Chapter 8

Present Day: Canterlot Castle, Princess Celestia’s Chamber

It was early in the morning and the sun was just about to rise as Celestia stood outside her private chamber on the balcony. Celestia would raise the sun just like she always had for over a millennium, a smile crept on her face. This day was going to have a beautiful sunrise, one that would bathe Equestria in a warm comforting light. As she was raising the sun her sister, Princess Luna, flew over to her side. The lunar goddess gave Celestia a quick hug and stood next to her sister to watch the sunrise.

“Alas, dear sister we find thy sunrise resembles the beauty of a newly blossomed flower.”

Celestia giggled. “I must say Luna I never get tired of sunrises; they always make me feel at peace. I’m surprised you haven’t trotted off to bed.”

Luna pouted. “We would not miss such an opportunity to convene with our sister, and make merry banter.”

Celestia nuzzled Luna’s neck and returned to her magical duty. It wasn’t as if she really had to concentrate on raising the sun, after all she had over a thousand years worth of practice. If she so chose she could multitask, but Celestia felt that the sunrise deserved her undivided attention and respect.

“Luna…I’m sorry that we don’t get to spend much time together, ancestors know I have quite a bit of time to make up for.”

Luna patted Celestia’s shoulder with her hoof. “Do not despair sister, we understand and we forgive thee. Despair only leads to melancholy, be like thy sun and shine happily each day. Thou hast much to be thankful for.”

“Ah of course sister you’re right, it’s just I have a bad feeling that something terrible has happened. It feels as if something unnatural has invaded Equestria, something that should never have come here.”

“Methinks the lady doth protest too much. Worry not dear sister, we shall aid thee and rid Equestria of any offending villains. Tis our duty to protect the realm, be the threat of the earth or of the mind.”

Celestia burst into laughter. “Oh Luna, you still have yet to learn modern Equestrian. You sound like one of those old William Hoofspeare plays during the summer festival.”

Luna usually navy blue coat turned a noticeable shade of red. “We…I have been trying to speak the commoner’s tongue but it has proven to be most difficult. Tis hard enough not speaking in the Canterlot Voice, lest the pony folk cower in fear of us.”

“It’s alright Luna I was just teasing you. If you didn’t speak that way I would be worried, since that’s what makes you unique.”

Luna was about to reply when a frantic looking guard burst into the room. He appeared to be one of Celestia’s guards and by the looks of his armor he was a lieutenant. The cutie mark on his flank depicted a small spear that had a wooden shaft and a sharp iron point. Luna was about to scold the insolent guard for interrupting their private time when she noticed the fear and panic in his eyes.

The guard threw himself onto the ground out of respect for the two rulers. “Your majesties please forgive my intrusion but I have urgent news.”

“Rise lieutenant Spearpoint. I understand the need to convey sensitive information, no matter what the hour of the day it may be. It is your duty as part of the guards to do so.”

Spearpoint collected himself and cleared his throat. “The amulet that you sent to the gardens has been destroyed and both of the guards protecting it are dead. I also found what appeared to be the corpse of a draconequus as well. All three bodies appeared to be…desiccated.”

“Lieutenant I shall investigate this matter personally. Come over to me and we shall teleport to the gardens at once.”

Celestia along with Luna and Spearpoint arrived at the Canterlot Gardens. It was just as Spearpoint said, near the now empty pedestal of Discord’s statue lie three bodies. Their faces twisted in horror from an agonizing death. Spearpoint was correct; all the bodies appeared to be desiccated almost like mummies. Celestia has seen changelings suck the love energy from victims but that was a slow process that took months even years to complete. The victims here had been sucked dry of all their life energy and magic, almost instantaneously. She had never seen such a horrible magic technique in all her years of living. Celestia was especially horrified at the body of Discord. While she may not have liked him very much, she did not wish him dead and despite Discord’s attempts at spreading chaos he did not deserve such a cruel death. Clearly she had been right about the amulet, it was evil. What she hadn’t known was that an entity had lurked within its confines, waiting to be released. Whatever this creature was, it was not to be taken lightly.

Luna walked over to the bodies and visibly paled. She then went over to some bushes and vomited profusely. It took her a few moments to regain her composure and then she began to speak in a whisper. “What monstrosity caused this? Sister, we cannot allow such a creature to run amok in Equestria. Our little ponies are in grave danger.”

“I fear you are correct Luna, I must inform Twilight Sparkle and her friends at once. Lieutenant Spearpoint, fetch me some parchment I have a letter to write.”
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Deep in the Everfree Forest, Equestria

Frostmere sat on a log munching on the haunch of a roasted manticore. Living in the Everfree Forest wasn’t nearly as difficult as he expected. Certainly there were wild beasts lurking about but after he vanquished that manticore, the animals seemed to avoid him now. They sensed his magical power and knew he was not to be trifled with. “Intelligent creatures, at least they know power when they see it.” He had skinned the manticore and magically wove it into a makeshift cloak to better conceal his dazzlingly white hide. It was simply a bad idea to walk around in a forest full of dark colors and stand out like a sore thumb, so the cloak acted as a sort of make-shift camouflage. The last thing Frostmere wanted was to attract attention. Frostmere stared into the fire pit he had created lost in thought, when he heard a strange noise. The Everfree Forest contained many sounds, usually the cries of animals and various insects. This cry sounded different…almost like a pony. Frostmere finished his roasted manticore and trotted towards the sound, casting a spell that muffled his hooves from making any sounds.

Frostmere came upon the source of the offending sound. Lying on the ground was a mare, she had a light green coat, her mane and tail a shade of light blue. The mare was an earth pony and she bore a cutie mark depicting two crossed machetes with a fern in the middle. Her leg was pinned underneath a mossy log. “What a pitiful creature this is, she should have known better than to venture into the woods without a guide. Hmm something seems off though. I can’t quite put my hoof on it. Where are her supplies, she carries none. I must approach with caution.”

The earthpony noticed Frostmere approach. “Oh thank Celestia you came, I didn’t think anypony would be this deep in the forest. I was surveying the jungle and this log fell on my leg, I think it might be broken.”

Frostmere looked at her leg, it was indeed underneath the log but it did not appear to be broken. Something fishy was going here and he would get to the bottom of it. He opened his magical sense to scan the area and caught a whiff of a strange magical sent. It reeked of both love and hunger. It was a sent he had not smelled in centuries.

“It seems you are quite the unfortunate little earthpony. A poor surveyor just trying to do her job and who also just happened to fall right near my camp. You also have lost all of your supplies, that’s very irresponsible, you could easily starve out here. I don’t think you need my help at all your majesty.”’

The earthpony looked back at Frostmere in disbelief. “W-what…I don’t understand. I’m not a princess. I just want to get out of this place.”

“Oh I never said you were a princess. You’re a queen and I am quite certain you would want to get out of this accursed place, as soon as you rob me of all my love energy. Stop playing coy with me changeling, I smelled your magic as soon as I came upon the scene.”

The earthpony’s frightened demeanor transformed into a scowl. “Hmmph very well it seems we have an intelligent unicorn for once.”

The earthpony transformed with a glow of green magical energy. She was a large black colored insectoid pony with green glowing eyes and a jagged horn. Her hooves, both front and back were covered in holes. She glared at Frostmere.

“Ah that’s more like it your majesty. That was quite a clever setup, but you must understand I am no ordinary pony.”

Queen Chrysalis snorted in frustration. “How is it that you know of me unicorn?”

“I don’t personally know you, but I knew of your predecessor: Queen Thoraxsis I. She was a rather fierce changeling queen but she had a tendency to stay in her home territory in the high mountain peaks between Equestria and the Griffon Kingdom.”

“You speak as if you know of this firsthand. How could you possibly know of Queen Thoraxsis’s hive, she ruled over seven hundred years ago!?”

“Like I said your majesty, I am not an ordinary pony. Oh and before you go on tricking me, I can sense your little changeling minions hiding in the brush. I understand you need to feed them as well as yourself. You seem weak and certainly changelings wouldn’t lower themselves to hunting in the Everfree Forest unless they were desperate.”

Chrysalis growled in anger. “How dare you insult me! I couldn’t help it, I was so close to achieving ultimate power!!! It was those wretched elements of harmony and Princess Cadenza’s disgusting love magic that nearly destroyed me. I have tried to survive in these woods both to protect myself and my brood. Soon I shall rise again and conquer all Equestria.”

Frostmere clicked his tongue. “That is where you are wrong your majesty. I simply can’t have a rival running around ruining my plans you see.”

“Insolent worm you will regret crossing me! Go my changelings attack!”

Out of the brush about twenty changelings appeared, their faces were rapt with hunger. Two approached Frostmere as he began to cast blue fireballs. He shot fireballs at the two rampaging changelings, they both were incinerated in an explosion of blue flames. Four more changelings came from the left, when Frostmere noticed they were near a large willow tree. Frostmere channeled his magic to the tree giving it life. The tree’s branches tightened themselves around the hapless changelings squeezing the life out of them like a python did to its prey. Two more changelings attacked from the right, Frostmere just barely dodged their attacks. He concentrated on his horn and it began to glow dark blue. He then charged at one of the changelings and stabbed the creature right in the chest with his augmented horn. The changeling yowled in pain as its green blood sprayed all over Frostmere. He concentrated once again and slashed vertically at the remaining changeling, his horn severed the changeling’s throat spraying yet more of the green blood. The remaining changelings swarmed together and piled themselves on top of Frostmere. Frostmere summoned as much magic as he could and shrouded his body in blue flames, which expanded into a fiery blue explosion incinerating the rest of the changelings. When all the carnage was done Frostmere stood across from Chrysalis in a fiery crater, his coat drenched in changeling blood.

“Face me now changeling queen your minions are defeated!”

Chrysalis’s horn glowed a vibrant green as she unleashed a concentrated beam of magic straight at Frostmere. Frostmere’s own horn glowed blue as he countered with an equally deadly beam of magic. Within moments the two magic beams clashed filling the air with the stench of ozone as the magic ionized the oxygen.

“You have killed my subjects, you will pay with your life whelp!”

“I surprised you can even maintain a magic stream this powerful, your power is severely depleted where I have just obtained a vast quantity. It is only a matter of time until you slip.”

Chrysalis’s magic beam began to falter and she staggered at the strain. The unicorn was right she couldn’t sustain this for very much longer. Frostmere then increased his concentration, his eyes glowing with power as he strengthened his beam. In an instant Frostmere’s beam pushed Chrysalis’s beam all the way back, she dodged but not without injury. Her left wing had been incinerated.

The changeling queen howled in pain as she stumbled to the ground. Frostmere using magic jumped over to her and grabbed her by the mane. He then dragged her over to an ancient oak tree and started slamming her head against the trunk. Frostmere continued to do this until she began coughing up blood.

In a ragged voice Chrysalis remained defiant. “You…bastard…you have destroyed…e-everything. What kind of monster are you?”

Frostmere pulled Chrysalis up to his mouth and whispered in her ear. “A monster…no. I am a god, a god who will forge Equestria into her true form. Neither you nor anypony else shall stop me, not the elements not even Celestia herself. Goodbye Queen Chrysalis, may your soul find rest in Tartarus.”

Frostmere’s horn and eyes glowed as he drained the life out of Chrysalis. Even while dying an agonizing death her eyes still remained defiant. Frostmere chuckled. He enjoyed opponents that didn’t cower before him like foals. She had been a worthy foe. Her changeling magic increased Frostmere’s own vast reservoir of magic tenfold. Out of respect he cremated the changeling queen’s remains and scattered them to the winds.

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Sweet Apple Acres, Equestria

Iron Cross had spent most of the morning in bed nursing a rather nasty headache. He didn’t think it was the whiskey, it had to have been the brawl he got himself into with Rainbow Dash. He had been in many bar fights when he was human but never anything like the one last night. Dash was a feisty scrapper when intoxicated and she had taken his punches like a sandbag. Unfortunately for Rainbow Dash, Iron Cross was a lot tougher and stronger than she was so he ended up winning the fight. Iron Cross looked into the mirror near his bed and whistled at his newly acquired black eye. Despite how fun the fight had been, he felt bad about hurting Rainbow Dash. She had to be hospitalized after the brawl, due to a black eye and a sprained wing. Iron Cross decided he would visit Rainbow Dash at the hospital later today with an apology gift. Applejack had told him she liked a book series called “Daring Do” so he figured buying the newest volume of the series wouldn’t hurt to earn him some brownie points with Rainbow Dash.

Applejack entered the room and kissed Iron Cross on the cheek. She had just gotten out of the shower and her hair was still slightly damp. Iron Cross could smell the faint odor of cinnamon and lavender, it was quite a pleasant smell if not a tad unusual. To her credit, Applejack didn’t appear to phased at all from last night’s wild party. Iron Cross had noted that she chugged at least three pints of hard cider, but he supposed since she was a rough and tumble farm pony that she could hold her liquor.

“Ya look a might upset Iron, what’s eatin’ ya?”

Iron Cross sighed. There was Applejack’s sharp intuition again. “I just feel really bad for hurting Dash, I like a good brawl but…it’s never a good thing to hurt a lady like that.”

Applejack laughed. “It’s sweet that ya feel that way Iron, but RD ain’t never been a lady. Ah think she enjoyed the fight just as much. Her pride is what’s really hurtin’ right now ah reckon.”

“Still, I feel like I have to make it up to her. You mentioned that she liked these Daring Do books? Perhaps I should get her the newest volume as a sorry gift.”

“She sure does and that will probably earn ya quite a bit of dashie points. Don’t worry about her hatin’ ya she just has a strange way of showin’ affection. I’m sure Twi has the latest volume in her library fer sale.”

The conversation between Iron Cross and Applejack was interrupted by a rapid knocking at the door. Applejack hurried down the stairs to answer the door. To her surprise it was Rarity. Even more surprising was how Rarity looked. The fashionista’s usually pristine curls were frumpy and unkempt. She lacked any kind of eye shadow and her eyes were swollen and puffy, suggesting she had been crying.

Rarity’s voice lacked its usual cultured Manehatten accent as she spoke to Applejack. “Hello darling…I was wondering if you and I could go to the spa. I…really need a friend to talk to.”

“What’s wrong sugarcube ya look terrible. Did somethin’ bad happen?”

“Yes it has to do with Fluttershy. We had a bit of an incident last night at the party and we were supposed to have our spa date today. I went over to her house and she had locked the door and barred the windows. I can’t help but worry about the poor thing, oh she must be absolutely mortified. Maybe she thinks I don’t want to be her friend anymore…but nothing could be further from the truth!”

Applejack gave Rarity a quick embrace. “It’s alright sugarcube, if ya need somepony ta talk to I’ll go with ya to the spa.”

“Oh thank you Applejack I’m so glad that I have you as a friend.”

Iron Cross came down the stairs to see what the commotion was all about and found Applejack comforting Rarity. He usually didn’t get involved in the affairs of mares but even he could tell this was serious.

“Iron ah gotta go to the spa fer a spell. Why don’t ya go to Twi’s house and git that book while I’m out, then ya can visit RD.”

“Alright, I can do that. I’ll let you two sort things out.”

Rarity and Applejack made their way to the spa and as usual they were greeted by the spa’s owners Lotus and Aloe. Both of the spamares noticed how bad Rarity looked and immediately knew something serious had happened. It was also Thursday and Fluttershy had not accompanied Rarity into the spa.

“Hello girls, I’ll take the usual. Oh and Fluttershy won’t be attending , I brought Applejack instead. Just put it on my tab.”

Aloe was the first to speak. “Nonsense Ms. Rarity today’s treatment is on the house. You are like family to us and we want to help you with your problems, whatever they may be. The least we can do is pamper you.”

Rarity stifled a tear. “Thank you Aloe that means a lot to me.”

Within a few minutes Applejack and Rarity were sitting in the spa with towels wrapped around their heads. Rarity had forgone her usual avocado mask and cucumber eye coverings and still had a look of sadness on her face.

“Now what’s wrong sugarcube? Sittin’ here feelin’ sorry fer yerself ain’t gonna fix the problem.”

“I know Applejack, it’s just this is a very complicated problem. It’s one that doesn’t just involve Fluttershy. I’m going through some rather strange emotions…”

Applejack placed her hoof on Rarity’s shoulder. “Now listen here Rare, ya helped me when ah was worried about Iron. Ah promise ah won’t judge ya or nothin’. The least ah can do is lend an ear, so speak yer heart out.”

“Very well I suppose I should start with the incident itself. I’m sure you know what happened since you were there yourself Applejack and I should have just chalked it up to Fluttershy being heavily intoxicated. The problem is…why would she have done that unless she really wanted to? I’ve heard that alcohol doesn’t force ponies to do things they don’t want to do, it merely allows them to voice their subconscious desires. I consider Fluttershy a dear friend but…what if she considers me to be more than that?”

Applejack nodded sagely. She knew exactly where this was going but she allowed her friend to continue.

Rarity’s normally marshmallow white face turned bright red. “What if I want her to be more than that? I’m ashamed to admit it but Fluttershy was absolutely amazing with her tongue. There was so much passion in her kisses, they were not the kisses of a friend but a lover. All this time I’ve dreamed of finding a prince in shining armor to sweep me off my hooves and so far all of the stallions I’ve met have failed miserably at it. Maybe…maybe all this time I shouldn’t have been looking for a prince but a princess. Applejack is it wrong for me to be a…f-f-fillyfooler?”

“Now cut that out Rare, ya clearly love Fluttershy and ah ain’t never been one to judge a pony on who they love. Ah reckon she loves ya just as much but she’s Fluttershy and ah bet she’s havin’ just as rough a time comin’ ta terms with it. The best thing ta do is steel yer resolve and march right on over ta Fluttershy’s house and tell her yer feelin’s. Sometimes the princess has to act like a prince.”

“My word Applejack you’re absolutely right. I shouldn’t have even been doubting myself. I acted like a complete foal and it hurt Fluttershy. Well no more, once we finish this bath I shall march over to Fluttershy’s house and confess my love to her!”

Applejack patted Rarity on the back. “Atta girl, that’s the Rarity ah know and love.”

Applejack and Rarity made their way over to Fluttershy’s house. It was exactly as Rarity had described, the house’s windows were locked shut and the door was closed. It was extremely quiet, even the animals seemed to sense that Fluttershy was upset and did not bother her. Rarity knocked lightly on the door.

“Fluttershy dear, it’s me Rarity I just want to have a talk with you. May I come in?”

A barely audible pattering of hooves could be heard as the door cracked open. The inside of Fluttershy’s house was completely dark. Fluttershy’s hair was a tangled mess and her eyes were redder than a fire ruby.

In an extremely quiet haggard voice she spoke. “Oh hello Rarity. I didn’t think you’d want to…see me again. I did such a terrible thing last night, it probably humiliated you and…*sniff*”

Fluttershy’s whimpering cry was enough to break Rarity’s heart. She couldn’t stand seeing Fluttershy like this so she threw open the door and hugged her as hard as she could. Fluttershy seemed a bit taken back but returned the hug with as much force as she could muster. The two mares sat for minutes silently crying, still in each other’s embrace.

“Fluttershy, you know I could never hate you for anything you do. That’s how much I love you. Our friendship has lasted through worse things than this, and of course I forgive you. It just pains me that you had to put yourself through all of this just for my sake.”

Fluttershy let out a slight hiccup. “Y-you really mean that Rarity? Thank goodness I…thought I ruined our friendship with my silly…desires.”

Rarity put a hoof to Fluttershy’s mouth. “Now stop that at once! You ruined absolutely nothing darling. It is I who was acting like a foal. At first I was very upset and confused at what you did, but the more I thought about it the more I realized that it felt right. I enjoyed what you did…even if it was a tad bit embarrassing. I’ve made up my mind Fluttershy, I’m done with trying to find my prince in shining armor. It’s time that I rescue my princess in despair.”

Fluttershy’s eyes widened in shock as Rarity grabbed her by the head and gave her a deep, passionate kiss. Tears of happiness streamed down both mares’ faces as they kissed. When they finally broke the kiss, Applejack stood in the doorway with tears of her own welling up.

“Fluttershy I love you, and I feel like an ass for not telling you earlier. I promise I will love and protect you with all of my might I SWEAR IT!!!”

Fluttershy giggled and in her best Rarity impression she said: “Of all possible things that could occur, this is the best possible thing.”

The two mares hugged again as Applejack left Fluttershy’s house to make her way back to Sweet Apple Acres. She took out her hanky to wipe the tears streaming down her face. She smiled as she talked to herself. “Defiantly the best possible thing.”