All the ponies, along with Sunflash, Bella, and Spike the dragon, were crowded into Twilight's library house. Twilight stood by the window with Fluttershy. They had been watching and waiting for hours.

"Twilight, I'm scared," Fluttershy whimpered. "I don't want to be killed by ferrets!"

"Maybe they won't kill most of us," Spike said. "Maybe they'll just make us their slaves."

"Oh, if Sixclaw triumphs, there'll be very few beasts left alive to be slaves, believe me," said Sunflash.

Fluttershy's lip began quivering. Twilight could see the toll the stress was taking on her friend. "Everypony, stop this silliness," she commanded. "Princess Celestia has never been defeated yet, and she never will be." But inside, she had doubts of her own. There was a first time for everything.

The gloom was dispelled when a voice from outside called, "We have repelled the vermin! Ponyville is safe!" It was Princess Celestia!

Everybeast burst outside onto Twilight's lawn in joy. "Three cheers for the goodbeasts who saved Ponyville!" Bella cried as she skipped out the door, showing surprising vivacity for one of her long seasons.

Cheers rang to the sky. "The goodbeasts who saved Ponyville! Hooray!"

The party resumed right there in Twilight's yard. Vinyl Scratch went and got her record player so she could crank up some tunes, and everypony danced through the night.

Amid the merriment, Celestia took her friend Bella to one side. "Come with us, Bella, we have something to show you and your son." Bella and Sunflash followed the princesses back into the library. "Twilight Sparkle, I want you and your friends to hear this too," Celestia said as they passed Twilight.

They all entered Twilight's house. All the other ponies had gone outside, and Princess Luna was in the main room, holding the ferretbabe in her arms.

"What's the matter, Princess?" Twilight asked.

"I'm afraid Swartt Sixclaw left something behind," Luna said.

Fluttershy saw the young ferret. "Oh! Look how CUTE!" she exclaimed. She ran over and swept the babe into her hooves, hugging it. "Is it a boy or a girl? Whose is it? Where did you get it from?"

"Not so fast," Luna said. "Maybe you won't be so quick to cuddle it when I tell you. He is the young of a vermin, abandoned when they retreated from the path, a male ferretbabe."

Fluttershy continued nursing the ferret, rocking him back and forth. "Poor little thing! He looks so alone and lost! Isn't he beautiful?"

Bella smiled wisely, saying, "All little creatures are beautiful, Fluttershy, every living thing when it first sees life is born in beauty. What they grow to be is a different matter."

Celestia said, "I have given the ferretbabe a name, he shall be called Veil, because there is a veil over his life before he came here. We know nothing of him."

"What a lovely name," Fluttershy said. "Hello, little Veil."

Sunflash peered down at the infant. "Look, he has six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot, just like Swartt. What if this is his son?"

"If that's Swartt Sixclaw's son, he'll probably grow up to be an evil warlord like his dad," said Rainbow Dash.

"What are we going to do with him?" asked Rarity.

"That's what we came to you to ask," said Celestia. "Does anybeast have any suggestions?"

There was a silence. Then Fluttershy spoke up. "I-I can take him," she stammered. "I've always wanted to raise a baby. I've had pets before, but they were all non-anthropomorphic animals."

"Yeah, but what if he turns out evil?" Rainbow Dash reiterated.

"Surely he won't become evil if he's taken care of by good creatures," said Fluttershy. "I mean, look at him. He's so innocent and sweet. Ouch!"

Bella exchanged glances with the princesses before speaking. "He has bitten you, Fluttershy."

The Pegasus sucked her hoof briefly, smiling. "No, not really, it was more of a nibble. Perhaps he's hungry."

"Well, Fluttershy taking charge of the ferret sounds like a good idea," Twilight said. "She's the element of kindness, after all. Nopony would be better at teaching Veil the ways of good."

"Yeah," said Applejack. "Remember how she turned Discord good?"

"I can't think of any other option," Sunflash said.

"All right, then," said Celestia. "From this day forth, Veil is your responsibility, Fluttershy."

Fluttershy's eyes were shining, and she hugged the small ferret close. "Oh, Celestia, is it true? I will be like his mother, no, more like his big sister, no more like his good friend!"

Bella smiled. "Make your mind up, missie. Best be a little of all, mayhap that's what Veil will need to grow up good."

Fluttershy departed with Veil, and Bella and Sunflash went back to Applejack's house with Applejack. All the other ponies started to clear out and return to their homes too. Twilight was left alone in her house with the two princesses. She saw a tiny spot of blood on the carpet which had spilled from Fluttershy's hoof when the ferretbabe bit her. Twilight stared at the crimson dot and said, "Did we do the right thing, Princess, or will this ferret cause more blood to be shed in Ponyville?"

The great white alicorn bent down and made the blood disappear with magic. "Only time will tell. I have a feeling about this ferret, and if I am proved right in the years to come, I will tell you why I really called him Veil. But it is far better now to hope for the best that can happen, so we will say no more about it."

"Well, Fluttershy's a good pony," said Twilight. "Let's hope she can raise him right."

"Yes. Good night, Twilight, my faithful pupil."

"Good night, Princesses."

Celestia and Luna left Twilight's house, Celestia singing softly to herself:

"Give him a name and leave him awhile,

Veil may live to be evil and vile,

But I hope my prediction will fail,

And evil so vile will not live in Veil."