaran and myself. On top of that he is much more than he seems!” she proclaimed

A bad feeling crawled up Zeccaran’s back and settled in his throat. Standing he spoke: “Gusty wait! There’s more to this than-” He tried to say. Gusty interrupted him, her voice in near hysterics.

“I couldn’t tell you sooner, he threatened me with the destruction of the city. He’s a demon. A horrible ancient monster like I haven’t seen in forever! And we have to stop him!” she belted out.

“Or ok nevermind….” Zeccaran let his voice drop away. He became of an icy silence as Celestia’s breathing grew loud and rapid. Her face was obscured from his view, but Gusty’s triumphant smirk was easily visible.

Sister, you need to remain calm...I’ve known about this for some time” Luna placed a hoof on her sister’s shoulder, "...he’s on our side, even with recent events I’m sure you understand that he ha-” SLAM! the door being kicked open stopped Luna mid-sentence

Zeccaran turned to see Stormwalker shoot into the room and shut the door with another slam. He started talking before turning around. “OK. Luna I don’t know how, but she-she..she got away.” he turned and looked at the group his face initially showing no recognition. His eyes were their normal golden-yellow but with slitted pupils and his fangs hung from his mouth.

]“We need to find Celestia and keep Gusty away...from....her….” Stormwalker’s pupils widened to diamonds in surprise, his voice trailing away to reveal Celestia’s harsh breathing again.

This time Zeccaran could see her face. It was simply the perfect definition of righteous indignation. Lips curled, eyes on fire, and nostrils flared so wide he could see pink flesh inside them. Zeccaran felt like he needed to hide behind one of the sofa’s.

Stormwalker managed to regain some composure, though that was a generous description. As Zeccaran scooted his way towards his chosen cover he watched the demon’s mouth work to speak.

“I...Uh…….ummm. Ok. yeeeeaaah I gotta go.” He said before performing an excellent about-face and opening the door and darting out it.

Celestia loosed an angsty growl. “Demon! Murderer! Get back here!” She shrieked before galloping away.

“Sister wait!” Luna yelled following her elder sibling. Zeccaran was left to watch Gusty laugh. The teal alicorn fell onto one of the sofa’s and squealed with girlish delight. But her merriment only made the feeling of dread increase, something about the way Luna had described the situation set off warning sirens in his head. He spoke up.

“Gusty. We need to go help Luna. I think Celestia might be the one to destroy the city trying to catch Stormwalker. You just missed it but Luna was describing the enchantment Celestia put on herself. We should help.” He sternly commanded.

Gusty sighed dejectedly and sat up to look at him. “Fiiiiiinne” she rolled her eyes at him. “But only because I want to see Celestia knock the shit out him. Let me get Bunker.”

Zeccaran exhaled his breath. He was shocked Gusty was listening to him, or that she didn’t hit him over the head with some random object like last time he had had an idea. Gusty went off into the apartment and quickly returned with a very groggy looking Bunker who was dragging his axe on the floor.

“Come on sleepy head we have to help the princesses!” She barked levitating the big stallion into the air. She looked briefly at Zeccaran and then ran out the door. The zebra followed his friends as they began running through the palace.

A trail of destruction marked their path. Suits of armor were knocked across the elegant tile and banners were twisted and knocked down everywhere they went. Several pictures that had dotted the halls had been shattered to pieces their glass littering the floor like snow. Zeccaran had to make a full leap to avoid cutting the soft of his hooves. Gusty had taken to the air once they had reached the main hall, Bunker still held in her magical grip. The big earth stallion looked rather amused as he was carried about. Zeccaran dodged around the rubble from a completely smashed marble pillar and caught Gusty who was now on the ground trying to push the throne room doors open.

Zeccaran had thought the devastation had been bad before entering the throne room. He was shocked to see that the halls had merely been the icing on a debaucherous cake. Everywhere the room was coated in circular scorches and the occasional deep gash of some enormous blade glinted the walls, floor, and even ceiling. The stained glass windows on the side of the palace that led to the gardens were all but destroyed, only a few panels remained. The throne itself had been cut in half diagonally, leaving its upper section and left armrest tumbled over on the side of the raised dais.

“Come on! They must have gone out into the garden!” Gusty proclaimed taking to the sky and flying out the largest opening in the window frames. A tingling sensation tickled at Zeccaran’s hooves and back and he was suddenly flying out the window before he realized what was happening.

He let out of a shriek of surprise before he was lowered down to an eagerly waiting Gusty and Bunker.

“Argh! A little warning next time Gusty! You know I hate it when you levitate me.” He scowled at her angrily.

“What you were gonna jump?” she replayed sarcastically.

“Yes! I would have been much more comfortable that way!” He yelled at her frantically flailing his hooves trying to touch the ground.

Gusty let him go and Zeccaran fell the short distance remaining and glared at his friend. She giggled.

“Come on! They have to be out here somewhere!” she commanded finishing up her chuckles.

Entering a full gallop Gusty made headway towards a large set of decorative hedges covered in a rainbow of flowers. Zeccaran and Bunker chased after the mare the former simply hoping she would slow down enough for them to catch her.

The two stallions entered the hedgeworks to find Gusty staring intently at a bed of blue flowers. Zeccaran was too shocked to speak. Gusty motioned them over.

He found his voice: “Gusty what about…” The smell of the delicate beauties hit Zeccaran’s nostrils like a train. The intoxicating aroma made him realize why Gusty had stopped

“I have to try one.” the mare in question murmured, lowering her head.

She chomped off one of the brilliant flowers from its stem and began chewing. Gusty gasped in what could only be described as full food ecstasy. She fell back on her rump and grasped her cheeks as if she was trying to keep the flavor from fleeing her mouth. She mumbled incoherently before swallowing and snapping three fresh flowers from the patch up in her levitation.

“You guys have to try these! They are amazing!” She proclaimed gleefully as the flowers floated over to Zeccaran and Bunker of their own accord. Zeccaran watched Gusty devour the third flower.

“‘Ey, why not? We are ponies after all, da?” Bunker made a strong point.

Zeccaran snatched the whole flower out of Gusty’s magic in a single bite.

Exploding torrents of salty-sweet savoriness threatened to overwhelm the zebra’s senses. Switching to a tart yet delectable cornucopia of wondrous richness Zeccaran thought he might pass out for sheer sensory overload. With great reluctance he swallowed the flower.

Things then got....weird.

He looked back up at Gusty to find her a cheery pink. His jaw hung loose as he also noticed a purple afternoon sky and a blue sun. Next to him Bunker blathered incoherently before throwing himself at Gusty.

“So pink! And so cute! And ARRRGHHh!” Bunker, screamed with delight, evidently experiencing the same weirdness as he was.

“OH DEAREST BETROTHED! LET US FORGET THE TROUBLESOME DEMON AND CONSUMMATE OUR LOVE!” the stallion bellowed. Zeccaran too relaxed to move or care, simply sat and enjoyed the sudden and immense sensation of euphoria.

He relaxed his back and legs and toppled onto the soft eggshell grass. It was magically soft and felt like thousands of fine toothed combs delicately cleaning his fur.

Vaguely he heard Gusty pushing the over-eager Bunker away.

“I guess they aren’t for everypony.” Her voice was deep and echoey like they were in a massive cave or a concert hall.

Zeccaran simply didn’t have a care in the world in that moment. He felt wonderfully complete; as if nothing could ever ruin this exact moment.

Glass shattered in a inharmonious sort of way that only glass could. It seemed perfect in its sound and rhythm. Zeccaran slowly sat up to look towards the noise, to see if it would happen again. Instead he only managed to yawn and close his eyes. The world behind his eyelids was even more vibrant than outside them. Zeccaran continued to revel merrily without noticing anything and eventually falling asleep…

Official Edit: 10-15-2017