Everfree Forest was thick with the scent of Viscera. The number of different ways, however, would only be realized by that named pony in mere moments.

For Viscera, staying on terra firma was fast becoming a way to end up under it, if the arrows whirling past her head was any indication. While weaving past the tree-trunks was working so far – in terms of avoiding serious injury from her four pursuers – the need for a more permanent end to the chase was in order.

Swinging behind one of the trees on the right after the red quadruped, one of the henchponies - with a scare around his eye- cut around to try and catch her. He met nothing but his two compatriots around the bend of the trunk. “Either of you see her?” he asked.

“No…nothing,” the second henchpony wheezed, his spiky mohawk leaking sweat. He was too winded to contribute the further.

The third henchpony - sporting a bowler hat - was neither as exhausted nor as level-headed. “Then that puta Viscera is above us. Get climbing!” he said.

The scar-eyed pony was almost halfway up the tree at that command before another thought struck him. “Hold on a second, huaqueros… were there not four of-”

A THWAP! rang out. Suddenly only two of the pursuers were upright, the third clutching at his shredded left foreleg. Soon, a crimson blur raced out from beneath the spacious roots of the tree, cloak now notably wrapped around her and eight claws flashing from her forelegs. They were all the more noticeable for the beads of blood welling on them.

“That bit-! SHOOT her!” And the first earth pony reached into the belt around his middle to grasp… empty air. The reason for it was currently ringing around the figure’s thin vermillion tail by its trigger, like a hula hoop.

It would take four seconds for the first earth pony to get down. Another three seconds to draw the weapon while galloping toward the threat with his friend. And another three to belt out the curse on Celestia’s name when he found that Viscera had taken off. Right into the forest Viscera went again, a flash of vermillion the only hint to her repositioning.

Both ponies gave vertical chase to Viscera this time, and were greeted with yet another surprise – that very four-legged being dangling from a newly enlarged set of wings bursting from their back. Scooting back to the ground again at the sight of a sack bursting with bits in one of its legs, they galloped further after it, the forest soon swallowing up the sound of their strides. When it had hinted at their last, another figure calmly clambered from the tree- that very same dark-red figure, short several feet in their cloak, the missing length diverted to her wide grin.

“One bag of bits and they’re off to see to their greed-boners, it’s just too easy.” After a quick dunk of her blood-covered claws in a stream, the being – clearly not a griffin, though swathed in enough clothing to pass for one – sped into the forest, the opposite direction from the other earth ponies.

“I’m almost sad Cabelleron’s so stringent with money. Almost.”

The run slowed to a trot as Viscera took in her new surroundings. The canopy of wood and leaves were a welcome reprieve to the beating sun - seriously, what desert-spawned monstrosity did Celestia and Her Royal Gluteus piss off? thought the pseudo-griffin. Ahead was a clutch of glowing blue leaves and vines - ‘something’ joke, gotta keep from there , she thought – and in a clearing of trees to the right was…

“Jackpot!” Viscera almost floated to the home nestled right in the center of the tree. Hell, the door was even open, if a bit too far to her left to let her see anything within. Two things, however, got her attention as she closed within five meters.

First were the bands of yellow tape ringing all four of the trees next to this house, which due to Vis’ occupation would not stop her. The second, however, was a rustling in the bushes on the left side of the clearing, which did – a backflip to one of the sturdier branches and a jump to two higher ones successfully concealed Viscera.

Those same bushes gave way within seconds, revealing another earth pony. Immediately Viscera was in analysis mode - vivid green mane, sharp pink body, and as she turned to face the door, Viscera noticed the cutie mark was-

-and immediately, Viscera fought down a shout. No, can’t be; hair's not green, and no way she’d be tromping through a forest. But still, that curly hair… it did remind of a youn-

But soon, the green in that pony’s mane was met with flames licking up from her hooves. Viscera was down in seconds, about to help that pony put out the flames. Through her vocal reasoning went more like - “What the hell?! At least drop and roll, before you get the Caball on us or burn down Everfree!”

The pony leaped back in surprise, emerald embers dying away as fast as they formed – but not before two blackened and perforated legs were visible. “W-what are you doing here?”

“Panning for rainbow juice to go with that poison joke –“ Oh, that’s what it’s called. “- omelet I’ve got brewing inside – why the fuck do you think I’m telling you?!” Adopting a cross-armed stance, four silver claws burst out of each of her front feet again.

“But… you’re a griffin!” The pony stammered, raising its hooves defensively. “Your place is not here, especially in the middle of an investigation by Detective Daisy!”

“Daisy of -” Realization finally flashed across her face. “You’re Daisy? Then how the hell did you spontaneously -” Viscera stopped, stared at the hooves, and far more relevant realization struck. “Oh goody, I leave four Caballers and find a damned changeling?!”

“I am no changeling!” Stammering, ‘Daisy’ looked to her legs, a blush now turning her face an even darker shade of proms “This… mutilation is only because of the speed I was taking under to find my way h-“

“-nopony talks like this, dumbass.” Viscera folded her arms. “I know the legs, now show the rest of you so I can see who’s made my list today.”

‘Daisy’ sighed, a rumble from the throat that soon turned into a hiss. “Oh, forget this.” And the flames blew up her frame again. “Next trip, I leave the work of metaphors to Thorax.”

The light faded to reveal the rest of Viscera’s newest foe. For starters, it was a she, though larger than Daisy was. However, its legs were just as spindly, the scowl on its mouth still punctuated with jagged teeth, and its head was a crown of curved onyx spikes over a curtain of gossamer that was the same magenta shade as her glittering eyes. The look was completed with the buzzing of the fly-like wings straining at her sides.

“And it’s a girl too! Wonders never cease here, does it?” Viscera immediately fell forward onto all fours. “No danglies to get in the way of my filleting.”

“Shows what you know, squall,” hissed the changeling. “They’re called ovipositors, not danglies!”

“… Luna’s mane, how does a Canterlot-invader not know what figures of speech are?” Viscera moaned.

“Nevermind of what figures speech take! Now, if you don’t mind, I’ve got a scene to see through before sundown, one you are clearly no part of. Run and live.”

“One: haha, no.” Viscera spat. “Two – wait, you’re really investigating this spot? And what’s this about not believing I’m part of it?!”

The changeling did not relax its stance, though its neck craned up. “Consider yourself lucky you’re as clean as you are. That is all on that matter.”

“… no seriously. You’re being weird. Did somepony die?” Viscera quirked an eyebrow.

“In duplicate. What confuses me is how you do not know.”

Viscera snorted. “Sure. Trying to get me riled or distracted won’t fly, princess. This place is damn near immune to death.” It’s why I picked Ponyville as a stopover, she didn’t add.

“See for yourself then – I expect no trust from the likes of you.” The changeling took to the air, and Viscera prepared for an attack – only for it to dig a rear leg into the wood of the door below her and yank it open.

Viscera stared for several moments, then motioned to the left with her head. The shapeshifting insectoid scooted further out of the way, Viscera maintaining a wide berth. “No, seriously, I’m not sure where you’ve gotten off thinking…”

The smell was what caught Viscera first. Her ‘beak’ drew back at the revolting radius, and despite herself, despite knowing how easily a changeling could take advantage of the back of an unprepared pony, the crimson-furred crusader turned in to pinpoint the place of that coppery, far-too-thick odor of the room…

…and instantly regretted the scene tattooing its way upon her eyeballs. Dried yet fly-ridden splotched of blood smacked upon all but the ceiling of the cottage, the sun only serving to re-paint the room with its sickly scarlet hue. The very obviously skinned-corpse of a zebra – god, that she could tell from the eyes, - hung by its limbs from strands buried in the ceiling Viscera would not dedicate headspace to identify. The building eyes of that tortured creature and rictus-locked scream of its maw were scraping the top of her goggles were but one of many reasons why.

It was in backing out from this chamber of horrors that she was sent tumbling, only of her black-bandaged rear legs buckling under another figure behind her. Viscera, flailing in shock and panic, whirled out one of her taloned front hooves to break the fall. One caught on the wall, the other took a chunk out of whatever had tripped her. Viscera took one look of it, saw the decay on its skin that had yet to rob the color from her bright red mane, and with a growing sense of dread, looked at just what ‘prize’ her claws had seized from her flank.

“Indeed, part of my investigation involves who would get off thinking of doing something like this, le-”

Mouth locked in as silent a scream as the strung-up skinned zebra above her, Viscera barreled past her towards the clean air outside. The griffin-garbed pony shoved up the fake beak, slamming in several breaths of air on her haunches. Noticing the chunk of putrefying flesh fluttering in the thresh from her trip outdoors, the changeling snatched it out of the air and studied it.

“As I said before, it is a very good thing you are this clean. It eliminates a suspect.”

“Sus-?! Look, missy, I’m a thief, and a master one at that, the second anypony's gotta do that to draw attention to any theft, they’ve lost all right to be a pony – yeah, thinking about it again why am I doing thiiiis!?” And her head was again level with the moss of Everfree, rolling about as if to scrub the memory from her green eyes.

“There is a possibility they have done the same to our hive’s queen several months back.” The changeling’s eyes narrowed. “If so… my mission demands they face justice.”

“Normally would be worried of a changeling with this much malicious intent for a pony. Here though? Do your thing, I’ll even hold them down for you.” Viscera struggled to her feet. “Seriously, the name’s Viscera, Miss…”

“…Miss?” The changeling turned to her.

“… Uh, yeah, may have missed the name.” A sheepish, quivering grin accompanied the crimson pony’s statement.

“… Yes, that is Detecti-”

“-Not that one, ‘Quinestein. The one you had when the hive wanted to stop saying ‘hey you’.”

“Real name?”

“Look, I’ve got enough stuff repeating in my head now, and possibly for the next decade, spoken words should not be one of them.” Viscera beckoned for an answer. “Well?"

“It is just…” The changeling stopped. “You are... peculiar. Regardless, help would go further in the investigation. I am Gympis.”

“Well, that’s neat. Might… wanna stick with the Daisy ‘guise though, if you’re going my way.”

“To Ponyville? Yes, I’m heading back there.” And with a flash of flames, the pink-haired pony was before Viscera once more. “I assume you are a resident?”

“For a… month or so.” Viscera started pacing through the forest again, Gympis at her heels. “Less if I see whatever did that. Any hints on who you think did it?”

“… It dovetails with a recent escapist. This town’s papers speak of him, but I will confirm for myself before reporting back.” A great sigh heaved ‘Daisy’s’ frame. “It has affected my hive so much. They are pulling back almost all drones to guard against further loss.”

Viscera shook her head. “Day of firsts allll over this bitch.” The walk turned to a gallop. “Will say this though – can think of six reasons Ponyville’ll be up in…”

And then they burst out of the clearing into one of the alleyways leading into Ponyville.

“… apparently, the hills.”

Beyond the burbling brook that spanned the first bridge, the bustling village more resembled a ghost town. Well, except for the shadowed silhouettes as some of the windows of the innermost houses. It also served as a barrier to whatever was still smoking at the center of the town. However, the air was thick with activity; pegasi carrying massive vehicles full of ponies into and out of the deeper city limits.

“Is this normal?” Gympis tentatively brushed another lock of hair from her face. “Things have been… different since my visit last.”

“Luv, nothing since we got in that… house… has been normal,” Viscera immediately made for the bridge.

“That is actually what concerns me. Though a bit different from normal fare, this town used to be flooded with love – now, that is as barren as the streets.”

“Wait, you can tel-? Right. Changeling. Sorry.” Viscera and Gympis were atop the pitted stone bridge. A glance only showed one outside resident – a minotaur sidling into the half-mast door of a hill-nested house built into yet another sprawling tree – and little else. No vantage point was yet given on the source of the smoke at the square. “Right then, time to resort to the first rule of Prizefighter Viscera’s School of Discovery – find the bar, get answers.”

“Hold on. You have a school too?” ‘Daisy’ raised an eyebrow.

“No, it’s a figure of-”

“-Was it next to this place’s one?”

“Seriously, stop-”

“Was it potentially the reason for its disappearance earlier this day?”

“I’m not kidding, lu-”

“- ‘Love’ is a point of interest there. Because apparently after it returned, the-“

“SERIOUSLY, DAISY!” Viscera yelled, her voice a sharp ricochet around the empty grounds of Ponyville. “Just… follow me. We’ll discuss whatever else you’ve got… later.”

“Agreement.” ‘Daisy’ saluted the griffin-impersonating pony, and then fell in line behind her as they made their way into city limits.

The small tree house was left behind them – and so was the braying of the animals in the coops and birdhouses surrounding it – as they moved closer and closer into Ponyville. A quick observation of the smoke contrails showed that the looming circular building – Town Hall, as Gympis told Viscera – still blocked most of the view. Confirmation of this was proved by the crimson pony taking a sight by a series of claw-digging backflips that took her up the side and to the mid-level roof of the similarly built but more elegant building to their left, slight indents still left in the blue walls and white curling highlights from her claws. The diamond-patterned purple roof also nearly left her slipping once on the perch, but still, no perspective on the source of the black pillars of smoke was gained.

It was likely for this reason that Viscera’s descent was a bit less graceful than her trip up, and the two left through the bridge over the river, out of sight just as the door of the building Viscera had screeeed open. A pearl-white unicorn with amethyst hair in a violent mess peeked out, the curled ends of her frazzled mane hinting at more elegant origins. Seeing no answer to the mystery of the landed near the building, her eyes cast down to the floor again and she closed the door, a silent flood of fresh tears running her violet and black mascara down further on her cheeks.

Within the city, there were some signs of more pony life than Viscera would have guessed. Mostly, however, it was from windows and quickly-shut doors. “I’m usually used to reactions like this too, but often after I’ve stolen something valuable.” Viscera mused.

“You have… taken possessions?” ‘Daisy’ inquired.

Viscera shrugged. “As a master thief? You bet. Not from places like these spots though. Half the challenge of thieving is the target, and normal ponies do nothing for that itch.” Her steps continued past the third shut door. “Usually, what I take from the town is from some hidden temple or rich clod’s house. Nothing…” And her voice trailed off. “... anypony would miss… ”

Gympis followed Viscera’s widening eyes, the pony at a dead halt. In front of them was a long building, its front doors already shut. Regardless, the murmurs inside implied it was packed to the gills, as befitting a restaurant with a name so flowingly embroidered across its facade as ‘Café Hay’. However, the reason for the spacious front part of it being so unoccupied was because… well, it was indeed occupied already; by the splayed-out, sun-baked remains of what had once been a pony. Though the main body was not here, two of the hooves had crashed through a table, a smattering of the golden tail littered a third and spilled over into the hay bales surrounding it, and half of its head remained within the metal cradle of an upside-down silver helmet.

“This is… different from last I visited.” Were the words Gympis relayed any more understated, Tartarus would have acquired a new sign.

“If I didn’t need to find a bar before...” Viscera cautiously looked at the side entrance, which was ajar – and had an arrow pointing to it instead of the grisly scene before them. One windowpane was cracked, tinkling out bits of glass onto one of the splayed hay bales nearest the front doors with every slight breeze. “I’m going in.”

“I shall study the helmet further. It looks… very familiar.” ‘Daisy’ was holding up the gory grail within moments.

“Yeah, do that behind the store after I go in. Last thing we need is the docs seeing a pony yuk it up with a skull in front of an eatery.”

“What is a yuk?” The question was ignored by the crimson pony, slamming the door with a touch more force than necessary as the padding of hooves grew and faded away behind her.

Indeed, the facility was packed. Several ponies were huddled around the bar, and judging by the building tower of empty glasses, would soon be singlehoofedly responsible for a cider shortage in Ponyville within the hour. Were it possible, more were crying into the tables clustered around the front of the facility. Viscera could even count the number of times the pony nearest to her had crammed her hoof into the soft wood of her table – seven, the spots of red showing injury despite the likely injured limb hidden under her laid head of bright blue hair. Viscera, taking pity upon her, awkwardly replaced the fallen pair of pink glasses next to her upon that crown of hair, nestled precariously on her horn. Soon, an earth pony with a black jut of hair and a collar loosened at the nape of her neck was incoming with two more jugs of (hopefully) more potent liquid courage.

Turning her attention to the bar, Viscera motioned for a drink. But apparently, the cream-coat bartender knew what order would fall from her lips before she did before he leaned forward past the mob of chattering ponies next to him, swiped a drink from the tray of the server next to him, and presented it to Viscera in one smooth motion.

Taking it, Viscera only heard a hint of “... and I thought moving everything indoors would slow the rush, goodness…” before it was lost within the fresh round of drinks by the flurry of voices before him again. The hint of his cutie mark - a silver raised serving dish with a domed cover - had Viscera thinking of possibly gaining solid food to wash down the brew with.

Viscera took two sips, then counted down as she rose to full height on her rear legs. After all, there were no spare seats, and she needed to be seen above the imbibing crowd for that reply for food. At 2 1/2, however, the door next to her was thrown open once more, and everyponys’ head turned toward Viscera’s direction. The two new ponies filling the thresh, however, were the actual focus this time.

While both were unicorns, the leftmost of the two was almost a head and a half shorter than the companion on her knobby shoulder, her glittering sapphire coat hinting at Crystal Empire origins, unlike her friend. The Crystal Pony’s black hair was a polar opposite to her similarly blue-coated friend, too: swept up into a diamond-shaped knob with an array of pins, frills, and tassels from the thick waves draping around her scalp. The other’s bright orange and yellow hair was almost a shield for her face, as the silver jewel-encrusted cloak around her was for the rest of her body. However, both of their eyes – the shorter one’s light purple, the taller a tear-thick amber – held a tale not even the scene outside would have forced to the wideness they were at.

“Gonna need a round of drinks for everyone here, Savoir, starting with Sassy!” A drawstring-bound bag of gems found its way on the table before her hoof. “By request of Junior Ambassador Cori!”

A cheer throughout the room awarded the shimmering shouter’s gift. One of the few that didn’t – or wasn’t busy clearing their glass to accommodate that gift – was Viscera. “Sure you don’t need mine, squirt? Warmed-over shit is putting it nicely to how you’re looking.” The black-haired unicorn’s coat was marred violet with stains, and her gold corset and indigo held both the pungent smell of hastily applied disinfectant and the marks of a likely battle with something high-velocity. However, Cori’s concern was elsewhere.

“I’m fine, have enough power on my own to keep myself together. Saddles has priority!” Cori laid a foreleg on the table the blue and black haired ponies were busy chugging away at. “Curse it, a three-point trip to here from Trottingham wasn’t supposed to end at near-terminal velocity!”

“Yeah, I can think of others that fared wor-wait, terminal what-now?” Viscera’s ears perked up through her hood.

“Don’t really feel like repeating anything today.” Cori shook her head. “But since you’re asking…”

And with that, her horn shot a thin beam of magenta light into the mug in Viscera’s hoof. Within seconds, it and its contents nearly fell as Viscera used both hooves to brace it – due to it swelling to thrice its original size. “You’ll thank me for that while I tell you.”

“Taking the under on that bet, but I’m up for good surprises today.” Viscera took a third swig and successfully forced down a coughing fit at the spice in the drink that the white unicorn next to her failed to.

Her black-haired companion to smack the lodged tonic the rest of the journey with a cry of “Celestia’s grace, Vin, I said one swallow for a reason!”

A readjustment of Sassy’s slump at her granting of a foaming cup of maroon liquid later, Cori went on. “I was supposed to escort Sassy to the Boutique for a nightcap with Rarity, but a warzone sprang up the second we got past the library! Then something hit the center plaza - nearly sent us both into Bucephalus Brook! I wouldn’t have given my cloak to Saddles, but, goodness, after she got a body-full of – Daisy?!”

The forest-green mane of the aforementioned pony was jutting out from the doorframe of Café Hay now. “So I’m called. Viscera, a word about my discovery – both of the scene out front and my situation’s update.”

“Yeah, got it.” Viscera turned to Cori. “Sorry, Moneybags, got a cup I need to share with Daisy there.”

“She’s… with you?” Cori’s voice had almost dropped to a whisper.

“Guilty.”

“Well… Um, Daisy?” Cori motioned to the bar. “Melody and the DJ need chatter real quick, you’re free?”

“I… am not sure I can-”

“Seven seconds. You can time me, and I’ll be out of your and Vis’ hair.” Cori clapped her hooves together. “As a favor.”

“If you are owed one…” And the pony sidled into the restaurant.

“Wait, that’s DJ PO-” The disgusted crinkle of Viscera’s snout was soon owed to the catch of breath as the ambassador grabbed both her and Saddles in her arms and blew out of the door. Seconds after, she drew it to only a crack of sunlight before turning to the two ponies before her, eyes flashing between them and the increasingly relaxed atmosphere inside Café Hay.

“Right, and the dragging wa-”

“Have no clue right now, and there’s a whole field of ponies to counteract if it’s what I fear, but that’s not Daisy.” Cori hissed.

Viscera turned pink in concern, a sharp whiff of breath taken in by Saddles beside her. “Sure of this, sport? I mean, I’m -”

“Never been surer.”

“And the proof?”

“Proof? Proof?! ” Cori spluttered, her irises rocketing into pinpricks at Viscera’s nonchalance. “Because Saddles is wearing Daisy!”

Cori tore off the cloak around her unicorn friend – and suddenly a shriek finally erupted. Viscera’s, however, paled before Saddles. Blood matted down the unicorn’s torso, forehooves and flank, her fur beneath the collarbone clumped and knotted with plasma and sweat. Her black dress was almost plastered to her, with large hocks of very familiar green hair, the hints of pink skin flitting though the sharp folds in the fabric. “The impact in Ponyville pulped her! I only had enough wipes to clean my stuff and her face!”

“Sure here’s a goal for her and not the E-freakin’-R there?!” Viscera was at Saddle’s side in a second, seeing the worst of the welded remains of the real Daisy over the dropped helmet behind the tall and trembling unicorn.

“Vis, after the crashes that followed our river ride, that part of Ponyville’s probably halfway underground! And even before that collision, I saw Ponyville Hospital was packed – if it’s not locked tight, it should be!”

Viscera looked around wildly. Then she craned down to meet Cori’s eyes. “Fine. Gotta keep a secret then. That Daisy is-”

“- going to need all hooves and claws on Deck for this crisis center move! Including yours!”

Three ponies' heads – two of them horned – whipped to meet the newest pair of equines turning onto the restaurant grounds. The first was fluttering above the ground, the sweep of flared spikes making up her vivid orange-into-white mane only matched by the fire in her silver eyes. Her wings, at the outline and innermost feathers, shared that same pattern of color as her hair, and the heaving of her suit-jacket bound chest hinted that her breaths had more to do with her mood than her levitation.

The other being was a griffin – an actual one, by his large golden bill’s indication. “I swear to you, Gaston, you and your friend's move out of Cloudsdale will be the first thing I bring up with Mayor Mare, now if THIS -” And the pegasus’ hoof swept out to the carnage still littering the front of Café Hay. “– isn’t enough incentive to move your tail feathers now, may I humbly remind you we still have no idea where Celestia and Luna are?!”

“My… my goodness, Mayor Rappid. You’re right, that was selfish of me. You can expect me at the bazaar evac site in two minutes.” And with a flap, the griffon was gone.”

Once again, a head popped out from the restaurant’s doorjamb – this time of ‘Daisy’. “Apologies, Vis, but I really must speak on the condition I find myself in."

A startled eep blew out from between Cori’s clenched teeth. Vis was quick to resolve the issue, dragging Gympis out by the hooves and holding her up by her armpits in front of her. “There, between me and you now, Cori! We’ll have the pegasus settle this up right now! Mayor… come on, I know this o-?”

“WHAT?!” And with that, the grey-and-white mayor was in her face, the question being another unwelcome surprise. Unfortunately, it would come in duplicate, as a final shudder of ‘Daisy’s’ body. A second later, a low but still encompassing emerald fire melted away whatever was left of the veneer of the intact pink pony, revealing the magenta eyes and black chitin of the real Gympis. “It seems you now know my issue previous, Viscera. The love in this town has hit… critical lows.”

Immediately, the changeling found herself slack in Rappid’s arms. “It won’t be the only thing, monster, now tell me what you’ve done with the Princesses!”

“WAIT!” Cori scampered up between both pegasus and prisoner, sending Viscera cartwheeling into the bush from the lost balance. As she starting spitting out leaves, her jaw dropped at Cori’s next work.

“Can’t believe I’m saying this, but I don’t think this is the drone you’re looking for.”

“And how would you know this?” The snarl of Rappid was still directed at the same direction as her eyes, right into the weakly motioning shapeshifter.

“This, for starters.” And with this, the Crystal Pony flashed out a newspaper under the pegasus’ eyes. “Nabbed it from the train station as Sassy and I got to Ponyville. Note anything that’s not familiar?”

“… Point. She’s clearly not a he.” Precisely one hoof stopped pinning Gympis to the wall. “Forgive me if I don’t let it off the hook yet. Apologies, though, I haven’t got your name – or that of the griffin that helped out in its capture.”

“Viscera, the bloody one in the cape’s Sassy, the bloody buddy’s name is Ambassador Cori…”

“Junior Ambassa-”

“… and speaking of such, I remember yours now.” Stomping up to upright position, and ignoring Cori doing the same in exasperation, the crimson pony shook her head free of branches. “The new Mayor of Cloudsdale, right?”

“Rappid Fires, one and the same.” The mayor’s turn to greet him gave the briefest flash of her cutie mark – a four-point pair of hoofprints in the middle of a diagonal gout of flames the same color as her mane. “And you flatter me; it's a temp position while Cloudsdale adjusts to the new changes in Equestria, short-lived as I hope they are.” Her gaze turned to Gympis again. “Like the ‘don’t bother us, we won't bother you’ thing we have with these usurpers.”

“Think we’ve got a different type of usurper to be worried about right now.” Cori quizzed, quietly giving back the silver cloak to Sassy, who donned it again with shaking hooves.

“And that changeling’s name is Gympis – apparently her hive’s lying low now,” Viscera added.

“Yes…” whispered the changeling, slowly sliding to the floor despite Rappid’s slacking grip on her. “I only seek the reason behind our queen’s death – and why another changeling was present during it. The events are too obscured, even now… but if that threat has managed to turn changeling against changeling….”

“That threat… good gracious, not even I can believe it.” Mayor Rappid shook her head. “And I’m not su - hold on, a queen’s death?” Her eyes narrowed again? “You’re from Chrysalis’ hive?!”

“Right, new question; does it matter?” Viscera was between the enraged leader and cowering drone at this. “Blood’s all over every other corner of this damned town, and right now, she’s the only one who seems concerned with finding out what’s going down!“

“What’s go – Viscera, how long and high’s the rock you’ve been living under?”

Viscera, after a second, lifted the fake beak and goggles, rolling her eyes at Rappid’s gaze. “Just gotten back to civilization from my travels at southern Equestria. Forbidden Jungle?”

“Doing what?” Cori asked, her face brightening.

Viscera gave a slight grin, then unlatched a sack at her side and opened it to her, revealing a bed of bits and four curling snail-shell like stones at the top of it – one red, one black, one white and one yellow. “Collecting severance.”

“I’m a bit concerned with how legit the business that put you in contact with that.”

“That makes one of us – the sandpaper-chinned shit-head Cabelleron bucked me between the ribs when I was counting my cut. Those little stones at the top my catch here got enough holes open in his bags that I could get out the temple from what dropped out without getting lost.”

And with that, Viscera pushed her visor set back over her face, moving closer to Gympis. “So yeah. If Gymps here is in Horseshit Creek, so am I – the greatest thief who ever lived.” Her gaze hardened. “Know how screwed up the situation is that I’d rather be in your custody than whoever did this.” No answer to the identity of ‘this’ was needed. Saddles shifted in her robe with another quiet sob.

“Yes. Well…” Mayor Rappid was almost too fast to see, but Gympis soon had two white, puffy bonds attached to her forehooves. A third was set around her torso, her wings now buzzing impotently against their new restraints. “That should keep you from shifting or bailing. We’re heading to Mayor Mare, to see how your stories check out.”

“None for me?” came the dry response from the crimson pony next to her.

“I’ll trust you to stay here with me – and punt you back into the Forbidden Jungle from here if you don’t. Savvy?” the pegasus mayor said.

“Works.” Viscera dropped to all fours and followed the mayor. “Also luv, may I say you’re the first thing I’ve seen today that’s scary without being outright traumatising.”

“Thanks, I guess.” Rappid tucked Gympis under one of her forelegs and set off.

“Wait!” And suddenly the sparkling Cori was ahead of her, heading in the same direction. Sassy was being guided by her, hair almost shrouding her entire cone of vision.

“Seriously… Cori, you’re gonna have to slow down.“ The mayor looked down. “I’m not necessarily sure-”

“Believe me – a situation teats-up like this, I’m needed.” Cori’s offered hoof to Rappid was taken with more stride than Viscera’s previous attempt with the indigo-haired DJ. “Besides, the mission was to see Sassy safely given to Rarity’s care, and unless you’re up for seeing Lethal Lightshow Number Two erupt on a repeat trip to Ponyville Hospital… ”

“Again, point.” Rappid was in front once more, flying past the carnage with the changeling on her back without a second thought. Cori and Sassy followed, looking for all the world like they were being propped up by nothing but second thoughts – and not just about the detour to Café Hay. Viscera was the last behind them, eyes swiping left and right for anything that might pop up. Once again though, it seemed all that would greet anypony in this section of Ponyville was already clammed up in the restaurant behind them – two of its glasses still in the hooves of Sassy and Viscera, unnoticed by Savoir.

As the group traveled east and into Market Row, more conversation erupted. First off was Gympis, her voice recovering as she whispered to Viscera that indeed, the desiccated helmet belonged to a Royal Guard, and what one was doing so far out in Ponyville without a Princess nearby was indeed lending gravity to the theory of a takeover attempt.

Rappid, who had spent until the fifth Viscera swig of cider trying to dissuade the crimson pony from talking to a prisoner, had her attention drawn by Cori re-presenting the Ponyville Express to her, wanting to know if most of the stories in it were as true as Prince Shining Armor had feared when he had sent Cori on her assignment. Each nod by the mayor only served to draw Cori’s head lower to the ground. By the time the mention of the Wonderbolt killings had been confirmed, Cori had nearly head-butted down Sassy Saddles’ rear legs when the unicorn had stopped in front of her.

Sassy’s halt, however marked by the near-cardiac Cori’s collision almost gave her, was for good reason. After having passed three streets through Market Row, the route forward was blocked. What it was blocked by drew gasps from the cerulean ambassador behind Sassy as well; a fallen golden chariot. The abandoned vehicle had several brutal dents in it from a clear trip into two of the buildings behind it before it cut a rut into the street before them. The front axle was nearly gone entirely, the scrap of three spokes sticking out of its right side by a shred of metal hinting at this being four-wheeled before its journey downward. The white-on-gold sweeps of its front bulwark and throne-like backing, however, were slathered with a shade of red from the front that billowed out around the back. Almost as if…

“…this chariot’s steerers were attacked while its passenger was in it.” Gympis completed the thought winding its way through four ponies’ heads like a cruel strain of Poison Joke.

“Yeah, and I think I can guess who.” Viscera pointed at the odd height that the slosh of blood fanned out around - almost to the top of the chariot, and even then sparsely. “Stain cuts out too high to be a normal pony. Who’s got enough height to roll with Royal Guards in something like this?”

“Celestia!” Finally, Sassy had spoken. Her chattering teeth almost severed her tongue over the effort, however. “I… we’ve gotta get out of here, if she’s-“

“Then she’d need us here, protecting her little ponies.” Rappid cut in, looking swiftly to the right - and the field of tall tents poking up from a peninsula a stone bridge across. “Besides, no one’s confirmed her whereabouts yet. And the crisis center is that way anyhow.” Her outstretched hoof pointed to the path over that very bridge. “Let’s go.”

Over that very bridge was what took a near half-hour for the crimson-swathed equine to see – ponies en masse outdoors. Most of their effort, however, was in setting up the tent encampment around them, a forest of fabric all its own that could rival Everfree. No one even raised a head to look at Rappid and her chitin-covered passenger.

The looming shapes of these brightly pinstriped peaks of cloth held electric typewriters and tickers, medical satchels and bugles, several maps of Ponyville itself, even a cable-threaded contraption of… something with a horn at each side balanced preciously on a blue metal box and was surrounded by cobalt grates that bulged into its tent’s stands. However, the blaring hues of these tools were only made eerier by their contrast to the darkened expressions of the ponies toiling under and around them. Shouldn’t be a surprise. All this chaos, and carnage… the hustle and bustle going on should be as sullen as it is? It was Cori’s spoken thought that answered Vis’ unspoken one.

“This shouldn’t be happening here.”

As they went into the largest of the canopies, Cori’s voice safely coddled around its folds and ripples, Viscera had to agree. Far as she knew, Ponyville was the favored city of the immortal sun-god of Equestria, the genesis of the Elements’ revival after a millennium, (well, besides the two that apparently got locked up for some brutal murder some months back, thought Viscera, but four out of six wasn’t bad) the locale where Discord and so many havoc-sowers had met their match.

Something wrong hung in this village’s air now, and it wasn’t just of oxidizing copper and magic-conjured ozone.

And it seemed like the biggest informant in this twon wasn’t in a bar after all, but before them right now. Besides five more booths beside her that were made of stronger – and more colorless - steel than the kind behind her that held that strange setup, the fraying but healthy silver mane and gold-barred spectacles centered out the sharp blue eyes of an earth pony turning to meet Rappid. “I see you’ve brought more help, Rappid, and despite me saying we were fine here, I appreci-who is that?!” The last part came as a barely concealed splutter, as Rappid unceremoniously let Gympis down to the ground.

“Says her hive’s too busy checking under its bed to have been behind those spat of murders and the Princesses’ disappearance.” The Rappid reply only allowed the flax-coat pony before her to adjust her white collar, the pink puff at its center bouncing with her intakes of breath. “The three ponies behind me caught her, Mayor Mare, and with your permission, I’d like to question it further.”

“It has a name, so do we.” Viscera raised a hoof. “Vis, Gympis’s the pink-eyed wonder before you, the gal in the dress is Cori, and the unicorn beside her is…”

But Sassy had already sidled over to a corner of the large tent and buried her head in her forelegs, shaking once more as her cloak rode down to reveal red-tainted orange locks again. “… gonna need a bath and a hug. In that order, please.”

Rappid cleared her throat. “My requests, first, Mayor.”

“Granted.” The rush in Mayor Mare’s voice sent a buzz through Cori’s spine, the authority from grey-haired pony electrifying the air. “But I cannot grant the first one you came to me with a visit ago.”

“Please, ma’am.” Suddenly the white pegasus was at ground level with Mayor Mare, her lips pursing in anticipation of her plea. “It would go a long way toward alleviating Holiday and Lofty’s concerns over the Ponyville tragedy.”

“I highly doubt that, Rappid.”

“Please, at least let them be the judg-”

“- because they already are the judges of that.” A crisp cut-off from Mare silenced Rappid. “They’ve gotten their notice in private, as have all direct parents of those related to the fourteen victims. Not even the newspapers will have specific details, and I should think you would know why!”

“Yes, and I know of the need to keep from causing panic, but-”

“Then please continue with the mountain of other duties you have, Rappid."

Rappid fought down her next gulp of oxygen. “I beg of you Rappid, reconsi-”

“I was first on the scene and will have it burned into my brain until the day I die, which that experience has made at least a decade sooner! The answer is no!” Mayor Mare yelled. “This is not just for my sake – two of the town guards quit after seeing the scene, one’s now the newest resident of Ponyville Hospital!” Her voice shrank to a whisper. “Don’t ask me to risk filling the bed next to him with a Cloudsdale resident. Don’t make me do this… to a fellow mayor.”

Rappid’s hooves plowed into her orange mane. “Fine. Alright. Let me just get – the changeling!”

Gympis’s recovery was faster than expected, as she was busy scouting out one of the iron-braced boxes before them. Her snout was to the ground in contemplation, despite her hooves and wings still being bound. “It seems that this place has held bloodied forms too. The impressions from the ground hint at medical equipment. Yet, the amount of blood I sense… it does not track as from a full-grown pony.”

“… did she just place herself into one of the cells.” Mayor Mare’s reply was not a question.

With a buck of Rappid’s hips, the door closed and clicked behind the changeling, her magenta gossamer whirling in surprise over the Cloudsdale mayor’s action. “Saved a trip. Now, changeling, to your point about being part of Chrysalis’ hive, I’d like a full recount of your locations here.”

“Great. Good hustle there Blazesaddles.” Viscera’s disdainful snort caused Rappid to slowly crane her head to her, even as Gympis tried and failed to push the cell’s door open. “Only did nothing to a single pony since coming here, even before being cuffed. This how priority works around here?”

“It does not, let me fix that.” And with a snap, two more fluffy bonds were slapped around the ends of Viscera’s hooves, the crimson pony’s eyes whipping to them in shock as Rappid turned back to face Gympis. “Thank me for keeping the thief’s hooves bound later, Mare.”

“Wait, she’s-?”

“Hold on! If she was as dangerous as you think, she could have easily overpowered me too!” Cori found her voice as well, just in time to cut off Mayor Mare’s inquiry. “And she was the one who brought Gympis to you in the first place!”

“Junior Ambassador Cori, your confession is much obliged. Tell Vis I’m sorry about this, but we have to be sure of everything.” Rappid consoled her.

“I… have to agree with my fellow leader.” Mayor Mare pushed back her glasses onto her snout, the sweat coming dangerously close to sending them off. “The danger of a free changeling at this crucial time for Ponyville cannot be understated, especially if there is any relation to the... monster... I saw at Ponyville Elementary… ” Her eyes went toward the slight interruption in the triangle of light billowing into the tent. “It seems we have another who has witnessed the carnage for herself. Excuse me.”

As Mayor Mare went to fetch the visitor. Cori turned to Viscera. “Sorry about this, Vis. I didn’t think we’d have to break out the cuffs for everyone this early.”

“Actually, the fault’s mine.” Rappid snaked a cloven hoof through her mane, the troubled tresses of hair straightening into place again. “It’s just... there have been some break-ins at the stores before that Gaston and I just got back from. Can’t blame them, can’t enable them either. So when Vis here helpfully divulged her occupation…”

“… something I thought would pale in comparison to the graveyard's worth of scenery next to me…”

“… I had to cover bases.” Rappid finished Viscera’s snide addition. “I’ll talk further with… Gympis then. You have my word it will be civil from here on out, Ambassador, no need to roll Armor with this.”

“No problem.” Cori chirped. “I’d… like to comfort Sassy myself, see if she’s up to make it to Carousel Boutique without me.”

“And I guess I’ll sit here quietly and hope I’m not g… “ Viscera’s eyes flitted to the flap in the tent and her tone went three octaves lower. “… Luna’s leaking labia, hide me!”

Before Cori could address Viscera’s curse – likely in the negative, considering the hoof she’d snapped up to her mouth in embarrassment – Viscera was behind Rappid, fluffing out her wings to shield her from view. Inside the makeshift hub stepped Mayor Mare and an auburn pegasus, almost hidden between her thick traveling cloak of deep fuchsia and her grey cloche hat. Also, Mayor Mare had a large pair of red glasses tucked into her collar that wasn’t there before. It may have been the pegasus’ possession, all the better since her floor-locked gaze would have sent it tumbling from her face.

Even from her cover, though, Viscera visibly bristled. Not as much as her barrier between the new winged pony and old. “I’m sorry, exactly what am I hiding you from?” hissed Mayor Rappid to Viscera.

“That sanctimonious hermit of a hack A.K. Yearling is who.” Viscera mocked, moving to conceal herself further. “I’d recognize that look anywhere: nice muumuu and hat, was the good taste left in the free bowl of soup that came with it?”

“You know her?” Despite Cori clearly talking to the shifting pile of robes and disgust behind the white pegasus, Yearling took no notice, simply bracing herself against the table that Mayor Mare soon cleared for her.

“Yeah – and yet you’d never know, considering how little she speaks of me. Will pound the pulp with tales about that overrated killjoy Daring, though! Celestia-” Viscera rolled her eyes at Cori’s anticipatory wince. “I'm sorry, but chisel up a pair, Blueberry Ice - I can just hear A.K. now. ‘Ooh, bet Daring Do could help us out of this!’ ‘Ooh, Daring Do’s prolly got a priceless treasure to give if she were here right now.’ ‘Ooh-”

“Why would anyone do this?!” And suddenly, the author’s entire mood broke before the three ponies’ eyes, tears flooding out the lacquered wood of the table. Mayor Mare was at her side in a second and so was Cori, quickly rifling through the pockets on her dress for something to help Yearling wipe her tears.

“… you know, I did imagine her saying that too, but over a copy of ‘Daring Do and the Trek to the Terrifying Tower’.”

“VISCERA!” Rappid roared, startling Viscera and finally getting Yearling’s attention in a whirl of grey hair that nearly sent her narrow-brimmed hat tumbling.

“What? Look, I’m sorry for the brat too, but that book was a travesty in writing! Especially wit-”

Viscera was too busy talking to Rappid to notice the flash of ferocious cover bloom in Yearling’s eyes, but not her curt response. “A moment, Mare? I’ve got some stuff to look over in my tent. I can see why I was called on such short notice.”

“Absolutely. Would you like Ambassador-”

“-Junior Ambassador-”

“-Cori, yes. Would you like her to – my goodness, hold on!” But A.K. Yearling was out the door flap, the tails of her cloak the only hint to her prescence.

“I mentioned the sanctimony, right?” Viscera added.

“Bite your tongue, please! That person is a world-class author, and she was called in because of the shortage of helping hoofs here! Stars above, she even volunteered to help with the investigation, considering one of her biggest fans was seen at the scenes of the crime!” Rappid moved back towards the cells, finally leaving Viscera alone.

“Are you talking of the one called Rainbow Dash?” Gympis chirped up.

“Yes, and I cannot bear to stomach what blackmail that murderess Twilight must have on her to drag her around as a shield from her heinous actions.” Rappid caught a twinkling tear before it could fall down her cheek, ignoring the violent shudder Mayor Mare gave at the mention of the cyan pegasus. “Was a false conviction not enough for that poor soul?”

“I dunno…” Cori shifted at her position. “That Rainboom we saw before the impact Saddles and I had, mayor… didn’t seem like something done in hopes of a dodge.”

“Goodness, that’s terrible!” gasped Rappid. “They’ve even made her start attacking her princess! I can only hope they’re both alright. We must have eyes on Celestia immediately.”

Viscera calmly paced to Cori. “Wait, there was a Rainboom there? Ain’t the velocity needed for that impossible to dodge if aim-”

THWAK!

And on the subject of aim, the incoming rear-hoof to Viscera’s jaw couldn’t have been placed better by a microscope. With her aerodynamics question – and breath – cut short in a violent tumble to the dirt, the attacker flipped back onto her haunches, teeth bared, explorer’s cap and shirt lightly dusted with perspiration, and silver hair a swirl around her. “Back, mayor! I’ll handle Viscera!”

“Oh, and of fuckin’ course as I spoke of the devil!” yelled the bundle of red robes and black wrappings that was once an upright and uptight Viscera. “How’d Daring Do get here?”

“What? The Do of Daring?” Gympis chirruped through her bars. “Have you come to investigate too?”

Daring took one quizzical look at the cell containing the changeling, then went back to staring down Viscera. A soft thump heralded the fall of the large bag the crimson pony had once held, drawstring helpfully keeping its contents from decorating the ground. “Coulda sworn I taught enough of a lesson to you at Vanhoover! Never thought you’d have the stones to go prizefighting in Ponyville, but right now? That’s low.”

“Luv, I have not taken a single thing from this town, lives especially!” With a nip-up, Viscera was back on her feet and circling out her claws out in a battle stance. One swept the ground, grabbing and guarding her bit bag at her side. “Thanks to my latest pull though, darling Do, I do have the stones! Four in fact!”

Rappid noticed something unsettling in her fluid motions – namely, how she was doing them when… “Wait, did you get past the cuffs!?”

Viscera pawed back the ground with her hoof. Seconds later, the cloud cuffs were spinning on a talon attached to her right hoof through the web of bandages around it. “Oh yeah – coulda did that at any time too, unless you think these claws are just for attracting mares.” Merrily waving at Rappid’s reddening face at this, Viscera was almost taken by surprise at Daring’s next attack – if not for the somersault she took at noticing it. However, it did catch something else – her bag, send bits, and those same our stones twirling into the air.

Ignoring Mayor Mare’s cry of. “Wait no, don’t start fighting in here-!” Viscera would end up dodging two wheel kicks before a leg sweep by Daring sent her to one knee. The axe kick that would have crashed upon her head, however, was caught by the crimson pony, and as Viscera and as the two treasure huntresses rose to sock each other in the face, the door flap was thrown up once more.

Only one pony stood in the thresh now, but the look on his face was one of pure horror. Both Viscera and Daring were held back by it, enough for Mayor Mare to finally wrench Daring away from Viscera and Rappid to drag back Viscera. Cori’s attention, however, was drawn to the latest edition of the Canterlot Times upon his left forehoof.

Viscera, having grabbed the four shell-like stones in her left forehoof as the white pegasus corralled her, yanked herself free from Rappid. “Seriously? She attacked me first!”

“Sorry for the fiasco here, Davenport, is everything okay?” Mayor Mare had shuttled the stoic Daring into the same corner as Sassy and shot her enough of a steel-scorching glare to reduce her to impotently pointing hooves at Viscera.

“Forget families, we need to move this entire city, right the hell now!”

Mayor Mare recoiled. “That, in addition to being near-impossible, would be sacrilege to consider without hearing from the Princesses!”

“If this headline is even halfway true – I assure you you’ll be hearing plenty from a Princess soon! Just nothing intelligible!” However, Davenport’s frantic swinging of the aforementioned article sent it skittering before Gympis’s cell.

Before Mayor Mare could react, four pairs of eyes affixed itself on the lede, and the four stones in Viscera’s hoof were ground into each corner of the paper to keep it from fluttering off again. But for these four, that motion combined with what they saw would bring more than their voices in unison, as Viscera, Rappid, Cori, and Gympis were left gaping at the splash picture.

“Holy shit; is that Princess Celestia’s bloody head on that scepter?!”

“What the hell, Twilight’s MADE HERSELF QUEEN?!”

“What are they doing to Lun- Oh Tartarus, I’m gonna be SICK!”

“They do have the changeling escapee with them! But-but how?!”

And their clarion cries were met was thrilling dins – from the four stones pinning the ominous paper. Daring let out a “What in the world –” before a flash of light large enough to engulf it emitted from them. All four rocketed out towards the earth pony, pegasus, Crystal Pony, and changeling. In three cases, the stones all but disappeared into their coats, soon engulfing them in amber auras. The fourth aimed like an arrow at Cori’s heart, ricocheted off her chest with enough force to send her skidding and embedded itself firmly in the ground next to the shell-shocked Mayor Mare and Davenport.

When the glow subsided, those three ponies had been replaced with something hauntingly new. Their coats had turned into shining, smoothened gold; a luster almost similar to Cori’s. However, there were visible spots of black running down their legs in ever-growing columns. Each of their feet no longer ended in hooves, but in small white claw-tipped paws, digging into the soft soil and wood of the hub. And any hint of their manes above the joint where the head met neck had vanished, leaving their red stars of eyes and sharp-tipped ears unimpeded for all to see.

However, at their necklines, luscious locks of albino hair billowed out to softly drape across their collars and shoulders. And behind those new manes, for Rappid and Gympis at least, sweeping wings of gold swerved out to scrape at the floor, the former pegasus’s inset with blackened feathers while Gympis’s arches were webbed out by multicolored webs of transparent gloss that looked like stained-glass panes.

“Kay… I ask what the hell just happened, you promise not to raise all types of it. We all good?” came the distorted plea from the Viscera-in-gold.

A dust-yellow hoof shot-up immediately. “For once, I think I do know what this is!” It seemed Daring Do would be the first to break the din and keep Mayor Mare, Sassy, and Davenport’s jaws from hitting the floor. “You came from that Forbidden Jungle, didn’t you, Vis?”

“With a certain yellow Doctor I’ve yet to repay for getting the jump on me. But yes.”

The treasure huntress immediately knelt to pick up the remaining shell-like artifact. “It’s an Equilixir. I can go into more detail with this when I get to my log, but right now? You’re all cursed.”

“Wait, with what?” Cori ran up to the pegasus. “Can we find the cure anywhere?”

“Not sure. But Cadence might know. Getting you to drop these forms is the bigger issue now.” Daring said.

“Well, if this is some curse, it’s a weird way of manifesting.” Rappid clasped her hooves together in contemplation – only to soon start thrashing in confusion as the glow erupted around her and left her as her untouched white coat and winged form again. Even her main had returned to normal, orange-on-white locks whipping around with her as she studied herself.

“Amazi… never mind!” Daring Do turned to face the others. “That happened when Rappid calmed down – you two, try that too!”

A sick wrenching of iron greeted her as Gympis almost walked through the bars of her cell, the metal giving way under her trotting body like it was tissue paper. “Ah. It seems these forms are rather durable.” A moment of concentration only served to leave Gympis frustrated. “I cannot transform in this state. Regardless, this form requires further study. Perhaps it is something that was sought out the day previous by the Element of Magic.”

“The day previou – damn, we forgot about Twilight!” Mayor Mare was up in arms within seconds, as Gympis and Viscera de-formed as well. “First her becoming queen, now this!”

“At least we can control what we’ve got – luv, there’ll be riots here in minutes!” Viscera yelled.

“Not in the middle of an evacuation, there’s not!” Rappid shot back.

KA-BLAM!

“Wanna set a watch to that, chief?” the crimson pony asked as bellowing flames shot off in the distance, near the windmill.

Cori turned to Gympis at this moment, fear keeping her voice low. “You said you were investigating, right?”

“Indeed, Miss Ambassador.” The changeling replied.

“Ju-you know what, nevermind!” Cori threw up her hooves in frustration. “There’s your whole field full of evidence about to go up in smoke! Are you up for keeping that from happening?”

“I… but to help ponies… “ Gympis finally settled for discretion. “I will follow Vis’ lead.”

“Great, cuz it’s right out of this town!” Viscera was already halfway out of the camp.

“Are you-?! Look, we’re already in a national tragedy and about to face another, I’d ask you to learn some empathy, but we’re short one pony to do so, because -”

Mayor Mare’s next two words, despite it not changing the expressions on Cori or Rappid one bit, froze Viscera to the spot. Immediately, her neck craned to Mayor Mare. You mean that… in this town, when...”

“More than just in it, Viscera!”

But Vis was already past Rappid, dragging her out and behind the tent ahead of Mare’s words. Before Rappid could protest, Viscera slammed a hoof to the Cloudsdale mayor’s muzzle. “Shut up. Listen. You and Mare will have my bits, my physical assistance, my foregoing of medical charges from digging through the splinters of Ponyville if you so ask me – on one condition.”

“Which is?” If Rappid was in shock, it didn’t show in her face.

“My first trip into that town will be for one specific pony. I will tell you ‘the flower I sought has been plucked’. On those words, we will not argue, you will take that pony and get them as far away from Ponyville as possible. I’m yours for riot suppression ‘til the fires settle down, even after if need be. Deal?” Viscera whispered.

“… come on, we’ll see if Mayor Mare approves.” The white pegasus led Viscera by the shoulder back in front of the crisis HQ, the indignant Mayor Mare not having left her spot.

“And what do you have?” she asked.

“A volunteer, apparently.” Rappid pulled a hoof along the ground.

“Two if Gymps is game,” Viscera added.

The changeling nodded slowly. “The crime scenes here need preserving.”

Another explosion in the village bathed everyone in light from its distant fury. “Fine, beggars can’t be choosers – set her and Gympis up, put two guards on the changeling on all times!” Mayor Mare yelled.

A yellow blur raced past them, Daring once again adjusting her hat and sidling the remaining yellow stone into her shirt pocket. “I’ll escort Gympis as far as the caravan, then leg this stone up north to study further. Wish I could say more about the Equilixirs here, but…. they may help them endure the flames if they truly want to help.”

“Wait, how do you know-?” Viscera stammered.

“Don’t. Make me regret leaving you here.” The Daring Do death glare remained locked on Viscera, even as the explorer shook Mayor Mare’s hoof. “I’m sorry for leaving on such short notice, but I promise I’ll find a way to come back. Hold me to this if necessary.”

“ T..thank you. And safe journeys.” With this, Daring was gone, a sharp “Come on, Gympis!” causing the changeling taking to her new golden form and floating alongside her. Two city guard ponies, belts heavy with silver canisters, trotted behind her.

“I’ll work up too!” And suddenly, the Crystal Pony was at Mayor Mare’s side again.

“With no protection from the fire? I think-” A flash of Cori’s horn cut off Mare’s dialogue and sent her dress billowing to thrice its original sizes. Wrapping it carefully around herself so only the top of her head was visible, Cori pleaded again.

“Nothing’s getting through fabric this thick unless a pony puts it there on purpose! Please, put me in.”

Mayor Mare stammered but eventually bowed. “Alright then. But see Sassy to Carousel first, I’m not gonna be telling Armor how you got hurt before your task to him was finished.”

“Done! Come on, Sassy, the fires got nowhere near the southern edge of town!” At a gallop, two blue ponies raced out past the makeshift crisis center.

Mare’s next words were to Davenport. “Call the main fire unit, if they’re not out already, have them start at the center of Ponyville and fan out – douse and rescue! Rappid and Vis will work their way from each end of the city, towards you in the center! And one last thing…”

Mare turned to Viscera and Rappid.

“You may need aliases for this. Normally I’d not recommend this, but you’ve got forms good enough to mask your appearance, and if… that damned Queen… makes a return visit…”

“Wholly understandable.” Rappid nodded. “Goldilock will work for me, and Viscera will have…”

“Viscera,” came the blunt reply from the crimson pony.

“Think the name has to be different.”

“Trust me, this isn’t my real name. And if that headline’s right, no one from here’s learning it anytime soon.” Viscera left at a trot, a clap of her hooves bringing back her golden sheer of a coat as it did Rappid’s, sharp contrasts against the night sky. “Got anything else?”

“These.” Three bandoliers, filled with canisters, found their way in the two mutated ponies’ hooves. They were of a similar model as the ones the Gympis-watching town guard ponies had on. ”Point. Fire. Watch the actual fires die. The last one’s for Cori, so whoever can meet her the fastest…”

“…will be me.” And with that, two belts trailed behind Mayor Rappid as she took to the air in one direction. Viscera gave a curt nod to Mayor Mare.

“In and out – should be thirty minutes we’re held up with this fiasco, tops,”

Then she was off too, a shining golden dart aimed at the direction of Golden Oak Library.

The progress of Rappid, alias Goldilock, took her past that bent-up chariot the group had passed earlier and beyond. Speeding down the smoke-thickened alleys of Market Row, the looming Town Hall seemed to beckon from among the field of flames licking away in various stores near it, a silent plea for salvation before it could be burned at the stake.

Soon, Goldilock’s eyes caught the first hints of a Royal Guard chariot – from its trajectory, barreling from the spires of the distant and defenestrated Canterlot - settling down further north-east, away from the blazes. It was still too far parked to see either who they were carrying, or why a tan pegasus swathed in black armor was its sole navigator through the flames.

Electing to coordinate her efforts with them before heading to find Cori, the pegasus mayor swooped low. These let her breakthrough two starting fires and stop a scuffle between Matilda and two unruly earth ponies without breaking stride, allowing the elderly donkey the chance to escape her tormentors.

One block later, and she could see the Hall straight down the left street, flanked by the half-consumed Silent Chapel on its right side and the twinned masks framing the Ponyville Theater on the left. Currently, suppression foam was being fired at the chapel to prevent its blaze of destruction from reaching the other buildings, casting even greater shadow across the façade of the Theater.

A scream behind her, however, caught her attention. Immediately, the golden pegasus flitted around the boulevard, convinced Matilda may have found mayhem again. However, the victim this time seemed alone – a flailing silver pegasus with a curving crescent of blonde locks. Recognition came quickly to Goldilock, however.

“M-Miss Hooves?! I thought you were still at the Admin Building; you were near unmovable and inconsolable! What are you doing here?”

Derpy’s eyes wouldn’t open, her piercing shriek continuing. Surely, thought Goldilock, she – oh wait, the Equilixir form! “Don’t worry Derpy, this new look is just for safety – now let’s get you out of-”

And then two perforated hooves plowed into Goldilock’s neck and side, the impact letting out a hollow HWANG as she was placed through the wall of the house next to her. The glass of the window next to the hole she made in the abode even webbed and bowed inward from the force.

The instigator, however, was likely not worthy of being bowed to in any fashion. Jet-black chitin coated every inch of his body. His mohawk of a frill that ran down the crown of his head followed the downward angle of his narrowed eyes. Black-on-green bat wings loomed over him and the screaming Derpy like a demon’s claws. Probably fitting, since the long spaded tail of his whipped to point at the impression the golden-pegasus’ crash had made not four feet from him. “Quick, Flash Sentry - d’you think the crash fucked up our guest enough?”

“I... I mean, probably.” That came from the Royal Guard that had steered the chariot earlier. His armor had undergone a change; while the gold plates layering his helmet and torso were thick as ever, the color was but a highlight against sharp black. The hair, however, forced up by the headdress, still fanned out as an indigo shock. Nevertheless, his wings were out too, a spread of tan feathers fluttering softly as he looked around warily. “But I can’t say I think she was out to hurt an-”

“Damn pity you work for me, then. Go through that hole and make sure the bitch stays down.”

“… look, Prince Haze, sir…” Flash took several quick steps toward the crash site at the acidic look the changeling shot him, though his courage was not quite as fleeting as his gold-embroidered hooves. “The city’s kinda on fire – a-and even if you’ve wanted to meet this pegasus for some time, I’m not sure she’s in the mood for… y’know… ”

“Not in the mood.” Came the dry response from the prince. With a flick of Haze’s tail, the blonde Derpy was thrown into the other building hard, sliding down its timber framing on her side. “I’m COUNTING on it!”

“W-wait, you’re cou-”

“And I should be doing so more, idiot. You’ve got five to get in that building and find me her friend.”

Flash gulped. “F-five what, si-”

“Four. Three.”

The Royal Guard was through that incision in the front of the house immediately. Sharp teeth and sharper pools of teal followed Derpy Hooves, still stirring on the ground. However, Flash Sentry’s sojourn would only find a pile of crushed barrels, smashed bottles, and no gold pegasus.

An all-too-low purr of “… and now I get both Hooves as motivation to put down the Ponyville riots? Happy. Fucking. Day.”

A flash of gold raced out of the building to meet the changeling, tongue lolled out and trailing a path down the shivering Derpy’s cheek. Two, in fact, but Flash was first out, armor glinting in the fire's glow. “Prince Haze!”

“Unless that other pegasus is on your back, piss off!” howled Haze.

“That’s exactly it sir, there’s nopony there-WAIT, look out!”

Two thumps near the predatory Prince told of how Flash Sentry’s warning came too late. From a spring out of the storage building’s second-floor wing, the very much not incapacitated Goldilock flipped forelegs first over Derpy’s form. She greeted the wide-eyed Toxic Haze with two rear hooves to the snout in a buck sending him spiraling over Ponyville Theater and into the marketplace.

Flash’s jaw dropped in shock. Well, it had gone slack upon seeing the Prince crouched on all fours – five if whatever weird protrusion between n his rear legs counted as one – but it nearly touched the cobbled floor when the gold pegasus’ eyes shot toward him, almost burning holes through his helmet in their intensity. Discretion being the better part of valor, the Royal Guard galloped off to find his callous commander.

Finally able to see the walleyed gold of Derpy’s eyes, Goldilock finally heaved the concussed pony onto her back, turned the corner around the street – and nearly collided with a brown-haired earth pony with a scarf ringing his neck. “I heard a scream, it sounded like – Miss Hooves?! Please, whatever you are, let me have her. I only want to help!”

“So was I; then that new changeling I met checked me into a wall and nearly violated her. Who are you?!” Goldilock’s voice came out as a steeled snarl.

“Changeling? Oh no… My name is Dr. Hooves! Give me Derpy, she’s a family friend! I’ll find her someplace safe – you should too, I just got the latest from the phone I gave the Mayor, that changeling might be -!”

“-’Tis no ‘might’ about it, I will be stomping the life out of that predator. Then handling these fires. Tell me where you’re placing her.”

“My-my house is just down the street after next, last on the right! But-”

“Expect me then. The name is Goldilock.” With a furious wing flap, the scarf was blown back into Dr. Hooves’ eyes as the gold pegasus took off in the same path as Haze, her wings a burnished yellow spark among the flickering embers in the center of Ponyville.

Viscera’s travels were far shorter. Taking to the thatched roofs, straw and burlap flew under her claws as the altered pony ran over the buildings facing Golden Oak. The large brick schoolhouse close by to it was in a similar abandoned state, but it, much like the Everfree hut, was thickly cordoned off by tape. The thief’s response this time was different. “Nope, learned my lesson before.” Her travel went uninterrupted by the urge for investigation – especially for why it had a slight tilt to it, as if it had been moved and re-moved with fledgling accuracy.

Besides, Viscera’s red eyes were scanning the rooftops for a tell, and with her only clue being from Mayor Mare…

“Aha!” Viscera whispered. She could see the raised façade of another royal carriage on the front this time. It was four-wheeled, like Celestia’s, but jet-black. The only thing keeping it from blending into the shadows it cast were its silver highlights and blue-ringed wheels. A dark-gray-coated Royal Guard was corralled to one of the masts at the front through bands of thin chains, preening its bat-like wings as best he could under interlocked layers of dark lavender armor.

If the squeaks and gasps of a clearly distressed pony were any indication, the occupant of the other chain tether – left abandoned on the ground next to a set of claw marks and dark stains – was already in the house. And since the checkerboard collar fluttering on the second-floor banister was proof the pony that Vis was looking for was in there too…

“Damnit damnit damn it,” A moment later, the hint of a snow-white tail slipping through the window’s crack was all that was visible of the altered pony. However, the move inside had granted Viscera three new facts.

First, the room she was in wasn’t even finished in construction, a web of oaken beams giving her free visual access to the floor below.

Second, the bat-winged pony Vis deduced was in this house was not alone; that dark-grey guard was the only female on that floor, helmet off to reveal a nest of tangled, fraying locks of dark violet hair. Only two white bolts zigzagging towards the end on the sides had any order to the mane, a startling contrast to the armor she wore.

Third, her frenzied movements were also not shared by the unicorn next to her, rifling through shelves with measured intent. Strands of twirling spikes cascaded out from his hooves. His coat was even darker than Viscera’s, mane a dark blue increasingly overtaken by streaks of gray itself. But the blackened cape around him, filled with metallic silver swirls at its collar’s edge, seemed to float without wind, his progression through the shelves conducted in silence, unlike the Guard mare. Sweat seemed to slosh off her brow in waves as she leaned down over a blue mane an-”

Wait.

Viscera peered further.

Then her world lurched and heaved as she nearly fell off her perch, hurtling for the door across the room to get away from the grunts and hisses as the mare-”

“Mmmmhhh… “ A sharp gurgle told Viscera more than just the mare’s libido a floor behind her had ended, the snap of the pegasus’ billowing pink hair being yanked concluding with a more bone-rending crunch. “You were right, Shroud, leaving the cells for this shitheap is so… illuminating.”

“It is also inappropriate.” The rumbling drone had to come from Shroud. Which did not help Viscera’s heart rate or mood any. “You were only to subdue the stray so I could find the ledgers hidden here.”

“No lying, my prince.” Suddenly, the clipping of dressed-up hooves pitted away from Viscera. Two more thumps accompanied the movement, too small to be any pony. Books? “I could smell Luna on you and Prince Haze. And you need extra hooves on this front. Ponyville do-”

“Which is why I wish for this detour here to end fast.” Shroud cut her off. “Your first trip here was to show how the first dictate of your queen works.”

“Hope I satisfied.”

“It was adequate. Her death was… inspired.” A final thump accompanied the move. “It is not here. I will move to the cellar to check further. Dispose of th-”

CREEAK!

Not even Viscera moved, but she, unlike the other two ponies below her, could see the movement of green eyes behind the new door in the hallway. Viscera’s eyes widened. ‘Holy hell, it’s-‘

“You heard that too, my prince?”

“Indeed, Commander Hel. Stay. There are more strays.” And with a speed unparalleled by anything she had seen before, Viscera bore witness Prince Shroud’s charge. His first stride took him up the curving stairway. The second carried him down it in one go, pulverized the door hiding the pony behind it, and nearly sending Viscera tumbling down that hall in its wake. Shroud took no notice of her, however, the hacking gasps of the mystery pony being his focus.

“It is you again.” How could his tone not change after exerting so much effort?! Viscera’s mind reeled. “Perhaps Hel requires another training toy, then.”

And suddenly, Viscera’s fears shot away. Her forward leap guided her claws home into the graying tail of the prince. Before he could blink, the pony was yanked away from his quarry, and after one loop in the spacious hallway, was hurtled through the roof and plaster wall with the force of a runaway train, a wrenching and cracking of beams and plaster masking his cry as he rocketed into the center of the village.

“SHROUD!” A faded crash nearby heralded the departure of the murderous Hel. Viscera was busy moving the other way, into the invaded bedroom. Its sole occupant recoiled further from her at the sight of the gold-skinned thief, but Viscera’s attention was to the bed. A swipe freed its coverings – a bit hastier than could be done if the ribbons lacing the edge of the fabric were an indication – and cocooned around the pony. Voice still caught in their throat, it would be up to Viscera to break the din.

“It’s me, Vis. We’re out. And you’ll thank me for this cover later.” Before a response could come, Viscera’s legs were pumping, the end of the cocoon enclosed around the pony she was rescued and leaped for the window. The checkered collar beyond it still curled in the slight wind.

CACRASH!

Shards rained around the two escapees, and the two-flight trip down took a roll by Viscera to keep her catch safe, but it was successful. Heaving her into the chariot and tackling the other guard into the dirt, Viscera severed the chains to him with another swing of her paw, took both loops of metal into her fang-ridden maw, and galloped hard. The stiff rumble of the vehicle as it cut off the bat-winged chauffeur by two of the wheels ramming over his spine barely stopped the motion of the chariot.

But Viscera only made it three corners – the fading visage of the treehouse-enclosed library now visible over her ride’s bouncing frame - before a shout rang out from the abode long behind her.

“Hel! Prince Shroud! Somepony’s taken the chariot!”

At first, the formerly-crimson pony thought the thick plodding of hooves were reinforcements, swinging toward the thickest of the flame-coated buildings and triggering her extinguishing jets to pave her way through. However, another turn brought the visage of one singular pony – no armor or coverings besides the thick workhorse collar bouncing off his red-furred chest. Orange mane whipping behind his back, he stole a glance at the odd getup of the running mate next to him.

“Goheen mah weh?” Viscera struggled out through a mouthful of chains.

Thankfully it was enough. “Eeyup….” came the strained response. The looming towers of the blacksmith approached them on the right. Thankfully, no fires had reached it yet. It was what lay in front of them that was of more pressing concern.

“Poddery seign went dawhn, know haow thae hap…hap…”

“…nnope!” Again, the red pony’s answer saved Viscera’s tongue further strain. Only one question remained.

“Know a weh pahst iht?” Viscera almost dropped the constraints in her jaws at seeing the stallion break into a dead run.

“Eeyup!”

They were past the blacksmith now. Viscera, realizing what the mare was aiming to do, leaped and fell back into the speeding chariot she once pulled, letting its momentum carry it. The pony in front of her only sped up, and with a cracking crash of splinters and plastic, the obstruction broke before them both.

Another cropping of debris and flaming plaster crumbled into their clearing, sending a fresh wave of sweat into the mane and drapings around Viscera’s passenger. However, their stop was at a locale free of flames and full of curling frosting facsimiles lining its roof and walls. Sugarcube Corner – Back Entrance was stamped on a plague above the large ledged door greeting them.

The red pony was first on the steps, Viscera finally dropping her Equilixir-gained form as she carefully got down her comforter-swathed passenger. By the time the thief had unloaded that saved pony, who'd fainted long before from the shock, those top ledged door of the confectionary swung open, revealing two further mares – a blue earth pony with a curling whip of light crimson hair, next to an elderly green earth pony with gray hair pulled pack into a loose bun. “Big Mac! You brought help?”

Big Mac turned toward Viscera as if to glean the answer from her bared, unaltered face. “Sure. Yeah.”

“Then we need to head back t’Sweet Apple! Mah daughter must be worried sick!” Big Mac, after placing the green mare on his back carefully, took off through a narrow alley. The cerulean mare once next to her turned to Viscera.

“Mrs. Cup Cake – and thank you so much for accompanying Mac here. If-”

“Glad you asked.” Viscera unloaded her semi-conscious pony onto the ground near Mrs. Cake. “Open it for no one except anypony who looks like me.” Viscera then pulled back the comforter’s lower flap to reveal a pouch of gems. “That’s he-ours. Keep her safe until she’s evacuated and it’s yours.”

“Thanks but… Carrot and I can’t take bits.” The cerulean pony pleaded. “And also, what do you mean ‘look lik-‘”

Another clap of the hooves brought back Viscera's glittering golden form. Ignoring the gasping Mrs. Cake, Viscera said. “Be sure to lock that door, will you?” Taking one step further, Viscera was soon brought to two knees, panting hard from apparent exhaustion. Before Mrs. Cake could help her. Viscera soldiered up, shook her mane of petal-like locks, and ran through to the Ponyville Center – and into the heart of the firestorm.

Cori’s travels through the marketplace that opened up into town hall had the least eventful proceedings. Sassy had been fine when dropped off at the Carousel Boutique, though the troupe the ambassador (junior ambassador!) was with had quickly whisked her off before she could powwow with the fashionista within.

After visiting the latest caravan departure – held up by the designated pony, Cotton Sky, having left for southwest Ponyville in response to an alarm triggering near the schoolhouse – Cori had taken Gaston and a pair of pegasi through the market place, clearing out the blazing buildings. When one fire – swallowing up the Silent Chapel – got particularly bad, Cori decided to show even a lack of extinguisher would not prevent her from offering aid. One vivid pulse of magic from her horn brought the flames it was aimed at to flickers.

“Guess it isn’t just cloth my magic works on,” said the cerulean Crystal Pony, as the fire crew went to work. Soon a desiccated but upright shell of a chapel was salvaged, and Cori looked forward to handling the flames around City Hall and the town square as well. Until two stereo impacts thundered into opposite ends of that very square – one from the east slamming into a bookstore to Cori’s left, another tumbling from the air in the west breaking through the glass of a joke shop only one block across from Ponyville Hospital.

With a curt call to Gaston to go back and tell the caravan to move its flank, and Gaston taking off after a nod back, Cori ventured unto the center of both crash sites alone, magic at the ready to help anyone needed. The first pony to show on the scene upright, however, was too recognizable from the golden wings and red eyes.

“Goldi?” Cori stammered.

“Cee!” and suddenly, the mutated mayor was at Cori’s side, sidling a suppression belt to her. “What’re you doing here so early?”

“Powder Puff wanted me to find her ma, though I’d cut through the flames till I found her! There are still flames on your end, what’re you doin’ here?” Cori asked, her hooves fumbling with the clasps of her newest attachment.

“Whipping the ass of the changeling that tried to prey on Derpy!” Goldilock yelled. “And I’d suggest you take distance – he managed to get the drop on-“

“Oi, Cor!” And the second of the three golden beings, Viscera, had joined the crowd, pushing a richly decorated black and silver carriage. ”We might have a slight wrinkle in the rescue plans!”

“Don’t I know!” Cori yelled. “Right now though, two ponies crashed into the town center, I’ve gotta go help-” Suddenly, sickly green light erupted from the left of the Crystal Pony and a flurry of tendrils yanked the dark pony out of the rightmost incision in the joke shop's panes. “-out.”

Viscera took one look at the changeling – and Cori one at the other participant –and a flurry of cries broke out among the rescuers, from Viscera to Goldilock to Cori.

“What the hell, is that Prince Haze?!”

“Wait, you’re saying that’s a PRINC-”

“Holy Celestia, it’s a Shadow Pony!”

Cori had flailed back onto her hind hooves, her eyes bulging in fear as the stoic stare of Prince Shroud snapped to her. Goldi had to respond in kind. “My goodness, we’ve hit royalty. Now hold on, we don’t want to escalate this any further-.”

Nearly too late, Viscera pushed the pegasus out of the way as a beam from Prince Haze slammed into the spot she was in a second ago. When it cleared, there was a Viscera-sized patch of smoking but safe island Cori was on, and the pony in front of her…. hadn’t even lost the sheen from her golden coat in the flurry.

Viscera, after three seconds, mirror the shocked look upon Toxic Haze’s face. “Shoot, and I just used those stones to open up a bag before.” Then her gaze turned up – and toward a familiar face approaching on the sky in dark purple armor.

“Cori – shoot the hardest enlarging spell you have at that bitch’s armor, now.”

“B-but the-”

“NOW!”

Cori complied, a spark from her horn shooting out before either Prince could stop her – instantly, the bat-winged pony was swimming in her oversized plates, plummeting into a thatched roof nearby hard enough to break through it.

Immediately, a line of tendrils exploded from Prince Shrouds’ position, twisting as they hurtled toward the cerulean unicorn. However, Viscera – after a quick bellowing of “Oh, what the hell!” was quick to spin back, grab Cori and launch them into a fruit stand to avoid the line of obsidian spikes rocketing past them.

It was at this moment, with chaos erupting in the square, that Flash Sentry finally arrived, through the boulevard to the right of the untouched Ponyville Theater. Cori, still shaking her head free of fruit and shell-shocked from seeing the Shadow Pony, yelled in surprise at the new Royal Guard. A burst of errant energy shot out from her horn and struck a tiny cherry still tumbling in the air toward Flash – which then ballooned to the size of a delivery truck and fell toward him.

“Oh, what the fu-”

Then the titanic plant cut off Flash’s curse, opening a long ravine back down the alley with him sandwiched between it and the dirt.

Viscera was out of the produce stand within seconds, hustling back to the chariot. A forward charge by the buzzing changeling would have stopped her trip short if Goldilock hadn’t hoof punched him back across the clearing. “Guess it’s treason for us, then!” she yelled.

With the chariot in her grasp, Viscera braced both forehooves at the end and pushed – well, more like launched - it towards Shroud. Despite her cry of “Supersize this, hurry!” Cori’s shaking in fear at Shroud’s genus did not cease enough to take advantage of it, and Shroud soon stopped the cart with a field of black spikes.

“My chariot. Was this supposed to shock m-”

Viscera cleared the vehicle in one forward roll and cross-checked the eldritch unicorn into the side of a well on the second lunge. Goldilock was busy bobbing and weaving – her refusal to test the lethality of magic on her new form instead forcing Prince Haze further and further into the air. This gave Vis the time she needed to get back to Cori’s side.

“Cee, what was that last part about?”

“S… Shadow Pony.” Came the response from a gate of chattering teeth. “Didn’t think… they even existed… after Sombra…”

“Yeah, well; one’s here, cavalier and ready to fill us with more than fear, get a move on!” yelled Viscera, sidling the horned Crystal Pony onto her back. “Look, I’ll put myself between you and him, now do you have any ideas?”

“Um… well, o-one!” Once again, Cori’s horn shot out a thin blue beam at a vegetable cart next to them, shrinking it low enough for it to neatly fit into Viscera’s paw. “Been something I’ve been working on in the Empire! Throw it at… the pony… and I can resize it, should avoid the tendrils!”

Viscera obliged, sweeping back her arm at letting the mini-cart fly towards Prince Shroud at the apex of the arc. However, Cori’s next shot went wide, hitting the well behind Shroud and simply jutting him forward toward them as the structure grew to nearly the City Hall’s size. The miniaturized card fell into its cavernous depths soon after. “Thought we were supposed to keep the scary pony away from us, luv.”

“W-wait! We still can!” the ambassador cried, holding up a pair of pineapples. “Shrink spell wears off after several seconds – lure S-shroud into that well and I can seal him up with another hex on the produce as we head out!

“Wait. Enclosed spaces with that thing don’t sound like a good idea. And you said your shrink-spells fade after time, does that mean-”

“RAAAAUGH!” Bursting from the front of the cottage in a burst of splinters and sadistic rage, Commander Hel – in normally- proportioned armor once more – pounced on Viscera. Cori barely had time to leap away before Viscera was driven into the dirt. Hel’s tail, however, swatted Cori into the air on the rebound.

Violently pinning the golden pony to the floor – and smiling all the further at one of Prince Haze’s charges hitting home on Goldilock’s flank ripping a cry from her – Hel admonished her foe. “Pity. The unicorn’ll make a great appetizer. You, however… I want to feel you break before I feel you die.”

“D-doesn’t sound like pi-”

Suddenly, the sharp tips in Hel’s horseshoe-heavy paw dug into Viscera’s chest. Then started getting pulled lower. “It’s not pitiable for me,” was the only response from the cruel commander. Just as two hole-ridden legs crashing into Hel’s head and sending her hurtling away from Vis was the only response from the arriving Gympis.

“I was to assist Cori and secure the crime scenes here. It seems… more developments have emerged,” came the echoing exposition from Gympis.

“Could kiss you right now… ” Viscera checked her chest, marveled at even the lack of marks on it, then kipped up to all four hooves. “But I’ll need you to keep Shroud busy.”

“Shroud?” Gympis got magenta eyes on the recovering prince. “The manipulator of that lone changeling! He is here! Does that me-”

“Less talking, more spearheading!” Viscera was already over to check on the stunned Cori, pointing at Shroud’s pilfered chariot and whispering something into Cori’s ear. Three seconds later, two of the vehicle’s front wheels were shrunken and launched by Viscera, turning into full-sized discuses through another spark of the ambassador’s magic. One tore Prince Haze away from the reeling Goldilock, and into the roof of the blacksmith a street over. The second went into the recovered –and afloat – Commander Hel’s back, sending her plummeting into the mouth of the far-too-large well.

At Cori’s whistle, however, Goldilock flew down to meet the ambassador and thief, rather than pursue her shapeshifting nemesis. “Yes, what-” Immediately, the chariot was placed before her, now a two-wheeler.

“Cori told me of the caravan situation while I was busy launching wheels. Take this, head to Sugarcube’s back entrance, and ask for the pony in blankets – then take to the air. Says a pegasus called Thunderlane’s gonna meet the caravan halfway, get ‘em on it.”

“In the middle of a fight, Vis-”

“-That I will not risk reaching that pony, because the flower I sought has been plucked.”

Goldilock, after a moment, slowly nodded. Taking the vehicle, she floated back into the smoke-darkened alleys of Ponyville’s plaza.

Viscera plopped Cori into another abandoned cart full of blankets. “Stay low ‘til I come back with Toxic – we’re gonna make a break for it when Goldi returns, this fire’s the only reason the fight’s contained.”

Cori fitfully nodded. Viscera, however, was soon whisked away by a set of changeling forelegs. Thankfully, their holder was benign. “The Shroud’s extensions prove too elaborate for me to break alone,” Gympis explained, thick gouges in the ground around Shroud a testament to her futile efforts.

Viscera’s eyes swiveled around, then locked on the joke shop as another cluster of tendrils were dodged with a skill from Gympis even Viscera whistled at. “Get me into that shop from the one connected to it then, I’ve another idea,” said the altered pony.

“Why though?”

“Part of it involves Shroud thinking he’s cornered us in one area.”

And through that connecting store the two quadrupeds went, a flurry of tendrils invading every window and door available. With the chase seemingly halted, Haze and Hel still out of action, and Goldilock missing, all that remained for Cori to see in the heart of Ponyville was the dreaded Shadow Pony.

Well, and the snap of a purple pony flashing into existence at Shroud’s side. Even if the horn/wing combo didn’t give away her identity, the lecherous nip at Shroud’s neck would have. “Q-queen Twilight...” mused Prince Shroud, his voice so low and far away Cori could scarcely hear it.

“Couldn’t resist waiting to hear how the return went.” Twilight to a wry look at the leaping flames around the town center, most still untamed. “Need any help?”

“Only the terrain. Some… ponies… decided to play spoiler.” Shroud muttered.

“Gold, dotted with black spots, trying to fly away as we speak?”

“Indeed.” But even Cori’s eyes had locked on to the same target as Twilight’s, a lone pony two miles away and gaining, a carriage in her paws.

“Well, then… And Twilight carefully slid one of her hooves over her left eye. Three seconds later, raw malevolence burst into life before her revealed eye – as well as a thick purple beam that shot across the sky and exploded into Goldilock’s back, sending her and her catch tumbling toward the ground in contrails of smoke, to Cori's horror. “Seems I can do the Promise too,” purred the alicorn.

“Thank you.” Shroud mused over the heinous act. “Only the fires keep me from finishing the job now.”

Another twinkle from Twilight’s horn and the skies rendered, a curtain of rain buffering the flames down. “And your third wish?”

The Shadow Pony Prince’s response was swift. “Toxic and I will think of something.”

“Tomorrow, Dash and I are busy with Luna. Call me again when the other Elements show up then…” And with a shower of stars, the alicorn was gone again. “…my sexy boys.”

Goldilock’s eyes snapped open.

Only seconds after fetching the pony on Viscera’s inquiry – from a courteous and concerned Mrs. Cake – she had taken to the air, knowing speed was of the essence. Even she, however, was surprised by the ground she covered with a heavy chariot in her front paws. And as Viscera had said, the sloping blue Mohawk of a certain familiar pegasus was there –bereft of normal Wonderbolt gear, but who was complaining? Coming to meet her with a chariot being pulled behind him.

He had even possibly been expecting her if his juts of the hoof to her were an indication. It took until an explosion rippled across her back for her to realize Thunderlane may have been pointing behind her instead.

Needless to say, Goldilock was stunned, surprisingly not filled with agony, and shocked at what had happened. Thunderlane had long since vanished, not looking to get seconds and risk losing his caravan too. Goldilock did not blame him. But she would blame herself if the pony tumbling through the air before Goldilock was lost.

Struggling through the air after her, she finally got the pony into her hooves, then – in last-ditch futility – flapped in the air, sure her wings were cinders but forced through habit to attempt it.

And by some higher power’s grace – she refused to specify Celestia this time, the image of her head on her ex-student’s new staff still too fresh in the mind to invoke – her flight restarted. Oh, her wings had taken a severe shearing, but at least they were gliding more than falling – even if was into a pen-surrounded treehouse just outside the city limits.

With a barely whispered cry to her screaming passenger of “BRACE!”, Goldilock and her passenger went through two branches, snapped against a window, then through a thin wooden fence, and tumbled to a stop near one of the chicken coops. the mutated mayor took most of the impact, but as she struggled to her feet, another issue erupted – the sky grew thick with rain and her position in this pen nearly became quicksand to her, struggling through the mud to get their bearings again.

As she did, however, the front door threw itself open, and a muscle-bound minotaur stormed out, head whipping to face the feeble-winged pegasus. “What’s happening while Iron Will is trying to counsel a patient!? The pink pony said there’d be no intruders this tim-”

Immediately, a flash of light heralded the giving up of the gold, as the white pegasus Rappid was visible again, covered in much from head to spine and every feather in between – wait! Even Rappid gagged in amazement at the fully healed wings spread to her sides. But it was overcome by a wave of exhaustion, and within a minute, Iron Will was pulling her out of the muck. “Never mind, Iron Will will see to your recovery! And possibly a return of the sky-high advance Iron Will is getting for helping Fluttershy out of her funk if you can spill the secret of how you did that!”

“Co… considering it.” Rappid, with staggering steps, heaved the pony she had been carrying into Iron Will’s arms. “But yo…you’re gonna need to get this one to Dr. Hooves.”

“Iron Will’s a bit stumped.” The minotaur looked at his new patient. “Not with that doctor, that location is known. But we could look over this one here, and save the tri-”

“Just… got shot out from the sky – I can’t afford to be in the same spot as this pony now, but you need to move ‘em somewhere safe. Hooves… owes me.” Then Rappid’s wings pumped as she took to the sky, a shuddering shimmer of light brought out her golden form again, also pristine despite the fatigue written throughout its owner’s face. “Have to… get my friends… out of the town square.”

“ Iron Will doesn’t normally do favors... But times are far from normal. Should be no more than a quick bound anyway. And the name Iron Will should give to the Doc for when he asks is…”

“Goldi…lock,” the pegasus panted. “Gotta.. get going. Good luck… Iron Will.”

And she was rocketing through the rain-thickened air again. Iron Will took a look back into the cottage behind him, then scooted back to the still-open door and belted out another command.

“Fluttershy! Keep those breathing regimens goin’, and I’ll get that confidence growin’! Iron Will’s got a quick run to make; it looks like the attempts to get you outside’ll have to wait another day!”

“NOW!”

Seeing that Shroud was getting too close to the stand Cori was enclosed in, Viscera and Gympis moved. The pumping rain puttered off the golden changeling’s armor as she threaded through the field of spikes sent her way, Viscera whipping by on a set of makeshift wings fashioned from webs of streamers and candy-cane-styled staffs. It served the purpose, however- Shroud’s attention was too focused on the changeling, and Viscera’s claws hit home, sending the Shadow Pony skidding back towards the edge of the Town Hall.

However, things were getting worse for Viscera and company as Cori burst from the cart she was in. Commander Hel burst out of the well at long last, its last-minute return to normal ensuring she had to bust through the roof.

Nevertheless, she was not the only Royal Guard to return, as Flash Sentry had stumbled back to his hooves and charged at Cori, the Crystal Pony/unicorn only saved by the looping Gympis pushing him back towards Shroud again.

And speeding out of the alleyway between the tea shop and the once-blocked route to the blacksmith was the changeling Prince Haze, snapping jaws sending foam flying and his tirade concluding. “… and then cram both your fucking heads down the blown-out plot of that stupid piss-colored pegasus!”

As if summoned by the barbarous insult, Goldilock flew back in, the four allies now in the crosshairs of two princes and Royal Guards. Ignoring the widened eyes of both Shroud and Cori, the gold pegasus spoke.

“Vis, we need a way out of-”

“Thinking of it, but I was counting on the fires to cover our escape.” Viscera hissed looking to Goldilocks and Cori in order. “Do have one thing that can help, though, but we need some damn coordination.”

“All ears,” said both the mayor and ambassador.

Viscera’s next words were a whisper. “Right. I’m gonna rush ‘em. One second in, Goldi, you run in, cover your eyes, and grab me. Gymps – grab Cori, cover your eyes, move towards me. Second you hear the screams, bank right. Copy?”

Gympis nodded at the once-crimson pony. “But what is it that you will-” And Viscera was already bounding at the four. Following suit, the four royals advanced on her – only for Viscera to drop her form entirely, reach into two pockets on her flanks and throw out a scattering of red diamond chips before her. Gympis and Goldi were moving as expected, but what happened next was pure, luminous chaos.

A series of pops and blinding flashes of light emitted from those scattered chips, and amidst the screams, Goldi finally got a hold of Vis. Turning right, Viscera’s floating claws gained purchase on a set of armor, the shouts of Flash Sentry lost as the three-pony pack turned off down the alley to the left of Ponyville General. Gympis and Cori were a beat behind them, Shroud and Haze’s blind attacks whistling past them as the violent lightshow concluded.

When it did, Flash was crumpled into Hel on the ground, Haze was cursing anew, and Shroud’s head was buried into the pavement, only raised his still ringing head when he heard three pairs of hooves moving towards them. It wasn’t the ponies from before, though.

Shroud’s response was immediate nonetheless. “Queen Twilight. Three of the lesser Elements are here.”

Seven streets away, Goldilock and Gympis released their catch, the four ponies tumbling to the ground in a flurry of limbs. “You… attacked a Royal Guard.” Gympis marveled.

“Yeah, impressions on ‘em started bottoming out fast after the shit I saw earlier.” Viscera finally dropped the golden form, as did Goldilock. “Gotta get off the streets quick. Rappid, you got the pony I gave you safe?”

“… in a way, yes.” The pegasus swayed dangerously on her hooves. “They’re at Dr. Hooves’.”

“What?! I said get that pony to the carav-”

“The Queen showed up!” shouted Cori. “She shot her down!” Even her watering eyes seemed to scan every darkened corner in fear of invoking her by name.

“The caravan left, and I don’t blame them,” added Rappid.

Viscera paled. “Is she alright?“

Cori started unraveling the dress wrapped around her as they turned into another street. “I mean, she’s right here and the back is fine, so-”

“I meant her passenger!”

“Thanks for caring – but yes.” Rappid replied. “These forms are… quite resilient, especially when switching. The wear on the nerves, however…. It scares me.”

“Yeah, lots of stuff in this town are doing that these days.” Viscera took the lead as the turned through the eastern edge of Market Row. “This is why we need to know if company’s coming. Gympis, head back – not in that form! – and see if any of the royals are in pursuit, without being seen yourself. Second you hear enough info, head for the house on the farthest eastern edge of town – a piece of Cori’s dress will be hanging on the doorknob.”

“It will be done.” With a pulse of energy, the changeling was back in black. Some strain followed in her buzzing in the air, but she stayed aloft, heading low to the ground as she buzzed back into the city center.

Gympis arrived unseen on the top of the Ponyville Theater within minutes, just in time to see a purple imprint of a sun insignia flash on the ground between the four disheveled royals and three ponies she recognized as Applejack – “…the high-hatted one.” – Pinkie Pie – “the eccentric one.” – and Rarity. “…No, not the Facesmasher!” shuddered the changing at the recognition of the last pony.

Yet that unseen shudder was mirrored by the three Elements as once again, the purple alicorn flashed into existence in the center of that burning insignia. The rain had stopped several minutes ago, but Gympis could have sworn she saw a fresh deluge of water flush down Pinkie Pie’s face at her arrival. Netted stockings now covered each of the alicorn's limbs, and her eyes flitted between the three other Elements before her, diluting as if wondering which would be breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Rarity’s shudder as they moved past her could have snapped a lesser unicorn’s spine.

"Twilight!” Applejack was the first to respond. “What have you done to Celestia?!”

“Here’s a hint!” And Twilight closed her malice-shining eyes. A second later, it was afternoon once again in Equestria, the sun rising in all its reddened glory right about the malevolent mare. Applejack’s eyes bugged out to the size of saucers. Rarity would have fainted straight on the ground had Pinkie Pie not raced to catch her.

Three seconds later, the blazing orb was shuttled off into the horizon, the indigo curtain of night taking precedence once more. “Moonslut’s all that’s left.”

“W-wait…” Pinkie Pie stammered out. “You mean that Princess Luna’s… okay?”

Twilight’s eyes narrowed at the perturbed party pony. “Hello to you too, Pinkie. Nice to still know that if I stuffed your brain into that overdue boot-liner of a pet you have, it’d crawl backward.”

Almost as if summoned by the insult, Gummy popped out from behind Pinkie’s tail, hissed at Twilight, then disappeared back inside its poofy nest.

“And consider this the last time I repeat myself. There’s only one Princess in Canterlot right now, and she’s warming up in Luna to cope with not being in me right now, so make with the bowing.”

Rarity was startled awake by the demand, hooves flying to her chest in shock. Applejack chose a more verbal response, and if words could burn, the Stetson pulled low over her face would be smoking right now. “Not after what those two next to you did to my family.”

“Raise its average I.Q. by two fucking points?” hissed Prince Haze.

Shroud’s reply came as a cruel din. “Other than the ones we crammed into the redhead.”

Rarity’s response was the only thing keeping the vein-strained Applejack from lunging at the sinister Shadow Pony. “Fiends! FIENDS! You have some nerve -”

“That is no way to talk to my sexy boys, Rarity.” With a twinkle of magical sparks flying from her horn being the only warning, the fashionista was forced from Pinkie’s grasp and into the ground on all fours, her forehooves splitting open from three mini-fractures from the force.

“And I said no repeating myself, now fucking follow this bitch’s lead or follow Sweetie Belle’s!”

With what looked like restraint that a dam couldn’t match, Applejack knelt to one knee, using her other free hoof to try and comfort the shaking Element of Generosity. Pinkie after a short spell of failing to keep from sobbing, followed suit. “Need a quick laugh, Creampie? Ask my former number one assistant how natural a position this is for Rarity now.” Rarity’s eyes flashed up to meet Queen Twilight’s in silent rage – before she buried it in one of her arms instead.

“W-what is your problem?!” Applejack’s voice should have been louder, but her head’s positioning meant most of its bite went into the paving stones beneath her. “Declaring yourself a queen? Violating Celestia and Luna E….everything about the damn Ponyville Massacre!”

“That reminds me – tell that wretched mayor to catch me on my good side next time.”

“Come again?!” yelled Applejack.

“In a minute, don’t you rush me.”

“Y-you MONSTER!” Rarity, despite the visible rivulets of blood pooling from her forehooves, rose to her back legs and charged the queen. However, barely five paces from her, she was suddenly bolted back into Pinkie's arms by a field of shimmering green, Prince Haze’s horn alight.

“Mmm, there we go! One of the vanishingly few reasons I like that you’ve stayed alive!” chirped Queen Twilight. “The unexpected, generous bouts of flattery you show. A pity Blueblood didn’t hit it first – or that you didn’t hit him harder. But yes, I am a monster. The one Equestria deserves. And a far, proud, cry from being the patsy Equestria needed. ” The word patsy fell from Twilight’s lips with the same venom as if it were the word tapeworm.

“Damn it Twilight, that’s the Amulet talking!” Applejack tensed back, her teeth bared in a scowl. “We're supposed to be your friends, not these two scumbags!”

“Seriously, Twilight, can I at least rape Rarity?” Prince Haze couldn’t keep the rage out of his voice this time. “As a treat?”

“Now now, my lovely Prince, we have plenty of Rarity at home.” Sparkle tossed back her mane. “Besides, I gave you and Shroud presents for taking time to visit Ponyville.”

“On that front… ” came the monotonous drawl of Shroud. “We were delayed. By the same gold ponies you saw earlier.”

“Yes, you called me on that front an-” Twilight went stock-still for a second. “Time out. Shroud, are you telling me one survived being shot down?”

“And escaped. Possibly out of the city.”

Twilight’s brow knit. ”Change of plans then. Shroud and Haze will be back here tomorrow, then. They’ll be on business again, so I expect this town to stay intact and everyone in it to know their place by then. Meanwhile, I'll plan for this new… menace, and trust you lot to keep clear of them yourself.” Another slow smirk crossed her face. “Or, since you’ve got the collective sense of sawdust..." Suddenly a pop of sparks brought forth Owlowiscious before the three ponies. “… how about a visual aid?”

A line of energy plunged into the avian’s body, and to Pinkie’s horror in particular, started swelling up in a fashion Twilight had once employed on a different her… a lifetime ago. “Oh hey, look at the birdie!”

Then the assistant popped. Not with sparkles this time, however, as the three ponies before Queen Twilight were treated to flecks of blood and bones stabbing into the ground before them in a fan of gore. It took Pinkie shoving them both to the ground to keep the spray from fully reaching them.

“What was that all about – Twilight, why?”

A way-too-light chuckle erupted from the mad queen’s lips. “Because the first thing I wanted to do when I returned to you was to show you all what we never were.”

“Friends?” hissed Applejack.

“No. Equals. See, with this new management change comes new orders, which I and my sexy boys will enforce over the next few weeks. That being pecking order. You three –and wherever that mewling idiot Fluttershy is – are somehow not cocksleeve-worthy. But the reason I released all of Canterlot’s prisoners today – you know, after having them spunk-polish this for me…”

And a shriek erupted from Rarity as Celestia was finally revealed to them, everything below the neckline replaced by a shimmering rod of gold. “…is to show that even they’re gonna get a second chance before you four do. As I certainly know Commander Hel of Shroud’s new Arcane Guard has gotten, haven’t you?” The malicious grin from the tufted-eared mare spoke volumes.

Twilight pointed at each pony in turn with her netting-sheathed forehoof. “You all, however, only live ony my terms now. I am the sole goddess of this land of intellectual lepers and Pinkie is a psychedelic retard. I am the only alicorn that matters and Rarislut is Spike’s sloppy seconds.“ Ignoring the body-wracking gasp that came from Rarity, the Queen's last barb was at the Element of Honesty. “I am the slayer of the proto-whore Celestia, and you like eating apples.”

Before Applejack could speak, Twilight flapped her wings and settled in between Shroud and Haze, and each a soul-searing kiss that sent Pinkie’s hooves flying to her mouth in horror. “So get this stupid village running, and hope these princes’ second visit isn’t disturbed by you or anyone near you.”

Twilight and the four royals were gone with a final missive. “After all, there are already two pits still in the middle of my town. The mayor would surely hate for there to be six.”

Silence reigned. Even Gympis shifted uncomfortably on her high perch before Pinkie Pie responded. “W…what do we do?”

Applejack turned to her. The haunted look in her eyes sank them deep into her face, and even Pinkie wilted further at the sight. “Ah don’t know… ” came the low rumble of her voice. “But Ah’m not doing it here.”

“B...but… Applejack!” Pinkie shrieked, clashing onto her forehoof as she turned to leave, Rarity still a sobbing mess on the floor. “We have to find some way to s… to stop this! W-we’re the Elements of Harmony!”

Only two words came back, and it sent her to her knees. “We were.” Then Applejack was back around the corner guttering out toward Sugarcube and was gone. Rarity was the second to leave, a soft whimper erupting every time one of her damaged forehooves touched the ground. Gympis was back in the air and off to the east by the time Pinkie, all alone, reached back in her mane and yanked out the same-colored ribbon elaborately threaded through it, her poofy locks finally unsettling and drooping around her face in a curtain. Slowly, she gave the area that once held Applejack one last somber look, and then plodded off toward Sugarcube, hooves catching slightly in the muddied, pitted ground.

It took five more minutes –and the silencing of a pearl of shock from Cori when the sun inexplicably rose over the smoking but mostly intact Ponyville – before Viscera and the others reached the Hooves home. Gympis had still not returned, but Rappid comforted the ambassador with the all too obvious tell that if she had been caught, the fight she gave would have been seen. Viscera was only half-listening, however, until they got up to and rapped on the door.

“For the last time, Will, the help Derpy needs is more than just some book or semi-” The stress-worn face of Dr. Hooves filled the crack in the door, only to brighten when he saw the cerulean-sheered unicorn. “Cori! A Crystal Empire envoy! Let me get the door – who are you traveling with?”

Over the sliding of bolts and turning of keys, Rappid gave the reply. “A firefighting friend… and the one you owe a favor to.”

The clicks stopped for a second. After Vis raised an eyebrow, it resumed with fervor, and the door opened slowly. Dr. Hooves was in the warm glow of the living room, and he was alone. “I see. Will told me of that too. The one he sent me is… downstairs in the basement. Okay… at least on the outside.”

“Was gonna tell this to the mayor when we returned to camp, but I guess you’ll do, doc.”

Both Cori and Rappid turned. Viscera, uncharacteristically silent until now, finally raised her green eyes to meet Hooves’.

“Room for four more?”

Author's Notes:

Right, so.

Biggest project yet, and it is on a story like this.

I've a blog post incoming to explain more, but just know there is much to come - in fact, my biggest regret for this chapter was not spending more time fleshing out Flash Sentry.

Several misconceptions are had by the OCs, too - ones about to be met with grim reality.

Check out the map, too - there's gonna be a log of the routes Vis and company take on each Equestrian town I can find, I really want to show my work for this project.

Till the next chap, chaps.