Author's Notes:

I apologize for the delay.

This chapter was really difficult to write due to time restrictions and other things, including making it the way I wanted it to be. Sorry for the delay.

I hope you enjoy it though. Please let me know your opinion on the comments.

Thank you for your time. Enjoy your reading.

"Get up and keep practicing!" Arden got back on his hooves and dashed at Zecora again. He felt something hitting his stomach hard and was tossed backward and hit a stone wall. Snow fell on top of Arden burying him, Arden felt the urge to vomit, which he ignored.

"Hold back Zecora! You might hurt him badly if you are not careful!" Black hands appeared digging through the snow. Chrysalis pulled him out of the snow grave. "I knew you were pathetic, but this is actually starting to worry me."

"N-no worries," Arden said getting his wooden-sword back from the ground. "I-I'm learning to defend me from others. I can't expect them to hold back."

Gripping his wooden blade Arden he took a deep breath and ran towards Zecora once again. He was frustrated, distracted, and lacking sleep, two days had passed since he asked Zecora to be in a relationship with him. What happened immediately after, played in an infinite loop every time he looked at her. Even the sessions were beginning to be affected, Nightmare saved him twice from failing due to him being distracted. Even Chrysalis was intervening to keep himself from harm. During practice the day before he was hit by a spell that backfired. According to Chrysalis, Arden was too distracted and didn't release the energy when he was supposed to.

He slashed vertically. Zecora dodged sideways and hit him in the back with the wooden staff she had in her hands. He spun swinging, Zecora ducked and Arden was struck on the chin.

"Wrong stance! Time to regain your breath your foes will not give!" Zecora swung at Arden again.

Arden rolled to the side and tried to sweep Zecora's right leg, that looked like where she was placing her weight. Without any apparent effort, Zecora lifted her leg and swung again. Arden swung his sword parrying her attack, that was the first block he actually managed to pull. The sound of wood clashing made the memory seem more vivid than ever.

(Two days ago)

Silence filled the room. The front door and the windows were closed and the fire was burning brightly, but the cold Arden felt told another story, every breath Arden took made him feel his lungs get colder and colder. His fingers felt like ice. His mind was storming through all the possible outcomes that question had. Zecora didn't answer him, she just stood there, Arden watched Zecora's figure. With every second of silence, Zecora and the room seemed to look larger, Arden felt himself diminish.

'So? What is your answer?' Arden wanted to say this words, but his body felt like it was made of stone. He couldn't tell if his heart was beating anymore, he couldn't feel the pain from the session, he couldn't tell if he was breathing. There were no more sounds, there were no more movements. The world looked like it was frozen solid, Arden couldn't tell if time was passing, the color from the world was drained. Everything looked like it was made of glass.

Suddenly, the stillness broke like a mirror shattering. Zecora started to move, she ran like there was no tomorrow. She opened the front door and bolted, he tried to reach her. But his body wouldn't respond, the sound of the front door being shut finished to destroy the castle of glass that surrounded him. All of his senses came back like a tsunami overloading his brain, Arden started to move trying to give chase. His legs gave in and he fell to the ground, unlucky him.

Arden fell sideways and his arm landed on the fire, but his mind didn't process. He just got back on his hooves as fast as he could, he ran outside. A muffled sound echoed behind him, a dim light illuminated the surrounding forest. Then he tripped over a root buried underneath the snow, falling down. The light died down and a hissing sound echoed. Arden tried to continue his chase, but something bound his limbs and he couldn't move.

"YOU STUPID MORON!" The muffled sound was Chrysalis that slapped his face. "You were on fire! What the hell were you thinking?!" Arden shook his head, then he started to feel the pain from the burn. "I don't know where Zecora went but you can't catch up to her, stand still so I can heal your arm," Chrysalis said. Her horn lit up and the pain faded, Arden looked at the burnt area. The fur was short again, it would need to regrow. However, some of his fingers had some darker shades of blue. "I'm sorry, I wasn't able to completely heal your arm,"

"It's okay," Arden replied. He got back up to his hooves and looked back at Chrysalis, she didn't wear the clothes Zecora made for her to wear while outside. Chrysalis was shivering, but she managed to keep herself from stuttering while speaking. "Let's get you back inside the hut," Arden said helping her up, they headed back inside. Not long after, the adrenaline's effect ended resulting in Arden collapsing.

(The following day)

"WAKE UP!" Arden opened his eyes, he expected to see Zecora. Who he saw was Chrysalis. "Okay. Listen, you idiot. Zecora hasn't come back. I doubt we can find her, she knows this place like the back of her hand. We better wait for her to come back on her own."

Arden let out a sigh. "I must have really fucked up," he said getting up, his body didn't ache but he still felt like he was run over by a truck.

"I'm not sure," Chrysalis replied biting her lip as she looked to the door. "The way she acted yesterday, I didn't expect that. I was sure she would be crying her eyes out while trying to say 'yes'. Her expression was there but her response...that was really off."

"So..." Arden said getting geared up. "I fucked up. Let's just go to practice, I don't want to think about it now," he continued heading outside before Chrysalis stopped him. "What?"

"You didn't eat yesterday. Neither today. You're not leaving without eating something!" Chrysalis forced some edible plants into his chest. "Eat. Now."

After eating, the two of them left the hut. Arden didn't speak, he just walked towards the ruins with Chrysalis by his side. She didn't speak as well, which led to a very quiet travel, given the fact that it was winter there were even fewer sounds around. When they reached the place, Arden went automatically to the section they were using to practice magic while also restoring the place. Chrysalis gave him some instructions for a restoration spell used to bring objects back to their original glory.

'Like it even matters, right now I can only restore a quill or an empty piece of paper.' Arden thought while using the spell. He restored a few items before somepony called out to him.

Turning around he caught a wooden sword that was tossed at him. Immediately after, Arden felt something hit his ribs causing a lot of pain. Then another one on the right side of his head, resulting in Arden losing his balance and falling to the ground at Zecora's hooves.

"Too slow! Wait for you to react, your opponents shall not!" Zecora had a scowl on her face, Arden felt his chest tighten as if he was having a heart attack.

'This isn't mine. But I don't care!' Arden thought as he got back on his hooves while backing away from Zecora.

Arden wanted to hug her, ask her if she was okay, however he had no time to do it, the zebra continued with her vicious assault as he clumsily attempted to dodge and block her attacks with the staff. He was starting to get her rhythm before using the tip of her staff, Zecora tossed dirt on his eyes. Blinded, Arden backed away while swinging the toy sword in an attempt to keep his assaulter at bay.

"A fair fight, most foes will not give!" Arden heard before he felt his hooves be taken off the ground. His back hit the ground hard right before Arden felt a very strong blow to his abdomen. "Do not stand still! Opponents will take any opportunity to breach your defenses! The stallion's stance is also flawed. Hooves in the wrong place, legs not spaced out, knees wrongfully positioned. Your entire form corrected will be!" Arden grunted and dragged himself to a wall while trying not to puke, breathing was also a difficult task. Arden also noticed something, while Zecora was assaulting him both physically and verbally the chest pain disappeared.

"What is going on here?! Zecora you're...What happened?!" Arden heard right before he felt somepony helping him up. "Your ribs are broken! Stand still for a moment." Arden saw a green flash right before the pain stopped. "Broken bones are easy compared to skin and muscles. Now, WHAT IN TARTARUS ZECORA? You disappear and then come back only to attack your patient?!" Chrysalis and Arden turned to look at Zecora. Only to see that she wasn't looking at them. Zecora had her gaze fixed on the ground, Arden felt the pain in his chest again.

'She is hurting. But why does it stop when she is attacking me?' Arden got took a few steps towards Zecora, she winced and backed away. Her eyes seemed to water up and the pain got stronger. 'FUCK IT!' Arden got the wood sword back using his magic and dashed at Zecora screaming at the top of his lungs as if he was taken by rage and loathing towards her. Her eyes lit up and the pain was gone, but Arden's had just begun.

Attack after attack, Arden was mauled and tossed around with ease. More insults and corrections were made towards his lacking abilities, while Chrysalis ordered Zecora to stop. Frustration, anger, confusion. All these emotions were swirling around his heart as he desperately tried to grasp what was happening. As he tried to connect any thoughts that would at least give him an answer, even a flimsy one would do.

'Why? Why is the idea that I'm angry at her put her at ease? Why did she run? Why would she back away from me?! A simple 'no' would be fine! TWO! FUCKING! LETTERS! That's all she needed to do! I can take a fucking hint!' Arden tried to make a barrage of slashes at Zecora. His meek attacks were all blocked effortlessly by the zebra until he was out of breath so she could hit him at the center of his chest.

Arden stumbled away gasping for air, she wasn't holding back. His vision got blurry.

'I'm going to pass out.' Those were his last thoughts before Arden was knocked out by something hitting the back of his head. He woke up back at the hut, Chrysalis and Zecora didn't speak to him. Zecora just gave him the potion for his therapy and he went to his session before he passed out though, Arden did notice that Chrysalis seemed really angry.

(The following day)

Arden felt cold, the usual warmth he felt upon waking up was gone. The bed that was usually underneath him was switched by what felt like cold stone. Opening his eyes, Arden noticed that he had his armor on and the wooden sword was by his side. Shortly after that, Arden was hit on his right side. Quickly grasping the situation, Arden scrambled towards the sword and got back on his hooves once it was safely on his hands, Arden put up a shield and blocked the attack.

Zecora charged at him again and again, trying to mimic the stance some Greek warriors made while fighting with spears and shields. Kneeling down and hiding behind the shield, thrusting forward the spear without having to expose himself to his opponent's attacks. Unfortunately, Arden didn't have a spear, therefore, he was forced to keep blocking without any openings to try to turn the tables. 'Now she even gets me in a trap. Was the question really that much?!'

Getting tired of being pushed back, Arden tried to improvise a little gimmick for the shield. Another version of the reflective shield he didn't have the chance of using it again. Instead of reflecting magic attacks, the shield would reflect kinetic energy. Arden tried to imagine the vectors and tried to create the shield. The end result was the shield shattering in various pieces and both of them being tossed backward, Arden rolled until he hit a wall. His right arm was numb and his head was throbbing. 'Zecora...what did I do? What are you thinking?'

Looking back at Zecora, Arden felt the heartache again. Even with all the anger, they were showing towards each other, Zecora's heart was still hurting. It wasn't like the previous day, it was stronger. There was more sadness, more dread. 'Do I really cause that much pain to you?' Zecora was charging at him again, there were some tears rolling down her eyes. It was then that Arden noticed, her eyes were really red.

'I've...I've had ENOUGH!' Arden screamed a battle cry getting up and charging at her. Zecora swung the staff, Arden used his numb arm to block the attack. The staff's trajectory was altered, Arden used that chance and struck Zecora with the wooden sword. Or so he thought, looking down Arden noticed she had caught the toy. The sound of wood hitting stone caught Arden's attention, Zecora had dropped her staff. She grabbed Arden's wrist and twisted it, forcing Arden to drop the wooden sword.

"With this futile attempts, you must stop. Worthless!" Arden felt his wrist being twisted more and more. But one word, in particular, stuck to him. Arden felt his numb arm coming back, clenching his fist, Arden hit Zecora in the stomach. She barely winced at his attack. Arden actually felt a bit of pain upon impact, she had a lot of defense. "Worthless, like this one said."

Worthless.

Worthless.

Worthless.

That cursed word kept echoing in Arden's mind. That word triggered him to always prove to the one insulting him that they were wrong. But above all else, Arden had to prove to himself that he wasn't worthless. Arden shook his head, the world was once again shifting colors. There were no more restrictions, his mind was absent because of all the physical abuse, the verbal assault, and the mental exhaustion from the endless fighting during his sessions. This time Arden reached for Zecora's throat, he gripped her neck. There was no world, there was no sound, there was no color, there was only his opponent. There were only those two eyes...those emerald eyes. Zecora's eyes, Arden felt her pulse, Arden felt how her breathing was all over the place. 'It's just like...just like...'

The memory of the kiss overloaded his brain. Arden realized he was strangling her, he was really hurting her. He looked at her expression 'No...' Arden thought, Zecora was smiling. A gentle and kind smile, like is she was content with how angry he was with her. Arden let go of her neck slowly, he watched in horror as her soft expression twisted into an expression of anger and reproval. Both his arms hanging by his side, Zecora disappeared.

Arden was alone in the dark, he felt pain in his stomach. He felt pain in his back, he felt pain on his head. Invisible attackers came for him from every angle. 'She tried to get me angry enough to almost hurt her. She was happy with it. I'm...I'm...'

The rest of the day passed as a blank, Arden walked in the dark, ate in the dark, drank something inside a vial that floated to him. He did something in his mind, Arden went to sleep after waking up from a mind trip. There wasn't anything worth noticing now.

"WAKE THE FUCK UP!" Arden heard from within the void he was standing. "I swear on all that I know that if you don't wake up this instant you're in for a world of pain!" Arden began to see the world return. The one calling out to him was Chrysalis, he was back at the hut. Zecora was nowhere to be seen. "Listen here, you stupid bozo. You two need to stop this nonsense right now! Before I end up having to patch up a corpse."

"Shut it!" Arden yelled. "I'm just...she wanted me to hurt her, why?" Arden asked before turning away from Chrysalis and laying down. "Why?" He muttered to himself before falling asleep.

There he was, once again Arden was attacking Zecora while she beat the ever living hell out of him with every attempt. He was at a loss, he was angry, he wanted it all to just end. But how? How would he finish this entire thing? Telling Zecora he hated her? Try to act like nothing happened? What? WHAT? WHAT?! 'Anyone, please tell me what to do! Please!'

"Only one word can describe the cerulean, wo-"

"Worthless?" Arden asked. "What do you want?! Why are you doing this?!" Zecora turned away, Arden grabbed her shoulder. Resulting in Zecora twisting his arm. "Hurt me all you fucking want. But please tell me what you want? Because I don't know what is happening!" Zecora tossed him away, Arden hit a wall hard before being buried in snow again.

When he finally got out, there was no Chrysalis. There was no Zecora, he was alone in the courtyard. 'Why did I ask? Why did I ruin everything?'

"Would you consider being with me?" Zecora heard as she picked the necklace in her hands. There were no words to describe how happy she was, been friends for as long as they were she grew to care for him more than a friend. Zecora had finally chosen her path, having a partner alongside her would be the best thing ever. She recognized the handwork done in that necklace, it was made by him. He actually made it, an old ritual of their tribe, making the necklace to the one you wished to share the rest of their lives. "So? What do you say?"

"Would you leave with me?" Zecora asked in excitement, holding the necklace close to her chest. She watched the smile on his face turn into a confused expression.

"What do you mean you're leaving?! You cannot leave the tribe!" he shot back. "The Priest said you're ought to be the best spirit maiden in generations! I'm the strongest warrior in the region! With the advice from the spirits and my strength, there would be no stopping us! Our tribe would grow without any restrictions!"

"What?" That was all Zecora could say. 'Did he really just say that? No, this one must have misunderstood him.' "This one has already chosen her path."

"No," he started. "Don't tell me you chose that stupid path! Zecora, you're the most attuned to the spirit world! You're a MAIDEN. I don't even know why you wasted your time trying to become a warrior, let alone the healer training." Zecora couldn't believe what she was hearing. 'Does he really think that little of this one? Just a maiden?'

"The decision has already been made! This one will leave! Will, you leave with this one, Gamba?" Zecora asked, still trying to save the situation, to save the relationship she grew with him through all those years.

"No, and you won't leave!" Gamba shot grabbing her wrist. "You belong here! Not out there! You belong to the tribe!"

"THIS ONE BELONGS TO NO ONE!" Zecora shot towards him freeing herself from his grip.

"I don't understand. You're just being stupid! You belong here! You're not supposed to get out of here! Your talent is supposed to be used by the tribe!"

(At the ending of the previous chapter)

The scene of the last time somepony asked her to be with her was playing in Zecora's mind like a broken record. The memory screamed in her head, louder and louder with every second she looked at Arden. Zecora felt sick, her heart felt like it was going to jump out of her chest. She had to answer him, she wanted to answer him. Zecora wanted to tell him that she wanted to be with him.

A billion phrases fore in her head to express how she wanted to be with Arden. But the end result was something she couldn't understand. 'LEAVE! THIS ONE HAS TO RUN!' Zecora bolted out of the hut like there was no tomorrow, her mind blank while her legs carried her away from that scenario that seemed so familiar to her. That scenario had her lose a friend once before, the memento she carried was a reminder of her misfortune. The memory of the day she left and the pain she felt due to losing her friend because of her choice.

Zecora still blamed herself, her weakness.

Zecora kept running and running. When she finally stopped she realized that she was at the ruins. She hid underneath a restored area that offered shelter from the cold.

'Why? Why did this one run? A simple word, three letters.'

Zecora sat down while leaning on a wall, she cursed herself for not telling him the truth. The question 'why' kept screaming again, and again.

'This one has done it again. She has lost a somepony who she cared deeply about. Just like the first one she ever felt this sort of connection, this one has lost Arden. He must hate this one now. Wait...hate?' Those four letters echoed in her mind, she remembered the last words she heard from Gamba as she left.

"I hate you!"

'This one has already done the damage. If he was to hate this one...there would be no guilt to prevent this one from leaving again. Just like before, this one is a coward that has no right to ever find somepony to share a life with.'

With a heavy heart, Zecora hatched her plan to make Arden hate her.

(Time passed, she prepared a staff and a wooden sword. Zecora met Arden and started her plan with the assault)

Zecora hadn't planned for this, she couldn't look at him. Zecora couldn't even look at Chrysalis, her chest felt like it was being chained tighter and tighter. She could barely hear what they were saying amidst the screams inside her own head, Zecora just kept thinking up insults to criticize him. Suddenly she heard a scream, looking up she saw Arden charging at her screaming. The scowl he bore made her feel at ease, her plan was working. He was getting angry, he was being just like Gamba.

Again and again, she hurt him with enough force to break his bones and make him grunt in pain. Zecora had to keep him at bay, she had to push him further and further. For her plan to work she would need to push him until he broke, he was kind. But Arden had to have a limit to how much pain he could endure, no matter how kind he was. She kept hurting him until it was time to start the session, he was still her patient for now. Therefore, she would need to continue her therapy.

There was only one problem: Chrysalis.

Zecora knew that as soon as Arden passed out, Chrysalis would bomb her with questions. And it was just as she predicted, the moment Arden passed out, the changeling bore a deep scowl.

"Start talking, or I'll probe your memory to see what the hay is going on," Chrysalis ordered.

"Caring for the cerulean?" Zecora said without looking at her, she couldn't bring herself to do it. "This one does not know what the changeling speaks of."

"Listen very closely, you stupid jungle wanderer!" Chrysalis hissed. "You two are the closest thing I have of normal interactions! I will not allow you two to kill each other! You hear me? NEVER! So stop with this resistance and tell me what is going on!"

'The changeling has trusted this one with her story. Maybe...she would support this one. Just like this one has supported her.'

"T-the...the necklace the Changeling has seen. It is a reminder of the last relationship she had years ago. A dear friend this one was too weak to keep by her side. This one wishes only to distance herself now before she commits the same mistake of hurting a friend again. Therefore, Arden must-" Zecora was stopped by a slap to her face.

"That's it? You had bad luck with ONE relationship and then you give up? Do you know how many failed relationships I have seen?!" Chrysalis said with venom. "And yet those stupid ponies still get up and try again! Are you just a coward? Are you just a wannabe warrior that doesn't want others to get close? Because being close to others makes you scared of being hurt? You have a shot of being happy with somepony you actually like! And you're just tossing it to the side!"

"This one just-"

"NO! You ignored me up until we got here. Now, you will listen! So get your eyes off the ground and look at me, you blasted zebra!" Chrysalis grabbed Zecora's face, forcing her to look into Chrysalis' eyes. "YOU NEED TO GET OVER THIS! This pony is not the stallion you lost! He is somepony who has admitted to likeing you!"

Hearing those words Zecora felt her heart being crushed.

"This one has already lost him!" Zecora shot back, tears rolled down her face as a deep scowl formed in her face. Zecora gritted her teeth, she got out of Chrysalis' grasp and walked away. "She has already lost him..."

Zecora left the place as soon as Arden woke up.

(The following day)

The plan kept going, Zecora went even beyond what she had originally planned. Having tied up Arden and carried him to the training spot. She left him on the cold stone ground after putting his gear on and waited for the weather to do its job. Arden woke up, and Zecora struck him with her staff. He grabbed the sword and backed away while creating a shield, Zecora charged at him without hesitation. Without any sort of concern as to how much force she was applying to the strikes.

Chrysalis' words were looping in Zecora's mind. And that made her want the entire ordeal to end, each strike, each insult, each look. Every action she took since they talked made her heart shatter one piece at a time. 'Why won't he break?!'

She didn't even notice, but her eyes were red, Zecora had been crying every time she was on her own. He summoned a shield that exploded when Zecora struck it. Then Zecora twisted his arm making him drop the sword after she dropped her staff.

"With this futile attempts, you must stop. Worthless!" Zecora said twisting his wrist even more. She watched him struggle and then Zecora felt something hit her abdomen. He landed a strike but...based on the force he used he didn't want to hurt her. But that consideration made Zecora hurt even more, so she just went further. "Worthless. like this one said."

When she said those words, Zecora saw Arden's eyes start to shift. His pupils shrunk, she couldn't hear him breathing. Zecora felt something grabbing hold of her neck, Zecora looked down at Arden. He was strangling her with everything he had. To her surprise, she saw something familiar in his eyes. A sight that made her feel the grief and the pain she felt years ago, her plan had worked. Arden hated her, and now she could part ways. There would be no more attachment from this point on, he was no longer her patient...he wasn't...he wasn't...

'N-now...this...' Zecora was starting to pass out due to him preventing him from breathing. But that was when her senses started to return, Zecora saw Arden, he was backing away. The light in his eyes was gone, the look of anger was replaced by an empty void.

'Why? WHY?!'

Zecora scowled at him, he started to look like a corpse. The color drained from him, that was nowhere near the face Gamba had when Zecora left. That was the face of somepony who realized a grave mistake, an unforgivable one.

Zecora despaired, she had to get rid of him. But he wasn't turning into what she wanted him to be. 'Arden isn't like Gamba...NO! He needs to be like him! Otherwise, this one won't be able to leave! Otherwise, this one will only bring him harm.'

In her desperation, Zecora mauled him with everything she had. Each blow slowly chipping away from her heart, however, there was no retaliation from Arden. He just endured each blow, not saying a word, not reacting to anything that happened.

"ZECORA! STOP IT! You're going to kill him, you idiot!" Chrysalis screamed. Zecora felt her body being frozen in place. "It was bad enough to wake up tied up. But now this?! What were you thinking?! You could have punctured his lungs! You are insane!"

Chrysalis cast a spell. "This should take him away from danger. But he won't be able to take this much abuse for much longer. Not to mention he looks like a zombie now."

"He can't bring himself to hate this one," Zecora said crying. "Out of options this one is..."

"You could always try to be with him."

"No, this one will only bring him harm."

After that, Zecora left them. She couldn't bring herself to stay near him. It hurt her more than anything she ever felt before. She got inside the hut and went to craft the blasted potion for the session. 'Black roots, red thorns, yellow Amelia, and a drop of the brewer's blood. Mix it all up after turning the flower and roots into paste inside a cauldron and you have a trance-inducing potion.' Zecora thought while gathering the ingredients. Soon after Arden came int with Chrysalis.

They did not speak for the rest of the day.

(The following day)

"Hurt me all you fucking want. But please tell me what you want? Because I don't know what is happening!" Zecora tossed the ragdoll away. He hit a wall and passed out.

Zecora left the place followed by Chrysalis.

Chrysalis was way beyond her limit now. The bickering those two were having was too much. So, Chrysalis followed Zecora to a covered place. An old hall where they seemed to keep busts on top of small pedestals. Zecora sat on the floor with her head resting on top of her knees. She kept her eyes closed as tears rolled down her face, Chrysalis walked up to her and kicked one of her legs. Causing Zecora to fall sideways with a yelp.

"I had more than enough with your idiotic squabble," Zecora looked up to reply, but Chrysalis closed Zecora's mouth tight using a spell. "No, you shut up and listen. That hut of yours, that is the first place I actually started to consider a home in a very, VERY long while. A home that I share with an honorable hunter, who also is a decent healer, and a project of a pony from another dimension. This hunter was the first being that I ever entrusted with my story, the first one that I grew attached enough to care for your well being. Therefore, I am not about to let you keep hurting yourself like that, you stupid, stubborn, and blind zebra!"

Chrysalis kneeling down to get on eye-level with Zecora. "That hut of yours used to make me feel safe. But after you two started this useless fighting, that place is starting to fall apart. Multiple beings that wanted the same thing now stand apart because of mistake from the past and a fear it repeating itself. A fear just like the one my kind once had. And today happens to be a very important day to my kind, the day when the grand hive and the lineage of queens came to be.

"The ponies refer to it as Hearts Warming Eve, we refer to is as Unison's Prosperity. I'm going to tell this story because this day marked the day when some of us decided to try and move past that mistake. Even if out of necessity. Maybe you are ought to learn something from it."

Chrysalis made a small projection of the badlands on the ground. "I'm pretty sure you heard of the Windgoes. Magical being made out of a cold wind that freezes everything they touch. They were also taking over our lands while the ponies searched for a land without the influence of these creatures. Our kind was desperate and things were getting grimmer with each passing day. And after the ponies sent them away from their lands they reached for the Badlands. A single great hive existed once before, but problems in the line of succession caused a civil war, reducing our numbers and scattering us." Chrysalis explained as the projection showed the Badlands slowly being engulfed by the ice as the white creatures galloped through it.

"The idea of a reunion was the first its kind ever since the great hive was divided. And it all started when the weakest of all the hive leaders went personally from hive to hive, summoning them to the meeting. She didn't offer her name to be next leader, she just asked them to join her in that endeavor. She was mocked in the beginning, but in her travels, she ran across a humongous stone. That stone reacted to her magic, turning from a bright grey into a darker shade, keeping the ice and snow at bay. Therefore, with the help of her compatriots, she carried the stone from one hive to the next.

"Fascinated by the discovery, many hives joined in the weakest leader's march to try to have the meeting. With every new follower, the stone's protection grew, darker and heavier as well, requiring more magic to be used in its transport. Once a good number of hives had joined her, the meeting was called. The same day when the ponies banished the ice creatures from their lands. There was no sign of a common ground being reached, all of the leaders were focused on trying to convince the others that they were the ones who should lead their queendom. All of them, except the one who called the meeting, who had stayed by the stone's side." an image of changelings arguing played on the ground.

"Alaricia, the weakest. Realized that the stone's color was changing. Looking at the horizon, she saw that the ice border growing closer and closer. Alaricia, went to the meeting and explained her deduction of how the stone worked. It partially absorbing their magic and somehow kept the ice at bay. She also told them that they needed to recharge the stone at that moment otherwise they would die. None listened, so she took upon herself to recharge the stone." The figure of a loan changeling appeared, channeling magic into the stone.

"Alaricia was at her limit, and being the weakest didn't help in maintaining the stone's power. But her acts up to that point gained the eyes from changelings from all of the hives. She became admired, and the changeling leader with the greatest number of followers in all the badlands. Something she wasn't aware of. When she gave the warning to the others and was ignored, her followers went after her and saw Alaricia trying to save them all. The weakest was the only one brave enough to try to unify the changelings, and the only one brave enough to go risk her life to save her kind while others bickered and fought among themselves.

"So, her followers channeled their power into Alaricia to save her and recharge the stone. Alaricia was restored, so was the stone's power. The commotion caused more and more changelings to swarm to the weakest leader until the leaders were left to their own devices. The stone suddenly shot a green energy beam skywards and horrible screeches echoed through our lands as the ice retreated. The one who was weaker than any other showed the courage that caused a divided nation to come together in unison, becoming the first queen of the new great hive. Her courage to try to move past a stupid mistake from the past. A mistake that wasn't her fault, but still plagued her life."

Chrysalis finished her story by dispelling the projection. She turned to Zecora, who was looking at her with eyes filled it tears. "Are you willing to try to have the courage to move past that mistake and become stronger? Not only for yourself, but for those you care about?"

Zecora nodded positively.

"Good, now, let's set you up so the two of you can try this again," Chrysalis said, dispelling the hex that kept Zecora's mouth shut. The queen was surprised by Zecora who pulled her into a tight hug, a small smile formed on Chrysalis' lips. She felt a tear starting to form up. "H-hold on tight!"

Before Zecora could react, Chrysalis started to hover. She took them to an uncovered area and then took to the skies. Chrysalis took the panicking zebra to the tower where she had found Arden when he had disappeared.

"Wait here, I'll bring Arden here so you two can try this again." Still trembling, Zecora nodded.

Chrysalis' wings started once again, but before she could leave, Zecora held her hand. "The earrings the changeling has seen, to this one could you bring?"

Chrysalis gave her a thumbs up and took off. Arden was her next target, back where they left him. All that she found was a trail leading back to the hut. Charging up her magic Chrysalis teleported.

She found the stallion almost leaving the place.

"Oh, hey there, is she ok?" Arden asked letting go of the doorknob.

"What are you doing?"

"Since I cause so many problems I thought of making myself scarce," he answered with a forced smile.

"You bumbling buffoon!" Chrysalis yelled placing him on a hold with her magic. "You care for her that much and you're leaving?! What kind of idiot does that?!"

"This kind of idiot?" Arden replied trying to point at himself. "Besides, she hates me to the point of trying to make me strangle her."

"And you're just gonna accept that? You're just going to lower your head and not ask why?" Arden didn't respond, he didn't even look at her.

"You never cared about her. She was just a tool after all," Chrysalis dispelled the binds, walked past him, and opening the front door. "Go ahead, run. Be the coward you've always been. That worthless zebra probably doesn't want to see your face when she gets back."

'COME ON! WORK!'

Chrysalis watched Arden get up and lock eyes with her. "What? Go. Run."

"Take that back..."

"What?"

"DON'T YOU DARE CALL ZECORA WORTHLESS!" Arden screamed. Chrysalis smiled at that.

"Why do you care? You don't care about her." 'Here it comes.'

"I DO CARE! I LOVE HER! GOD DAMMIT! I LOVE HER!" Arden yelled with everything he had.

'SCORE!' Chrysalis thought as she watched Arden's eyes widen and his expression shift.

"So? What are you waiting?" Chrysalis said showing the path outside once more.

"Go tell her!"

'Ok, I don't know where she is. Think! How can I find her? Tracking?! No, Zecora would probably find a way to cover her tracks. Magic? Like I can even pull a tracking spell out of my ass. My eyes? My EYES! THAT'S IT!'

"What are you doing?" Chrysalis asked as he got on his hooves.

"Can you keep me from going insane if I take the inhibitor off?" Arden asked grabbing her shoulders and locking eyes with her. She pushed him back and frowned a bit, biting her lip.

"I think that for about two minutes. Can you find her in that time?"

"That's not much! If I knew the immediate vicinity where she was...maybe I could pull it off. You followed her. Where did you last see her?"

"She was somewhere in the castle. I lost her when she went inside a wall." Chrysalis replied with a shrug.

Arden closed his eyes. 'I hope I can still see her if I look through the walls. If not I might have to improvise something. Fuck it! I'll bun that bridge once I get there!'

Arden opened his eyes and walked outside. "I think I can track her. Let's go!"

"I'll need to stay here for a while to warm up. I'll catch up in no time." Arden nodded and ran as fast as he could towards the castle. The sun would set soon. If he didn't find her before then...he would need to wait for another chance of seeing her.

Once he was at the courtyard, Arden looked around in hopes to see anything that would help him find Zecora. The snow didn't have any tracks. In fact, it looked like some strong downward wind moved all the snow around. After a few moments Arden heard a buzzing sound coming from above him, looking towards it he saw Chrysalis coming down from the sky. When she came closer to the ground, Arden realized that her wings flapping made the snow move. 'So, was it her that moved the snow?'

"Ready? Don't run off without putting the inhibitor back on. This spell has a very short range." Arden nodded and turned around. He felt Chrysalis' hand resting on his shoulder, then he unlocked the necklace taking it off.

'Please, once more. Let me understand.' Arden thought. The usual color change happened and he started to look around in hopes of seeing the light. Looking skywards to see if there were any signs of her on top of the crumbling towers, that's when he saw a small light on top of one of the towers.

'Does he love this one? This one wishes only to be with him. Does he wish the same?' Arden heard as his chest felt tight and he felt the urge to cry mixed with fear and anxiety. His heart was racing. 'Or will this end up as Gamba? Will he turn his back on this one? Can he forgive this one's actions? Can he forgive the fear this one felt of hurting him?' The sadness when he heard the name, the desire for an answer. The need for forgiveness, Arden felt each and every single one of those cries that echoed through his mind and heart. He knew why she acted the way she did now, he was in tune with how she felt.

Suddenly he heard a melody start to play around him and eventually a voice came forth.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnU9XR7D5X0

Arden heard that melodious voice echo through the ruins. Putting the necklace back on, Arden bolted forth. He knew how to get to that tower. Running through the corridors, now only illuminated by the setting sun that swiftly moved through the skies.

Arden found the passageway that he used to reach the tower where the singer was still performing. Zecora's beautiful voice got louder and louder as he took each step. Then the stairwell that led to his destination, a long dark tunnel with only a small light coming from the top. Arden almost flew up the steps, the light from the end of the tunnel got brighter, the voice grew louder. The light from the sun reaching him through the cracks on the ceiling and walls, suddenly the sound of wind howling mixed with a melody that still played with every step.

Arden finally emerged from that dark tunnel and was bathed by the warm orange light that was quietly setting itself on the horizon. Creating a beautiful blue, purple, orange and red sky where only a few stars could be seen. Before him, there was only one thing that mattered though, Zecora. She stood there, facing the horizon, the setting sun illuminating her figure as the wind made her mane move as well as her fur. Creating a sight that to him, was the most beautiful thing Arden had ever seen. Celestia couldn't compare, no creature he had met could compare to that.

Zecora kept singing until, suddenly, the sound of the cold wind howling through the gaps in the structure. Arden took a step forward, then he saw Zecora's ear twitch. He stopped dead on his tracks.

"I-If this one said that she was to leave, what would the cerulean say?" Zecora asked without turning around, her voice cracking. She was about to cry again.

"I would have to say: Lead the way, and I shall follow. To wherever you may go, I'll stand by you, always," Arden replied in a calm tone, no hesitation at all.

"And if this one was to say that she cared for you?" Zecora asked still facing the horizon that was turning purple with each passing second, more and more stars appearing through the skies. Her body seemed to tense up as she waited for an answer. "What would the cerulean reply?"

"That would make me happy beyond what I ever believed to be possible. For my answer would be: I love you," Arden felt a tear form on his eye. Then he saw something that made his heart beat even harder, Zecora turned to face him. A smile unlike any he had ever seen before was on her face. Her eyes created streams as squeezed something she held in her hands, close to her chest. Arden could see the joy she was feeling. If he could take off his necklace he would probably feel it as well.

They walked towards each other at a slow pace, the night took over the sky and the moon rose in the horizon bathing Zecora with its pale light. Once they were close enough, Arden opened his arms as Zecora wrapped her arms around his neck and they shared this gesture for the first time willingly, no impulse, no prank. A kiss underneath a sea of stars and the moon as its witness, Arden savored every moment of it like it was the last time he would ever share that gesture with her. There were no regrets this time, no fear. Only the happiness and satisfaction of finally being together with somepony he grew to love, the first one he ever loved in that way. Arden could spend the rest of his life just reliving that moment for all he cared.

After seconds that felt like ages Zecora broke the gesture and took a small step back. She then opened her right hand revealing two pairs of earrings identical to one another.

"It is part of this one's culture that when a couple is formed, share this symbol of their relationship the couple would," she said blushing a bit, "after all that has transpired, would you be willing to accept this one's response to your proposal?"

Arden smiled at her as he ran his hand through her mane caressing it. "How could I deny your response? Like I said: I love you, and I'll always stand by you. I will wear these with pride and never take them off."

At the top of the stairs, Chrysalis leaned on a wall and watched the entire conversation transpire. For once in her life, she had forged a bond between two beings. She had made two beings that loved each other grow closer. Chrysalis felt a smile sneak its way into her muzzle. She was happy, happy because of the joy she brought to another being. A being that for the first time she could call a friend.

'Well, Zecora. It seems that I gave you a special gift on a very special day. And in turn, you gave another one to somepony else. Enjoy your time with him Zecora, not everypony gets a chance of being with somepony they love.' Chrysalis looked up to the Canterlot castle that reflected the pale light from the moon. 'I wonder if the other one that is curious about him is thinking about his whereabouts now. Maybe I should send another gift today, to make somepony else's day be a little happier.' This time, the small smile turned into a grin.