Chapter Eight: In the Right Direction

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Once again, Twilight Sparkle found herself looking down at the dirty, faded cover of the book she discovered in the library’s basement. She felt Déjà vu didn’t quite sum up what she was experiencing. When the book had been novel and mysterious, she had been apprehensive about reading it. Knowing to whom it belonged and what filled the pages did nothing to ease her discomfort. She looked back at Princess Celestia, the alicorn regarded her with an air of expectancy.

“How did it even end up down there?”

Celestia arched her brows, briefly glancing to ceiling. “Before my final confrontation with Luna, Mahara came to me in the interest of finding a cure for those whom my sister had tainted with darkness. She had brought her diary along with her, in the hopes that her personal record of the changes she experienced and her observations about her new way of life would provide insight into a remedy, but…”

The princess sighed, looking away from Twilight and down at the floor.

“The experiments and her proximity to me were too much for her to bear. She lost herself in a lust for blood, much like Zecora had lost herself earlier today. I didn’t want to kill her, so I cast a sealing spell on her in hopes of being able to imprison her and find a cure later, but her physical presence… The magic flowing through her must have resisted, and she remained, maddened and blood thirsty. Only recently have I realized that the sealing spell hadn’t failed. Instead of imprisoning her entire form, as it had with my sister, it only bound her soul to her diary, preventing her from truly leaving this world when I...”

Twilight nodded, but the alicorn’s expression had become distant and vacant. She approached slowly.

“She tore through a room full of ponies before I…” Celestia paused, a tremble running through her. “Before I could…”

The unicorn rested a hoof on Celestia’s back. “It’s not your fault. You did what you had to do.”

“In all my life, Twilight, I have only personally ended a few lives, and each of their faces still haunt me to this day…” The princess shook herself off, breathing deeply. “Not long after that, my sister mounted an assault on our camp, demanding that we release Mahara. I assume Mahara hadn’t bothered telling Luna or any of Luna’s other followers that she had willingly come to me.”

Celestia crossed the library to Twilight’s reading desk, eyes on the ancient book occupying its surface. The unicorn followed in silence, listening attentively.

“I told Luna what happened, I gave her the diary, and… she left without a word. I’m not actually certain what she did with the diary or how it came to end up in the basement, as that was the last I had ever seen of it until now. We don’t exactly discuss what happened in those days, she and I…”

A soft glow enveloped the diary, its cover gently lifting away from the yellowed pages. The princess exhaled slowly before returning her attention to Twilight.

“I can’t force you to read it, but I feel that you owe it to her to understand. She is an immediate danger to everypony in Equestria, and she must be dealt with accordingly…” Celestia glanced away briefly, meeting Twilight’s gaze again after a tense moment. “But, she is still deserving of our sympathy. She is not an evil pony. This is not a path she walks by any fault of her own.”

Twilight briefly thought back to Celestia’s arrival, her brow knitting with questions. “When you first came here, though, you kept referring to her as a creature and a monster. I haven’t heard you call her that since we left Fluttershy’s cottage.”

“When I got your letter, Twilight, I was afraid and confused. Imagine hearing that somepony you thought you had murdered, somepony you had mourned for ages after the fact was suddenly alive and breathing again. What’s more, that pony can cause unthinkable damage just by spreading the magic in her blood to other ponies.” Celestia narrowed her eyes, shifting her forehooves. “Her last memory of me is… I was afraid that she might still harbor resentment for my failure after all this time, and a small part of me was afraid that she might lose control, as she had before.”

Celestia paused to take a slow, deep breath. “I wanted to put this to rest before it had a chance to get out of control, so what you heard was my attempt to objectify the situation, but seeing Zecora transformed… It showed me that it’s already too late for that, and more importantly, I was reminded that Mahara is still a pony, just like us. She is not an agent of Nightmare Moon any more than I am, and I feel awful for having said that about her.”

Slowly, Twilight traced the edges of the open book before her. The writing on the pages was identical to the writing on the note Mahara had left her. This time, when Celestia stepped away from the table, the unicorn did not follow. The first twenty or so pages were fairly irrelevant as far as Twilight was concerned. She paused briefly to admire a few sketches of flowers, reading the notes accompanying them. Mahara had been very scholarly regarding her future in gardening. She continued to skim until she found something that actually resembled a personal entry.

“The coming morrow is the day to which I’ve  been greatly anticipating. I have come of age and proven myself to mother and father, and so, the responsibility of tending the royal gardens will fall on my shoulders. I cannot help but feel a touch of anxiety under my excitement, however. It will be my work that is judged and, hopefully, admired by the ponies of Equestria and visitors from abroad, but truthfully, I am not worried about them so much as I’m worried about appeasing the Princess.

“I’ve  not often seen her in the gardens as of late, and on the few occasions when I have seen her, she hasn’t seemed…

“I would give anything to see Princess Luna smile. She has a beautiful smile, and I miss seeing her happy.

“With luck, my gardening prowess will impress her, and bring her the joy I so fondly remember. And also, perhaps this is too presumptuous of me, but this is for mine own eyes, so… I hope that, perhaps, Princess Luna will become closer to me. I deeply admire her, but more than that, I feel… I feel a sense of longing for her. I know that I shouldn’t, she is royalty, after all, but… She is more beautiful than any flower I could ever hope to grow.

“Perhaps someday I shall tell her how I feel. Perhaps, if I am allowed to hope, she will share my feelings. But, I do not expect this of her. Tis’ but a fantasy, and I am surely not that important to her.

“Tis’ a pleasant fantasy just the same.”

A small illustration of Princess Luna’s cutie mark occupied the lower corner of the page. She spent a moment looking it over before moving on. The entries became more easily identifiable as Mahara’s writing fell into a pattern. Most of them detailed her plans for the garden or her thoughts on the well-being of her mother and father. Floral sketches and a few dried, pressed flower petals clung to some of the pages, with corresponding notes in the margins.

There was no mention of any sorts of friends; only Luna or her dedication to practice and study of gardening. It all seemed familiar somehow, and the realization made Twilight uncomfortable. She tried to bury the feeling by concentrating on reading, picking up after an intricate diagram of a flower head.

“They’re both taking to retiring quite well, I should think. Tis’ hardly retirement of course, as they still tend to the garden by choice, but the majority of the work, and certainly the responsibility, fall to me now. I’ve seen the Princess more oft’ of late. The garden is without peer, and her mood seems to be improving. I’m unsure if mother and father ever attempted actual friendship with her, but…

“I’m feeling daring, and I have heard that she does not have many a friend. That is at least one common ground between us, because neither do I. While that is by my choice, I can’t help but notice that she seems very much alone.

“She needn’t be.

“Oh, but this is already far overstepping my boundaries! I’m flushed just thinking about it! I barely even know her. Is it disrespectful to think of the Princess like this? I should hope not. My feelings for her are of utmost sincerity.

“But, as we are, this will just have to remain a fantasy. At least, dare I dream, for now.”

Another illustration resided under the entry: A dark silhouette of an alicorn against a sliver of a moon, the surrounding paper scribbled black.

Twilight looked up from the book and swept the room. Nimbus Chaser, as she had learned to call him, was idly scanning the contents of one of her many book shelves, and Sleet was in the process of following Spike into the kitchen. Celestia was nowhere to be seen. She could hear the princess speaking, however. She was in the basement. Zecora’s voice followed.

A private discussion. I should probably leave them to it…

Feeling her legs begin to tire, Twilight leaned against her desk. Behind her, she could hear Spike, evidently done with his fridge raid, asking Sleet if he needed help finding anything. She looked to the door as a female guard that she hadn’t put a name to stepped into the library, smiling, she assumed, at Nimbus. The conversations blended together as she shut them out, returning her focus to the diary.

“For all her age and responsibility, once you get to know her, Princess Luna is a very warm and thoughtful pony. I can understand that most other ponies are intimidated by her, but really, she desires what anyone desires; companionship.

“Most ponies sleep through her beautiful, starry nights, or worse, they fear the darkness that she brings. She has guards and servants like Princess Celestia, but… Well, that isn’t quite the same, is it? No one goes out of their way to get to know her. I’m one of very few ponies that have actually tried to befriend her. When she talks about it, I can see how it distresses her.

“Luna just wants friends. She wants the same kind of adoration that her older sister gets.

“And… I feel I can give that to her.

“I don’t want to startle or overwhelm her, so for now, I shall wait. I have plenty of time to wait. I enjoy being her friend, I really do, but I feel like we could have something more. Is that selfish of me?

“I just want my Princess to be happy. A flower can only bring so much joy, and much like the flower itself, it doesn't last. You can press and dry a flower petal, but does that same beauty of a flower in bloom remain when flattened? I can be more than that. Perhaps not eternal, like her, but…

“Well, this is all just me getting ahead of myself. I’m not even sure if Luna feels that way about me.

“Soon, though. So very soon, I’ll find out how you feel. And, if fortune truly favors the bold…

“You won’t have to be alone anymore.”

As the weathered pages turned, they crinkled softly, delicate with age. As Twilight read deeper, there were fewer entries about gardening, and more entries about the princess- even a few poems. The illustrations became increasingly complex as well. They began to mingle; illustrations of Luna walking through misty groves, or pausing to smell and admire flowers. She stopped when she came to a sketch that filled a full page: an image of Luna looking over her shoulder, her wings partially unfolded. The image gave her an impression of intimacy.

The unicorn blushed, glancing at the room behind her for fear that somepony might be looking as well. When she returned to the diary, she averted her gaze to the entry on the adjacent page.

“This is it.

“I feel confident that Luna and I have become close enough that…

“I’m ready. I’m ready to tell her how I feel, and I think she is ready as well.

“I say this because I can see that she is comfortable with me. I’ve been waking up earlier or staying up later to spend time with her for a good year or so now. The garden has suffered a bit, but really, she doesn’t seem to mind.

“She told me the other day that she doesn’t come for the flowers anymore.

“Oh, be still my heart! Can it be true? Does she know how I feel? Does she feel the same? She asked me if I’d like to spend the evening with her sometime. I said yes. I’m going to find out, finally, if this is all just an illusion I’ve deceived myself into believing, or…

“Words can hardly describe it! Please let it be so! There is nothing in all of Equestria, all the world, even, that I could want more than you! Give me this chance, my Princess, and I will make sure that you do not regret it. There is nothing I wouldn’t do for you.

“On a less joyous note, my mother and father have noticed the slight decline in the quality of the garden, but what is a chewed leaf or two? Surely this is more important! I haven’t told them of my intentions, of course. They would likely tell me that it is a futile effort, but I’ve come this far.

“Tis’ time to find out for myself.”

The next complete entry was very brief. A few discolored spots were scattered across the page. Twilight bit her lower lip as she guessed what they were.

“She said that she was sorry, that she was flattered, that she wished she could reciprocate my feelings, but that there could not be love between us.

“‘It would be inappropriate for us to share that kind of relationship,’ she said.

“Not ‘We don’t feel the same way.’ Not ‘We are sorry for giving you that impression.’

“It would be ‘inappropriate.’

“I hadn’t wanted to admit it, but I was right. Twas foalish of me to think that a princess could show affection to a pony as lowly as a gardener.

“I don’t care anymore. Let me rot like dead vegetation. There is nothing left for me in this garden.”

Following the entry, several pages were torn out. A few stray letters adorned the scraps that remained of the margins. The lines were dark, almost etched. Twilight heaved a deep sigh, closing her eyes as she took a step back from the desk, intent on letting her emotions settle. She opened her eyes to find a soft shadow had fallen across the desk.

“We do not choose whom it is that we fall in love with.” Celestia’s voice startled Twilight so greatly that she nearly stumbled as she half turned toward the princess. “Just as we do not choose the kind of ponies we become as we grow and learn. We can decide to act or not act, but we are the result of our surroundings, the sum of our experiences. We can convince ourselves to behave differently, tell ourselves that we do or do not love another pony, but there will always be a lingering trace.”

Twilight looked to the regal alicorn, but Celestia was focusing on the diary, turning to another, later entry.

“It’s unfortunate, then, that sometimes the ones we trust the most are the ones that lead us astray… That the mare Mahara fell in love with, my own sister, would use her feelings against her. I try to tell myself that Luna wasn’t well when she did this to her, and to others, but even after all this time, her actions… I have a hard time forgiving her. I was not the only pony she betrayed when she donned the façade of Nightmare Moon.”

“Is this why Mahara didn’t try to go straight to Luna when I freed her?”

Celestia nodded slowly. “Yes, but only partly the reason. This was only the beginning, you see… Mahara was always looking for a way into Luna’s heart, but the rejection crushed her, and made her vulnerable. When next they met, out of desperation, and the hope that she could get what she so desired, Mahara agreed to something that she did not fully understand.”

With brows knitted, Twilight nervously glanced to the diary, and then back to Celestia. “What did she agree to?”

The alicorn motioned to the page she had opened to. “Read for yourself…”

At first, it seemed there was nothing out of the ordinary about the way the entry was written. There were no tear stains or angry scratches on the pages. There were also no sketches. Considering the emotional storm Mahara had endured, the sudden calmness of the page began to weigh on Twilight’s nerves. She took a deep breath as she began to read.

“I saw her again today, the first time in months. Would you believe that my heart could still beat for her?

“At the insistence and prodding of my parents, I have resumed my duties as a gardener, but there’s no passion in it for me anymore. I’ve just been doing it because it is what I’m supposed to do.

“I suppose that’s better than nothing.

“Tis’ how we crossed paths early this morning, before the sun had risen. I wasn’t looking for her, either. She came to me in the mist, like she used to, but…

“She was different. Darker. Taller, perhaps. Her voice and her eyes weren’t as I remember, either. When she smiled at me, her smile was different too… The moment I laid eyes on her, though, I knew right away.

“I was content to continue my gardening, but she walked right up behind me, close enough to whisper.

“’Are you not happy to see us,’ she asked. And I was. I was very happy to see her, but at the same time, something about the way she had changed filled me with terror. I had never been afraid of her before. I told her so and she just laughed, walking around until we were face to face.

“’You have nothing to fear,’ she told me. ‘We come to you with an offer, in fact. We want you to be with us. The first, and the closest.’ I asked her what she meant, and she leaned closer, still smiling. ‘As we were, we could not be with you, but now, things have changed. We have changed. And soon, we will change the world. We want you by our side when that happens.’

“I could barely manage a nod. I could barely breathe, at that. ‘But if you are to survive with us, in our new world… If you are to share our love… First, you must change.’

“This was the chance I had always wanted. How could I say no? I smiled, and I said yes. She smiled, and she kissed me.

“I had fantasized about that moment for years, written poems about the tender embrace of my Princess, and yet… This was nothing like what I had envisioned. It was cold and aggressive. When the embrace ended, I felt…  different.

“Before I could ask, she said ‘We have much work to do, but we will be with you again soon.” And she left with nary a word further, soaring off into the starry sky.

“I completed my morning rounds, but it wasn’t until I returned home that I realized the sun had not yet risen. Ponies began to fill the streets as they came to the same realization, looking to the inky sky, waiting for a sunrise that, even as I write this, has never come.

“I have begun to feel very thirsty, but no amount of milk, juice or water will quench my thirst…

“In the back of my mind, I fear that perhaps I have made a mistake. Worse, I fear that Luna is somehow involved in this. She said that she would soon see me again. I am certain that she shall clear away my confusion and suspicion when she does.”

With a shudder, Twilight stepped away from her desk, shakily making her way to her reading couch. She looked back to find Celestia closing the diary, resting her regal hoof on the cover. After a few moments, the alicorn quietly headed toward the basement. She paused before descending, as if aware that Twilight was watching her.

“She didn’t deserve this fate, Twilight, but fate can be cruel.” Celestia met Twilight’s gaze, smiling sadly. “I just hope that wherever she is now, she’s happy. Even though she cannot stay here, for the time being, she at least deserves that much.”

“You say that as though you’re sure that Mahara is still alive.”

“The fact that her diary was just lying in the open is proof enough that she’s anything but dead. If you ask me…” Celestia’s fragile smile fractured, vanishing under a more somber expression. “Mahara left it behind on purpose.”

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For a pegasus with a fear of heights, Fluttershy hadn’t realized just how much she had missed flying.

Her mane and tail flowed out behind her, shimmering softly in the moonlight, the wind ruffling her feathers as her wings beat against the open air. They were larger now, her wingspan a full three times wider than it had been, with long, fine plumage fanning out against the wind as she cast a distant, sweeping shadow over the trees below.

And she was laughing.

The transformation had been painful for her, forcing her bones to break, and then re-grow, but she had nearly forgotten the pain. In its place, a joy she hadn’t experienced in a very long time. Ahead of her, Mahara was slowly descending, hooves skimming over the clouds, cutting small trenches in their puffy mass. On an impulse fueled by the thrill of returning to the sky, Fluttershy tucked her wings against herself, rolling into a dive. The wind whistled through her ears as she closed in on Mahara, unfolding her wings again with a loud flap as the rushing air hit her feathers. The winged peach mare glanced back at her, meeting Fluttershy’s gleeful expression with one of her own.

“Are you…” Mahara slowed slightly, allowing herself to drift closer. “Are you alright?”

“Oh, yes! I’m absolutely alright!” Realizing that she had shouted, Fluttershy began to blush. “Why um… Why do you ask?”

“You’re crying.”

In all her excitement, and with the wind whipping against her, Fluttershy hadn’t noticed the dampness around her eyes. With the tears brought to her attention, she slowed, but continued to fly. Mahara turned completely, backstroking with her wings as she hovered a few noses in front of the timid pegasus.

“I’m… It’s okay. They’re um… They’re happy tears.” She smiled, nodding, Mahara doing the same. “I always took flying for granted, and well… I was never a strong flyer before, but… I think I understand it now, why Rainbow Dash loves it so much… It’s… I’m free. Completely free…” There was a short span of silence, underscored by the quiet rustling of feathers. “Thank you,” she whispered at last, inching closer.

They came together, eyes softly closed, lips gently pressing. They descended into the puffy white banks below, the clouds held them as they held one another. Fluttershy felt her doubts and frustrations dissolve, at least for that seemingly endless moment. Even after the kiss had ended, they maintained the embrace, gazing deep into one another’s eyes. Her mind buzzed with an indecipherable blur of excited, half formed notions, her emotions running rampant. Above everything else, standing out against the internal confusion, she felt safe. She knew that Mahara would never let any harm come her way, so long as there was breath in her lungs.

The clouds shifted, blotting out the moon just long enough for her to notice a distant glow on the horizon. Mahara turned toward that glow, a curious grin on her lips when she returned her gaze to Fluttershy. They came to an agreement without saying a word, and a playful chase ensuing the moment their embrace ended. The lead was shared, traded each time Fluttershy caught up to Mahara, or Mahara to Fluttershy, weaving through the clouds, rolling around one another in the air, laughing all the while.

Manehattan was little more than a gathering of bright lights, but they were quickly covering the distance, seeming just a bit closer each time Fluttershy emerged from the puffy haze. Below, the forests slowly thinned out, replaced with tilled fields, lush crops, and the occasional farm house, windows illuminated and long plumes of smoke curling from the chimneys. Beyond that, she spotted a small town no larger than Ponyville, though much less quaint by comparison. In a few minutes, that too was far behind them. Silhouettes of the city’s skyline slowly came into focus, surrounded by a vast stretch of smaller buildings that, at such a distance, were reduced to a glittering grey blur.

While Mahara had been in the lead, Fluttershy realized that she had begun to follow train tracks. A river carved through the landscape, with a bridge holding the two sides together like a single stitch. A short distance ahead of them, a train chugged through the night, its whistle echoing through the moonlit sky.

Mahara slowed, matching her pace with Fluttershy. “Should we hitch a ride?” She motioned to the train, smiling. “If you’re tired, I figure we can rest on the roof, maybe nibble one of the passengers…”

“Oh, goodness no… They’re probably um…” Fluttershy bit her lip, forgetting how sharp her fangs were. “It would be rude to… I um… while they’re sleeping… I’d… rather not. If that’s okay with you, that is.”

“As you wish.”  Mahara fell a pony length behind, her left wing dusting Fluttershy’s flank in passing. “We will need to feed shortly after we arrive, however. I’m afraid we won’t have the luxury of choice at that point, since Rarity won’t be arriving until morning.”

An owl called out to her, looking curiously up at the pair. I wonder, Fluttershy thought to herself.

“Mahara, why can’t we just drink blood from…” She glanced back at her companion, finding Mahara’s brow cocked, a trace of a grin on her lips. “Well, from creatures that aren’t ponies? Does it have to be ponies?”

“For the most part, the only blood that the magic can draw strength from, the only blood that can keep us alive, has to come from ponies, or a creature that is similar to a pony. Blood from zebras and donkeys provide nourishment nearly equivalent to pony blood. Blood from deer, cows, buffalo, griffons or dogs, while acceptable, is much less so.” Mahara nodded, Fluttershy assumed, to herself. “Generally, the farther a creature is from an equine, the less nourishment we can gather from its blood. If we could effectively consume reptilian blood, for example, I would have been greatly strengthened by defeating the hydra.”

The timid pegasus nodded. “Alright, I understand… It’s just… I was really hoping that um… That maybe there was some other way.”

Mahara caught up to her, offering her a gentle nuzzle. “I know that this is all a little scary for you-”

“It’s not even that anymore. I…” Fluttershy could feel a blush slowly burning her cheeks as she thought back to feeding from Rarity. “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but… I like it. I really like it. The taste, and the biting, and…” She caught a sly grin from Mahara after giving off a light shudder. “But when I started drinking, I couldn’t stop. I just drifted off… lost in the feeling. I don’t want to hurt anyone, and how often do I need to feed, anyway?”

“You’ll learn how to control your urges with practice, and depending on how much magic you’re using, you may be able to get away with feeding once every two days… though that may be pushing it. I’d say once a day, to be safe.” Mahara snickered quietly. “As long as you’re not vigorously transforming or getting torn open and shot on a regular basis, a few swallows is really all you’ll need.”

As Mahara smiled, she could feel some of her anxiety lifting. “That’s… I guess that’s not so bad. I just don’t want to have to bother Rarity with my… Well… It shouldn’t fall entirely on her. That wouldn’t be fair.”

“Manehatten is an enormous city. I’m certain that we’ll find plenty of willing sources of fresh blood." Mahara looked down, lips pursing. “Speaking of which…”

Fluttershy followed her example, finding the open countryside replaced with what, at first, appeared to be the edge of another small town. This town didn’t seem to end, however. It just spread out farther and wider ahead of them. She spotted the train slowly winding through the brick and cobblestone, a maze of streets and alleys on either side. Before she could trace the path to its destination, her vision was obscured with the puffy white blanket of a cloud. Mahara's laughter reached her ears, slowly pulling ahead and then quickly fading to silence.

When Fluttershy emerged from the condensation, she understood why.

The Manehattan skyline stood proudly against the night sky, a pony-made mountain of glass, stone, and metal, interlaced with streets that glowed like rivers of light. Neon hugged the street corners and perched on rooftops, their soft buzz nearly drowned out by the murmur of activity. Wagons rumbled through intersections, while chariots soared from one end of the city to the other. The sidewalks positively squirmed with ponies of all sorts, going about their business even at such a late hour. All of this, surrounded with smaller, multi story buildings for at least a mile on every side.

It took several moments for Fluttershy to realize she had stopped breathing, gasping quietly as her eyes continued to roam the cityscape. Mahara fluttered beside her in a similar state of shock.

“It’s much different, seeing it in person…” Mahara nearly whispered after several minutes.

“I’ve been here before but… Well, I’ve never seen it from the air, or at night. It’s…” She smiled, drifting a bit closer to Mahara. “It’s really something…”

Fluttershy felt a forehoof around her middle, squeezing gently. Mahara spoke softly, a slight waver to her words. “I know I said that we need to feed but… Can we stay here just a little longer? I just…” She swallowed, a tremble running through her. “I just need a moment.”

“We can take as much time as you need.” She returned the embrace, holding Mahara close. “I don’t mind at all.”

\/ /\ /\ \/

Manehattan was as impressive from the ground as it was from the air, as far as Fluttershy was concerned. Tacks Square almost seemed to have an aura, the radiant glow of neon advertisements and street lamps completely overpowering the combined presence of the moon and stars. Ponies of all sizes and types bustled around her, floating overhead or moving about on hoof, oblivious to the world around them as they went on their way. Fluttershy spotted more than a few zebras in the crowd as well, and they seemed as preoccupied as the ponies that shared the streets with them. It felt strange to her that, despite such a high volume of activity, she was being completely ignored. The oddity was as comforting as it was curious. Gradually, she was adjusting to the increased volume as well. The countless drum of heartbeats melted together into a singular, steady buzz.

Slowly scanning her surroundings, she wondered, So where do we go from here?

She turned to Mahara, finding her companion busy with a map. They had landed in one of the brightest spots in the city, drawn by the sound and movement, and found themselves standing in the center of a massive six way intersection, but only the two diagonal streets seemed to get any activity from carriages or wagons. Occasionally, a chariot touched down to load or unload passengers. Tacks Square was lined with brightly lit shops on all sides, and many of the ponies she observed were carrying bags adorned with corresponding logos. She spotted a mare wearing one of Rarity’s more recent designs, and felt a swell of joy as she was reminded that her friend would be with them by the following morning. She turned as she felt a tap on the shoulder.

“So I just realized that Rarity never told us where to meet her.”

Fluttershy’s ears splayed as she had the same realization. “Well, um… Maybe if we go to the train station and wait for her?” Mahara cocked her head, and the timid pegasus looked down. “Just… just a thought.”

“Not a bad idea.” She felt Mahara nuzzle the back of her neck, slowly bringing up her gaze. “Before we do that, though… Well, you know what I’m going to say.”

“Yes, I know… Who… How are we… Anypony at all?” Fluttershy looked over the moving crowd, faces almost blurring together as they pushed passed one another. “There are so many. How do we know who to ask?”

“Well, the plan was to offer money for blood, so we want somepony who looks desperate. Like… a bum, or a street performer.” Mahara quickly glanced around, pausing several times in the process. “And there appears to be a selection of both, so we pick the healthiest of the lot, take care of our needs, and then find somewhere to wait until morning.”

“O-okay… But um… Mahara…” The green eyed mare cocked a brow as Fluttershy struggled to find the words she wanted. “We… I didn’t bring any money with me, and you… How are we going to pay them?”

“Oh. That’s simple. We’re not.” She flashed a toothy grin, to which Fluttershy cast a scowl. “What?”

“That’s awful! You can’t just lie to somepony like that!”

“Fine…” Mahara rolled her eyes, stepping past Fluttershy. “We’ll make some other arrangement then. If you ask me, though, this will just complicate things.”

Her expression softened as she followed Mahara. “It’s the right thing to do, so if that complicates things, then it will be worth it.”

“If you say so…” The peach pegasus glanced back at her, and then started searching the crowd as they passed through it. “So it looks like we have a musician, a juggler… I think that’s a pegasus painted gold? A living statue maybe? No… Look how many bits they’re raking in… Oh!” Mahara stopped, a grin spreading across her lips. “Bingo.”

Fluttershy tilted her head, attempting to trace her gaze. She found herself looking at a dirty light blue mare sitting on an equally dirty spread of cardboard. It took her a moment to realize that the mare was a unicorn, since her mane was such a mess. The mane in question had an almost frost color to it; a blue so de-saturated that it was nearly white. As they came closer, she stirred, looking up at them with one eye open. Fluttershy recoiled slightly as the smell of alcohol hit her, but Mahara seemed unphased.

“You know, for a sign that says Magic Performance, you don’t seem very magical.” The unicorn narrowed one eye at Mahara’s words, opening the other just as wide. “Or are you just on a break right now?”

“I’ll have you know that I was one of the greatest traveling magicians in all of Equestria! I mean-” She slowly rolled to her hooves, knocking over an empty bottle. “I am the greatest traveling magician in all of Equestria! Prepare to be amazed!”

A feeling of déjà-vu quickly swept over Fluttershy as she watched the unicorn mare right herself, swaying for a moment on her hooves. Is that… No, it can’t be… She looked into the mare’s eyes as she glared at Mahara. Can it?

Her horn began to glow, then spit out brightly colored sparks that floated through the air, swirling into the shape of a star, then of a magic wand. The wand, Fluttershy realized, was the same as her cutie mark.

“Oh my…”

The pedestrian traffic hardly stopped to look, save for a single zebra wearing a shirt reading I and Manehattan, with a bright red heart in between. Even he seemed to lose interest after a minute or two, rejoining the flow of the crowd. Mahara, on the other hoof, began to stomp and cheer. The unicorn was absolutely ecstatic about that.

“I trust there is no further doubt in my abilities?” She beamed, holding her head proudly. “Or would you like further demonstration?”

“Absolutely!” No sooner had Mahara said this did she glance back to Fluttershy, her excitement briefly cracking into a grin, visibly fighting not to laugh.

“Mahara…” Fluttershy took a few steps closer, frowning as she watched the mare warm up for another light show. “This is really mean…”

“Is it? Look how happy she is.” She began to stomp and shout again as the performer imitated a fireworks display with her magic. “I’m just telling her what she wants to hear. Besides,” Mahara said, nodding toward the performing unicorn, “this is actually a rather good show.”

The lights faded as the mare began to sway again, staggering forward a few steps. “O-oh, sorry… I haven’t eaten much today, and powerful as I am, I’m a bit exhausted. You understand, I trust.” She cleared her throat as she steadied herself, looking to Mahara, then Fluttershy, and back again. “I don’t suppose you’d like to… ahem… extend some generosity for my little show?”

“How about dinner, actually.” Fluttershy’s eyes widened as she looked to Mahara, finding the unicorn’s jaw agape looking back to her. “On us, of course.”

“Woah, really? I mean, yes, of course! The Great and Powerful Trixie would be honored to grace you with her presence.”

Mahara smiled, nodding, while Fluttershy looked down and shook her head.

\/ /\ /\ \/

How can it be this much busier inside than it is outside? The noise was so intense; she could hardly hear herself think. I knew this city was big, but this is almost too much for me to get my head around!

Fluttershy took in her surroundings, finding the room absolutely packed despite its size. At the far end, opposite the door they came in from, a wide stage with a zebra, singing in her exotic tongue and dancing along to the rhythm. Several musicians were set up with bongos, a guitar, and some wind instruments on stage left, complimenting her voice with an equally exotic sounding beat.

Close to the stage, she set her eyes on a very lavishly dressed griffon surrounded by at least a dozen mares, all eagerly chatting with him. She could have sworn that she saw a buffalo out on the street shortly before entering the restaurant, as well. Manehattan was certainly no Ponyville, and not just in terms of size. There seemed to be a much broader spectrum of diversity amongst its inhabitants, as opposed to a single zebra that lived outside of town. Fluttershy found that comforting in a way. This city doesn’t care who or what you are, she mused. Rarity was right to send us out this way.

Mahara and Trixie burst out laughing, drawing Fluttershy’s attention back to the table. After a bit of shape shifting and trickery, Mahara had been able to get them in by impersonating a very wealthy looking stallion who entered shortly before they did. Fluttershy was grateful that Mahara had at least had the decency to shape shift in an alley where nopony could see her. She had also declared, while in disguise, that anything they bought would be put on his tab. Once that business was concluded, Mahara had ducked into a bathroom and resumed her pegasus form, returning to find that Trixie was making full use of the menu’s list of alcohols. In the hour since they sat down at the table, she had achieved a bright blush and a slur.

While their intentions and the fact that they were eating on someone else’s bits still made Fluttershy feel somewhat guilty, Trixie was undoubtedly having a wonderful time. The timid pegasus even cracked a smile as Trixie began to thump the table.

“An’ then they brough’ the fuckin’ thin’ back to me like “Oh Trixie vanisch the Ursa!” Can you believe tha’? Ssstupid fuckin’ colts! Nobody takes me serious as a magick-an ‘nymore ‘cause a them! I hafta’-” Trixie hiccupped, nearly knocking over her drink. “Hafta make money by-”

“You know what, Trixie? I think you’re alright anyway!” Mahara had decided to drink a few glasses of wine herself, and it was certainly showing. “Twilight Sparkle can go kiss between Celestia’s flanks, you’re a fantastic magician!”

A waiter begrudgingly approached the table, ignoring the inebriated laughter of the unicorn and pegasus, directing his attention to Fluttershy. “Will you be having anything else this evening, Madame, or will the salad be all?”

Fluttershy had only picked at a few greens, the rest of the salad largely untouched. Despite having barely eaten anything since morning, she simply lacked the appetite. She nodded lightly, giving a smile. “That will be all, thank you.”

“No no, wait! A bottle of wine! We’d like another bottle of wine!” Trixie nodded as fast as she could, nearly falling out of her chair. “To go, though. We’d like it to go.” Mahara locked eyes with the timid pegasus, motioning to the front door.

The waiter arched a brow and turned away. “I’ll inform Sir Bags of your total, then. Please wait here.”

Once the waiter was a few tables away, Mahara mumbled, “That’s our cue…” She put her wing around Trixie, guiding the stumbling unicorn out of her chair and toward the front of the restaurant.

Fluttershy followed hesitantly, glancing over her shoulder every few steps. Trixie snagged a bottle of wine off an unattended table, nearly smashing it as her levitation faltered. The three of them had just set hoof outside when a roar cut through the commotion of the restaurant, silencing it completely.

“Oh my gosh!” Fluttershy squeaked, spinning around, spotting two formal looking stallions flanking an older looking unicorn with a monocle.

Mahara galloped forward a few steps, nearly sending the drunken unicorn sprawling. “Let’s go! Let’s goooo!”

“What’sh the rush, huh?! I didn’ even wanna leave yet!” Trixie started galloping to the best of her ability, knocking an elderly mare over in the process.

“Yes well, we didn’t want to occupy that table for the entire night, did we?”

“I sshure did!”

A shout caught up to them from behind, and Fluttershy looked back to see several more stallions in suits chasing them. Thankfully, none of them were pegasi.

“Mahara,” Fluttershy whimpered, “did your plan have any parts about what to do if we’re being chased?!”

Trixie tried to look back, tumbling in the process. “Why are we bein’ chased?” she moaned as Fluttershy helped lift her onto Mahara’s back.

“Because Mahara has very flimsy morals!” Fluttershy glared at Mahara as she spoke, causing the green eyed mare to splay her ears with a nervous smirk. “That’s why!”

“How about we take a left?” Mahara skidded briefly, Trixie nearly sliding off her back, as she resumed her gallop ninety degrees in another direction, shooting down a narrow alley.

Fluttershy managed a wide turn, her flank scraping the bricks of the corner as she poured on the speed. Mahara had already reached the end of the passage, glancing back as she hooked right. The pounding of her hooves echoed ahead, overlapping Fluttershy’s as she slowly reclaimed lost ground. Several paces later, she had sight of Mahara again, but the peach coated mare had come to a stop. She cradled Trixie in her forelegs now, the unicorn squirming slightly as Mahara spread her wings and took to the air. Fluttershy followed her lead, nearly skimming the roof as they flew as low as they could.

The police are probably looking for us now... She sighed, closing the gap between them. “Mahara, why can’t you stay out of trouble?”

“So some rich stallion you’ve never met is a few insignificant bits less wealthy. I think that, in the name of charity, my actions are justified.” She looked over her shoulder, smiling. “Isn’t that right, Trixie?”

Trixie belched wetly in response, followed by an unintelligible mumble. Somehow, she had managed to keep the bottle of wine with her and was now cradling it, gnawing feebly on the cork. Mahara giggled softly to herself, and Fluttershy had a fairly good idea why.

“Are you thinking the same thing that I’m thinking?”

“About our friend and her little wine bottle? If it’s about the amusing little parallel, then yes.” Mahara smiled, turning her attention to Fluttershy. “And you were right, by the way. Even if doing things your way made this a little more complicated-”

“My way?” The heavyset pegasus huffed. “I didn’t tell you to steal from anyone!”

“Aaand even if you feel that my methods are a little skewed. You were right. Trixie has had a run of bad luck, more than her fair share, and I feel like we did the right thing.”

“Alright… I… As long as your heart is in the right place.” She smiled, thinking back to the restaurant. “It definitely felt good to see her happy.”

The rustle of leaves caught Fluttershy’s attention. The buildings of Manehattan had fallen behind, and yet, they were still present on either side. She could see more of them ahead as well. Immediately, she realized what they were flying over.

“Concho Park...” Mahara glanced back at her, tilting her head. “Can we um… Can we stop here? Like, stop flying, put Trixie down and stay a while? Please?”

“Hmm? I don’t see why not.”

They circled as they descended, touching down on an outcrop of rocks a few paces from a cobblestone path. The timid pegasus smiled, breathing deeply now that the air smelled of grass and trees. Out of the corner of her eye, she watched as Mahara made an effort to get Trixie on her own hooves, but the unicorn gracelessly dismounted into a mumbling heap, still clutching the bottle of wine with a foreleg. Unable to resist, Fluttershy snickered quietly, coming a bit closer.

After a few moments of checking her surroundings, Mahara lowered herself to the rocky ground beside Trixie. After straightening out her posture, she gently brushed Trixie’s mane away from the side of her neck.

“Wait.” Fluttershy lifted her hoof, causing Mahara to look up from Trixie. “I… I don’t want to just take this from her. We should ask her first.”

“Fluttershy, look at her. She’s…” Mahara sighed softly, leaning away. “Go ahead. A few minutes more won’t be the death of us.”

Trixie burbled something incoherent, eyes crossed, a dumb grin on her face, and Fluttershy had to force back a giggle. “Now Trixie, Mahara and I… Well, we… paid…” Mahara looked away, lips twisted as the she tried not to grin. “We paid for your dinner and your um… your alcohol because we… We need to ask something of you, and you have every right to say no, but we would really, really appreciate it so much if you would cooperate."

Slowly becoming lucid again, Trixie managed to mutter, “Ssso whadda’ ya want from me, then?”

Fluttershy looked up at Mahara, and then back to Trixie again. “Mahara and I are… We need to… There’s really no easy way to say this.” She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “Mahara and I need to drink blood to survive, so… If you’d let us drink some of your-”

“Pfff, tha’s all? Go right ahead. I thought-” Trixie jolted clumsily as she hiccupped. “I thought you were gonna make me do somethin’ weiiiird. This ‘s a lot less humil-ating than…” She trailed off into mumble territory, her sentence falling apart.

“Well, you heard the mare.” Mahara leaned forward, baring her fangs.

“But…”

“Fluttershy, please.” The green eyed pegasus stroked the side of Trixie’s neck. “We’re not going to take much from her; just enough to sustain us until Rarity arrives. She gave you her permission, so what more do you need?”

“I… Alright. You’re right…” Fluttershy knelt down opposite Mahara, focusing on the steadily thumping rhythm in the back of her mind. Trixie’s heartbeat was easy to discern from hers, or Mahara’s.

A thought occurred, a brief recollection of their close call in the Boutique. There was an unusual heartbeat outside, with Twilight, Zecora, Celestia, and all her guards. Did she… She didn’t turn some other pony  into a creature like herself, did she? Fluttershy watched as Mahara bit down on Trixie’s neck, rubbing the other side with her hoof as if to keep the unicorn calm. But how would there be another one of us unless she...

Mahara gave a happy little gasp, licking the blood from her lips as she pressed a hoof to the bite marks she had made. “Your turn, my dear.”

\/ /\ /\ \/

Slipping out of Ponyville had been much easier than expected, but then, Rarity knew that nopony had been expecting her to slip out. Dressed as humbly as she could manage, and acting as inconspicuously as her pride would allow, the fashionista had boarded an early morning train bound for Manehattan with what she considered a modest amount of luggage. The sun was just starting to peer over the horizon as her train pulled into Paddock Station, the dawn sky beautifully distorted by the concourse ceiling’s glass paned arches. Rarity stepped onto the platform, spying the small hill of her luggage to the left. She took another step and froze.

Three haggard looking ponies sat on the bench before her, two of them wearing very poorly crafted disguises that seemed to be made of mane clippings, feathers and twigs. Pasted to the columns on either side of them were identical posters that read Wanted for Petty Theft. Beneath that, the sketches of three mares, one of which she immediately recognized as Fluttershy, another sparking faint recognition. At the bottom of the poster: If you see or know of the whereabouts of these three ponies, please inform an officer of the law immediately. A 500 Bit reward will be given for assistance that leads to a successful arrest.

Rarity buried her face in her forehoof. “Oh for heaven’s sake…”

“H-hello Rarity…” Fluttershy spoke from beneath a fake mustache the same color as her mane, sitting in the middle of the trio. “We um… Mahara and I… It’s a long-”

“Wait a minute! I remember you!” Rarity cocked a brow, finding something very familiar about the unicorn pointing at her. “You’re one of her friends!”

“I beg your pardon?” She glanced back to Fluttershy, hoping for an explanation.

“She um…” The poorly disguised pegasus fidgeted. “She means Twilight.”

“How does she know that I’m-” Rarity leaned closer, examining the glaring mare across from her. “Aren’t you the magician that came to Ponyville? The same magician that lied about defeating an Ursa Major?” Rarity’s expression hardened, eyes narrowed. “The same magician that did unspeakable things to my mane?!”

“The Great and Powerful Trixie merely showed you that you were no match for her!” Trixie held her head high, sneering. “Your humiliation was nopony’s fault but your own!”

The third pony, an earth stallion sitting opposite Trixie, had been shifting about on the bench for the entire exchange. No sooner had Trixie begun to shout did he fall off the bench in a fit of laughter. A pair of radiant green eyes darted back and forth between Rarity and her verbal adversary as he cackled.

“Mahara, I presume?” Rarity gave Trixie one last icy stare before giving the stallion her full attention. “I thought we agreed that you were to refrain from disguising yourself. Are we breaking promises now? Or are you just showing off your abilities to any has been magician you come across?”

“Has been?!” Trixie snorted.

Hearing Mahara speak with a male’s voice gave Rarity all sorts of unpleasant sensations. “Considering that Fluttershy and I are trying to avoid detection, I assumed that making myself less easy to identify would be the best course of action. Trixie has been very understanding.” The stallion cleared his throat as he got back to his hooves, glancing over at Fluttershy and Trixie. “Of course, there was a bit of a setback…”

“A bit of a setback, Mahara? Is that what you would call having wanted posters with Fluttershy’s face on them posted all around the city?” Rarity’s glare was all for Mahara now. The stallion shrank back slightly. “Fluttershy, I’d like a word with you, alone.”

Fluttershy looked down at the floor, quietly slipping off the bench. Rarity started toward her luggage, looking back to make sure Fluttershy was following, and Mahara quickly averted his gaze as Rarity made eye contact. The pegasus nervously tapped the floor with a forehoof as Rarity took a deep breath, watching her suitcases and boxes loaded onto a cart as she tried to organize her thoughts.

Finding that impossible, she muttered, “Just… Tell me your side of the story. And be honest, dear. I’m not angry with you, I just want to know what happened.”

“Well um… You see… Mahara and I needed to… feed… before you were supposed to arrive, so…” She peered up, brow knitting with anxiety. “So we found Trixie in Tacks Square, and Mahara thought it would be easy to get blood from her since she looked… desperate… But I told her that it wouldn’t be right to just drink from her without giving her something in return, so um…” The pegasus looked back to the floor, dragging her forehoof in a circle. “So Mahara impersonated somepony and basically got us all a free meal, but then that pony found out so we had to run…”

“While that is admirable in a twisted sort of way, that’s still unacceptable. You tried to talk sense into her, I assume?”

“Well… I did at first, but I um… Well… I kinda agreed with her. I mean… I felt just awful about using someone else’s bits, but… Trixie did need it more, so…”

“Fluttershy…”

“I know… Mahara means well, she really does, she just doesn’t think inside the rules. A-also… I um…” Fluttershy’s ears began to splay as she went back to tapping the floor. “After Mahara and I were done drinking, she wanted to leave as soon as Trixie’s neck had scabbed up, but I told her that wouldn’t be the right thing to do, so I… I...”

“Fluttershy?”

“I told her that she could stay in your friend’s apartment with us! I know that it wasn’t my decision to make and I’m really, really sorry, but I couldn’t just leave her out on the street.” She looked up, pleading with her bright blue eyes. “Please don’t turn her away, Rarity. She really needs a place to stay. She looks like she’s been sleeping in an alley, and I think she said something about eating pinecones.”

Okay, Rarity thought, she just did what she thought was right, even if that sad excuse for a magician is a rotten mare that desecrated my beautiful mane! The washing and conditioning I had to do! Disgraceful! Oh, right.

“Yes, she may stay with us, but for goodness sake, please don’t invite any more riffraff. Sapphire was kind enough to offer usage of her Manehattan home to me, and I absolutely will not allow you to turn it into a homeless shelter.”

Fluttershy nodded meekly as a homely looking mare trotted up to them, informing Rarity that they were ready to move her belongings.

“Well, go round them up then. I’ll go call a carriage.” The pegasus nodded, turning away. “You all look simply dreadful, by the way,” Rarity called after her. “What happened?”

Looking back, Fluttershy paused. “Well… You see… Trixie was really drunk when we um… drank, so… we got really drunk too. My head still hurts a little.”

Rarity felt a grin creep across her lips. The last of her luggage was loaded onto a cart. “Of course. Well, I’ll meet you outside then.”

The interior of the station was very lavishly decorated, looking even more beautiful as narrow streaks of sunlight slowly cut through the shadows that draped the walls. Slowly, she followed the attendant across the platform, crowding into an elevator with her luggage. The elevator ascended and opened up to a fairly crowded floor, but her view of the ceiling and the orange and purple sky beyond were completely unobstructed. She was almost hesitant to leave the soft commotion and open space of the concourse, following the attendant to the front door. Rarity spotted Fluttershy and Trixie in the crowd behind her, recognizing Mahara by association with the other two.

She stepped outside to find the first rays of morning were washing over the city, smiling as she looked up and down the street. A carriage pulled up to the curb as Rarity continued to follow.

Canterlot may be more sophisticated, she idly mused, but I must give credit where credit is due; there is something very charming about this city.

Glancing back, she found that they had caught up, Trixie in the lead, followed by Mahara, with Fluttershy stumbling along in the rear, eyes squeezed shut. While Trixie looked less than pleased to be at Rarity’s whim, she had stopped glaring at the fashionable unicorn, favoring a scowl. Fluttershy, on the other hoof, kept bumping into Mahara from behind, which Mahara seemed to find absolutely hilarious judging by his laughter.

Or is it her laughter. Rarity groaned quietly as she realized that she had been identifying Mahara as a he, and at the same time, she questioned if that was even inappropriate given the context.

Fluttershy tried to take another step, nearly tripping over Mahara’s hind legs. “A-are we there?”

“Yes, we’re there.” Mahara reached back to nuzzle her. “I know it’s bright, but the sooner you get used to keeping your eyes open in daylight, the less conspicuous you’ll be.”

“Okay, I’ll try…”

Trixie stepped out in front of them, locking eyes with Rarity. “The Great and Powerful Trixie hopes that your lodgings are suitable for a magician of her caliber.” Rarity began to seethe again, and grinning, Trixie climbed into the carriage.

“Ow!” Fluttershy’s eyes snapped shut as she shook her head. “I… I can’t do this right now. I’m sorry.”

Mahara smiled, rubbing the pegasus’ back. “It’s quite alright. We’ll go as slow as you need. Mind the steps now.” Fluttershy shakily ascended into the carriage, guided by Mahara. Rarity followed them as the last of her luggage was strapped down.

The ride to the apartment was to be fairly brief, considering that traffic was light so early in the morning. Fluttershy made several more attempts to open her eyes while in transit, each of them ending with flinching and whimpering. Trixie sat beside Rarity, occasionally making eye contact, quickly looking away afterwards. Rarity tried to distract herself from the awkward semi-silence by watching the passing buildings.

These pedestrians, she thought, could stand to be more fashionable. Perhaps I’ll design some morning attire? Or maybe a stylish jogging piece? Or something that says ‘I may just be walking my dog but that doesn’t mean I can’t be chic.’

Smiling, Rarity returned her attention to her fellow passengers, finding Mahara’s mouth opened toward Trixie, her tongue sliding over her fangs.

The magician nodded. “I see…”

“What are-”

“Not that the Great and Powerful Trixie is worried about being shown up again, but… are all of your friends experts in transformation magic?” Mahara closed her mouth into a wide grin, while Fluttershy looked swiftly to the floor. “I had no idea that non-unicorns could even do this sort of thing. I’m… Quite frankly, I’m impressed. Just a little.”

“Experts in transformation magic?” Mahara’s grin vanished as Rarity gave her a flat stare. “And what else, pray tell, did our mutual friend divulge to the Great and Powerful Trixie before I arrived?”

Trixie donned a pleasant smile, evidently missing the hint of sarcasm in Rarity’s voice. “Well, if I’m correctly remembering what Fluttershy told me last night, they need blood to survive. I thought that was kind of strange, and probably a cover up for a fetish, but I didn’t really think about it too much until this morning when I sobered up. After I watched Mahara do her shape shifting trick in the train station, she told me that their magic is replenished by drinking blood.” Mahara nodded, and Trixie looked between the three of them as she continued.

“From the sound of things, instead of using a horn as a focal point, they’re using their blood, harnessing their very life force as a form of magic.” She leaned back in her chair, brows arched. “Pretty intense stuff, but if you ask me, it’s a small price to pay for that kind of power. And I mean, there’s not a huge risk since they can probably just switch it off when they don’t need it, right?”

“Well…” Mahara glanced out the window, tapping a forehoof against the frame. “There’s a lot more to it than that…”

“Oh?” Trixie leaned forward, lips curled into a sly grin. “The Great and Powerful Trixie is eager to learn your secrets! Well, not desperately eager, but, you know.”

“I um…” Everyone in the carriage turned toward Fluttershy as she spoke up, the timid pegasus briefly attempting to hide her face behind her forehooves. “I think that Mahara should explain this a bit more thoroughly when we arrive… if that’s okay with her.”

Fluttershy smiled as she received a unanimous nod in agreement.

\/ /\ /\ \/

Oh, that’s weird. Two? Wait! That’s right, I just forgot about Angel! Pinkie Pie yawned softly as she looked to the foot of her bed, an animal curled up on either side of her. No wonder Fluttershy has so many fuzzy friends; they make for great hoof warmers while you’re sleeping! Don’t you wish you were warm blooded, Gummy? It’s okay, I’m plenty warm enough for the both of us! Oh, you don’t have to wake up yet Angel, I’m just gonna go see what everypony is up to before I make plans for today.

Without so much as nudging either of them, she slipped out of bed, hopping toward the bathroom. She said good morning to her toothbrush and her comb, and then made her way to the window over her tub. A rope ladder dangled just above the frame. Pinkie doubled back when she realized that she had forgotten her handy telescope. A minute later, telescope slung around her neck by a strap, she had climbed to the highest point of Sugarcube Corner.

Now let’s see… Pinkie extended the telescope, aiming it at the library. Twilight is still fast asleep. Good for her, she’s been waaaay too stressed out lately! Oh, Celestia is out on the balcony for sunrise. A few guards doing morning stretches. Spike eating a bowl of gems. Nothing interesting here… She swung around toward Carousel Boutique, only to remember that Rarity wasn’t there. Looks like Sweetie Belle is still hanging around though. Well, she’s old enough I guess. And I’m sure she can do a better job taking care of Opal than I can! I’ll check in on them later just to make sure. Oh! I should probably make sure Fluttershy’s animals are getting taken care of! Applejack sure can’t do it since…

Pinkie aimed the telescope at the clinic, finding Applejack in Rainbow Dash’s forelegs, fluttering several noses off the ground. Hey, that’s Big Macintosh and Applebloom, too! Wait, what’s wrong with Applebloom? Oh… It looks like she’s been crying a whole bunch… Well, that’s one surprise party on the list of things to do then. Rainbow Dash gave a nod before zipping off toward the edge of town with Applejack. And there they go. Looks like they’re heading out to the farm. One surprise party and one get well party. Wow, I feel like I just did that a few days ago! Wait, I did just do that a few days ago! Hold on, where are Applebloom and Big Macintosh going? Oh jeeze, who’s eye is that?!

“Are you spying on ponies without me? What gives?”

Oh! Pinkie opened her other eye, finding herself face to face with a blond maned, grey coated pegasus.

“Hi Ditzy!”

“Hellooo!”

Pinkie smiled, folding up her telescope. “Are you taking a break?”

“You could say that. There’s not a whole lot of mail to deliver today, and, you know, a hydra just tore through town yesterday. Rain nor sleet nor snow, though, so here I am.” Ditzy touched down beside Pinkie, poking around in her mail bag. “Either way, the lack of postage is kinda bad news for me. I have to make extra sure that I’m putting these where they’re supposed to go. Boss lady wasn’t too thrilled about the complaints she got last month.”

“I’m sure you’ll do just fine!”

“You always say that.” Ditzy smiled, shaking her head. “So what’s on the agenda, fearless leader?”

Pinkie waved her hoof to the two distant ponies moving toward the library. “A surprise party for Applebloom and a get well party for Applejack.”

“Didn’t you just-”

“Yeah I know! It feels like forever ago though.” She grinned, waggling her brows. “Weird, huh?”

Ditzy shrugged. “A little.” A few moments of silence passed before she continued, her smile fading. “I guess the funeral services for Aloe, Davenport and Coconut are all going to be at the same place and time, so that ponies that were friends with more than one of them don’t have to go to more than one wake, or something. I’m going to stop in and pay my respects, figured I’d let you know in case you wanted to do the same.”

“Yeah…” Pinkie tapped the roof, glancing to the side. “I’ll be there, thanks for the heads up.”

“Anyway, are you gonna help out with the Fluttershy search and rescue today?”

“Search and rescue?!” Pinkie’s jaw hung slack.

“Yeah, I heard that the monster that killed the hydra stole her up and now nopony knows where she is!” Ditzy looked down at her hooves. “I sure hope she’s alright…”

“She’s just fine!” The blond pegasus blinked, taking a step back at Pinkie’s outburst. “I mean, I’m sure she’s just fine. I met Mahara myself, and I doubt Fluttershy is in any danger. I hope not at least…”

“I also heard that Fluttershy may have turned into a monster herself… Isn’t that awful?”

“Yeah, I heard that too… Can’t believe everything you hear, though!” She forced herself to laugh, convincingly enough that Ditzy joined in.

“Ah, yeah, you’re probably right. Still, we should at least make sure she’s safe. She’s… She’s been through a lot.”

Yeah, but she never opened up to me, even after I spent so much time trying to help her… Hmm? Oh, gosh, did I say that out loud? “No, it’s nothing!” Pinkie donned a wide grin, avoiding eye contact. “Hey, let’s talk about something else!”

“Okay… Well, my pen pal hasn’t written back to me yet, but I’ve got a good feeling I’ll hear from him soon!” The pegasus smiled, briefly closing her eyes. “He always takes a little while to get back to me, but he always does get back to me.”

You sound like you’ve got something on your mind too! Oh, you have to get back to work? That’s okay, I’ll see you later! Thanks, good luck to you too! Search and rescue… Hmph! Where were we? Pinkie unfolded her telescope, tracing the street until she found Big Macintosh and his youngest sister. The library, huh? The Apple family never struck me as the book readin’ type… Not there for books, then… Talking to the guards… Oh, maybe they’re there for Celestia! On the balcony, Celestia turned toward the door, disappearing into the library, reappearing before Macintosh and Applebloom moments later. I knew it! Aw man, but what are they saying?! Gotta get closer!

Pinkie slipped over the side of the roof, swinging back into her bathroom by the rope ladder, sliding right through her room on her bathroom rug. Angel blinked as she waved in passing. Once she cleared the doorway, she tore down the stairs.

Mr. Cake was apparently on his way up to meet her. “Pinkie, I’m sorry about-”

“It’s fine! I don’t have time to talk though!” She pushed past him, waving to a surprised looking Mrs. Cake as she flung the front door open. “Gotta go help my friends!” She slammed the door behind her, galloping down the street toward the library.

Ditzy grinned as Pinkie sped toward her. “We meet again! Come to be my assistant?” She thumped a mailbox with her forehoof.

Pinkie vaulted over the postal mare. “Can’t right now! Gotta keep a promise maybe!”

“Oh! Alright, catch you later!”

She skidded to a halt just shy of the clearing around the library, situating herself in an alley behind a collection of trash cans. The frizzy maned mare closed her eyes and wiggled her ears, trying to listen in. Big Macintosh’s voice carried strongly.

“…an Mahara kept tryin’ to convince me that the mare Ah shot in the flank was Fluttershy, but Ah figured it was jus’ another trick. Ah was gonna shoot her too, cause she looked like she was gonna try somethin’, but she paralyzed me with some kinda stare, told Fluttershy to git goin’. An… Then she told me she was sorry fer what she did to me an’ Applebloom. Told me Fluttershy was showing her that she was wrong about things, that she wished she coulda’ done things differently, and that she admired mah bravery. Wanted me to tell Zecora that the punishment didn’ fit the crime, an’ she was sorry ‘bout that too.”

Big Macintosh paused for several moments. “Last thing she said, ‘fore takin’ mah shotgun ‘an emptyin’ the other barrel into a tree… She said that it ain’t Fluttershy’s fault, an’ that she don’t want you to do to Fluttershy what ya did to her. She said she wants you ta give her a chance to make this right, fer Fluttershy’s sake. An’ that was it. She pushed me over an’ galloped off after that.”

Celestia’s voice was unmistakable, as was the compassion in her words. “You have my utmost gratitude for confiding in me, and I’m sorry that you’ve been asked to play messenger. Will you and Applebloom be alright?”

“Eeyup. Well, Ah’m doin’ alright, but li’l sis’ here is a li’l blue ‘bout the whole thing. She an’ Ah are gonna have a chat when we get home.”

“Can ya…” Applebloom piped up, stopping short. “Can ya let Zecora know that Ah hope she’s okay? Ah wanna see her later iff’n she’s feelin’ up fer it.”

“Of course.” Pinkie could practically feel the radiance of Celestia’s smile. “Before you depart, however, I have a question of my own. Did you see which way they were heading?”

“Looked to me like they were makin’ fer the Everfree forest. Ah guess if yer gonna look fer her, that would be the best place to start.”

“Again, thank you both. You’ve done a great service to all of Equestria this morning.”

“Mah pleasure, princess.”

Okay, nopony is going to Manehattan yet! That’s good! I better keep a close eye on everyone though, juuust in case. Should probably go with them when they go on their little wild pegasus chase too. Oh! Pinkie looked up at the stallion standing over her, the confusion in his expression making her giggle.

Sorry! I’ll get out of your way!

\/ /\ /\ \/

The walk back to Sweet Apple Acres was a quiet one, just like the walk to Ponyville. Occasionally, Big Macintosh would make eye contact with his younger sister, or clear his throat, but Applebloom seemed completely distant otherwise. Considering that they were about to discuss what had happened between her and Mahara, however, her silence wasn’t entirely unexpected. The sun continued its climb, a little more than an hour shy of noon by the time the farmhouse came into view. The sky had remained mostly clear, a light breeze swaying leafy branches and carrying the smell of hay. Granny Smith nodded from her rocking chair as they passed.

All the way up to Applebloom’s room, the stairs and floorboards creaked under hoof. Not surprisingly, the door to Applejack’s room was closed, a softly muffled conversation unfolding within.

“Yer not mad at me, are ya?” Applebloom asked at last, glancing back at her brother as she stood in her doorway.

Big Macintosh shook his head. “Ah ain’t mad. Ah promise. Ah just want ya to tell me what happened.”

She gave a skittish nod, looking down at the floor as she slowly made her way to her bed. Macintosh followed, trying to mentally prepare himself for what she might tell him. From what he had overheard running up to Applebloom’s room the previous evening, he already had vague ideas of what she had in store for him.

An’ here Ah was hopin’ AJ would be the one to tell her ‘bout the birds an’ the bees… He sat down beside her, springs groaning under the unfamiliar weight of the stallion. Can’t expect AJ to talk to her now, though. Poor sis… Shouldn’t have let her go through with it…

Applebloom mumbled something, bringing him back to reality. She quickly looked down at the floor, taking a deep breath. “Okay... A few nights ago, a girl came ta visit me. Right away, Ah knew she was different from anypony Ah had met before, but… Ah weren’t scared of her. Ah looked inta her eyes, an’ Ah saw a filly that was sad, an’ lonely, an’ afraid. She told me her name was Seafare. Ah know her real name is Mahara now, but…”

There was a moment of eye contact, Macintosh silently nodding encouragement.

“After Ah found out, Ah kept hopin’ that maybe Seafare was the real her, an’ Mahara was jus’ a disguise. When Ah was with her the first night, playin’ in the orchard, under the stars… Ah ain’t never felt like that ‘bout another pony before… ‘specially not a mare. It was somethin’ special, an’ Ah never wanted it ta stop.”

The filly shifted, looking up at her brother a bit more frequently. “The second time Ah was with her, Scootaloo was there too, an’ somethin’ else happened that Ah never felt before. When Seafare was bitin’ Scootaloo, Ah… Ah felt like Ah weren’t special ta her anymore.”

She rubbed her forehooves together, lips pursing.

“Ah was jealous, Ah guess… Ah got real mad, an’…” She paused, ears lowering slightly. “Things got outta hoof… Ah saw Seafare the next day as Mahara, an’ Ah wanted ta talk ta her more than anything, ask her if she still had feelin’s fer me… But Ah wasn’t strong enough. Ah could barely put the words together. When Ah saw her later, well… Ah jus’ made things worse when Ah tried ta defend her. Ah was afraid Ah might never see her again, after that…”

As Big Macintosh shifted his weight to get more comfortable, Applebloom stopped, brow furrowed as she looked up at him. “Sorry, keep goin’.”

“When she came here last night, Ah… Ah felt like my heart might up an’ stop. Ah was so happy ta see her, an’ Ah thought maybe she had come ta take me with her, but… Fluttershy was with her, an’ suddenly everythin’ kinda clicked.” The filly closed her eyes, swallowing. Ah don’t wanna cry anymore, she had told him that morning. “Ah thought then that it was ‘cause Ah was too young fer her, even though she came ta me as a filly, but now… Ah see that Ah made it all up in mah head. It was jus’ me the whole time, tryin’ ta hold onto somethin’ that weren’t real. She didn’t feel the same way ‘bout me. Ah don’t think she ever did…”

A soft whimper escaped her throat as she began to sniffle, head bobbing in fits. Macintosh reached out for her, wrapping a foreleg around her, holding her close as she began to spill tears. “Yer gonna be okay,” he whispered. “Yer not gonna feel this way forever.”

“But it ain’t fair!” She thrashed, half bucking the mattress with her hind leg. “Why would she promise ta take me with her if she was just gonna be with that fat daisy picker, huh?! Ah hate her! Ah hate ‘em both!” She kicked again and again until Macintosh started to pat her back.

“Now jus’ calm down, Applebloom. Ah know yer upset but wreckin’ yer bed ain’t gonna make things right.” The fight gradually left Applebloom, until she was quietly sobbing into his side. He heaved a gentle sigh. “An’ Ah know it ain’t fair. Believe me. Ah don’t think Ah know a single pony that ain’t sat where yer sittin’ now at some point or another… figuratively, o’ course.”

The filly turned up toward him, a few tears still streaming through her fur. Macintosh smiled, his forehoof sliding up to the back of her head. “One summer, when Ah was a colt not much older than you, Ah met a girl that Ah thought Ah could spend all of forever with. We played out in the fields every day when we were done with our chores, and sometimes we’d even sneak out to our tree-house an’ spend all night tellin’ stories an’ catchin’ fireflies. Ah thought she was really somethin’ special.”

His smile faded, gazing out the window. “Then one day round the start of fall, she weren’t where we normally met. She weren’t at the tree-house neither. When I went to her family’s farm… There was another colt there, bigger than me. She told me that he was her buckfriend, an’ that he had always been her buckfriend. That he was just away with his family to help with harvest. One thing lead to another and… Ah ended up gettin’ throttled by that colt.

“Mah point is, Ah know yer upset, but ya gotta let go of yer anger.” He turned back to Applebloom, forehoof resting on her shoulder. “Ain’t gonna hurt nopony more than yerself if ya dwell in it. Ah ain’t tellin’ ya that it ain’t gonna hurt fer a while, but yer gonna move on, an’ yer gonna find someone that loves you in return.”

Applebloom sniffled a bit more, catching her breath, but she managed a nod. “Now Ah’m gonna go see how AJ is doing, but if ya need to talk a little more, Ah’ll be here.”

The mattress let out another squeal as he slipped over the side, heading for the door. “Mac?” she called after him. The stallion glanced back, head tilted. “Thank you. Ah… Well Ah don’t feel great, but…”

“Don’t gotta thank me, sis.” Big Macintosh smiled, nodding to her before stepping out into the hallway. To his surprise, he found himself nose to nose with Rainbow Dash. “Is uh… ‘s everythin’ alright?”

The winged mare snorted, lifting off the floor and fluttering down the hall, drifting over the stairs. Now what was that all about? Applejack’s door was ajar. Taking a deep breath, he entered her room.

\/ /\ /\ \/

Somewhere between coming off the path to the Apple family’s farm and seeing the farmhouse, Scootaloo had completely lost her nerve. After spending all night and most of the morning working up the courage to confront Rainbow Dash and tell her what she had done, the actuality of it all completely stole her will to continue. When she had seen Applebloom and Big Macintosh leaving town, for a good few minutes, she wanted to ask if she could go with them, and possibly discuss her intentions on the way. Ultimately, she decided that might have been taking a step too far. The Apple family had been just about at the epicenter of the recent crisis afflicting Ponyville, and Scootaloo was already having enough trouble just trying to bring herself to bother Dash.

The winged filly stopped short when she noticed Granny Smith on the front porch. Noon had come and gone in the time it took her to get herself together and actually make the trip, and the old mare gazed pleasantly over the orchard before her. What little she could see of it, anyway. Scootaloo took a deep breath, then another, shaking herself off.

Okay… She pranced in place, feathers ruffled with anxiety. You can do this. You’re not even talking to Rainbow Dash yet. You’re just gonna ask Granny Smith if she’s seen her. Real simple.

The old mare turned toward her when she was within speaking distance, smiling.

“Well hello there dearie. Come to see Applebloom?”

“I uh…” She glanced down, sliding her forehoof through the dirt. “Not exactly.” Keep it together Scoots, this is important! The filly straightened up, taking another deep breath. “I’m… I’m here to see Rainbow Dash. Do you know where she is?”

“Oh, she’s out in the barn I think. Probably had an argument with my granddaughter, the poor dear.” Granny Smith let out a dry laugh. “She’s got her work cut out for her if she’s going to try and date Applejack. We Apples can be stubborn as mules sometimes.”

Scootaloo widened her eyes, ears perked. “You… you know?”

“Dearie, I knew from the first time Rainbow Dash spent the night. I may be old, but I know a pair of lovers when I see one.” She leaned forward, grinning. “Now you run along. I’m sure she could use some cheering up.”

Nodding, Scootaloo turned toward the barn, approaching slowly; as though the ground might erupt beneath her should she move too swiftly. One of the enormous doors had been flung open. She peered around the one left closed, her gaze sweeping over the interior. Sunlight filtered through cracks in the woodwork, slowly drifting dust illuminated in slender columns. The smell of hay was overpowering, an occasional creaking of wood or squeaking from the weathervane on the roof the only sounds to penetrate the stillness of the room.

After several moments of letting her gaze wander, she found Dash seated in the rafters. The older pegasus failed to notice her, even as she took several cautious steps into the barn. Dash had a bottle between her forehooves, occasionally tilting it back and swallowing several gulps in a row. She wore a scowl, nostrils flaring with the occasional snort. Scootaloo had only the vaguest of notions as to what could be in that bottle, but everything about the situation filled her with dread. She nearly turned back, intent on trying again later, but she paused in thought.

What would Rainbow Dash do if she were in my situation? Would she give up because she felt afraid? Scootaloo shook her head. No she wouldn’t. She would do what she had to do.

“Rainbow Dash, I-” The cyan mare twitched, shooting a glare down at her. “Sorry, I… I didn’t mean to startle you. I just… I really need to talk to you.”

“Do you know what it’s like to fall short?” There was something different about Dash’s voice. She dropped the bottle into the pile of hay below, slowly rolling off her haunches. “Do you know what it’s like when your best just isn’t good enough, and someone else has to deal with the consequences?”

“Rainbow Dash, what are you saying?” Scootaloo took a few steps closer, trying to smile. “Everypony thinks you’re awesome! Your best is better than pretty much everyone else’s!”

“Yeah, great. I’m awesome. You know what that amounts to when I couldn’t keep the one pony I love, more than anything else, out of harm’s way?” She dropped off the rafters, landing heavily on the hay scattered floor. “A big fucking zero. When it really, really counted, when I absolutely could not fuck up because Applejack was depending on me to pull her out, I just wasn’t good enough.” Dash took a step toward her, swaying. “If that thing hadn’t bitten through her leg… thrown her free…”

A stifled noise welled up in her throat as she took another step, stumbling. When she looked up, Scootaloo could see the tears rolling from the corners of her eyes. “She almost died yesterday! Because of me!”

“She’s alive because of you, Rainbow Dash!” Scootaloo advanced, trembling but determined. “If you hadn’t brought her to Redheart as fast as you did-”

“Her whole life is fucking ruined now! This farm was everything to her! She can’t work with one hind leg!” Dash was just a few noses from her now, visibly shaking. “And it’s- All! My! Fault!”

“It’s not your fault, Rainbow! You did everything you could! It’s…” Scootaloo swallowed, a wave of nausea rolling over her. Don’t you dare chicken out! Say it! “It’s my fault, not yours!”

Dash’s jaw went slack, the cyan mare leaning forward. “What.”

“It’s true! The only reason the hydra even came to Ponyville is because I got a few ponies together, and we went looking for Mahara in the Everfree forest. We got lost, and we ended up in Froggy Bottom Bog, and a hydra started chasing us…” Scootaloo took a deep breath, staring Dash in the eyes. “I told everypony to split up, and the hydra ended up chasing Twist, so we were able to get away, but then it followed her home. It’s not your fault, Rainbow Dash. The hydra only attacked because of me. I’m sorry.”

Dash went completely still, unblinking. “What.”

“The hydra attack was my fault. I’m sor-”

“Sorry?! You’re sorry?!” The heat of Dash’s breath swept over her face as the raging mare loomed over her. “Three ponies died today because of that monster! More than that are injured, Ponyville is a fucking mess, and… you’re SORRY?!”

“Yes! I’m sorry! I... I know I made a mistake, but there has to be something I can do to make this right!”

“You can’t fix this! Applejack’s life is… Applejack is…” Dash turned away, as though she were wincing. “You… You need to leave, right now.”

“Just let me try! Something! Anything! Plea-”

For several seconds, Scootaloo forgot where she was. The barn spun around her, blurred with swirling colors. She felt hay against the side of her face, and the room continued to spin. A dull pressure mounted in her left cheek, warmth spreading through the inside of her mouth, rolling over her tongue. The pressure quickly became pain. Scootaloo realized she was tasting blood. Her eyes watered, rolling frantically, coming to a stop on Rainbow Dash. The cyan mare staggered back, wearing an expression of horror.

“Oh… No… No. Scootaloo, I’m sorry. I’m so sorry!” She fell forward, lifting the filly into her forelegs. “Say something! Please!”

Her memory resurfaced, playing back the lost moment. A look of unrivaled fury darkening Rainbow’s complexion. A quick jerk of the forehoof, the back of it crashing against the left side of her face. There were no words to describe the feeling in the pit of Scootaloo’s stomach. She wrenched herself free of her idol’s embrace, watching her blood spatter against the floor as she staggered toward the exit. Dash called out after her. Pleading. Begging.

She didn’t care.

The rush of sunlight blinded her, but she kept going, running, past the front porch, ignoring the concerned shouts of Applebloom and Granny Smith. The world was next to mute, save for the pounding in her temples and the frenzied beat of her heart. She ran until her body refused to go another step, collapsing at the foot of a tree. Scootaloo hadn’t been paying attention to her direction, but she was fairly certain that she was clear of the orchard. Looking around, through the stinging salt water in her eyes, she could see a few houses over the next hill. Her cheek continued to throb, but the blood loss had slowed considerably. She spat reddish pink at the base of the tree, her tongue gingerly tracing the left side of her mouth.

“Hey…” Scootaloo whipped around. Pinkie Pie stood several paces away, ears splayed and head low. “Are you alright there? Do you need to talk maybe?”

Scootaloo made several attempts to reply, wanting to tell her no, or go away, but the words just wouldn’t come. Pinkie edged closer, cautious, like she had been earlier. There was no rage in the filly, just a feeling that made her want to curl up and die. Pinkie gently settled beside her, brow heavy with concern.

“How about just a hug, then?” She spread her forelegs, wearing a delicate smile.

Whimpering, Scootaloo threw her forelegs around her, burying her face in Pinkie’s shoulder as she shuddered and gasped.

“You’re gonna be okay, Scootaloo.” Pinkie’s voice was little more than a whisper.

The feel of forehooves sliding over her back was soothing. She slipped a little lower, an ear to Pinkie’s breast, listening to the steady beat of her heart. There was something so natural, so familiar about it all, even if she had never hugged Pinkie before. She felt safe.

“Everything is gonna be a-okay.”

In that warm, gentle embrace, she knew Pinkie Pie was right.

\/ /\ /\ \/

Zecora had been hesitant to attend the funeral service, but she went along at Twilight’s insistence. She was still on a leash, tethered to the guards on either side of her, both watching her closely. The attendees didn’t seem to pay her much attention, much to her relief, and while the ritual was unfamiliar to her, she realized that the lack of bodies made it largely symbolic. The two guards she had slain were sent back to Canterlot almost immediately after the dust had settled, the evening prior. The zebra custom for dealing with the dead centered around cremation and the scattering of ashes, but to her understanding, ponies buried the remains of their loved ones. The thought of allowing them to be picked at by worms and insects made her shudder.

The gathering for the service had consisted of nearly the entire town, and quite a few ponies from other parts of Equestria. An hour had passed since the service concluded, however, only a small number of ponies actually volunteered to aid in the search, excluding the guards. Many of the residents of Ponyville were still in shock from the attack, or mourning their loss. Zecora didn’t blame them, and a small part of her was grateful that there would be fewer to witness her in such a state. At the same time, she felt the shame and humiliation were deserved.

Twilight Sparkle and Spike were present, a constant at Celestia’s side, and she could hear Pinkie Pie chattering with her friend, the post mare. The Apples and Rainbow Dash weren’t there, but that was to be expected. Rarity’s absence was not. From Zecora’s understanding, Rarity was close friends with Aloe, but she was nowhere to be seen at the service. Rarity continued to go unaccounted for as they pressed into the Everfree forest, and suspicion was quickly mounting.

Several pegasi swept by overhead, brief flashes of color through gaps in the leaves, the occasional shout breaking the semi-tranquility of the forest. The light of late afternoon gathered in shallow pools through the few breaks in the canopy, but the perpetual gloom of the forest was a source of awkward comfort for the zebra. Mentally, she was haunted by what she had done as a result of her transformation, but physically, she felt no different than she had the day before. Her hearing was sharper, as was her vision, and so far as she could tell, nothing else had been altered. Her thoughts circled around Mahara’s message.

The punishment didn’t fit the crime.

Zecora tried to focus back on the task at hoof, reflecting on the briefing Celestia had given her. She would be able to hear Mahara and Fluttershy’s heartbeats very clearly, according to the princess, and while she could hear the heartbeats of everyone present for the search, nothing stood out in particular. The previous evening, however, she had heard something unusual within Carousel Boutique. A steady pounding in stereo. She had dismissed it as her imagination at the time, but she felt more and more as though ignoring it had been a mistake. In her mind, Rarity’s involvement in the situation was becoming increasingly likely.

A familiar voice brought her back to reality.

“Zecora?”

The zebra looked to her left, not quite face to face with Pinkie Pie. The guard on the corresponding side eyed Pinkie anxiously. “If you intend to spread your cheer, you’ll find no luck with me, I fear.”

“No, I know that, I just wanted to know if you’re doing okay.” Pinkie moved a few noses closer, a lack of spring in her step. “I shouldn’t have left you alone at Fluttershy’s cabin like that. I know you were just trying to keep me safe, and I’m really thankful and all, but I also know I coulda helped you and I feel like this is kinda my fault… I wanted to tell you that I’m sorry.”

“You have not yourself to blame… but I thank you just the same.”

Pinkie nodded, trying to force a gentle smile. “Are you okay, though?”

“These hooves still belong to me, that much I can plainly see, and my mind remains sane and sound, despite the rage in which I drowned.” Zecora stopped walking, her escort pausing a step after her. “You may think that this sounds strange, but I expected greater change…”

Pinkie tried to take another step closer, but the guard on the right snorted, stomping his hoof. The guard on the left shook her head, giving Zecora an almost apologetic glance. Pinkie’s smile faded, but Zecora held up her hoof. “You’ve done more than enough, Pinkie Pie. I can’t thank you enough for giving a try.”

“… and Sweetie Belle said that she hasn’t seen Rarity since last night…” The distress in Twilight’s voice caught her attention. “You don’t really think that she… Why is this happening? I feel like I don’t know who to trust anymore!”

Zecora swiveled an ear toward the conversation as Pinkie leaned in their direction.

“Far be it of me to tell you to lose faith in your friends, but we have considerable proof now that Fluttershy has become like Mahara, and…” Celestia paused for several moments. “I find Rarity’s disappearance troubling, to say the least.”

“I know… Just… I can’t… I don’t want to believe that she would willingly betray you like this! Either of them!” A stomp carried through the air, her voice cracking. “They’re good ponies! They’re my friends!”

Pinkie eagerly nodded along, even though she wasn’t a part of the conversation.

“Yeah! I mean, uh… Princess?” Spike, who had been unusually quiet the whole time, finally voiced his concerns. “You don’t really think that Lady Rarity would do something bad on purpose, do you? Maybe she was tricked! Or maybe Mahara ponynapped her!”

“Sometimes, it isn’t until we’re threatened that we show the world who we really are. I know that you’re both upset, but understand that if Rarity has decided to help Fluttershy, it’s because she fears for her friend. She is not going against my wishes just to spite me.”

“But you’re trying to protect us!” Twilight stomped again, snorting quietly. “You’re trying to keep us all safe! Why would either of them help Mahara if they know that?”

“Do you think they’ll see it that way?” Celestia replied sadly. “A necessary evil is still an evil, regardless of necessity.”

Pinkie pranced in place as her tail suddenly jolted, as though hit with a bolt of lightning, and a third voice interrupted their conversation. “Did ya’ll say you were lookin’ fer Rarity?”

“Not Hayseed…” she heard Pinkie groan.

Twilight started to say something, but she was immediately cut off. “Cause when Ah came here this mornin’ fer tha funeral, Ah saw her pokin’ round the train station! Heard her buyin’ a one way ticket ta Canterlot!”

The guards on either side of Zecora perked up as she turned toward Celestia and Twilight, and a very homely looking stallion she was unfamiliar with. Looking directly at the princess made her eyes hurt. As she glanced away, she saw Pinkie looking around anxiously. The zebra arched a brow, but continued to listen.

“Canterlot?” Celestia lowered her head, looking the stallion in the eyes. “You’re certain?”

He nodded excitedly. “Mmhmm! Ah know Miss Rarity’s voice when Ah hear it! An’ Ah heard it clear as a bell!”

“Canterlot?” Twilight echoed. “Why would she go to Canterlot? I know her clients are important to her, but…”

Pinkie pulled ahead of them, covering the ground between Zecora and Twilight in several bouncing strides. The unicorn cocked a brow at the approaching earth pony, leaning back as Pinkie got right in her face.

“Okay, don’t be mad at me, because Rarity made me Pinkie-promise not to tell anypony, but she said she had to go to Canterlot to meet with someone,” Twilight’s eyes widened, Celestia lifted her head, looking off into the distance, “and she didn’t say who, but she said ‘them’ and ‘they’ a few times so she’s meeting more than one pony there and she said she was leaving really really early in the morning so that nopony would know where she was going and…”

Twilight leaned closer, the princess glancing back down at her. “That’s all I know! I’m so sorry that I didn’t say anything sooner, but I was hoping maybe it was something else and she just really really needed to get to Canterlot!”

“Mahara and Fluttershy are in Canterlot then…” Celestia’s horn flashed brightly, shooting a single, massive spark high into the air. Within a minute, all the guards had reconvened, falling into rank and standing at attention.

“If what we’ve just learned is accurate, our primary and secondary objectives have made their way to our capital. If we act swiftly, it may be possible to apprehend them before there is any further bloodshed or infection. Additionally, a unicorn by the name of Rarity, bearer of the Element of Generosity, is to be detained for questioning should the opportunity present itself.”

The princess had begun to pace in front of her guards, wings fully extended. They stood motionless, eyes forward. “I doubt I need to remind you of the danger our primary and secondary objectives present, but I will say it again for clarity’s sake; you are not, by any means, to engage either of them without heavy or magical support. If possible, I would prefer that I be alerted or present before any action is taken. However, I will not force any of you to risk your lives, so I present you with an ultimatum. Those of you who wish to aid in the capture of the threats to our kingdom, you are more than welcome to accompany me back to Canterlot.

“But those of you who would rather sit this one out, there is no shame in knowing your limits. On the contrary, I ask that those of you who would stay behind to help the citizens of Ponyville with reconstruction. You will be as much a service to your fellow ponies by aiding them when they are in need as you would be in protecting them.” She came to a stop in the center, her gaze sweeping over them. “I’ll be returning to Canterlot in the next hour. You have until then to make your decision. That is all.”

The guards nodded not quite in unison, some of them taking to the air, others talking to one another as they walked back toward Ponyville. Celestia turned to Twilight, regarding her as she took a quiet breath.

“Twilight Sparkle, you have already been through so much, so I won’t be disappointed if you desire to wash your hooves of this whole affair,” the ghost of a smile graced the princesses’ lips, “but I would very much appreciate your company in these troubling times.”

Twilight gave a deep nod. “Of course, Celestia.”

Celestia lowered her head, smiling much more brightly at Spike. “And if we have any good news about Rarity, you will be the first to know.” The dragon nodded several times, but there was anxiety in his grin. “And Pinkie Pie, thank you for sharing your information. You may well have saved countless lives.”

Pinkie gave an awkward looking smile, trotting off to rejoin the nearby mail mare. Celestia turned toward Zecora next, her brow furrowing as she maintained a few ponies distance. The zebra figured that the way her flesh had sizzled from Celestia’s touch was probably still fresh in her memory.

“I hate to ask you for your continued assistance, Zecora, but your help will be absolutely essential in apprehending Mahara. Will you rise to the task once again?”

“It is my intent to see this through.” The zebra nodded, forcing herself to look Celestia in the eyes. “My loyalty belongs solely to you.”

“As always, you have my eternal gratitude. Also…” Her horn began to glow, the coupling of Zecora’s collar coming undone, sliding away from her neck. “This will not be necessary, and I’m sorry for making you wear it. I just ask that you remain within sight of at least two guards at all times, and inform us when you feel the need to drink.”

“Of that and more, you have my word.” Zecora put a hoof to her neck, rubbing where the collar had been. “My thanks as well, this is preferred.”

“Yes…” Celestia looked away. “Again, my apologies for-”

“Princess, there’s no need to explain. My last desire is to pass blame.”

Celestia flashed a smile as she turned toward Twilight. “Then I owe you my thanks just the same. We’ll be leaving for Canterlot in an hour. Make whatever preparations you deem necessary for the trip.”

Twilight, Spike and Celestia made their way back toward town, discussing the possibility of Rarity and Fluttershy’s involvement, leaving Zecora with the pair of guards selected to escort her. She started to follow them when she noticed the guard she had come to know as Cloud Burst. In his hooves, he held a roll of stained parchment, occasionally looking up at Pinkie and her friend as they slowly weaved through the trees, in no real hurry to return. His expression struck her as somber, leaning against a tree and completely oblivious to the world around him. He shifted his weight, as if he were about to start trotting, but remained at the tree, retracing his gaze.

As Zecora took a few steps closer, she realized he was looking at Pinkie’s friend, and not Pinkie, and that the parchment was stained with blood. Cloud Burst was holding the same roll of parchment she had seen him taking off of Stormy Skies’ body the night before. A chill ran down her spine as she put the pieces together.

“This shouldn’t be your responsibility…” Cloud Burst looked over his shoulder as she spoke, eyes wide. “It’s my fault; you should leave it to me.”

\/ /\ /\ \/

Apartment was a poor choice of words to describe Sapphire Shores’ Manehattan residence. What greeted Fluttershy at the very top of an ornate high rise was more like the text book definition of a penthouse. The front door opened up into a kitchen, a line of counters and cabinets keeping it divided from an enormous main room. It had been a little too bright for her at first, but once Rarity took care of the blinds, she was able to truly appreciate the lavishly decorated interior.

A crystalline chandelier studded with sapphires hung from the center of the ceiling, an intricately engraved table resting beneath it, flanked by a few chairs and a couch. Numerous works of art hung from the walls. Only a few of them had any resemblance to Sapphire Shores herself, the rest bearing likenesses of famous singers and musicians both past and present. As she was informed by Rarity, the enormous bay windows spanning the opposite wall of the room looked out over Manehattan Harbor, with a good view of the Statue of Harmony. The kitchen itself was no less embellished, finely polished blue marble counter tops and silver trimmed handles shining proudly.

Beyond the kitchen, four smaller rooms branched off to the left and right from the living room. Each of the three bedrooms had its own bathroom, according to Rarity. Also according to Rarity, there was a small recording studio that was absolutely off limits.

Trixie wasted no time in claiming a room on the left for her own, the sound of a running shower and a few puffs of steam drifting out from the room in question. Rarity was still busy telling a reluctant doorman where she wanted her things when Trixie emerged several minutes later, looking much cleaner and happier than she had been when Mahara had picked her out of the crowd. Rarity declared that she would be sleeping in Sapphire’s room, the bedroom on the right, next to the recording studio, and her luggage was deposited accordingly. Fluttershy hadn’t even considered where she wanted to sleep before the choice was made for her, but Mahara just smiled, nuzzled the side of her neck, and together they explored the bedroom they would be sharing.

Thankfully, the bay window of their bedroom would not receive any direct sunlight until sundown. Fluttershy drew the blinds preemptively. Mahara was already inspecting the bed when she turned around, forehooves sinking into the mattress as she bounced forward several times, grinning.

“Is um… Is something wrong with the bed?”

Mahara looked up at her, ears wiggling. When she spoke, it was her normal voice, and not that of a stallion. “Nothing at all, actually. It’s a very lovely bed as far as I can tell.” A shudder ran through her as her form became more feminine, the familiar red of her coat and mane returning.

The bed was easily twice as big as the one she had back at home. She had a hard time trying to mentally fit it in her bedroom. A painting of a landscape hung above it, displaying cloudy snow covered mountain tops and a mostly frosted pine forest below. On either side of the bed, identical night stands with identical lamps. The wall opposite the door led into the bathroom, and also housed a walk in closet. After completing her short tour, Fluttershy rolled onto the bed and heaved a happy sigh.

“Hmm?” Mahara settled in beside her, tail against her leg. Seeing Mahara as herself gave Fluttershy a euphoric feeling, as though she hadn’t seen the red mare in ages.

“I was really afraid for a while… that I would change, in a bad way... and I… Well, I did change, but not in the way I was afraid I would. If anything, I feel like I’ve changed in a good way, really.” She rolled over, brushing Mahara’s mane out of her eyes. “And while I’m still scared about what’s going to happen to us, I’m starting to think that maybe things might just work out after all.” Fluttershy grinned slyly. “As long as you stay out of trouble, that is.”

“Yes yes, of course…”

Mahara returned the grin, inching a bit closer, closing her eyes. Fluttershy followed her lead, a shiver running through her as their lips met.

“Ahem.” The pair jumped, glancing to the door. Rarity leaned against the doorframe with her forelegs crossed. “I do believe a discussion was in order? Or do you need more time to yourselves after your little late night crime spree?”

The discussion itself was fairly one sided. Mahara did most of the talking, and Trixie did most of the listening, her expression changing every so often. She seemed more interested than anything, even after learning that Mahara’s peculiarities were a direct result of Nightmare Moon’s influence. The news that the condition was irreversible and constant seemed to trouble her, however, as did the explanation of Celestia’s desire to remove Mahara, and any being like her, from Equestria.

“So,” Mahara began, looking from Fluttershy to Trixie, “if you want to back out now-”

“The Great and Powerful Trixie politely declines your offer to back out. If providing you with blood allows her to maintain such a wonderful residence, it is a small price to pay for her continued service.” Trixie’s proud grin faded. “Also, I’m kind of on the wrong side of the law now, thanks to that free meal, so it’s not like I have any place to go.”

Rarity groaned. Fluttershy beamed. Mahara seemed amused with the situation in general.

“The Great and Powerful Trixie does have one question, though.”

“Of course.” Mahara nodded, rolling her forehoof. “Ask away, then.”

“Why not go to Luna and try to get amnesty?” Mahara narrowed her eyes as Trixie looked over the three of them. “I mean, she’s a princess, right? She should have some say in the matter.”

“I refuse to go to Luna for anything.” The red mare snorted, looking away. “The last thing I want is her help.”

Fluttershy reached for her, brow knitted. “Mahara, we should at least consider-”

“It’s not an option. Not for me.” The timid pegasus let her hoof drop, at which Mahara’s expression softened. “Sorry… I’d really just rather not get her involved.”

A few minutes of awkward silence fell over the room, during which Fluttershy cuddled up to the red mare, bringing a gentle smile to her lips. The silence concluded as Rarity cleared her throat, rising to her hooves.

“I suppose that concludes the discussion, then. Thank you very much for explaining the situation to Trixie, and to me as well.” Rarity rounded the couch, smiling. “But if I recall, there’s a dress with your name on it that needs some finishing touches, so if you wouldn’t mind…”

“Oh, I uh…” Mahara found herself floating through the air, wrapped in the glow of Rarity’s magic and drifting toward Rarity’s room. “I guess I don’t mind?”

“Good.” Rarity shut the door behind her, opening it up again a moment later. “And Fluttershy, I would just love for you to help me with a bit of dress making later!”

“Oh yes! We haven’t done that in forever!” Fluttershy lowered her head, looking around sheepishly after her outburst.

Rarity smiled before shutting the door again. This time it stayed closed, a muffled conversation reaching her ears from the couch. Trixie didn’t seem to be paying attention, instead admiring the chandelier. The magician blinked as a shout came through the wall, barely muffled at all. Fluttershy didn’t have to guess to figure out that Rarity was reprimanding Mahara for the previous night’s charitable shenanigans. They briefly made eye contact.

“Soooo…” Trixie kicked her hind legs, ears tilting forward, and Fluttershy quickly looked down at the floor; she hadn’t noticed it was a wood floor. A minute passed before Trixie said anything else. “If The Great and Powerful Trixie is going to be staying here, I should probably slip over to my apartment and grab a few things.”

Her gaze went from the floor to Trixie in the blink of an eye. “Your what?”

“My apartment, to grab a few things. My emergency savings, mostly.”

Fluttershy felt her jaw going slack. “Apartment?”

“Yeah.” Trixie slipped off the couch, resting a hoof on the table. “What’s the big deal about that?”

“I thought you were… you looked like… eating pinecones and…” Trixie arched a brow as Fluttershy sputtered. “Destitute! We thought you were destitute!”

“Have you seen my apartment?! I am destitute!”

“You had an empty bottle of whiskey!” Fluttershy leaned forward, pointing and waving her forehoof. “You were filthy and sitting on cardboard and said you ate pinecones!”

“Yeah? So I like to have a little drink every so often! It was way past noon! Where’s the harm in that?! Also I never said I ate pinecones, I said the food I had been eating was like eating pinecones.”

“Okay um… fine…” Fluttershy settled back against the couch, snorting quietly. “But why were you all grimy then?”

“Well, I rake in a little more if I look desperate. The Great and Powerful Trixie is a performer, don’t you know.” She flashed a grin, giving a little bow. Fluttershy was not amused. “Look, I don’t make as much as I did as a traveling performer, so I try to make some extra bits on the side doing street performances. It’s not the most dignified thing in the world, so, you know, it helps to look the part.”

Fluttershy sighed, covering her eyes with her hooves. “Alright… So I shouldn’t have just assumed that you were homeless, but you should have said something sooner.”

“The Great and Powerful Trixie does not look a gift pony in the mouth.” Fluttershy let her hooves slip off her face, glaring out at the magician. “Okay, okay yes, that was underhooved of me. Please don’t kick me out, though. I’m kind of wanted now because of that stunt Mahara pulled, and if I stay at home, the police will probably come looking for me.” Trixie began to prance in place. “I hope they haven’t been through my place already… It’s bad enough that my wagon got trashed…”

“Well, it’s um… it’s not really up to me. You should probably talk to Rarity.”

Trixie shook her head furiously, leaning over the table when her head came to a stop. “No no no no! I’m definitely not telling her. Let her think I’m homeless for all I care.” She sighed, settling back on the floor. “I pretty much am at this point, anyway, since I can’t stay at my apartment and I can’t do my normal performances.”

“I won’t tell her… but…” Fluttershy tilted her head. “Normal performances?”

“Ugh…” Trixie paced in silence for several moments, then turned toward the confused, winged mare. “Okay, you really, really can’t tell Rarity, but I’m…” The magician bit her lip, squeezing her eyes shut. “I do magic shows for foals’ birthdays.” She exhaled, eyes opening. “There, I said it. Laugh if you want, I know it’s pathetic.”

“Well that isn’t-”

“I have to dress up as a clown too,” she added flatly.

“Oh…” Several tense seconds passed before a faint giggle came to Fluttershy’s lips. “Sorry. Well, at least you have a job.”

“Had… If I try to book a gig now, they’ll probably lead me away in chains. Some birthday that would be.” Trixie sighed again, turning toward the door. “Anyway, I’ll be back in a while.”

“O-okay.” Fluttershy nodded, watching as Trixie headed for the door. “We’ll be here, I guess.”

A few minutes passed between the front door closing and Rarity’s door opening. Fluttershy gasped as Mahara stumbled out, a knitting needle stuck in her forehead.

“So I’m going to do a better job of keeping you out of trouble.” The needle tumbled away from her, clattering to the floor. “Also Rarity would like your opinion on the frills she wants to use on my dress.”

Nodding, the timid pegasus crossed the room. Mahara remained by the doorway.

“Hey, where’s Trixie?”

“It’s a funny story, really…” Fluttershy smiled, nuzzling the red mare as she passed. “I’ll tell you later.”

\/ /\ /\ \/

“I knew that even if no one was expecting me to travel, somepony as fabulous as myself would draw attention no matter how dressed down I was.” Rarity grinned, looking over a strip of silk. “Naturally, I had to do a little scheming.”

Fluttershy nodded along as Rarity leaned closer to Mahara. Rather than make an improvised dummy, the red mare had offered herself for use in the design process. The occasional pin pricks didn’t seem to bother her, either. For the most part, Mahara seemed to be looking out the window, admiring the hazy Manehattan skyline as the sun slowly bathed it in orange light, bidding goodnight to the city. Sunset and sunrise, Fluttershy had discovered, were within the range of light her vision could tolerate, though she did have to squint slightly. Looking directly at or around the sun was out of the question, however. She briefly wondered just how the red mare could withstand so much physical strain without any display of anguish.

“I purchased a one way ticket to Canterlot, but I boarded a train to Manehattan. Being the charmer that I am,” she batted her eyelids, “I was able to talk my way into staying on the train when a conductor came around.”

“Very clever,” Mahara mused.

Rarity took a step back, looking over the rough draft of the dress pinned to her volunteer. Fluttershy took a step closer, prepared to give a second opinion. The outfit itself was very sleek, adhering closely to Mahara’s form without giving an impression of restriction. The interior was lined with silk, the exterior a soft, emerald felt. A pair of slim white stripes ran up the sleeves and terminated at the elastic of the waist. A strip of measuring tape symbolized the zipper that would span from the collar to the waistband. Fluttershy tried to imagine wearing it herself, but couldn’t mentally close the zipper.

“It’s um…” The pegasus looked between Mahara and Rarity. “It’s a track suit, right?”

“That’s what I was going for. This is supposed to be a more practical, utilitarian design.” Rarity turned toward her, brow arched. “Or is it too simplistic?”

“The Great and Powerful Trixie thinks it should be more extravagant!” They turned toward the door, where the frosty maned mare was peering in through a crack. “She sees no bells, no whistles! How can one dazzle in such a lackluster piece?”

“No one asked you!” Rarity spat, the door glowing as she slammed it. She gave a satisfied grin at Trixie’s surprised yelp. “Oh… But maybe she’s right. Will my usual clients even buy something this… common?”

“If they’re looking for something to wear when they’re just planning to go out for a jog, or run a few small errands, I don’t see why they wouldn’t want one.” Fluttershy smiled, circling around to Mahara’s front. “You have quite a reputation, after all. I’m sure ponies would buy almost anything you put your name on.”

Rarity frowned. “I’m sure you meant that well, but…”

“Oh, no, I… I didn’t mean-”

“I shouldn’t be designing something to wear, though. It should be the thing to wear.” The pins and needles drifted away from Mahara, various fabrics following soon after. Fluttershy sighed softly, hanging her head. “Speaking of plans and reputations, though, what exactly are you two going to do about your situation?”

“To be honest,” Mahara replied, “my plan was to disappear into the woodwork. I figured we would spend a few days here, then hop on a trading boat or something and travel to another country, maybe even another continent.”

The fashionista arched her brow again. “Your plan hinges on Celestia losing interest?”

“Well when you put it like that…” Mahara stepped off the suitcase they had been using as a pedestal. “There isn’t really any better way to do it, though. The only other options are kind of morbid and violent, so I’m not exactly eager to…”

Sapphire’s bed creaked as Fluttershy settled on the edge, quickly averting her gaze as Mahara and Rarity glanced toward her. “Sorry,” she whispered.

“It’s her or us,” she continued, “and honestly, I’d rather not find out which side would come out of it alive.” Mahara took a few steps closer to the window, standing out against the darkening cityscape. “If we stay out of her way for long enough, show her that we aren’t a threat, then maybe, just maybe, Celestia will let us go.”

“And Zecora?” Rarity calmly inquired.

Fluttershy sat up, ears perked. “Zecora?”

Rarity quickly glanced back and forth between them. Her eyes narrowed into a glare as she centered on Mahara. “You didn’t tell her about Zecora, did you?”

The red mare turned slowly, avoiding Fluttershy’s troubled gaze. “I was going to get around to it…”

“Well, there’s no time like the present.” Rarity stood her ground as Mahara crossed the room again, approaching Fluttershy. “Really, I shouldn’t have to-”

Fluttershy held up a forehoof, lowering her head slightly to look Mahara in the eyes. “The unexpected company you mentioned when we were in Rarity’s boutique…” The red mare sat down beside the bed. “You were talking about Zecora, weren’t you?”

“Yes.”  Mahara held her gaze, unwavering, unblinking.

“She was what I heard outside of the boutique, with Celestia and Twilight?”

“Yes.” She was a statue, her mouth acting as her only moving part, but Fluttershy could sense the anxiety building up beneath the surface.

“Was it an accident, like with me?”

Mahara’s expression cracked for a split second, a tremble running through her.

“No…” she whispered.

“Why, then?” Fluttershy asked quietly, calmly. She felt more concern than anger, and an urge to understand Mahara’s actions. “You know what this is like better than anypony. Why would you do this to her?”

“Before I wrote you that note…” Mahara exhaled slowly, eyes still locked with Fluttershy’s. “Twilight and Zecora came to the cottage, looking for clues or something, and, well, I tried to ward them off. Zecora put up a fight. She wanted to kill me, and it wasn’t the sad, defeated urge to end my life that I saw in Celestia. Zecora saw me as an enemy. A monster to be slain. There was anger, hatred in her eyes. It’s my fault; I took blood from her through trickery…

“But in that moment, she and I were locked in… to the death; I was in no state of mind to let her take my life. I threw her out your window, and I could have let it end there, but I followed her…” She swallowed, but her face remained a mask of tranquility. “I had tried to reason with them, tried to tell them that I didn’t want to come to violence, and she jumped at my throat the first chance she got. She would have finished the job if she could have. I thought, why should I show her the mercy and compassion she would deny me?

“I was so angry… I actually meant to kill her... I meant to strip her away until there was nothing left, but I heard Twilight calling out to me, begging me to reconsider… and I realized that I was being the very monster they expected me to be. It was too late to turn back, so I faced a choice… I could leave her to share in my fate, or finish what I had started and spare her my curse. Part of me felt that letting her experience, first hand, what it’s like to be like me…” She blinked as her eyes began to water.

“Letting her live as the very thing she despised, that would be a fitting punishment…”

“Punishment?” Fluttershy whispered, voice trembling. “You wanted to punish her?”

“Yes!” Mahara cried, her calm completely shattering. She shut her eyes against her tears as she heaved a shuddering gasp. “But how could I even think that?! No one deserves this!” She put her head between her forehooves, violently shaking her head as she whipped back and forth, gasping between sobs.

 “I couldn’t! I couldn’t just kill her like that! I shouldn’t have let my anger get the better of me! I shouldn’t have done this to her! I wish I could take it back!”

Her eyes snapped open, desperately trying to hold Fluttershy’s gaze as she wept.

“I wish I could take everything back!” she screamed, eyes wide and frantic, “I’m sorry! I’m sorry I did this to you!”

Mahara felt like an ember in her embrace, still shaking as Fluttershy cradled her in her forelegs, gently rubbing her back. She could feel her lips moving, whispering I’m sorry into the side of her neck.

“It’s okay,” she whispered. “I forgive you.”

The words had formed on an impulse, but when she stopped to think about them, she found they still held truth. She was undeniably upset with Mahara, but the frustration was a holdover from finding out about what the red mare had done to Zecora and the fact that she hadn’t brought it up on her own. The tears, the regret; there was no doubt in Fluttershy’s mind that they were genuine. Her forgiveness was no less genuine. She closed her eyes, rocking with Mahara as her cries became more tranquil.

A few minutes passed before she joined Fluttershy on the bed, curling up silently beside her. She turned toward the soft sound of hooves, Rarity approaching as though walking on thin ice.

“Shall I retire elsewhere?” the pale unicorn asked. “Not to intrude on this tender moment, but…”

Mahara shook her head. “I didn’t mean to cause a commotion. I’ll let you get back to work.” Fluttershy put a hoof to her back, gently halting her. “Or I could stay and help you both with redesigning, I guess?”

“Yes,” Fluttershy replied, looking to Rarity. “We would like that very much, if that’s okay with you.”

Rarity heaved a quiet sigh and nodded.

\/ /\ /\ \/

I should probably check on Mahara… It’s been a while since she…

Rarity yawned softly, teetering toward the design sheets scattered across Sapphire’s desk. Even though Mahara had stayed at Fluttershy’s insistence, Rarity had done the majority of her rough designs on her own, only occasionally asking the timid pegasus for her opinion. Eventually, after a few quiet hours at her side, Mahara had excused herself and never returned. The longer it felt that she had been gone, the more she began to worry. With no view of a clock and all the light washing back against the night sky, obscuring the moon and the stars, she had completely lost track of time, only adding to her anxiety.

Another low exhale of exhaustion rolled up from the wavering fashionista. Fluttershy circled around the back of Rarity’s chair as she blinked sluggishly, squinting her eyes after the fact.

“Um…” Rarity’s lips parted as Fluttershy spoke, turning toward her with a completely blank expression. “If it’s alright… I’m going to… I’d like to…”

“No need to fuss dear… I was just about to turn in for the evening myself.” Rarity gave another tired series of blinks, putting her forehooves on the desk. “I had wanted to get a bit more done, but,” she interrupted herself with a yawn, “I suppose I can resume in the morning. Goodnight then.”

The unicorn slowly rolled out of her chair, seeming less than half awake as she crossed the room. A beauty mask floated out of one of her many bags, the strap dragging across the floor as it followed her into bed. She slipped it over her eyes and immediately after collapsed, unceremoniously, into bed. Though mildly startled by the display, Fluttershy stifled a giggle, quietly shutting the door behind her.

Beyond the doorway, her gaze was immediately drawn to the soft glow bleeding in through the windows. Someone had opened the curtains, exposing the twinkling Manehattan cityscape just on the other side of the glass. Trixie had vacated the living room hours ago, by her guess. At a glance, she saw that the door of the room Trixie had chosen was closed, but her door remained open. Mahara’s heartbeat sounded faint, but close. She turned her attention back to the window, tilting her head as she realized something seemed out of place.

A tree? She took a few steps closer as she inspected the scenery beyond the window. A pair of trees stood against the ambient light of the city, framing the spot-lit Statue of Harmony as it proudly stood watch over the harbor. How could a tree get all the way…? As she drew nearer to the windows, she noticed that a pair of handles protruded from their center, each belonging to a rectangle finely etched into the glass. But the curtains had concealed more than just a doorway.

Gently, she pushed one of them open, stepping out into the cool night air greeted by the distant smell of smoking chimneys and the nearby smell of flowers. Sapphire Shores didn’t just live in a penthouse; she lived in a penthouse with a very lush garden. A raised wooden walkway slithered through gently swaying grass, dividing the garden in two, with a rainbow of petals woven into the rolling green. In Sapphire’s absence, her garden had grown wild and untamed. Vegetation spilled over onto the cobblestone surrounding the garden, a few sprouts projecting from gaps between the stones of the bordering walkway.

Closer to the middle of the garden, the trees had begun to intertwine above the walkway. She recognized them as oak trees after a moment of examination, admiring the way their branches had twisted together to form a natural archway. A bit of moss had begun to gather on their trunks, spreading up into their branches. Whether it was the result of magic, careful gardening or simply chance, the overall effect brought a smile to her lips. As she gingerly walked down the path, she closed in on the source of the slow, steady pounding. She found Mahara sitting at the foot of the left tree, looking out over a world blanketed with a glowing black sky.

Fluttershy briefly thought back to the moment they met, how she had been ready to just keep walking. Mahara turned toward her, a soft emerald glow radiating against the darkness. The grass felt comfortable against her haunches, smiling fondly as she sat down beside the red mare. A fragile eternity passed as she looked into Mahara’s eyes, the sound of wind in the leaves reminding her of home. She had been ready to just keep walking, but even after everything she had been through, she was glad she didn’t.

“How um… Are you feeling alright? I was worried… when you didn’t come back.”

“I’ve made a lot of mistakes in my life, and the vast majority of them are irreversible. I don’t want you to look at me like that…” Mahara looked down at her forehooves, exhaling softly. “Like a mistake that you can’t fix.”

“I don’t think of you like a mistake. Not at all. In fact…”

Mahara flashed a smile, tilting her head out of the way as the winged mare nuzzled the side of her neck.

“You were right,” Fluttershy whispered, “about what you did that first night. It took me this long to realize that… I shouldn’t be afraid of everything, and I should just enjoy the time I have while I still have it... and… Well, thank you for showing me that.”

Without saying anything, the softness of Mahara’s gaze told her the feeling was mutual. She felt hooves under her wings, gently unfolding them, sliding along her feathers. She closed her eyes. Her wingspan was so enormous now; she imagined she could wrap Mahara in them. Her feathers ruffled, a soft tingle cascading down her back as she felt lips on her skin, as delicate as a butterfly. She felt a hint of sharpness behind the kisses, each nibble bringing her to a soft gasp. Blushing, eyes half open, Fluttershy leaned toward the mare that had brought her to that point, forgetting about the world in a kiss.

Explicit Material

They lay under the tree until the warm glow of sunrise ignited the horizon. With Mahara next to her, Fluttershy greeted the coming day with open eyes, watching everything slowly wash out, until she could only see her hooves, and her immediate surroundings.

“I just remembered, I said I would tell you about Trixie.”

Mahara raised a brow, barely visible in a sea of intense light. “Oh?”

“She um… She tricked us. She’s not actually poor or homeless.” She squinted, leaning closer to the red pony.

“Ha, really now? That’s commendable, I never would have guessed.” The grass rustled softly as Mahara shifted her weight. “Shall we head in and see about breakfast?”

“Can we stay out here for a little while longer?”

She nodded, settling back against Fluttershy, kissing her on the forehead. “Of course.”

\/ /\ /\ \/