Note: This, by far, is my greatest chapter. Well, for me, personally. I have never felt so satisfied in my life (aside from the time I beat Gywn, Lord of Cinder alone with no summons in Dark Souls). Either way, I am very proud of this chapter. I really wanted to end the season on this, but it does not have the required cliffhanger to transfer over to the next season. I will, however, not update next week so this chapter has more time to settle. It deserves it. Now on to answering reviews! To Super Vegito: Oh, I know you are not nagging, do not worry about it. Dragon Ball Z is popular, and I personally know I need to properly reference it. I am just somewhat reluctant, as I need to ensure I know the character I have an eye on (that is a secret) well enough before anything happens. To Minebrine: Thanks! To austin xj lui: Iron Man...? Where? I mean... I totally meant to reference whatever you said I referenced! Anyway... Enjoy this chapter! I enjoyed writing it!

Dimension: My Little Pony

Planet: Equestria Earth

Specific Location: A random lake in the middle of a random area

Time: Two weeks after Lyric found Summer

"Are they still breathing?"

"I cannot tell, Harmony. I-I cannot find a pulse!"

"Seriously, River? You're not supposed to check for a pulse in this situation! Just put an ear and cheek next to their faces and watch their stomachs! If you can hear breathing, feel their breath on their cheeks, and see their stomachs rising and falling… then they are alive!"

"Oh yeah… I forgot."

Lyric slowly opened his eyes to find himself staring nose-to-nose with a frosty-blue-colored stallion (a Pegasus) with aquamarine eyes and a dark blue mane. The stallion blinked once. "Uhhhh… Hey, Harmony! This one has his eyes opened, and he is blinking… Does that mean he is alive?"

A bright red mare (a Unicorn) with amber eyes and a yellow mane shoved the stallion aside. "Yes! That means they are alive!"

The mare held out a hoof, her eyes a picture of concern. "Are you okay there?"

Lyric suddenly rolled over and vomited out water all over the rowboat that the whole group was taking refuge on.

The stallion River wrinkled his muzzle. "So that is a… no? I mean, yes! Or… is it no…?"

Lyric coughed wretchedly, the air-deprived hacks wracking his body. The mare patted his back firmly as she said, "You swallowed an ocean's-worth before we rescued you! Just get it all out. Do not worry about this boat, it will be fine with a little water at the bottom."

Lyric heaved a huge gasp, and then slowly rolled over to face the mare. "T-thanks," he croaked, "Is… Is Summer okay?"

The Stallion River blinked. "Summer? Like the season summer? O-oh! You mean your fillyfriend over here! Oh yeah, unlike you, her breathing stayed level the entire time! It's almost as if drowning in an ice-cold lake was like a naptime for her!"

Lyric looked at his surroundings. He was in a medium-size rowboat. He lay at the very edge of the boat, with River and Harmony sitting in the middle. At the very far end, balancing out his weight perfectly, was Summer. Lyric attempted to scramble to all fours, but Harmony held him down.

"Just stay calm," she soothed, "Your friend is fine. You need to rest."

"And besides," interrupted River, "If you try to get up, the boat will become unbalanced, capsize, and send us all in for a drink. Despite my name being 'River' I do not fancy taking an ice-cold dip in one currently!"

Lyric groaned and lay down. "I need to be with her," he murmured, "She needs protection."

"She is perfectly fine, even more so than you I would say," exclaimed River with a wink, "Why ever would a strong filly like her need protection from anyone other than me?"

Harmony shoved River roughly. She then turned to Lyric and said, "Forgive my friend. Clearly I'm not enough to keep his hooves full. But anyway, what do you mean by 'she needs protection'?"

"She's a very special filly," Lyric replied, his voice barely a whisper.

Harmony glanced at River. River blinked. Then he grinned roguishly. "Ooohhhhh… Gotcha. Got the wedding all line up already, eh?"

Lyric coughed up a little bit of water again and then shook his head vehemently. "No! Nothing like that! She's special. She's blind."

River and Harmony stiffened. They then glanced at Summer and Lyric in shock. They then proceeded to hold a whispered conversation together. It went on for at least a minute, before River nodded and leaned over to where Summer lay. He gently shook her. Summer opened her eyes, almost blissfully. However, her eyes narrowed a bit, and she said, "You're not Lyric. Where is he?!"

"Hey, dude, calm down," said River, "Lyric is safe. Isn't that right Lyric?"

"I'm here," gasped Lyric, surprised that Summer sounded so energetic despite having been thrown off a cliff into a freezing lake at 190 kilometers an hour.

Summer sighed, her breath forming a thick cloud of steam. "Oh good."

"Okay, Summer, or whatever season-y name it is, I need you to answer a question," said River slowly, still shaking her gently to keep her from drifting into a slumber, "How many hooves am I holding up?"

Summer pulled a face. "Well, assuming you have two back hooves to keep you upright, and you have one more hoof needlessly stroking my mane like an over-confident stallion… I would say one hoof."

"Woah!" gasped River, "He said you were blind! That's amazing! Clearly you are not! Praise the sun y'all!"

The only one who was not amused by this was Harmony. Her face the picture of seriousness, she pushed River aside and said, "Summer, you hear my voice? What color is my mane?"

Summer shook her head, a little annoyed at how interested these two newcomers seemed in her disability. "How should I know? I can't see anything!"

Harmony pulled away. "Okay," she said quietly.

Summer's eyes narrowed again. There was something in that tone of voice…

"Well!" interrupted River loudly, "Now that we have gotten that over with… Let's go back to the town!"

Lyric slowly sat up and said, "Town?"

Harmony gave Lyric a small smile. "Of course! Did you think we rose out of the water to save you? We came from a town not too far from here. It is on the other side of the lake!"

"Okay," said Lyric slowly, "We cannot stay there for long though. We need to keep moving. Do you know of a valley that is supposedly protected by sworn oath from the Trixie's Hoof Terrorists?"

River and Harmony glanced at each other and began to chuckle simultaneously.

Lyric blinked. "What is it?"

"Well… That valley you are talking about… you're in it!" exclaimed Harmony.

"And I must say you arrived in spectacular style!" added River, "Welcome to the only valley in the Stallion Empire that is completely free of Trixie's Hoof Terrorist influence!"

A pit that had been in Lyric's stomach probably since he and Summer had fled from that one razed town suddenly dissipated. A wonderful feeling swept from his tail to the tip of his muzzle. Lyric blinked slowly. He then leaned a little to one side to see past Harmony and River and look at Summer.

"You hear that?" he said, his voice hoarse, "We made it."

Summer looked a little less relieved than he. In fact, her blank eyes was actually somewhat clouded in worry. Nonetheless, she gave Lyric a huge smile. "We did…"

Lyric attempted to get up again, but Harmony shook her head and bade him to sit down.

"Just sit there for a bit longer," she said, "We are going to start on our way!"

Harmony and River settled down in the middle of their rowboat, facing Lyric, with Harmony on the left part of the middle bench and River on the right. The two ponies grabbed their respective oars and began to pull with ease. Summer turned to face they were heading and let the cold wind blow through her mane. Her face looked somewhat tense.

"So… Tell me," said Lyric, who was completely at ease, "What is the town like? Oh! What are the houses like? Oh! I mean, what are the ponies like? I mean… I should probably first ask… What is the town called? The valley?"

Harmony chuckled. "Slow down! Okay, well, the valley is called Star Circle, and the town is called Haven. The town is quite tranquil, with many houses built into the very trees that surround them. Then ponies are just like the town: peaceful."

"Incredibly so," added River, "You will never meet nicer ponies! And the town is wonderful and safe! There is a catch though…"

Harmony bumped River in the ribs sharply to silence him. She then turned to Lyric and said, "We'll tell you about it later."

Lyric nodded. "Okay. I really am just looking forward to a safe place to rest."

River winked. "If it is rest that you want, then you have come to the right place."

"I agree," said Harmony, nodding, a happy smile still upon her face, "I can see that you have come far to find security. I am overjoyed that we can provide it."

At that moment, the mist that hung low over the lake from the cold began to part, giving the ponies riding upon the rowboat an unobstructed view of Haven, the lone town in the isolated and completely protected valley of Star Circle. Night had just fallen, and even though this generally was the time that made all things surrounding duller than usual, this time it did naught but illuminate the awe-inspiring town. Giant, grand, frost-covered trees rose through the air, filling Lyric's view. These trees were beautiful and lush despite the freezing temperatures. Tiny pinpoints of lights decorated the trunk and branches like a mist of iridescent gold, denoting the fact that there was indeed beings residing within the trees themselves in cozy bliss. There were so many of these house-trees, in fact, from Lyric's point of view, he was staring at a new star-filled sky, a second cosmos and horizon. A gentle wind blew in from the town, bringing with it the light jingle of majestic wind-chimes, and the smell of petrichor and freshly-fallen snow.

"It's beautiful," sighed Lyric, drinking in the intoxicating view, and reveling in the feeling of complete security.

Harmony's face lit up at seeing his face light up. "I am so glad you think so."

Lyric leaned over and looked at Summer. Her eyes were closed, and it looked as if she too was enjoying the wind, and all of the pulchritudinous sounds and smells. However, there seemed to be a smidgen of worry that continued to dance across her face.

But it mattered not, Lyric supposed, for they were safe now. He looked at Harmony again. "Haven is a beautiful town. You are so blessed to be able to live in it."

Harmony winked. "Well, Haven has one more citizen now! And I am pleased to welcome him to it!"

Lyric's throat caught. A home? It had been countless seasons since he had been able to call anyplace his home. Tears began to well up in his eyes as he looked to Harmony. "T-truly? I can stay here?"

River grinned wildly. "Of course! You can even stay with me – or Harmony, if you like that sort of thing – until the head of the town can sort out a living space for you!"

At that moment, the boat bumped up next to the giant docks that bordered to town of Haven. Harmony helped Lyric out while River pushed the scrabbling Summer onto the pier as well.

"River just wants a new friend who is a stallion, really badly," said Harmony, "However, I think his house is a little crowded with him and his four sisters. I will let you stay at my place. There is an extra spot."

Lyric nodded slowly, but then froze. "Wait a second…" he said, "What… What about Summer?"

Harmony glanced at River, and River nodded to her. "Don't worry!" he exclaimed, "I've got that covered! We actually have somepony who will want to meet such a special pony as her before anything else gets done. I will drop you a note tomorrow after she too is situated."

"B-but… But I always am with Summer," said Lyric, a little slow to catch on, "She will be given a safe place to sleep, correct?"

Harmony nodded vehemently. "Of course! Remember: All of Haven is safe. She will just have different accommodations until all the housing is sorted out for you!"

Lyric glanced at Summer, who was staring quietly at him. "Okay… I'm sorry Summer, but River will take you someplace safe. I will leave you with him… but only for today! Bye!"

Summer's eyes deepened in sadness, but Lyric shook that sadness off. She was only sad to see him go for the rest of the day, he reasoned, for she had been by his side even in slumber as far back as she could recall. She would be okay without him for a day.

"While River settles Summer down," said Harmony, leading Lyric away from the pier, away from Summer, and into the town, "I will show you around!"

Lyric nodded, and followed her with wonder in his eyes. For the next several hours Harmony led him about, showing him the amazing heaven that was the town of Haven of the valley Star Circle. The tree-houses that made up the town stretched high into the air, adorned with lanterns and beautiful lights that shown brightly, blending in with the proud constellations that decorated the inky black-and-blue sky above. Even the streets below looked to be a very part of nature, with the light dirt paths being overlaid with soft green, yellow, and red leaves. For as far as the eye could see, there were nothing but safe, happy, healthy, and strong ponies of all types, standing tall and proud… In short, they were perfect. In fact, everything was perfect.

Lyric could not shake the overwhelming feeling of happiness. "I… I have no words," he breathed, "For as long as I remember, I have been searching for a home to call my own. For as far back as I can recall, I have been looking for someplace that could offer me shelter and security from the dark forces that wrack the Stallion Empire… And now I have found it."

Harmony grinned. "Yes you have! As you can see, there are no impurities of the Stallion Empire here. So, tell me, are you ready to go home?"

Lyric just shook his head slowly in disbelief. "Home… That word sounds so foreign! But yes… Yes, I would like to go home now."

Harmony patted him on the back. "Right this way, brother!"

Lyric winked. "Got it, sister."

The two ponies broke off from their tour of the wondrous town to go "home." At the edge, on the opposite of side of town from the pier, was Harmony's abode. It, like all the other houses, was a large tree-like house, adorned with shining lanterns, glowing bright with homeliness. Sitting on the porch of the tree-house was a couple of other mares (Unicorns, as well), with brightly-colored manes and coats. The moment they saw Lyric they broke out giggling.

"Harmony brought a stallion home! Praise the sun!"

"Oh my… look at those muscles… I have some extra space on my bed, you could share it with me if you are indeed staying the night!"

Harmony winced in embarrassment at these jabs and glanced at Lyric, who was grinning awkwardly. "Sorry about those two," she said, "They are my sisters, Song and Sky. They are going through that 'I am completely obsessed with colts' stage."

Sky smiled in a somewhat sexually aggressive manner. "Don't let Harmony trick you, colt! She never left that stage either!"

Lyric began to blush. "Well… Uh… Okay… But none of that really matters! I already have a really close fillyfriend! Her name is Summer!"

Song, Sky, and Harmony all frowned slightly.

"Oh," sighed Song, "Well… You are a pretty big and strong boy, she cannot possible be able to have ALL of you! Couldn't she share?"

"This Summer pony must be an awful amazing pony to be able to win the heart of such a strapping young colt as yourself," added Sky, "Mind telling us about this special somepony?"

Harmony interrupted Lyric before he could prattle on about Summer and shook her head, "I will give you any details you girls need later. Lyric literally just entered Star Circle by driving a heavily damaged armored vehicle off of a cliff. He needs rest!"

The sound of the phrase "driving a heavily damaged armored vehicle off of a cliff" simply made Song and Sky swoon slightly. It only had aroused them more.

Harmony pulled a face and shoved Lyric inside. "Sorry about, truly!" she exclaimed, "Sometimes I just run and hide in a corner and pretend I was an orphan… or an only child… it generally makes the rest of my day a little better."

Lyric, his face still burning red, just shrugged. "I am an orphan, and I can tell you that being one for even a second should truly have no ability to make a day better in any form."

Harmony blanched. "Oh… I-I'm sorry."

Lyric shrugged again. "That is okay."

Harmony's face returned to being bright and happy. "Thanks. I will show you to your bed. And don't worry, I will try to keep Song or Sky from getting their sticky little hooves on your. You need to get sleep! Haven of Star Circle is all about perfection and purity! No imperfection or impurity here. And we cannot have you imperfect from lack of sleep!"

Lyric nodded and then looked around the ground floor of the house-tree-building. Like the outside, it was a simple work of art. Curved archways were adorned with colored lanterns, and soft moss rugs lay symmetrically upon the ground. Small colored glass windows were sit in the wood, revealing the starlit sky. Even the furniture was elegant, with curves and polished edges.

Harmony proceeded to lead Lyric down a flight of spiraling steps, carved from the very roots of the great tree they lived in itself. The floor below, like the one above, was a work of art, illuminated warmly with all the colors of the rainbow. It was somewhat small and circular, but had a nicely furnished bed covered in moss in one corner, and a small rounded table with a chair in another. A mechanical clock of mahogany and brass lay on the table.

"I-I hope it is adequate," said Harmony, almost apologetically, "If I knew we were going to have company the day before, I would have worked towards fitting this specific room with a door and key and lock."

"Adequate…?" breathed Lyric, tears forming in his eyes once more out of joy. Suddenly he whirled and seized Harmony in a tight hug. "It is beautiful. It is cozy, appealing, and, most of all, safe."

Harmony's smile widened. "I am glad. I will… I will let you sleep. Tomorrow will be a big day for you I think."

She then slowly turned around, swished her tail at him, and then trotted upstairs. Lyric slowly lay down on the bed that had been provided for him, and closed his eyes. For many hours, though, he felt like he was unable to sleep. Joy, peace, excitement, and a sense of security ricocheted around in his chest, and butterflies fluttered about in his stomach. However, as time slowly ticked by, and the clock struck midnight, Lyric finally drifted off to sleep.

Lyric opened his eyes and blinked. He was in a pitch-black box, about the size of an average suburban house. There was no light fixtures anywhere, but every corner of the obsidian box was illuminated nonetheless.

Lyric rubbed his eyes slowly. "Am I… Am I dreaming? Where the hell am I?"

"You are indeed dreaming, and this is a dreamscape," came a voice from behind him.

Lyric whirled around to face the source of the voice. What he saw shocked him. Before his eyes was a towering, powerful bipedal being. This creature was tall, majestic, and covered in full white-colored body armor that practically screamed "pure power." Upon the creature's head was a masked helmet that had a visor shaped like a diamond, and there were triangular markings on either side of its helmet. In its right hand was a sword that was wondrous to behold. It was so angelic, in fact, that Lyric could feel the energy radiating from it tearing at his sanity.

"W-w-w-who a-are y-you?" gasped Lyric, almost shocked beyond words. He was completely positive that not even his imagination could create such a fantastical creature like the one that stood before him.

"I am Dimensional Lord Mattimeo," said the being, his voice was stern… and… and furious.

"Mattimeo, I have heard that name mentioned before," murmured Lyric, "O-oh! Summer mentioned you! You were her guardian angel or something!"

"I am indeed that," said Mattimeo, his voice terrible in its power, "And now she is in danger."

Lyric's jaw practically hit the floor. "In danger? Impossible! We are in the safest place in the entire Stallion Empire! We are totally free from danger! Forever!"

Mattimeo reached Lyric in one step. He leaned over Lyric, his shadow blotting out the omnipresent light. Lyric felt frozen to the spot.

"Free from danger? Only for you, Lyric the Stallion," said Mattimeo slowly. His voice was emotionless, but his undertone boiled with wrath, "Think about all the things that mare Harmony said as you traversed Haven of Star Circle."

"I told you exactly!" cried Lyric, terrified for his life despite the fact he knew he was in a dream, "We are in Haven! The place is completely safe from any kind of danger! It is secure, happy, bright, and perfect!"

Mattimeo nodded his head slowly. "That is the word: perfect. The town is perfect. It is lacking all impurity. And you know how that is possible? It is because all impurity that finds its way to Haven of Star Circle is destroyed."

Lyric blinked. "Y-yeah! So…?"

Mattimeo leaned in closer, and the shadows about him darkened. "That precious little filly Summer is blind. She has a disability. And apparently… all of Haven believes that is an impurity. Impurities must be snuffed out."

Lyric's mouth went dry, and he felt as if his stomach had just been punched in. "Oh God no…"

Mattimeo straightened up, but the light that had been blocked out by his shadow did not return. "Summer is minutes away from being murdered by the pier… all in the name of purity. The beings that control Haven believe it is their right to determine what is perfect and what is not in order to maintain a perfect and safe society… and they are committing genocide while doing so. Lyric, if you care half as much for Summer as she has personally told me you do… You would stop at nothing to save her from being the latest impurity to be stamped out in the name of perfection."

Lyric almost broke down crying. "But… But… Why?! Why can't my life be normal?!"

Mattimeo did not answer. He simply pointed the sword straight at Lyric. He then raised his free hand and then snapped a finger.

In an instant the dream was terminated, and Lyric shot out of his bed in a cold sweat. He glanced at the mechanical clock told him that he had been asleep for about an hour. It was one in the morning.

At first Lyric thought what he had just experience was a nightmare, but then all of the feelings and sensations that Mattimeo had forced through his body shot from his memories. And now Lyric was one-hundred-percent sure of one thing: Summer was in trouble, and she needed his help.

Lyric galloped upstairs and looked around desperately. No pony was there. Harmony, Song, and Sky were all gone. Lyric rushed into the kitchen to double check. Nothing. No pony was there.

"Mattimeo said something about a location," muttered Lyric, his eyes wild with fear, "Oh! The pier! She's there!"

Lyric whirled to leave, but just as he did that he used his magic to grab a large cleaver knife from the knife rack. He might just need a weapon. And why not? Though his brain had been intoxicated by the pulchritudinous of Haven, he realized he cared vastly more for his companion, and was willing to go to any lengths to protect her.

With cleaver tight in his magical grip, Lyric rushed out into the cold night air. Breath already coming in steaming puffs from his nostrils, Lyric turned a full circle to get his bearings. Though the streets had initially held small groups of jocund ponies in several areas, the streets were now abandoned, and several unattended bonfires had gone out.

In a second Lyric's mental compass had pinpointed the location of the pier. With a grunt, Lyric galloped off in said direction at top speed. He rounded several tree-houses… and then galloped straight into a living nightmare.

Summer was lying tied-up on an ornamental raft, drugged and senseless. Beside her lay an absurdly large and ornate mechanical time bomb. Candles were lit all around her, and it looked as if she was ready to be pushed off into the lake, where the bomb would detonate and she would be incinerated. Clearly her powers were not functioning at this time.

However, this was not the worst part of it. The worst part was the ponies who were preparing to instigate this deed: Harmony, River, Sky, Song, and three hooded ponies.

Harmony turned to face the source of the racket coming from the town, and her face turned ashen when she saw the arriving pony, Lyric.

"Oh Lyric," she groaned, "I… I wish you had stayed at the house."

Lyric's eyes were wild as he took the whole scene in. "What… What the HELL are you all doing to Summer?!"

One of the hooded ponies turned his head to look at Lyric. A sickly-sweet, almost kind voice emanated from the void that the hood cast upon its wearer. "This pony possesses an impurity of sight that cannot be remedied with magic or medicine. She must be eradicated from this town to prevent imperfection from poisoning Haven and all of Star Circle."

"Imperfection?!" bellowed Lyric, who felt his entire world crumbling beneath his hooves, "What?! Summer is the most perfect, beautiful, kind being I know! And this is what you due to her? Why? Because she simply does not have the ability to see the world like us?!"

The hooded pony stared at Lyric in silence for a moment. Then he turned back to look at the unconscious Summer bound upon the raft.

Harmony bit her bottom lip until it bled. "Please, Lyric! Listen to me! Summer doesn't belong here! I would have personally seen her off the land and out of the valley safely, but the elders will not allow it. She has seen the town and all of its perfection and beauty, and we cannot let toxin that has gazed upon us endure!"

"Listen to yourselves!" cried Lyric, "You all sound like lunatics! Please! I'll go too even! Just let us go in peace!"

"No," murmured the second hooded pony, also a male, "You are of perfection, my son. You must stay here with us and thrive. It is only your companion that must be cleansed."

With that, the third hooded pony (apparently a Unicorn) activated the mechanical time bomb and pushed the raft off via magic, letting the momentum carry the small ornamental pile of sticks drift off to the center of the lake. As this happened, all three ponies began to chant.

"Impurities cannot reside within. Fire and brimstone must cleanse all sin."

"NOOOOOOOO!" screamed Lyric. He lurched past Harmony, River, Song, Sky, and the three hooded ponies to the end of the pier. However, just as he prepared to leap off into the water, he felt a metallic clamp seize a hold of his right back leg, preventing the dive. He whirled to see what was preventing him from saving his friend. A large bright steel chain was wrapped firmly around his leg, bound to his flesh. Harmony had magically bound him with it just before he could make the dive. Lyric immediately attempted to sever the chain with his cleaver.

As the cleaver struck hard down on the chain and sparks flew, Lyric yelled, "Let me go! I need to save Summer! She is all I have!" The cleaver had absolutely no effect on the steel chain, and Lyric only managed to chip the once flawless blade.

"No!" cried Harmony, tears now flowing down her cheeks. "We are what you have now! Let Summer go! Look around you! Look at Haven! Look at Star Circle! We are the very representation of security! You will be safe here! Safe from the Trixie's Hoof Terrorists! Safe from the Stallion Empire Military! Safe from all the evil that crawls from the dark crags of this world! You will have a whole town that loves you! You will have me to love you! Please! Just stay with us!"

Lyric stared at Harmony, tears streaming down his face as well.

"Please," whimpered Harmony, "We would be perfect together. It would be a perfect life, free of disabilities, free from impurities."

There was a pause.

"Please," murmured River as well, "Please do not struggle. The chain that holds you in place is impervious to magic, and the metal links are too strong for a blade such as that to shatter it."

"River is right," sobbed Harmony, "Stay with me… Let the blind filly go... The chain cannot be broken."

Lyric looked down at the chain, and then at up at Harmony. Then he looked off to Summer, who was slowly drifting closer to the center of the lake, where the raft she lay bound upon would undoubtedly detonate. This was it. A choice. Safety or love. He had a single decision to make, and only seconds to make it… and whatever decision he did choose would have an everlasting effect on his life. In a flash he made that decision.

Lyric gave a broken sob. "I'm sorry Harmony… But you're wrong. The chain can be broken, just not exactly in the way you think."

Lyric's stomach clenched as he raised the cleaver far above his head via magic… and then severed his back right leg, right above the knee. The blade went clean through. Harmony screamed, drowning out Lyric's own cry of agony. The loss of his limb felt like a splash of deathly cold water that cascaded through his insides, and he immediately went into shock as blood squirted from the gaping wound. However, some unnatural force suddenly pushed him from the brink of total oblivion and compelled him to slowly make a turnabout and dive into the lake, and swim as best he could towards Summer on the raft.

As he swam, the voices of the hooded ponies rose in unison, momentarily drowning out Harmony's shrieks of grief.

"YOU ARE NOW IMPURE. YOU CAN NEVER COME BACK."

Lyric did not even look behind him to catch a final glimpse of Haven of Star Circle. His eyes were solely focused on Summer and the raft with the bomb on it. He was fading fast, and complete shock was devastating his mind, but Lyric somehow managed to find the strength to continue swimming through the icy-cold lake towards his ultimate goal.

In a minute he reached the raft, and with a scream of pain he pulled himself over the edge so that he could seize Summer. With a swing of the cleaver (which he still held firmly in his magical grip) he cut her bindings. Then with a gasp he pulled her into the frigid water with him. Water filling his mouth and steam from his breath stinging his eyes, Lyric kicked off towards a distant shore, hoping simply to get as far away as possible from the raft with the bomb. He had only gone about a dozen meters when the thing detonated. A massive red plume of fire blasted into the air, accompanied by a belching of black smoke, sparks, and flaming debris. The raft was practically disintegrated, and a shockwave skidded across the surface of the lake, kicking up frothing waves in all direction.

The shockwave struck Lyric full-on. That blast, accompanied with the incredible loss of blood from his missing leg, was it for Lyric. With a final gurgle he passed out, floating upon the lake, almost in the exact same place he had been not ten hours ago. Just before darkness completely enveloped his vision and his mind, Lyric could still hear the grief-stricken wails of Harmony… and the gentle breathing of Summer.

Dimension: ...

Planet: ...

Specific Location: ...

Time: ...

Lyric's eyes snapped open, however, instead of immediately struggling to all fours as he usually did, he just lay there, belly facing the sky, staring upwards. The sky was a crisp, clean blue, with only a tint of frost in the air. He could smell freshly-fallen snow, and he could hear the gentle lap of waves upon icy rocks somewhere nearby. Lyric then began to "listen" mentally to his body. He felt like one giant bruise that had several layers of bruises upon of it, and he could not feel his back right leg…

Lyric felt bile rise in his throat as he remembered the hell from the night before: he had no back right leg any longer. Lyric's breathing immediately began to quicken rapidly, and he tried to sit up so that he could look at his missing leg, but a hoof held him down, and a gentle voice spoke in his ear.

"Calm down Lyric, you are fine."

Lyric slowly turned his head, and found himself face-to-face with Summer. Her mane and face were heavily streaked with blood, and was all mussed up, and her eyes were red with crying and fear, but she looked okay. Tears began to form in both of their eyes simultaneously.

"Summer… I tried so hard," Lyric sobbed, "I did!"

"I know," cried Summer, "I know… You… You… You gave your leg for me. You truly do care…"

Lyric nodded his head. "I have realized that I am more than willing to give my life for you, Summer… and this is just one small example of how much… of how much I love you."

Summer paused for a moment… and then kissed Lyric full on the lips. For a whole minute they held the kiss, and as they did, they both completely broke down into tears. As they let go of the kiss, Lyric slowly sat up with the firm support of Summer's hoof. The stump that represented the spot that Lyric had severed his leg was completely covered in thick mud and moss, no doubt put there by Summer. It was crude and makeshift, but the cast that Summer had miraculously made from nature had stopped the bleeding and set his body down the path of healing. Lyric then took stock of his surroundings. He was on a cliff, with the lake that lead to the distant town of Haven far below. It was not until he saw a charred wreck of an armored vehicle under a tree behind that he realized that he was on the same cliff that he and Summer had taken a dive off of the other day. Incredible. Slowly Lyric flopped down on his back to look at the sky once more. Summer slowly groped for his right hoof, and then flopped down beside him to look skyward, though she herself could see nothing. There was a pause, and then Summer meekly began to explain what had happened to her last night.

"River took me to his house, where he gave me a warm blanket. He then said he would be right back after he talked to several elders. He said that ponies would be suspicious about him bringing in a female into his home otherwise. That was suspicious, since Harmony had already said that he had four sisters, but it did not matter, for I had been suspicious since I detected tinges of regret and nervousness in the voices of Harmony and River at the very beginning. Anyway, he was gone for about an hour, but when he came back he sounded very nervous. He said that all was well, though, and that it was about time he made some hot chocolate. I was very suspicious at that point, but when he made the hot chocolate and gave some to me… I couldn't help myself! I cannot ever remember having chocolate, since my earliest memory is you waking me up inside that incubator of pure energy. Anyway, I drank it, and, next thing I know, I am drugged from whatever it is he put inside that hot drink. As I fell to the ground, and my mind became fuzzy, I heard three ponies walk in and ask if the deed was done. River said that it was, and that I was to be taken to the raft just after midnight. Then I blacked out. When I come to, it is from an explosion from a raft, a raft that I realized I had meant to be on. At first I was simply terrified, but then I realized there was someone keeping me afloat: you. I realized that you had saved me from the explosion on the raft, and prevented the death the Haven ponies had planned for me. Then I realized you were unconscious… and missing a leg. I can tell you right there I wanted to nuzzle and kiss you hard, and then let our dead bodies slowly float away, but I could not stand the thought of you sacrificing so much in order to save me from an explosion. However, I could not see, and the water was pulling us down. But then… suddenly, I felt a jolt of power coarse through me. The water beneath my hooves began to churn, and it became obedient, like a massive pet snake. It lifted me and you high into the air. Up, up, up… It then deposited us on a cliff bank. It took me only a minute to realize that I had involuntarily returned us to the cliff above the lake, just at the border of the Star Circle valley. I then used the water I had momentarily under my control to cough up sodden moss and mud, and then I did my best patch the wound. There was so much blood... and... and I was so worried! But as I continued to work and covered the stump, your breathing stabled, and I knew you would be okay. And so… here we are!"

Lyric nodded his head slowly, drinking in every word Summer said. "And so," he sighed, feeling numb, "Our journey to the valley of peace ends… with us leaving barely with our lives. We have nothing now."

A tear trickled down his cheek. However, Summer gently brushed the tear away with a hoof as she said, softly, "That's not true, Lyric. We have each other."

Lyric blinked, and, suddenly, he felt a warm feeling spread through his body, filling him with a sensation of peace from tail to muzzle. It was something he had never truly felt before. It was a force that had been foreign to him since he became a thieving musician and a rogue… But it was foreign no longer. What was this "strange" force? It was love.

Lyric glanced down at his missing leg, and then over at the sightless eyes of Summer… and then he smiled. "You're right. We do have more than nothing. We have far more. We have each other."

Note: I put a whole lot of heart into this chapter, I hope you guys saw it through the writing! Before I finish up here, I have two things to quickly mention. One: I uploaded a bunch of HD versions of my stories' cover photographs to deviantart. My username is Aganonce, by the way. Feel free to check it out if you are interested in seeing the work I put into all of my stories' cover photos. Two: I updated "Through A Glass Darkly" finally, for those who actually read that kind of thing. Now... please review! I was very proud of this chapter, and so I would be extremely interested in any kind of feedback! If you do, I shall give you a prosthetic leg. Why? Because it is made mainly of marshmallows.