Chapter Ten: Nowhere to Run

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A metallic creak raked through the air as the ferris wheel groaned to a stop, drowning out the commotion on the ground. Several spotlights swept over the steel spider-web of the ferris wheel’s infrastructure before centering on one specific car, and the zebra standing on top of it.

“Please remain calm and stay put,” somepony on a megaphone politely requested. “Someone will be up to assist you shortly.”

Zecora ignored all of this, eyes locked with the mare in the car directly across from her. The pony in question dissolved into a fine red mist, seeping out through the wire screen window of the car and condensing on the roof into the mare she had come to so bitterly despise. Some of the spotlights swung to the other side of the wheel, illuminating Mahara as she stood her ground.

“And what is this I see?” Zecora shouted across the open. “Do you not wish to flee?!”

Mahara’s voice echoed back, carrying a trace of frustration. “I’m getting tired of running, Zecora! We’re going to leave Equestria tonight, and you’ll never have to worry about either of us again!”

“You know full well that I cannot let you go! Princess Luna taught me a trick that I don’t think you know!” The zebra took a step forward, muzzle low, meeting Mahara’s distant, glowing gaze with a glare. “Through your eyes, so much clarity did you bring! I saw it all, and heard everything! Wherever you go, I will follow you! There’s no place to hide! You are through!”

A brief silence preceded Mahara’s words. “Come with us, then! You’re one of us! We don’t have to be enemies!”

“From this fight,” Zecora spat, “I will not be dissuaded! To your tricks, I am already jaded!”

A stomp echoed to her. “Well, Fluttershy hasn’t done anything wrong! Will you let her go, at least?!”

Zecora glanced to the car’s window, spotting Fluttershy pressed to the grate. “I am not here for Fluttershy; this is just between you and I! She will be dealt with as the princesses see fit, but for now, I intend to test your grit!”

Mahara remained silent, widening her stance, lowering herself as long, thick masses of flesh reached out of her back. Fluttershy’s voice was distant and pleading, but her words were too soft to reach Zecora’s ears.

“She’s not giving me a choice,” the red mare responded bluntly, before returning her attention to Zecora.

The zebra pulled off her cloak, revealing her harness with all its pouches, and brushed her hoof over the sheathed knife strapped to her opposite foreleg. The handle of her knife felt cold against her teeth as she drew it from its sheath with a dry grind. She inhaled sharply as she slid the blade over her shoulder, carving a thin, bleeding line in her flesh. As she exhaled, she centered her focus on her fresh wound. Instead of rolling down, the droplets drifted away from her, straightening into longer, pointed forms.

“This duel between us is long overdue, and there has been enough talk!” Zecora closed her eyes, feeling the blood solidify in her magical grasp. Her eyes snapped open. “Have at you!”

A chorus of whistles cut through the air as she shot her crimson bolts in unison. She could feel them make contact, digging and twisting into Mahara’s flesh before dissolving back into liquid shortly after impact. The red mare’s shrill, startled cry was just icing on the cake. Fluttershy called out again, to Zecora this time, but Zecora ignored her.

“Just a taste of the agony you have caused me!” As she had predicted, Mahara erupted into a swirling, nebulous mist, and rushed toward her. Zecora reached back, pulling one of the pouches off of her harness. “I’ll make sure you suffer to the same degree!”

Holding the pouch by the string that tied it closed, she whipped her head toward Mahara as the red mare came into range, undoing the knot. The pouch opened, releasing a cloud of fine, golden dust. Mahara didn’t have enough time to change course. In the blink of an eye, the mist condensed back into a pony. Even in that split second, Zecora caught the look of shock on the red mare’s face as she became tangible. Mahara hit the car head first, loudly tumbled across the roof, and slid limply over the side, dropping into the amusement park below. Zecora leapt after her.

Splintered wood and a semi scattered crowd greeted her on the ground. Half of them were staring at her, the other half staring at the remains of a peanut stand. Zecora stood her ground, waiting patiently for Mahara to rise. She had just about propped herself up with her forehooves before a gout of crimson gushed violently from her lips. Several jagged wooden fragments projected from her stomach. Through narrowed eyes, she glared back at Zecora, wiping her lips.

“What the hell is wrong with you? I try to reason with you… I try to resolve things peacefully… and you respond with violence?” Mahara shook herself off, wooden shards falling away, her wounds closing almost immediately. “Why? I defy you to give me a good reason for this… savagery!”

“I don’t care how sorry you are for the things you’ve done. That’s no excuse; your every action has hurt someone. Even before staining my soul, you were well on your way to digging a hole.” Mahara began to shake her head, silently objecting. Zecora turned her gaze downward, focusing on the blood slowly seeping into the wood. “Feeding from fillies? Did you think that was decent? And I’m sure you recall visiting me; that was so very recent!”

“So you’re just keeping tally of my sins, then? Is that it?” The red mare took a step forward, her tendrils thrashing violently. “You think you have the right to come and collect?!”

“When you refused to help during the hydra attack, was it fear for your safety, or petty payback?” Zecora narrowed her eyes as she met Mahara’s glare, boldly taking a step closer. “Applejack and the others’ insults did scald, but were they so cruel that you wanted them mauled? Did you even care when you watched those ponies die? Go ahead; tell me you have a good reason why.” She let her gaze sweep over the crowd; the hundreds of faces looking on in morbid fascination. “And if that weren’t enough, your curse drove me to kill. My hooves, and my fangs, have caused blood to spill.”

Mahara’s lips parted, eyes wide with shock. The zebra snorted. “Oh, you may not have meant it, but the fact hasn’t changed. Your deception, your carelessness, is completely deranged. I dismiss your intentions; you’re too great a threat. My name, and your guilt, you shall never forget.”

A full minute of deafening silence followed. When Mahara finally stirred, she straightened up with her head held high, but remained completely still otherwise. Her eyes, however, began to burn; a ghostly green flame licking at the air. Zecora could feel Mahara in the back of her mind, trying to force her to lie down, to turn and leave. The zebra narrowed her eyes, clenching her jaw as she resisted. The corners of Mahara’s mouth began to tense, lips pulling tightly as she began to tremble. Her mental grasp constricted, trying to crush every defiant thought within Zecora’s mind. With a snort and a stomp, Zecora broke the tension, and the red mare recoiled, her burning stare extinguished.

“To your tricks,” Zecora coldly repeated, “I am already jaded.”

Mahara roared with fury. “If you want this life of mine so badly, come and take it from me!”

Those words had barely left Mahara’s lips when the blood soaked wood surrounding her exploded into wooden shrapnel, crimson spikes spearing her from all sides. The crowd erupted into screaming and stampeding.

Mahara gasped breathlessly, but didn’t so much as flinch. The green of her irises rusted to the color of blood. Zecora slid a hind back, widening her stance, retracting her bloody spears with intent to stab again. Her thrust met open air, as Mahara had lunged forward, fangs bared, hooves and tendrils poised to strike. The zebra leapt backwards, narrowly avoiding a ground shaking crash of hooves and writhing flesh. She rushed back in with her knife clenched between her teeth.

A blur of bright colors and shifting forms whirled behind Mahara as Zecora skirted around her, holding Mahara’s furious glare as they danced violently through the boardwalk. The zebra ducked an air splitting whip, the supports of a nearby stand reduced to little more than splinters behind her. She tried to dash forward, but was forced to sidestep another downward strike, squinting through dust disturbed by the blow. The cloud parted around an uppercut, narrowly avoided as she rolled back over her haunches. With so many tendrils thrashing and jabbing, an opening in Mahara’s defense seemed nearly impossible to find.

The zebra misstepped as she tried to control some of the spilled blood, taking a heavy blow to the face, jaws grinding as she felt her nose gush in the aftershock. On impulse, she directed the spray into a whip, stepping out of the way of an oncoming blow and cutting deep into a tendril that curled to protect Mahara’s face. Mahara backpedaled. Zecora landed several more slices before Mahara’s bloodied tendrils unfolded, pounding the ground and rocketing her forward, hind hooves first. The zebra cringed as both hooves crunched into her breast, blood whip dissolving. She sprawled back, tumbling roughly for several yards. The red mare didn’t give her the chance to recover.

Zecora’s knife found purchase in a tendril as it coiled around her foreleg, carving a long line through squirming muscle and flesh. The wound closed almost as swiftly as it was made, but for her effort, a bright spray of blood misted the air. It was hers in an instant, shaped into a spike and driven into Mahara’s side. In that same instant, the zebra was lifted into the air, brought through the side of a dart-throwing booth with a wood splintering crack. Zecora cried out, flailing, but couldn’t slip free. Her momentum shifted, smashed through the roof, swung over Mahara’s back, and slammed into another booth on the other side.

“You can’t win this fight, Zecora,” Mahara snarled through the buzz in the zebra’s ears. “Stay down!”

Even with the breath knocked out of her, and a feeling like several bones had been snapped out of place, she responded with a volley of needles formed from her own bleeding wounds. Each impact resonated in her mind’s eye, shredding Mahara’s face, throat and breast in a split-second. The tendril around the zebra’s foreleg uncoiled, followed by the sound of frantically scrambling hooves.  

“Are you sure?! I disagree! Perhaps you shouldn’t underestimate me!”

She continued peppering Mahara’s retreating body with hardened crimson shards until she felt them meeting resistance other than flesh. The world was a blur as Zecora rolled back onto her trembling hooves, but she could plainly see that the boardwalk had just about become a ghost town. Only a few determined onlookers remained, watching from a distance. As she stepped out of the wreckage, she could also see that Mahara had grown wise to her trick. The red mare held a large piece of wood in her tendrils, using it like a shield. Blood slowly trickled down the front where Zecora’s projectiles had made contact. Try as Mahara might to seal her wounds, however, some of her blood had spattered the ground, leaving a crimson trail to where she now stood.

Mahara stood at a distance, the ferris wheel looming behind her, her form shifting and convulsing. Zecora used this lull in their duel to focus on all the blood she had left back at the peanut stand. A sticky red curtain welled up over the park, splitting into a storm of javelins that descended on the red mare with a high pitched whistle. Mahara launched from the spot, narrowly avoiding the skewering downpour. A low, gurgling shriek bubbled up in her throat as she advanced, distorting as it tore its way out of her. A thick, black ichor had replaced her coat. The red of her eyes cut through the night.

Zecora jumped back, twisting in the air, unleashing a razor edged spray of blood. Her attack was met with a wall of pulsing black flesh, which her blood slashed into with no effect. It didn’t even bleed. The fleshy shield parted around Mahara’s jagged fangs as she unleashed an ear splitting scream. The zebra tensed, receded again, and rolled a tide of blood toward her enemy, attempting to spear her from below like before. The crimson lances found minimal purchase, half of them shattering back into fluid.

Mahara reached out for her with dozens of longer, vein-like lengths of flesh. Zecora attempted to shake herself free of them as they ensnared her and lifted her off the ground. A sharp stabbing prickled up in her skin wherever Mahara made contact, spreading inside and out.

“No more games. You die here and now.”

It was a sensation similar to the anguish that had gripped her when Mahara had attempted to peel her apart as a mist, but instead of oppressing humidity, the sticky, black vines of flesh were cold and clammy. Zecora glared back at her, pulled the pool of blood into a long arc, and dropped it across the invading tendrils like a guillotine. The zebra fell like a stone, severed black flesh oozing harmlessly out of and off of her, with fresh, red blood trickling out behind it. She wavered for a moment, a feeling of light headedness coming over her, shaking it off just as quickly. Mahara’s dark silhouette was already pressing in on her.

Thinking fast, Zecora wrapped her forehooves in swirling cocoons of blood, rearing up and bringing them together on opposite sides of Mahara’s head. Her skull crunched under the impact, but she kept advancing, a thick, black pitch oozing from between her jaws. The indents in her head shallowed out the instant Zecora slid back, completely gone in the blink of an eye. Black lines shot out from Mahara’s back, hooking toward the zebra, spearing her from the sides. She could feel them digging around inside her, curling around her ribs and pulling them in opposite directions, while others began to squeeze her lungs. Gasping, she cocked her foreleg back, every drop of free blood coalescing into a lance on the tip of her hoof.

A wet crack split the air as she felt her ribcage start to give. Her heart struggled to throb as it was constricted. Zecora drove her hoof forward with all her might, plunging into the underside of Mahara’s breast. A crimson point burst from Mahara’s back. Her jaw hung slack, her tendrils went limp, and the red glow of her eyes faded. The lance dissolved, as did the black vines, and Zecora staggered away from her. Both mares collapsed into panting, gored heaps.

“Mahara! Zecora!” Fluttershy swooped in behind Mahara, dropping to her knees. “Oh! Oh Celestia, what have you two done?!”

“Stay out of this!” Mahara hissed between broken pants. “I’m going to settle this one way or another!”

The zebra struggled to lift her head. Color had already faded back into Mahara’s coat, and her wounds were swiftly healing, the gaping hole in her chest growing smaller by the second. The pool of blood surrounding her, however, was still massive. Zecora strained to focus, several droplets rising out of the pool before splashing down harmlessly.

“I told you not to fight her! Both of you! Are you even listening to me?!” The pegasus stomped furiously as Mahara rolled back to her hooves and snorted wetly, a small spurt of blood spraying from her nose. “Stop! Please!”

Zecora coughed as she shakily pushed herself off the ground, the world undulating and rolling under her. Mahara tried to take a step toward her, but Fluttershy intervened, head low. The red mare froze on the spot as a teal glow washed over her. Zecora staggered forward, stumbling as her right foreleg refused to move. At that moment, Fluttershy whipped her head around to lock eyes with the zebra, and just like that, everything else refused to move.

Fluttershy glared, trembling with anger, her eyes burning. “I want you both to stop fighting this instant!”

Just as the words began to sink in, she noticed Mahara edging closer. The red pony interrupted Fluttershy’s stare by pushing her out of the way. Mahara tried to keep Fluttershy back with her tendrils, but the pegasus took to the air, fluttering over the red mare and blocking her path.

“Even if you make her retreat today, Fluttershy, what will stop her from hunting us down tomorrow? I was foolish to let her live.” She leaned to the side, narrowing her eyes at Zecora. “I see now that I should have killed her long before this point. I wan— I need to kill her.”

“No! You don’t!” Fluttershy shook her head violently, tears glimmering with reflected neon as they rolled down her cheeks. “This has gone too far already!”

“I’m doing this for you!” she hissed, trying to push past the pegasus, halted by a stroke of Fluttershy’s enormous wings.

“Are you, Mahara?! Are you really?! Because this isn’t what I want!” Fluttershy glanced back at Zecora, her tears flowing freely. “Please, just go! Neither of you have to fight! You’re not murderers! And you’re not monsters, either!”

The pair of them froze, Mahara and Zecora locked in each other’s cold, bitter glares.

“I know how much this upsets you, but she and I must see it through!”

“She’s right, Fluttershy. I’ve come this far, and I’m not letting her take this from me! I’ll cut through her, and anyone else that stands in my way! It’s us or them! It always has been!”

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They’re not listening to me! They’re really going to try and kill each other! I… I have to do something! The pegasus snorted as Mahara tried to step past her again, shooting her a glare. Mahara grunted, trying to go around the other way. This is insane! I hope help arrives soon. I can’t keep them from each other’s throats forever.

Fluttershy looked over her wither as she scanned her surroundings. Zecora stood but a few noses behind her, looking for an opportunity to strike as the two of them walked in a tight circle around the pegasus.

What a mess… At least Mahara seems to be recovering, but she’s in awful shape… and Zecora… She must be in so much pain… I don’t think she knows how to heal herself! Well, she’s alive at least… she would be dead right now if not for— What was that? Oh!

A pool of bright light swept down the board-walk, nearly drowning them in its glare. A dull, distant humming accompanied the sudden illumination. Looking skyward, Fluttershy spotted several airships, all of them training spotlights on her and the two mares in her immediate vicinity. She smiled in relief as a large group of figures approached them, flanked by a pair of enormous, vaguely pony-shaped stone golems. She immediately recognized them as the police.

“I’m so glad you’re here,” she called to the distant silhouettes. She took a step forward, and the ponies in uniform shuffled back while the golems crouched defensively. “S-sorry! I didn’t mean to startle any of—”

“Down on the ground!” a pony thundered through a speaker on the closest airship. “Hooves where we can see them!”

The pegasus splayed her ears, lowering her head. “Wait! I didn’t—”

With a low, stone grinding groan, the golems lumbered forward, shaking the ground with every heavy hoof-fall. Fluttershy yelped, stepping back until she nearly tripped over Mahara. They returned to a standstill when they had completely obscured the ponies behind them, like some kind of magically animated wall.

Oblivious to or ignoring her appeals, the voice from the speaker continued. “By order of Princess Celestia, you are all to submit for arrest and remain in our custody until she arrives!”

Oh, she mused as she remembered her short but already incriminating history with the Manehattan Police Department and the royal guard. I’m still a fugitive, aren’t I?

“What do you think, Zecora,” Mahara muttered. “Temporary truce? Maybe we can kill each other once we’ve ditched these clowns?”

Fluttershy quickly glanced back at the zebra, watching as she slowly lifted a sphere of blood out of the pool, causing the pool to recede drastically. “I agree to nothing, you awful beast. Any truce with you is filthy and greased.”

The pegasus whipped around to Mahara, or where Mahara had been standing. The red mare gave herself a shake, wincing in the process. “Well, I tried. Fluttershy, I really hope you’re not going to let them arrest you.”

 “I… I’m going to do whatever is asked of me. I’ve seen more than enough violence! Now, will the two of you please stop?” Fluttershy spread her wings, attempting to block Mahara’s path as she advanced. “Please?!”

“I’m sorry,” Mahara whispered after several seconds. “I can’t. Not when we’re this close.”

A tremor rattled through the ground. She looked back, watching as the golems spread out again, a line of yellow police tape fluttering in the distance. Behind that, she spotted several police wagons and a crowd of onlookers being held at bay. The airships continued to circle overhead, surrounded by smaller units of gargoyles and pegasi flying in formation.

In those few moments, Mahara and Zecora had already moved away from her, standing amongst the debris on opposite sides of the boardwalk. The pegasus dried her eyes, huffing furiously as she watched the red mare and the zebra stagger toward one another.

“Please, help us,” she cried as she lifted herself into the air. “I can help you get them under control!”

After several moments of staring up at the circling airships, a single pegasus drifted into speaking range.

“The princess has ordered us to refrain from direct involvement… we’re only supposed to maintain a perimeter to keep you in and other ponies out.”

He glanced down, and she followed his lead. Far below, Zecora lay on her back, Mahara rearing up over her. A red curtain manifested over Zecora’s head, absorbing the blow. Mahara struggled to pull her hooves free as she was lifted into the air by the rapidly congealing blood. Seconds later, Zecora repeatedly slammed her back down.

“But they’re going to kill each other if I don’t stop them, and I can’t do it by myself!” She descended, pleading with her eyes as much as she pleaded with her words. “Please, believe me! I need your help!”

The winged stallion looked back to his hovering formation, brow furrowing. “I’m sorry,” he said abruptly, as he flew back to join them.

Out of the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of crimson. Zecora had slashed right through Mahara’s throat, and the red mare stumbled, gasping. Her tendrils feebly reached for the zebra, only to be cut clean through with a lash of blood. They fell to the ground, twitching, and Mahara collapsed. Her eyes rolled up at Fluttershy, mouthing wordlessly as Zecora stood over her.

“Yes,” the zebra purred, looking up at the hovering pegasus, “you can feel the time is nigh. Prepare yourself and say goodbye.”

Fluttershy uttered a dry squeak before folding her wings against her body, letting herself drop like a stone. She had nearly skimmed the ground before she spread her wings again, shooting out of her dive and colliding with Zecora. Fluttershy tumbled away from the downed red mare with her, a sharp pain shooting through her right wing as she rolled onto her stomach. Zecora glared at her as the shock wore off, slowly rising back to her hooves.

“You will let me accomplish what I came here to do, because if you don’t,” the zebra spat, her saliva tainted pink, “I will then deal with you. If I kill her, things will return to the way they were. Is leaving Equestria really what you prefer?”

“I… I don’t know…” The pegasus followed Zecora as she slowly limped back toward Mahara, visibly trembling with the effort, as if a strong breeze might knock her over. “I just don’t want anypony to die! Please, listen to me!”

“If I do not finish this now, further harm do I allow. She’s a dangerous pony, you know it to be true. Though it may hurt to admit, this is what I must do.”

Fluttershy hesitated and, though she hated herself for it, found herself weighing the decision in her mind.

It would be so easy… to just stand here… let it happen…

She shook her head and galloped past the zebra, dropping to her knees at Mahara’s side. The red mare looked deep into her eyes and smiled, letting her eyelids descend. Fluttershy spared a quick glance toward the ocean as the distant horn of a boat rang through the night sky.

“Do you still think…” Mahara whispered, “that I deserve to be punished?”

“What do you mean?”

“When you were staring down the hydra… I know some of that fury was meant for me, and I know that you deserve better.” Mahara opened her eyes slowly, a few tears rolling down her cheeks. “I’m sorry that I couldn’t be better.”

“You were yourself.” Fluttershy smiled, leaning in to kiss Mahara’s bloodied lips. “That’s all I ever wanted from you.”

“Mahara, this evening, you fought well,” Zecora’s shadow spilled over Fluttershy’s shoulder. The pegasus rose slowly. “But I’m not sorry to say that this is farewell.”

“No.” The pegasus looked back at Zecora, striking the ground with her forehoof.

Zecora cocked a brow, lips pursed. “What?”

“I said no!”

Immediately after the initial stomp, she tucked in a hind leg and bucked Zecora in the breast, hard enough to knock the wind and the last trace of stability out of her. As the zebra dropped to the ground, a pained, half-formed gasp escaped her throat. Her hooves weakly scratched at the ground, searching for purchase. Slowly, painstakingly, she lifted herself again, just having risen when Fluttershy knocked a hoof from under her. The zebra tumbled back onto her side.

“No… I cannot… yield… just yet,” Zecora rasped, a thick strand of bloody saliva rolling from her lips. “This act… I promise… you will… regret...”

Fluttershy stepped over her, placing a forehoof firmly on Zecora’s side to hold her down, the other hoof cocked and hovering over her battered face. Zecora trembled, staring back with eyes that brimmed with fear.

“Yes…” Mahara gurgled, “We’re almost there, Fluttershy…” Zecora squeezed her eyes shut, her slashed brow twitching as she gritted her teeth. “There’s no turning back now…”

Fluttershy closed her eyes, and brought her hoof down.

“I’m sorry,” she murmured a moment later, looking away from the startled zebra and down at the ground. As the moment passed, she took a deep breath, her expression hardening again. “You’re right, Zecora, things have gotten extremely out of hoof, but murder is not the appropriate solution. I’m not letting anypony kill anypony tonight. Princess Celestia is coming? Good.”

Mahara’s eyes widened, but Fluttershy simply flopped onto her haunches, brow furrowed as she looked over them both. “Mahara, I’m sorry, but you and I aren’t getting on any boats. We’re all going to sit right here until they arrive, and that’s all there is to say on the matter.”

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Twilight Sparkle had read the reports and seen the nervous and tense expressions that Luna and Celestia shared, but arriving to find Fluttershy, Mahara, and Zecora all patiently waiting for pickup took them all completely by surprise. The pegasus offered Twilight a timid smile as she climbed into the chariot, but it quickly faded when the gesture was not returned. Zecora and Mahara avoided eye contact with just about everypony as they were helped into the chariot as well, apparently too weak and too injured to move much on their own. Despite their apparent passivity, all three of them were put in chains before being seated at the rear of the chariot.

Any joy Twilight may have felt at being reunited with her friends was overshadowed by her frustration with the friends in question and the anxiety that preceded the judgment to come. Luna and Celestia had done a great deal of discussing in private, so as not to cause Twilight any further distress, but the fact that Celestia deemed discretion a necessity was cause enough for alarm. The oppressive silence that hung over them on the ride back to the castle only made matters worse, giving her ample time to reflect on what she knew.

Fluttershy sat between Mahara and Zecora, looking off into the night sky. Her reluctance to look at either of them gave Twilight the impression of disapproval. Whenever Mahara moved, the motion was stiff, and the mare would grunt in discomfort. Despite the blood caking her body, however, she didn’t appear to have a single open wound on her body. Zecora, on the other hoof, was wrapped in bandages, which concealed the deep gashes that covered her from nose to tail. At just a glance, before her wounds had been dressed, Twilight had seen an uncomfortable amount of Zecora’s insides.

At the very least, in Mahara and Fluttershy’s case, death isn’t on the table. That’s… That’s good, I guess, but if they’re banished? Or imprisoned? And what about Zecora? Has she changed her mind? Does she still want Celestia to execute her? I mean, it looks like she and Mahara roughed each other up pretty bad… Maybe she got it all out of her system? It’s one thing to be banished, or imprisoned, but… She shook the thought out of her mind, resolving to discuss it with Zecora later.

In an attempt to distract herself, she looked over the other occupants of the chariot. Celestia and Luna sat in front, occasionally glancing back at them, making fleeting moments of eye contact with her. Both princesses would offer brief, compassionate smiles, silently trying to reassure her. Beyond them, a mixed team of pegasi pulled the chariot, the biggest and strongest of both Luna and Celestia’s personal guards. Accompanying them, flying alongside, were at least two dozen more pegasi, all of them keeping watch over the more volatile passengers in their company.

Even with fear in her heart, there was no escaping the exhaustion slowly drowning her in lethargy. Following Fluttershy’s example, she tilted her head back and basked in the glittering mosaic of the night sky. Everything melted into a glimmering swirl of lights, spread across black velvet. The unicorn didn’t realize she had completely lost track of time until she felt a gentle nudge. Her blinking, haze clouded eyes focused on Princess Celestia’s warm smile.

“Is this a dream,” she whispered, “or another nightmare?”

The sun princess stifled a giggle, shaking her head. “If you’d like to discuss philosophy, I’m afraid I’ll have to ask you to step out of the chariot first.”

Behind Celestia, the main spire of the royal castle dominated Twilight’s view. Fluttershy, Mahara, and Zecora were already crossing the threshold into Celestia’s domain, led and surrounded by a full spectrum of cautious royal guards. Luna stood at the door, waiting patiently for her sister.

“I must have fallen asleep…”

“These last few days have been hard for you, Twilight. They’ve been hard on all of us... But, we’re nearing the end of our trial, and soon we will all sleep much easier.”

Twilight nodded, lifting herself onto her hooves and following Celestia out of the chariot and into the castle. The hall was lined with guards at attention. Some of the tension left them as Celestia smiled and nodded. A delighted, high pitched squeal caught everypony’s attention as she continued to follow the princesses. The source was Pinkie Pie, her forelegs wrapped around all three of the ponies in chains, squeezing them all together, much to their apparent disdain. Rarity and Trixie looked on with mild amusement, offering smiles and nods instead. Both unicorns and the earth pony turned their attention to Twilight next, and their smiles faded slightly. A twinge of guilt stung her in the chest.

For some reason, she had expected their destination to be the throne room. Instead, she found herself in Celestia’s personal study, along with everyone else involved. With nine ponies standing around, not counting a few guards and castle staff, the situation could easily be described as crowded. Over Pinkie’s curly mane, she spotted a parchment-cluttered desk situated before an enormous window, overlooking the glowing silhouette of the city below. Half of them stood on a rug in the center of the room, set before a fireplace. Celestia spoke briefly with a maid, and several cushions were brought into the room moments later, along with a trio of bowls filled with blood.

Celestia approached a rather worn looking pillow resting in front of the fireplace, then turned to address her guests. “I kindly ask that you all be seated.” Once everypony had settled, and the bowls had been delivered to Fluttershy, Mahara, and Zecora, Celestia seated herself. “Thank you. A lot has happened in the past week. All of you have seen more than your fair share of bloodshed, and experienced burdens that would destroy most ponies, but here you all are, alive and well. That alone is worth my respect. Now, there is a great deal to discuss, as I’m sure there is a great deal of confusion to be relieved and questions to be answered.

“So, let me start by saying that it is not my intention to punish any of you—”

“Wahoo!” Pinkie shouted as she jumped up from her cushion. Rarity and Mahara, seated on either side of Pinkie, recoiled from the outburst, and Luna, seated beside her sister, blinked several times. Celestia visibly tried not to laugh.

“Yes, I also feel that is cause for celebration, but please refrain for the time being.” Pinkie nodded and clasped her hooves to her mouth as she plopped back down, grinning from ear to ear. Still smiling, Celestia continued. “It is not my intention to punish any of you,” she turned toward Mahara, Fluttershy, and Zecora, “and your chains will be removed so long as you promise to behave with civility. My apologies, but I felt they were a necessary precaution given the police report.”

Celestia’s gaze swept back over the gathering, Twilight following. Mahara calmly leaned forward to sip from her bowl. Zecora narrowed her eyes as she watched the red mare drink. The others gave Celestia their undivided attention.

“That said, I feel that certain arrangements are to be made for everyone’s mutual benefit. I would prefer to discuss those in the morning, after we’ve cleared the air and everyone is well rested, but again, I assure you nopony is to be banished or otherwise exiled—”

And Zecora? Twilight only realized that she had voiced her thought as everypony turned toward her. “Sorry…”

“No, it’s quite alright…” Celestia looked to Zecora, her brow slowly descending. “I’ll be honest with you; your request still troubles me a great deal. Have you given it any more consideration?”

Zecora remained silent, looking down at the bowl at her hooves.

“Zecora,” Twilight called. The zebra remained still. Twilight felt a sudden rush of irritation. “Zecora.”

“I do not wish to speak right now,” she mumbled. “Though you do, I can’t see how.”

“How? Zecora, I’ve been avoiding this for too long, and I apologize for that, but I can’t let you just forfeit your life.”

Zecora craned her neck, looking up at Twilight from under a furrowed brow. “It is not your choice to make... this is the only way to quell my ache.”

“But no one blames you for what happened! Celestia has officially pardoned you!” She glanced back at the sun princess, receiving a single, slow nod.

“If it happened to you, you would understand.” The zebra closed her eyes, forehooves starting to tremble. “The memory is more than I can stand…”

The unicorn crossed the circle and extended a hoof, resting it on Zecora’s. The zebra slowly lifted her head to meet Twilight’s gaze. “So we’ll help you through it, Zecora… Nopony wants you to die; you don’t need to do this… I don’t want you to do this…”

“I’m sure you recall Applebloom’s visit the other day. She had very similar things to say…” Zecora’s voice wavered as she choked up. “But how can I go on living if my own conscience is so unforgiving?”

“Once upon a time…” Twilight’s reply died on her lips as she, along with the others, directed their attention to Mahara. The red mare ignored all of them, staring down at the floor. “I realized that what I had become a part of was wrong. I wanted to see if I could help make it right, so I left Luna and the royal palace without telling anyone where I was going, intent on seeking out Celestia. It wasn’t very difficult. I just allowed myself to be captured once I was behind enemy lines, and I let them know that I wanted an audience with her. Soon enough, I was sitting in the quaint little town of Canterlot, explaining myself and expressing my optimism. I had hope for the future, for a peaceful resolution, and so did she.

“Though ponies were reluctant, they were willing to donate blood for me, but… Celestia and I both agreed that keeping me close to starved of fresh blood might yield some kind of breakthrough. We had no idea of the repercussions we would face… After a few days with minimal feeding, I began to slip. I would catch myself bearing my fangs at passersby, leaning in to try and take a bite. Celestia noticed the changes in my behavior and asked if I would like to stop, but I allowed the experimenting to continue, against my better judgment. One morning, we received word that Luna and her forces were on the move, massing for an assault.

“The self-imposed blood deprivation, resisting the urge to flee from Celestia, and the thought that Luna might launch an attack before we had found a cure finally became too much… I was right in the middle of a library when it happened, surrounded by scholars busy with their research. Only some of them heeded my warnings, confused by what I was able to spit out, but by the time one of them offered his neck to me…”

Mahara exhaled slowly. “The very worst part is that you’re fully aware of what you’re doing when you lose control, but you’re powerless to stop it. At the most, you can plead for someone to stop you, but what good are words when your body refuses to cooperate?” She lifted her head, staring across the room at Celestia. “She was the one who had to kill me, because she was the only one who could restrain me long enough to deal a killing blow. And the truth is, when all is said and done, I don’t blame her. I would have done the same thing. We had run out of time, and that was the only choice she had left.”

“I never wanted to kill you, Mahara.” Twilight turned toward the princess, noting the tears slowly dampening her coat. “That was the very last thing on my mind that day, and I wish that I had known then what I know now, so that it might have happened differently. I intended to seal you in your diary as a temporary measure, until a more contained environment could be prepared, but… I thought the spell had simply failed when you remained, still maddened with blood lust… I panicked…” Celestia shut her eyes, shaking her head. “Mahara, I had no way of knowing you were bound to this world in spirit. Your imprisonment for all those years was anything but intentional. I’m sorry; deeply and truly sorry. I know that doesn’t seem like much, but I mean it from the bottom of my heart.”

The silence stretched on for minutes, the monster and the princess looking deep into one another’s eyes.

Finally, a fragile smile spread across Mahara’s lips. “Thank you…” she whispered.

Another stretch of silence filled the gap in their discussion, until Rarity cleared her throat. Immediately, all eyes were on the fashionista. “While that is all very tragic, and I’m quite happy to hear that you and Celestia have made amends, I fail to see what that has to do with Zecora and her desire to be put to death.” Fluttershy’s mouth hung agape, Mahara cocked a brow, and Trixie began to snicker, with Pinkie following her example. Celestia took a breath to speak, but Rarity cut her off. “Are we just taking turns voicing our problems? Or are you insinuating that you know her pain; that the two of you are similar through grief?”

Mahara glanced away for a moment, ears folded back. “Yes, that’s essentially what I’m trying to say.” She turned toward the zebra, leaning forward slightly. “Zecora, not a moment goes by when I don’t think of the mistakes I’ve made, and the lives I’ve unwillingly ended, but you can’t allow your pride to dictate such a serious decision. This is not a matter of honor. If you still need someone to blame for what happened, I’ll accept the harness of your guilt. I won’t fault you for that, because I’m the one who did this to you.”

Twilight nodded. “Please, don’t force Celestia to take your life; if not for your sake, than at least for hers. She is the one who has had to live with what was done for all this time. There’s no reason for you to add any more memories of bloodshed to those already haunting her.”

Zecora took a deep breath, closing her eyes again. “If you all feel so strongly that I should live, then my agreement I shall give…” She looked to Mahara next. “But I don’t see the point of what you’re trying to do, because you already know how much I blame you. I fear you misunderstand: we’re not the same; for the lives that were lost, you were always to blame. And while I understand that you’ve carried this awful memory, I can never forgive you for forcing the same experience on to me! Never once have I doubted that this is your fault! Your carelessness was the cause of my mindless assault!”

Mahara remained silent.

Celestia raised a hoof. “If we could—”

Pinkie scooted forward and cut her off again. “Wait, how come you didn’t drink my blood like I offered? That would have saved those two guards, right?! I mean, really, I kinda figured that was what Mahara meant when she told me to stay at the cottage and act like a distraction!”

“You did what?!” exclaimed Twilight, Rarity and Fluttershy in unison. Mahara cleared her throat quietly.

“I had just told Mahara I was a walking blood bank, and there Zecora was, all sharp-fanged and glowy eye’d! It’s totally okay, though! I knew it was dangerous and she did tell me to get outta there if things got crazy, but—”

“Mahara, you just left Pinkie Pie there?! After explaining how… how difficult it is to control yourself the first time you feed?!” Fluttershy thumped the floor with a hoof between her exclamations. “I was barely able to stop drinking from Rarity with you standing watch! What if something had happened to Pinkie?!”

The red mare splayed her ears. “I needed to get you to safety, and, you know, Zecora wasn’t exactly there to chat...”

“And that involved putting Pinkie in danger?! That is not—” Fluttershy huffed, leaning over Mahara as Mahara tried to shrink away. “How could you even begin to think I would be okay with that?!”

“I did not accept your offer, Pinkie Pie,” attention shifted back to Zecora as she began to speak, “because, I feared the results it might imply… I wish had known what lie ahead, but at the time, my thoughts were clouded with dread. I did not understand the urges I felt, and disaster is what my ignorance dealt.” Zecora shook her head, locking eyes with Pinkie. “And would you have had me risk such a toll, the chance that I might claim your soul?”

“I would have been willing to try, Zecora. If it had come to that,” Pinkie leaned forward, tapping her left forehoof once, and her right twice, “one life is still less than two.”

A murmur of dissent began to buzz about the room as everyone looked at Pinkie, the general consensus being somewhere between shock and horror at her suggestion.

“Your life is worth no less than those I ended. Pinkie, sacrifice is never what I intended.”

Celestia nodded as she sat up straight. “I would have preferred nopony died that day, Pinkie Pie. What has come to pass is tragic, but had you sacrificed yourself, we would not mourn your loss any less than we mourn theirs. This entire affair is the result of similarly poor judgment, but also misunderstanding and assumptions based around misinformation on everyone’s part, including my own.

“So, unless anypony objects, I’d like to focus for a moment on running…” Celestia took a deep, slow breath. “Running has been the very foundation of our turmoil. We have either run from confrontation, run toward confrontation, or attempted to keep a party running in the wrong direction to avoid confrontation. In all cases, the result has simply prolonged our conflict. However, I haven’t brought you all together to point hooves. Instead, I feel it would be best to discuss why we have behaved as we did. Zecora, I know you’ve already been the center of a troubling discussion, but I would like to ask you, personally; why did you flee from Canterlot the previous evening?”

The zebra inhaled slowly, closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. “When all this began, I knew little of the curse. I thought the taint would make one’s intentions worse. But I quickly learned how little I had changed, how greatly reality and fiction are estranged. At the cottage, and in town, I admit to acting rash. What I learned through legend is what led me to clash…”

Zecora slowly looked around the room, briefly meeting Twilight’s gaze. “But through her eyes and her actions, Mahara’s picture was painted, and from a distance, reluctantly, I became acquainted. The picture I saw was one that left me concerned. For all her wrongs and remorse, so little has she learned.” She glared at the red mare, pointing her hoof. “This blatant stupidity is now the source of my scorn. Why let her roam free if she’ll cause others to mourn?  When I departed that evening, fear of the curse was not my motivation. It was concern that others might perish from her irresponsible predation. She acts without thinking to see her needs fulfilled, and that is precisely what can get ponies killed.”

“Mahara has made a lot of bad decisions, but she is not a murderer.” Fluttershy snorted softly, putting her hoof on Zecora’s and slowly lowering it. “Yes, she does things without really thinking them through, but I’ve been trying to work on that with her.”

“You may have tried to instill responsibility, but acting with foresight seems beyond her ability. Just how quickly does she put diplomacy aside? What would she do if she had nowhere to hide? Or if the ones she stared down could resist her trance, how swiftly would she adopt a fighting stance? During our duel, do you recall what she said? Anyone that stood in her way would wind up dead.”

“You’re wrong, Zecora.” Fluttershy rested a hoof on Mahara’s back. “She would never kill another pony, right?” Twilight felt a knot in her stomach as the red mare remained silent, her green eyes turned toward the floor. “…Mahara?”

Mahara looked up and cast a distant glance out the window. “I have been wrongly… unintentionally imprisoned for roughly one thousand years. You all may take your freedom for granted, being able to do whatever you like, whenever you like… But for me, freedom is everything… it’s worth any cost, no matter how great… I tried to reason with Zecora, and she refused to back down. I wouldn’t have hesitated. And if the police, or anyone else had stepped in, and I couldn’t escape from them or persuade them without use of force…”

“How can you say that?” the pegasus whispered, drawing back her hoof.

“How can you be so willing to forfeit your freedom? We were so close…” The red mare returned her focus to Fluttershy. “I highly doubt that Celestia is going to allow us to go wherever we please after all of this. I’m glad that I was finally able to talk to her, but…”

The sun princess frowned, sadness in her eyes. “Mahara, you could have spoken with me at any time. You could have had Twilight send me a letter requesting an audience on the very day you were released, and I would have met with you without hesitation.” Celestia lowered her head slightly, adopting a softer tone of voice. “I understand that you were confused, and afraid, and likely very bitter about what had happened, but you made little to no effort to contact me. Speaking through others is hardly the same as speaking face to face. I wish that you hadn’t run, because Zecora is right; you’ve left quite a trail of harm in your wake, and your aversion of me does not give you the right to inconvenience others. I’m sorry to say that your persecution has been the direct result of your actions.”

“Not to say that you didn’t make an effort, dear.” Rarity spread her forehooves, propping up her head with her knees as she sprawled over her cushion. “Trixie and I certainly appreciate that you enlisted our help by getting our consent, but I fear that by that time, it was too little, too late. You started by stealing blood from fillies, for goodness sake. I hardly blame Zecora for assuming you were some sort of manifest evil, especially after feeding from her in her own home. And I haven’t even scratched the surface regarding all the trouble you’ve caused the Apple family, directly or indirectly. Your problem has always been assuming the worst in everypony, and I think that gives you a sense of entitlement. That you’re above rules, or listening to others.”

Mahara snorted, narrowing her eyes. Rarity tilted her head to one side, rolling her forehoof. “I dare say you’re something of a bad influence. I assaulted police officers and avoided incarceration because of my involvement with you. And let’s not forget about your little performance in the restaurant.”

Pinkie began to wave her forehooves, crossing them over one another. “Now hold on everypony, Celestia said not to point hooves! So Mahara is a little crazy because she’s been cooped up in a book for a really long time. That doesn’t make her bad, right?”

“You… you wanted me to kill Zecora. You wanted me to finish her for you, since you couldn’t finish her yourself…” Fluttershy shuddered, staring down at the floor. “And I actually considered it…”

Mahara’s eyes widened slightly. “She could follow us wherever we went by seeing and hearing through my eyes and ears. She was the only thing between us and freedom. I wanted us to have a fresh start, free of worries… Isn’t that what you wanted?”

“It was… I did… But running away from our problems was never the right answer, and even if I didn’t want to admit it, I knew it was the truth… You should have tried to talk to Celestia from the very start. I should have tried harder to convince you to talk to her, or tried to contact Celestia for you.” Fluttershy sighed, shaking her head. “I’m sorry for dragging this on for so long… for dragging everypony into this…”

Celestia offered a gentle smile as she spoke. “Pinkie Pie and Rarity helped you because they love and care about you. That hardly needs explanation. Is that the same reason that you helped Mahara for as long as you did?”

“Yes… No… I… I love her… I did love her… I’m just so confused now…” The pegasus turned toward the red mare, tears slowly gathering in the corners of her eyes. “I wanted you to be happy and to be happy with you, because I know how much you care about me, but… You’ve done awful things to my friends… Things that I overlooked because I was caught up in the moment… I don’t know what I want anymore!”

\/ /\ /\ \/

Poor Princess; this isn’t going like I think she thought it would. It’s been nothing but hoof pointing from word one! But this is all stuff that has to be said at one point or another I guess, so better late than never! Pinkie Pie’s gaze traced the silken curtain of Fluttershy’s mane as she wept quietly. It took every ounce of her restraint to keep herself from darting across the circle and throwing her forelegs around the pegasus. I wanna tell her so bad… I wish I had figured this feeling out months and months ago… But how long have I been in love with Fluttershy? Was I in love with her months and months ago, or did it only really start when I realized she and Mahara were a couple? Guh, this romance stuff is soooo confusing!

The corners of Celestia’s lips had long since been weighted into a frown. After a few minutes of uncomfortable silence, she rose from her seat with a sigh and looked around the room. “Perhaps discussing the recent turn of events so soon was in poor taste… Unless any of you object, I think that will be all for this evening. Your rooms have already been arranged, and though I am not instituting any sort of curfew, I do suggest you all get a good night’s rest. There is a great deal to discuss in the morning regarding what lies ahead.”

A single silver key drifted up from Celestia’s desk and glided through the air, guided by the sun princess. Pinkie watched as Fluttershy’s shackles were unfastened without hesitation, but the key hovered for a moment between Mahara and Zecora.

“I remind you both that you are guests in my home. I’m willing to forgive your past aggressions, but any sort of violence from either of you will be met with swift and stern discipline.” The white alicorn approached them, a dreadful seriousness about her. “Am I understood?”

Mahara arched a brow. “I have no intention of attacking Zecora. She’s the one who keeps instigating fights.”

“I promise not to harm a hair on her head.” Zecora turned her glaring eyes away from Mahara, her expression softening. “Would you be so kind as to show me to bed?”

Celestia smiled, unlocking the remaining shackles and waiting patiently for both Zecora and Twilight to join her. Her star pupil hesitated, glancing to Fluttershy and back again. Celestia gave a single nod, turned, and lead Zecora out of the room. After a few moments, it became apparent that Twilight had decided to stay.

In the wake of the sun princess, attention shifted back to Mahara and Fluttershy. They exchanged glances, both mares making an effort to speak and failing. Just when it appeared that Mahara was about to speak, she glanced up, and immediately began to bristle. Pinkie nearly jumped when she realized that Princess Luna had silently come up behind the red mare. The moon princess stared back at Mahara with a look that was difficult for Pinkie to place; her stance, and the near splay of her ears suggested that she was passive.

“Mahara,” Luna began, displaying the slightest flinch as the red mare jumped to her hooves.

Mahara nearly growled, bearing her fangs. “You and I have nothing to discuss!”

“Please…” she begged, attempting to take a step closer. “At least allow me to—”

Luna received a face full of tail as Mahara whipped around, making her way to the door without so much as a second glance. A guard by the door looked up at the incoming pony with increasingly wide eyes and the beginning of a nervous shiver.

“I’m done here,” she hissed. “I’d like to be shown to my room.”

Pinkie felt some of the tension leave with Mahara. Luna looked around the room for several moments, like a filly with stage fright. She silently departed shortly after that, hanging her head. With only the four of them left, not counting a few guards idling near the door, everypony gradually began to convene on the pegasus.  Everypony but the unicorn she had come to know as the Great and Powerful Trixie, who had fallen asleep on her cushion. Pinkie took slow, cautious steps toward Fluttershy, effectively keeping the urge to rush up to her and hug her in check. She thought back to her group hug when they had arrived, and how uncomfortable Fluttershy had looked.

The last thing I wanna do is make her more upset…  Rarity and Twilight inched closer, and Pinkie followed their lead. Just be gentle, Pinkie. Stay calm and listen. That’s what she needs right now. Hey there… The pegasus looked up at her with big, sad eyes. For a girl that just came back from a vacation in Manehattan, you don’t look too relaxed.

Fluttershy returned Pinkie’s gentle smile, closing her eyes and shaking her head. “No… I… I guess I don’t, huh?” She looked around as she opened her eyes, her smile fading. “I got so caught up in it, and then I kept going, thinking maybe things would get better… I didn’t mean to… I’m sorry that I worried everypony so much…”

“You followed your heart, Fluttershy. None of us can blame you for that.” Twilight briefly rested a hoof on Fluttershy’s shoulder. “And when the time came to make a decision, I’m sure we all agree that you made the right one.” Pinkie nodded as the pegasus met her gaze, Rarity doing the same in turn.

“But… I stopped to consider… I weighed the possibilities…” She shut her eyes again, wincing. “I contemplated murder!”

Rarity took a slow breath. “In the heat of the moment, dear, we think about doing things we might never consider under normal circumstances. I’m certainly guilty of acting rashly in recent times due to the unusual conditions we’ve been faced with. The important thing is that you choose not to act on those thoughts, and instead sought out a more appropriate solution.”

“But what about what I did before that? All those ponies I stole blood from… And I liked doing it…”

“I suppose that wasn’t the best decision you could have made, but you saw to it that nopony was harmed by your actions. That says quite a lot.” Rarity pressed closer, forehooves on the sides of Fluttershy’s neck. The pegasus looked up at her from under a worried brow. “You needn’t be so hard on yourself. All things considered, the outcome could have been much, much worse.”

Is it hug time now? Yes! Yes it is! Pinkie Pie pushed in between Twilight and Rarity, squeezing Fluttershy tightly. A timid smile returned to the pegasus’s lips. We still love you, no matter what happened. We’re all just glad to have you back! I mean, if you had jumped on a boat and sailed halfway around the world?! Sheesh, we would have been a mess missing you! What happened to staying calm?! You’re screwing this up! Wait, sorry, that wasn’t a guilt trip about your boat trip! Really, it wasn’t!

The soft sound of Fluttershy’s laughter filled her with nostalgia, as though it were a song she had long forgotten. “I know… It’s okay, Pinkie.”

The pink mare heaved a happy sigh and nuzzled in close, forgetting about the rest of the world, if only for a moment. Pinkie opened her eyes as she felt Fluttershy shift between her forelegs.

“I think I should go check on Mahara… If that’s okay with all of you, that is.” She slipped out of Pinkie’s embrace, her smile much more genuine as she received nods in agreement. “Thank you, though. All of you. I feel much better now.”

Pinkie bobbed on her hooves as she watched Fluttershy leave, biting her lower lip. Should I go with her, maybe? Maybe not? Probably not… Oh well… If you love her, Pinkie Pie, let her go… Hmm? Did I say that out loud?! Oh, no, it was nothing! Nothing important! Soooo anyway, Twilight, you’re not mad at us, right?

Twilight cocked a brow, grinning. “I’m not mad with any of you, no. I was upset earlier, but that was mostly because I realized that Celestia and I had been deceived. Everything more or less worked out, though, so there’s not a whole lot to be mad about.” She settled her haunches onto a cushion, looking between the three of them. “I can almost  write this whole thing off as a big prank… almost…”

The scholarly unicorn turned toward Pinkie as she barely managed to stifle a snicker. “Well it was kinda funny… Watching everypony wander around the Everfree forest while I knew that Fluttershy and Rarity were safe and sound and cozy in Manehattan.” Rarity cleared her throat and dragged a forehoof across it, nodding toward Twilight. “But I didn’t mean to upset anyone! I was just trying to help Fluttershy! I guess our helping ended up being kinda dumb in the long run, though. Sorry about that.”

“As am I, Twilight,” Rarity added. “It was just so sudden, and we weren’t sure what was right or wrong.”

“Girls, it’s okay. Like Celestia said, you didn’t do this out of spite. You were doing this for Fluttershy.”

Rarity leaned forward, her voice low. “You don’t know what Celestia has planned for tomorrow’s discussion by any chance, do you?”

“I’m afraid not. I know that it’s not something you need to worry about, though. She promised me that there wouldn’t be any disciplinary action for any of them, or any of you, since you were doing this to protect a friend.”

Trixie sputtered, one eye snapping open and centering on Twilight. “What’d I miss?”

“Although,” Twilight mused, “I’m not totally clear on how she got involved in this.”

The show-pony put on her sleaziest smile, waving a forehoof. “Well, they stole a bunch of food and booze for Trixie, and then Fluttershy let her stay in one of the nicest penthouses she has ever seen. Not to say that the Great and Powerful Trixie hasn’t been inside plenty of fine penthouse suites! The Great and Power—”

“She played blood donor for Mahara and freeloaded in Sapphire Shores’ Manehattan home, mostly.” Rarity shot Trixie a grin as Trixie began to scowl. “Although, for a pony full of hot air, I suppose she makes good company.”

Twilight tilted her head. “Didn’t she ruin your mane, though?”

Rarity snorted over Trixie’s single ha. “Didn’t you humiliate her so much that she fled town?”

Trixie’s scowl returned, much more intense than before. Pinkie flopped down on a cushion as she wished for popcorn.

The fashionista grinned and waved a hoof dismissively. “But that about sums it up. You might argue that she’s simply a victim of circumstance.”

Snickering, Twilight nodded. “Sure, that works for me.” She looked to the door, a bit of her cheer fading. “I hate to step out so soon after seeing you all together again but I think I should go see how Zecora is doing. Try not to stay up too late, okay?”

Well, okay, Twilight! I’ll see you in the morning I guess! Goodnight! So what are we gonna do now? Got any ideas what we’re gonna talk about in the morning? I think— Hold on a second, is that… A familiar looking winged stallion with a bowl full of popcorn on his back passed by the door, then immediately backpedaled, locking eyes with Pinkie. As he began to grin, so did she.

“There’s your coltfriend,” Trixie teased.

Pinkie’s cheeks burned slightly. “He’s not my coltfriend...”

“Pitty, that,” Rarity added. “He really seems taken by you. Oh well. Love is blind, I suppose.”

Drifting Cirrus casually trotted across the room, nodding to Rarity and Trixie before unceremoniously dropping onto his haunches over a cushion. His armor clattered quietly. He was much more delicate with the bowl.

“I was wondering where you girls got moved to! Can’t even get a bite to eat around here without something important happening. The big C went easy on you, right?”

Pinkie giggled, propping herself up on her forehooves. “Mmhmm! Everything is a-okay. I guess we’re winding down for the night, or something.”

Cirrus nodded, chewing a mouthful of popcorn. “That’s cool,” he mumbled, swallowing before speaking again. “Are you doing alright?”

Pinkie nodded, rolling onto her back. “Yeaaaah, I guess. I wanted to tell Fluttershy what we talked about yesterday, but… Now probably isn’t the best time.”

“Probably not… But there’s always tomorrow, right?” He slid the bowl toward her, tipping it up so that she could scoop some into her mouth with her tongue.

I hope so…

\/ /\ /\ \/

Princess Celestia’s definition of morning was, as far as Rarity was concerned, in serious need of revision. The sun was little more than a sliver of orange light in the window when Celestia and Twilight gently roused her from her sleep. One shower, tooth and hair brushing later, she found herself seated in Celestia’s study once more. This time, they were arranged more like an audience, with the princesses seated before them, regarding them all with calm, regal gazes. Rarity covered her mouth as she yawned softly. Trixie leaned against her and began to snore. Mahara and Zecora exchanged glares.

“If everyone is settled, I think it’s time we begin. First and foremost, all charges of assault, theft, non-consensual blood transfusion, attempted murder, actual murder, identity fraud, and any other legal infractions that I am unable to recall at present that are related to this incident have been dropped. I very politely ask that you do not make me regret that, because bending the law is not something I enjoy doing. In addition to that, while altering weather patterns is not illegal, please refrain from generating cloud cover or rain storms. It causes a number of complications regarding the weather schedule.”

A murmur of confusion built up around Rarity. The unicorn raised her hoof. “I beg your pardon?”

“That was addressed to me, I think.” Mahara tilted her head to one side, then the other as she spoke, stretching her forelegs. “Weather manipulation is another trick I never got around to teaching you, Fluttershy. Little things like condensing moisture in the air, adjusting cloud density, or making it rain. Very useful on bright, sunny days. It burns through a lot of blood, though, since doing it involves focusing raw magic, and you and I aren’t unicorns.”

Rarity arched a brow. “Well, Princess Luna, you certainly made your creations versatile. Why give them so much power?”

“I wanted to change the world,” Luna replied, calmly and confidently, “and only a fool would think that such a change could be made alone. I wanted them to be more than capable of caring for our new world, so I created a pony that could accomplish any task, no matter how great. A pony more durable and more powerful than any pre-existing breed of equine.”

“But at the cost of needing to drink blood?” Fluttershy looked down at the floor immediately after voicing her question.

“In a world of darkness, plants cannot be grown, and while it was never my intention to bathe the world in eternal night, I knew that sustained darkness would result in famine. I was prepared to cause such a famine if it meant achieving victory. For my forces to survive, an alternate form of sustenance would be necessary. Blood is a powerful substance. It is the manifestation of our very life force. I knew right away that it would be more than adequate to sustain my... creations.”

Luna’s gaze slowly swept over the room, pausing on Mahara. The red mare looked away. “I had never intended to undo the changes, however, which is why the three of you remain in your altered form. The conversion itself is not an instantaneous one. The magic saturates its host completely, becoming ingrained with their very essence. For that reason, one cannot simply remedy it as they would an illness. A soul can be bound to another vessel, and it can be broken into smaller parts, but how does one divide something specific out of a soul without destroying that soul in the process? Even to those well versed in science and magic, the full nature of the soul remains a mystery. In time, perhaps we may discover something that will yield answers, but until then, I’m afraid that there is no solution.”

“Which brings us to my next point.” Rarity shifted her attention back to Celestia. “There is no immediate cure for the condition, which, unfortunately, makes the three of you something of a liability. The simple fact is, under certain circumstances, the curse can render you quite violent. There is an existing supply of blood for medical purposes, and there are ponies who might donate willingly, yes, but in the event of a shortage? What if you cannot find anypony to feed from?” The sun princess frowned, her gaze faltering slightly. “If you should somehow, for whatever reason, find yourself without a source of blood for long enough, there is no guarantee that you will not become dangerous to yourself and those around you.”

Rarity quickly glanced around. Twilight closed her eyes with a sigh. Fluttershy bit her lower lip, brow knitted with anxiety. Mahara pursed her lips, looking particularly offended, and Zecora stared down at the floor. Pinkie took a breath as though she were about to interrupt, but Celestia raised a hoof.

“This is not an issue of trust. I want to make that abundantly clear. I want to believe that I can allow you three to return to Ponyville without fear of incident. I would like nothing better than to permit that, but I have every reason to believe that the risk is simply too high. So, what I would like you to do is prove me wrong.” Everypony perked up in near unison. A slight smile spread across Celestia’s lips. “Show me that you can control yourselves. Show me that it is possible for you to live normal lives as you are now. If you can do that, I will allow you to return to life as you knew it.

“That said, the following are the conditions that Luna and I have agreed to.” Celestia briefly glanced to Luna, nodding with her. “Arrangements have been made to restore the former royal palace located within the Everfree forest. Luna and her entire staff will be moving there, and are, as we speak, in the process of reconstruction and relocation. Mahara, Fluttershy, and Zecora: as of today, the three of you are under Luna’s care, and will be accompanying her to her new residence. I encourage you to write to me as you so desire, but she will be the one to handle your daily concerns.

“You will not be treated as prisoners. So long as you have drunk your fill of blood for the day, you will be free to move about as you like, which includes free reign of Equestria. However, I’m afraid I must insist that you reside with Luna, and I would strongly prefer that you return to your new home shortly after sunset. Travel that involves overnight or extended stays will be permitted so long as you travel with no less than two guards, and you have a full supply of blood to sustain you. Visitors may come and go as they please, and if they so desire, they may choose to reside at the site of Luna’s palace with you. I do believe that’s everything.” Celestia turned to her sister and received another nod, this time with a smile. “Are there any questions?”

Mahara rose to her hooves, meeting the white alicorn’s gaze. “I refuse.”

Celestia’s eyes widened. “Now Mahara, let’s not be—”

“Wait!” Pinkie swiftly interrupted. “That wasn’t a question!”

“No, it wasn’t,” the red mare coldly replied. “I’m not going.”

Fluttershy narrowed her eyes as she stood. “Will you please stop being so… You’re being unreasonable!”

The sun princess spread her wings, trying to speak over the rising commotion. “If everypony could please just—”

“No, I’m not being unreasonable! She’s going to make us live with Luna? The root of the entire problem? You know damn well why I’m not going to stand for that, Fluttershy!”

“I know she hurt you, but she tried to talk to you last night and you just slapped her in the face!” Fluttershy thrusted her hoof in Luna’s direction, the moon princess averting her gaze. “You didn’t even try to hear her out!”

Mahara stomped, Pinkie and Trixie shuffling away from her. “I don’t want to hear her out! I don’t care if she’s sorry! I can never forgive her! She ruined what little of a life I had!”

“I would appreciate it if—” Celestia took a deep breath as the shouting drowned her out once more.

Zecora rose next, ignoring Celestia’s pleas for calm. “You cannot forgive Luna, but you expect me to forgive you? How can one pony possibly be so askew?!”

“At least I wasn’t parading around like some great striped hunter, you sociopath!”

The sound of a hoof against flesh cut through the noise, silencing every voice but Fluttershy’s. “Will you stop acting like a fucking foal and causing problems for five minutes, Mahara?!” Mahara stood like a statue, her expression blank, her face tilted away from the forehoof Fluttershy had slapped her with. “Oh… oh my… I’m sorry…”

“You shouldn’t be.” Mahara settled back onto her haunches. “If all I’ve done is hurt ponies… cause problems for others… Maybe it’s time I did something responsible.” She looked to Celestia, then down at the floor. “As much as I would personally hate being under Luna’s care, that’s not the reason I shouldn’t go with her. Everything I do seems to blow up in my face, no matter how good my intentions are. I mean, I tried to help Fluttershy, I really did, and look at what I did to her.”

A grin slowly spread across her lips. “And let’s be honest here, do you really think I won’t try to run? No matter how much you pad it, I still see it as a gilded cage. I will not accept a life where I cannot go where I please. I would rather you let Zecora slay me here and now than live under the hoof of another.”

Fluttershy shook her head. “You don’t really mean that... I’m... I’m sorry for what I said... what I did... Let’s just... Celestia, let me talk to—”

“I meant every word of it. Celestia knows that.”

“W-what about me?” The pegasus reached out, hooves hovering just shy of Mahara’s breast. “What about us?”

“I’m poison, Fluttershy. You don’t have to lie to yourself anymore. I’m not just doing this for you, either. I’m doing it for everypony in Equestria. You’ll all be better off without me.”

Rarity huffed softly, drawing the red mare’s attention. “You’re being incredibly selfish… but as far as your presence here is concerned, I agree with you, to a fault. As much as you’ve made Fluttershy happy, you tried to take her from us; drag her off to who knows where and live a life of thievery and amorality. There’s no sugarcoating that.” Mahara nodded, and she continued. “But more bloodshed is not the appropriate way to resolve this. There must be another way.”

Mahara arched a brow. “And what would you suggest?”

“There is a place…” A deathly silence fell over the room, all eyes on Celestia as she spoke. “A realm that borders this one...separate, yet joined to our world. It is a place that exists in perpetual twilight, the moon and the sun circling on opposite ends of the sky, neither setting nor rising. This is where I sent Nightmare Moon’s followers, both cursed and mortal ponies alike. It is not a realm that was created by ponies, and the spell required to return from that place was lost long before my time. As a result, they have no way to contact me, and I do not know what has become of them, or the soldiers that volunteered to go there and keep the peace, or their descendants. I cannot promise what you may find there, but you have my word that, should you take the chance, in that realm you will be permitted to live as freely as you so desire.” The sun princess stood, holding her head high. “The choice is yours, Mahara.”

“You already know what my answer will be.”

Celestia sighed, closing her eyes. “I wish I didn’t… but if that’s the way it must be…” The sound of her regal hooves echoed as she slowly exited the study.

Rarity furrowed her brow as she watched the white alicorn cross the room. “This isn’t at all what I meant!”

Mahara whispered something to Fluttershy, hugging her tightly and kissing her on the forehead.

“How…” the pegasus trembled, her tears quietly splashing against the floor. “How can you do this to me?!” Mahara hesitated, glancing back at her. They stood in silence for what felt like an eternity. “I’m coming with you,” Fluttershy finally gasped.

Mahara shook her head, brushing her mane out of her eyes. “You can’t... they need you.”

“I need you!”

“Do you? What have I done besides nearly, if not completely ruin your life? I’ve made you worry your friends enough already.” Mahara turned away, meeting Celestia at the door. “It’s time I did something right for a change. Thank you all for helping me see that.”

Rarity glanced away from the door, back to Fluttershy. The pegasus wept uncontrollably into the side of Pinkie Pie’s neck as Pinkie whispered softly in her ear, rubbing her back. Twilight stood not far from them, resting a hoof on the back of Fluttershy’s head, glaring in Mahara’s direction. Zecora stared down at her hooves, while Luna looked out over Canterlot through the window. Rarity snorted and crossed the room, storming down the hall after Mahara.

“I know what I said, but you can’t do this to her!” Mahara looked back briefly, but continued walking. “This is completely uncalled for!”

“This is me being responsible. If I’m the cause of every problem, then naturally, removing myself from the equation will remedy the situation.” She glanced back again, smiling, but her brow hung heavy. “It’s simple, really. I should have done it a long time ago.”

“You’re taking the easy way out is what you’re doing! Yes, you’ve made bad decisions, and yes, you’re something of a trouble maker, but you don’t have to be! You can change, and you know it! Whatever Fluttershy saw in you, it brought something back to her that I haven’t seen in the longest time, and right now, you are threatening to snuff it out!”

Mahara turned her gaze to the enormous door at the end of the hall, waiting patiently with Celestia as it began to open. The light of dawn spilled over her, washing the color out of her body. “And I will pray that a butterfly can still flutter after her wings have been touched... The temptation was too much for me to resist, and I can only hope that the damage done isn’t permanent.”

Rarity halted her pursuit, her eyes adjusting to the light as she watched them cross the threshold, stepping out onto an enormous balcony.

“But if you ask me, she’s much stronger than that… She may stumble here and there, but as long as there are ponies to help her back to her hooves, she will never stop walking her path.”

Celestia widened her stance, raising her horn to the sky. “I think you should reconsider, Mahara...” The red mare lifted her gaze to meet Celestia’s. “Even after everything that has happened, I know that you do not have evil in your heart.”

Mahara’s words were so faint, they were lost to Rarity. The alicorn closed her eyes and nodded. Her horn began to glow, the tip radiating like a second sun. Mahara looked back, toward Rarity. The unicorn realized Mahara wasn’t looking at her as the sound of Fluttershy’s voice reached her ears. Rarity glanced over her withers, watching as Fluttershy galloped down the hall, Pinkie and Twilight right behind her.

A bright flash illuminated them, gone again in the blink of an eye, and Rarity’s blood ran cold. A sound like thunder shook the castle to its foundation. Fluttershy slowed to a stop, dropping to her knees, screaming between sobbing gasps. Rarity heard the door close behind her. Celestia hung her head as she passed.

“What did she say to you…” Rarity whispered.

Princess Celestia paused. “Too little, too late.”

\/ /\ /\ \/

There were times when Applejack’s leg had fallen asleep, and as with any normal pony, attempting to use that leg before blood flow had returned to normal was about as effective as trying to stand on a leg that wasn’t there. Memories of those occasions lingered at the forefront of the blond mare’s mind as she put her forehooves on the floor, trembling slightly. She couldn’t quite identify the source of her anxiety, glancing out the window as her thoughts wandered. She was determined to walk, but somewhere was a fear that she would be unable to do so. Applejack gritted her teeth, reinforcing her resolve, and slipped her hind leg over the side of the bed.

For a moment, she felt as though she would topple over, swaying, forced to lean against the bed for support. Well, she mused, Ah’m standin’… leanin’, more like it, but… That’s a good start… Ah’m jus’ gonna walk to tha dresser an’ back. Ah got this, no sweat…

Something caught in her throat as she swallowed. Her right forehoof slid forward, then her right hind. Immediately, she began to lose her balance, tilting until she gently leaned against the bed again. Applejack shook herself off and reminded herself to avoid putting weight on a limb that was no longer present. She spread her forelegs a bit wider. For her second attempt, she moved them first, left and right, then shifted all her weight forward as she brought her remaining hind closer. It was shaky, and it felt extremely unnatural to her, but Applejack remained standing.

“Ha! Nothin’ to it!”

Her triumphant grin faded as she took a deep breath, preparing herself to repeat the performance. It was a slow process, passing through the dusty columns of sunlight that spilled through the window as she pushed herself to reach her destination. On more than one awkward stride she nearly tumbled to the floor, but when she finally rested against the dresser, her spirit soared. She looked down at the bandages around her left hock, swinging what remained of her leg. Her forehooves were healing fast, and her right hind leg was in otherwise perfect condition. A sudden rush of confidence came over her. She leaned forward, putting all her weight on her forelegs, and cocked her right hind. The dresser rattled as she bucked it as gently as she could manage. She landed with a huff and a wide stance, her grin returning.

“Maybe Ah spoke too soon when Ah reckoned mah buckin’ days were over.”

A familiar voice pushed through the floorboards, accompanied by the sound of the screen door banging closed. Winona barked excitedly, her claws tapping wood as she raced up the stairs. Applejack realized that Rainbow Dash was already on her way up. A streak of playful defiance gave her the urge to stay put and greet her lover, but she also remembered how adamant Dash had been about making sure that she avoided unnecessary strain so that her injuries would heal swiftly. Gritting her teeth, Applejack began her awkward hobble back to the bed, forelegs moving in unison, wobbling uneasily when her hind leg caught up. She had just pulled herself up on the foot of the bed when the door creaked open behind her.

With a nervous grin, she glanced back at the winged mare, brow furrowing slightly as Dash’s eyes widened. Before the scornful concern that Applejack had anticipated, Dash wore a look of glee, wings spread, looking more like she wanted to cheer than she wanted to scold. When the moment passed, her ears folded back.

“Woah woah woah! What are you— Did you—” Rainbow frowned and ruffled her feathers as she marched forward. “The doctor said you’re supposed to rest, AJ! Come on!”

Applejack snorted quietly, looking down at the floor. “Ah know… Ah jus’ figured… Well, Ah ain’t helpless, Dash! Ah made it to tha dresser an’ back all by mahself!”

Some of the worry left Dash’s expression, the corners of her mouth slowly curling into a smile. “Alright, that’s pretty cool… Just, please, take it easy, okay?” She took a step closer, nuzzling Applejack on the cheek. “And not just because doctor’s orders, either.”

“Alright, Sugarcube. Soon as this leg is healed up though…”

Rainbow’s smile became a grin. Just as she was about to reply, Winona began to bark again. A wave of confetti and streamers broke over the room, and a pink blur bolted in behind it, coming to a stop just a nose short of Applejack’s face. She immediately knew it was Pinkie Pie, but that didn’t stop her from flinching. Gravity began to work against her.

“Surpriiiii-oh jeeze…” The sparkling joy left Pinkie’s eyes as Applejack toppled over, sprawling on her back. She noticed Angel standing in the doorframe as Pinkie leaned closer. “Sorry!”

“That wasn’t your cue, Pinkie,” Rainbow grumbled.

Dash’s glare faded as the blond mare started to laugh. “Naw, ain’t nothin’ to be sorry ‘bout.” Applejack rolled onto her belly, carefully lifting herself with her forelegs. “Been a spell since Ah’ve seen ya ‘round here! You been stayin’ outta’ trouble, I hope?”

“Weeeeeeeeell…” Pinkie began, rolling her eyes. “Not exactly.”

“Whaddya mean not exactly?”

Pinkie took a deep breath. “I think I first got involved because Twilight told me to follow Fluttershy and keep her safe, and I was okay with that because I just realized not too long ago that I’m kinda in love with her (but don’t tell her that, I’m not ready to tell her yet), but at some point keeping her out of trouble meant that I had to tell a lie or two to make sure nopony found out where she was or what she was doing, you know, because she got wrapped up with Mahara…” Rainbow seemed to be mostly ignoring Pinkie as she offered Applejack her hooves for support. The blond mare swayed as she returned to a standing position. “...so that meant lying to Zecora that I hadn’t seen Fluttershy, and then lying to Twilight about where Rarity had gone, and then abducting a guard named Cirrus because he had a wanted poster with Fluttershy on it, and last night it all sorta came together and I got a little bit arrested.”

Applejack’s jaw hung slack. “Ya’ll did what now?”

“Yeaaaah…” Dash briefly avoided the farmer’s gaze. “She and Rarity kinda got arrested last night. Derpy was telling me about it just before we bumped into her.”

Applejack narrowed her eyes, but Pinkie put on a big, goofy grin. “Well, she hugged into me more than anything, I think! She was so happy to see me! She told me she was afraid she might never see me again, and—“

“That’s all well an’ good, but did I hear correctly that ya’ll were helpin’ that lil’ red, filly-bitin’ sonova bitch?”

“Who, Mahara?” Applejack’s ears folded back, and Pinkie’s grin disappeared. “Not really? Rarity and I were just trying to keep Fluttershy safe. I mean, no offense to Mahara, wherever she is now, but… she kind of screwed up a lot of things for a lot of ponies. I’m just a little relieved that she’s gone…” The pink mare covered her mouth with her forehooves. “Don’t tell Fluttershy I said that, though! You gotta Pinkie-promise that you won’t tell her!”

Applejack glanced between Pinkie and Rainbow, the pegasus offering only a shrug. The blond mare heaved a sigh. “Ah Pinkie-promise not ta tell Fluttershy, on tha condition that ya back up an’ explain yerself… You weren’t helpin’ Mahara? An’ she’s gone? Gone fer good?”

“Uhhhh…” Pinkie blew on the curls of her mane as she glanced up at the ceiling. “Celestia said there was no way back from where she was sending Mahara, so... she’s pretty much gone for good, yeah. And if I did help her, it was only because I was helping Fluttershy. I said a lot of things trying to get Celestia and everypony to leave Mahara alone buuuuut… I dunno… She was a whole lot of trouble when you stop to think about it.” Her grin returned as she glanced at Dash. “A lot like your griffon friend, actually!”

The pegasus remained silent. Applejack cleared her throat. “Well… Alright, long as ya weren’t encouragin’ any foul play, Ah guess. Sounds more like ya’ll just got caught up in it than anything.”

Pinkie nodded enthusiastically. “But hey, all this chit-chat about stuff that makes you worry? That’s not why I’m here! I came to make sure you’re feeling better!” The pink pony bobbed in place. “And you were walking?! That’s great! I bet you’ll be right as rain in no time!”

Applejack chuckled as she put her forehooves on the side of the bed, shifting her weight as Dash nudged the rest of her onto the sheets. Winona hopped up after her, laying out at the foot of the bed. “Ah sure hope so. Walkin’ is one thing, but… the sooner Ah can get back ta buckin’ apple trees, the better off Ah’ll be.”

“Oh! That’ll be great!” Pinkie’s bob upgraded to a slight bounce. “I bet you’ll be the first pony in the Apple family to buck one-legged! Maybe the first in all of Equestria!”

“One step at a time,” mused Rainbow Dash, nuzzling Applejack on the nose as she rested her head on a pillow. The pegasus paused for a moment, ears perking. “Wait, did you say something about being in love with Fluttershy, Pinkie?” She cocked a brow as she glanced back at the bouncing mare.

“I did! And you haven’t promised not to tell Fluttershy about it, yet!” Pinkie bounded across the room in the blink of an eye, nose to nose with Dash. “Please-please-please promise you won’t! This means a lot to me!”

Dash leaned away from her, her brow still arched. “Alright, I won’t say anything!”

Applejack snickered, rolling onto her side to watch more easily. “When did all this happen, though? Ah knew you were close friends with her, but nothin’ like this.”

“I think that maybe it was always there, but I just didn’t see it, kinda like air, you know?! Well, we don’t breathe love, but—” Rainbow rolled her forehoof, ushering Pinkie along. “A few days ago, it just kinda clicked. Click! You’re in love with Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie! I’m not gonna tell her for a while though. She’s in a pretty bad place right now because of you know who, so I’m thinking I’m gonna move in with her and make sure she doesn’t get depressed again, and then, when she’s ready…”

“Move in with Fluttershy? Pinkie,’s a mighty big step ta take, even if you ain’t gonna tell her how ya feel right away.” Pinkie pursed her lips and narrowed her eyes, as if pausing to consider that. “An’ what about Cup and Carrot? Have you told them ‘bout this yet?”

Any trace of seriousness left the pink mare as fast as it had appeared, her cheery smile returning. “I sure did! I think they were a little sad, but they know I won’t be too far away, and they know that I’m doing this to help Fluttershy, so they support this decision.” Pinkie bounded onto the bed, landing next to the dog, causing Applejack and Winona to bounce with her. “Fluttershy sends her regards also! She hopes you’re doing better! Well… She didn’t say that exactly, but I know that’s what she would say if she were herself right now.”

Applejack briefly exchanged glances with Rainbow Dash. “How bad?” the farmer asked after a short span of silence.

“Not quite ‘just got dumped by Lucky’ bad, but… really close… That’s why I wanna stay close to her and make sure she doesn’t slip back to where she was. Plus, she kinda needs a source of fresh blood now, and, well…” The slightest blush lit Pinkie’s cheeks as she settled on her haunches. “I guess I wouldn’t mind letting her nibble on me every now and then!”

“So the rumors are true…” Applejack looked to Dash again, noting the wrinkle in her brow. The pegasus continued. “Fluttershy is… one of them now? And Zecora too?”

A chill ran down the farmer’s spine, her veins icing over. She remembered what Big Macintosh had told her, about the trespassers from a few nights ago, and how quickly she had dismissed it; how badly she had wanted what Macintosh heard from Mahara to be another one of her lies. It all came crashing down as she stared back at Pinkie, watching her nod, as if there were nothing out of the ordinary about the news she was relaying. A wave of nausea gripped her, sending another chill through her body.

Dash immediately took notice, leaning closer, her face twisted with worry. “AJ?”

Pinkie wasn’t far behind, anxiously biting her lip as she peered over the top of Dash’s head. The pegasus put a hoof to Applejack’s breast. “You alright?”

“Ah… Ah don’t feel so good…” The blond mare rolled over, away from Pinkie and Dash, staring at the wall. “If ya’ll don’t mind, Ah’d like ta be alone fer a spell…”

\/ /\ /\ \/

High above Ponyville, the few clouds dotting the blue expanse of endless sky drifted lazily toward the horizon. Rainbow Dash figured it was a little past noon, since the sun wasn’t directly overhead. The leafy shade of a tree obscured her view of the sky as she passed beneath its branches. She sighed and rolled over with a few quick flaps, scanning the path below. Pinkie trotted along a bit farther ahead, Angel on her back, glancing up at her and offering a big smile as she made eye contact. The pegasus swooped in a bit closer, fluttering beside the earth pony, a few noses off the ground.

The worry on Pinkie’s brow worked against her illusion of cheer. “Are you sure we should have left? Is she gonna be okay by herself?”

“Yeah, I think so… It was just a lot for her to take all at once, you know? I probably should have warned you. This thing is just scary for her.” Pinkie Pie nodded along as Dash spoke. “Mahara attacked both her siblings, and I know that Fluttershy and Zecora won’t do that, but for her I think it’s the principal of the thing. Maybe she feels betrayed? And I’m a little worried too, I guess. What guarantee do we have that they won’t start taking blood from whoever they feel like, if they can just go crazy like that?”

“That’s not how it works, silly! It’s like if a pony starves for long enough, they’ll do anything for food, right? Well, if they don’t drink, they start to starve, and I guess a survival instinct kicks in. They don’t want to do it; it’s just their body telling them to do whatever is necessary to stay alive. As long as they drink every so often, though, it’s totally not even an issue. They’re the same as they were before, just, now they can do a special kind of magic... And they don’t like being in the sun... And they need to drink blood.”

Dash cocked a brow. “Oookay...”

The gap in their conversation was filled with the songs of birds and the rustling of leaves.

“So, what’s it like?” Pinkie mused.

Rainbow yawned, stretching out her hind legs. “What’s what like?”

“Being in love!” The pink mare grinned, ears swiveled forward. “I’ve never… you know! This is new for me!” Her trot became a bounce, and Angel clung to her mane for dear life. “Is it lots of fun?! Do you get to share all kinds of secrets?! Is it like having a super best friend that’s all yours?!” Dash began to answer, only to be cut off. “When should I tell her?! How should I tell her?! What should I—”

“Cool it with the questions for a second!” Dash took a deep breath, doing her best to clear her thoughts. “Love is… kind of complicated. I mean, sometimes Applejack and I get into arguments and stuff, but I don’t think we’ve had an argument yet that we weren’t able to talk ourselves down from.” The pegasus smiled. “But, yeah… It’s pretty great. Being able to just… you know, talk… and not have to worry if she thinks I’m cool, or having to act tough. Knowing when you should tell Fluttershy, though? That’s tricky. I almost blew it with Applejack because I didn’t tell her at the right time. Or… maybe there wasn’t a right time. Maybe it happened the way it was supposed to happen and…”

Angel heaved a quiet sigh of relief as Pinkie stopped bouncing to give Dash a blank stare. “Huh?”

“Sorry. Look, if you ask me, the most important thing is being able to talk.” The pink mare flashed a wide grin. “And not just… not just talking like, saying things. Talking like being able to listen, too. You’ve gotta be able to listen to what she tells you if you want it to work. And who knows, if you listen long enough, maybe she’ll give you a signal or something, and you’ll know it’s time to tell her how you feel.”

“Alright…” Pinkie nodded, smiling. “Thanks, Rainbow Dash.”

“You just take good care of her, okay? I’m sorry that I haven’t been around much since… since before this started, I guess. That happens, too. Once you’re with someone special, they kinda become your whole world, and you end up ignoring important stuff because you’re only focusing on them. It’s not intentional, just…” Pinkie nodded again, keeping pace with Dash as they followed the road to the Everfree forest. “How was she? Before today, I mean. You saw her before whatever happened, happened.”

“I saw her the day of the hydra attack, and then again last night and this morning. Really, though? All I’ve seen her do for the most part is cry and shout, mostly about Mahara. Rarity says that she was really relaxed for a while in Manehattan but I sure don’t see that now. Now, she’s like she was when she was depressed. She’s not that far gone, and she’ll kinda talk a little bit, but she’s just been really quiet all day so far. I’m a little scared... I don’t want her to slip into that state again.”

“She won’t.” Pinkie glanced back, meeting Dash’s gaze. The pegasus nodded and smiled. “I know you can help her, Pinkie. And maybe I also think the two of you would make a cute couple.”

Pinkie nearly stumbled, eyes sparkling, and grinning as wide as Dash figured she could. “You really think so?! Do you think she’ll say yes?! I’m just so excited I could— Hey there!”

The pegasus tilted her head, scanning ahead to see whom Pinkie was addressing. Her breath caught in her throat when she set her eyes on Scootaloo. The younger pegasus gracefully dove toward Pinkie, knocking the pink mare clean off her hooves with a tackling hug. Angel landed in a nearby bush, shaking his paw furiously. Sweetie Belle and Applebloom were a few paces behind, but closing in fast. They smiled as they noticed Dash, and she struggled to return the gesture.

They know, she screamed in the back of her mind. They know what I did to Scootaloo!

“I was just hanging out with Sweetie Belle and Applebloom, and then Rarity came back, and I thought maybe that meant you came back too, so I asked Ditzy and she said she saw you and that you went to visit Applejack!” Scootaloo took a deep breath, then fell into a fit of laughter. Pinkie joined in, hugging the filly close. “I’m so happy to see you! What happened?! We were worried that…”

As Rainbow Dash watched the pair of them chatter excitedly, some of her dread slowly evaporated. Scootaloo didn’t even seem to notice her, barely making eye contact when the winged filly’s gaze swept over her. She cringed impulsively when Applebloom addressed her.

The young earth pony tilted her head. “Woah, are you okay?”

“Yeah,” Dash lied. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just a little nervous is all. Fluttershy and Zecora are at the old palace ruins in Everfree. We’re gonna go visit them.”

“Oh! Is Zecora okay?! Ah’d love ta see her again.” Applebloom put on her sweetest smile, looking intent on negotiating. “Do ya’ll mind if Ah come along?”

“I dunno… Your sister might not like that… Cause they’re blood suckers and stuff…”

Applebloom waved a forehoof. “Pshaw, Ah visited Zecora in Canterlot the other day an’ nothin’ bad happened to me!” Her eyes widened immediately. “Ah mean…”

“You said you were…” Rainbow Dash narrowed her eyes, then rubbed her forehoof over her face. “Ugh, I don’t care. Just don’t get into trouble, okay?”

“Ah promise! An ya ain’t gonna tell Applejack ‘bout this or the other thing, right?”

“No...” Dash sighed. “I won’t.”

Applebloom hopped and bucked into the air, grinning from ear to ear. “Well, alright! Let’s get a move on then!”

The younger mares rejoined their feathered friend, all three of them trotting alongside Pinkie Pie, giggling as Pinkie got Angel to climb back onto her, and as she explained what happened after she had been arrested. As much as Dash was relieved that none of them seemed interested in confronting her about her violent outburst, there was also a twinge of guilt. She realized that part of her wanted to be reprimanded for what she had done, and yet nopony seemed interested in punishing her. It occurred to her that they might not even be aware of what she had done.

But why wouldn’t they be? Why wouldn’t Scootaloo tell somepony that I hit her? Why would she keep that to herself? Is she afraid of me now?

Dash followed at a short distance as they continued to talk merrily amongst themselves, even as they slipped into the gloom of Everfree. The pegasus remained silent unless spoken to, trying to sort out her thoughts. When that didn’t work, however, she tried to distract herself instead. Retracing her steps from their encounter with Nightmare Moon proved effective.

The steep, rocky outcrop offered little difficulty, and Dash easily carried both Applebloom and Sweetie Belle to the bottom. They paused to watch as Pinkie raced Scootaloo, zipping from ledge to ledge until she had rejoined them, beating the young pegasus by a split second. There was no manticore to challenge them as they pressed deeper, nor were there any trees twisted into monstrous forms, much to Pinkie’s disappointment. An enormous tree had fallen across the river where she remembered coming across the sea serpent, allowing them easy crossing. Distant voices began to break the eerie calm of the forest, growing louder the closer they came to the ruins. On the other side of the canyon, ponies unloaded and carried crates away from an enormous wagon. Pinkie Pie, Applebloom and Sweetie Belle crossed the rope bridge one by one, grinning excitedly when they returned to solid ground.

A few of the ponies at work gave them curious stares, but quickly returned to their work without comment. As they approached the ruins themselves, however, Twilight Sparkle stepped out and into the open, looking both surprised and pleased to see them. Rainbow let her gaze wander as Pinkie and Twilight conversed, barely paying any attention. She resumed her daydream, reliving the confrontation, the excitement and the happy memories that came with triumphing over evil. The very instant she stopped thinking about that day, her thoughts returned to what she had done to Scootaloo. A sick feeling pooled in the bottom of her stomach.

“…except Applejack.” Rainbow snapped back to reality as those words reached her ears. When she looked for their source, she found that the speaker was Rarity. “And she’s healing up nicely, I trust?”

“Oh yeah,” Pinkie answered for her, something Dash suspected Pinkie had been doing for the duration of the conversation. “She’s doing great!”

“Yeah…” The pegasus added. “She’s doing just fine. Sends her regards.”

“Welcome back,” Rarity quipped, grinning. “We thought we might have lost you for a time. Are you going to hover there in silence all day or are you going to socialize with the rest of us?”

“Sorry. I’ve just got a lot on my mind right now.” Scootaloo briefly met her gaze, then quickly looked away.

Rarity nodded slowly. “Don’t we all…”

\/ /\ /\ \/

The softness and warmth of Pinkie’s flank and the feel of Angel sleeping in her embrace were comforting, helping numb Fluttershy’s senses like anesthetic on an open wound. She felt lethargic even though the rays of the sun were kept at bay by the Everfree forest’s veil of shadow. If she could still drift off to sleep, she would. The best she could manage was daydreaming, but her imagination offered no solace, forcing her to relive her gallop down a seemingly endless hallway, never reaching the end in time.

“And you’re sure about this?” she heard Rarity inquire as she drifted back to reality.

“Not one doubt about it.” The sound of Pinkie tapping her forehoof against the cobblestone accompanied her answer, causing Angel to kick gently in his sleep. The pegasus blinked tiredly, nuzzling in closer to try and hide from the world, from everything that wasn’t Pinkie or Angel. There were no more tears, but the soreness of bitter sorrow remained. “I didn’t really know how to help last time, but this time, I’m going to do it right.”

She imagined Rarity standing next to a column covered in ivy, looking back at Pinkie as she spoke. She imagined the wind blowing out Rarity’s mane as a light breeze whistled through the ruins, carrying the smell of roasting oats and snippets of conversation. “And Cup and Carrot? Did they take the news well?”

“Better than I thought they would. Pound and Pumpkin are a mess, though. I’ve never seen them cry so hard. Poor little ponies… Anyway, I’m going back tomorrow to get a few smaller things. I won’t be moving out for real until the end of the month.” Fluttershy felt a hoof on the back of her neck, gently stroking. Pinkie’s next words were spoken gently, addressing her as softly as she could. “You should come with me tomorrow, if you want. We won’t be in town for too long, and I’m sure everypony would be so happy to see you. Ditzy asked me so many questions about you. She’s glad you’re okay.” She paused for a moment. “So is Applejack.”

Fluttershy remained still and silent. Pinkie sighed softly. “Well, just think about it,” she whispered. “So what are you gonna do, Rarity?”

“At this moment, I’m not entirely sure…”

The pegasus allowed herself to become lost in thought again, drowning out the conversation around her with a storm of anxious questions.

Do I just give up? Is there even a point in trying anymore? What did I do to deserve this, and why is this happening to me again?

The corridor stretched on ahead of her, outpacing Twilight and Pinkie Pie, running toward the silhouettes standing against the intense light of day. They became clearer as she rushed closer.

Did I really love her? Did she love me? Is it normal to fall in love so fast, and under such strange circumstances? Is there something wrong with me? Has there always been something wrong with me?

Mahara turned toward her, a fragile smile on her lips, wordlessly whispering, “Goodbye.” The light from Celestia’s horn became unbearable, but she refused to slow down, refused to look away.

Is it because I tried to run with her? Or is it because I forced her to stop running?

The glow spread from the tip of Celestia’s horn, enveloping Mahara in a glaringly bright sphere, her silhouette barely visible. The sphere imploded with a painfully loud crack. Not a trace of Mahara remained.

I thought that running away would make everything better, but I forgot how much it would hurt my friends.

Fluttershy collapsed, screaming until her throat was raw, shaking violently on the floor. Pinkie was there beside her in a heartbeat, holding on as tightly as she could. Twilight stood close by, struggling to find something to say. Rarity joined them moments later, kneeling across from Pinkie.

I forgot that they would be there for me if I needed them. I forgot that they need me as much as I need them. But why did it have to turn out like this? Why wouldn’t she try and change? Why couldn’t she learn to forgive?

The pegasus returned to reality again as she felt Pinkie Pie shifting her weight. “I’m gonna get something to eat,” she whispered. “Do you wanna nibble a bit when I get back? Or are you not thirsty right now?”

Have I learned to forgive? Did I ever forgive Lucky? Should I forgive Lucky? Should I forgive Mahara, too? What should I do?

“Fluttershy, dear…” said Rarity, quietly. “We know you’re upset, but really, you can’t just lie around all day. It isn’t our intention to irritate you, we’re just concerned. Perhaps you should go for a walk, get familiar with your new surroundings. You barely gave them a second glance when you arrived.”

Sighing, Fluttershy lifted her head, feeling Pinkie’s flank and hind leg slip out from under her. As the pink mare left her side, she gently set Angel down, waking him despite her best efforts. The rabbit nuzzled her foreleg and motioned for her to rise. Donning a fragile smile, she pushed herself off of the cool stone floor. Her legs trembled, but she remained standing as she slowly surveyed the area. When last she had visited, she and her friends had been tasked with saving Equestria. Now, in the soft shade of day, she was able to take in the scenery and truly appreciate the beauty she had outright ignored before.

The castle ruins lay around her, though there were a lot more trees than she remembered. She admired the way the forest’s dense canopy filtered out all but the strongest beams of sunlight. Those that managed to penetrate the foliage appeared as shallow pools scattered across the ground, frequently interrupted by the shadows of fluttering birds. Crumbling masonry played host to vines and small nests. The few spires that defied the ravages of time stretched through the leafy ceiling and out of sight; an unmet challenge to nature itself. A patchwork of light and shadow spread across the cobblestone where the canopy failed to conceal the ruins below. Behind her, beyond the opened double doors and decrepit wall, a rope bridge hung, lightly blanketed with moss, spanning from one distant side of the canyon to the other. She could hear a river churning far below.

Fluttershy’s attention shifted back to the ruins themselves, noting the many ponies milling about. A number of them wore hard hats, carefully inspecting the stonework and scribbling on rolls of parchment, or marking the masonry with chalk. Others carried or levitated chests and crates, depositing them deeper within the ancient castle and resurfacing for more. Luna, Celestia, and Twilight stood just about in the center of it all, casually conversing with one another. As she continued to watch, Luna lowered her head and pawed at the ground, snorting, as though she were about to charge. Twilight’s eyes widened. All three of them burst out laughing.

She spotted Pinkie, Scootaloo, and Applebloom amongst the crowd, slowly circling an enormous pot over a roaring flame. When she noticed the handles between their teeth, she realized they were stirring the contents of the pot. Zecora appeared to be in charge of cooking, watching them closely and curiously, occasionally snickering and giving them instructions. Much nearer, she faintly overheard bits of a conversation between Rarity and Trixie, with Sweetie Belle and Rainbow Dash listening intently. From Fluttershy’s understanding, it was a retelling of their harrowing escape from the Manehattan police department. Rainbow and Sweetie sat in awe and nodded along for the most part.

A few minutes passed before Fluttershy decided to venture deeper into the ruins. The ancient passages were already cluttered with odds and ends transported from Canterlot, with all sorts of instructions and notes scrawled on the walls in chalk. A lone mouse popped out of a crack in the floor, gave one shrill squeak as it locked eyes with her, and then scurried down the hall and out of sight. Angel shrugged and waved a paw, encouraging her to press onward. A short walk later, she found herself in the remains of the throne room. An enormous willow tree had uprooted the throne itself, swaying gently in the breeze. A few ponies carefully inspected the room, inch by inch, occasionally calling out to a stallion in the center of the room who appeared to be recording their observations with a quill and a roll of parchment.

The pegasus was just turning to leave when she noticed a mare standing almost behind the willow tree, staring out the window frame. She approached slowly, trying not to interrupt any of the ponies at work. The mare at the window turned and smiled as she heard Fluttershy’s hooves on the stone.

“I never thought I would see flowers growing in a place like this,” she softly remarked, “but just look at them all. They must have been growing like this for generations.” For a split second, Fluttershy felt her heart go completely still. Just beyond the window lay a literal field of white flowers, their petals occasionally dancing in the wind and swirling off into the distance. “We asked Princess Luna if she wanted to hire somepony to tend this garden, but she outright refused.”

“Do you… know how to get down there?”

The mare smiled. “Oh sure! Back the way you came, and take a right the first chance you get. Should take you right to it.”

A nod and a whispered “thank you” later, Fluttershy found herself traveling down another hall, Angel peering between her ears. She could barely see. Sunlight wavered through chipped and empty window frames, the glass long gone, veils of illuminated dust draping from ceiling to floor. She pressed on, determined to reach the pool of light that flooded in through what she assumed to be a doorframe. She knew that the garden was completely exposed to the sun, but she didn’t care. She had to see it up close, even if she couldn’t see.

The smell of flowers, was already overpowering, even intoxicating. It was the smell of roses.

Angel nudged her ear, and she turned, feeling her strength drain as she stepped out into the full radiance of day. She didn’t care. Grass cushioned her hooves as she blindly walked through the garden, guided by her companion. All at once, her vision returned. A single, puffy cloud slowly drifted across the sky, obscuring the sun just enough to let her see the rose bushes all around her. The garden was alive with small animals and birds, the likes of which observed her curiously. Something about it all gave her the slightest peace of mind.

As a gentle breeze rustled the vegetation surrounding her, she had a moment of clarity. Fluttershy took a deep breath, closing her eyes. The relief of her revelation wasn’t total. She still felt awful, and she knew that she would continue to feel awful for weeks to come, but in her heart, she felt determination: the will to keep going, instead of a desire to let the world pass her by.

Things have changed. Things always change, constantly and endlessly, but life goes on. I’ve changed, too, but I’m still alive. The ghost of a smile spread across her lips.

My story has only just begun.

\/ /\ /\ \/