--------------- Melody’s Tale - And into the frying pan ---------------

Spike growled, his reptilian eyes fixed on the entrance to his cave. “Changelings dare to chase MY friends into MY home?” The intensity of his growl made Melody’s sternum shake, made her back away from the dragon… He came up on all fours then, his muscular legs flexing as he raised his hulking, toned body up. “Move back. All of you.” His low warning was enough to make them all move on the other side of him from the entrance. Melody picked up her pace to a run in a scramble to get out of his way…

Just in time, it seemed. Spike opened his huge maw, exhaling a prolonged gout of burning fire straight back up the entrance. The fire hissed and burned all in it’s path, the heat making all of them cringe and move further away from him. Such molten fury, burning it’s way all the way back up to the surface. Over the keening sound of the hissing and popping, Melody thought she heard screams… The fire cut off, droplets of burning liquid spilling from Spike’s mouth as he spoke, keen eyes still focused on the entrance.

“Climb on my back.” He said, low and deep. “I’ll carry you to Naga-haal…” Twilight moved forward first, quickly scrambling up his tail and onto his back. Verse was right behind her. Hesitantly, Melody and Lily followed. They were able to find purchase on his long, bone-like spines, their feet pushing them up from the joint where they extended from his back. If it caused him pain or discomfort, Spike didn’t show any indication. As they climbed, he exhaled another blast of fire, to the sound of more screams. He was torching all of the changelings as they descended into his home. They all climbed atop him, moving until they were halfway between his shoulder blades and rear legs. There was no possible way for them to sit down, but his back was broad enough that they could stand, holding onto the long, thick spines jutting from his back. True to her suspicions, Spike had no wings.

He lurched forward slowly, giving them all time to adjust. Using the spine for orientation, Melody rode his motions easily enough… He picked up speed as he started climbing up the slope of his own den, feet finding purchase on the scorched, glowing obsidian. They passed lumps of what she would guess were changelings… Melody couldn’t tell what they were… The light grew and grew until they breached the opening, Spike’s feet easily finding purchase on the slick surface of the obsidian beneath them. The wind whipped Melody’s hair out from underneath her shirt, making it tug on her scalp. The combination of the headlong wind and Spike’s smooth, quick pace made her hair fly like a flag. She didn’t even bother with it as the tie flew out of her hair, unfurling the tight braid and letting it flap freely behind her head. She enjoyed the cooling feeling of the air blowing in her face, but the feeling was quickly lost as she spotted what all greeted them in the burning sunlight.

Dozens of changelings, not ten or twenty, but closer to fifty, swarmed towards them. Melody swallowed hard, looking out over them as they all ran or flew towards them. Mouths open in a vicious hiss, they flitted across the hard-packed dirt towards them. Spike plowed through the ones in front, leaving several crushed and battered bodies behind, which were quickly forgotten by their brethren in heated pursuit.

Spike roared long and loud. The sound was both low, rumbling through her chest and feet, and high at the same time. She felt it lance through her ears, making them ache as he screamed and bellowed at the pursuers. His tail lashed at any that came close, knocking them through the air or into the ground roughly. Melody watched as one of them tried to catch itself mid-air, but one crumpled and broken diaphanous wing wouldn’t work properly, and it crashed into a heap. Still, for every one Spike battered away, two took it’s place… Soon, they were climbing up his spines, intent on the group of four clinging to his back.

“I’m sorry spike!” Melody heard Twilight’s voice call out, shortly before a blast of fire engulfed one of the nearest climbing changelings.

“Hardly felt it!” Spike bellowed, sprinting hard and fast over the dirt now. Sure enough, his brilliant purple scales showed no signs of the fire…

“Use flame spells!” Twilight called. Melody understood in a flash. They had to fight off the changelings as they approached… One hand rose and began to weave an intricate pattern in midair, painting a flame spell she knew well. She put it into action, watching a small, compact ball of fire streak forward and catch one changeling full in the chest. The impact made him scramble, his hands losing purchase on the large spine he had his hands wrapped around. The sound of his impact into the dirt was audible even over the sound of a similar spell from Verse. Another loomed up behind the first, heedless of the loss of a comrade. Melody began weaving another spell, struggling to complete it before it got close enough… The changeling lunged forward…

“NO!” Twilight screamed, gripping him in her telekinetic field. Melody watched him get flung far and away, opening the path to what was behind him. Quick as she could, she cast another flaming ball at the one behind him, knocking it off and into one more. Three changelings fell from Spike’s back and onto the wide, dusty plain, unmoving.

“You’re MINE.” Verse growled. He and Lily were on the other side of the wall of Spike’s spines, and through the gaps in the bony protrusions, Lily saw him locked in a struggle with a changeling. “Got him!” Verse growled.

“Did you capture one?” Twilight asked, calling out over the sound of the roaring wind and Spike’s quick, heavy footfalls.

“He isn’t going anywhere.” Verse called out.

“We’ll take this one to Naga-haal, question him!” Lily called out. Melody gave a heavy breath of relief, gripping Spike firmly as she looked behind them. Changeling bodies stretched out in a long line across the dusty plain, all of them still… She was thankful as they all dwindled off into the distance, left in a cloud of dust and memory.

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“How many of you were there?” Lily said low and quiet. They had arrived at Naga-haal, and were in one of the ruined buildings at the edge of the once-great city. The place smelled of death and destruction…

“Sixty-eight.” The changeling replied curtly.

“I counted forty-three in the dirt. Not counting however many Spike burned.” Twilight said gently.

“How many went into the hole?”

“At least twenty, maybe more.” The changeling squirmed uncomfortably from his spot on the wall. Spike’s lips were pursed just next to his feet, held in place by Twilight’s magic. One motion from Lily, and Spike would scorch his feet completely off. They needed answers, and torture appeared to be the only thing that would work on them. So far, even the thought of dragon fire seemed to dissuade the changeling from sharing anything. Melody and Verse watched, ready to assist with their magic, should they need…

“Were there any more sent after us?”

“…” The changeling opened his mouth to speak, obviously fighting with the prospect of sharing plans against fire…

“Do it.” Melody cringed as the sound of burning flesh and fire filled her ears, all of it overridden by the piercing scream from the changeling.

“AAAAAAUUUUGH! YES! YES, FOR THE LOVE OF CHYRSALIS YES!” He screamed. Spike stopped, leaving nothing but charred stumps where the changeling’s feet had previously been. Black blood oozed form the burning, charred nubs at the end of his legs. “Guuh… Yes, she sent close to four hundred south… As soon as she got word of Imoheen’s defeat, she sent a lot of us… Four hundred, maybe more… Ngh…”

“Where are the others, then?” Twilight asked.

“Some of us stayed in Appleoosa, just in case you returned there… Others of us went West, crossing the desert towards Las Pegasus… A group of maybe five went into the forest, and at least half of us came East, following your tracks…” Melody’s heart sank when she heard that five of them had tried to make it through the forest. Changelings were difficult creatures to fight. Jokkan and Miko would be safe, but they could defend themselves…

“So where are the other hundred and forty or so?” Lily asked this time.

“Ngh, I don’t- AAAAAAAAAAAAIIIIIIEEE!” Spike burned him again, scorching everything beneath his knees. Melody grimaced as the smell assaulted her nose. “I DON’T KNOW, I SWEAR! I SWEAR! WE SPLIT UP! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAUUUUUGH!” His scream stretched on long and loud, making her ears hurt as he emptied his lungs once, twice… Spike stopped, and he drew ragged breaths, his body shaking visibly from the pain. Verse, Twilight, and Lily were stoic. Spike looked bored.

“We… We split up once we came over the mountain… Th-three groups… One went north, towards Featherhome… Others, said they were going to Dragonpoint…”

“Bad move.” Spike drawled about lazily. He licked his lips of the burning liquid that made his fire. “The most powerful dragons go to Dragonpoint during mating season… They fight for dominance, and mate with the queen on top when the victor is crowned. If they stumbled in on that, they’re dead. Anything within fifteen miles would be dead.” He set his head back down on the ground, ready to burn the changeling.

“Great.” Lily grunted. “One group assaults us outside of Spike’s home, tips Chrysalis off to our whereabouts… The other dies at Dragonpoint, and the other goes north, right where we’re headed…” She sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose, thinking hard over what they should do. “Spike, take care of him… Let’s find a better place to stay…”

“With pleasure.” Thankful they didn’t have to stay to watch, Melody led Verse, Twilight, and Lily out of the building, the screams of the dying changeling following them into the narrow, shadowy street. The sun was low on the horizon when they entered Naga-haal, and now it was very close to night time. The wind died down, gusting through the narrow buildings very slowly.

Naga-haal was once a massive city in the middle of the desert. Thanks to natural water springs, the entire area used to be lush with grass and vegetation. The naga, though, laid claim to the area, staking their territory in the oasis. The dragons had little use for water, as they ate gemstones and drank very little. Even when the dragons were angered with the naga, they couldn’t do much. Their magical fire was useless against the naga’s resistant bodies, and they were out-numbered a hundred to one. The naga flourished, growing some of the best crops and making fine weapons from the iron buried in the steel. They traded openly with Equestria, Featherhome, and were generally accepted… That all changed, though… The details were lost to history, known only by a select few individuals. Twilight, being Celestia’s student, was privy to firsthand stories of the war between Equestria and the naga. Celestia affirmed that the naga were quarrelsome, difficult to work with, and loved battle, war, bloodshed, and conflict…

Trade disputes and refusal by Equestrian citizens to allow the naga to build a city on the western side of the mountains led to unrest. What set it all off was one naga in particular that picked a fight with one of the border guards. The naga killed him and three of his friends before succumbing to his wounds. The whole thing sparked the first conflict of the war. The battle of Serpent’s Pass ended in defeat of the Equestrian forces, the magi’s spells doing little to root the naga from their advantageous height. What’s more, Serpent’s Pass was the only safe crossing between Equestria and the dragon territory. Mainly, it was used for trade, but following that battle, it became a warzone.

Celestia retaliated after they suffered defeat time and again. The naga presence was strong on the border, and the relief from Eyriewatch, which was named Eyrie’s Rest back when things had been friendly between Equestria and Featherhome, couldn’t keep up with the soldiers being killed. Celestia herself led a massive avian attack over the heads of the naga on the western border, and attacked Naga-haal directly. Since they didn’t use magic, and could rain death and destruction from the skies, they successfully razed half of the city before the western forces could return.

That was when the relief arrived. A massive force of magi, humans, and avians swept through Serpent’s Pass into the dragon territory. Following the forces returning from the pass to Naga-haal, they swept in behind them and leveled the city. Any naga captured were executed. Celestia had successfully committed genocide against an entire race. Much to her surprise, though, Equestria rejoiced. None of them truly LIKED the Naga… The warring, vicious race had been ruthless in the battle, killing many soldiers and hurting many families. They were viewed as a blight on the land; each one of them poisonous and evil. Their city was leveled, their resources taken, and their kind executed. What few remained were in open rebellion against Equestria, and thanks to their brash nature, attacked openly. They caused damage, but were all killed. Every last naga alive grew to hate Equestria, and whenever they reared their ugly, serpentine heads, they were killed.

All of them.

Now, the broken city of Naga-haal was all that remained, and it was here that Melody and the others found themselves. Walking through the deserted, dusty streets, dead grass and vegetation crunching underfoot, they found one building that would serve as adequate shelter for the night. It even had a hole large enough for Spike to fit in. They all sat back against the wall, piling their packs in a corner and sighing heavily. Verse spoke first.

“I’m sorry, but is it okay if I go take a walk? I kinda wanna clear my head, and I want to find these springs, too…” He said quietly. Twilight and Lily shared a look before nodding.

“It should be safe. But if you find trouble, please, send up a signal. If it’s something you think we need to see, send up a green one. Trouble, make it red or something else…” Lily said softly, leaning her head back against the wall.

“I understand. Green for something interesting, red for trouble. Thank you. I’ll be careful.” He kissed Lily and Twilight on the head, then gave Melody a swift hug. Melody was too tired to follow him, though she was interested in the prospect of taking a walk through the deserted city. This gave time, though, for them to catch up with Spike. Despite his massive stature, Spike was actually a very tender and loving dragon… He had known Twilight long ago, had been her friend and assistant when she ran a library in Ponyville, studying the magic of friendship. He told them how he had come east, over the mountains, and into the dragon territory. There were several other dragons like him, who didn’t have wings, and they welcomed the fledgling dragon warmly. They showed him how to dig for gems in the dry, deserted land, and had given him a home. Still, the sleep called him, and soon enough he had succumbed to it. When he awoke, he had grown larger than a house and was looking straight at Twilight. Not a very long story, but very interesting…

“I missed you, Spike.” Twilight said softly. Spike smiled and nudged her with his muzzle, his way of showing affection. “I’m just curious, but are you still able to change into a human?” Spike’s brow furrowed once again, and he gave a low sound.

“I know other dragons can… I’ve seen ‘em do it before… Let me try…” He closed his eyes, and appeared to be focusing. A soft hum filled the air, and Melody felt the temperature begin to rise… Spike focused, humming still as he curled into a tighter ball on the ground…

“N-nope.” He gasped, his eyes snapping open. His chest rose and fell, his breath kicking up the dirt that had gathered on the floor. Melody breathed a sigh as the temperature began to return to normal. “I can feel it, though… It’s there. I just think I haven’t slept enough, is all… My own brand of magic hasn’t returned…” Twilight looked downtrodden, like she wanted to see him in his grown human state. Melody was rather glad. She figured Spike might be nude…

“I wonder… Can you still send letters?” Twilight asked hesitantly. Spike grinned, his fangs glinting in the soft light of the rising moon.

“Yes I can. See.” He breathed a small breath, a tiny tongue of flame licking past his teeth. It hovered in the air, undulating and shining with a brilliant green sort of hue.

“That’s perfect! Hang on!” Twilight scrambled to her feet and rushed over to the packs. Melody watched her, brow furrowed with curiosity. Suddenly, she emerged with a sheet of paper and a pen. “Aha!” She cried triumphantly. “I figured Celestia would want to hear from us…” Twilight said with a devious smile. “She hasn’t heard from us in years, unless Dash talks to her at all… Imagine her surprise, eh Spike?” The dragon chuckled as Twilight flattened the page against his side.

“Here.” Spike curled his leg around, one claw sliding under a loose scale. He snapped it off, hardly even wincing as he handed it off to Twilight. She grinned and accepted the huge thing from him. It was about as large as a shield, if Melody had to guess… Twilight sat back against the wall, holding the amethyst-colored scale on her lap and using it for a flat writing surface. Melody watched her write, her hand flying over the page quickly.

“There. Wanna read?” She asked, handing it off to Melody. Taking the page, she started to read.

Dear Princess Celestia,

We are all doing fine, let me assure you first and foremost. The attack in Appleoosa was unsuccessful, thanks to help from Applejack. She and Braeburn will make a full recovery, and none of us suffered any major wounds. Unfortunately, we were followed by changelings, and were unable to return to our homes. No need for concern, I have the books safe in hand. Thanks to Jokkan, a local native to the forest we stayed in. We crossed the mountains to the East, as per your instructions, and travelled south to the sea.

Unfortunately, the dragons are in the middle of mating season. Staying on the shore would have been disastrous, so we headed north. Along the way, I discovered a slumbering Spike. He is here with me now, and it’s thanks to him you’ll be receiving this letter. We are now in Naga-haal, and will refill on water and supplies before continuing north into Featherhome.

I pray all goes well with the war. My thoughts and prayers are with you and the soldiers. Please give my condolences to the families of the lost. We all miss you terribly so. You should see Verse and Melody. They are beautiful, talented children. You would be proud. I wish the circumstances were better, that we could have met in Appleoosa, but please know that we are safe. We’ve had our fair share of harm and strife, but we’re stronger for it. Don’t worry about us too much.

Your ever-faithful student,

-Twilight Sparkle

Melody smiled as she read it, particularly the part about her and Verse. After a moment’s hesitation, though, she held her hand out. Twilight handed her the pen, and using the massive scale, she signed her own name at the bottom. Verse wasn’t present, so she signed his as well. Lily took a moment to write a quick note of her own at the bottom. Lily didn’t get to read it, but Twilight laughed and gave her a playful smack on the shoulder. Folding the note, she held it up.

“To the Princess, Spike.” She said with a smile on her face. Spike easily picked the letter up with a breath of fire, the paper gone in the sparkling flash of ash and light.

“Look!” Lily drew their attention away. Flying high in the night sky, a brilliant green orb arced for a moment before bursting into a brilliant neon-green flash. “Verse found something. Let’s go see what he discovered.” All of them stood and shouldered packs, leaving the broken building and following Lily towards where she had seen it come from. Spike pushed his way through the narrow streets, his hulking form knocking weakened walls over and leaving a trail of rubble behind them. Soon enough, though, the larger buildings gave way to smaller ones, and then open lots of high grass… Melody thought they looked like buildings once stood there, but now nature had taken over. The grass was the first she had seen in months, the long, trek less waste of the dragon territory having been filled with naught but wide, open flatlands and the occasional charred battlefield. This grass was brown and tall, but soon began turning darker shades of green, lush, thick grass. Even trees began to grow…

Then the lots stopped altogether… They were walking down a long pathway inbetween long, overgrown fields. “Corn.” Twilight said, looking out over the tall, green stalks. “And wheat over there…” The brown field boasted tall stalks of grain, towering overhead. “This is a farm… A long-abandoned farm, but a farm nevertheless… Where there’s a farm, there’s-“

“Water!” Melody spotted it before any of them did. She pointed down the long path, where the lone figure of Verse stood, waving his arms above his head. Laughing gleefully, Melody swept around Twilight and Lily, running down the path towards her brother. Behind Verse, a wide, dark pool of water stretched out, wide and calm. This was the source of the water for the farm. She stopped short, throwing her arms around him at the edge of the path where it gave way to soft, white sand.

“It’s clear water, good to drink, even.” He said with a smile. “It all empties out into the irrigation ditches, and filters in through the sand underneath. This is probably some of the healthiest, nutrient-rich water in the entire world.” His explanation was lost on her ears. She dropped her pack and started rummaging through it. “What are you-“

“I haven’t had a bath in months, Verse.” She explain, straightening with her swimming suit. “You aren’t taking this from me. No one is.” Using her magic, she raised a high shelf of sand, high enough to conceal her from Verse’s view. Slipping around it, she stripped out of her clothes and into her long-neglected swimming suit.

“Okay, okay…” Lily’s voice came out from around the high shelf. “But why the hell would you wear a swimsuit to a bath?” Melody peeked her head out.

“Eew! Gross! He’s my brother, and you’re my mom!”

“You forget, Twilight and I used to bathe with you two. Straight up until you were six. Three of us are women, AND it’s dark out here. Verse, would you mind going down a ways, to save your sister the embarrassment?” Lily continued. Melody wouldn’t mind bathing with her mothers, but it was Verse she didn’t want to be naked around.

“I’ve got no issues.” Verse shrugged it off and turned around. “Do we have any soap?”

“Here,” Twilight waved her hands for a few moments, summoning a bar and a rag for him. He took them both and padded off down the sandy white beach, disappearing into the shadows.

“I’ll go with him.” Spike said, plodding off after Verse.

“Good, thank you, Spike. And you,” Twilight turned to the wall, quickly collapsing the sand back into the rest. Melody gave a soft ‘meep!’ and covered her bare chest. “Nothing to be shy about.” Lily already had her shirt off, and was working on removing her shorts. Melody stammered for a moment as Twilight followed suit, but once both of her mothers were bare, they took off towards the water.

“H-hey!” She watched their bare forms disappear with a splash into the water. She stepped out of her panties, leaving her clothes on the beach as she followed after. The prospect of a bath and being clean completely overrode decency. Sprinting full-tilt towards the water, Melody dove right in. The water wrapped around her like cool sheets on a hot summer day. She stroked forward, eyes closed as she slid through the water, letting it’s cool embrace fill her senses. She could FEEL the stress and dirt wash away, the cool water filling her senses almost completely. “Pwah!” She emerged from the water, flinging her hair back over her shoulder. “ACKPTH!” She had barely opened her eyes when a splash caught her full-on in the face. “The hell?!” She grimaced as Twilight and Lily fell back, laughing. She returned fire, and soon a full-tilt splash fight broke out between all of them.

They frolicked and played in the water, and settled down to scrub one another’s backs. Melody leaned back and let Twilight and Lily comb her hair out, using the water to loose all the tangles and scrub the teal strands free of dirt. They went around, helping one another groom, talking idly of girlish things.

Melody realized they had all lost weight. The three of them were slender enough as it was, but the long months and hard work had made them all more skinny. Though she would have to admit, not less hard… Lily sported a very defined six-pack, and her legs curved gracefully with her muscles. Twilight had always seemed like a slender, frail little woman, but her physical form matched her magic now. Powerful. Muscular. In-control.

“You don’t look too bad yourself, Melody.” Lily said with a grin. Her hand gave Melody’s rear a teasing spank, the wet flesh stinging as she jumped. “I’d like to think you’d have had more than a few boys swooning over you if we had stayed in Appleoosa.” She chuckled, smiling as Melody blushed. She looked over her own form, noting her breasts had swollen a little more, her stomach was more flat, her legs more defined… The way her hair clung to her back, she probably looked like the picture of beauty.

“In a few years time, Melody, we’ll go back. You’ll find someone. I promise you.” Twilight said gently, stepping forward to hug her.

“Unless she likes girls…” Lily mused for a moment.

“Mo-om!” Melody stammered, just as Twilight fell back into the water, laughing. She swatted at Lily, but her mother dove back and away, curling around in the water. She emerged next to Twilight, grinning at Melody.

“Hmm, I think she does…” Lily teased, pulling Twilight into a gentle embrace.

“Oh, you think so?” Twilight groaned, floating on the water as Lily wrapped her arms around the slender waist.

“Yes, I do…” Lily cooed. “Look at her, getting all hot and bothered… I wonder if we kissed, would she like it?” Lily pressed her lips into Twilight’s neck. Even from where she stood in the water, Melody could see as Twilight’s nipple grew hard. Melody groaned and splashed water their way.

“I’m going to go see what Verse is up to.” Melody slipped into the deeper part of the water, leaving her mothers to their own devices behind her. Their soft, breathy groans chased her down the shore. She swam slow and easy, enjoying the slight exercise and the cool feel of the water against her skin. Was it just her, or was the water growing warmer? All became clear as the massive form of Spike loomed in front of her. The dragon was soaking, half submerged in the shallows. As she came closer, the water grew warmer and warmer. Spike reared his head and looked at her, smiling his big, fanged smile.

“D-don’t come around this side!” Verse’s voice called to her.

“Well, duh… Not like I wanna see you naked anyways, sicko.” She teased. She was in up to her shoulders, and about even with Spike’s as she approached slowly. “Spike’s heating up the water really nice…”

“I know, it’s like a regular bath…” Verse said quietly.

“Can I… Sit on his other side?” She asked softly.

“’Course you can.” Spike interceded. He laid his head back down, the spines dripping water as his long neck floated idly in the clear, cool pool. She stroked into the shallows, crawling across the sand to where she would be deep enough… Turning her back, she leaned against Spike’s scaly side, close to his rear leg. The water around him was truly just as hot as a bath, and against his side, it evaporated into a warm steam.

“This is nice.” She said softly.

“Very relaxing.” Verse concurred, his voice eerily coming from over Spike’s back. She looked up, and through the steam and the clear air, she could see the stars glimmering overhead. Idly, she began picking out the ones she knew… Until Twilight and Lily came out of the darkness.

“Eew, the water’s warmer over here… Verse, did you pee?”

“It’s me.” Spike grumbled, not even bothering to lift his head out of the water.

“It’s like a hot spring.” Melody said quietly, leaning her head back against Spike.

“Melody? Ooh, can we join you?” Twilight began swimming closer. Lily just shrugged, closing her eyes against the relaxing feeling of the hot water. “Unless Spike’s gonna look at us. Wierdo.” Spike chuckled, making the water quiver around her.

“I find I’m more attracted to thick scales and wide flanks than flesh and hair these days.” He said, his grumbling speech making the water vibrate around her. Dispute settled, Twilight and Lily crawled towards Melody, sitting to either side of her.

“Sorry if we teased too much.” Lily said gently, nudging her shoulder. Melody shrugged and opened her eyes long enough to smile at Lily.

“I don’t mind, really… I just… I don’t know WHO I’ll be attracted to…” While the sight of her and Twilight kissing passionately burned in her mind, she couldn’t get the image out of her head, of strong arms and a deep voice… Muscles. Someone like Verse, who would like music and be kind and strong and healthy… But, you know… Not her brother. Maybe an avian…

“You’ll know when you are.” Twilight said gently. Together, she and Lily leaned against Melody, further helping along the feeling of warmth and comfort. “I just hope they’re nice.” Melody chuckled and closed her eyes, feeling warm and relaxed between the two of them.

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They had stayed two full days at Naga-haal, using a nearby building that had survived the attack to sleep in, and bathing and swimming the days away. Twilight had worked some very complex magic, “Restoring my temporal storage area.” She had said. Essentially, the area that she summoned food and water from. When Melody asked where she had been summoning it from before, Twilight had explained there was a massive storeroom in Canterlot that was kept constantly stocked for such a purpose. It was open to any and all who needed or even wanted to use it, or who knew of it’s existence. She had been taking their supplies from there.

When it was time to leave, though, Spike explained how tired he had been feeling, that he needed to return home for his century-long nap. Melody was sad to see him go, and the goodbye was bittersweet. She hugged his face as best she could, shedding a tear onto his amethyst scales.

“I’ll see you again, Melody.” He promised. “Just stay alive long enough. You too, Twilight. Starswirl was hundreds of years old when he died.” He shook a claw at her, like a parent scolding a child. “This isn’t goodbye, it’s ‘see you later.’” As if to punctuate the issue, he yawned, the hot smell of his breath washing over them. They said goodbye once more, then watched as Spike turned south, headed back to his home. Meanwhile, they had turned north, towards the far-off mountains of Featherhome, the home of the harpies.

It took them ten days to make it to the foothills, when the first sign of the harpies made it to their eyes. They watched a small group, a ‘Wing’ as Twilight called them, ten strong, the harpies curved through the air and made for them with long, graceful flaps. They stopped at the top of a hill, watching the harpies fly closer and closer. When they landed, one of them advanced towards them. Melody was surprised to see they were almost exactly like avians… The only difference between the two were that harpies were feathered all over, and their legs sported an extra knee, bent like a bird’s. Below their elbows and over the second knee, the skin was ridged, like a bird’s, and instead of feet and hands, they each sported eagle-like talons. Their heads, too, looked like a bird’s. Feathers swept back off their heads, and their mouths were replaced with hard, viciously-curved beaks. Their colors varied from brown to grey to white and even one canary-yellow.

The one that approached them was snow-white, and was decidedly female. She wore a sturdy leather bra that held her breasts, which Lily was noted were covered with a thin layer of feathery down. She had a tuft of feathers, though, just above her sternum. Her stomach was flat, and underneath the soft-looking down, Lily saw her muscles rippled powerfully. In her talons, she held a long spear. Her legs were clad in brown leather-looking trousers, though her long, flat tail feathers swept out behind her.

“Raaw! What mm-business do humans have here-e-e?” Her voice was thin and scratchy, but she spoke very well. Melody fought not to associate her croaking, clicking words with a parrot. The nine others behind her all carried spears and were dressed similarly. The disassociation was easy to make.

“Please,” Twilight spoke for them. “My family and I are running from the changelings. We mean you no harm. We seek shelter, not trade or even conversation. Safety. We will gladly be your prisoners. I am very valuable to Equestria. I am Celestia’s personal student. She will pay any price, even if it’s peace, to have me back. Please, we’re begging you.” Twilight fell to her knees and pulled her pack off, laying it on the ground. Lily followed her lead, shortly after Verse and melody. “We come in peace.”

“Hmm…” The female harpy stroked her beak, her claws clacking against the hard enamel as she thought. “You say you’re the student of Sunbringer?”

“Yes. I study under Celestia directly.” Twilight answered, her head still bowed in subjugation.

“This decision is mm-beyond me-e-e… We will take you to Nest. Hand over your supplies and any weapons you carry. We will keep you safe from mm-changelings for now. Raaw!” She flapped her wings and turned back to the other harpies. Their whistling, clicking language was both crude and beautiful to listen to. It was melodic, almost like a song. Immediately, four of the other nine stepped forward and took their packs from the ground.

“Mm-four days to Nest. I cannot promise the Clutchmother won’t throw you from the cliffs of Nest, but I can promise your safe journey there. What are your names?”

“My name is Twilight. This is my wife, Lily. Our children, Verse and Melody.” Twilight said, gesturing to each in turn.

“You have children with another woman? How is this?” The harpy asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.

“It is very complex and very long to explain, but I can tell you that it involves some very old, deep, and powerful magic.” The harpy have a small ‘hmm’ as she stroked her beak a few more times.

“Hmm… Our mm-sages will want to… Raaw… Ask you some questions. I’m-mm going to fly to Nest now and tell them… RAAW!” She cried out and took to the skies then, her and two others carrying their packs. Seven stayed behind, gesturing with their spears they should walk.

“That went well.” Twilight said gently.

“Too well, I would think…” Melody said, taking a moment to look at one of the male harpies. She got a cold, amber-eyed stare in return, so she averted her gaze.

“Just… Don’t shift into anything with wings.” Twilight reminded them.

“Right.” She got three simultaneous responses.

They began ascending into hilly country. A very stark contrast to the flat, barren wastes of dragon territory, this area was lush with thick pine forests, the green boughs dropping a bed of soft needles that made their footsteps hushed and quiet. After being out on the wide plains, Melody was glad for the hushed, concealing trees of the forest. They lit a warm fire and ate dried jerky from the harpie’s small packs, and listened to them talk in their language at night. They slept on beds of pine needles, the heady, fresh scent making Melody feel comforted and warm.

The men wore tight-fitting leather pants or skimpy loincloths, and the women wore the same, save for the tight, restrictive tops that kept their breasts reigned in. Probably to help make them more aerodynamic, as they flew much like she had seen Lily, whenever she sprouted wings. The going was slow, thanks to the four of them being land-bound, but soon enough, a mountain began to rise up above all the other hills. Melody caught sight of it looming ahead of them, blotting out the stars one night.

The next day dawned, and she could see it looming ahead of them. Tall, dark, and imposing, the Harpy city of Nest rose thousands of feet into the air. The sheer side of the cliff face looked steep as anything, steeper than she was sure they could climb. Not without tools, anyways… Suddenly, a sharp-clawed hand rested on her shoulder, stopping her from walking. They were maybe three hundred feet from the base of the massive mountain. High above them, harpies wheeled in slow, lazy circles, disappearing and reappearing behind the imposing stone face.

“Do not hold onto us as we fly.” The voice croaked at her. “Two of us for one of you. I’d just as soon drop you than mm-fly up to Nest, so watch yourself.” Flapping his wings, the male harpy joined up with a female, and together, they both curled their talons around Melody’s arm. She cried out, half from surprise, and half from terror, as they smoothly lifted her from the ground. Her feet swung beneath her, the shrinking ground falling away a LOT quicker than she had expected. She flexed her arms, but closed her fists to avoid grabbing him as he had warned. Brief cries from the rest of her family called out as they rose with them. Verse, though, was left behind.

“Wait! Verse!” She looked up at the two carrying her, begging them to go back for him.

“He’s too heavy! It’ll take four to carry him! Now stop RAAW squirming!” Melody shut her mouth as they winged her upwards, carrying her, Lily, and Twilight all the way to the top of Nest. The chill wind here was worse than the mountain they had climbed… When they arrived, Melody was shivering and blue-lipped. She collapsed on weak legs when they dropped her on a rocky shelf, her lips quivering and blue. Twilight and Lily looked the same.

“Welcome to Nest.” Melody recognized the harpy that had first greeted them. Her brilliant white feathers stood out against the black top and leather britches she wore. Her spear swung forward, pointing to Melody’s chin, digging into her skin, lifting her face up. “Your new prison.”