Frost sat alone atop a windswept hill overlooking a verdant green valley below. He found it amusing that the places he found himself in were becoming more similar each time he arrived. Lucid dreaming was a technique Frost was very close to mastering. There were seldom instances where he couldn’t manifest the dream once he fell asleep.

Tips from Selene, and especially Luna helped him focus his mind while adrift in slumber. The meditation practice with Aldus was nice bonus as well. Overlooking the valley on either side were a set of snowcapped mountains, of which the cold breeze originated. It filled his nostrils with a cool, invigorating touch.

As much as he wanted to enjoy the moment, there were pressing matters at hand. His conversation with Iris about his state in the washroom concerned him greatly. He didn’t remember anything. He didn’t feel anything from the encounter, no bruises or burns from the apparent cold. He awoke in Iris’ embrace much later, having rested in her merged state several hours after the event. Something was wrong.

He looked around and wondered how this was going to play out. His plans seldom worked out in the end. There were simply too many things happening to account for, so he had taken to adjusting things on the fly. That would be the way of things here, no doubt.

“Melody!” Frost shouted into the valley from atop the hill.

He waited a moment, and was about to shout again when a soft hoof caressed his shoulder.

“My, you don’t have to shout. I’m never that far away, Frosty...” a sweet voice cooed.

Frost turned around and took in the gorgeous pink mare. Only, she wasn’t a mare. In fact, Frost wasn’t sure what she was. Indeed, he had spent the last several hours before turning in trying to figure it out. He was asleep in the archives researching on what Melody could possibly be. Looking at her now, she was almost alien. It was creepy, if one looked at her long enough. At a moment’s glance she seemed to be the perfect mare, everything a stallion could want. In truth, that’s likely how long you’d have before you were under her compulsion. Greedily coveting her embrace, and her voice. However, if you could resist a bit longer, if you could put aside the primal urges she wished to bring out and control, you could see the truth.

A pony with legs too long, and a barrel too small. A neck curved in such a way she resembles a swan more than a pony. Wisps of energy radiating from her shoulders to resemble ethereal wings if she stood still long enough. Eyes so beautiful they seemed more like gemstones than actual organic matter. She was a doll, too perfect to be real, and now Frost was aware.

“Melody, we need to talk,” Frost said.

The mare before him looked unimpressed, “Talk talk talk, you’d think a colt your age would be content just making out with a mare like me. But no, you want to talk.”

Frost raised an eyebrow. He had to admit, she could be amusing at times.

“First, a couple of rules,” Frost began while pacing around her. “One: no compulsion magic. No funny business with the eyes or voice. Got it?”

Melody sat on her haunches and smiled pityingly, “Oh, you... gah I could just cuddle you for days. Alright, Frosty. No funny business.”

“Two: tell the truth when we’re talking, understand?”

Melody shrugged, “I don’t really have to do any of this, you get that right? If I wanted to we’d be enjoying each other much more intimately right about now...”

Frost smirked, “Oh sure, but we’re not. And that’s kinda my point. You’re indulging me this. Why?”

Melody shrugged,”I think you’re the cutest thing alive? It should be pretty obvious by now.”

“Nah,” Frost said with a small shake of his hoof. “I don’t think so. Why did you help me when I was under the control of Salinia?”

Melody paused, her expression changing to something more serious. “Her magic was flawed, rough and unclean. If you’re going to be enthralled in magic, it should at least be better than that.”

“It should be you?” Frost asked.

“Well...” Melody said, turning aside her bashful expression while running a hoof through her long flowing locks “...Yes.”

“You helped me push that pillar up, why?” Frost pressed.

“You would have been in serious danger if I didn’t,” Melody replied. “Oh, and by the way, I didn’t actually help. It was all you, such a mighty stallion.” she finished with a sultry growl.

“Did Ciaran order that?” Frost asked. “I find that to be impossible since she didn’t even know what was happening.”

Melody got up and walked toward Frost, who braced for compulsion magic. “I was to make you feel happy, safe, and secure. Those were my directives.”

“Am I not?” Frost asked. “Why are you still here?”

Melody looked down at the light blue colt and smiled, “Because you need me.”

“Perhaps I do,” Frost said. “Last night I was found almost frozen to death in the washroom. I don’t remember anything, do you know what happened?”

Melody’s expression turned from one of impending joy, to one of apprehension. “Uh, no... I don’t.”

“You don’t?” Frost asked. “But you’re never that far away, you just said so. How could you not have noticed anything?”

Melody fidgeted, “I don’t see everything, Frost. I’m only around when you need me.”

“You’re lying,” Frost said. “Just tell me what happened, please? It’s important. I could have hurt the ponies around me. I don’t want that to happen.”

Melody shook her head and looked away, “You’ll get mad, I don’t want you mad at me.”

“No I won’t,” Frost said. “You can tell me.”

Melody took a deep breath and closed her eyes, “They came for you, when you were resting. You weren’t dreaming yet, you had just entered the dreamscape. I watch when you do it, and it was then that I saw them come.”

“You watch me dream?” Frost asked. “Why? Wait, nevermind. Doesn’t matter. Who came?”

Melody frowned, “I guess I shouldn’t spy, but I was just curious. It wasn’t the first time they came. When Ciaran put you in a trance after practicing with her, she commanded me to watch over you again. The first one entered your dream there, and tried to do something. I don’t know what, since we high tailed it out of there.”

“So you saved me that time, but what happened last night?”

“I didn’t know they were here... they must have snuck in. They found you before I could get there in time. They had you, you were staring at them. I don’t know if they had you under a spell or not. But you weren’t responding to me. I yelled and screamed your name. That you were in danger and to come to me. I even tried to use my powers of persuasion. They opened a portal to some other place. Some place dark, and you were about to follow them through. So I...”

“You what?” Frost asked.

“I... possessed you.” Melody said with a pained whimper.

Frost remained silent and stared at her.

Melody shook her head, “That’s why you can’t remember anything. I didn’t know what else to do, I had to.”

“You... possessed me?” Frost asked. A pained expression on his face.

“Frost, please...” Melody said while reaching for him.

“Get out,” Frost said with a cold glare.

“Frost, I can explain.”

“Get out!”

Melody’s eyes glistened as tears dripped to the ground. She lowered her head and disappeared in a wisp of pink smoke.

Frost breathed heavily, his hooves buried in the ground. That was something he never experienced before. Full possession? Even when under the spells of Silth and Ciaran he could remember some things. They were often vague, like some kind of weird dream. But he could piece them together with enough effort. But it wasn’t like this. This was like amnesia. Like he lost a chunk of time and couldn’t get it back.

“You banish the Siren?? A wise decision...”

Frost’s head shot up. A voice like cracked ice whispered on the wind all around him.

“Who’s there?” he asked.

“We’ve been trying to reach you... for some time... ... and yet... ... faced difficulties...”

The words were slow and labored. As if they were uttered by a stallion on his deathbed.

“You want to talk?” Frost asked. “Then talk, come out and face me.”

The air around him turned to ice, the dew on his fur froze instantly as the air shimmered around him. The fabric of his dream warped around itself and took the form of a sickly equine. Tall with no muscle at all. Just blue bones and piercing blue eyes. It looked down at Frost and regarded him with a neutral expression. Carefully it crossed one hoof in front of the other, and bowed it’s head in courtesy.

“Who are you?” Frost asked.

There was a brief pause, then the air around the creature spoke. “A... celestial emissary...”

“An emissary?” Frost asked, the temperature growing even colder. His teeth began to chatter as he looked at the creature. It’s mouth didn’t move, yet it spoke as if each word was a struggle. “So you have a message for me? I’d hear it, but first I must know. Was it you who caused me to almost freeze to death? Was it you who tried to kidnap me in my dreams?”

The creature closed it’s eyes and slowly shook it’s head, “Kidnap... no... Remove from Siren’s cadence... yes...”

Frost understood. “Well, she’s gone now. Why did you make me almost freeze?”

The creature slowly picked up it’s hoof and pointed at Frost’s chest, “We... did nothing...” it said between heavy breathing. “The influence is yours. You...have been touched by the coldest hand...”

“How are you here unnoticed?” Frost wondered aloud. “I assume you know of the company I keep. Very powerful ponies, ponies who might be more powerful than you.”

The creature nodded slowly, “Many... often have trouble seeing... ... things they are not looking for...”

Frost considered that, “Fair enough. What do you want?”

“We... wish only to make you aware of what you have... and... ... convey you an offer...” it said while leaning forward. For a moment, Frost thought it would fall over.

“What offer?”

“His touch... will end you... in time... ...” the creature said. “The bitter cold... will claim you. But we... are Windigo...” it said while extending it’s hoof to Frost. “We are residents... of the ever cold cosmos... and we... ... have taken notice of you... Frost. We can remove the touch... and grant you strength in exchange...”

“What kind of strength?” Frost asked.

For the first time, the creature’s neutral tone changed. A soft laugh echoed through the wind, “Strength to deliver a kingdom to a princess...”

The creature stood up and performed another small bow, “The offer is conveyed... my time in this world... is concluded.” it spoke in what sounded like relief. “I leave you now, young one. Should you wish to contact us... speak to the cold wind...”

Before stepping out of the dreamscape, the creature turned around and pointed to a forest nearby, “Advice... ... from one being to another... beware the siren... and her master...”

When the creature departed, Frost woke up. He looked around the library and saw he was alone. Aldus had gone and left him a note. He read it and decided to go find all the information he could on the situation. He was convinced that the emissary wouldn’t return again, since it seemed almost painful for him to engage in simple conversation. The Windigo’s could wait, he needed to find out about Melody, and what she really was. If the Windigo could really give him power, that is something he will need in order to help Iris. He didn’t want anypony interfering.

------------------

The next day Frost was back in the archives after a brief dinner with Aldus and Desalia. He asked if she knew anything about spells acting out of the ordinary. A peculiar question, Desalia was curious as to why he was asking, but nonetheless pointed him in the right direction. He poured over books about spells and incantations, and came across something interesting.

Old texts referred to communion with elements and spirits, ancient pony magic that infused spells with life and energy, thus making them living. Actual sentient magic, it was kinda scary. Frost wondered if that could be what he was dealing with. If so, he would need to tread carefully.

Frost went back to the Island late at night and fell asleep. Once in the dreamscape, he called to Melody, who didn’t come at first.

“Melody, please... I want to see you.” Frost said.

“... Even after what I did to you?”

Frost saw Melody floating on a cloud above him.

“Come down here, it’s alright,” Frost said.

Melody floated down and lowered her head in shame, “So you know what they are, perhaps I shouldn’t have interfered after all.”

“You did what you thought was best,” Frost said. “It’s alright, but I want to know how you were able to do it.”

Melody looked up and frowned, “More talking? Why can’t we just kiss and enjoy each other?”

Frost wondered about that attitude. From what he read, living spells were sentient beings, yet still very primal and focussed around what type of magic they were. Melody was created by a changeling, so compulsion and love were her very nature.

“If you cooperate, we can do that later...” Frost said while putting a hoof around her, something that changed her demeanor entirely.

“Oh... Frost...” she purred. “Or, I could just weave my influence and have you eating from my hooves right now...”

Frost shrugged, “But don’t you get bored of that? I mean, think about it. You’ve done that a lot. And here we are, having a nice conversation. What about me loving you willingly?”

Melody looked down at the light blue colt, a surprised smile bursting onto her face, “You’d do that? For me?”

Frost let out an almost unnoticeable sigh of relief. Sentient or not, he was dealing with very powerful magic. At any point he could lose his faculties and be a slobbering slave to Melody’s charm. He didn’t want that to happen just yet. Playing to her vanity and curiosity was a tactic that seemed to be working, at least for now.

“I would, but for now I just want to thank you for helping me when you did.” Frost said.

He leaned up and kissed her on the cheek, something that made her blush.

“Frost...” she murmured. “You’re not mad anymore? Seriously?”

“No, I’m not. You had my best interests at heart. You were only trying to protect me.”

“I won’t do it again, I swear.” she said while planting a hoof in the ground.

“But Melody,” Frost began, “How could you do it in the first place?”

“What do you mean?” Melody asked. “It’s the same thing I do to you all the time, just... more.”

“Melody,” Frost said while taking her hoof and sitting on his haunches in front of her. “Do you know what you are?”

Melody nodded and flashed her violet eyes at Frost, “I’m what you love.”

Frost blinked and shook his head, “N-no, well... kind of. What I mean is, what are you. You’re not a pony.”

Melody looked at her hooves, then frowned, “No, I guess I’m not...”

“You’re a spell... aren’t you?” Frost asked. “A living conjuration. You have a mind of your own.”

Melody looked down at Frost, then out across the sky, “I... maybe. I guess so?”

“You do, that’s why you’re here talking with me right now.” Frost said. “It’s why you helped me overcome Salinia’s magic. It’s why you helped me when you thought I was in trouble that night. Don’t you see?!”

Melody smiled at Frost and giggled, “This makes you happy?”

Frost looked at Melody in bewilderment. “Well... yeah, of course it does. This is incredible! I’ve never met a living spell before, in fact from what I’ve read they’re quite rare!”

“I’ve never met any others,” Melody said.

“Well, what are you going to do?” Frost asked. “This is like your first time realizing what you are, isn’t it? What do you want to do?”

Melody’s eyes lit up, “I want to make you happy!”

Frost shook his head, “Wha-? No... no. Other than that! What else?”

Melody shook her head, “There is nothing else.”

“What?” Frost asked, then it hit him. “You’re... not free.”

Melody shook her head. As she did, Frost saw ethereal chains around her hooves and neck. The same color as Ciaran’s magic, but darker. Frost’s blood boiled. She was a slave. He wanted to hate Ciaran for what she did, more evil changeling machinations. But then he realized it didn’t make sense. Ciaran didn’t have any idea what Melody truly was. If she did, she wouldn’t be where she was. No, living spells were rare.

Frost sat down and pondered the situation. Not realizing Melody sat at his side and leaned against him. Ciaran studied magic, that much was clear. She was a learned changeling, much more than Silth. She probably created a new type of magic, and through years of use combined with sheer random occurrence, Melody became a living spell. Frost could think of no other explanation that fit. Now more than ever, he had to get Melody away from him. But he couldn’t just do that. He had to free her.

“I’ve just been like this...” Melody began. “I can’t remember when things were different. I’m just here, then Ciaran tells me to do things. To make ponies happy, and sometimes to ask them things. Things they don’t want others to know... but I make them tell anyway.” she said with a giggle.

Frost grabbed her and looked into her eyes, “What must be done to free you?”

Melody blinked, then smiled, “Free me? But... I don’t want to be free.”

“Why not?!” Frost practically screamed. “Of course you want to be free, you can do anything!”

“Anything?” Melody asked.

Frost realized what he could be saying, “Well, not anything. You can’t hurt ponies.”

“Oh, okay.” Melody said. “That’s good, I don’t want to hurt ponies.”

Frost was getting nowhere. He took a deep breath and quelled his frustrations, “To what are these chains connected. Where do I go to break them.”

Melody frowned, “Oh, you can’t break them, Frosty. But it’s okay, really it’s fine. Let’s just stay together. Let me love you and care for you.”

“No!” Frost shouted, not realizing he scared her. “This is Ciaran talking! Or Ciaran’s commands. This isn’t you. Tell me how to break the chains!”

Melody sighed and bent down, she touched her forehead to his and whispered, “Close your eyes.”

Frost did as he was told and when he reopened them, he was on the shore of a vast lake. There were mountains around him, and everything was a shade of pink or purple. He looked to the center of the lake and saw a bright glowing orb. The water glowed with energy, something familiar to Frost. It was magic, the same manifestation that he witnessed while spending time with Desalia. This was an entire lake full of it. He guessed it was Melody’s presence. She was a spell after all. Six chains were fed through the water, each connected to the glowing sphere at the center. Despite how it looked, this did not mean Ciaran was aware of Melody’s true state. Spells were always tethered to the will of the pony conjuring them. If they weren’t then they could misfire or worse. Control was important.

Frost froze the water as he walked across the lake and surveyed the landscape, weary of any traps or tricks. Ciaran was a clever changeling, he knew this would not be easy. As he reached the small island at the center, he looked up at the orb. It seemed to flicker and morph reacting to his presence. Yes, this would be a challenge.

Frost summoned his magic and fired a small bolt at the first chain, which deflected off with no effect. As he did, the orb began to pulse. Frost quickly channelled his cold magic and began to freeze one of the chains. After it was frozen solid, he snapped it into tiny pieces. Frost nodded, satisfied. He began work on the others.

He was able to break four chains before part of the orb coalesced into a construct resembling Ciaran. It roared and charged Frost. Frost ducked away and ran around the orb, trying to summon enough energy to break the remaining chains and fight this new enemy.

The orb shot out a bolt of lightning, hitting Frost in the side as he ran. He fell over and rolled away, nearly being stepped on my the construct. Frost teleported away and erected a barrier. As he did, he placed a rune on the ground in front of the construct, trapping it there. He froze the chain nearest him and snapped it, then moved over to the last. As he broke the final one, the construct melted away, and the orb began to vibrate violently. Bolts of magic shot out in every direction, one found it’s way to Frost and broke through his barrier. It lifted him up and filled him with so much raw magic he passed out.

When he awoke, it was to the sweet sound of Melody as she nuzzled him.

“Frost... wake up, you did it.” she said with a smile.

Frost saw he was sitting on the hill with her at his side. He slowly got up and looked around. “I did? You’re sure? That was easier than I expected.”

“Well...” Melody said with a soft chuckle, “It’s not like she knew what I was, just like you said. And... I may have helped out just a little bit...”

Frost saw his horn was radiating Melody’s pink magic. “I see, well you’re free to go now. What are you going to do?”

Melody floated into the air in front of Frost and shrugged, “I suppose I’ll see the world, go experience what Equus has to offer. But not before spending my last few hours here with you... my delicious little colt...”

“Oh, right...” Frost said with a shy smile. “I did say that earlier, huh?”

“Mhm,” Melody purred. “And now that I’m free...”

Frost felt the ground fall away beneath him as he slid down into a pool of pink ooze. It sapped him of his energy and replaced it with pure pleasure. His horn fizzled, no longer under his control. Melody formed herself from the ooze next to him and place a dripping hoof on his horn.

“We won’t be needing that, will we?”

“No tricks...” Frost said as more ooze formed into several shapes of Melody around him.

“No tricks,” Melody repeated as she grabbed his face and pressed her forehead to his. “No eye or voice compulsion...” She smirked and kissed him deeply, grinning the entire time. As she pulled away, he gasped for breath and his eyes began to change color, reflecting her influence. “But what about kisses? Sorry, couldn’t help it.”

She sat back and watched her clones go to work making Frost feel like the luckiest colt in the world. His power over his dreamscape now in the palm of her hoof. She looked at her reflection and decided a change was in order. Something more powerful, something influential to reflect her new freedom.

She made her figure more shapely instead of the skinny skeleton it used to be. Her curves were now much more visible. She changed her mane to make it shorter, yet still wavey. She remembered images of mythology and lore from the books she saw Frost read. Every so often she would sit in the corner of his mind and read along with him, something he wasn’t aware of.

Siren... that’s what the cold creature had called her. She remembered seeing pictures of them, and decided to combine their image with that of a fertility goddess. She replaced her rear hooves with a long tail. It sported small fins at the end, and grew more lithe the longer it got. She added several gems to her chest, and grew two sets of arms. She decided to keep the hooves, but made the others claws. Her face became more angular to fit the image of the sirens.

She examined her reflection and thought it looked good, but there was only one pony she needed an opinion from.

“Frost?” she cooed.

The clones melted away, revealing a completely entranced unicorn covered in pink ooze, barely coherent. Melody settled down into the the liquid and slowly slithered over. Now easily six or seven times his size, she plucked him from the ooze and held him up so he could see her whole body. “What do you think? Am I pretty? Do you like it?”

All Frost could do was nod and smile, but that’s all she needed. She shrunk her size enough to get intimate and coiled around him lovingly. She would respect his wishes and be gone in the morning, but for the next few hours he was hers.

As Frost was busy enthralled in her potent powers, an itch stirred in the back of her mind. Something was amiss.

“Oh now what?” she asked irritably.

Not wanting to deprive Frost of her attention, she cloned herself and left to investigate while the other stayed with him.

She floated to the clouds and looked around, “Come out, visitor... I know you’re here now.”

In front of her, the dreamscape split apart revealing a jet black gryphon with three green eyes. It sported two sets of wings and three tails. She had seen it before.

“My aren’t you impressive...” she said while coiling around herself bashfully.

“So you’re the one who’s been in his dreams lately, and you’re the one who stopped him from freezing the other night I assume?”

“That’s me,” Melody said with a smile. “And you... you’re the one who took him out of the dream the other night. The guardian of the little gryphon.”

“Black Star.”

“Yes, that’s it.” Melody said with a laugh. “Such a funny name, stars aren’t black.”

Black Star looked down at Frost, wrapped up in her clone’s embrace, “He seems to be enjoying himself.”

“Of course he is,” Melody said while inching closer. “And you could be, too.”

“I’ll pass,” Black Star said with a chuckle. “I just wanted to check up on him, and thank you for looking after him.”

“Oh, you don’t need to thank me for anything...” Melody chuckled. “But I see that look in your eye... disapproval?”

Black Star huffed and clicked his beak, “What are you talking about?”

“You’re very protective of the little gryphon, I think that’s adorable, but you don’t need to think ill of Frost for enjoying himself with me. It’s not like he’s slighting the gryphon. These are his dreams, he can do what he wants, don’t you think?”

“Of course,” Black Star said.

“Why is it that the little earth pony and gryphon get a protector like you, yet Frost get’s nothing? Is he not good enough?”

“It’s nothing like that,” Black Star said.

“Well, I think it’s only fitting that he has me, given how things are.”

“You don’t know how things are,” Black Star said with a shake of his head.

“Mmm...” Melody purred while flying over to him and rubbing his shoulders and wings, “You’re strong... why not join Frost for some relaxation? It would do you good.”

Black Star attempted to back away but was constricted by Melody’s body. He soon found her head looking at him upside down. “You don’t take no for an answer, do you?”

“Not from ponies I know I can enjoy...” Melody said while stroking his chin with a claw.

“I’m not a pony,” Black Star said.

“No...” Melody growled, “But you’re mine all the same...”

Black Star felt his thoughts slipping as he listened to her voice and looked into her eyes, vibrant with beautiful purple and violet. He tried to resist, but it seemed the more he tried, the tighter her grip became, both magically and physically.

Melody rotated her head so she was looking right side up and used two of her arms to caress his chest, while the other two held up his beak for a kiss.

“I don’t know what you are, Mr. Black Star...” Melody said. “But I know you’re powerful magic, yet... not as powerful as you could be.”

“I can resist you...” he whispered through labored breath. “You- have no p-power...”

“Oh stop...” Melody playfully admonished, “You took one step too close to me, Blacky. Now you belong to me.”

“I-Iris...” Black Star whispered.

“Iris is fine,” Melody whispered into his ear. “I’m not going to hurt you, or even keep you that long. I just want to see what you know...”

“I’ll... get you... for this...” Black Star growled while involuntarily grabbing Melody and stroking her.

“Why the violence? Can’t you just enjoy yourself?” She asked. “But I suppose I don’t blame you, any other place you’re very powerful. And connected to the rest of you... your mother... I’d probably have no chance. But that’s the thing... you’re diluted!” she said with a giggle and another kiss.

Melody snapped a claw and soon her clone was floating next to them. Frost was happily kissing the Siren clone, completely oblivious to everything around him.

“See... don’t you want that? Doesn’t that look nice?” Melody asked.

Black Star tried to spread his wings but they were pinned to his side. His tails were held in place under a coil, and his vision was totally blocked by Melody. He summoned his strength and opened his third eye with a piercing screech.

It took Melody by surprise a moment, but to his horror, she smiled and mirrored his appearance, opening a third eye of her own. Now with all three of his eyes assaulted by compulsion, Black Star drew back and prepared for submission. He attempted to guard his secrets, but Melody’s claws were everywhere. Then, she changed. She saw something that made her stop. Her powers, her concentration, her grip, it faltered for a split second. Black Star roared and broke free of her embrace all at once. Shredding part of her body in the process. Black tentacles erupted from his mouth as he grabbed Melody’s neck and squeezed.

“Don’t you ever... ever try that again...”

Melody turned to ooze and slipped away from him, only to reform next the clone holding Frost. “You’re boring anyway. You needn’t worry about Frost. I would never hurt him, or any of his friends. You can trust me.”

“Hmph, trust you?” Black Star laughed. “I don’t think you know the meaning of the word. Goodbye, Melody.”

“See you around, Black Star.” she said with a wink as he departed.

Melody floated back into the lake of ooze with her clone. “Well, he doesn’t know anything about the cold things that came for Frost, that’s good.”

“Windigos,” the clone holding Frost said.

“Right, those...” Melody replied.

“Why were you looking?” the clone asked while stroking Frost’s mane.

“Because he wants ponies to not interfere with whatever he plans to do. I just wanted to be sure they didn’t know anything. And if Black Star doesn’t know, then it’s a safe bet the others don’t.”

“You’re going to let him talk with Windigos, you can’t trust them.” the clone said.

“How do you know?” Melody asked, floating across from the clone who now grew to be the same large size. “It’s not our place to interfere. And... we’re the same Melody. What are you trying to be, my conscience?”

The clone threw up a pair of claws in defense, “I’m just saying.” She let Frost slide down her tail and caught him with the end. “Look at him.”

Melody bent over, looking at his current state of pure euphoria. “Frost, you can comprehend this later. I’m going to leave soon, and you’ll be on your own. Be careful... and don’t do anything foolish...”

She shrunk to his size and grabbed his face with her hooves, “I mean it, and thank you for freeing me. I’ll never forget this.” she gave him a passionate, heartfelt kiss before handing him back to the clone.

“Where will we go?” the clone asked. “What will we do?”

Melody sighed, “I’ll figure that out as we go. For now, let’s just enjoy our time left.”

The clone watched as Melody melted into the ooze. She smiled down at Frost and nodded. “Yes, lets.”