Saturday was a bit more exciting, though perhaps that wasn't the best word to use. It began relatively normally, with me waking up from a short bout of meditative silence. While in that state I was aware of my general surroundings and could sense my little ponies but my thoughts were dulled.

It was a nice discovery, as it conserved my energy and allowed me to spread my perception over a wider area. Because I was able to perceive more, I picked up the scream almost immediately. It took me mere moments to locate its source, and begin constructing a plan to aid the pony who had cried out.

I immediately recognized them as one of the self-appointed berry pickers who were scouring the area for more of the tasty fruits. His simple basket was ruined and was currently being used to attack a wolf that was biting down on the pony’s leg. I chastised myself for not paying more attention and focused on creating another body in order to assist him.

Thankfully there was a deposit of the strange crystals only a few feet from the struggle. Pushing my essence into the surrounding stones, I felt a brief wave of nausea mixed with vertigo. It was uncomfortable, to say the least, but I ignored it, and the alarm bells warned me that I was low on energy.

I had a pony to save, and little worry about my reserves of power.

With a heave, I burst forth from the stony ground and stepped out of the crater I had just created. The sudden explosion seemed to pause the struggle for a moment, as the wolf glanced out of the corner of its eye at me. The pony immediately felt a wave of relief, though the creature attacking it had yet to release its hold on his foreleg.

The second my eyes landed on the furry predator I immediately recognized that it had seen better days. A thick band around its neck was hairless, and its thin body was covered with what looked like whip marks. Whoever had been attempting to break the animal had either given up or lost control of it, either way, it was up to me to put it down.

Though my heart broke for the poor creature, it was attacking one of my little ponies and thus its life was forfeit.

I sprinted at it, clearing the distance in a matter of heartbeats, my thunderous footsteps giving the beast pause. Its starvation-induced mania kept a powerful hold on the creature’s mind, however, and even as I neared it, the beast did not let go. In fact, it seemed to bite down even harder, desperate to acquire a meal before I managed to reach it.

The scream from my little pony was all the push I needed to cross the distance, my hand grabbing the wolf by the neck. I then slipped two of my enormous fingers into its mouth and pried open its jaws. It tried to resist of course, but I was far too strong, and the starving animal was forced to release its hold on the pony.

Who stumbled back, cradling his injured leg while I dealt with the wolf now flailing in my grasp. Its claws scratched at my stony hide, its teeth tried to bite into my fingers, but I was made of shale, and not flesh. So it found little success in its attacks, carving away a few loose hunks of rock and that was about it.

I switched my grip and grabbed it by the head before twisting sharply, snapping its neck with a loud crack. The beast immediately went limp, collapsing like a puppet with its strings cut. I continued to hold it, ensuring that it was indeed dead before finally laying it on the ground.

“Thank you mother Gaea, thank you!” cried the stallion.

“Be still. You’re bleeding,” I commanded.

The stallion winced, and fell back to the ground, his hoof cradled against his chest. Blood poured from the wounds, leaving the pony’s green fur an odd mix of colors. It was an unpleasant sight, one which made my heart ache for the young male.

“Hold out your leg,” I ordered.

“Y-yes, mother,” he muttered through clenched teeth.

He stuck out his shaking hoof dutifully, wincing when I gently took hold of it between my fingers. I focused my remaining power on healing his wounds, though I knew my energy levels were very low. I knew this would cause me problems, but again, that didn't matter, as I had a pony to attend to and a wrong to right.

Thankfully by then, I had a bit more practice with my healing abilities, having spent time mending small injuries as practice. Paper cuts, bruises, and sprains were now relatively easy for me, though this injury was in a league of its own. Regardless, using that experience I was able to heal the pony without having to brute force it as I had in the past.

I was rewarded with the sight of new flesh regrowing and covering the holes made by the wolf. These gauges were deep however, and I couldn't heal the injury perfectly. Scars would remain, but at least I had been able to deal with the majority of the damage.

His relief was palpable, and through the tears, he smiled at me. “Thank you, mother Gaea. Thank you so very much.”

“You’re people have made a compact with me, and thus I am duty bound to protect you,” I replied, leaning in and pressing where my lips would be against his head. “Relax now, the worst is over.”

“I won't forget this. I swear I’ll be the best follower you’ve ever had,” he professed.

“I know you will,” I exclaimed.

“Hey is everyone okay!” shouted the voice of Quick Quill.

I looked over to find that that my unofficial second in command was running toward me. With her was Earth Break, and Crystal Cadance, as well as a few others armed with whatever they had handy. Shovels, picks, a kitchen knife, they seemed ready for a fight, or at least they were trying to look like they were.

“Were fine,” I replied. “Isn't that right?”

“I’m okay,” whispered the stallion.

“Praise Gaea,” Quick Quill muttered. “When we heard you scream we immediately assumed the worst.”

Their admiration gave me strength, but it was too little too late, and I could already feel sleep beginning to claim me. My limbs grew heavy, my mind filled with fog, and I couldn't help but catch myself just before I fell asleep.

“Are you okay, mother?” whispered Crystal Cadance.

“I used up too much energy,” I murmured, my voice slurring. “Sleep claims me once more. Remember, stick to the schedule, and take tomorrow off.”

“I’ll make sure everyone’s assembled in the church,” Earth Break declared.

“I leave things in your capable hooves,” I whispered before falling into the sweet embrace of sleep.

I awoke to the sound of music, quiet and distant at first, but rapidly becoming louder as I reentered the waking world. This time I had no weirdly foreboding dreams filled with strange imagery and weird portents, only the darkness of unconsciousness. Thus it felt at least from my perspective, that I nodded off, only to immediately hear the sound of singing from somewhere far away.

The song, at first, was wordless, though it gained definition as time passed, until finally, I could hear it clearly. It sounded almost like a hymn sung by a choir, but more upbeat, and less reserved than the ones I could faintly recall from my previous life. Where the others were soft and reverent, this one was animated with verses focused on giving thanks.

Though I knew the ponies had few instruments, I could hear what sounded like an entire orchestra. The strangeness of it all only increased when I felt my sight return and I beheld a room filled with ponies. Only there was no orchestra here, only a pair of ponies playing a beat-up old guitar, and some metal barrels fashioned into drums.

The rest of the band seemed to come out of thin air, with no clear reason as to how this was all happening. Noone was using magic, as all horns were dull, yet the orchestra played on, oblivious to the fact that they shouldn't even exist. I stowed those questions away and merely observed the small chapel as well as its inhabitants.

Nearly every last one of my little ponies were gathered within the largest side tunnel and were seated in long rows. At the forefront stood Quick Quill, the mare guiding the song by waving her forehooves in the air, though her flock needed little direction. Everyone seemed to know instinctively what to sing, and what notes to hit, even without any song sheets for them to read from.

It was beautiful, both lyrically, and compositionally. My wonder only grew when I realized that was just the chorus, and a lone pony rose from the rest. I recognized them as the stallion I had saved from the wolf, which was exactly what he sang about as well.

His voice was pure and true, singing a recounting of the events before concluding with his thanks. Then the chorus returned once more, only to fall silent when another lone pony stood amongst their fellows. This time it was Fleet Hoof, who seemed to have been accepted by the others at this point as they looked upon her with pride.

Again she told of how I had helped and again she gave her thanks before rejoining the surging chorus. Though it wasn't quite a chorus per say, as it changed a little with each retelling, the tales of those who had spoken joining the main song. This pattern continued with each pony singing how I had helped, and praising me for having done so.

They weren't all quite so grandiose as the stallion whose name I had forgotten, but they sang regardless. A child praised me for giving hope to her parents, an elderly stallion thanked me for making him tea. A second foal sang their gratitude for playing with them while their mother was busy cooking a healthy meal over a fire.

Big or small, they all gave me thanks, filling my energy reserves to levels that I had never experienced before. What I had thought to be the maximum amount I could contain within me was quickly blown past as the song continued. I felt more alive than ever before, and I sensed that I now had access to abilities that I had not had a minute ago.

Then along came Short Sale, who was helped up by a certain ex miner who had a greying mane. His praise was the most powerful of the lot, and he sung with such passion that I would have cried had I had tear ducts. Matching his intensity was Crystal Cadance who stood soon after he had sat back down, taking Short Sale’s spot once more.

Crystal’s voice was the stuff of legends and made me imagine an angel had entered this tiny, magically lit cavern. I was reminded that my nature was not truly divine, but her song was as close as close as one may come. When her verse was done, noone rejoined the chorus, as noone could top her, and the pony sang it alone one final time.

With that, the orchestra played for another thirty seconds, winding down until finally falling into silence. That, I realized was my cue, and with startling ease, I constructed a body from the wall next to Quick Quill. This time I didn't need to burst from the earth or punch my way out of the ground, I simply stepped forward.

A cheer went up, and more hearty praises were thrown my way, though I quickly silenced them with a raised hand. I gestured for Quick Quill to seat herself amongst the others, an action she quickly carried out. Once she was seated, and the crowd had grown silent, I extended my arms outward.

“Your love is a potent thing, my little ponies,” I declared. “Your song was the most beautiful thing I’ve ever heard, and this congregation is truly heartwarming.”

I smiled out over the crowd, observing as some ponies dabbed at the corners of their eyes while others hugged those they loved. It was an endearing sight, one which made me feel even more protective of them and their adorable little faces.

“You have taken my words to heart, and helped to awaken parts of me that have been left dormant,” I continued. “Even now I can feel strength flowing through me, strength the likes of which I can scarcely remember having.”

“Woohoo, go Gaea!” someone shouted.

I chuckled, my laughter sounding almost like a boulder rolling downhill. “Remember this day forevermore as the day of rest and relaxation. Though it is important that you come here and sing the song of your heart it is not just my day, but our day.”

I extended an arm out over the crowd and gestured to everyone present. “You have earned a respite from the darkness of the world. So think not on what you have lost or your circumstances but face forward and imagine all that will come to be.”

“So go, play with your children, tell the pony who's captured your heart how you feel, run through the hills, and eat until your belly is full,” I continued. “You have earned this, my children.”

With the final word leaving my mouth I raised a fist high into the air and caused a unified cry to rise up from the crowd. Hooves pounded against stone, and everyone present joined in, yelling their joy for all to hear. It went on for nearly a minute before finally dying down, though their smiles remained, plastered firmly to their faces.

“So go! Revel my ponies!” I shouted,

With love burning hot in their hearts, they stampeded out of the room, leaving behind only a couple of stragglers. It was quite hilarious and reminded me of a pack of children who had just been told that cake was being served in the other room. It made my heart swell, and I looked down at those who had remained with beaming pride.

Short Sale knelt at the forefront, the stallion helped along by the grey-haired mare he had been watching the day before. From the way she held him I knew that his feelings had been reciprocated, he didn't even need to utter a sound.

“I just wanted to thank you again,” he began. “I took your advice.”

“I can tell,” I exclaimed, leaning down to his level. “You two look adorable.”

“I uh… thank you,” Short Sale murmured.

I leaned a little closer to the mare and whispered. “I’m counting on you to look after him for me. I don't want him doing anything crazy and losing the rest of his legs now, ya hear?”

The mare grinned, revealing the fact that she had a few missing teeth near the back. “I’ll make sure this silly old stallion is well cared for, mother. Maybe even give him an heir so both our families can continue to serve you.”

I laughed aloud, joining the mare while Short Sale merely blushed and looked away. “Well said miss…”

“Deep Delve, of the Delve family of miners,” she replied, bowing slightly. “Guess I shoulda introduced myself before.”

“It's quite alright. I’ve been doing my best to ask all of your names but we’ve been busy haven't we?” I offered.

“Speaking of getting busy,” Deep Delve began, picking Short Sale up and throwing him across her back. “I just installed a door on my room, and was hopin to show Short Sale what it looks like from the inside.”

“Say no more,” I replied.

“W-wait. We just started going out, shouldn't we wait or something?” Short Sale asked.

“At our age, we can't wait for nothin. Unless your sayin no,” Deep Delve offered, glancing over her shoulder to the male.

“Well, I uh… wouldn't say that,” Short Sale murmured.

“Then let's go. We gotta long hard day ahead of us,” Deep Delve declared.

“What have I signed up for?” muttered Short Sale.

I watched the pair go, playing close attention to his new mare and committing her description to memory. The earth pony had a braided short grey mane, eyes as black as coal, and a cutie mark of a chasm next to a pickaxe. Her body was well muscled, and she stood taller then most others, with an impressive width that put the majority of stallions to shame.

And on her back was a wiry stallion who was as old as she was, but who weighed probably half as much as she did. It was a humorous sight and one which made me wonder what kind of children would come from their union. I had been able to gather that neither had ever married nor had they had kids, though something told me that was about to change.

“Thank you again, mother,” Crystal Cadance exclaimed.

I looked down, only now remembering that the singer, her partner, and Quick Quill had remained.

“You have already given your thanks. No need to waste your breath,” I replied, waving a hand in the air.

“Still. I appreciate it,” she repeated.

“I’m amazed at all we’ve been able to do in only about two weeks,” Earth Break offered. “We’ve got a decent stock of food, the caves are far homier than I would have ever thought possible.”

“And we’ve been able to save a good number of our missing members,” Quick Quill offered.

“Things are only looking up from here,” I added.

“Speaking of which. I was hoping to discuss what plans you may have for the coming weeks,” Quick Quill began. “We have no immediate concerns, but if we find any more refugees we are going to run out of room down here.”

“That is a discussion for tomorrow,” I stated firmly. “Today is about relaxation, so go. Enjoy the warm weather and don't make me order you to do so.”

Quick Quill chuckled as she ducked into a low bow. “If that is your will, mother Gaea.”

“It is,” I replied.

The mare trotted hastily out of the room, a smile growing across her usually reserved face.

“So,” I began, turning to the final two ponies. “Why are you two here and not off having a bit of private fun?”

Crystal Cadance blushed and cleared her throat awkwardly. “I-er we were hoping to talk to you about what you mentioned before. That is of course if you remembered that little conversation we uh had not long ago.”

“Pardon my partner,” Earth Break interrupted. “She gets rather verbose when she's feeling awkward. We were hoping to discuss curing her little ‘infertility’ problem.”

“Uh, yes. That was what I wanted to talk about,” Crystal Cadance muttered, her face now several shades redder than usual.

“I have not forgotten,” I began. “My powers have grown significantly, but I require more practice before I attempt something so… invasive.”

“Oh,” Crystal Cadance whispered.

I leaned down and gently cupped her chin, raising it up so her eyes met my own. “Worry not. Your time will come soon enough and when it does I expect you to birth enough foals to have your own private army. Is that understood?”

“Yes, mother Gaea!” Earth Break declared, pounding a hoof into his chest.

“I um oh wow. I always did want a big family I suppose,” Crystal Cadance murmured.

“Good. Then you better get practicing!” I declared.

“Yes Ma’am!” Earth Break shouted.

“I suppose we didn't have anything else- woah!” Crystal Cadance yelped as she was hoisted over Earth Break’s back.

“You heard our goddess, let's get moving!” Earth Break exclaimed.

“I can walk to you knowww!” Crystal Cadance cried as she was carried bodily out of the room.

I merely laughed, and watched them go, following in their hoof steps a few moments later. Stepping into the long winding tunnel lit by glowing magical lights, I found that I was not alone. Quick Quill stood to my right, her smile remaining as bright as the moment she had left the first time.

“You know,” she began. “The preachers always told us how accepting you were, and how much you valued motherhood but they never said anything about accepting what some may see as alternative forms of relationships.”

Though her tone may have sounded slightly judgemental, her face betrayed no negative emotions. Rather it was a mere statement of fact, indicating to me that there were others out there who may disagree with my stance on love. I assumed that she was speaking of these other religions, as they were the most likely ones to have spread such intolerance.

“Love is the most beautiful thing in the world,” I remarked. “Those who would stifle it are never doing so out of kindness. To deny someone a part of who they are is always cruel and born of a desire to control them in some manner. To resist such systems is the highest form of righteousness, and to aid someone in their journey to their truest self is the greatest kindness.”

“That is… very well said,” Quick Quill murmured.

“There are qualifiers of course, such as everyone involved being willing, and an adult but that goes without saying,” I finished.

“Of course,” Quick Quill declared. “We aren't monsters.”

“So…” I began, adopting a teasing tone. “Has anyone caught your eye?”

The middle-aged mare chuckled. “I’m afraid I’ve never really yearned for the touch of another. So I think I’ll go and try to find a game of cards to join. Someone found several packs in a container of rice the other day.”

“Enjoy, my child,” I offered.

“I will, thank you,” Quick Quill replied before trotting off.

I watched her go for several seconds before placing the avatar I had just constructed back into the makeshift chapel. There it stood, overlooking the long, squarish room with its arms crossed over its chest. I left it there, pulling my being back into the mountain and my first avatar, careful to not allow the other to fall apart once I departed it. Sure enough, it retained its shape and continued to stand there quietly, watching the room.

Now overlooking the valley I began to watch as the ponies played joyously beneath my gaze. Their hearts were filled with happiness, and despite their circumstances, they reveled in the sunlight. Immediately I found myself tempted to inhabit another body and go amongst them, but I resisted that urge.

Something stopped me, a voice, distant and borne upon the wind.

Please, mother Gaea. The distant individual pleaded. The dark one works us without end and I begin to worry about how long we will last in these conditions. The others have abandoned their faith, but I remain steadfast. Please hear my prayer and save us!

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