The ponies look out in all directions in fright as those braying horns sound, a few up ahead with several more behind them, if not exactly centered on the road. Slicer Jen swears under her breath and begins rummaging through her saddlebag. The others take this as a sign of things to come and start loosening their weapons, spellbooks and staff. Slicer glances up quickly and scowls, blurting, "What are you doing!?! We're about to make a break for it, we have no time for that."

While the others slow their preparations, Twilight Sparkle steps up and puts her hoof down, "Now see here, I am the party leader, and as such I believe we are about to get into a large fight, so we should be prepared rather than stumbling around in these woods. Obviously they had the same idea as we did and crossed through the forest to this road, so we...that is..." Her words stumble to a halt as she sees Slicer pull out the onyx figurine of her panther. "See? Even you believe we are about to fight, so-"

"Hush!" Twilight blinks, glances at her friends in startlement as they shrug back. She gets ready to say something else before Slicer cuts her off again, "Princess, PLEASE!" This time Twilight sits back on her haunches and closes her mouth, probably more from the word 'please' than anything else. Slicer holds the statue out in front of her with both hooves, eyes Twilight suspiciously, then her brow furrows. "In case anything happens, you'll know what to do with this." She closes her eyes and whispers, "Come, Guenhwyvar, I need you." A gray mist coalesces in front of Slicer into the form of a black panther, larger than any normal giant cat. Slicer walks up to the cat and stares directly into the cat's eyes. The horns sound again, gaining the attention of the cat's ears as they swivel to each responding sound. Slicer nods and says, "Plow the road, fight from the shadows, speed is key." The cat rumbles softly and leaps into the woods angling towards Undermountain. Slicer secures her saddlebags as Twilight puts herself in front of the thestral.

"We will discuss that statue later, along with this 'in case anything happens' business, but in the meantime, care to enlighten?"

Slicer finally turns to Twilight. "Yes. I'm sorry to order you around, but we are running out of time. Keep your weapons ready but run that way," as she points a hoof down the road, "and do not stop for anything unless you HAVE to fight. Make it a quick fight but keep running the moment you are done. If this works, we make it past the bulk of their forces. If not, their numbers wear us down. Now GO!" With that she leaps in the direction she indicated, a long knife gripped in her teeth. Twilight and the others jump after her, trying to keep up, but Slicer easily outdistances them and after a minute leaps into the woods to the side of the road opposite where the black panther had gone. Another round of horns sounds, the ones behind them becoming distant very fast, but at least three more are ahead of them, coming up quickly in the darkness.

While galloping, Applejack is able to turn her head and ask, "Hey Twilight, I don't suppose now is a good time to ask why Princess Celest..uh, Dawn Treader is dead set on gettin' Spike, do ya?"

Twilight looks over to Spike who is desperately holding onto Fluttershy to keep from falling off. She shakes her head and levitates her staff out to her side while replying, "You suppose correctly. This is getting way more complicated than a simple game of teamwork. I've also been thinking about Discord, that we should warn him anyway. Script or not, it just doesn't sit well to leave him hanging like that." Applejack beams a warm smile in return and moves close enough to bump her shoulder against Twilight's, who in turn smiles back.

"Honesty is always the best policy, Twi."

Their moment of friendship is broken when Fluttershy rears back to a halt, yelping loudly. Several orc and goblin bodies are scattered about the road. Twilight continues running as she yells, "Don't stop! It's just our scouts clearing the way ahead." They resume the gallop, pressing on down the road.

Just when they think they are in the clear, they happen upon another group of orcs and goblins, alive this time. The monsters seem equally surprised to see a group of armed mares dashing right for them. The lead goblin holds up a horn and is about to blow it. Applejack spots him, lowers her head and charges, smashing him to the ground. His horn flips end over end in the air and falls with a clatter on the bricks. The rest of the mares spread apart and slow to a stop, readying their weapons. Fluttershy hangs back while Spike urges her to take up the sword he is carrying.

Rarity steps forward with her book open and floating in front of her, saying, "Don't worry, I have this! 'Idle is the inkling in iridescent ink, into which wonders overwhelming....' Oh, nevermind, this is a complicated recipe for calligraphy ink. What is that doing in here? Odd really, I- yipes!" She yelps while sliding sideways, a black arrow sizzling past her ear. With Rarity not blocking her vision now, Twilight growls and slams the base of her staff down on the ground. A wave of earth and road rolls forward, smashing into the group of enemies, and one Applejack. To Twilight's relief, her friend weathers the quake well while the other creatures are thrown about and smashed to the ground. While they are dazed, Rainbow Dash, Applejack and Pinkie Pie move in to finish them off with a series of stabs, swings, and elevator music that causes the goblins and orcs to die horrible deaths.

Before the mares can clean off their weapons and collect themselves, Slicer and the panther make their way back onto the road. She says, "Good, I was hoping you'd finish them off. We took care of the next group ahead, but another is approaching fast. The timing of all their deaths should confuse the rest. We need to get off the road, now." She jumps into the woods, the panther following her. With several questions hanging in her mind, Twilight shakes her head and follows reluctantly, as do the others. They don't have to go very far before they find Slicer sitting low in the underbrush watching the road, the panther next to her. The others take her lead and settle down as well. Twilight turns and opens her mouth, but Slicer raises her hoof and whispers, "In a bit, princess. This next part makes or breaks us." As if on cue, the panther's ears perk up and a small patrol of goblins comes into sight. They find their downed comrades and yell in anger. One goblin blows on his horn and is answered by several others down the road in the direction the mares had come from. The patrol hears the replies and runs in that direction. Slicer keeps her hoof up a good two minutes before she puts it down and sighs, slumping tiredly. "Okay, I think we are good for a while."

Twilight takes in a breath and is about to verbally lay into the guard, but catches herself reviewing all that had happened, most notably the thestral's quick thinking and quicker actions that may have avoided a lot of fighting. She lets her rebuke go and glances at Fluttershy who is still wearing a scared look on her face. She looks at Applejack, who in turn tilts her head toward Spike, raising a brow. Twilight nods. "Right." She addresses Slicer, "Ordering us around notwithstanding, I owe you my thanks for protecting us. You were doing your duty...despite my trying to lead."

Slicer smirks, "Leadership is overrated, like most leaders I run into. I for one- OW!" She rubs the back of her neck where Guenhwyvar just nipped her. Twilight blinks in surprise.

"I thought the figurine of power gave you complete control of the panther," Twilight remarks.

Slicer sighs and grumbles, "Apparently not." She glares at the big cat who seems to ignore her, then watches Twilight for a moment before continuing, "You are a fine leader, except, well, step aside once in a while, let those you lead do their job. A true leader will inspire their followers to do more than if they were ordered to." She glances at the cat, "That is what I meant to say." The cat purrs back at her.

Twilight mulls over what Slicer said. Applejack nods in approval, "Couldn't have said it better. Though Awm thinkin' some other things are needin' to be said right 'bout now." Twilight sighs and turns to Spike, who has been very quiet.

"Spike? Dawn Treader was very interested in you. She knew your name. Neither of you knew our names when we first met, so you must be special to her. I think now is the time to discuss what is going on, yes?"

The small dragon smiles weakly and steps forward. "Well, it's not so odd, in fact. My family is pretty famous among the more magical creatures."

Rainbow frowns, "Oh yeah? How famous?"

Spike holds out his claws wide, "Like that." Pinkie Pie giggles and Twilight puts a hoof to her face.

"Alright, Spike. Why does she want you?"

This time, Spike drops his sheepish grin and becomes very serious. "I'm thinking because she is gathering all the dragons per the Covenant, all the Keepers of the Flame. For what exactly, I honestly don't know."

The alicorn blinks. "Keepers of the Flame? What is that?"

Spike looks at Slicer and asks, "Are we staying for a while?" After getting a nod in response, he tilts his head, "I'm not sure how much history you know of the progression of technology and magic..." Twilight's hoof shoots up and is immediately forced down by Applejack as Spike continues oblivious, staring off into the distance. "This has been passed down through untold millennia, mind you. The Keepers of the Flame were originally formed to keep magic and technology in check. More appropriately, any significant advances were scrutinized and either allowed, or discouraged." He wrinkles his nose at the thought. "Sometimes quite messily. You have to understand the intent was to avoid certain creations that could crack or burn the world," he pleads as justification.

To Twilight's ears, any sequestration of knowledge is harsh to listen to, yet she is able to put aside her prejudice regarding research. She asks, "And this Covenant?"

The dragon sighs and scratches his head. "That is sort of controversial, more like a political bargain between the Keepers and other powerful beings..."

Twilight's eyes widen, "Like the princesses!" Spike nods, frowning.

"Yeah...in fact, the current Covenant in place has them operating the suppression devices, each with its own dragon to power it, and a being of royal title to operate it." Twilight gives him a confused look, so he continues. "Essentially, each device limits inspirational thought, thus diverting any major breakthroughs, in a large area. The one you shut down near the town was that region's main device. I was there on sabbatical to eventually train on it, in fact." He gives a sheepish grin.

Twilight looks off into the distance. "Yes, I see. Rather than having to go door to door and clean up the aftermath of unwanted progress, that mechanical device manages to do it from a central location. Not that I agree to its use, but if it were reversible, it could stimulate-"

"Oh nonono, hahahah...mother's piss NO!" All the ponies turn white at hearing Spike swear. Rarity turns whiter. Without remorse, Spike asks, "Where do you think chimeras came from? Yeah...in hindsight, my ancestors permanently melted out that particular circuit." As the others take all this in, Twilight inhales sharply, remembering they had killed a dragon already. Spike sees her response and quickly waves both arms, "In case you're worried, that was not a relative of mine. He was from a completely different nest. Horrible teacher, actually." Spike looks down at the map. "We used to all have grand feasts at Undermountain several years back, and the devices were mostly a last resort until recently. Something has changed these last few years. Anyway," he looks up at Twilight, "You asked why Dawn Treader wanted me. I don't know. The Covenant allows gatherings to be called by any member. It also stipulates no Keeper shall be harmed in anyway...though nothing states they can be dragon-napped...heh, funny those loopholes."

Twilight responds quietly, "Yes. Always read a contract thoroughly." She walks over to Spike and pats him on the head with her hoof. "Thankyou for telling us. If she is collecting dragons, then they must not be relying on the machines for too much longer." Looking around at her friends, they start to realize just how many powerful enemies they might be fighting soon. The silence is palpable.

Slicer stands up and stretches her legs during the moment of silence before speaking, "And on that note, Miss Fluttershy, we need to talk about your sword handling and when you feel like participating instead of presenting such a juicy target." Fluttershy cringes back and tries to hide behind her mane while lightly nudging Spike to stand in front of her. She is not so much afraid of Slicer, but the totality of the impending battle, with her thrust literally into the forefront, is too much for her to deal with right now. A distinct feeling of awkwardness washes over most of the ponies in the group while Guenhwyvar rumbles in disapproval. The panther is not the only one.

Rainbow Dash gets up and primly puts herself square between Fluttershy and Slicer Jen, interjecting, "No. 'We' don't."

With a scowl of annoyance, Slicer points a hoof at Fluttershy through Rainbow, "Swords are for stabbing, cutting, and keeping you alive. For Tartarus' sake, I'M trying to keep you ponies alive! She needs to learn how to use that thing sooner or later, or there won't BE a later." Rainbow doesn't budge or say a word. If anything, she tenses up and steps forward, like she's about to fight. Slicer gets a slighly cold feeling in her chest as she tries to figure out how she ended up nose to nose with the normally upbeat pegasus. She then glances at Rarity.

Rarity sits up and waves her hoof, "Oh ho, don't even look in my direction, darling, I'm not giving up my book." In perfect Prench defeat, Slicer throws up her hooves. She turns away and holds up a hoof at the panther.

"Yeah, I can FEEL your look. Just...do me a favor and sweep ahead for a bit." The panther exhales a long breath just below audible range and quietly moves into the shadows of the woods. Before Twilight gets a chance to speak, Slicer abruptly stops and turns back to the group, "Yes, princess, I know, you are in charge. With your permission....<sigh>...may I scout ahead?"

Twilight has her mouth open with a ready command before she closes it. She thinks for a moment, then nods. "Yes, you may. And you don't have to call me 'princess', though I am not quite sure if you are using sarcasm or sincerity when you say it-"

Slicer spins back away and trots into the woods while saying over her shoulder, "Sure thing, princess." Twilight is left with her mouth open, again.

Rainbow snickers and says, "Oh yeah, SO much sarcasm." She turns her head to look at the alicorn, "Took you this long to figure that out?" As Twilight sits there trying to sort out how to next handle the thestral, Rainbow steps closer to Fluttershy, "Hey Flutters, don't let that wingless thestral mess with you, I got your back." Spike's puffing out his chest catches Rainbow's eye and she grins, nodding, "And so do the rest of us, Spike included." The dragon beams up a grin.

Fluttershy shakes her head, "Oh, that's quite alright, I know she doesn't mean anything by it." This only seems to galvanize Rainbow and she shakes her head.

"Uh uh, don't you dare, Flutters. She literally called you a coward, and I know for a fact you aren't!"

Fluttershy pats Rainbow's shoulder with her hoof and replies, "That's not really how I took at it. She merely thinks I 'can't' fight with this." She puts her hoof down against the sword Spike is holding, as though it were not recently a viper about ready to bite her like every other fight up until now. "It's just a matter of perspective. I simply 'will not' fight with it. At least, not to the degree that it causes harm."

Rainbow smiles weakly, trying not to upset her friend. "YEeeaah, that still sounds like the same thing. But you know what, doesn't matter. You don't want to fight, then you hang back and take care of us if we get injured. kay?"

Fluttershy smiles knowingly and shakes her head, "If you say so, but Slicer is really the official healer...um...?" Rainbow has already waved her hoof dismissively, causing Fluttershy to go quiet.

"Yeah whatever," Rainbow quips. "She's just full of herself. Like I said, you don't have to listen to her. She gets in your oatmeal again, I'll Dash her one." She hoof pumps the air for emphasis. While Rainbow is still imagining her ultimate smackdown fest on the thestral, Fluttershy looks down at Spike, an expectation about him.

"Dear Spike, I know you see me charging forward at the head of some large forest army, but that's not really the kind of pony I am." Spike makes to say something in rebuttal but Fluttershy stops him with a light touch to his mouth with her hoof. "Perhaps....we can do something about that?"

He tilts his head and asks, "Well, if you don't plan on killing anything, then what?"

Fluttershy eyes Rainbow going through some ridiculous kata moves while she ponders. The other ponies have started making preparations to move, so she says quietly, "The sword can still be used to deflect other swords, right?" The dragon nods. "Then perhaps we can start there. Oh, and I should make more friends along the way, too."

Spike raises an eyebrow, "We need a lot of friends, if I know how this trip is going to end." Fluttershy nods absentmindedly in thought. Gone is the look of dread in her eyes, replaced by a warm resolve that only being surrounded by friends can bring. A lot of friends. Unseen by anybody, a green glow emanates from inside the scabbard strapped across Spike's back, the sword's runes aglow.

The group steps out onto the road once they are sure the coast is clear. The horns have long since stopped, the last one so faint only a light breeze carried it to their sensitive ears. Twilight notices the sun is approaching dusk and tells her friends a good trot for the next hour should do until nightfall. They take up a staggered formation, Rainbow and Applejack up front with Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy and Spike midway, and the two magic users bringing up the rear, just in case the goblins figured out their ruse.

As they move out onto the road and set the pace, Fluttershy takes to the air but hovers just a short distance above the group, still in her middle position. Rainbow glances back and laughs, then hops up into the air and hovers until she is alongside Fluttershy to fly formation with her.

While they are nowhere near out of earshot, Fluttershy says quietly, "Hello, Rainbow....uhm..." Her friend grins and rolls over on her back, the light pace set by the group so slow she could swim backwards in the air.

"I gotcha 'Shy, what you got goin' on up there?" She pokes a hind hoof at her Fluttershy's head.

Fluttershy blushes, "Oh, thoughts. Lots and lots of thoughts." Rainbow waves her on to continue. "Um, mostly regarding our Lunar guard." Rainbow wrinkles her nose, all of a sudden not very interested. Fluttershy pushes forward to fly closer and says quickly, "Oh, please hear me out, um, see, I do think she is trying to help, in her own way..and she has stuck with us despite losing her mentor's...uh...watchful eye? That would seem like fairly good loyalty, especially to a group of strangers. I know I would have trouble...that is...with strangers."

Upon hearing the straightforward case on Slicer's loyalty, Rainbow stops flapping altogether and just sits there midair, "Huh...that didn't even occur to me. damn." She drops several feet before powering back up to Fluttershy's level. "Okay, powerhouse, you've blown my mind. What's the plan?"

Fluttershy warms at the compliment and continues, "I was talking to Spike here," as Spike waves from behind her head, "weeeell...we 'could' try some basic moves, like blocking attacks...and some more blocking of attacks."

Rainbow chuckles, "I suppose so, but I don't want you to go changing yourself just to appease everypony who cops an attitude. You are you, no matter what. Even if she's a right mean bat pony."

Fluttershy noddles, "I know...but we really don't know much about her upbringing or her culture...or her setbacks in life. And kindness does beget kindness, don't you agree?"

Her friend reluctantly nods. "I hear ya. You know, you could talk a raging pack of wendigos into a friendly game of snow angel making, you are that scary."

Fluttershy ducks her head in embarrassment, "Oh, I don't know about that, in a way they are angels themselves, from the right angle."

Twilight snorts to herself as she watches the two chat above them, thinking about the angel/angle word play. "Hey you two, what are you talking about up there?" Obviously she heard every word they said.

Both flying ponies drop down to resume their positions in the trotting formation. Fluttershy replies, "Oh, just discussing kindness."

Rainbow turns her head back and quips, "And loyalty, apparently. Who'd have thunk it?" As Twilight muses over their recent conversation, Rarity turns slightly to address the alicorn.

"You said you researched our friendly Lunar guard?"

Twilight nods, "Yes, skills, assignment history, even her rare absence of wings. Did you know that particular trait skips several generations and can be traced centuries back through almost a single bloodline? Princess Luna knew more about that than any pony else or book, oddly enough."

Rarity absorbs the information, then says, "Adding to what she talked about at the inn. Growing up fighting bullies, fighting dragons, meeting ridgecats, she has led a very chaotic life. Hm, she did leave out how she came to be a guard. Does any of that account for, how shall I put this, her occasional uncouth behavior?"

The other ponies have tweaked their ears back to listen in now. Twilight shakes her head, "Actually, no. When I inquired about her psyche, the princesses were very tight lipped about it. The best I could pry from Princess Celestia was, they 'owed' her." Rarity pulls her head back in bewilderment.

"Owe her? I can't imagine she is receiving any substantial compensation from them, seeing as how she is serving THEM as their guard? Do you?"

Twilight just shrugs. "In any case, I did tell her back at camp we could be her friends, though I don't think she is taking me up on that offer." She remembers her face to face moment with Slicer before they fell asleep. "Yah, not taking that offer."

Rarity flicks her hair, "Pish posh. That is just plain stubborn bravado. Our esteemed paragon of loyalty can attest to that."

Rainbow grins back and says, "Too right! wait...was that an insult..?"

Fluttershy giggles softly into her mane. Rarity continues, "Loyalty is present, with Kindness ready to be offered. She has invariably told the truth, much to our horrid dismay when she first arrived to your home." Applejack nods in agreement. "And if she is lacking any friends, it must have been an act of creation for her to reveal her panther's true name to you and practically will it over upon her death, the only friend she has made so far. The panther, not you, that is." Twilight tweaks her mouth in chagrine. "Generosity in spades. If we get her to experience some laughter, you are teed up for full on friendship!" She finishes with a wink.

Twilight can literally feel the energy from her friends as each aspect makes up the foundation of true friendship. "Now that is an experiment worth performing. Experiment Number 5436878, The Taming of the Shrewd Thestral, logged and ready!" All of the ponies hoofpalm while still able to maintain their pace.

The clipclop sounds of their hooves gets Pinkie to hum to herself. She exclaims after a minute, "Well all this befriending-a-bat-pony talk has gotten real dreary. Time for some laughter! She's bound to be able to hear us." With that she pulls out her lute and contraption that makes it play without hooves, though no other instrument accompaniment this time. And her goto tune? Yes, On The Road Again, though she plays just the first part in instrumental. The other ponies bob their heads to the catchy tune and a tension starts to build as it approaches the chorus. Finally, without skipping a beat (pun!), Pinkie looks at you and grins, saying, "Sorry, I lied!" All the ponies spontaneously start singing:

o/~ On the road again - Like a band of gypsies we go down the highway. o/~

o/~ We're the best of friends. Insisting that the world keep turning our way...and our way...o/~

They quiet down and Pinkie continues playing the instrumental version for the rest of the song.

The group of singing minstrels does not pass unnoticed. Slicer and her panther, crouched low in the underbrush, watch from a fair distance ahead of the approaching group, the two having returned from their scouting. Slicer's eye twitches when she first picks up the early verse string notes with her ears. She mutters to the only other creature there willing to listen, if albeit bonded by a magical figurine.

"I hate that song."

She hears a low thrum emanate from Guenhwyvar, followed by a light push of the cat's muzzle against her flank. She was perfectly balanced in a low ready position on the tips of her hooves, the push causing her to stumble forward. She glances at the cat and settles back into a more relaxed position and retorts, "Oh Tartarus, no! Couldn't stand the line dancing the first time, I'll lick a dragon before I go for seconds." After a minute, the ponies break into the singing, with Slicer sighing, "Really...?" When they reach the 'we're the best of friends' line, she starts to chew her lip, and then blinks hard, the nonexistent breeze bothering her eyes. "Besides," she continues as she sits back, "they seem content, all their buddies together, one big happy group over there. We'll just wait 'til they pass, shadow the rear until they quiet down and decide to rest, then rejoin." She nods to herself and goes back to scanning the area, though they both know that stretch of road is clear for miles at the moment.

Gwenwhyver focuses all its senses on the thestral, measuring her heartbeat, the movement of her muscles, her breathing. As the group gets closer and the song is drawing to a close, the cat's ears catch Slicer murmuring to herself, "...finish this assignment, get back to my original posting, be done with this." The cat's eyes narrow to slits. While the thestral pontificates on more important matters, like anything BUT this adventure, Gwenwhyver slowly sits up in silence and slips behind Slicer, its size easily dwarving her. The cat flexes one paw, regarding the long razor sharp claws, how each one could rend flesh from bone. The claws all retract and without ceremony, the cat shoves Slicer with the paw square in the back.

In complete surprise, Slicer throws her hooves out in front of her to prevent her from tumbling over. The force of the push still causes her to stumble several steps out into the road, right in front of the approaching ponies. Slicer spins around after regaining her balance and yells at the now empty bushes, "What the hay was that for?!" She looks around, oblivious to the other ponies now slowing down as they get very close. "Fils de pute, get back here! You don't get to do that and simply-!" She finally notices the other ponies standing next to her, some of them looking into the woods to see what she is yelling at. Twilight steps up and tilts her head as Spike hops down and stands next to Fluttershy.

"My old world Prench is a tad rusty, but did you just call your cat a-"

"Its nothing! Difference of opinion on what I should be doing at this moment," Slicer interjects. Caught out in the open like this, she can only seethe at the cat's apparent betrayal and all the random disobedience her newfound companion has been showing lately.

Applejack tips her head toward the woods, "Well if ya'll dont mind my saying, Awd sure as heck would like to know what your cat's opinion is, seein' as how your apparent course of action right now is...um...hollerin' at a tree, or two. Maybe a forest perhaps?"

Pinkie Pie dies laughing and rolls on the ground, "AJ that's so brilliant! Forest for the trees! And a life lesson too!" The other ponies start to chuckle or giggle.

As Slicer fumes and refuses to look at them, Applejack sidles up next to her and gently bumps her shoulder to shoulder. "Hey pardner, know any good inns 'round here? A certain set of wayward ponies and a selfless pair of LOYAL guards protecting them could use a rest." A glance back at Rainbow has her friend rolling her eyes and nodding in acceptance, yes she will do her part, but later. Slicer stops her searching, looks at Applejack, and then the others. They regard her without judgement, all waiting for her response. Lastly she sees Fluttershy smiling back at her. Fluttershy pats the sword Spike is holding and nods. Clearly Slicer must have missed a conversation or two, or some other revelation. Even Pinkie is hopping up and down and pointing at the road.

The thestral sighs and points back into the woods, "There are a few spots back that way, which is for the best. A short distance up ahead, the woods thin out into open prairie country, very little cover from above, so this is our last respite before we are in the open." Applejack thanks her and starts heading into the woods. Slicer nods to Fluttershy and briefly glances at Rainbow, who responds with a curt nod of her own back. When Slicer turns to Pinkie, she quickly says, "Not that song. Ever." Pinkie Pie blinks, her hair going limp. A split second later she puffs out her cheeks and her hair regains its fullness.

"Oh whatever, party poo-wetter. Tons of songs where THAT came from!" She bounces by as Slicer's eyes warily track her, with Twilight and Rarity bringing up the rear.

Twilight smiles. "This is sooo happening, just roll with it."

Rarity follows up with, "Yes, and who knows, you might even like it." They both pass the thestral.

Slicer watches them for a moment, and then trots into the brush to catch up and show them exactly where to go, muttering, "In for a bit, in for a bonanza...merde."

Author's Notes:

Revisited the writing guide on this website, made aware of some glaring petpeeves, so will be scrubbing this chapter on back. any suggestions always help.